Kreso is new in the firm. I believe it was even his second day when he came to our office. HR department needed a photo for his announcement so I used the opportunity to take some images for myself as well.

Image above took me two seconds, lightning by a window and my reflector. The photo below from the waist with a normal exposure, same lightning conditions.

Good luck with your new job, Kreso :)

Tihana comes in our office every two weeks to drop off some contracts. She’s working in sales and always caring about her customers though balancing the interest of our firm. A good habit I’d say.

Another one is that she’s in a good mood every time she visit us. I like that. It is nice to get positive visitors :)

Our first portrait took two seconds, a serious portrait; lightning was provided from a big window and my reflector. The second portrait was done in a click with same lightning conditions, but different equipment and much less formal expression.

Two portraits, taken within five minutes time showing a totally different personality…

Filip works as a student in our firm, doing all kind of jobs where he is needed. Sometimes he supports the reception, and sometimes he is in my department helping out. Studying business economics he’s focused on business analysis and controlling. Anyway, it was Friday and he was in the mood for a portrait. As usual windowlight, my reflector and several seconds (above).

The second image is done on a normal camera with a normal exposure. I shot from my waist, resulting in a look I loved when shooting with film on medium format, those were the days ;)

Ivan was following one of the courses I gave within the firm. As usual, I invite all for a portrait. Ivan was eager, he asked me every day if we could do it. At last, we managed. Two seconds, window light and a reflector.

I received quite some questions, why I shoot several seconds and what’s the difference. As it is hard to describe, I decided to shoot ‘normally’ as well during the sessions. Below Ivan, normally, same light, same set-up, yet different camera.

Don’t let the sharpness fool you. Ivan was not able to be still, hence the movement in the first image…

I photographed Mario before. But, as I did a new portrait of Kristijan, he wanted a new one as well. Who am I to refuse?

It was not Kristijan’s first time to be in front of my camera. We had several sessions already. Thinking back, I guess he is the only one whom I photographed three times… But, what the heck, as this is my 150th long-exposure-portrait, I don’t mind.

Window light, my reflector and 2,5 seconds.

I commute. As I was driving out of town, I managed to get a different view, though still no sunlight.

However, the road ended and became a muddy path. There was a sign which said “damaged road”, but the road simply was not there anymore. Therefore, my car needed to be washed, an excellent chance for another session…

Ramblings. My first one was about freedom. This one is about cocaine. A simple graffiti, one word, written on a red wall in a regular neighborhood of Zagreb. Every time I see it, I wonder who wrote it, and more over why? Why write this word on a wall? 

Is it a tribute to J.J. Cale and his lyrics?

“If you want to hang out, you’ve gotta take her out, cocaine

If you want to get down, get down on the ground, cocaine

She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie,
Cocaine

If you got that lose, you want to kick them blues, cocaine
When your day is done, and you want to ride on cocaine

She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie,
Cocaine

If your day is gone, and you want to ride on, cocaine
Don’t forget this fact, you can’t get it back, cocaine

She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie,
Cocaine

She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie,
Cocaine”

Or is it a tribute to something someone needs in order to get a nicer life? 

Personally I don’t do drugs. Never did, never will. Though, as a Dutch I always get the question: “Do you have something (to smoke)?” 

The other week, police stopped me for a regular check. After showing my ID, and answering the question where I came from, they asked me: “do I have anything illegal?”… No guys, I don’t have. Not my type of pleasure…

But still, the question remains, why write such a word on a wall?

Driving around Zagreb, somewhere in the hills I passed through a village with a skinny hydrant which I needed to photograph. I happened to park right near a house with a nice murial around its windows, so colorful, so playful.

While walking around in this small little village (around 80-100 houses may be), I find two more interesting graffiti’s / drawings.

Hydrants. I know why Zagreb has a pink hydrant. There is an urban art project called ‘pimp my pump’. I guess they are responsible for the pink one as well. Most hydrants in Zagreb and surroundings are blue, however, red ones can be found as well.

Though the hydrant below is a regular one, the background on both sides are rather artistic which surprised me as the hydrant is standing somewhere in a small village in the hills near Zagreb.

Just about 300 meters away, another hydrant can be found. A skinny one. Did not know they came in this shape as well.

All images with the dp0q.