My favorite model, indeed

 She is good-looking

but I still have a lot to learn about taking pictures.

Different people, different reaction

It’s good for a photographer, or a pseudo-photographer, to have good-looking friends who don’t mind playing the model role.

Better if they actually enjoy it to the point to suggest possible pictures.
I have to say (or confess?) that  the pictures-request-moment is one of those moment when I figure out if someone consider me as a “tool” or as a friend with whom it’s nice to spend time being creative.

It’s even better if these friends are crazy enough to walk through a public park with their great grandmother’s umbrella as it is the most beautiful and old fashionable umbrella in the world.

I’m not a real photographer, they are not real models and nowadays it’s common that young people “pose” for funny pictures. I know this.

But please, see what’s beyond the appearance: the passion that generally was a reason (for me) to be pushed away now it’s just another way to enjoy time with some friends.

Pulzella (the girl on the left) commented the picture saying: Funny, we look like two opposite world. Him is like “I am so beautiful, I can be a photographic model”. She is like “tralalla what a beautiful day it is”.

Just a nice brother and his sister enjoying time with friends.

Money can’t buy happiness (and friendship)

Yesterday the webmaster turned 30 years old and I felt terrible old.
Why me? Because I’m not that younger than him…and well…it’s not a mystery I still have to get my BA.

To increase my “feeling old” sensation…yesterday I went to the 18th birthday of Marina’s youngest kid.

So, yesterday, while my boyfriend turned 30 away from Sicily because he had to move to North Italy to work I was at a party where most of the people there were 18yo around or younger.
It was a good occasion to feel “out of place”.

It wasn’t so.

Do you know the saying “money can’t buy happiness”?
Yesterday it was 100% clear.
Yes, money help but… these people spending very little had been able to organize a simple, crazy but lovely party where I think everyone had fun, felt welcome and loved.

Weather helped giving us a nice day, a day that was nice enough to have an amazing view on Catania gulf and… for me, to get a sunburn.

I am glad I met these guys

Why the umbrella?
Long story, for another post, maybe.

Finally the NYE 2013 albums!

I repeat, ALL the official pictures taken by the photographers CREW can been found at the NYE flickr account

but I had the pleasure to tell through my pics what I have seen,

therefore I have created 4 albums showing all of my best shots taken those days.

I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed being there!

NYE 2013: Third album – Cristeros Exhibit

I’ve 1 or 2 albums to create left.
I’ve to organize better the ones already on.

Work on the NYE albums is going ahead, slowly, but going ahead.

NYC Jan 2013: unexpected spontaneous smile

Before going to NYC the webmaster told me “I want some pictures where it is clear I am in NYC”.

This surprised me, he generally GROANS when I take pictures of him (even if he allows me doing it) and he is definitely NOT the kind of guy who takes pics of himself in front of iconic places of the countries he visits…
but… he wanted to make some guys “jealous” of the fact he went there.
I am still wondering who he wanted to make jealous since he kept those pics for himself.
Probably I have to worry he has a secret life?

Anyway, he is a free man and this is just the cause of what happened during the very first hour I spent through Manhattan streets.

I have notice a nice point of view where you could see the Empire State Building and on your right a building that wanted to look older than it is…so I told the webmaster to stand there.

The webmaster showed his picture-smile (another mystery about him is his ability to show EXACTLY the same smile in all pictures) and, since after 6yrs I gave up trying to get another smile, I was about to take a picture when behind me I hear a deep voice saying:

“FACEBOOK!”

I thought the Italian equivalent of: “What the…?”

The situation made the webmaster laugh.

I took my picture but suddenly turned around

I knew I had to take a picture of the guy who, I guess, just wanted to just mock a couple of tourists, but who actually gave me the rare chance to get a picture of the webmaster with a spontaneous smile.

I guess I have to thank this funny New Yorker, whoever of them he is.

I still laugh when I think about that moment

NYE 2013 albums (work in progress)

The work on the albums is going ahead.

NYC Jan 2013: super coordination or the cold?

One thing I have noticed in those two weeks spent away from Catania.

People in NYC and in north Italy (or at least, the part of north Italy I have visited) start crossing the street 1-2 seconds before the red light turns green.

Super coordination or the cold makes people RUN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE to reach a warm place?

Surely something new for me.

Anyway, it’s amazing this too.

Friday

Last step.

(for now)

NYE 2013: Instants speaking of joy

The show was almost over (I think) and I went on a balcony trying to catch a picture that showed the artists and the audience in action.
While thinking about which was the best frame, I have noticed something happening on the right side of the stage.
3 guys seemed moving up and down something.

“what is happening?!”

The co-players (co-worker? friend? how can I call them?) of the guy playing on the left side of this picture moved up their arms each time he  raised his instrument.
All lasted a few seconds (not more than 5), therefore by the time I realized it was a nice moment and pointed my camera on them, everything was almost over.

What a pity I didn’t catch all the three guys on the right “imitating” the motion of their friend.

I don’t know why they were doing this, but I thought “They are working but enjoying everything like a child”, and considered it the n-th proof of their joy for what their were doing. Hope I’m not wrong

Actually it looked like that each time one of them had a “solo” moment the other guys around supported him, in a way or another…

NYE 2013: awaited picture

Taking picture at the final show wasn’t my task

That’s why I told the young man who had this task that “I’m going to take pictures at the show, but just for my own pleasure”. This young man surprised me answering back: “Don’t worry! I won’t get angry, actually I’d like some help”. Just an example to give an idea of what kind of people you can find working as volunteers at the Encounter.

This picture, especially, is one of my favorite for several reason.

One of the reasons is that for years I thought about how beautiful would have been to take a picture of artists in action.
Especially of people playing this kind of music.
I’ve always been amazed by the fact that you can read joy on their faces or in the way they move. It’s clear that they are putting all their passion, love and effort in what their are doing.
I have always thought would be wonderful to be able to take pictures (or do any other kind of job) the same way they play music.
This passion is like shining Beauty.

So I guess that, despite as any other picture even this one just “happened”, I can say that I have been waiting for this shot for years.

Who knows if I’ll ever get new chances to take pictures like (or much better than) this one.

We’ll see.