For years we work in the same company, we great each other in the hallway, yet we actually never talked. Funny, or silly. Depends how one looks at it.
She entered our office to collect a signature. I told her that she could get it, in exchange for a portrait. So she did. Window light, a reflector and five seconds.
She’s leaving us, up to another job, though the firm convinced her to stay a bit longer until replacement has been found. The week after I finally got her in front of my camera. She’s smiling, though forced. It might be the situation, the circumstances.
I took several images, the last one only lasting 2 seconds and to be the most still. Lightning was again simple: a window and a reflector.
Should one even call any discussion about freedom a rambling? Isn’t freedom the highest we should strive for? If so, any discussion about, any attempt for freedom should not be called a rambling, should not be disgraced to a rambling.
Yet, my post is called ‘rambling about freedom’. Not to dishonor freedom. I decided to call my new series ‘ramblings’. Here you can see why. Actually I honor freedom with the fact that I open a new series with it. Good for you if you can still follow me. Looks like I’m rambling myself.
Anyway, back to freedom.
I am a lucky guy. I’m born and raised in a country where freedom was normal. I did not ever in my life perceived my freedom threatened. That said, I’ve seen the impact of freedom fights on people. I’ve seen the consequences of war, what it did to people. I’ve seen the impact of liberation on people, when they realize they’re free. For the first time, or again.
I am a lucky guy. Freedom is a given for me. Never taken away, never under threat. I’m a free person. Yet, the message on the wall, the graffiti, made me think, still makes me think. Am I free? Can I say I’m free as millions of people are not? Can I ignore all those others? Should I fight for a better world? Can I enjoy my freedom, be happy, if so many are not?
I am a lucky guy. I’m free, though deep inside my heart I know I’m not. However, I can ignore, I can close my eyes. I can pretend. And may be therefore I am lucky: I have the luxury to do so, as I am free.
Complicated.
Until all are free, no one is free!
Rambling.
photographed in Vienna, Austria… and still wondering who wrote this? a refugee? a peace activist? a person like you and me? who wrote it? …
When walking around town, any town, one will see graffiti. Sometimes it is wonderful, pure art and sometimes it is a message. Sometimes the message seems to have a meaning, mostly it doesn’t. At least to me. Nevertheless, I read the messages, often ignoring them as they don’t make sense. But sometimes a message touches me, puts a smile on my face or simply makes me think or wonder.
I was in Vienna the other day and had the possibility to walk around near the river side. Those who know Vienna will know that there are many graffiti’s around. Lots of art, probably created on request of the city. But also many messages, mostly senseless to me however one message stood out and while photographing it, I decided that such messages do deserve a place on my blog as to me they do deserve to be seen by a broader audience.
So there you have it, a new series on my blog: ’ramblings’. May be the title is not fair towards the idea behind and towards the authors of such messages… however to me such messages are ramblings as a dialogue is non-existent and therefore the perception will be totally out of content. Ramblings.
Back to my walk. I enjoyed watching the artistic graffiti’s and while strolling on wards I saw the composition below which stroke me cause of its colors. I photographed it as I found it and the image is not edited. You see what I saw ;)
I tried to make a portrait earlier of Vlatko, but did not succeed as he was not able to sit still for several seconds. It really sounds easy, sit still for four-six seconds while I make an exposure, but it is not. If you don’t believe me, come and try it ;)
That said, the last attempt, the last image of the last session did it. And I must admit, the cynical look is how I know him, this is Vlatko. At least, during working hours.
“Smoking is bad for you!” she says, and climbs on the chair and starts a monologue why one shouldn’t smoke. 4,5 years old and keeping a lecture about health. The words don’t matter, her face says it all: “don’t smoke…”
This year Eastern is rather early, and winter showed off himself just some weeks ago, meaning life did not yet return on our hill. It is still grayish, though the grass start to be greener. Not only at the neighbors, but also in our garden. At least.
Nice thing of Eastern brunches is that the house is filled with flowers, and while waiting for the food to get ready, I play a bit around with my camera, making portraits of flowers.
First a series in black and white to capture the fine structure of the leaves. Flowers are so delicate. Than tulips, they are so simple, yet so graceful. Finally a mix in color, as flowers should be seen in color!
Happy Eastern!
Today spring finally arrived. At 17.15 it entered our world. This morning it was still freezing and snow was all around us, but now it will change as spring arrived. Days will be longer, temperature will be higher, and within some weeks nature will burst and the mountain will become green again.
Good thing of living on the continent is that one really can enjoy all seasons: I love summer for its temperature, love autumn for its colours, love winter for the snow and I love spring for its new start: I really love to discover all the bulbs and plants coming to life again. Every day I look in the garden to see what came up today, what started to blossom today. Spring arrived. Finally.
First things (eatable) to come up in our garden are garlic and onions as they have been planted/seeded last autumn. They are still covered with snow today, but soon, very soon they’ll be here. Spring arrived. Finally.
Lightning was simple: a window and a piece of paper as fill.
Although we did some sessions several weeks ago, Tomislav decided to pose for me again, just so I could test my lightning setup. Nice guy for helping me out.
Lightning comes from a light panel as window light was way too soft. Normally for photography a light panel is not the best choice but for long exposure portraits it is great as a flash would totally ruin the effect I’m after. That said, reflecting is much tougher as the source is weaker, but this can be used to create nice shadows on the background. One could play hours with this :).
Despite an exposure of only two seconds, Tomislav was not able to sit still but I do like his portrait so I processed it.
