Revolution

One of the many posters around town these days... And one of the rare ones that is not market oriented... It does not want me to buy washing up liquid, a new car, a package holiday in the sun... It just plainly states that there is increasing poverty, always less rights and increasing social differences... all of which is true it seems in this world... Ok maybe not everywhere... but most places (and most places includes this one). So on a day like this is there any other way to end the post but with ☭. Happy Labour day everyone.

D-Day (Dance day)

It seems that I have been having days that were in their entirety dedicated to a single thing these days. Sort of specialist days... I definitely prefer the ones that I spent behind my camera, much more fun than spending days behind the computer screen...
Today was Dance day, which meant that there were events going on around town for the whole afternoon and evening. The benefit of all this is that you get a lot of people smiling... and that has to be a good thing, or my name isn't ... wait a minute was is it?
P.s. the photo was chosen for its social message rather than its dance...

Followed by a day of words

As I was reading and editing this text for 10 hours today (no break for real) there is nothing else I can actually post as the photo of the day. At the end I was too tired to go anywhere or do anything. As it has turned out I am also way to exhausted to actually sleep. So here I am in the middle of the night writting my blog... Oh well tomorrow will be an exciting day... I suppose another two hours and I might as well give up and start working again...

Day of song

There was no way I could post a different photo today. In the morning I went to the monthly morning concert, this time featuring the female choir Kombinat. In the afternoon I went to their picnic, and as they are a choir, one song or another seemed to float through the air at most times.
So, guess what I did in the evening? No, I didn't go for a pizza. Early night did I hear? Well, er... no. Saved he world? Nah, had a day off...
I went to listen to some peeps I know (and some that I don't know) singing jazz. So there.. a day of song.

NSK art

There was a time it was considered provocative. And I guess it probably was... In another time, in another system... Today it is merely a retrospective of the past. But I guess with the good timing and everything going right for them (the fall of socialism, the Western interest in Eastern European art - especially from the communist era)they will remain an icon for a few decades to come. In the end I guess they achieved what they set out to do.

The David Attenborough...

... within me has awaken. There I was in the midst of an unhospitable terrain, making my way through the jungle when suddenly I saw... two snails mating. I rushed back to civilisation to get my camera and somehow - as by miracle - managed to find the same spot again. Luckily snails take their time... So here is the photo and now I suppose I merely have to wait for Sir David do give me a bell and ask me to photo all the Ljubljana wildlife for his next book (Ljubljana wildlife I guess the title will be).

Theatre photography

Went to Žiga's opening tonight at which he showed his theatre photographs, which he rarely does as he mainly photographs jazz musicians (see Ziga). There were a few photographs that I really liked there and even more of them that made me think I wish I was there (which is the main function of a theatre photograph I reckon'). But I think that the main feeling I got was I want to do this ... so if you have a cousin who is a janitor in a Ljubljana theatre and could get me in during a dress rehearsal let me know :) (if you have a cousin who is a professional photographer and has got really excellent equipment that he does not use as he has got better and newer equipment anyway and he would't miss his old stuff for a day or two - also let me know (just to give you a taste, these are some photos from my last exhibition, which was of photographs from dance performances (combined with my tweets)There is something I need to tell you)

A post way to long for anyone to read

(even longer than two (yes 2) text messages put together, almost long enough to be (in 2010) considered an equal to War and Peace - not in its quality, just in the long-windedness)
All this jumping around will kill me one of these days. First I was not jumping around at all, but sitting at the computer translating like there is no tomorrow. But before tomorrow could come, the evening came, and I went to see Repetitori (which I have seen twice already). As much as I liked them the first and second time round they only did one new song in over a year and they seem to have become err.. what is the word... err... repetitive. But still I think that whoever has not seen them should go and see them, because they are good and should be enjoyed... anyway, I didn't really go to see them, I wanted to see Deerhoof who I never seen before. And those who know me, know that if I go to a concert of a band I don't know, I do not listen to them previously on myspace or youtube. I want to be surprised. No prejudices for me thanx. So where was I? Ah, yes Deerhoof. A band that is off the main roads, but to me it seemed that they are trying too hard to be a bit different from the rest. You know trying to show they are a bit crazy... just a bit... just enough to make them different.
One would think that seeing two bands should be enough for one evening, wouldn't one? But no... about an hour into Deerhoos I got a phone call (as previously arranged) that I need to go somewhere else and take a photo for a magazine. So I came there and my friends (the music critic (of the text I needed to take a photo for) and his girlfriend were having a miserable evening. They were both tired and feed up with the late nights and everything that goes with it (just so you know kids it is not all sex & drugs & rock’n’roll). And you know when you are in company of people who are really miserable, you are either the joker full of energy who lifts them up or you are the one (especially if you are in the minority) who falls into their spiralling misery and despair and you get the great desire for the evening to end... Well, guess which one I am (or at least I was yesterday. I also had a tough week). Yes, we managed to get selected for the very first staging of Les Miserables in Slovenia (I am certain it will be a great hit that will fill the theatres for decades to come). So in the end I managed to take a mediocre photo for the magazine (maybe we will go and see something else today or tomorrow and I can improve), the text has not been written yet (I guess), but hopefully the trio Les Mis managed to get some sleep and we are all looking forward to a better evening.
So anyway... as the post is way too long I will finish it right here and now...With a little footnote: the photo I chose, I chose because I think it reflects the feeling I had towards the end of the evening and not because it really reflected the entire evening.
P.S (what am I now, a photographer or a writer?)

It's only rock'n roll...

... but we like it. Went to a concert of a band that describes itself as a band that plays 'a post-modern translation of the ancient Christian-Armenian folk music'. Hmmm, where to they get these descriptions from? However, on the encore, for the very last song, the singer took the guitar from her brother and played something that sounded almost like punk. Even though she seemed to be enjoying herself throughout the show, this seemed to be her favourite part... and probably not only because it was the end.

Daffodils

(by William Wordsworth)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

All aboard!

Last night I went to an 'informance' (as it was called) that will last 50 hours. As I am a working man with tight deadlines at the moment (arghhh the pressure) I of course could not stay there for long (long being a relative term in this case). The thought 'should I pop in and have a look what's happening now?' did make its way into my morning head, but no, serious work is to be done. But anyway, the performance is linked to some sort of avatars floating in the orbit... anyway, the concept is way to abundant for me to explain in a few lines... The main thing is - it is connected to space... and here we go: All aboard!

Treasure

A hallfull of patients










A bellyfull of laughter













An eyefull of nostalgia (for some anyway)?






















And who knows... maybe the sun will shine on that tiny drop of hope...

Theory

Today I went to see some theatre students explain (& perform) their understanding of theoretical texts by Foucault, Sartre, Ionesco and Artaud. There were three presentations, two of which were videos and one of which was good - i.e. a lot of thought and effort went into it and as a result she understood the texts and was able to pass on her understanding of rather difficult texts to the audience. Now call me old fashioned (and colour me purple) but I think that is rather good. As there were a lot of videos, I did not have a lot to photograph, but here is my pick of the day (maybe not as regards the photo, but the student with the best presentation).

Cleaning the country

Today people in Slovenia went to clean the country. Even though loads of people seem to think that the best place to dump their waste (sometimes toxic) is somewhere in the bushes (were nobody can find it) there also seem to be loads of people (first reports by the organisers say 190.000 - in a country of 2 mio) who think that the trash does not belong there (phew, lucky for us). I thought it looked good to see all the people working together for a good cause (in my books). Now if only we can get the same numbers to take to the streets and clean the - what is in the modern world considered to be normal - government that runs this country Bob would be our uncle (and Fanny our aunt).

Running low

on energy. Today I sort of planned to go to a concert, but I did not get the ticket and could maybe get in if I turned up and hanged around and gave the ol' 'nudge, nudge, wink wink' to somebody... but I was running low on energy and I didn't really fancy doing all of this and possibly come close but no cigar (can't that be cookie as I have seemed to substitute my nicotine for sugar?). I mean sure if I haven't worked all day on a translation (just to end off a hard week translating) and had been fresh, then, well, maybe, who knows... but I was knackered already... so then I decided to go to another concert much closer and earlier... but before I went there I met a friend for a drink and when the time came I couldn't persuade myself to go.... and when I finally did and came to the concert venue it was all over (it only lasted for a bit more than an hour... So, I reached the first decission of the evening that I actually could stick to: Go home and get some rest. And that is exactly what I did.
Of course this means no photo for you all today.

Playing with shadows

playing with words...
playing with notes...
playing with emotions...
toying with is.

Don't walk towards the light

I had to go to the faculty of arts (yeah the same one that chewed me up and spat me out) building to sign a contract today. And contrary to popular belief the light on the 3rd floor of this building has nothing to do with enlightment and clever people trying to share their knowledge... it is a strange phenomenon, for the light on this floor inevitably leads to the dark side of mankind and maybe ever further into the darkness...
So my suggestion is: Don't walk towards the light (not in this case anyway).

Don't rain on my performance

You remember my post from a few days ago about street art going places? Well today it was the other way round. I attended a guided tour around an open-air gallery. So this means that art went to the streets I guess. It was more of an entertaining event with a few performances in various places, but the part that I found was extremely simple yet effective was taking a close look at various things you pass everyday and studying them like a work of art. It gives you a new perspective. You know how, if you are a Londoner you walk past Big Ben and do not even notice it, or past the Empire State Building in New York (if you are a Newyorker, I guess), or past any other cityscape landmark when this is a part of your town. Of course we did not look at Big Ben or the Empire State Building, but at little details on buildings, on the street, in the windows... One day (not like one undefined day in the future, but as in one day a week/fortnight or something) you should do this. Take the extra 20 minutes on your way back from work, or the 7 extra minutes on the way to the shop and back to play this game (spot the art in street furniture, in the decrepit facades, in the cracks on the pavement...). Enjoy!

Twirl

'I know! Today is an excellent day to twirl. All day and all night. Until I drop.'

Reggae night

I guess it is quite a nice & relaxing way to bring the weekend to an end. As regards the photo I seemed to have a profile fetish yesterday and made loads of photos of various profiles, most of which I liked. So here is one of them...

Street art

Street art is going places. Bolting it down and declaring it street furniture will not actually make it static. This one (together with a few more) made it into a cafe as a part of the exhibition and I thought it is a rather good use of a sign. Wonder how will they bring entire walls with graffiti into cafes and galleries for exhibitions?

This much fun(k) could almost be illegal

It was one of those concerts that you do not attend because you fancy the singer, know their tunes or score, you are not even there because you will hear something completely new. But you will hear something that is brilliantly played and that has that little extra soul in it... you know none of that Paris Hilton (I can't even believe she ever sung outside the privacy of her shower) malarkey with all the post-production banged on top of something which is - frankly speaking - bellow par. This was all about three people who love doing music and have managed to get rather good at it (is there anything better than the Brittish understatement in this world? - well except marmite that is)through the decades they have been playing. And when you see them enjoying it, how can you stay still?

Contrasts

This is how it looked like on stage










And this is what it looked like bellow the stage

Making the day

It is great seeing that people can have fun even when the odds are against them. Today was another visit to the cancer clinic. They had a concert and one of the patients actually started dancing (with a volunteer). It certainly made his day and the day of many at the clinic. It also made some people sad, but I definetly prefered to take photos of the happy ones and not capture the sad moments on camera.
(How do they do it, how do they do it?)

Back to concerts

I was lucky enough that my first return concert from my infected ear (still slightly infected) was a quiet one, with just a guitar/singer. No rock'n'roll / trash / death metal or anything similarly loud. So here is a quiet photo from a quiet concert.

Family

I have had a part of my family over for a few days and it was great and fun, but also hectic and tiring. And I failed to find time to write my blog, so here is a small mix of photos from the stay.

Psssst!

When looking for quiet (at this quiet might meen something else for me that it does for you) you can always go to a library or exhibition. As I got a part of my English family here at the moment we went to see 2 exhibtions today. And most of us smiled when we saw this painting. So let's see if it works also for you, or is this just the strange Stone sense of humour.