sofia street

I took this picture because it was named after my friend Sofia. It was drizzling that day and these umbrellas really give the photographs a nice effect.

tourists 

little angel

little angel, is he happy? does he feel he is carry all the weight of the world :)

things that either annoy me or make laugh

people who don't stay on their RIGHT on the street. you do it when driving a car, freakin do it on the street. seriously i've had 2 incidents where a guy would refuse to move but he did because i didn't :)

if you are going to start a sentence with 'first of all....' a second of all should follow ok? because then why number it!!!

someone who says 'you know what i mean?' constantly especially after something simple like 'i went shopping and bought the skirt, you know what i mean?' why wouldn't i know what that means, if someone told you that would you need more clarification,was i suppose to find that difficult to understand??

those who say 'well to be honest with you....' what? aren't you honest all the time? i am. and no you are not annoying me, honestly.

Big one here, people who stand RIGHT IN FRONT of the elevator doors, yes that door is meant for people to come in of course BUT people will be COMING OUT, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!!! i'm not giving out free hugs or kisses here so get out of my face !!

Same thing for the TRAIN, i'm trying to exit the train, dont get in my way, i'm not standing there as part of the welcoming team to greet you with a smile (more like a dirty look ;)

those who ask me something and i give a confident answer and then they say 'are you sure? ' i'm sorry did i hesitate? NO!! yes i'm sure or otherwise i would have said so.

anyone who talks during a movie while the characters are having a conversation. if i have to explain what is going on in movie i'm missing something now aren't i? who am i suppose to ask then?

interrupters. i'm sorry my lips are still moving which means i'm still talking. do you think you could wait until i'm finished. most importantly when the interruption is to add such words as 'right on girl' how does that help my conversation, sure helps me loose momentum though. and if you are going to interrupt me don't take over for an hour and leave a conversation that began on talking about an art exhibit i went too, to now talking about your brother-in-law's attitude problem regarding your next door neighbor!

you're at a store with clothes in your arm by the dressing room waiting and looking at the sales employee and she asks 'would you like to try something on?' No, whatever gave you that idea, just because i've been standing here for 3 minutes looking like i'm waiting and was happy when i saw your face, by no way does that imply that perhaps i might need the dressing room....nope i was just going to ask you how your day has been going ;)

maybe i'm wierd but i don't like people who stare or look at me longer than they should.

people who say 'just kidding' after saying something rude. as ellen degeneres says 'then you don't know how to kid properly because we should both be laughing'

if someone ever puts you down or says something rude tell them this
"it's better to have people think you are a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
i heard that in a show once and never forgot it. i've only used it once and when i did i said it playfully to this guy and he smiled and said 'i bet you've been dying to use that line' i said heck yeah :)

ghost in window

I love taking pictures of window glares. It creates an image both chaotic and mysterious. What caught my attention was the facial expression in this painting.

lady in window 

a bridge is a meeting place

Venice is the city of disguises

"I love the night. In Venice, a long time ago, when we had our own calendar and stayed aloof from the world, we began the days at night. What was the sun to us when our trade and our secrets and our diplomacy depended on darkness? In the dark you are in disguise and this is the city of disguises.

We didn't build our bridges simply to avoid walking on water. Nothing is so obvious. A bridge is a meeting place. A neutral place. A casual place. Enemies will choose to meet on a bridge and end their quarrel in that void. One will cross to the other side. The other will not return. For lovers, a bridge is a possibility, a metaphor of their chances. "

jeannette winterson "The Passion"

walkway 

dresses

.

old soul

I've always believed that I'm an old soul back from the days were women wore dresses like this one. This is from a Venice window and I had to capture it so I'd have an idea of the dress I can wear in my dreams.

we all wear masks 

Venice in Black and White

Yes, I figured out how to scan so that it has better b&w results so here is a sample of Venice through my eyes.

faces 

angels 

venice findings 

gondolas 

gondola 

venice 

Venice Pictures

I finally got my scanner set up on my computer last night and scanned the pictures you see below. They are straight from b&w negatives which explain the color. I think it gives it a nice antique look which is perfect for a place like Venice.

I'm happy to say that I will be taking a "darkroom only" class so I will be able to make more prints of my trip. I found this class late last week and am so excited. I begin next week. I've missed it for soooo long.

everyone loves to take pictures with the pigeons here in venice, I don't!!!  

I didn't ride on a gondola, I have to save something for when I go back.

this is a favorite 

I got my...

on you :)
just having fun with my phone camera.

The Maiden

The Maiden

I was familiar with Gustav Klimt's painting "The Kiss"but this one here I had never seen. I was rummaging through some old posters, postcards, books at an outdoorsale at this store in Venice when I found it. I bought it and then afterwards read the back, I thought 'isn't this ironic.' I've seen more of his paintings now and I am a big fan.

here is the description on the back:

"His painting The Maiden has a story to tell: a young girl is on her way to womenhood and we are invited to witness her sensual awakening on the road to erotic ectasy. The various phases of her development are embodied by the same figure, multiplied, as if in a dream."

what goes around DOES come around

for those who've always hoped that 'what goes around comes around'
was true you'd be happy to know that it is.
it's alive and flying by. don't be surprised if it lands on you.
but do learn the lesson and try not to cry.

why? because you were giving it out and if you felt
your behaviour suitable to treat someone in that way,
why are you surprised when someone else does the same?

i see it going on all around me and sometimes i'm
on the recieving end and other days (without realizing it)
i'm giving someone else a taste of their own b.s.

there is still hope in what goes around and i am so fuckin glad.

1974 film "Lenny"

I caught 1/2 of this film about the life of comedian Lenny Bruce. I had not heard of him until last night. I highly recommend it. I wanted to mention this part that I liked.

He said that the problem with many is this belief in a happy ending story.
what is vs what should be
He said we should be happy with what is and not reflect so much on what should be.

Anyhow, thought I'd share. If you get a chance, check out the film.

Sinforosa, Mexico

Horse ride by el arroyo.

me and my shadow 

so the mexican dogs kept me in my place literally

i'm scared of dogs and the only reason i can remember (and good reason enough) was that this dog chased me when i was little. i remember running as fast as i could and i know i wasn't bitten but i think i got a scratch or something.

anyhow, when i went to Mexico this fall i was so looking forward to roaming around my mom's hometown with my camera and journal at hand, enjoying the sound of Mexico, looking at all the places i made memories at. what i found was a town once lively now empty of people. it was a bit lonely, kinda sad. many houses were vacant for the fall because residents moved to a place closer for their kids to go to school or because they chose to move to the States. it's more like a summer getaway for many now.

however, what it had plenty of were dogs!!! :) 1 is enough to keep me in my place. i was too scared to walk around the town because there were dogs everywhere. to break their boredom, make their afternoon more exciting, their favorite thing to do was bark and chase the lovely people on foot. it was kinda funny because they owned this place and i felt helpless and settled for observing this town by car or by the fence of our home's patio.

i couldn't leave La Magdalena without visiting el arroyo. i use to go 'pretend' swimming in there. my cousin said she'd come with me and since i felt safe with her, i took those brave steps outside the house and headed down to el arroyo. this picture is of the dog that joined us for our little trip. he was my cousin's new found friend. she had been feeding him because word on the street was that he was a loner but not by choice, more so because his owner left for the fall. as we walked he kept his distance which was nice.

The dog did his good deed for the day. this cow happen to wander by us but just by coincidence, she paid no attention to us, she was just having her lunch when the dog decided that she was to close to us and started barking her away and the cow, slightly annoyed, decided to oblige to avoid a possible headache and drifted away. i thought the dog's gesture was nice although unnecessary. still cute. maybe one day i'll have a puppy of my own.

it's when you're not looking

they say that it's when you're not looking that you find someone and i'm thinking does that mean i should look elsewhere when i walk?

i think it's funny when i see someone walking down the street with their head in some book or newspaper. i don't see that many but when i do i always want to walk up to them and ask them what is so interesting that they can't seem to be bothered to look up.

that is why this woman caught my attention one weekday morning while i was heading to work. she was across the street walking in the opposite direction reading her newspaper. on many, several mornings i would remember just in time to look for this newspaper lady and I'd glance over and there she was. i could always count on her to be there.

the reason why I even write about this observation is because the very first time I was thinking 'i wonder if i'll see her' ahead of time. the first time i'm actually looking, i didn't find her. i thought 'this is crazy' she was always there. the days following i was still looking even though i was trying not too and i still couldn't find her. it's a small example of how when i was not really looking i found her and when i was she was no where to be seen. time passed before i saw her again and she happened to be right in front of me, a few feet away. she wasn't reading her newspaper this time.

so to this "it's when you are not looking" that those in love like to tell you i have to add that I am never looking. i guess you should not not look(meaning block any possible relationship) nor should you look. but also, what if you find someone when you are not looking and it's the greatest thing (as did happen to me) but they might have been looking (elsewhere :) and so it doesn't work out, what then to this little phrase?? you basically need two people who are not 'looking'. damn, it's looking harder than ever :) wait...NO....i'm not looking! ;)

maybe i'm going to try this whole walking down the street while reading a book thing. this way i'm 'not looking' and i increase my chances of bumping into someone....hmmm
Or
just simply be open to whomever comes my way. easier said.

sofia 

we shared a smile

not to kill this whole 'passing moment' thing
but last evening I was thinking of this person
while on the train and when I got off and was
walking down the block, guess who walks by??
it was so weird!! we shared a smile. I'm sure
I must have looked surprised as did this person.
it was strange because this is someone I don't
normally see.

but I kept on walking :(
to practice what I preach,
I did turn around but by then this person
had disappeared among the rest walking down the street.

dimitry