Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27
Tuesday, May 20
light on display
Quite funny thing, taking pictures... Although technically instant, sometimes the images fully develop long after you've taken them: they appear in a totally new light. At least this looks to be my (in)experience for now.
Roamed through the 'museums' night'. And back home the pictures I've taken started to talk to me about light in a spectrum that goes from the visible through the vicarious and ends in the unfathomable.
Sunday, May 4
speaking about layers...
May 1st: the sunny day brings the prospect of a couple of idle hours in the park with a friend and her baby (my soon-to-be-goddaughter!). Strolling with the baby cart in the silence of the empty streets that lead to the park already has a soothing, almost miraculous feeling to it: on an ordinary day, in a chaotic city where impertinent hoards of cars flock on the streets and sidewalks as well, this would be a tense, downright dangerous pursuit.
Along the way, from time to time, small idiosyncrasies gently break away with the scenery and fuse with our unfocused, welcoming attention in order to take shape: ivy flows and patterns, a recently painted detail on a façade, flower pots scattered in a tree’s crown.
The park is bustling with leisurely goings-on: kids riding tin horses fitted on coils, unfolding epics on the banks of a mockup river, or encircling with joyful shouts the spring fountain. Quiet protective trees, bunches of grownups mounted on benches, and mating pigeons complete the picture.
After a sunny while on the lazy bench, I’ve reluctantly stretched my hand out for the camera. And started to – yeah – press the shutter button here and there. No peaks of photo-excitement, just an even distribution of the same quiet, self-contained delight that the trip has been floating on from its beginning (to the very end).
The outcome: poorly focused, ‘what’s really here?’, malexposed pictures – which resulted in an immediate urge to invoke deflective, rescuing ideas like ‘bad photo day’ or ‘point-and-shoot camera’. Following the new – lighter – spin on things, I even began to theorize on the virtues of frustration: transmutation power, doorway to new directions, fuel for ‘corrective’ action, etc.
Started to pick out some more acceptable photos, while thinking on how I would learn more, buy a new camera, practice more, etc. ‘Hmm, I like this girl playing there’, and I quickly arranged one of the images that was overexposed and included it, too.
Slowly, while absorbed by the petty demands of putting together the slideshow, the ‘frustration’ theme dissipated: and something totally exciting managed to surface – something I didn’t see when I took the pictures!
Look at the three pictures with the girl playing with her toys: first there’s a horse – on one side of the ‘river’ (there’s water running in there). Next, a doll – on the other side. And then… they acknowledge each other’s presence. I felt sorry I didn’t take any more pictures of the playing girl: I believe though the doll has eventually saddled the horse and flew: even to the moon and sun and back! Because the girl – sitting on a bridge – is somehow playing one of the most powerful myths that has scattered on Earth a myriad of versions over thousands of years: that of the separation and union.
What’s with the horse? Shouldn’t there be a – say – prince instead?... That could also be, but think of what a hero can do when united with his horse: St. George slays the dragon (symbol of man’s inferior nature); in many tales, the horse fed with fire can fly and take the man to heights unattainable otherwise. The horse is an embodiment of Shakti, “the power aspect of divinity that lies numb in the fallen man, as mere potency” (Vasile Lovinescu in a study on popular tales).
Enough with the ‘explanations’. There’s an inherent ambiguity to every myth; it’s not possible otherwise, since “the myth is the penultimate Truth” (Ananada Coomaraswamy).
I was really excited to see how below the immediate ‘reality’ of three pictures taken in the hope for one of them turning ‘right’, something else developed: an enactment of “Magnum Opus” – the Great Work of man – on a 1st of May (1 being also 'One', union)!...
Of course, you might say I’m reading too much into the girl’s play. But “wer den Dichter will verstehen muss ins Dichten Lande gehen.” (Goethe).
Tuesday, April 29
sharp blurr
I like hazy pictures: the indefinite contours remind me how far from crisp sharp reality can be. Below the material shapes that deflect the thought into swift classification lie subsequent questions about… well… just about everything.
The first blurred picture that filled me with an unexpected excitement was the one with the bride, above. It was simply a ‘mistake’, just like any of my unintentionally unfocused/ shaken previous pictures. But somehow this one managed to break through the labeling surface into some usually unvisited depths.
I reckon though taking good blurry pictures is not that easy. After some experiments today, I assume I nevertheless have to start in the sharpness playground – from its crisp center I could then stroll towards fuzzier boundaries. And perhaps get back to what feels like the ‘right’ blur: sounds a lot like achieving sharpness itself – only in a deeper, less clear-cut layer of reality.
Friday, April 25
Sunday, April 20
care inside
'modernized' hospital: I wonder if things inside managed to gently break apart from the bold impetus and take on a different route...
Saturday, April 12
Sunday, March 23
Monday, March 17
dancing (on a supermarket jingle)
So… I’m taking dancing lessons.
Well, not exactly those I was talking about. Since sometimes there’s a lag between will and action (perhaps it’s not 100% will, even to the degree where it’s entirely something different, that only superficially manifests itself as will – and that’s only one of the many possible explanations), it took me almost a week to tackle the subscription. It was too late: the places had already been filled.
Luckily enough (then perhaps it’s not 100% luck, even to the degree… etc etc), a week or so later, received a message about yet other classes at the same center of contemporary dance, held by a Feldenkrais practitioner.
The start of the lessons is always smooth, the movements are actually less movements, and more intentions. Thus, consubstantial with consciousness, are easier to be aware of. And in an atmosphere where subtle vapors of attention take form only to swiftly vanish, or bashfully waver around, dissolve and recompose, other counterpart and reflex movements become apparent, too: it’s like discovering some levers and mechanisms in the body’s intricate and mostly overlooked system. Gradually, the tiny movements of different body parts assemble into larger ones. And the lesson flows towards what ‘finally’ looks like dancing (on the stereo’s tune – and may feel, if you’re ‘lucky’, like following your inner one).
Very refreshing. Last time I took the camera with me, too: I wanted to photograph around the dressing room – actually a two-room space (plus a toilet) that looks improvised, rough, unfinished, and not because that was the intent, but because it was just that, an improvised space. You can see bricks, concrete walls, pipes and even engines (apparently they’ll soon renovate the theater, hope someone won’t think of making it more ‘appropriate’).
Got there, took a couple of quick pictures before anyone else came in (snapshot in the toilet included); even during the classes managed to grab a couple of times the camera and press the shutter button around for a few times.
Really enjoyed the dancing class. Got out: sunny day there, too. Went to a book fair, got a couple of books, did a photograph, then decided to follow a side street, took photos of rundown buildings and old style store displays, smiled, briefly talked and laughed with ‘strangers’, took more photos… the battery emptied just as I was focusing the lens on a stray dog in a majestic poise under the arch of some historical ruin.
Eventually got home and uploaded the photos. Hmm… again… not that interesting! Then remembered all my previous talk about habits vs. ‘dancing’ with the moment. And all I could see in those pictures were my ‘photographic’ reflexes. Seeing something and just getting it, without too much consideration: just like in a supermarket.
Something though is different underneath it all... I like to do some face-watching when I’m in a supermarket. Rarely seen a smiley look, despite the jolly tunes abundantly pouring out of the loudspeakers. Quite different tunes playing inside people.
Have you ever – literally – danced on an ad jingle, prefferably a supermarket’s? Chances are, the sillier this sounds to you, the merrier you’ll feel. In fact, I promiss you, it’s almost liberating.
...tra la la la laaaa , la la laaaa, tra...
Well, not exactly those I was talking about. Since sometimes there’s a lag between will and action (perhaps it’s not 100% will, even to the degree where it’s entirely something different, that only superficially manifests itself as will – and that’s only one of the many possible explanations), it took me almost a week to tackle the subscription. It was too late: the places had already been filled.
Luckily enough (then perhaps it’s not 100% luck, even to the degree… etc etc), a week or so later, received a message about yet other classes at the same center of contemporary dance, held by a Feldenkrais practitioner.
The start of the lessons is always smooth, the movements are actually less movements, and more intentions. Thus, consubstantial with consciousness, are easier to be aware of. And in an atmosphere where subtle vapors of attention take form only to swiftly vanish, or bashfully waver around, dissolve and recompose, other counterpart and reflex movements become apparent, too: it’s like discovering some levers and mechanisms in the body’s intricate and mostly overlooked system. Gradually, the tiny movements of different body parts assemble into larger ones. And the lesson flows towards what ‘finally’ looks like dancing (on the stereo’s tune – and may feel, if you’re ‘lucky’, like following your inner one).
Very refreshing. Last time I took the camera with me, too: I wanted to photograph around the dressing room – actually a two-room space (plus a toilet) that looks improvised, rough, unfinished, and not because that was the intent, but because it was just that, an improvised space. You can see bricks, concrete walls, pipes and even engines (apparently they’ll soon renovate the theater, hope someone won’t think of making it more ‘appropriate’).
Got there, took a couple of quick pictures before anyone else came in (snapshot in the toilet included); even during the classes managed to grab a couple of times the camera and press the shutter button around for a few times.
Really enjoyed the dancing class. Got out: sunny day there, too. Went to a book fair, got a couple of books, did a photograph, then decided to follow a side street, took photos of rundown buildings and old style store displays, smiled, briefly talked and laughed with ‘strangers’, took more photos… the battery emptied just as I was focusing the lens on a stray dog in a majestic poise under the arch of some historical ruin.
Eventually got home and uploaded the photos. Hmm… again… not that interesting! Then remembered all my previous talk about habits vs. ‘dancing’ with the moment. And all I could see in those pictures were my ‘photographic’ reflexes. Seeing something and just getting it, without too much consideration: just like in a supermarket.
Something though is different underneath it all... I like to do some face-watching when I’m in a supermarket. Rarely seen a smiley look, despite the jolly tunes abundantly pouring out of the loudspeakers. Quite different tunes playing inside people.
Have you ever – literally – danced on an ad jingle, prefferably a supermarket’s? Chances are, the sillier this sounds to you, the merrier you’ll feel. In fact, I promiss you, it’s almost liberating.
...tra la la la laaaa , la la laaaa, tra...
Tuesday, January 15
Mid-life illumination
As the sun was shining a few days ago, I felt as if a witty game was unfolding – unauthorized – inside of me. Managed to ignore the smoldering (nevertheless potentially anarchic) joy for a few hours until – just as the daylight was sending an increasing amount of “attention, I’ll soon be out” signals – I’ve caught myself bursting out of the door, with the camera in hand.
Not sure of my business out there, looked around: and plenty of smiles, sighs, and all sorts of ideas began springing from the things around. Short circuited by the unexpected overflow, my mind froze. Luckily enough, after traveling through some other parts of me – and, I assume, with no further place in there to go and play – each transmission drained itself into my right index which, in turn, pressed the shutter button down.
As one thing led to another, what started there continued along the city’s river with the appearance of some purposeful activity – like a blitz photo trip. Rocked by sensations in between serenity and productivity, I felt delighted and content at the same time: in the end, I had nothing to do but watch an interesting play, resting assured that something was being done after all, about it all. I have to say though, a few times I’ve managed to interfere and actually do something – that is to hold back, to be exact. I’ve suppressed my finger’s performance when that worn man with a matching bag came into scene, yawning next to a delighted, fashionable marketing face in a poster. I’ve cut out the student feeding the gulls (left for the park when she went to the dormitory to bring bread), a.s.o.
Even with such disruptions on my part, the side pipe of the play – the productive one – steadfastly rolled into my pantry almost 150 pictures in less than 2 hours. That’s an average of about 1.20 pictures per minute. You can find samples of them below.
Yes?... Ok, I’ve picked the photos out. Nevertheless… there’s nothing truly interesting in there. Something beautiful. Or infuriating. Or that makes you think. Or smile. Not even a good story. When I look at the pictures, I see nothing close to what I felt or thought when taking them. And I kinda knew this would be the case, every time I pressed the shutter.
The confirmed prediction dispelled any joyful, careless leftover feelings, leaving me face to face with a question that, although previously gone unnoticed, has been standing there all along, kind but firm, and didn’t look like making a disappearing act just now: how does one get from taking pictures to taking great pictures?...
As if suddenly freed from misty, legendary depths, accounts of great photographers (I’ve leafed before through books on photography, after carefully reading up until the f numbers section each time) surfaced and started to really make sense: the otherwise boring technical explanations about careful selection of aperture and lens; details about framing, thoughts on choice of subject, etc. And stories about light (sun, season), long hours – sometimes days, months, or even years (sure, those days seem now long gone) – of patience, then the decisive moment, a.s.o.
Let’s sum it up: WORK. One has to use the fuel of his interest and… work!! You cannot just get out from nowhere, see something, and “seize” it with a reflex snapshot, hoping it’ll turn out allright. Nothing great hurries to jump in the narrow space of a greedy, lazy pocket: you have to court the feeling, the idea, the moment. DANCE with it. But if you’ve never properly moved your feet before (just imagined you’d do it perfectly), take lessons. Then get out there and… practice! And one day, the Music may start!
Bewildered by my finding, I've replaced the word “photograph” with whatever else crossed my mind. And couldn’t stop laughing, watching as a boring truism turned into breakthrough news for me – and stratospheric heroes into stubborn dancers, following a tune known only to them…
Tons of thoughts kept inundating me: what ‘work’ meant to me (even if in the sparkly advertising), or to my parents, during communist times, or to a whole population – the word is right – here, and where to now, etc., but I'll leave them out. Oh, just this one: yesterday I've made a weird first entry into my Google calendar – for some dancing classes…
Not sure of my business out there, looked around: and plenty of smiles, sighs, and all sorts of ideas began springing from the things around. Short circuited by the unexpected overflow, my mind froze. Luckily enough, after traveling through some other parts of me – and, I assume, with no further place in there to go and play – each transmission drained itself into my right index which, in turn, pressed the shutter button down.
As one thing led to another, what started there continued along the city’s river with the appearance of some purposeful activity – like a blitz photo trip. Rocked by sensations in between serenity and productivity, I felt delighted and content at the same time: in the end, I had nothing to do but watch an interesting play, resting assured that something was being done after all, about it all. I have to say though, a few times I’ve managed to interfere and actually do something – that is to hold back, to be exact. I’ve suppressed my finger’s performance when that worn man with a matching bag came into scene, yawning next to a delighted, fashionable marketing face in a poster. I’ve cut out the student feeding the gulls (left for the park when she went to the dormitory to bring bread), a.s.o.
Even with such disruptions on my part, the side pipe of the play – the productive one – steadfastly rolled into my pantry almost 150 pictures in less than 2 hours. That’s an average of about 1.20 pictures per minute. You can find samples of them below.
Yes?... Ok, I’ve picked the photos out. Nevertheless… there’s nothing truly interesting in there. Something beautiful. Or infuriating. Or that makes you think. Or smile. Not even a good story. When I look at the pictures, I see nothing close to what I felt or thought when taking them. And I kinda knew this would be the case, every time I pressed the shutter.
The confirmed prediction dispelled any joyful, careless leftover feelings, leaving me face to face with a question that, although previously gone unnoticed, has been standing there all along, kind but firm, and didn’t look like making a disappearing act just now: how does one get from taking pictures to taking great pictures?...
As if suddenly freed from misty, legendary depths, accounts of great photographers (I’ve leafed before through books on photography, after carefully reading up until the f numbers section each time) surfaced and started to really make sense: the otherwise boring technical explanations about careful selection of aperture and lens; details about framing, thoughts on choice of subject, etc. And stories about light (sun, season), long hours – sometimes days, months, or even years (sure, those days seem now long gone) – of patience, then the decisive moment, a.s.o.
Let’s sum it up: WORK. One has to use the fuel of his interest and… work!! You cannot just get out from nowhere, see something, and “seize” it with a reflex snapshot, hoping it’ll turn out allright. Nothing great hurries to jump in the narrow space of a greedy, lazy pocket: you have to court the feeling, the idea, the moment. DANCE with it. But if you’ve never properly moved your feet before (just imagined you’d do it perfectly), take lessons. Then get out there and… practice! And one day, the Music may start!
Bewildered by my finding, I've replaced the word “photograph” with whatever else crossed my mind. And couldn’t stop laughing, watching as a boring truism turned into breakthrough news for me – and stratospheric heroes into stubborn dancers, following a tune known only to them…
Tons of thoughts kept inundating me: what ‘work’ meant to me (even if in the sparkly advertising), or to my parents, during communist times, or to a whole population – the word is right – here, and where to now, etc., but I'll leave them out. Oh, just this one: yesterday I've made a weird first entry into my Google calendar – for some dancing classes…
Saturday, January 5
Thursday, January 3
Wednesday, December 26
Christmas Spirit
The God-prescribed armistice came into being this year, too: in short, the world seems to have yet again refrained from its all too earthly wheelings and dealings, and burst into a state of euphoria, sprinkling peace, beauty and happiness all over itself.
Some of the holy signs looked quite the same, no matter where they landed (perhaps because sourcing from the One?...): Christmas lights on the streets and in the windows, Christmas trees, Christmas tunes, Christmas movies, Christmas – selfless, giving – glitters in the eyes of politicians, businessmen and stars, a.s.o.
[I feel tempted to further dissect some of the local incarnations of the Christmas spirit, but I’m not sure whether I could master the ensuing deluge of thoughts – I’d better keep it all locked up.]
Well, I don’t remember what happened in other such Occasions, but this Christmas Eve I found myself putting up a fierce resistance. No matter how hard I’ve tried (I think I’ve tried), and in spite of all the mediatic help – music, those telegenic, caring Christmas smiles behind the screen, etc. – I couldn’t let the seemingly ubiquitous Peace, Goodness and Beauty go through me.
Decorating the Christmas tree didn’t help either. Once garnished with some of the painstakingly made ginger bread cookies, plus leaves and cones, the initially good-looking, small, and funny green tree (it had two peaks instead of one…) turned into something I couldn’t decide whether it was plain ugly, or just weird.
Annoyed, I started thinking about Christmas – what is it, actually? Or rather, what should it be? Or "should" it be at all, and for whom, why, etc. ... (I’m not exactly a Believer). Too unsettled to think clearly and perhaps even decide (although I never quite decide, I would still doubt), I gave up the whole Christmas problem, surrendering to whatever was going on.
Until late in the night, when I stumbled over a TV program about Leonard Cohen. While listening to some lyrics, I suddenly felt some sort of – I don't quite know how to put it – warm, beautiful peace flowing freely throuh me. In an instant, I knew – no further doubts – that my Christmas tree with horns was just right the way it was.
ring the bells that can still ring
forget your perfect offerings
there’s a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in
Tuesday, November 20
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