Mario Tomic

Soulmates, travel, forever…

// April 1st, 2008 // 4 Comments » // b&w, people, portrait

This is Dragana. A close friend of Ana..my friend too (though sometimes I believe she loves my camera more). She’s one of those girls that won’t comment Sweeney Todd as a movie with too much blood :D That’s why we like her company :) But, this is not a story of her…I don’t have that much time today :P This is a story of new friendships, people that deserve their name to be remembered, written or mentioned later.

Although I consider myself to be a lone wolf, running without a pack, occasionally I do feel very emotional about people I meet.

Last night I took a Belgrade – Vienna train. I was getting off at Novi Sad. Two hour ride from Belgrade. I shared compartment with a Peruvian woman Isabella, her, I believe, husband Kelly from States and Australian guy with Italian ancestry and Italian name which I forgot (edit: could be Salvatore). Entering compartment I prepared my headphones planning to plunge into the world of music, but I got so much carried away talking with them, that those 2 hours passed like a minute. We talked about cultures, traveling, politics, conspiracies, families, hobbies, plans, …

When I left the train I felt a bit sad…we’ll never meet again, they will not know I talked to you about them now. They left with a part of me..that little piece of soul that travel with people we meet, with people we like and with people we love. And if you ask me where have I been, I can tell you I haven’t seen much of this world, but my soul will keep on traveling long after I’m gone.

Fortress in the fog

// January 2nd, 2008 // 2 Comments » // b&w, light, street

This one shows Petrovaradin fortress in the fog. Took it during one of those days when you just grab your camera and wander off. I was drawn to the river (Danube)..that’s where the fog came from.

I needed even wider angle than the lens provided, so I took 2 shots and later stitched them together. It makes this sort of panoramic shot :)

MEMORY REMAINS I

// October 2nd, 2005 // 16 Comments » // b&w, people

You wouldn’t believe how many people believe me when I say this one was shot at the lady’s funeral :) Actually it’s shot in a public transport in Bgd, followed by Ana’s adorable you’re-not-really-gonna-do-that look :) The bus was crowded and the lady was asleep.
I got back my large prints (sent almost 4 months ago) from a photo exibition. I was surprized to see that one of my photos (know to you as “Olive way”) was actually chosen to appear on expo, which followed the exibition. Funny thing is that I promissed to give that one to a friend when it’s returned to me :) Should have offered him some more photos ;) I got the expo brochure and must say I’m amazed with the mediocrity of good deal of displayed photos.

Is there a difference between avoiding a dispute on a good taste and ordinariness? What about darkness and aging? Does it bring you into solicitude?

NOTICE: I owe an apology to everyone who tried to get in touch with me through the email form at this site. It was late when I realised it’s not working properly. Every mail sent from there was delivered without sender’s email address and the message body. If I haven’t answered it, I haven’t received it. I’ve changed the script now (didn’t miss the chance to redesign it a bit:) and the title=”GET IN TOUCH WITH ME FROM THIS PAGE”>Contact me form is on-line again. Please check it.

SYMBOL

// May 28th, 2005 // 1 Comment » // b&w, shapes, street

You might have learnt Annabel Lee dozen times so far, so I figured out it would be nice to upload something else :)

I love coincidences..yesterday I decided to (finally) process a photo of an unusual doorhandle I shot last week in Belgrade. So, yesterday I did it, and as you can see, it does look like some sort of a symbol..head of a scepter..and later that day I saw that PhotoFriday challenged us with Symbol! Conspiracy? :)

Talking abouth symbols (of power?) I’m thinking of buying an Apple 15″ PowerBook. Would you talk me into doing it..or away of it?
One more thing while we’re in IT waters..if you’re an Nikon D70 owner, there’s firmware v2.0 out there :) New menu look, improved reading of number of exposures remaining when you’re shooting RAW and improved performance of the 5-area AF system are the most significant on it’s done list.

Techical data:
Camera/Lens: Nikon D70 / Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 27.05.2005 4:30:59 PM
Exposure: 1/20
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 70 mm
ISO: 200
Original name: DSC_4068

MY DAY IN FULL COLOR

// March 24th, 2005 // 5 Comments » // b&w, people, portfolio, street

Dunno bout you, but this one’s definitely one of my favorites :) I took it while finishing my photo day the day before yesterday.
The kid at the picture just got his helium inflated baloon and one could read happiness at his face :) You can see him marching proudly as if he’s holding a flagpole. That moment he was the king in his own castle in his own world. I shared his joy..I captured his coronation.
I miss a better focus though..that’s why the photo might appear oversharpened or grainy to someone. However, I liked that touch of “gramma’s old photo album” :)

Techical data:
Camera/Lens: Nikon D70 / Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 21.03.2005 4:08:20 PM
Exposure: 1/250
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.2
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 38 mm
ISO: 200
Original name: DSC_3142

OLD MAN’S BENCH

// January 27th, 2005 // 9 Comments » // b&w, people

Do you remember your fears when you were a kid? I used to have two. Those were a sort of nightmares in a tea cup :) One of them was a childish fear of me not knowing how to make a signature in the book which soldiers sign when joining the army and the other was a sense of embarrassment I thought I’d feel when I’m about to kiss a bride in front of all those people staring at us at my wedding :D I’ve got rid both of’em. I won’t be joining the army and I won’t have a large wedding :lol:

But really..when we were kids we used to worry about totally different things. When people grow up (if ever) I guess they’re most terrified of death, especially of beloved ones. But what are we afraid of when we get older. We lived with the fact that one day we won’t wake up all our life..we kinda got used to it. I figured out that people at the end are terrified with a fact that they could end up alone..without family, friends..actually anyone who they could talk to.

We’re still in Dunavski park with this one. I was shooting some water reflections and turned around to see this old man looking at the swan pond. I realized he’s not there to relax..or if he is, it’s just an excuse. He sat at the end of the bench, leaving enough space for other people to sit, inviting them to break his solitude and talk to him for a while. I leaned forward aiming my camera towards him, followed by Ana’s You’re-not-really-gonna-do-that look. It seems I didn’t interrupt his thoughts after two shots as his face remained calm.

I dedicate this one to all of the souls wandering alone.

Blessed are those who share joy and sorrow with people they love, for cold are the days when we fade away forgotten, for cold are eyes when no one meets them, for cold is the heart when no one grasps it.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 15:22:08 PM
Exposure: 1/60s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: No
ISO: 200
Cropped: Yes
Original file name: DSC_2165

DOGGY BEAR

// January 19th, 2005 // 6 Comments » // b&w, light, portrait

This one, like several previous photos, is taken on a lovely Saturday walk with Ana. We past probably most famous street in Novi Sad called Zmaj Jovina and turned in Dunavska street, called after Danube river. There is a nice little gift shop specialized in manufacturing products from leather so we stopped by to check out it’s shop window. All set-up was brightly lit and under all of those glittering watches and leather wallets and accessories there was this doll with sobby look in it’s eyes. At the first look I thought it’s a teddy bear, to see it’s a puppy a while later, but it’s so cute nontheless.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 15:06:44 PM
Exposure: 1/60s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: No
ISO: 200
Cropped: No
Original file name: DSC_2144

STREET CANTATOR

// January 14th, 2005 // 13 Comments » // b&w, people, portrait, street

This is a man people call Bracika (Bruh-tzee-kuh)..I don’t know much about him..moreover, all I know about him is that he likes to sing aloud in the streets, amusing people. Once he told me that he used to sing in an opera house. He often comes under the windows of a girls’ boarding school singing “O sole mio” and some other songs. Poor guy..he definitely lost one of his marbles. But who didn’t.

I like noticing details at people..especially at the photos. Bracika’s long nail at his right arm’s little finger, his watch glittering from his sleeve, his clumsy sewed left coat pocket..it seems I cannot be just a mute spectator. People have a soul and a spirit..and photography captures it.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 14:59:49 PM
Exposure: 1/500s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: No
ISO: 200
Cropped: Yes
Original file name: DSC_2143

SK8ER

// January 13th, 2005 // 5 Comments » // b&w, people, street

This one was taken when Ana and I got to the city core on last Saturday’s walk. The graffiti covered building in the background is Serbian National Theater which is a favorite hang-out place for young people who like rollerblading and scateboarding..OH MY..”young people”..does it mean I’ve stopped counting myself as one?? Now, where’s my rainbow-colored soother!?

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 14:52:53
Exposure: 1/1000s
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 70 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: Yes
Original name: DSC_2133

ARTEM

// December 19th, 2004 // No Comments » // architecture, b&w, light, street

It’s late and I’m more than tired..came back from a wonderful weekend in Belgrade, so I’ll be short :)

I’ve cropped this one..the full word is Artemobili..which is the name of a furniture store.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 7.12.2004 09:36:10 AM
Exposure: 1/400s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 57mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: Yes