tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51576556047636899852024-02-21T05:39:08.364+01:00PhotonotesPataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-62734586126891329102011-03-09T22:44:00.004+01:002011-05-30T15:24:05.759+02:00How to remove banding from a jpg?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcYYlIIvz24/TXf0vv-2v9I/AAAAAAAAEAg/AHyaDqpXNIg/s1600/ArcLight%2B024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582199364320149458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcYYlIIvz24/TXf0vv-2v9I/AAAAAAAAEAg/AHyaDqpXNIg/s400/ArcLight%2B024.jpg" /></a>I haven't got a clue. After trying everything recommended in every PS tutorial and every forum, and still without success, a conversation from the movie "Top Secret" comes to mind.<br /><br />The manager, who was supposed to free an American musician from an East-German prison, visits him in his cell and says with a mournful face:<br />"Nick, I have tried everything. The embassy, the consulate..."<br />"Don't worry, there will be a solution."<br />"...the President, the CIA...."<br />"Don't worry, there will be a solution."<br />"... even the Marines. But I still can't make my wife have an orgasm."<br />"I told you not to worry. Here's the solution", the musician says and takes a huge box from under his bunk. The inscription reads: THE MIGHTY ANAL INTRUDER.<br /><br />Anyway, the bottomline is that all jpgs with banding are fucked. No remedy.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-78160889947238605412011-03-04T23:07:00.002+01:002011-03-04T23:08:47.355+01:00The real Hungarian S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwFx1w9IGCdSiG5rrsSSy28i7Uoh45q_P5GWrdTK9iipW8VxNd7ft-EsBJ3247eNzh0JawfFolm_hZgQV4ElSF0Pji41zDbmOaLgoXio3lyohy9c_HRXysHp7DFZ8JQwbcjJJjof2SQz3/s1600/kolontar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwFx1w9IGCdSiG5rrsSSy28i7Uoh45q_P5GWrdTK9iipW8VxNd7ft-EsBJ3247eNzh0JawfFolm_hZgQV4ElSF0Pji41zDbmOaLgoXio3lyohy9c_HRXysHp7DFZ8JQwbcjJJjof2SQz3/s400/kolontar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580350114102416354" border="0" /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-39335043828397481492011-02-14T21:34:00.001+01:002011-02-14T21:37:25.831+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzChfHrEep5BS_fP3rF2OaolxnXcphM1kXh-smFLfWd4F9fPNzUgsW5ZLbfex_sxlNn3Hgun7Vmh1adRkdJBVYQwLexuI4pJTf_zAko-rnx_2wmE2lC9NWYGIugICXHBMrdY_CHH6iV2-/s1600/4796761697_c723aafb83_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzChfHrEep5BS_fP3rF2OaolxnXcphM1kXh-smFLfWd4F9fPNzUgsW5ZLbfex_sxlNn3Hgun7Vmh1adRkdJBVYQwLexuI4pJTf_zAko-rnx_2wmE2lC9NWYGIugICXHBMrdY_CHH6iV2-/s400/4796761697_c723aafb83_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573646599613737970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O4C_gj1GarMMLEb50s-rKk8byV8WyjEoPzuWeAXM007pA-Baf68QmL8wUu47wbukX_KL-r-3F_VHlv9ph3whh32wnREFsOqx28Py1AtI-9vNo0tCMotacOe6wTPshYyBXMw2X81DZs2p/s1600/Quasim_by_Rrustine.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O4C_gj1GarMMLEb50s-rKk8byV8WyjEoPzuWeAXM007pA-Baf68QmL8wUu47wbukX_KL-r-3F_VHlv9ph3whh32wnREFsOqx28Py1AtI-9vNo0tCMotacOe6wTPshYyBXMw2X81DZs2p/s400/Quasim_by_Rrustine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573646597204440434" border="0" /></a>Thanks <a href="http://rrustine.deviantart.com/">Rustine</a>, that was flattering.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-59025435435812078222011-02-12T22:53:00.004+01:002011-02-12T23:08:07.295+01:00Good stuff on LIFECheck out the <a href="http://www.life.com/topic/taking_great_pictures">LIFE magazin series about taking great pictures</a>. I found it today and liked it very much. Full of good tips about triangular composition, leading the eye, and how to take photographs in Hitler's bunker.<br />Not kidding about the latter. What might be even more interesting than war correspondents studying blood stains on the Führer's sofa is that they included some of the original captions in the gallery, where the photographer describes what's on the film rolls. A good reminder that self-administration is as much of a part of photojournalism as is taking pictures. And how hellish it must have been to do this on typewriter... but then we all know that war is hell.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YdjnHw4Fyh0/TVcEcNv9rdI/AAAAAAAAD-A/LuIFkY1r1RM/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YdjnHw4Fyh0/TVcEcNv9rdI/AAAAAAAAD-A/LuIFkY1r1RM/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572927946667961810" border="0" /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-3195401391955157692011-02-08T18:15:00.003+01:002011-02-08T18:27:50.712+01:00Selection criteria in photo competitionsMy entries to the <a href="http://www.thegalaawards.net/"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span id=":5g" class="hP">Portrait and People Contest - The Worldwide Photograph<wbr>y Gala Awards</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> made it into the second round (I suppose most of the participants did, because now it's time to pay for getting admitted into the further rounds - $75 in my case and I still don't know if my vanity is worth it). Since the only title I hold in photography is A.P.W.N.W.A.C. - A Photographer Who Never Wins Any Competition - the whole thing weren't worth a post. However, contrary to the majority of competitions, they were kind enough to describe their selection criteria. I find their list very useful - it's nothing new really, but aptly structured and clearly written. Enjoy.<br /></span><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">1. What is the main thing we notice when looking at the image? (the primary visual impact of the viewer)</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">2. What are the main formal causes of this primary effect? It’s just the formal design or the subject? How do lines, shapes, tones, volumes, textures and patterns interact with the viewer?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">3. Which was the intention of the photographer? Why would this photo be made and how would it be used?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">4. Is there any creativity and innovation in the photo? What do we see as the most innovative and creative aspects?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">5. Is there any meaning or any symbols underlying in the photo that give it a special meaning?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6. Finally, we analyzed the technique of the work:</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.1. Is the light (not the exposure) the right one in terms of direction and quality?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.2. Is the camera angle the most appropriate? </span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.3. Could the photo be improved by cropping it?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.4. Does the depth of field and focus help to the visual impact?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.5. Is the contrast the right one; should it be lowered or augmented?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.6. Burn in or dodge parts of the image enhance the formal design of the image?</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">6.7. If some special technique (like Photoshop art filters, textures or color saturation) are used, does really help to the overall impact; does it add any special meaning or creative approach?</span></p>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-74172325613737996752011-01-21T14:23:00.005+01:002011-01-21T15:21:25.762+01:00500px<a href="http://500px.com/">500px.com</a> is a photo site balancing between usual photo-sharing and a juried selection of photographs. Members can upload whatever they wish but the photographs will soon sink into oblivion unless they become really popular. All viewers can vote pro or contra on a particular image, but it's not mandatory to vote. The more votes an image receives, the less is the weight of a vote. In other words: the more popular an image becomes, the more votes it needs to proceed and finally stay in the top selection. Popularity votes are not to anyone's taste but at least every upload has a chance. I also like the easy-going and slightly ironic attitude of the founders. For example, if you upgrade your membership you don't become "pro" or "bronze" or "full" but - "awesome". (Quite an easy way to become an awesome photographer.) Their portfolio service doesn't offer too many gimmicks but what they provide is decently designed, bug-free and comes with an interface that's a pleasure to use. On the negative side, a great part of the chat goes in Russian and the site lacks a real community because there isn't any discussion forum. But for easy photo sharing with a little competition, the site is perfect. <div>Anyway, most of what's popular there is escapist-beauty-glam stuff (and I don't mean this in a dehonestating way because who wouldn't want to see nice things once in a while?). I had a hard time establishing myself since my "work" is mostly documentary-oriented with just a few attempts at fine art, but at last today one of my nudes got into the pool of most popular images.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTmJlB6tLmI/AAAAAAAAD80/ygO0ZRRPsxQ/s1600/500.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564630083855789666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTmJlB6tLmI/AAAAAAAAD80/ygO0ZRRPsxQ/s400/500.JPG" border="0" /></a>It's one from a 2009 shooting with model Ewelina in Cologne. Moreover, through my 500px portfolio I received an inquiry from a German gallery about buying this one. I hope it can be realised but in any case, isn't this the kind of email all photographers hope to find in their mailbox one day? At least it gave me good impetus to work the image over, having at last a real image in mind and not just the usual 900x600 pixel thumbnails.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564639696034151922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTmSUiEnPfI/AAAAAAAAD9I/rxsNdLWWEAE/s400/noisebromoil2%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-22614616231136133792011-01-19T11:00:00.019+01:002011-01-21T00:39:50.357+01:00SajtóFotó 2010 - Hungarian Press Photo Awards 2010Sajtófotó, the annual Hungarian Press Photo Awards have always been criticized for being open to all but always won by the same insiders. It was welcomed news to hear that foreign photographers (Jan Sibik, Sam Steward, Filip Horvath from AP and Thomas Szlukovenyi from Reuters were invited this year so that the competition doesn't turn into the usual game called <em>"I give an award to your protegé, you'll give one to mine".</em> It was also hoped that the final selection will be more in line with the newest trends in photojournalism, especially with <a href="http://www.sibik.cz/">Sibik</a> on the board.<br />The winners will be announced later today but here are a few thoughts about the third round (that's the pool from which the finalists were picked) in the portrait category, one in which I was very interested. The jury's discussions could be followed online.<br />I was amazed to see these to nearly similar images appear. When I saw this first I said wooow that's a good one. According to the caption, it shows a boy in front of his ruined home after his village was flooded in May. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTa2iq282ZI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/1qcoyPG4pow/s1600/454-78-00000-0000-28503-51953.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563835096399403410" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTa2iq282ZI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/1qcoyPG4pow/s400/454-78-00000-0000-28503-51953.jpg" border="0" /></a> But like always, if something seems to be too good to be true then it usually is. Because here's the same boy again:<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTa2ieNiLvI/AAAAAAAAD7I/hlUNYXEVYjM/s1600/541-78-00000-0002-30654-55838.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563835093004463858" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTa2ieNiLvI/AAAAAAAAD7I/hlUNYXEVYjM/s400/541-78-00000-0002-30654-55838.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>The jury quickly checked if the two shots were submitted by the same photographer (they weren't) and picked the second image. As I see it, it would have been more appropriate to reject both because one cannot shake off the feeling of the whole scene being staged and the boy coached. At least we spectators couldn't.<br /><div align="left">Then, there was the question of how much creativity is allowed in a portrait. This is a portrait of Béla Albertini, a renown photographer and university professor of photo aesthetics, photo journalism and photographic composition. As I see it, the photograph tries to convey the complexity of his character. It also makes reference to the art of photographic composition and maybe to analogue photography as well, since Albertini was a successful sociographic photographer himself in the old days.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW0r47fbOkCyq6uCVPpxgXPjW1_wMN8N7zg8bd6N0zSGqk5KyhV7ZZu_X16w6T5jwcWwY2BPPjECT9EIQLJ4pYzOuEGehDJz9kJDqIc2jiWbqp6WTodSVsSk9kzgZOrHK5o6e73ZusVey/s1600/264-78-00000-1738-28002-51040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563835087185014450" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW0r47fbOkCyq6uCVPpxgXPjW1_wMN8N7zg8bd6N0zSGqk5KyhV7ZZu_X16w6T5jwcWwY2BPPjECT9EIQLJ4pYzOuEGehDJz9kJDqIc2jiWbqp6WTodSVsSk9kzgZOrHK5o6e73ZusVey/s400/264-78-00000-1738-28002-51040.jpg" border="0" /></a> The jury didn't really know what to do with this until the Hungarian moderator asked the guest jurors (especially Stewart who is a photo editor at NPPA) if they would chose it for publication, to which they replied with a clear "no" on the grounds that it isn't a photo-journalistic portrait and was obviously post-edited. A good argument. However, in the years before we saw many heavily edited (but excellent) photographs among the winners of the portrait category, like this:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563843835757201202" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTa-fXgOBzI/AAAAAAAAD7k/HsI1vwyTDtk/s400/2b.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="left">(Péter András Németh: Blind aikido master)</div><div align="left">...or this:</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563871557666693474" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 269px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTbXs_qfYWI/AAAAAAAAD8o/_NelvKjrN6s/s400/3_0.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="left"></div>(Árpád Kurucz: Thrillusionist, <em>"Életbűvész"</em>)<br />So what's the way to take? I'm not saying that this picture should have been the winner but have some doubts about the jury's argumentation - are press photographers not allowed to think out of the box when it comes to conveying a subject's character and profession? After all, the guest jurors were involved to add a more forward-looking spirit in terms of photographic creativity to this competition.<br />Same here: the portrait of an actress. What do actresses do? They play different characters. To me, this photograph shows just that.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563842574255611730" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcgBbEX1NYee1pkJoldrflj3duw857sXI2oG4yfBRzE7PZxhxHEW1ffPtONR1t4dtDIcWT5SkrrCT_YEx_oCQBZFROfCMs4Zzc6x1G3OPUHIbo-xszw2aZrCNBTuY2ldlMcXzMt6y09ub/s400/513-78-00000-0003-32047-58382.jpg" border="0" />One of the jurors added with a laugh, "<em>I like the woman but not the picture</em>". Hell of an argument...<br /><br />Stop press: here are the winners of the portrait category.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563854421268832642" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 282px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLimvF7Zx7MuoWp3K-k4tJ8pyngL6x2XPniE9t6U4X1by8LA3ucTsOB6zFOlLOP7-kFXsXk_FJPOgZB4zOaT1i1hSvBR12YVoM80Rp-E-1HpjWW6lGMu5Pe8r3J355IqeTNFyeFKgnT-c/s400/461-77-32632-0008-32767-59699.jpg" border="0" />"Can't be wiped off", by Viktor Veres<br />There were many technically better ones than Veres' winning photograph but it's definitely an image in which expressivity, emotions and impact overrule any technical issues. One of course need to know the context: it was taken after the red mud catastrophy in October when a spill of toxic waste devastated two villages, killing several people and turning the countryside into a minor version of Chernobyl. Too bad that for anyone who doesn't know the context this could be a woman who just had tomatoes thrown at her face. Anyway, for us in Hungary this image has the potential to become a photographic icon. Well deserved.<br />Just as a footnote: this image had no title and no caption whatsoever in the competition, they where added at a later stage - when it was, on paper at least, not allowed. It's also interesting that it barely made it into the third round, scoring only 3 of 7 possible points (even my own photograph which was later rejected got 5 at that stage). But as said: well deserved, imo.<br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563854425696036770" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfqhTJYBGEkpio3QVndbGybMmz9fHJJTLXHGV2UY7QeN6KyN_4K3DsWzM7nCmkKxhyphenhyphenrqTRBpHYmUnvOtseHqvzyXW66X4MWy2oS-dq2Y9FY7nGBJEkQTELwRBo090yyoHbM0E8JPuYDT3/s400/267-78-00000-0015-29656-54030.jpg" border="0" />Hope, by Akos Stiller<br />This in an image that simply <em>had</em> to win: the Dalai Lama giving an interview to journalists in the House of Parliament. Big news for Hungary, but the news for the rest of the world is that even His Holiness has hair in his nose. At least photo critics will have a good reference when they argue that photographing faces from below and leaving reflections in eyeglasses are not necessarily flaws in a photograph. (Or maybe not?)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563854428769787746" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTbIH9jOn2I/AAAAAAAAD8E/TiHJPoF7jPQ/s400/017-78-00000-0014-24519-45054.jpg" border="0" />Fate, by M. Istvan Kerekes<br />"<em>Two years old Klári lives in Transsylvania, sharing a mud house with three sisters and her parents. They almost lost everything in the floods two years ago</em>." At least that's in short what the caption says. Very heart-wrenching and all and maybe I'm stupid but I'd expect from a finalist of a press photography competition to tell the story with the image, not only the caption. (By the way, Stiller and Kerekes have been among the finalists in 2008 and 2009 too. It's a small country, you know... and it's of course merely a coincidence that the overall winner ("grand prize for best achievement"):...</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563869381783342114" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TTbVuV3eTCI/AAAAAAAAD8c/CkCTWhsieQA/s400/454-76-00000-0005-31200-56843.jpg" border="0" />...works for the same online news portal like the jury member who stepped in at the last moment to replace a Slovakian juror who fell sick. Did I tell Hungary is a small country? Or maybe I'm being just... too Hungarian, genetically prone to see cronyism around every corner. In any case, this year didn't bing big surprizes: we have seen the same names win before, and before, and before that too.)<br /><p></p><p>I can't understand why the competition is still not divided into professional and amateur categories: the few dozen "big shots" could still pat each other on the back in the pro category and let us lesser mortals compete outside their hallowed circles. </p><p>The bottomline is: if I was an aspiring young press photographer looking at the finalists for inspiration and new ways of photojournalism to explore, at least in the portrait category, I'd have a very hard time finding it. But the most painful thing about this awards is that if you a pro and win yet another time, it doesn't really matter; if you're an amateur and win, it doesn't help you either. The whole thing just doesn't look as good on a photographer's CV as it should, and probably not because Hungarian photographers lack talent or skills. Pity.<br /><br />Link to the result page: <a href="http://www.sajto-foto.hu/2010/dijazottak">http://www.sajto-foto.hu/2010/dijazottak</a> </p>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-26489064485218714712011-01-12T21:37:00.005+01:002011-01-12T22:35:30.489+01:00Opening old perspectivesSoon we will all photograph in 3D and merge videos with still shots and images will be no longer saved to memory cards but directly transferred to Facebook from the camera. Or so they say. then, returning to the very basics of visual arts can be quite inspirational in our quest for better photographs.<br /><br />The world is satiated with good portraits and photographers are always on the look-out for new PS filters and add-ons and post-editing methods that would make a difference between their images and the rest. But let's forget editing for once and go back to basics.<br />Let's take the good old perspective as a creative tool. We tend to overlook it in our photographs as something basic and self-explaining. But deepening the perspective can increase the value of an already good photograph tremendously, and one doesn't even need CS5 for it.<br /><br />What made this come to my mind is a photo by <a href="http://www.wix.com/toldizoran/toldi-zoran">Zoran Toldi</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4RCR4WLMI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/qsHteFuDjhA/s1600/zoran2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4RCR4WLMI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/qsHteFuDjhA/s400/zoran2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561401320706288834" border="0" /></a>A dilapidated door as background, bare feet on the threadbare cobblestones. All details match the portrait of a street urchin, and although the photographer shows just a small part of it it isn't too difficult to imagine the wider environment. A good shot just as it is.<br /><br />Truth is, I have altered the above image slightly. Here's the original:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4RCEghgGI/AAAAAAAAD6I/JoHSlbZ9Tbw/s1600/zoran.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4RCEghgGI/AAAAAAAAD6I/JoHSlbZ9Tbw/s400/zoran.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561401317116706914" border="0" /></a>As I see it, the photo would be good enough without that open window. However, by that little detail the photograph looks more airy and three-dimensional, since the perspective doesn't end at the door and let's the eye wander beyond it. If I compare the two I feel as if my eyes would bounce back from the close background in the first version. It looks so much better with the background opened up - the simple effect of using a deeper perspective.<br /><br />To make the best use of this detail, a strong crop comes to mind. Looking at it from closer, the arches in the background start communicating with the curves on the door and on the subject's clothes:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4YG6zGSHI/AAAAAAAAD6c/uiiu3mr2xVI/s1600/zoran3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 301px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4YG6zGSHI/AAAAAAAAD6c/uiiu3mr2xVI/s400/zoran3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561409096991000690" border="0" /></a>Thinking it through, the final result could be a close-up portrait with a strong emotional content and many little geometric details delicately connected to each other: the arches with the curves on the cap, the carving on the door with the fingers, the circles in the iron grate with the round number (5) on the sweater, the brightness of the far background to the bright collar. But what really makes the music here is the deep perspective. One only needs a good eye to see this altogether, even subconsciously, and press the shutter.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4YHIaa0wI/AAAAAAAAD6k/BviRXWQjIWQ/s1600/zoran4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TS4YHIaa0wI/AAAAAAAAD6k/BviRXWQjIWQ/s400/zoran4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561409100645585666" border="0" /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-23266032548986097862011-01-10T10:57:00.008+01:002011-01-10T12:27:18.288+01:00Treasure in the trash: Vivian Maier on subba.huOne might think the most fascinating about Vivian Maier's work is how she managed to take those awesome street shots. Or the fairy-tale story of discovering her work. Or the whole buzz around her in the street photographers' community.<br />All wrong.<br />The most fascinating about her is that she even made the jaw of virtual trash-collectors drop in awe. There's a dirty smelly little site on the Hungarian web called <a href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1">Subba.hu</a> (subtitle: "everyday trash") which tiressly digs up the bowels of the net in its search for photographs of ugly people, videos of hilarious ways to die, in short: everything that's ridiculous and pathetic. Sometimes I check it up for inspirations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTTk3GyoHbVNcbQ1VYtzWBgtqtg3DLSYi4tiAP5JzxyK9Z9ZsHBK4FQADU-GxsLgvaKeNnYHjRTP2SsCTQTvQRh0QsmjeFRRW4nWgzoZqgGdj1kbNqVgLK1bzIB1q7STMvhly3gqFn2-B/s1600/subba.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560495480284385954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTTk3GyoHbVNcbQ1VYtzWBgtqtg3DLSYi4tiAP5JzxyK9Z9ZsHBK4FQADU-GxsLgvaKeNnYHjRTP2SsCTQTvQRh0QsmjeFRRW4nWgzoZqgGdj1kbNqVgLK1bzIB1q7STMvhly3gqFn2-B/s400/subba.JPG" border="0" /></a> And what do I see today? It says: <em>"Vivian Maier: The Chicago nanny spent her free time walking the streets with her camera. More than hundred thousand negatives are waiting to be processed, her photographs are simply awesome."</em> Now, one needs to know that if Subba were to grant the Academy Awards they'd give it to <a href="http://www.videophenomena.com/2-girls-1-cup/">Two-girls-one-cup</a>. Accordingly I expected some dreadful images, maybe badly processed ones or a sarcastic post to make fun out of the hype around Maier. To my surprise the site was indeed singing the praise of her work. Judged by the comments other readers were equally perplexed. Some of the comments are hilarious.<br /><br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/143985">Dr. Otto Von Schnitzelpusskrankengescheitmeyer</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133153">2011.01.10. 08:17:05</a><br />This lady surely lived in a posh neighborhood. Or maybe she was just a squalor fetishist?<br /><a id="c12133396" name="c12133396" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/97450">lebowski71</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133396">2011.01.10. 09:02:49</a><br />Never expected this stuff here :)<br /><a id="c12133482" name="c12133482" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/180881">shitgun2</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133482">2011.01.10. 09:14:55</a><br />Phantastic shots, especially those with buildings, she has a remarkable feeling for lines and structures. I don't really like the sociographic images, they're all familiar but beautiful.<br /><a id="c12133619" name="c12133619" _nodup="30804"></a><a id="c12133676" name="c12133676" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/54357">ReWriter</a> · <a href="http://miazhogy.blog.hu/">http://miazhogy.blog.hu/</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133676">2011.01.10. 09:44:55</a><br />You see, people took their self-portrait in the bathroom mirror even then (3:57 in the video). But they had no site to upload them. :)<br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/9843">nevetőharmadik</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133777">2011.01.10. 09:56:37</a><br />Subba, are u sick? XD<br /><a id="c12133811" name="c12133811" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/141793">Peter Blau</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133811">2011.01.10. 10:01:28</a><br />Try to take the same shots in Budapest today. Half of the subjects would file a complaint against the photographer for violating personality rights. The other half would ask for money and others would simply smash your camera :-)<br /><a id="c12133831" name="c12133831" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/527355">Egyedi Nick (Carter)</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133831">2011.01.10. 10:03:54</a><br /><a href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1?fullcommentlist=1#c12133811">@Peter Blau</a>: Maybe she too paid for the photos :) Anyways they are good photographs indeed but there's plenty of the like on the net, just check deviant, and if you go to such a run-down neighborhood and find a good motif and have good equipment and aren't a total dud you can take similar images.<br /><a id="c12133845" name="c12133845" _nodup="30804"></a><a id="c12133904" name="c12133904" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/131">Rav Antal</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133904">2011.01.10. 10:11:39</a><br />So if she "walked the streets with her camera", where are the movies? Or did you just fuck up the translation of the word "camera"?<br /><a id="c12133925" name="c12133925" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/86441">Wild Colonial Boy</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133925">2011.01.10. 10:14:00</a><br />"you can take similar images" Won't be easy without a time machine.<br /><a id="c12133952" name="c12133952" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/86441">Wild Colonial Boy</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133952">2011.01.10. 10:17:00</a><br />It's correct to call a camera a camera in Hungarian, it just ain't usual.<br /><a id="c12133990" name="c12133990" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/131">Rav Antal</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133990">2011.01.10. 10:20:51</a><br />and how do you call a camera?<br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/2180">Cpt. Flint</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12133992">2011.01.10. 10:20:58</a><br />The Americans are lucky, these photographs are not only artistically great but have great documentary value as well.<br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/2180">Cpt. Flint</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134003">2011.01.10. 10:22:26</a><br />motion picture recording camera :)<br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/2180">Cpt. Flint</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134203">2011.01.10. 10:41:56</a><br /><a href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1?fullcommentlist=1#c12134083">@Wild Colonial Boy</a>: yeah and still camera :o) R2D2 is a motion picture recording camera when it's recording Leia.<a id="c12134521" name="c12134521" _nodup="30804"></a><br /><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/159030">fizetett troll</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134521">2011.01.10. 11:12:42</a><br /><a href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1?fullcommentlist=1#c12133811">@Peter Blau</a>: how true! my classmates had to take photographs on Moszkva tér and the Gipsy women selling underwear almost trashed'em.<br /><a id="c12134532" name="c12134532" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/412470">nemacsuka</a> · <a href="http://nemacsuka.blog.hu/">http://nemacsuka.blog.hu/</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134532">2011.01.10. 11:14:13</a><br />Great shots, thanks for sharing. Amazing story, the book will be worth to buy.<br /><a id="c12134625" name="c12134625" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/306556">digitime</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134625">2011.01.10. 11:23:27</a><br />"walked the streets with her camera." in that neighborhood... she was lucky no one hit her in the head for photographing :)<br /><a id="c12134648" name="c12134648" _nodup="30804"></a><a title="Adatlap megtekintése" href="http://blog.hu/user/279035">bestpixel</a> · <a href="http://www.fotoskepzo.hu/">http://www.fotoskepzo.hu/</a> <a title="Állandó link ehhez a kommenthez" href="http://subba.blog.hu/2011/01/10/vivian_maier_1/fullcommentlist/1#c12134648">2011.01.10. 11:25:18</a><br />The photographs – at least those featured on the – are good indeed but only for a housewife. Also, consider that if someone takes several hundred thousand images some _must_ be good, even if the photographer is a dud. She deserves praise for her commitment anyway. Besides, these shots are much better than the "artworks" taken with cellphones and uploaded everywhere...Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-41018028802499232362011-01-07T00:26:00.012+01:002011-01-07T17:43:02.390+01:00A truly dismal standard of reporting<div>Hungary and the UK are on the brink of war, at least in the media after the Economist illustrated <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/17733367">one article </a>with a not-so-flattering photograph of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán. This prompted HírTV, a pro-government news channel, to accuse the Economist of editing the picture such way as to make Mr Orbán, not very popular in Western Liberal press, appear like the devil himself. (Ironically, the photograph was taken by a Hungarian PJ and rather good allround photographer, Ferenc Isza on behalf of AFP. Not a surprise he wasn't available for comment.) The Economist, having a taste for weird humour like jokes about "Hungary" sounding similar to "hungry", added the following caption: "Orban's coming for you". </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559462518164201490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TScttHlGoBI/AAAAAAAAD4c/aEyxy70U8C4/s400/orban.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Scary, huh?</div><div>Now, HírTV made an amateurish attempt at proving that the image was strongly manipulated. They asked a graphic artist to explain how the image was manipulated who presented it - on a photograph of cloudy sky of all things, with a method that looked like auto levels applied on a selection layer. The point was that applying lots of contrast can make an image look gloomy and foreboding, and the same can be done with a portrait. This was allegedly done with Mr Orban's image.<br /></div><div>On a technical side it was a shot in the knee as it proved nothing and made HírTV look like idiots. However, they did have a point because the photo was indeed manipulated just not in the way they presented. So far so bad but Mr Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief (whom in exchange for his paper's most funny puns about Hungary I shall call Mr Nippletrait hereafter) published a blunt editor's note in their <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2011/01/picture_orbán">blog dealing with Eastern Europe</a>. A few jewels: <em>"I write to reject a completely unfounded and defamatory allegation you broadcast yesterday... Indeed, as in every magazine, all our pictures are colour-corrected for print production. We also cropped this picture to fit the column size... But the piece alleges that we went beyond this routine process to change the picture content fundamentally.... it is obvious that there is no manipulation... your piece reflected a dismal standard of reporting."</em></div><div>To prove they did nothing wrong the Economist published the original AFP shot and the cropped illustration side by side:</div><div></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSZq_L_BzZI/AAAAAAAAD4I/EhtPMJPUpBA/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559248423816908178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSZq_L_BzZI/AAAAAAAAD4I/EhtPMJPUpBA/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Alas, this was the point where Mr Nippletrait too made a fool out of himself and his paper. </p><p>First, anyone with just a little knowledge of photography knows that such cropping in a portrait gives more emphasize to the subject. Whatever he's doing will be more accentuated. Here the face, captured in a stern and not very flattering expression, becomes more predominant just by the tight crop. Moreover, the crop made the green parts of the Hungarian flag disappear and the resulting red-white-black colors might make one think of the Nazi , just in the spirit of an article trying to make Orbán appear as a new Hitler - but OK, maybe that's too much of a conteo.</p><p>Second, adjusting skin tones and WB on the face and hair resulted in much harsher facial features and I bet they even pushed the contrasts to achieve this. The result is an even more stern expression that could be easily interpreted as threatening, devilish, evil (you name it) and by adding the punchy caption the editors made sure that even the dumbest of readers understand: here's the bad guy, now hate him for two minutes.</p><p>Third (and this is the point where Mr Nippletrait's arguments go fatally wrong): even if we dismiss the above as nitpicking, fact is that with the same effort a less negative photograph could have been chosen. I wanted to upload a gif animation of the whole moment when the picture was taken but screwed it, anyway here's the next frame just a second after the angry look:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559474461696807554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSc4kUtLUoI/AAAAAAAAD4w/SlnJqaWiEWs/s400/THM_0008515239.gif" border="0" /> <p></p><p>Uh-oh... here Mr Orban doesn't look like the devil and that wouldn't fit into the preconception of the Economist's <em>"objective and fair"</em> (cough) article, now would it?</p><p>That's the painful point. How can Mr Nippletrait be so naive to presume that readers aren't able to think a step further, and be easily convinced that because they didn't add another nose or Hitler moustache or devil's horns, there was no manipulation here? Picking this particular image alone was manipulation, and an even worse manipulation than that of - namely, a blatant emotional manipulation of the readers themselves. One doesn't need Photoshop to lie with a photograph, a pair of scissors and a good crop will do the job:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559479788265732914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRojxDt4T141w9gVqFQQpCjujbNBI9eAm8t7hhst0DDjOTb-oIG-WRBOlFYY87OPk6ZSlEVOplK4HqtoaSHgnE3kOTVKZEoO2q_pPO0jrIFdOWsC6qmU5peY0Tjmk_v0Ws8z8ca3IqVio-/s400/triptichon.jpg" border="0" />Here on the left we see the Al-Jazeera, in the middle the (uhm, that's supposed to be the unbiased fact-based media but none comes to mind) and to the right the FOXNews version of the same event, all captured within a single frame.<br /><p></p><p>OK - all the press does adjust its illustrations to the story it wants to tell (I wish I could take a portrait of Mr Nippletrait picking his nose and adding a caption like "<em>nothing good will come out from there</em>" <strong>if</strong> for any reason I wanted to show him as an ugly person), but doing that and then claiming that they did nothing wrong is as ridiculous as HírTV's amateurish communication of the matter. As I see it, Mr Nippletrait's lecture about good journalism is an overdose of hypocrysis. Seen it before in the Economist, though... a few years back they published a long article in favour of the Turkish EU accession, illustrated with the photo of a Koran school and a caption "Nothing to be afraid of." Define demagogy, eh?<br />Just for fairness' sake I admit that their below illustration with Mr Orban looking down at the articles bashing him is totally hilarious:<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSZq_W_8ODI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/ngQ-0hzkJY8/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg"></p></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559248426773526578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSZq_W_8ODI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/ngQ-0hzkJY8/s400/Untitled-2.jpg" border="0" /><br />Anyway, in my opinion we in Eastern Europe still make the mistake of taking Western media too seriously, as if it wouldn't be the same old manipulative instrument of those with power it always was. Ironically, this mess between HírTV and the Economist is just an example how our naivety fools us; after all, the whole thing is just another occasion to see how the press tries to manipulate us. The press manipulates, bankers are greedy, guinea pigs are not particularly bright. Did I tell something new?Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-54903342637198719212011-01-04T00:10:00.007+01:002011-01-04T09:57:30.602+01:00Fallen legions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHxKqzhKqG5ChRifkDEYnfXwa0XO5XLoYCyxsyu8MZAg8UpkwLI1nXU5qI_12PXNqjwJU4eFlFRfEGz-rFQtd140et-16ldDQJJERdfV59-TJ10-vDzxBVKurCRc6uD7cu7djTzD9b75H/s1600/ugorjki.jpg"><br /></a><br />They used to scalp Barbarian women to sell their blond hair for wigs, not to mention their tendency <span style="font-style: italic;">"to ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, and call it empire; and where they made a desert, to call it peace"</span>, but I can't help myself to feel kind of a sympathy to the Roman Empire. And there was a caesar called Maximian who, had he been just a little more successful, could have changed the course of history; but he failed, and his image shows just that: a failed man, seeing his world collapse around him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnYSOEGwODd_lsarnWJ853XMV1VcmU0pUSm8J3P0gtrmzDtoXVeihBJt-Hisqh78m27BEnv5eqbWqdS4YoO8ZDCJFcR6XzTkzZtHQ7m40-jIJMf8XAYjDLEd8d_7YfER3Nhp7hDDUbQY5/s1600/maximian+teljes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnYSOEGwODd_lsarnWJ853XMV1VcmU0pUSm8J3P0gtrmzDtoXVeihBJt-Hisqh78m27BEnv5eqbWqdS4YoO8ZDCJFcR6XzTkzZtHQ7m40-jIJMf8XAYjDLEd8d_7YfER3Nhp7hDDUbQY5/s400/maximian+teljes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101609024237426" border="0" /></a>I always loved this image with all the world-weariness written on his face and for some time entertained the idea to make a similar self-portrait just for my own fun. With the peace of Christmas holidays descending on us I took the time to make it. Ironically, there's a poem titled <span style="font-style: italic;">"With fallen legions"</span> by Hungarian poet Árpád Tóth, in which an aging man, still longing for love but neglected by young and desirable women, compares himself to an emperor still ready for new conquests but having only "fallen legions", a metaphor for being powerless. Not in the sexual way of meaning; at least to me, still far from being powerless, it's about understanding much but not being able to change anything, going far beyond love. And of course seeing a new seed of beauty growing which my generation will never reap. Isn't this ironic: long ago I knew their mothers in their full beauty, and now I see their daughters blossoming? Anyway, the point is that I didn't want to hire professional models, I wanted to have two under-age beauties to emphasize the difference between their fresh faces and my own worn-out look.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJX-jw66CI/AAAAAAAAD2c/_zNb7i9psN8/s1600/csaszar3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJX-jw66CI/AAAAAAAAD2c/_zNb7i9psN8/s400/csaszar3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101622392547362" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJYuKKeXPI/AAAAAAAAD3M/Iicel0lqmcE/s1600/img-024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJYuKKeXPI/AAAAAAAAD3M/Iicel0lqmcE/s400/img-024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558102440154127602" border="0" /></a>So entered Rebeca and Reka, with reflective shields replacing the <span style="font-style: italic;">scutum</span> of Maximian's bodyguards. Originally I wanted to do it with Edd Carlile but he was away, and I still had enough photographic legions to attempt it on my own; in any case, I counted on his portrait expertise but didn't want to do it his way. I admire him but don't want to imitate him. In any case he had made a much better emperor than me.<br />After the emperor shots I took a few beauty shots of them, which were nothing particular but good exercise.<br /><br />I screwed some of Reka's pics though by over-stretching de 5D's flash syncron speed but somehow I like those images anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4CWnB_Awuw314gmGIpOl4723IFJfNljAGrjoBJasUMhWmDoNU9-BFVpwfF6_hjg3FB1JsP4JXWlrP8ItfNkJi-aFV9yLYLXi_A_h9y5M6IlJz2A3vM8Wafc8C_tGsMOEULnmBHeRQShP/s1600/_MG_4910v3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4CWnB_Awuw314gmGIpOl4723IFJfNljAGrjoBJasUMhWmDoNU9-BFVpwfF6_hjg3FB1JsP4JXWlrP8ItfNkJi-aFV9yLYLXi_A_h9y5M6IlJz2A3vM8Wafc8C_tGsMOEULnmBHeRQShP/s400/_MG_4910v3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101798819719570" border="0" /></a>It was a tad difficult with Reka. She will grow into something wild, with more explicit sexuality than usual, and I didn't consider it right to push the shooting into that direction. I wish she had worn a torn leather jacket with sharp metal rivets. Or just smash a window. She rocks, and she definitely should rock. In the good, old-fashioned way. Maybe next time.<br /><br />It was easier with Rebeca. Attending a ballet school and prepared for a life on the stage, she was a pleasure to instruct. And I love working with professional ballerinas. Bodies innocent and graceful from far away, but lethal terminators from close enough.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJYJUreJVI/AAAAAAAAD3E/cWkkXS3J-ag/s1600/_MG_4992.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJYJUreJVI/AAAAAAAAD3E/cWkkXS3J-ag/s400/_MG_4992.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101807321720146" border="0" /></a>We had some problems in the beginning because the shooting started with me slipping & tearing down the black background fabric. (You know, a good photographer shows to the models what pose he wants them to assume.) I told Rebeca, "jump up and do the splits" which she happily did, only to prove the studio too small.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHxKqzhKqG5ChRifkDEYnfXwa0XO5XLoYCyxsyu8MZAg8UpkwLI1nXU5qI_12PXNqjwJU4eFlFRfEGz-rFQtd140et-16ldDQJJERdfV59-TJ10-vDzxBVKurCRc6uD7cu7djTzD9b75H/s1600/ugorjki.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHxKqzhKqG5ChRifkDEYnfXwa0XO5XLoYCyxsyu8MZAg8UpkwLI1nXU5qI_12PXNqjwJU4eFlFRfEGz-rFQtd140et-16ldDQJJERdfV59-TJ10-vDzxBVKurCRc6uD7cu7djTzD9b75H/s400/ugorjki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558116622239083186" border="0" /></a>So, there we stood with Reka (a quite bendy model herself) looking with dropping jaws at Rebeca who seemingly without any efforts assumed the most self-torturing poses, and even when I told her "OK, nice, but now do it again so that I can capture it and don't forget to shake your hair" she did it without any moaning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqOnaYL6SjKAs-gOGynGu_MfUpPaKFLaXK_as-MLceC0qCmQXTXkivOH7Oc6iAEnKzwjv9bk-DeL6R6d6CEMqio2EUz202NYDhXCo7AEqRCioTpHN-LMOE_HaN7c-PW7XX2ueaEU1Kb9s/s1600/_MG_4881.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqOnaYL6SjKAs-gOGynGu_MfUpPaKFLaXK_as-MLceC0qCmQXTXkivOH7Oc6iAEnKzwjv9bk-DeL6R6d6CEMqio2EUz202NYDhXCo7AEqRCioTpHN-LMOE_HaN7c-PW7XX2ueaEU1Kb9s/s400/_MG_4881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101636735112450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJX_AobAWI/AAAAAAAAD2s/5kVHY5eyBnM/s1600/_MG_4838.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TSJX_AobAWI/AAAAAAAAD2s/5kVHY5eyBnM/s400/_MG_4838.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101630141530466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABaAwKrq1GFsWYbz71QGio4s2EOlDSqGkCJsM9ZDLOglpP-x_wDvgAElt36b7Y7_fuBba-dJt6ZrdtzGauZmo67BWOktWQz6vFBCcZ0JMt-mTm922SOheR2HsSDbzN6NbJIl_a5OdHP_4/s1600/_MG_4827.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABaAwKrq1GFsWYbz71QGio4s2EOlDSqGkCJsM9ZDLOglpP-x_wDvgAElt36b7Y7_fuBba-dJt6ZrdtzGauZmo67BWOktWQz6vFBCcZ0JMt-mTm922SOheR2HsSDbzN6NbJIl_a5OdHP_4/s400/_MG_4827.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558101627250949986" border="0" /></a>Anyway, I'm not so satisfied with this set; there were lots of props we didn't use, Reka got stuck in a not-so-fitting innocence, and the black background, and my own stupidity not to use the stroboscope mode of the 580EXII for the ballet shots - but it was great fun at least. Even though I, the old emperor, couldn't shake off a little envy for the young lucky centurions who might be legally in love with these two beauties.<br />But in all honesty, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-62718412116445805652010-12-22T01:10:00.002+01:002010-12-22T01:19:09.627+01:00The end of the world as I know itIt has nothing to do with photography but I stumbled upon a comment to a blog which made me reconsider everything I knew about the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Indiana Jones could die in the 5th part. A character's popularity can even grow after his death. Think about Jesus and Bobba Fett etc."</span><br /><br />I've seen many things in my life but never expected to read Jesus and <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/FettbobaJB.png">Bobba Fett </a>in one and the same sentence, and in such a colloquial and natural way. It's not as if I were religious. It's the absurdity that made my shout OMG and slap my forehead. Obviously I'm getting too old for this world.<br /><br />Still waiting to wake up from this. Or falling asleep would be even better.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-90492570470790119662010-12-21T22:30:00.003+01:002010-12-21T22:36:33.146+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TREd0BWtgzI/AAAAAAAAD1c/pj89o3zsixg/s1600/_MG_9365-01kicsi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TREd0BWtgzI/AAAAAAAAD1c/pj89o3zsixg/s400/_MG_9365-01kicsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553252595078628146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TREcu-h-7_I/AAAAAAAAD1Q/za3lJanXdlA/s1600/_MG_9504ff.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TREcu-h-7_I/AAAAAAAAD1Q/za3lJanXdlA/s400/_MG_9504ff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553251408909627378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TREci4DaGII/AAAAAAAAD1I/2VDByFp-HJQ/s1600/_MG_9367.jpg"><br /></a>The more I know about people, the more I prefer landscape photography.<br />Nah, just kidding. But sounds good anyway.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-28487341390012801502010-12-15T01:05:00.002+01:002010-12-15T01:11:33.296+01:00DilemmaWhich one?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NQL2_gDC0Osfj0UP2RILgk196RUPAO55e2K5hrAGZGiLNCRpSfcuzlqYS6qgFtIY1JAuD4gYaenXCN6oi2zMAFd1_eXRz85FwEBZKDxtk7ee1exQWRgDdJGrf8mWqWuvVKhQbcuDAD9r/s1600/_MG_9995.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NQL2_gDC0Osfj0UP2RILgk196RUPAO55e2K5hrAGZGiLNCRpSfcuzlqYS6qgFtIY1JAuD4gYaenXCN6oi2zMAFd1_eXRz85FwEBZKDxtk7ee1exQWRgDdJGrf8mWqWuvVKhQbcuDAD9r/s400/_MG_9995.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550693751693696658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5YuAGFHET01KzjRc2WmHd7AalLFUpzVvCeLYplXBmhDhRd4ggoD405cL_cJdfAivMPpo4pbNB-c1Y7nKDeRTSDfTwlgg2xkUAGvibDjrcJcCDmwp0D0plQ_VoCIeyGhvYrXe0RRxDLzL/s1600/_MG_9996.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5YuAGFHET01KzjRc2WmHd7AalLFUpzVvCeLYplXBmhDhRd4ggoD405cL_cJdfAivMPpo4pbNB-c1Y7nKDeRTSDfTwlgg2xkUAGvibDjrcJcCDmwp0D0plQ_VoCIeyGhvYrXe0RRxDLzL/s400/_MG_9996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550693744819932978" border="0" /></a>It's always the question...Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-59661938908781685352010-11-10T16:41:00.005+01:002010-11-10T17:31:48.214+01:00The most iconic photographers?<div>CNN's readers can <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/icon/vote//?hpt=Sbin">vote for the most iconic photographer</a>, with 20 great ones to choose from. The page is a bit bugged, which I realised when the caption belonging to Avedon appeared under Lawrence Beitler's photograph but apart from this grotesque trick by the web devil it's a great initiative.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537949055541340642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 356px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMKycbldH_1NWui_S6ydOj_QvexaZLGjbdeOCdqr782pNqxa0MPvWPvq394fXUIuGL-McCJQOFGtw4oVYDN6BY3pakb1v9aCicIGHJrjnSSb4ckWxAH1S42qadT_mvQ-szJFl4YN-jYrY/s400/avedongonewrong.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>Now... one thing I could never understand - or rather accept - is how much photographic history is centered around American photographers. OK, why being surprised when out of the 20 candidates 15 are American in a CNN feature (or 16 if we count cosmopolitan Capa too), but it's a bit like voting for the most iconic buildings of the world and 16 of 20 candidates were US landmarks. Where are the Japanese, Russian, British ? Typing all this I realise that the CNN audience is probably more acquainted with Weegee, Weston & Co and less so with Kertész or Saudek, just to mention two East Europeans... or so I guess.</p><p>Another interesting thing is that the featured German photographers - Gursky and the Bechers - are more on the abstract side while the others represent people photography, from PJ to fashion and documentary, making me think if the US audience had a problem understanding the visual language of non-American people photography. But they obviously can cope with Cartier-Bresson and Capa, so the explanation has probably more to do with the personal taste of the guys who compiled the list and there can't be any dispute over such subjective choices.</p><p>Anyway, it's clear that the US had the greatest magazines, the galleries with the best marketing and of course the most photographers, so it's not surprising that photographic history is often understood as the history of American photography. </p><p>Who would be my choice? I would be hard pressed to pick the 5 most iconic names, but in photojournalism it would be Weegee - he invented the genre after all and his photographs are as fresh now as they were in his time. HCB... well, some friends might kill me for such blasphemy but I believe his most iconic shots like <a href="http://www.lacasapark.com/la/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/cartier-bresson-hyeres1.jpg">this</a> were staged. Joe Rosenthal and Capa ditto (sorry, I don't believe the loyalist's death was real - and even worse, I dare say it doesn't matter). I truly couldn't make a choice. It's after all the photographers one has to rank and not the photographs. If I valued cheerful Capa over aristocratic HCB or the compassionate Dorothea Lange over vulture-like Weegee, would that make any sense? How can you compare the Tienanmen shot (Stuart Franklin) with a fashion photograph (Man Ray) anyway?</p><p>Last but not least - how could any contest be taken seriously which doesn't feature Ken Rockwell?... :)</p>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-73900808382199943492010-10-30T14:35:00.011+02:002010-10-30T16:12:28.795+02:00A few pics from RajasthanRajasthan is is great. First, it has the mood.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5iLO78I/AAAAAAAADzE/htMELKq3B0w/s1600/jaisalmer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5iLO78I/AAAAAAAADzE/htMELKq3B0w/s400/jaisalmer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818821767262146" border="0" /></a>Second, it has mind-blowing colors.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5biiq6I/AAAAAAAADy0/oUFrPpEsnwI/s1600/colors-of-india.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5biiq6I/AAAAAAAADy0/oUFrPpEsnwI/s400/colors-of-india.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818819985976226" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaVOsiQKI/AAAAAAAADz0/zA6knhvJpto/s1600/_MG_3787.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaVOsiQKI/AAAAAAAADz0/zA6knhvJpto/s400/_MG_3787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533826994155962530" border="0" /></a><br />And then it has all those incredible faces... so often seen in other photographs. Already back in 1999, when I presented my first Indian portfolio to Tamás Féner, a living legend among Hungarian photojournalists (he is so old-school that he hasn't even a webpage, but would be nonetheless on pair with the greatest ones had he not been born in Hungary) and I'll never forget the resignation in his voice: <span style="font-style: italic;">"oh yes, India, Pushkar camel fair and stuff like that, do you know how how many million photos we've already seen of that?</span>". Even though my pictures at that time had nothing to do with Pushkar or Rajasthan, he had a point - Rajasthan is a people photographer's paradise and who could resist the temptation? I couldn't. To realize that I can't photograph every smart face and pretty peasant girl was a hard reckoning, but then at least I tried...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5iAxPZI/AAAAAAAADy8/3evdNCzgkJI/s1600/henna.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwS5iAxPZI/AAAAAAAADy8/3evdNCzgkJI/s400/henna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818821723372946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkMsvfHSIeqKS5V3F4a48rslByQbTnx2DGOTPsXjFC3bZpD5cQgBDYMPxTJ5RKbDcJrvfMMALuTsQZ1XITatCrGDeubWqtSW036Z44_A-MQcvu1uPCsh5keUSZJi28RNsXv9QZrgzpW0W/s1600/_MG_3759.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkMsvfHSIeqKS5V3F4a48rslByQbTnx2DGOTPsXjFC3bZpD5cQgBDYMPxTJ5RKbDcJrvfMMALuTsQZ1XITatCrGDeubWqtSW036Z44_A-MQcvu1uPCsh5keUSZJi28RNsXv9QZrgzpW0W/s400/_MG_3759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818304980613618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSbENTs3I/AAAAAAAADyk/lcMGaF2wGmw/s1600/_MG_3588.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSbENTs3I/AAAAAAAADyk/lcMGaF2wGmw/s400/_MG_3588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818298326823794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLD-Am831F5lL5xGQWH2OgHElum0S45oGwxtFihERB8VM7mzZiAoIhjzKbownSwaNT-c3KI21If3le3W4RRFOumoqRuOsvLrmf7GyG2S3GWirvqcPXbEXEXhtIspJyTwJorIAWZxtWEl0/s1600/_MG_3566.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLD-Am831F5lL5xGQWH2OgHElum0S45oGwxtFihERB8VM7mzZiAoIhjzKbownSwaNT-c3KI21If3le3W4RRFOumoqRuOsvLrmf7GyG2S3GWirvqcPXbEXEXhtIspJyTwJorIAWZxtWEl0/s400/_MG_3566.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818293457712402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSaqRdXhI/AAAAAAAADyU/yLZXkX9rc6g/s1600/_MG_3557.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSaqRdXhI/AAAAAAAADyU/yLZXkX9rc6g/s400/_MG_3557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818291364912658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSaQCBRtI/AAAAAAAADyM/J0APgL6W7x0/s1600/_MG_3485.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwSaQCBRtI/AAAAAAAADyM/J0APgL6W7x0/s400/_MG_3485.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533818284320835282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_XgE3bQQdzCtL0ka-RfaGFwft4EfMlKdJMNwWNHaLusDzLj2KX8GzhmG5sQxoJz_LB9DCEh1lGeexG4RGrpKb_vxmeh1HabstINyJtlb9gC0MEERySpVBde4hC3tyWRL5WhiyetZwgNu/s1600/_MG_3266.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_XgE3bQQdzCtL0ka-RfaGFwft4EfMlKdJMNwWNHaLusDzLj2KX8GzhmG5sQxoJz_LB9DCEh1lGeexG4RGrpKb_vxmeh1HabstINyJtlb9gC0MEERySpVBde4hC3tyWRL5WhiyetZwgNu/s400/_MG_3266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817587201314642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxqATjlI/AAAAAAAADx8/pqZfDk_s2pY/s1600/_MG_3555.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxqATjlI/AAAAAAAADx8/pqZfDk_s2pY/s400/_MG_3555.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817586918329938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxS0s_2I/AAAAAAAADx0/m1l-1BRX0Mg/s1600/_MG_3538.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxS0s_2I/AAAAAAAADx0/m1l-1BRX0Mg/s400/_MG_3538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817580695650146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxZVeCzI/AAAAAAAADxs/zyOiNfvmMRY/s1600/_MG_3448.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxZVeCzI/AAAAAAAADxs/zyOiNfvmMRY/s400/_MG_3448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817582443694898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxHfSf9I/AAAAAAAADxk/BbEI4dxWj34/s1600/_MG_3224.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRxHfSf9I/AAAAAAAADxk/BbEI4dxWj34/s400/_MG_3224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817577653043154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRiSOWB8I/AAAAAAAADxc/FpqC8fUFU8w/s1600/_MG_4252.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRiSOWB8I/AAAAAAAADxc/FpqC8fUFU8w/s400/_MG_4252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817322836723650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQhUPUVHgomYkAGtEiKNLC6b8zqK7yZz8qGWONhjMy8TYxNyy64C2v6ES26dm-Jo0mC-G95I-jGI-RUYArZ0hJi3TNFt4PfZshrkhHRz7o1Ioeh_GYbEcjIdhJu2iEvD_vz9o7IN4eehN/s1600/_MG_3186feld3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQhUPUVHgomYkAGtEiKNLC6b8zqK7yZz8qGWONhjMy8TYxNyy64C2v6ES26dm-Jo0mC-G95I-jGI-RUYArZ0hJi3TNFt4PfZshrkhHRz7o1Ioeh_GYbEcjIdhJu2iEvD_vz9o7IN4eehN/s400/_MG_3186feld3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817316891166786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRhm9sodI/AAAAAAAADxE/K-NUe63KlKU/s1600/_MG_3197.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRhm9sodI/AAAAAAAADxE/K-NUe63KlKU/s400/_MG_3197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817311224177106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRhsv_eII/AAAAAAAADw8/ISIq15Wk3LU/s1600/_MG_4247feld.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwRhsv_eII/AAAAAAAADw8/ISIq15Wk3LU/s400/_MG_4247feld.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817312777304194" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKp8g-yif83BGuEJkYRBK9586ujcUgl5401qHHRCyLo90F8ErKFz-ipi4UIuzZF_kU4zjHaj2Jm5-8FzEAg16rBgggvLbOtYupfxe-PHg2YAzWVKI03komcbnNHvvOh8GCYIaSorxzMk/s1600/_MG_3205feld.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKp8g-yif83BGuEJkYRBK9586ujcUgl5401qHHRCyLo90F8ErKFz-ipi4UIuzZF_kU4zjHaj2Jm5-8FzEAg16rBgggvLbOtYupfxe-PHg2YAzWVKI03komcbnNHvvOh8GCYIaSorxzMk/s400/_MG_3205feld.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533819123540608610" border="0" /></a><br />In most situations a polaroid, some charm and loads of humour suffice to create an open and honest relation between me and my subjects which is prerequisit to every good portrait. Sadly, it was in Rajasthan that I had my first and only conflict with people over taking their photographs. I noticed the beauty of this scene from the car - three women walking in the fields in their bright dresses under the overcast sky.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaU9nsBjI/AAAAAAAADzs/5BGNChP_Yuk/s1600/_MG_3376.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaU9nsBjI/AAAAAAAADzs/5BGNChP_Yuk/s400/_MG_3376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533826989572228658" border="0" /></a><br />I let Soni pull over, ran up to them and took this shot, and seeing that it's not that remarkable I already wanted to return to the car, when the woman on the left noticed me. She came to me and asked for money. I hate giving them money, my polaroid was in the car and didn't want to pay them anyway because I didn't like the photo and took it from far away, without their faces visible. The woman got angry and shouted, "paisa, paisa" meaning "money, money". I calmly said, no. She then raised her hack (or is it called a <a href="http://www.amigos.org.uk/helpus/images/hoe.jpg">hoe</a>?) and threatened to trash me, to which I equally raised my <a href="http://ii.alatest.com/product/600x400/f/3/Gitzo-GM3550-6X-Carbon-Fiber-5-Section-G-Lock-Monopod-0.jpg">Gitzo monopod</a> and there we stood in a Rajasthani stalemate: she was ready to trash down on me with that hack and I assuming the same pose with the monopod. There was nothing funny in this situation but I almost laughed since the scene reminded me to a <a href="http://www.kjartan.org/swordfaq/bilder/kendo/duck.gif">kendo fight</a>. Not seeking trouble, I slowly moved backwards until she turned away.<br /><br />Neither could I resist the temptation when we visited the Sham dunes (which should be rather called "scam" or "shame", for it's a tourist circus)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXx-RvjS75XLmKg7KeUaEiWXO4jKi9nVfVP1fMszWZDO7VwNugkaBQF3iKtpKOmmFFmA06BBpX36XrdW5wDUAzXD75sv97AkrXMPH3Z5V0UO7wsFhc-bvnOT-sDZlZBivprr1yi-sdSFK/s1600/_MG_3931.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXx-RvjS75XLmKg7KeUaEiWXO4jKi9nVfVP1fMszWZDO7VwNugkaBQF3iKtpKOmmFFmA06BBpX36XrdW5wDUAzXD75sv97AkrXMPH3Z5V0UO7wsFhc-bvnOT-sDZlZBivprr1yi-sdSFK/s400/_MG_3931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533840247417038738" border="0" /></a>... and all those desert gypsy girls pestered me to have their photo taken for five, ten, twenty dollars - depending on how they assessed my finances by my look. I admit I booked a model for five, so to say, with her daddy doing me the extra favor of standing in the background on a camel, just to experience how low one can get in photography... although probably the lowest thing one could do were to show such a photograph anywhere else than in a photoblog.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84xJxVEEzaC_-nuu4eQULMCI90XSxLmchTJU0PNlP6namP5UcQafTTL68yFo62yMAVq0lbkw-qWXsH6SWCawBQvvPmO-IiiKmZjvBULhvLJp3m0xM42uK3JhF25Tr6P5RT76kV2-QLJQo/s1600/_MG_3897.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84xJxVEEzaC_-nuu4eQULMCI90XSxLmchTJU0PNlP6namP5UcQafTTL68yFo62yMAVq0lbkw-qWXsH6SWCawBQvvPmO-IiiKmZjvBULhvLJp3m0xM42uK3JhF25Tr6P5RT76kV2-QLJQo/s400/_MG_3897.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533817325474315346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaVS9hI6I/AAAAAAAADz8/k0uCfrJfImg/s1600/_MG_3968.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TMwaVS9hI6I/AAAAAAAADz8/k0uCfrJfImg/s400/_MG_3968.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533826995300934562" border="0" /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-18329307999689414522010-10-19T22:07:00.008+02:002010-10-19T22:56:45.774+02:00A few pics from AlmoraOne must love Almora. Easier to discover than Simla, more charming than Mussoorie and definitely less crowded than Mussoorie, it seems to be the most liveable of the hill stations I know. It's as relaxed as an Indian town can be and the pedestrians-only bazaar still has some old houses with delicate woodcarvings on their facade. It was the only place where I got even remotely close to street photography in India.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38CJ9FhyI/AAAAAAAADwo/Zx-cbzZP3Dc/s1600/_MG_3015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38CJ9FhyI/AAAAAAAADwo/Zx-cbzZP3Dc/s400/_MG_3015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529853031442908962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BOa8e9I/AAAAAAAADwI/inqPwj3hQ-4/s1600/_MG_2895-01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BOa8e9I/AAAAAAAADwI/inqPwj3hQ-4/s400/_MG_2895-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529853015462018002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hqAVFtL319kxg18IwT9dlZrs5pXgDUJFjZfkxrCE3fvEn72gWPpxKlbXM4_4MRepWNk_wi5Kpf58Za4ClPKMrRad1CQaBSrHA5wA3mCXVV18tAO5elihF_eL-pkL-hbYBytzfWIkquNe/s1600/_MG_2891.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hqAVFtL319kxg18IwT9dlZrs5pXgDUJFjZfkxrCE3fvEn72gWPpxKlbXM4_4MRepWNk_wi5Kpf58Za4ClPKMrRad1CQaBSrHA5wA3mCXVV18tAO5elihF_eL-pkL-hbYBytzfWIkquNe/s400/_MG_2891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852841311295330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tq1a4SrCZnOtXDZlF_lnStpWiSvLzDMw8h4GQKifYD0VXEyGK6YHZEdy0tWwFsIOsGXchaKZVLbiosn3_Rvsghll5hiUEli-hHx4YUlOjj1Z0C_9Dpdm_hujQw6bHya7EjV9XZ4PafZn/s1600/_MG_2869.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tq1a4SrCZnOtXDZlF_lnStpWiSvLzDMw8h4GQKifYD0VXEyGK6YHZEdy0tWwFsIOsGXchaKZVLbiosn3_Rvsghll5hiUEli-hHx4YUlOjj1Z0C_9Dpdm_hujQw6bHya7EjV9XZ4PafZn/s400/_MG_2869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852834246130578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyP6Z-ulHH2Sp2Lg7P32ROyS9znK4qtEDd1PWP1jPqzmwnbYV_h_smu_yMB6rnW8l24gkXwFP47rNtSIqJu4rhjjKfHQksHNcY4PBUijZ3qpIXLsE3ypegoF3O08mqckpPQqpbgtiX9RQ/s1600/_MG_2865.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyP6Z-ulHH2Sp2Lg7P32ROyS9znK4qtEDd1PWP1jPqzmwnbYV_h_smu_yMB6rnW8l24gkXwFP47rNtSIqJu4rhjjKfHQksHNcY4PBUijZ3qpIXLsE3ypegoF3O08mqckpPQqpbgtiX9RQ/s400/_MG_2865.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852822972338498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL371xqfJeI/AAAAAAAADvg/iSg1gfbYf10/s1600/_MG_2858.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL371xqfJeI/AAAAAAAADvg/iSg1gfbYf10/s400/_MG_2858.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852818764015074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37mvFQkYI/AAAAAAAADvY/2_Vx4agy048/s1600/_MG_2852.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37mvFQkYI/AAAAAAAADvY/2_Vx4agy048/s400/_MG_2852.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852560372961666" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37l1UmQQI/AAAAAAAADvI/7wQUSy_5guY/s1600/_MG_2846.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37l1UmQQI/AAAAAAAADvI/7wQUSy_5guY/s400/_MG_2846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852544868040962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37mBX0QII/AAAAAAAADvQ/I7dYFT21dlA/s1600/_MG_2848.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37mBX0QII/AAAAAAAADvQ/I7dYFT21dlA/s400/_MG_2848.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852548102766722" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cllhzRVKtxi1MPdsvGblKSHWEi_W70J0MQ6YdDXeCJ9ADbJj7-OsqaRrwB-Uzc_mBG8BUIjefxo6BPNp21JixWdrJ6nuKXoJjBs60dLsLlv6KAEjOQ9Oj3ucmZuFs3tN36zRRHvzXcP/s1600/_MG_2892.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cllhzRVKtxi1MPdsvGblKSHWEi_W70J0MQ6YdDXeCJ9ADbJj7-OsqaRrwB-Uzc_mBG8BUIjefxo6BPNp21JixWdrJ6nuKXoJjBs60dLsLlv6KAEjOQ9Oj3ucmZuFs3tN36zRRHvzXcP/s400/_MG_2892.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852845516682706" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BbcGTbI/AAAAAAAADwQ/oW-hiFiB_nw/s1600/_MG_2903.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BbcGTbI/AAAAAAAADwQ/oW-hiFiB_nw/s400/_MG_2903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529853018956516786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BmdePOI/AAAAAAAADwY/SqjdthbL0qM/s1600/_MG_2946.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL38BmdePOI/AAAAAAAADwY/SqjdthbL0qM/s400/_MG_2946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529853021915069666" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpo3BZ7MhE4I5iEu9NcXS9gK2Np65ZV3R59JVpwLFdl1QxUCRjkw_NueeAuAAz9p0aQNR4rOZIsiyF-zZDhtEtNHmVcygVlPWXwUfoOeMR4Oss-vGa_CHujLVcDFpeKYp1W_WX8YeAydl/s1600/_MG_2984.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpo3BZ7MhE4I5iEu9NcXS9gK2Np65ZV3R59JVpwLFdl1QxUCRjkw_NueeAuAAz9p0aQNR4rOZIsiyF-zZDhtEtNHmVcygVlPWXwUfoOeMR4Oss-vGa_CHujLVcDFpeKYp1W_WX8YeAydl/s400/_MG_2984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529853024775995250" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37lnLHC3I/AAAAAAAADvA/345MjMyZ03c/s1600/_MG_2644.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TL37lnLHC3I/AAAAAAAADvA/345MjMyZ03c/s400/_MG_2644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529852541070150514" border="0" /></a>Two days later, already in Rajasthan, we were having a coffee&cigarette break in a dhaba when Soni looked up from his newspaper and said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">very bad rain in Almora, road we came is blocked now, dozen people dead"</span>. We were on our way to Jaisalmer and upon hearing this, I started having serious concerns about the safety of that town. Wherever we went, disaster followed. I actually wanted to spend one or two more days in Almora but heavy rains were exactly what I was afraid of and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila</span>, it happened. The only thing worse than leaving a good place in the anticipation of something bad is to be eventually proven right.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-74761869929238849722010-09-27T00:11:00.001+02:002010-09-27T00:13:25.588+02:00Hello Maharishi<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GSGf-Rp1Efs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GSGf-Rp1Efs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-54734720700627880242010-09-26T00:51:00.005+02:002010-09-26T01:24:30.168+02:00Let's build a new site (or die trying) - updateAn old friend stumbled upon my <a href="http://newphotonotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/lets-rock.html">post</a> written after the meltdown at 1X and asked if there's any news. Maybe it's about time to give an up-date of the situation, just for the record.<br /><br />First, when the new .co domains were made available in July-August I obtained lots of catchy domain names for the future site. My personal favorites are: www.ladygagahasadick.net, www.1x-longerbiggeruncutversion.co and www.bestguineapigphotosoftheworld.org.<br />Or maybe it will be something more trivial like photographers.co, silverpixel.co, worldimages.co, thephotobank.co, photospace.co, realphoto.co or just vision.co - who knows :)<br /><br />Or maybe it will be something totally different, because apart from my own project (the developers are in the demo phase) other friends are also building something big; I'm not sure if they liked their name displayed at this stage, hence I prefer not to tell. (As a matter of fact: because almost anyone involved in either project is still on 1X I really better keep my mouth shut). I absolutely loved their demo version but in the end it depends on the overall concept; I hope they will not narrow down the scope of their site to street photography. It's the queen of non-conceptual photographic arts but only for the chosen few, and nobody designing a site wants to have few members.<br /><br />Bottomline: the project is in its Rubber Duck phase, looking smooth and quiet on the surface but paddling like the devil underneath...Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-6509859900036217882010-09-26T00:36:00.002+02:002010-09-26T00:49:57.026+02:00Dilemma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJ55fEti94I/AAAAAAAADuY/lzJD9fx4dmg/s1600/_MG_8544-01+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJ55fEti94I/AAAAAAAADuY/lzJD9fx4dmg/s400/_MG_8544-01+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520983767950489474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 13px ! important; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial,sans-serif; color: rgb(54, 54, 54) ! important;"></span></span>Message from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/balazspataki/">Flickr</a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">"You've been invited to add this photo to the group <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/kidsroom/">Kids' Asylum</a> - Eradicate SOCIAL Poverty."</span><br />I hardly think I will.<br />Nice group, nice shots, nice kids. I wonder how many of them are really poor by their own standards. This girl wasn't, by Indian standards anyway. Neither is this shot about poverty. Even if it were, I guess she wouldn't like the idea of becoming a face of poverty.<br /><br />Likewise,<a href="http://1x.com/member/34239/zoltan-huszti/"> Zoltan Huszti</a> once took a decent portrait of me. I wouldn't like him to add it to the group "<span style="font-style: italic;">Self-righteous arrogant bastards</span>" if such a group existed on Flickr.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-54531942777594407692010-09-22T23:05:00.012+02:002010-09-24T03:01:36.923+02:00Exorcism in India<em>"Balaji temple at Mehandipur in Rajasthan is very Powerful place. It is believed that the deity in this temple has divine power to cure a person possessed with evil spirit. Hundreds of 'Sankatwalas', as the possessed people are refereed to in local lingo, throng to the temple everyday to offer prayers and have 'darshan'. The temple has also become a home and the last respite for the victims. The 'Mahant' of the temple, Shri Kishor Puri Ji, prescribes the treatment. It can include reading holy texts, following a strict vegetarian and simple diet, and even afflicts physical pain to one's body. One can witness people going through various physical therapies like keeping heavy stones on their body , on arms, legs and chest , to ease their pain. There are others who inhale the smoke that fumes out of the sweet Patasa's kept on smoldering cowpats. The ones with serious case of spirit possession, who tends to get violent, are even shackled in chains within the temple premises. This may appear a bit anachronistic at the first glance, but thousands of people are believed to have been cured in this way. Festival time (Holi, Hanuman Jayanti and Dusshera etc) are regarded as the most auspicious time to emancipate from the evil spirit" - </em>says the <a href="http://www.religiousportal.com/MehandipurBalaji.html">website</a>. (It warns: <em>"Ladies, insane and evil spirited person must be accompanied by a attendant",</em> among else). <div>Dausa itself could compete for the title of dirtiest town in Rajasthan because the stench and filth, in which stray pigs seemed to be more in their natural habitat than the schoolgirls with their tidy blue-white school uniform, was overwhelming.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847538465238546" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpwF0CI7hI/AAAAAAAADtc/Khuft47avxE/s400/balaji7.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Photography is prohibited inside the temple but curiosity always prevails, and the demon inside my head told me to photograph. I had my camera with the 17-40/4 hanging from my neck on its strap, attached a release cord and hid the release button in my pocket. Amidst all the noise and chanting no one could hear the clicking of the shutter. ISO @1600, F=11 and go.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847546221229938" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpwGQ7T93I/AAAAAAAADtk/4R5ynmNWSpQ/s400/balaji8.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpwFlxu2qI/AAAAAAAADtU/Ntcy3bW2qBc/s1600/balaji6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847534638324386" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpwFlxu2qI/AAAAAAAADtU/Ntcy3bW2qBc/s400/balaji6.jpg" border="0" /></a> The possessed patiently wait for treatment in the temple's courtyard...</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847403469239602" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 256px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpv99IldTI/AAAAAAAADtE/EL67_trcg1g/s400/balaji4.jpg" border="0" /> ...while the devotees throng inside through a narrow corridor. </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520037699901106642" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJsdCqleqdI/AAAAAAAADuE/3SHPRtb7cqU/s400/balaji1.jpg" border="0" /> <div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520031383130194962" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJsXS-x7xBI/AAAAAAAADtw/d9OwVrRvs3s/s400/5009735517_84eb84cbba_b.jpg" border="0" />Inside one can see the sankatwallahs in their various stages of possession; some just sitting and waiting as if on a railway station, others lurching on the marble floor in the state of total despair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk3ZZLPfZjgyJAMsDQfCtPlaMd6u_W7C9lT0tB9NhByA4AoY8uXMT2t41YobCDevWD-NGCdvsYIrOavPY-44JM_yVy7NvlsrPtPa2Ag4yTCnKbP1UtQrkboVVBtdiNi8OUv0lvMGYHyWx/s1600/balaji2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847393561364866" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 276px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk3ZZLPfZjgyJAMsDQfCtPlaMd6u_W7C9lT0tB9NhByA4AoY8uXMT2t41YobCDevWD-NGCdvsYIrOavPY-44JM_yVy7NvlsrPtPa2Ag4yTCnKbP1UtQrkboVVBtdiNi8OUv0lvMGYHyWx/s400/balaji2.jpg" border="0" /></a> I found a video on YouTube that catches the temple atmosphere very well, taken by an Argentinian traveler. The creepy part starts at 4.10.<br /><object width="420" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fb_rQl7cwO4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fb_rQl7cwO4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />The main altar.<br /><br /><div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpv9IgOu3I/AAAAAAAADss/2SG71bbI6MQ/s1600/balaji1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519847389341334386" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJpv9IgOu3I/AAAAAAAADss/2SG71bbI6MQ/s400/balaji1.jpg" border="0" /></a>I don't believe in demons but the more I live, the less I know. <em>There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.</em>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-39308234852259696472010-09-20T23:59:00.008+02:002010-09-21T10:36:58.642+02:00Beauty callsOn just another rainy day we were driving down from Almora when Soni suddenly said, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">oh my GOD</span>. Another landslide?, I replied sleepily. But no: Soni pointed to a roadside restaurant with a veranda under which two gorgeous girls took shelter from the rain.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfaBa1KSbI/AAAAAAAADrA/LGGO9Nb00GQ/s1600/_MG_2265.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119586282850738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfaBa1KSbI/AAAAAAAADrA/LGGO9Nb00GQ/s400/_MG_2265.jpg" border="0" /></a>They turned out to be starlets with all their entourage, managers stylists cameramen and all, waiting for the rain to stop so that they could continue shooting a movie for TV (or a promotion ad for the region of Kumaon, translation wasn't clear). The situation was a little awkward because the whole entourage was giggling and talking about me, that was obvious, while I was desperately looking for a joke or something else to break the ice. The starlets spoke only minimal English. I asked them, so you are actors? <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Yes</span>. Do you sing in the movies? <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Sometimes</span>. I know a song about the rain, do you want to hear it? (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Giggle.</span>) I took a deep breath and started to sing <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Singing in the rain</span>, horribly out of tune and all but the girls were laughing and I asked the girls with the most innocent face possible, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">do you mind if I photograph you?</span> They didn't.<br /><br />This is Pooja Arya:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfiAHnP6_I/AAAAAAAADsU/A_GP2g6tcHQ/s1600/_MG_2216.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519128360037379058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 349px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfiAHnP6_I/AAAAAAAADsU/A_GP2g6tcHQ/s400/_MG_2216.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfh-nuuJEI/AAAAAAAADr8/FBTmt2FWzfg/s1600/_MG_2216.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Imah-j1xX5CbrQNPWFwO0ZIAESeqHnj848XkzHgpEGU0s-C-6x7CU6tQF6WUt7fSX3Ledo9s5r0wzdi90OTjKjmi1Jq59ZH12XEYWLG_rWEYNPLgYNHU7roBOMb9HrQnyxL7ruzi4Ro/s1600/_MG_2217BW.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519128355163367618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 392px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Imah-j1xX5CbrQNPWFwO0ZIAESeqHnj848XkzHgpEGU0s-C-6x7CU6tQF6WUt7fSX3Ledo9s5r0wzdi90OTjKjmi1Jq59ZH12XEYWLG_rWEYNPLgYNHU7roBOMb9HrQnyxL7ruzi4Ro/s400/_MG_2217BW.jpg" border="0" /></a>...and Richa Parcha.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXCtj2TwI8icvfDOidzF3AY6Di8vc8KBcWfvH21FW9ImAnTNLlZffcXxl_appXlPmOENYIK6zoa6gVd4Qg0lCUKmV-SuPn7z1RhQ3laEU9lrY1TT4E-gvpE_MnPu3RlDMvEFUaOyXC8E3/s1600/_MG_2179small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519128344073849538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXCtj2TwI8icvfDOidzF3AY6Di8vc8KBcWfvH21FW9ImAnTNLlZffcXxl_appXlPmOENYIK6zoa6gVd4Qg0lCUKmV-SuPn7z1RhQ3laEU9lrY1TT4E-gvpE_MnPu3RlDMvEFUaOyXC8E3/s400/_MG_2179small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfh-Nlo7AI/AAAAAAAADr0/7N2aflWWDlk/s1600/_MG_2175BW.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519128327281503234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfh-Nlo7AI/AAAAAAAADr0/7N2aflWWDlk/s400/_MG_2175BW.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9Jdw6P3ByplTW6SxwRriP3KzTzjnVFloBT6UwWYzmraapRw5eixMKHY19s3XfghpBAWljmJD-wylQdlciwWkRxB37zXtWWT0U8H1B1k-JfVB7JNZ7jKPDAwZQqFMnCcsE3JGRcm2le2M/s1600/_MG_2173small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119701775764626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9Jdw6P3ByplTW6SxwRriP3KzTzjnVFloBT6UwWYzmraapRw5eixMKHY19s3XfghpBAWljmJD-wylQdlciwWkRxB37zXtWWT0U8H1B1k-JfVB7JNZ7jKPDAwZQqFMnCcsE3JGRcm2le2M/s400/_MG_2173small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6YKd5hxk9BYKemFFkzxLK78UP-zgT5JItXC23ZXqUiMTnAk64252nrMjnSFm-XJFqsnFEfIXq-4w7_xwIF7eFTvQK56vqdLQrVa9TkCPL5JP2ui0qZtZ8YE_Cw_6t4KinBZphSIwNUUX/s1600/_MG_2179small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119608783971250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6YKd5hxk9BYKemFFkzxLK78UP-zgT5JItXC23ZXqUiMTnAk64252nrMjnSFm-XJFqsnFEfIXq-4w7_xwIF7eFTvQK56vqdLQrVa9TkCPL5JP2ui0qZtZ8YE_Cw_6t4KinBZphSIwNUUX/s400/_MG_2179small.jpg" border="0" /></a>Richa and Pooja.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfZtHIWAgI/AAAAAAAADqw/opR4zmwmA_Q/s1600/lanyok2-01kicsi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119237397217794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfZtHIWAgI/AAAAAAAADqw/opR4zmwmA_Q/s400/lanyok2-01kicsi.jpg" border="0" /></a>There was great chemistry between the models...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfZrM0nBYI/AAAAAAAADqY/AdXgnbvklqY/s1600/szemez-01kicsi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119204565321090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfZrM0nBYI/AAAAAAAADqY/AdXgnbvklqY/s400/szemez-01kicsi.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...and I wished there would be less giggling assistants around us, less white SUVs reflected in the black glass window behind the girls and less rain outside of the tiny veranda. It's anyone's guess how it would have ended - the girls were really getting hot - but then their managers, until then drinking busily tea at the far table, pooped the party. I had to explain to them why I take these photographs, who I am and all. There were two of them like playing good cop bad cop, the bad one insisting I delete all photos and the good one willing to hear me out. In the end both insisted I delete the photos which I didn't have the slightest inclination to do. Why on earth? They were decent enough for the circumstances and I had no bad intentions with them anyway. I looked at Soni with a face that said <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">let's get the fuck out of here</span> and off we went on our long way to Jaipur.<br />By the way, there were Richa's and Pooja's male colleagues too; handsome and very <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">macho</span> in their own way but maybe I can be forgiven if I didn't make them the protagonists of that impromptu shooting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vpX1XSHGIakVbYelAtiInHW5COXKzmkrl7WvH4y46lzLRr95SmKhQjlUOzfwXiilPUKyWvVhZTug4qFwT9G-se36T9Wuk0aQnDz6-lr-rIw9dFx9LNsPwCwgFIBUCnktXGQURAP9O7Q0/s1600/_MG_2310BW.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519119251449965682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vpX1XSHGIakVbYelAtiInHW5COXKzmkrl7WvH4y46lzLRr95SmKhQjlUOzfwXiilPUKyWvVhZTug4qFwT9G-se36T9Wuk0aQnDz6-lr-rIw9dFx9LNsPwCwgFIBUCnktXGQURAP9O7Q0/s400/_MG_2310BW.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfvXyjitUI/AAAAAAAADsg/IAyjTjGycoE/s1600/_MG_2306BW.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519143060352709954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJfvXyjitUI/AAAAAAAADsg/IAyjTjGycoE/s400/_MG_2306BW.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-27731017256213537512010-09-18T13:39:00.007+02:002010-09-18T14:17:52.496+02:00Abandoned lights<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlKwFqweI/AAAAAAAADo4/XI1J8iYu99M/s1600/_MG_0843.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlKwFqweI/AAAAAAAADo4/XI1J8iYu99M/s400/_MG_0843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217047561650658" border="0" /></a>No amount of megapixels will ever take the place of a T-Max or Tri-X but Kodak's infrared film, HIE, has become hopelessly obsolete. Digital IR images are simply better in all terms. One advantage it still has, though. With a rangefinder camera (especially with external viewfinder) it is pure joy to use: unlike SLRs, the photographer can see the motif because the filter doesn't block the view. I had <a href="http://theinfraredgallery.blogspot.com/">once experimented with a HIE + Voigtlander Bessa L (and T) combo</a> using 15 and 25mm lenses and was quite happy with the results. This time I had hoped to capture the mood of the abandoned Maharishi ashram in Rishikesh on infrared but the results were rather disappointing.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl1ljLpmI/AAAAAAAADpw/pHid9RXO6Gk/s1600/Img0001_001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl1ljLpmI/AAAAAAAADpw/pHid9RXO6Gk/s400/Img0001_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217783467026018" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl1GDfTMI/AAAAAAAADpo/GxZn1DAX8WQ/s1600/Img0009_022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl1GDfTMI/AAAAAAAADpo/GxZn1DAX8WQ/s400/Img0009_022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217775012596930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlNRU9zoI/AAAAAAAADpY/513ciE5A0ik/s1600/Img0006_018.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlNRU9zoI/AAAAAAAADpY/513ciE5A0ik/s400/Img0006_018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217090843922050" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlgINWH8I/AAAAAAAADpg/5zrjl65QLm8/s1600/Img0005_015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlgINWH8I/AAAAAAAADpg/5zrjl65QLm8/s400/Img0005_015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217414813556674" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl2E7EupI/AAAAAAAADp4/bImEZ9UIgqk/s1600/Img0001_0014.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSl2E7EupI/AAAAAAAADp4/bImEZ9UIgqk/s400/Img0001_0014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217791888734866" border="0" /></a>Trying to save the day I converted a few digital images into IR lookalikes. It's worth comparing this with the film shot above:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlMj207UI/AAAAAAAADpQ/52CFO2VdVIg/s1600/_MG_1014.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlMj207UI/AAAAAAAADpQ/52CFO2VdVIg/s400/_MG_1014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217078637915458" border="0" /></a>I don't know... maybe I should stick to the originals.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlLvyydeI/AAAAAAAADpI/sUlp9SC6jiY/s1600/_MG_0978.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSlLvyydeI/AAAAAAAADpI/sUlp9SC6jiY/s400/_MG_0978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518217064662332898" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSsa_YX7OI/AAAAAAAADqM/-Ad9fl3w4Hw/s1600/ashram2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJSsa_YX7OI/AAAAAAAADqM/-Ad9fl3w4Hw/s400/ashram2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518225023125941474" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZlFOclVPBUapzOIHz3cq3XoXAF-W_NWNPVujipBRwMnNMyWcyf1OgGGua_CMpssYqYfALwlPw3KVwlSA7kXpt3btujtt_i03-waVsHKcRfCR4qmBR63aqFeX8ADuNc7jw8pzCIYI9ym9/s1600/ashram1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZlFOclVPBUapzOIHz3cq3XoXAF-W_NWNPVujipBRwMnNMyWcyf1OgGGua_CMpssYqYfALwlPw3KVwlSA7kXpt3btujtt_i03-waVsHKcRfCR4qmBR63aqFeX8ADuNc7jw8pzCIYI9ym9/s400/ashram1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518225013853205666" border="0" /></a>To be continued.Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-64679504232851312622010-09-15T10:45:00.024+02:002010-09-15T14:37:35.014+02:00Saints and beauties<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOuobiXxI/AAAAAAAADnM/bdzxkknx4xg/s1600/_MG_1381.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066475306901266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOuobiXxI/AAAAAAAADnM/bdzxkknx4xg/s400/_MG_1381.jpg" border="0" /></a>Thanks to the gods for Rishikesh. On a more human scale than Haridwar, much less filthy and noxious than Varanasi. And portrait paradise with all kinds of people and races flocking to the shores of the Ganga river.<br />Blossoms from India, only for you.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517068754631526610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCQzTk4CNI/AAAAAAAADoA/wcrA3bMrqAg/s400/_MG_0737-01feld.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065848146169778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOKIExD7I/AAAAAAAADm8/NammVOXbPy8/s400/_MG_0731-01feld.jpg" border="0" /><br /><object height="385" width="540"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WT9oub2fS6E?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WT9oub2fS6E?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="540" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Crossing Laxman (read Lakshman) Jhula, the pedestrian bridge connecting the to sides of Rishikesh across the Ganga, is a feeling only Kipling could describe like he did with the Grand Trunk Road in <em>Kim</em>. A never ceasing stream of life across the eternal river of gods.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517089689996158898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCj154w57I/AAAAAAAADoc/D6yy7NRElqQ/s400/_MG_1406.jpg" border="0" /> I had fond memories of Rishikesh. Probably it's the refreshing proximity of the mighty river, combined with a spirit of transcendency emanating from all the temples and ashrams, that makes people be kind, relaxed and openhearted. Back in 1999, photographing people was a real pleasure. Walking through the streets, I soon felt that this time will not be different.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517068764300191666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobazzfJqlFToGNzYAvI4du55Ibw3QhJXUf6Rmp3j9-R5X83UnrFHWELjA0QPJxTnFoxulHYUZcucQF7AOfu3JLsMg8uuWN-W0M-dDYABbzXIJZWlvCmOBQx0wD6qORx6yVFWrrqIRItbe/s400/_MG_0705feld.jpg" border="0" /> It was a good start to meet little Risal. Closing on...<br /><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJ8e7StI/AAAAAAAADm0/oavumapZaEE/s1600/_MG_0762.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065845034666706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJ8e7StI/AAAAAAAADm0/oavumapZaEE/s400/_MG_0762.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...baby <em>pleeeeease</em> don't look at the flash, it's not switched on anyway....<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJXC8DbI/AAAAAAAADms/ZeCgxZD009g/s1600/_MG_0754.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065834985164210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJXC8DbI/AAAAAAAADms/ZeCgxZD009g/s400/_MG_0754.jpg" border="0" /></a>...getting better, now we have a child shot with large aperture, nice but not quite the real thing...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJHU9W_I/AAAAAAAADmk/pDmS8AYvaiQ/s1600/_MG_0766.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065830765779954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOJHU9W_I/AAAAAAAADmk/pDmS8AYvaiQ/s400/_MG_0766.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...and then Risal, who got either fed up from modelling or wanted to tell me a thing or two about life, made a suprising gesture...<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOIsR1T4I/AAAAAAAADmc/F4gm2_aMhNM/s1600/fotozz_219289.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065823504912258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOIsR1T4I/AAAAAAAADmc/F4gm2_aMhNM/s400/fotozz_219289.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...and as soon as I lowered the camera I realised: my trip was not for nothing. I love that last shot. Thanks Risal!</div><div>And there was Neha who flirted shamelessly with my camera, doing things with a slice of fruit that I photographed but wouldn't dare publish. In other words, she performed a perfect imitation of oral sex. Not the first time it happened. Last year in Manali another girl made an even lewder performance - with a lollipop, of all things. Either those little brats are too innocent to realise what they're doing or there's more to them that meets the eye. I'd say it's the first because I heard several local guys complaining about Indian women not really being fond of oral sex. All the more likely because in old times even maharadjas had to turn to servant girls or dancers for a blow job, because no self-respecting concubine or wife would do it. Or so I read somewhere. Anyway, here's a decent one.</div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIqmkNsEFmJrRXXpD6t21YEvyEwrScEsl3UgFKg6DunzFrAw2cX6rv8oE7PkBE7mZKpJG4Q1pN9RSIUtAqQg0vN4lyUv4927e4PSOp8szS6nli6EeQ1ba6eUQTfn4uqKY7zOJdPpfR-zr/s1600/_MG_0775feld.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063936340182258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIqmkNsEFmJrRXXpD6t21YEvyEwrScEsl3UgFKg6DunzFrAw2cX6rv8oE7PkBE7mZKpJG4Q1pN9RSIUtAqQg0vN4lyUv4927e4PSOp8szS6nli6EeQ1ba6eUQTfn4uqKY7zOJdPpfR-zr/s400/_MG_0775feld.jpg" border="0" /></a> Such a sweet child nonetheless. Full of life, charm and wit. I hope she'll not spend her whole life selling trinkets for tourists on the street.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517093127921051538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCm-BJ7p5I/AAAAAAAADoo/9aHd-5FQrEc/s400/_MG_0783feld.jpg" border="0" /> <div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCMae_rV3I/AAAAAAAADlI/LwAyaMimIM0/s1600/_MG_0787feld.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063930153490290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCMae_rV3I/AAAAAAAADlI/LwAyaMimIM0/s400/_MG_0787feld.jpg" border="0" /></a> First evening it rained heavily. I escaped into an archway where a few old sadhus were selling souvenirs and religious stuff. We shared some cigarettes and to bid my time until the rain stopped, I tried to photograph them despite the less than ideal light conditions.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCLnr-rAgI/AAAAAAAADk4/qbiF1V87_xQ/s1600/_MG_0797ff.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063057465606658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCLnr-rAgI/AAAAAAAADk4/qbiF1V87_xQ/s400/_MG_0797ff.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCLnaWc34I/AAAAAAAADkw/qb9QiGWJECs/s1600/_MG_0799feld.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063052733505410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCLnaWc34I/AAAAAAAADkw/qb9QiGWJECs/s400/_MG_0799feld.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BdpBp86Tq5ufCNwE87KFF3Y11uChKt3witVjHxuQ52uAK3IrOWZUPB8N9zn4r3DKkr5pA4luwk9H80DX8e0ObWyhxT8JTdMcxWaPBdxtdNwgmxcDGC9jf-Rlwu3giR-ng8Jz6CL2jN1s/s1600/_MG_1056-01ff.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063049933996226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BdpBp86Tq5ufCNwE87KFF3Y11uChKt3witVjHxuQ52uAK3IrOWZUPB8N9zn4r3DKkr5pA4luwk9H80DX8e0ObWyhxT8JTdMcxWaPBdxtdNwgmxcDGC9jf-Rlwu3giR-ng8Jz6CL2jN1s/s400/_MG_1056-01ff.jpg" border="0" /></a> And there was Paddy, running a little tourist agency. He offered me a seat under the fan; it was gaspingly hot and humid. I told him: "<em>Listen buddy, I'm not gay and have a wife and all and when I get back home she'll look at my photos and say, 'so many photographs of pretty girls! That's why you went to India you prick!' and she'll divorce me, so from time to time I must take photos of handsome men too. Please help me. Do you mind if I take your photograph?"</em> He didn't.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066874897825298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV69c_HYL54RhNmWIW6u4sqkuMrIyywZ89foWMXMjYCfd9pvAfG7yqhKIMzgMs2Qxez9jUr5b2Y0ZwMfUDRBznMONhs8SrOO37fC5Zs9_XfYplQcWOrRu95jXfPDyPxaUj6jjI4W04rpp/s400/_MG_0805-01.jpg" border="0" /> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066869591798354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCPFlQYclI/AAAAAAAADns/v7FIaLFGftQ/s400/_MG_0811-01.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>But attractive men were rare while the town was full of camera-happy girls. There was Madhuri, I believe she came from Mumbai, combing her hair after a bath in the river and not minding at all being photographed.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066485300551538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-U_MTT-np8netg8kMGPPsNMkTi-KE5WrPeFWMFq9ZrMOq-31V4qL9C-gWb7Q0ggE1y512EnKddFLe9k6_TSgmdoXGk8QkaPrkNdpZ00xNDvbdM1YguMgLsmEd7OHIbdl9DZ6ITCMC4cr/s400/_MG_1443-01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066488824251250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOvayUw3I/AAAAAAAADnk/M2rCVam_O3Y/s400/_MG_1446-01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517066478974819186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCOu2GCW3I/AAAAAAAADnU/9sQ8ND_H6ZA/s400/_MG_1448-01.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div>Actually this was on the second day but doesn't matter. I visited the former Maharishi ashram (known for the Beatles, unfairly perhaps because the ashram existed for about 40 years and the Beatles only spent 5-6 weeks there) but this is another story. Again, the little streets and pilgrim hostels (meaning any covered place) proved to be a portrait bonanza.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OF5-izLnzkFErukHcTtiLdfaQ0ygx0DBu3z1ecNNQmIt-Md6xXcLKW4VEphgoXyL8FE4D-sag231zWWA-2KiwcW4VMvrGmF7khmsTBbKrMgMsRB1pk-JC1H-YJdYuSmoFaJU7tAtMM_7/s1600/_MG_1099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063045266402450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OF5-izLnzkFErukHcTtiLdfaQ0ygx0DBu3z1ecNNQmIt-Md6xXcLKW4VEphgoXyL8FE4D-sag231zWWA-2KiwcW4VMvrGmF7khmsTBbKrMgMsRB1pk-JC1H-YJdYuSmoFaJU7tAtMM_7/s400/_MG_1099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK-XGl7SI/AAAAAAAADjw/EiSwj9bpo48/s1600/_MG_1241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517062347487046946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK-XGl7SI/AAAAAAAADjw/EiSwj9bpo48/s400/_MG_1241.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was in such a flee-infested, filthy little place where I met Victor and Clemence (or Desire, the introduction wasn't clear) from Paris, a couple of rare beauty.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517065331676184706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCNsEEugII/AAAAAAAADmU/WO3CyNJYRGo/s400/victorclemence2%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063943861469346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCMbSD6gKI/AAAAAAAADlg/pQBlqSMJn7w/s400/P1040315.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517064439882348770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCM4J4geOI/AAAAAAAADlo/PbvAUvUkxB4/s400/fotozz_219593.jpg" border="0" /> And there was the blind singer. I saw him in 1999 already, sitting close to the bridge. He was there still, on the same spot in the same robe (such bright yellow that it drove my 5D's white balance mad), singing the same song. Eternal.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517062339371502434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK943si2I/AAAAAAAADjg/-bqXOvAngys/s400/_MG_1274.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>For some reason I was very happy to see him again. While I was looking at him, dealing with my memories, he stood up and tried to make his way through the mass flowing from the bridge; I took his hand and guided him through, making way for him through all the people. Paid his tea, too.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517063216993830130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCLw-RKhPI/AAAAAAAADlA/uuOAw70i-gQ/s400/_MG_1267.jpg" border="0" />Several times I decided to go return to my hotel and every time I turned back. I was tired, dirty and soaking of sweat but Rishikesh didn't let me go. People got used to my presence after a while and it was exhilarating to become part of this town if even for just one afternoon.</div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK9ibx6iI/AAAAAAAADjY/mClsclUv6AM/s1600/_MG_1315.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517062333348833826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK9ibx6iI/AAAAAAAADjY/mClsclUv6AM/s400/_MG_1315.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK9ZZ9QWI/AAAAAAAADjQ/iwAYTGA_OHo/s1600/_MG_1321.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517062330925269346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCK9ZZ9QWI/AAAAAAAADjQ/iwAYTGA_OHo/s400/_MG_1321.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIzHpxPII/AAAAAAAADjE/iKd1pDkDY6A/s1600/_MG_1477.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059955337804930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIzHpxPII/AAAAAAAADjE/iKd1pDkDY6A/s400/_MG_1477.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIyQOhR_I/AAAAAAAADi8/nyN_JbPWD5w/s1600/_MG_1338kicsi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059940459562994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIyQOhR_I/AAAAAAAADi8/nyN_JbPWD5w/s400/_MG_1338kicsi.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZL9C2POEZfJWqYcZvq3InSb3upJH-e4-3IHGiKb3Ct8qZHNe0_DqRYB9mP1vkulX-5oog2IHqdzoSPPo3fEoicREynsaUWmdWfr0Ube-ztaK8UbDS2dHEtNaPNqPuYmySampve6oOKpnF/s1600/_MG_1386.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059930497588370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZL9C2POEZfJWqYcZvq3InSb3upJH-e4-3IHGiKb3Ct8qZHNe0_DqRYB9mP1vkulX-5oog2IHqdzoSPPo3fEoicREynsaUWmdWfr0Ube-ztaK8UbDS2dHEtNaPNqPuYmySampve6oOKpnF/s400/_MG_1386.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIwx9KalI/AAAAAAAADis/KELBU2DRoZU/s1600/_MG_1389.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059915153828434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIwx9KalI/AAAAAAAADis/KELBU2DRoZU/s400/_MG_1389.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIv9mT8oI/AAAAAAAADik/vNJOAVzJvWA/s1600/_MG_1418.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059901099340418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIv9mT8oI/AAAAAAAADik/vNJOAVzJvWA/s400/_MG_1418.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XA-RSijPnoyMZFWKY6H2XGo15W8TFZeaFnxFYGrSnF1K0ywYU2ZQXUVUSIGmIkBqCKPQz4DyUpdw1X8LSfN0tF91CTb7QY49BshqoFXe_iOnefjC2yQ-mvoq6plHZ_CqEbxX6IfCybJ6/s1600/_MG_1469.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059543522602498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XA-RSijPnoyMZFWKY6H2XGo15W8TFZeaFnxFYGrSnF1K0ywYU2ZQXUVUSIGmIkBqCKPQz4DyUpdw1X8LSfN0tF91CTb7QY49BshqoFXe_iOnefjC2yQ-mvoq6plHZ_CqEbxX6IfCybJ6/s400/_MG_1469.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIa1HMk5I/AAAAAAAADiU/FF5y2VorjFU/s1600/_MG_1486.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059538044097426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIa1HMk5I/AAAAAAAADiU/FF5y2VorjFU/s400/_MG_1486.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCINXxptuI/AAAAAAAADiM/voMs5n9ARxA/s1600/_MG_1495.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059306830804706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCINXxptuI/AAAAAAAADiM/voMs5n9ARxA/s400/_MG_1495.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCINALtjQI/AAAAAAAADiE/krMWn18Ee28/s1600/_MG_1508.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059300497657090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCINALtjQI/AAAAAAAADiE/krMWn18Ee28/s400/_MG_1508.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIM4jzlBI/AAAAAAAADh8/jfmuGCp3DQU/s1600/_MG_1510.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059298451231762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TJCIM4jzlBI/AAAAAAAADh8/jfmuGCp3DQU/s400/_MG_1510.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJlOgnP7m9CrtnrMg7Xv-vaHXtMI9hpk9ZYgmDlTNt8dTBVkAEB56_IfxF4FjglTRCRm_2GZAMRok88FZp7Z3bH185syRS5RzRTvXEaDwt0Qx2Q8KWigHZc2lbRQKxhZ9_mDvlhF2GhMR/s1600/_MG_1542feld.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059294523375730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJlOgnP7m9CrtnrMg7Xv-vaHXtMI9hpk9ZYgmDlTNt8dTBVkAEB56_IfxF4FjglTRCRm_2GZAMRok88FZp7Z3bH185syRS5RzRTvXEaDwt0Qx2Q8KWigHZc2lbRQKxhZ9_mDvlhF2GhMR/s400/_MG_1542feld.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w85JYNr6NI-a_Rvp-UJ_jTf8rfckANTw-ZffPUagx5RoPz2qC88lEpMTW6rG25L9spEMoX_gUVxeMnG85TN4pzb9eFwg2n3lSH7jdcma4OtorW8iElk-Rh2g_ILL4CHav63ovSYM6-0b/s1600/_MG_1557.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517059288867761186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w85JYNr6NI-a_Rvp-UJ_jTf8rfckANTw-ZffPUagx5RoPz2qC88lEpMTW6rG25L9spEMoX_gUVxeMnG85TN4pzb9eFwg2n3lSH7jdcma4OtorW8iElk-Rh2g_ILL4CHav63ovSYM6-0b/s400/_MG_1557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3HaVqpR4iEg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3HaVqpR4iEg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5157655604763689985.post-55542738340654633242010-09-13T23:35:00.010+02:002010-09-14T00:36:18.660+02:00Mussoorie masala"<span style="font-style: italic;">Set on a horse-shoe shaped ridge, nearly 7000 feet up in the Himalayan foothills, Mussoorie is a place - I decided after only twenty minutes - where I would happily spend the rest of my life</span>" - says Peter Hopkirk, one of my favorite writers, but he obviously didn't visit the hill station in the rainy season. When I first saw it in 1999 I could hardly agree more with him, though. To my relief Hotel Broadway, one of the best places a traveller could hope for in India, is still standing.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZZ1aA6I/AAAAAAAADek/f3-PNJzcL7o/s1600/P1040287.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZZ1aA6I/AAAAAAAADek/f3-PNJzcL7o/s400/P1040287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515255286104994" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZZ1aA6I/AAAAAAAADek/f3-PNJzcL7o/s1600/P1040287.jpg"><br /></a>Moreover, I was lucky enough to stay in exactly the same room where I stayed in 1999. That's how it was then:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FSej27GG2sIguC0s751m2gtjsU1jSyIPaCYNG54q4Z4Ly7FiQIpHWGCui_rYvdM9tRi3hl25qOA-3dXMEJD6WkXuYedncfxuWvrfTfiQBI3vJ0p9hSK5ZExOts54j_wQVEseveMnDxQ-/s1600/img371.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FSej27GG2sIguC0s751m2gtjsU1jSyIPaCYNG54q4Z4Ly7FiQIpHWGCui_rYvdM9tRi3hl25qOA-3dXMEJD6WkXuYedncfxuWvrfTfiQBI3vJ0p9hSK5ZExOts54j_wQVEseveMnDxQ-/s400/img371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516143493692066" border="0" /></a>...and now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6aJE4guOI/AAAAAAAADg8/xMeoGyKmt7w/s1600/_MG_0318.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6aJE4guOI/AAAAAAAADg8/xMeoGyKmt7w/s400/_MG_0318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516074295703778" border="0" /></a>Rain and fog, fog and rain. And a woodpecker for company. It was a wise decision to take the 75-300 IS tele with me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzIRqTRWw9DrQYqBsZwUw2seYpOAmY_KU5zRfCMOb5_zC-O7B8rbUQ_LIvlLv1khMxL5ztjFapeggExchGxho9luIIleVCP4y2CsIVLKqKKKG5rHyTVWmb0GFrL6nDn1vkbzF-A-2i4Af/s1600/_MG_0397.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzIRqTRWw9DrQYqBsZwUw2seYpOAmY_KU5zRfCMOb5_zC-O7B8rbUQ_LIvlLv1khMxL5ztjFapeggExchGxho9luIIleVCP4y2CsIVLKqKKKG5rHyTVWmb0GFrL6nDn1vkbzF-A-2i4Af/s400/_MG_0397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516071254282818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6aItXvVLI/AAAAAAAADgs/ICfChZKRWK4/s1600/_MG_0399.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6aItXvVLI/AAAAAAAADgs/ICfChZKRWK4/s400/_MG_0399.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516067984233650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufiXkI-gntMjLmuvIviJ4Eo_vPMtZaKbrsYB20BSEL8dCJLXP0FJCp4JhyphenhyphenmFDUvVjnrCrdDIlxchIoRHa2AK0WTJwwUJRq2dImEWkdOS-e0hyphenhyphenG9UlNhlrmJAl6OW1ALFKVtBTMuzNvtT7/s1600/_MG_0414kicsi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufiXkI-gntMjLmuvIviJ4Eo_vPMtZaKbrsYB20BSEL8dCJLXP0FJCp4JhyphenhyphenmFDUvVjnrCrdDIlxchIoRHa2AK0WTJwwUJRq2dImEWkdOS-e0hyphenhyphenG9UlNhlrmJAl6OW1ALFKVtBTMuzNvtT7/s400/_MG_0414kicsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516059755715234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP7xDQW3XGzmy0C72Vt9vujzNNPeBF2wXguCt-CDa7xGPPATMRbAWSNokqBG3ZsSpOF28SHRdjK8ZfBOAUhYoYNOsRuw6QZbgsHlvMLeHqjhv52n1ttMWUO53ajDFjBrZy8saRcpUcMtG/s1600/_MG_0423.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP7xDQW3XGzmy0C72Vt9vujzNNPeBF2wXguCt-CDa7xGPPATMRbAWSNokqBG3ZsSpOF28SHRdjK8ZfBOAUhYoYNOsRuw6QZbgsHlvMLeHqjhv52n1ttMWUO53ajDFjBrZy8saRcpUcMtG/s400/_MG_0423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516516055741560098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z8zbKDsI/AAAAAAAADgU/RjbwCOZ-Py4/s1600/_MG_0431b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z8zbKDsI/AAAAAAAADgU/RjbwCOZ-Py4/s400/_MG_0431b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515863450750658" border="0" /></a>I loved that hotel. Can't get more cozy than that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipN223TAY74y0jeUpfd__YqFt6hkkaCPL0kEWI2bqLF1sZE2rXu6C6-UDA9mDqC0ZqMZchqDc6Xm-Rst8vBoXHZs9DOVmvW9LyfoxQbZO9ikTXIwaVcZJgQE_2Oo00yeu4aWVTajtxP5a/s1600/_MG_0487.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipN223TAY74y0jeUpfd__YqFt6hkkaCPL0kEWI2bqLF1sZE2rXu6C6-UDA9mDqC0ZqMZchqDc6Xm-Rst8vBoXHZs9DOVmvW9LyfoxQbZO9ikTXIwaVcZJgQE_2Oo00yeu4aWVTajtxP5a/s400/_MG_0487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515862300408546" border="0" /></a>Mussoorie is famous for its boarding schools. Certainly no place for rebellious kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z72s92vI/AAAAAAAADgE/g2YmSb40t5Q/s1600/_MG_0495.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z72s92vI/AAAAAAAADgE/g2YmSb40t5Q/s400/_MG_0495.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515847150885618" border="0" /></a>I didn't take much photos in Mussoorie. This is a masala post - meaning, here I mix photos taken in the town and around (Dehra Dun, actually). Masala means a mixture of spices. Mixture of photos, then.<br />I met a swami, a holy man, whom I asked to pray for an ill friend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z7kfwVXI/AAAAAAAADf8/8VbCzlwfjY0/s1600/_MG_0561.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z7kfwVXI/AAAAAAAADf8/8VbCzlwfjY0/s400/_MG_0561.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515842263635314" border="0" /></a><br />And then there were these little sisters, heavily made up for a visit in a temple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Ztih5EBI/AAAAAAAADfs/5mrDARDcaJc/s1600/_MG_0589.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Ztih5EBI/AAAAAAAADfs/5mrDARDcaJc/s400/_MG_0589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515601217556498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItF5t_Jor-HTd5wlync24jI10wzR1y6opxbbRto5UWLMq5qPrXtHCAoS5NMdviR7ONb_deKkVb2oSWwH4q6iEQ3iUJ4TkiXWPRPmS6Iw0YGOIz-Hz9gAxziojMIeQWdGPASF0Bb2V66HC/s1600/_MG_0594.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItF5t_Jor-HTd5wlync24jI10wzR1y6opxbbRto5UWLMq5qPrXtHCAoS5NMdviR7ONb_deKkVb2oSWwH4q6iEQ3iUJ4TkiXWPRPmS6Iw0YGOIz-Hz9gAxziojMIeQWdGPASF0Bb2V66HC/s400/_MG_0594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515597378780546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZtA45bKI/AAAAAAAADfc/qkQz9H0Ar7s/s1600/_MG_0431.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZtA45bKI/AAAAAAAADfc/qkQz9H0Ar7s/s400/_MG_0431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515592187243682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Zs-FMZyI/AAAAAAAADfU/p4Lx2NL2JO0/s1600/_MG_0596.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Zs-FMZyI/AAAAAAAADfU/p4Lx2NL2JO0/s400/_MG_0596.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515591433512738" border="0" /></a> I had big plans for Mussoorie - there is a very nice old British cemetery (if one can call a cemetery "nice") I wanted to photograph on infrared film but weather didn't make this possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZsgObHvI/AAAAAAAADfM/OZ1B46XOI7Y/s1600/P1040246kicsi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZsgObHvI/AAAAAAAADfM/OZ1B46XOI7Y/s400/P1040246kicsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515583419162354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZsSwHsI/AAAAAAAADes/AomcLdQpYEY/s1600/P1040279.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZsSwHsI/AAAAAAAADes/AomcLdQpYEY/s400/P1040279.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515260241026754" border="0" /></a>A lovely town, though. Or once it was.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZaTP5GtI/AAAAAAAADe8/qDD0Yh3Lcsc/s1600/P1040262.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZaTP5GtI/AAAAAAAADe8/qDD0Yh3Lcsc/s400/P1040262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515270698015442" border="0" /></a>But there is a great bookstore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZagR8EmI/AAAAAAAADfE/xC-dmkm2KwY/s1600/P1040256kicsi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZagR8EmI/AAAAAAAADfE/xC-dmkm2KwY/s400/P1040256kicsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515274196259426" border="0" /></a>And people, who let me take their photograph in exchange for an almost full box of Gold Flake cigarettes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZaH6wS1I/AAAAAAAADe0/eg4Pof2dDuA/s1600/P1040274kivcsi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZaH6wS1I/AAAAAAAADe0/eg4Pof2dDuA/s400/P1040274kivcsi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515267656567634" border="0" /></a>Talking about spice and masala... the best way to survive India with a healthy stomach is to eat at roadside restaurants. And the safest and most reliable food is chowmein, an Oriental noodle dish, as delicious as easy to prepare.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZsSwHsI/AAAAAAAADes/AomcLdQpYEY/s1600/P1040279.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z7EkCYyI/AAAAAAAADf0/vUbLvSXC-E4/s1600/_MG_0568.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6Z7EkCYyI/AAAAAAAADf0/vUbLvSXC-E4/s400/_MG_0568.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516515833691661090" border="0" /></a>Ingredients:<ul><li>1/2 pound fresh egg noodles/spaghetti</li><li>1 onion<br /></li><li>1 can bamboo shoots</li><li>1-2 eggs (hardboiled)<br /></li><li>4-5 cabbage leafs<br /></li><li>2 slices ginger</li><li>2 tablespoons dark soy sauce</li><li>1 teaspoon sugar</li><li>1 tablespoon vinegar (rice vinegar if available)<br /></li><li>2 tablespoons oil for stir-frying</li><li>2 tablespoons curry powder<br /></li></ul>Prepare the noodles (spaghetti, if no Chinese available) <span style="font-style: italic;">al dente</span>. Boil and slice the eggs. Slice and fry the onion in a wok. Add the curry powder (Madras, if available) to the onions. Fry for a minute. Add the noodles. Stir and fry on low flame until noodles become golden brown. Slice the cabbage into tiny pieces and add to the noodles. Stir them thoroughly. Add ginger, vinegar and soy sauce. Put in a CD of Luciano Pavarotti. After a song, add the bamboo shots and the sliced eggs. Stir on. At the end, add a little sugar and stir up well. Ready. Serve with hot Thai/Chinese sauces and/or soya sauce.<br />You can add sliced tomatoes when ready, or minced meat or chicken (at the point when the onion comes in and fry), there are more ways to prepare chowmein than there are dhabas in India. The recipe here is a "common denominator" of all the dhabas where I had chowmein. I survived and so will you if you try.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0IWQRrvH_nc/TI6ZZZ1aA6I/AAAAAAAADek/f3-PNJzcL7o/s1600/P1040287.jpg"><br /></a>Pataki Balázshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365844382105988626noreply@blogger.com5