awareness on "artistic"egoism

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=57823968933#/video/video.php?v=1047327936724&ref=mf

I was speechless.It stroke me right to the heart.
This video , made me re-think on an issue i'm always very sensible while taking photos.
Trying not to be egoist.
I always try not to act this way , eventhough sometimes it might be hard .
I mean , you just can't fight the instict to paralyse that special moment.
I don't know what forces me to do it , but sometimes it can be stronger than you.
You just want to capture that "very moment".
Nevertheless, what I have always tried to do , while taking photos of people,was approaching to them in a very sincere & honest way.
I know this might be risky on loosing the candid moments and the naivete, but still i don't find it honest to get advantage of some situations that might turn out to be "great artistic hits".
I don't find it ethic , to profit by such hard situations , just to achieve , a genuine work.
Of course i don't have any word on photojournalist or war photographers , they're just documenting a fact , that's gonna be history later on.
My word is , on popular-wanna be photographers , that barefacedly try to get this "particular gems that are screaming human pain" .
This one , yes i do detest.
We owe some respect & reliance to the people whose feelings of (pain,madness,loneliness etc) are documented and scattered everywhere.This is the least that should be done.

Spiritual window

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

don't neglect the beauty of your spiritual window, even when the reality window is disappointing...

4 seasons

© Eni Turkeshi Photography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-MIDDfckw

Azizcan

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

On my trip from the asiatic part of Istanbul to the european one, i was looking thoughtful through the ferry to find s.t/s.one interesting to take the picture of.

Suddenly , i run across the keen, stark eyes of this kid looking at me in a very curious way.
When i directed the camera he started to laugh and to pose , like he'd been a model his whole life:)

He was so happy to be photographed and i was so glad to find such a lovely, cute volunteer poser.
After taking the photo , i told his mom (who thanked me a lot too), that i could post this pic to her email.

She told me she didn't have one and she added in a very proud and generous way :
Let this be a memory from him.
His name is Azizcan:) Don't forget about him.

Tell me , can i ever forget about him ? :)

Bookworming can be fun ;)

© Eni Turkeshi Photography


Yes it can be fun , especially when you are tagged:)
What i love more from flickr , is that gives me the possibility to get to know amazing creative people with cool ideas.
I don't like very much uploading self portraits all the time , but this time i really had a lot of fun:)
The rules were this way:

[A]
1. Sit down.
2. Take a picture of yourself right now. Don't primp, just snap one!(i just changed the tones;)
3. Upload it.
4. Tag 5 people to do the same .Actually i did this on flickr so i tagged my flickr contats , but since i'm sharing this with you i'm tagging these blogger friends of mine:)


(I tag : belle,elais,akull,alidea,bletebzz )

[B]
make a pic of yourself with the book you are reading and listening to some music.

I was listening to
/_/Cries+And+Whispers">Cries and Whispers melody from Old Boy Movie.Now i'm reading Yasushi Inoue's book named: Three women


while trying to get my portrait and reflections from the window , i had some stupid , funny moments (i had push the record button ,instead of the other one so i accidentally recorded this comic video:)
enjoy and don't forget to keep the promise guys:)

Ode to loneliness

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

I have always respected people that have choosen to lead a lonely life.

And by this i don't mean asocial people , people that find it hard to get in touch with the others of course.

I mean the people that content theirselves and don't need other people just because they don't like being lonely.
Yes , maybe you find it strange , but i have came across a lot of of these people.

I don't like their company.I guess because they make me understand they aren't enjoying mine as well. Or maybe because they need my friendship anyway, because they just can't stand to be alone.

I find it so superficial.
And so desperate.

One should first get enough of his/herself i think.
If you see people , if you get in touch with them just to escape from your loneliness and boredom , you aren't going to do anything good to yourself or the others.

Loneliness should be experienced sometimes.
Loneliness should be perceived.
Loneliness should be enjoyed.

Loneliness offers you the luxury of an intense conversation with your innerself.

This conversation might hurt sometimes.Sometimes it might get your worse.

But at the end of this experience , you won't have anything to escape from.
You'll have signed a total piece with yourself.
And once you have achieved this ; you'd be able to pass quality time with yourself only or with others as well.
You won't experience something in order to escape from something else , you'll really be able or be willing to share what you want with the others.

But in order to reach this , you need to master your loneliness; this very slight line that separates your true preferences from your egoistic fears.

The unbearable lightness of optimism

© Eni Turkeshi Photography
















The unbearable lightness of optimism
Can be sometimes felt in a waterdrop!

Lezete Stambolli

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Ajo ç'ka e ben te veçante Stambollin, kete qytet te madh te njohur me bukurite dhe problemet e çdo qyteti metropolitan, nuk eshte vetem madheshtia e tij kulturore,natyrore,historike , por disa zakone apo menyra jetese te veçanta per kete qytet.

Jane keto te fundit disa gjera qe çdokush i di se mund te behen vetem ketu , ose se paku njerezve i pelqen me shume ti perjetojne ketu.

Njera prej ketyre eshte dhe zakoni i te ngrenes "buke me peshk" prane barkave qe ndodhen prane bregut te detit Marmara.
Me te njohura per kete dhe me nje histori 60 vjeçare jane barkat qe ndodhen ne lagjen Emineny(Eminönü) nje nga lagjet me te vjetra te Stambollit prane ures se Gallates.
Ky ritual u ndalua para disa vitesh nga bashkia e Stambollit per arsye ndotje te ambientit por u rihap serish pas 3 vitesh pushim ne veren e vitit 2007.

Sigurisht , ndonese ky zakon nuk perjeton me lavdine e dikurshme , pasi se pari barkat nuk jane ato barkat historike qe kane qene me pare, qyteti eshte me i zhurmshem , trafiku dhe kallaballeku ben te veten , por prapese prape eshte diçka qe duhet provuar patjeter.

Çfare e ben kete ritual kaq interesant do te thoni?
Por ja vendondodhja , barkat interesante, sherbimi nga persona te veshur ne menyre tradicionale , çmimi i lire (2 € nje sandviç me nje peshk te madh shumicen e rasteve koce ose levrek+ sallate) , gjalleria e ambjentit ku ndodheni .

Ata qe gatuajne peshkun ne zgara qe ndodhen brenda barkes , duhet te kene nje ekuiliber te shkelqyer besoj , pasi barkat ka raste tunden e shkunden per qejf te vet.Shpesh duken sikur jane duke marre pjese ne nje maratone me pengesa.

Sandviçi pregatitet shpejt e shpejt dhe vjen ne duart tuaja midis nje "korrieri" te shkathet qe e kalon tere diten e tij me gjysmen e trupit te anashkaluar keqazi sa qe trembeni shpesh se mos do te bjere ne uje.
Shqetesim i kote ky , per njerez te tille qe kane perfituar nje zhdervjelltesi te çuditshme nder vite.

Per kete arsye nuk eshte fare çudi qe ky lloj ushqimi "fast food" eshte mjaft i preferuar si nga turqit edhe nga turistet.

Nese do t'ju keshillonin te vizitoni patjeter aksh muze dhe filan vendi historik , kijeni parasysh se do t'ua thone edhe kete.
Sigurisht, kjo vlen per ata qe duan ta ndjejne veten sa me prane vendit dhe jo te futen thjesht ne profilin e nje turisti qe i ka vene vetes detyre mos ti leje pa shpetuar asnje grimce muzeu;)

Strokkur Miracle

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Most of you might have heard of the famous Icelandic geysirs.They are located on the country's south west part.It's there that you can experience the magic of fabulous steam rising from the hot springs, vent and streams found all over this area.

Actually , all of the hot springs world wide are called due to the great Geysir located here.It's been told that Geysir has been erupting since the early 14th century up to the early days of 20th century.It hasn't been active since then.

According to some ,Geysir stopped because lots of rocks has been threw to it to set it off.Some say , it just stopped .
But when it used to erupt ; it's been told it used to go 150-200 feet high.

It was a bit frightening to visit a geysir that you might never know if it's going to be active or not anymore.But it was worth of it:)

Sure Geysir has a little twin:) called Strokkur.
Strokkur of course is not as big as Geysir used to be and when it erupts the steaming water goes 60-100 feet high.It happened once in 5-10 minutes.

The area of geysir was surrounded and you couldn't get closer than that .
Actually , it wouldn't be wise:)

I sure was thankful to my best friend (my camera;) that helped me get every single second , when it started to erupt.
I just wish i had a tripod by myside.Because you always need extra light in Iceland during winter time;) , plus i was so excited to watch it myself, so couldn't concentrate much , so you guys are going to accept this trembling photos ;)

But you can see from the photos , the amazing moment it gets ready to erupt and all it's phases.The first moment can be seen on the picture on top.
The other photos show the continuous moments.

It was really an amazing experience.
I never thought it could be real , until i saw it myself:) I was 30 metres close to it:)

Also what i loved else , was the perfect nature harmony and the combination of the places full of snow & hot springs with boiling water.It's truly incredible to see these both together.
I think it's a better idea to visit geysirs during winter time;)

for more infos on Icelandic geysirs :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geysir

The poem of being lonely

i thought to share with you another lovely poem of the great Orhan Veli tonight..hope you'll enjoy..



© Eni Turkeshi Photography

THE POEM OF BEING LONELY

They don't know,
Those who don't live alone,
How frightening is
Soundlessness;
How a person talks to himself,
How he runs to mirrors,
Hungry for a soul,
They don't know it.

Orhan Veli (Translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat, 1989)

source:
http://www.istanbullife.org/poetry_istanbul.htm

Reykjavík memories....

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Reykjavík , the capital of the far far away Iceland is a very pretty city .
I have to defeat your weather opinion first though:)
It's not that cold, or at least it's not the coldest city in Europe:)
As far as I've been told by my icelander friends; the temperature during the coldest day in Reykjavík, is max. -12 degrees, which sounds pretty normal and "warm" due to the freezing other cities of the world.Aside from the windy days of course;)
It can be really cold and very dangerous to go out these kind of days, especially if you've got a slim body type;)

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

The people were very nice and friendly.I liked them because of their easygoing attitude and peaceful moods.And what i loved at them was the lack of complexes on every aspect.

You can't say it's a very big city, but it's a very attractive city for sure.What i loved most here , were the numerous bookstores.You might have heard, that Iceland is one of the places with the highest rate of readers in the world!
I feel like hearing someone saying : C'mon they're just 320.000 people living there , of course the ratio will be high compared to the world.

But i don't sympathize with this , you can see how much attracted are the icelanders to reading.
And i should say they are very well decorated, cozy to sit there for a while and with lots of splendid books that you can have a long look before you get them.
So book worms, here's one reason for you to go to Iceland;)

And yeah the cafes were great as well.In most of them , you could also find great books to read.It was really nice to sip a coffee (which you could refresh all the time) while reading a book or just when you would (as the albanians say:) graze your eyes out of the window.

The reastaurants of different cuisines make you feel home even in this far away kingdom;)


© Eni Turkeshi Photography

What i loved else, were the many tourist shops that you could find in different corners of the city.All of the people working there were truly helpful and nice.The stores were full with interesting booklets , from where you could easily follow all the events (artistic,touristic ,cultural ect) happening in Reykjavík or other cities.Different , traditional icelandic products were sold as well.
And guess what?
They were duty free , like it was in many other shops in the city;)
Cool ain't it?
Before going to Iceland i had heard it's a very very expensive city , but i think it's a bit exaggerated.It's the same with many european cities , of course it has it's special and bargain corners as well.
On the main shopping street you could find some very interesting and particular icelandic or scandinavian fashion shops , with some exquisite products.

I also went to a music shop that once used to be managed by Björk as well , but now is managed by her friends.It was named "smekklaus " a.k.a "Bad Taste" ..
Yeah another cool part , was that you could see the famous people any time any where and nobody would rush to them, so it's very likely that you can see any of them while you're going to the store or when you're reading a book.

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

What i liked very much of course were the many art and photography galleries that i got the chance to visit.I especially liked the way icelanders approach to photography and the way they promote it .
I should add i had the chance to know some very special icelandic photographers with gorgeous portfolios which i was very much impressed to see.

The nights are very attractive and interesting as well.
Ok , it's not that it's too messy especially during week , after 10.00 pm you can hardly see anyone out , but during weekends it's really very cheerful and populous.
And the atmopshere is truly charming , especially if you're lucky enough to catch the "northern lights" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_Borealis).
Reykjavík becomes a riot of colors during nights.That's why it's really special.

Whenever you visit Iceland , let it be summer or winter , night or day, you can be sure you'll be amazed.

P.S: Bthw, nothing to worry on the last happenings in Iceland.Because icelanders are peaceful people , so their demonstrations are;) So it won't be risky for you to visit it , even now:)

For more of my Iceland photos click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eni/sets/72157611030404701/

The big pretenders escaping to face theirselves

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

I've always made fun of such kind of people.
I mean the "pretending-to- be" ,different ,special , one-of a kind , unique , smart asses.

Pardon my rude language, but i can't help it.

These persons always tend to act snobbishly & not interested at anything.
Yes i do accept they might look charismatic , at least for some time.

One tends to feel respect towards people acting selective.Because you believe they do it because of a good reason or because they are induced to choose something.

But it's not , because generally they just criticize without explaining why or without letting you know about their "bright" own ideas.They should have some great ideas since they keep boincing all time don't they?

But it all looks so ugly and quite stupid , when you get their real target.
They just tend to depress and discourage.
By any means.
In any way.

Even when they know ,what they say is not right, even when they aren't sure at all about what they say.They can't help it.
It looks like this makes them feel happy & relieved.And superior.

Now how crappy is that: ) And how desperate.
I say it because almost all of them , are not the most creative persons or not mastering at any field.
So why is all this mess about then?
Why such a fake pathos on their criticism?

I hope you don't missunderstand.I'm not saying that everyone has to praise everybody's work all time.I wouldn't be saying anything about this stuff if i didn't feel the absurdity this way.
For that reason i called my post "the big pretenders , escaping to face theirselves".

So let us toast to honesty,non- sabotaged perception and genuine passion to create!
And let us give a hand to them.

Largim nga zhurma e jetes...

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Buke, kripe dhe zemer.
Kjo ka qene motoja e familjeve shqiptare edhe ne kohet me te veshtira te egzistences se saj.
Mendoj se ka qene kjo qe i ka afruar njerezit me njeri-tjetrin e i ka ndihmuar te perballojne kohet e veshtira qe kane kaluar.

Edhe sot e kesaj dite vazhdon.Mikpritja shqiptare eshte mjaft e mirenjohur ne mbare boten.
Veçse sot ka marre edhe dimensione disi me praktike do thoja.
Dhe kufijte e saj jane zgjatur deri tek..... kafenete:)

Ne ditet e sotme me shume se kurre miqte "buajne" tek njeri tjetri per nje kafe,si brenda dhe jashte:) Besoj se e keni vene re te tere se ndertesat me te populluara dhe "zena" me pune jane kafenete !

Sado qe si fenomen te kujton keqazi "Starbucks" amerikan , shqiptaret sigurisht qe nuk e kane perjetuar krejtesisht me ate prakticitet dhe sens "fast foodi" .
Kafeja dhe rituali i pirjes se saj e shoqeruar me leximin e gazetes, bisedave te zjarrta politike me grupin e shoqerise afer, apo thjesht biseda apo ripertypje te ngjarjeve te rendesishme e te perditshme, ndonjehere me thashetheme mes miqsh, ndonjehere shikime falli... etj etj..

Cilado qofte arsyeja ; kafeja ne çfare do forme qofte (madje edhe simbolike se nuk ulemi perhere dikur per te pire kafe:) , eshte nje arsye e shkeputjes , mbase dhe shmangje e njerezve nga zhurma dhe stresi i jetes.Sikur dhe per disa momente.

Dhe shqiptaret ja arrijne perhere kesaj:) Thelle , thelle mendoj se populli yne nuk eshte dhe aq i palumtur.Duke filluar qe nga pensionisti dhe deri tek te rinjte , çdokush e ka nje "qoshe" te veten te largimit nga kaosi urban.
Te pakten ne shqiptaret ja njohim vetes kete luks dhe kohe.Mbase shume here kjo kohe tejkalohet dhe egzagjerohet , e megjithate serish mendoj se eshte nje zgjedhje me e mire se stresimi i vazhdueshem qe perjetohet ne shume shoqeri te tjera shume me te zhvilluara.
Sigurisht çdo gje me karar , por edhe te heqim dore per fare nga tere lezetet e vogla te jetes nuk me duket me shume e shendetshme!

Ju uroj nje vit te mbare me sa me shume suksese ne çdo fushe , pa harruar ti thoni ndonjehere stop stresit dhe te kujtoni e vleresoni , rendesine e bashkebisedimit dhe komunikimit me njerezit;)

Another year is gone...

 

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Yes, another year is gone.Rapidly.Immediately.
I still feel like it hasn't been a long time from the first post i wrote in the begining of this year.
Time now has become fleeting , maybe like never before.
Maybe this is because everything is happening or being lived so fast and busily , that we never realize it anymore to be passing.
Human kind will help this phenomenon to get even faster on the years to come , by developing other techologies that would make their lifes easier and more comfortable , but alas will make "the tiny important details" and precious life dynamics fade a little more.

So i stubbornly ,want to keep on, framing every important moment,in a special visual strip that comes in front of my eyes each time i ponder on this passing year.
And i realise something nice:) I have many memories , each of them filling a frame of this strip ,sometyimes with vivid ,sometimes with pale colors.I don't see all time bright,happy images ,that's right.
But that film of memories of this past year and as i promissed myself in the begining of it ; i would not underestimate any thing i would run accross.And so i'm doing and i enjoy it.
Everything was experienced by me , so it is important to me and as a result ; this imaginary film strip is not a film strip to be left burned out.And i am happy for this.
Tonight i'm going to "place" a brand new imaginary film stripe in a deep,secure corner of my soul , to use it on this new year;)
Just to prevent every event in my life from fleeting;)
Have a great new year friends and everybody that reads this blog:)

Warm balcanic tunes in a cold Reykjavik night;)

it was so very cool to listen to Balcanic music in a far far away Reykjavik cafe-bar.the guys were just cool and i enjoyed it a lot.enjoy;)

2009 Calendar;)

all photos © Eni Turkeshi Photography

©Eni Turkeshi Photography

This is a gift of mine for all of my dear blog readers:)Pictures belong to me;)Calendar was prepared using flickr toys (www.bighugelabs.com)..
Happy New Year 2009!May you have a great year!

Ky kalendar eshte nje dhurate e imja per tere lexuesit e ketij blogu.Fotot jane te miat ,teksa kalendari u be duke perdorur mjetet e flickr ne faqen (www.bighugelabs.com).
Gezuar Vitin e Ri 2009!Paçi nje vit sa me te bukur!

A bunch of Amsterdam

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

Fleeting under Atlantic Ocean

 

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

One of the most unique expriences i had during my stay in Iceland,was passing through an underground tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean. When i first heard i'd pass under Atlantic , i had this strange, odd feeling of something close to fear and excitement:) But straight after experiencing it, i can say that i loved it. The tunnel might be just a normal one, but it's very different the feeling you have while passing through it, maybe because you think of the ocean all the time:) It was a short tunnel , circa 6 km but enough for me to excite and amaze;) Hope you like this photo I got from this tunnel;)

For more infos check out below:

The tunnel's name is :Hvalfjördur Tunnel
Hvalfjördur Tunnel Hvalfjördur Tunnel, located on the southwest coast of Iceland, was completed and opened in 1998. It reduced the travel distance between Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland, and other localities in the west, north and, to some extent, the east coast of Iceland by 42 kilometres, with the exception of Akranes, the tunnel's closest locality, where the travel distance to Reykjavik declined by 60 kilometres. Another largescale investment project near Akranes at the same time was the construction of a new aluminium factory. (info taken from this site : http://www.nordicroads.com/website/index.asp?pageID=192)

Lost in Blue Lagoon

Yeah guys as you might have noticed my lack in internet these last days I decided to make a short update of where I have beeen lately.I am passing some days in Iceland.I have been visiting many places up to now but I have not been able to post anything before.The picture you are seeing now is taken in the famous "Blue Lagoon" a very special geo thermal area of Iceland.
photo © Eni Turkeshi Photography

It was surrounded by more than 900 years old lava and snow and it was quite un-surreal to see the steam coming out from a fabulous blue water from such cold surroundings.
I will be back as soon as possible with more photos from there and other places I will be visiting ..Up to then..patience pls:)
for more infos on "blue lagoon " : http://www.bluelagoon.com/

don't be afraid to reveal

© Eni Turkeshi Photography

don't be afraid to reveal.
your thoughts, your ideas.
don't be afraid to reveal .
your anger,your wrath.
don't be afraid to reveal.
your being pissed of.
don't be afraid to reveal.
your longing.
don't be afraid to reveal.
your loneliness.
don't be afraid to reveal.
your feeling unsecure.
Because burking of your soul
to make you look mighty
will never be worth enough!