Putopisi jednog Voyagera

VUKOVAR JEDNA PRICA

Posted on 27 February 2005 by mario

This textual part is inspired by a movie called “Vukovar jedna prica” I watched for the second time two days ago. How low human race can fall keeps surprizing me even now. Feel free to google about war stories from Vukovar..days of it’s “occupation”, “liberation”, “reoccupation”.. There was an interesting thought going through out the movie. Thought of choosing a side. Weather you are “our” or “their”..choosing a side as for declairing as a Croat or a Serb. People stopped being divided into chubbies and slims, tall and short, smart or dull..everyone became just one..a member of either Serbian or Croatian herd. Yes, herd! When you stop using your own brains (if you ever used them at all) and when you start looking at the world as a monochromatic place, at the people as those who are patriots, no matter what they do, and as those who are war criminals, even if they didn’t do a thing..you should hold on a little and wonder if your herd is the right one. If you’re absolutely shure, then you’re wrong.
Like the photo shows, there were two paths you could go. Quintessentially different in the eyes of those taking either one of them. The very same in the eyes of those found inbetween. The very same in the eyes of people who loved other people for what they truly are, and not for their nationality. As you can see, both of them disappeared in the fog..fog of war. Both of them led to the disaster..both of them led to the begining. Like an infant, people learned to walk among and talk to their pre-war neighbours and the war enemies. I wonder sometimes if this whole thing that had happened to my late country really has a moral as of a story or it’s just another Monty Python like sketch, where you see how patethic we are. Only, there is nobody to slap us around a bit with a large trout.
Choose the right side..don’t choose at all!

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 11.01.2005 3:31:42 PM
Exposure: 1/100
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 18 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Cropped: No
Original name: DSC_2244

Posted in street | 4 Comments

LOST

Posted on 17 February 2005 by mario

Photo you see is greatly inspired by one I shot few years back. The “window” you see is the same one. What differs is a camera and time of shooting. This one was shot at sunset time, so the shadows I wanted to (re)capture are not the same as at the “original”. I still haven’t scanned the analogue photo, but I’m planning to (Update: 3 years have passed, and I’m still planning to :) ).

Last night I realized it’s February the 15th and that the deadline for submitting photos to JPGMag ends at midnight! Thanks god for timezones :) They asked for our vision of LOST.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 4:01:15 PM
Exposure: 1/20s /handheld/
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 29 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Cropped: No
Original name: DSC_2204

Posted in architecture, light | Tagged light, Petrovaradin, ruins | 2 Comments

SPIRIT OF SUMMER

Posted on 12 February 2005 by mario

There were several things I wanted to write about, now I can’t think of any..I’m just too darned tired..yawning all the afternoon :) I’ve been off-line for several days cos I’ve been messing with Windows system files which I had to reinstall afterwards, which screwed up my MBR so I couldn’t boot Linux either and had no time to fix the mess :) All that fuss because I decided I want my Windows to look more like Mac’s OS X Panter :) Geeks will understand my urge :) You do? One word..g33k! ;)

Ah..the photo..well I still haven’t finished our little January the 8th tour :D But we’re getting to the end. This one’s a typical winter sunset..that is if you forget the snow for a second :) Speaking of which..it snowed last week and it was freezing -20°C..and as apeaking of freezing, right now I’m listening to Siberian Winter by Running Wild..a fast-lane instrumental.

And tomorrow, after Saturday morn at work, I’m off to Belgrade, to meet my lovely spirit of the summer! :)

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 3:56:29 PM
Exposure: 1/640s
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 38 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Cropped: Yes
Original name: DSC_2197

Posted in light, people, sky | 5 Comments

PANONIAN SAILOR

Posted on 2 February 2005 by mario

Erm..where should I start with this one. It’s taken from the bridge connecting Novi Sad and Petrovaradin, just under the old Petrovaradin Fortress.

Panonia is the name of a large plain Novi Sad lays in. The plain stretches through out Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania. Once upon a time there used to be Panonian Sea where the plain is now.

Looking at this photo, or just seeing it live when, on rare occasions, crossing the bridge, reminds me of tough times we live in. Just like Panonian Sea, many vocations vanished with dying industries. Shipbuilding was one one them.
Now, all we can see are partial images, scenes from the past, memories that are faiding away, scattered remains of what used to be our proud and joy..or someone’s life.

Will we just fade away? Does it bother you? Are you afraid if it?

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 3:34:40 PM
Exposure: 1/320s
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 70 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Cropped: Yes
Original name: DSC_2175

Posted in other, portfolio | Tagged Danube, Novi Sad, river, Serbia, ship | 6 Comments

OLD MAN’S BENCH

Posted on 27 January 2005 by mario

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

Posted in b&w, people | Tagged black'n'white, male, park | 9 Comments

POLARIZING WATER

Posted on 21 January 2005 by mario

We’re still in January the 8th :hehe Now we’re in Dunavski park and what you see is a reflection of a tree against the water in the swan pond. Swan family moved to some warmer place for winter I guess, but it didn’t stop visitors from spamming the water with pop-corn, bread, cleenex tissues..parts of those can be seen as white spots at the photo. But, as they look like stars in the dawning sky I left them exist at this one :hehe
All I wanted to shoot is a reflection, but later I saw that water acts like a polarizer..very strange, but cool effect. I left the bottom of the picture (which was actually it’s top, before I did a 180° rotation) as it’s colors oppose very well to the rest of the photo.

And now..as I feel like writting (as I have time as the matter of fact..I’m reinstalling Win2K at one of the computers..) I’ll continue
with babbeling :hehe
Tonight it’s R.E.M.‘s concert in Belgrade, last night they were in Zagreb, and the night before in Ljubljana. I didn’t feel like going at the concert as I’m not their fan..I like their music, but it’s just not enough for me. Plus, bringing the camera in is not allowed :o :hehe Instead, I decided to go to another metal gig at the club I was a few weeks ago (check this one out). May Result and other bands performing won’t ring your bell, but I hope to catch some shots that will :hehe

Erm..if you’re thinking of buying an MP3 player, I might suggest you considering this model made by SanDisk. I got myself 256MB one and I’m quite pleased with it. Of course..if you’re into quantity, and not quality, consider buying this one which is some 15€ cheaper with 512MB flash memory :hehe

Hehe..I can’t believe I dragged you reading all the way here..boy you’ve got time! :p But don’t worry..people keep saying me that all the time :D
Oops..it seems Windows is installed..gotta go.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 3:15:44 PM
Exposure: 1/50s
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.2
White balance: Manual /cloudy/
Focal length: 35 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Cropped: Yes
Original name: DSC_2153

Posted in nature | Tagged park, reflection, sky, tree | 2 Comments

DOGGY BEAR

Posted on 19 January 2005 by mario

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

Posted in b&w, light, portrait | Tagged black'n'white, toy | 6 Comments

STREET CANTATOR

Posted on 14 January 2005 by mario

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

Posted in b&w, people, portrait, street | Tagged black'n'white, celebrity, male, portrait, street | 13 Comments

SK8ER

Posted on 13 January 2005 by mario

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

Posted in b&w, people, street | Tagged black'n'white, male, sports, street, teen | 5 Comments

SILHOUETTES MADE OF GOLD

Posted on 12 January 2005 by mario

I always have this problem..I go out one day, take a walk and make some 10 shots I consider worth of sharing, I publish one, make a two day pause, then go out again and make some more shots and on fourth day I publish one shot from the new series. I hate not having time to publish all of the shots I intended to. Thus I decided to publish shots respectively, in order they were shot.

Today’s shot was taken just outside the building I live in. The winter sun was in it’s zenith and it casted these eye-catching shadows at what I beilieve is a platan tree. Not only that I liked shadow colors, but also geometry of the scene. The tree deck slit the frame diagonally, and on the split part is divided into two areas..one with purple shades and the other one with the black ones.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 1:31:37
Exposure: 1/320s
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Manual /flash/
Focal length: 70 mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No
Original name: DSC_2118

Posted in light, nature | Tagged abstract, tree | Leave a comment

ON THE BEACH

Posted on 11 January 2005 by mario

Last weekend reminded me of the last summer holiday. Even the weather
(very sunny and unusually warm for january) reminded me of a wonderful time Ana and I had. This one was taken last weekend.
The room was bathing in a dim light, shades were half way down, yet that star was glistening.
Some things, just like some people, need just a trace of light to shine like never before.

In case you have’t noticed, there are three new links under the header and at the bottom (dark | default | light) which will allow you to change the appearance of colors at this and at the index page. Let me know what do you think and whether you like it or not. Not available any more as I changed CMS in the meantime.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 08.01.2005 12:20:49 PM
Exposure: 1/13s
Exposure bias: -1.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Manual
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: No
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in light, people, studio | Tagged detail, fashion, female | 3 Comments

DISTRACTION

Posted on 8 January 2005 by mario

January the 8th..the second day of Christmas acording to Julian calendar is behind us. On thursday I worked part time, should finish at 5pm (instead of at 8pm) but I left my office at 7pm. The other day, when I shot Enigma I saw this Lubitel on the shelf and thought I could use it this way. I shot some 40-50 shots before I started shoting something I liked. You should see that set-up. I covered both flashes with white paper in order to get more difused light, as bouncing off the wall couldn’t do the job. As for a background I lifted the counter and voila :)

Interesting thing is the price of that DLR camera. It was bought for 100 dinars, which was 1.30€ :) Of course, it’s broken..the shutter is working, but it’s diaphragm is not.

Ana and I had a wonderful day today. We took a long walk down the city core, through Dunavski park all the way to Petrovaradin fortress. I took many good photos I’ll be posting during next week.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 06.01.2005 17:54:15
Exposure: 1/60s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Manual
Focal length: 70 mm
Flash: Commander TTL (Built-in + SB600)
ISO: 400
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: Yes

Posted in light, studio | 2 Comments

ENIGMA

Posted on 5 January 2005 by mario

Enigma was the name of a German WWII device used for encrypting/decrypting messages. This is not an Enigma, but a regular type writter with cyrilic layout. We keep it in office for decoration purposes.

This would also be a good moment to wish you a happy New Year :)

It’s also a good moment to tell that I being a good lad last year, decided that Santa should bring me an external speedlight :) I chose Nikon SB600 and I’m more than happy with it!

Pitty it costs over 200€ (it’s big brother SB800 almost 400€) so I’ll have to be satisfied with only one :) but with more speedlights one can do amazing stuf.

So far I’ve shot some portraits (found them very satisfying), some sink water (need extension tubes) and some other photos of minor importance and overall feeling is very positive.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 04.01.2005 19:03:43 PM
Exposure: 1/500s
Exposure bias: -2.0 EV
Exposure program: Shutter priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Manual
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Ext.SB600
ISO: 400
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in studio | 5 Comments

RED PLANET DAWN

Posted on 29 December 2004 by mario

Yesterday..well..now, two days ago, I woke up and saw one of the most beautiful sunrises ever. First the sky was yellow, when I got out and while commuting, it was orange to become silver with almost a summer drizzle and two rainbows by the time I came to work 20 minutes later :) That sky show made my day.
Those three white spots you might notice are reflection of lights inside the bus against the window..not UFOs :)

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 27.12.2004 07:15:06 AM
Exposure: 1/80s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.2
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 38mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in light, nature, sky | 4 Comments

ELECTRIC CENTIPEDE

Posted on 23 December 2004 by mario

I’ve been cleaning my room from all the junk I’ve collected since the last “room raid” and also decided that I’m not gonna make any museum of old computer parts I’ve carefully stored under my bed, so I took all graphic and sound cards, old mouses/mice, speakers, floppies… and put them in the junk. While going through graphic processors/cards I noticed that every single one has 2-8 memory modules you see at the photo. I took all of them out, hoping I’ll have a chance to use them as photo subjects (it’s seems to me like a new pile of junk is on it’s way :) ).

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 12.12.2004 00:44:17 PM
Exposure: 2s
Exposure bias: -1.0 EV
Exposure program: Shutter priority
Aperture: f29
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Tungsten
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 500
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in light, studio | Tagged details, macro, studio | 2 Comments

CELL TISSUE

Posted on 21 December 2004 by mario

This humidity drops were on the inner side of a metal cover. The moment I opened a dish with a red beet salad in it and saw dew drops, I knew what I want :) Cropped parts looks good too, but I’ll go with this one.

P.S. I’d like to share this one with you. Great portrait archives.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 16.12.2004 10:49:39 PM
Exposure: 1/10s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Shutter priority
Aperture: f25
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Tungsten
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in studio | 2 Comments

ARTEM

Posted on 19 December 2004 by mario

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

Posted in architecture, b&w, light, street | Tagged architecture, details | Leave a comment

LONESOME TONIGHT

Posted on 16 December 2004 by mario

Ok, here’s the cropped version of Loneliness which you liked a lot.
I’d like to know in which way does this one seem diferent to you and why do you like it or not.

You may notice that the last two entries have white borders. Just a little tweak I’ve done in order to put bright photos in a more suitable frame.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 7.12.2004 08:59:57 AM
Exposure: 1/2000s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: Yes

Posted in b&w, people, street | 5 Comments

LONELINESS

Posted on 14 December 2004 by mario

Took this one the other day together with Reflection without a name and some other photos you will see in the next few days.

I was always interested in the railroads..I presume because I often read about them, but there were none around the town I grew up. And someone “complained” that there are few people at my photos :)

I’ve been switching between this one and it’s cropped version for 15mins now..can’t make up my mind. At this one I like vast space, misty flora, human will and a long railroad perspective. Tomorrow the accent will be on the movement, dynamics and less geometry.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 7.12.2004 08:591:57 AM
Exposure: 1/2000s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in b&w, nature, people, street | Tagged black'n'white, emotion, female, mist | 10 Comments

REFLECTION WITH NO NAME

Posted on 9 December 2004 by mario

In my last entry I mentioned a walk during which I took several photos I’m quite satisfied with. This is one of those.

Techical data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G
Date: 7.12.2004 09:11:14 AM
Exposure: 1/60s
Exposure bias: 0.0 EV
Exposure program: Auto
Aperture: f4.5
Metering mode: Matrix
White balance: Auto
Focal length: 70mm
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
Quality: JPG Fine
Cropped: No

Posted in architecture, light, sky, street | Tagged reflection | 7 Comments