DEK Photography: Last Week's Photos in a Single Post!
Here are all of last week's photos, which I posted for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy them, as much as I did taking them!
In order of publication:
DEK Photography: The Man Beneath the Clouds
I had just finished taking some shots of the Black Sea coast and I noticed this fellow approach the stone stairs, looking down at his feet and walking slowly. At times he would raise his head, look around, as if remembering where he is headed, and after a silent sigh, he would turn his eyes down again.
He then sat on top of the stairs.
You can click for a bigger image! Go on, he's not looking!
As I stood there, I saw two worlds - the troubled world of this white haired man and the beautiful panorama behind him, which he seemed to ignore. Sometimes a photo is not only a contrast of forms and colors, but a contrast of worlds.
DEK Photography: The Fairy House
The fairy world, hidden from the eyes of the clumsy, scary giants. Our eyes.
It was raining and I was looking at some people, hiding under a massive old tree. I got a little closer to take a shot. Then a little closer. And then something glistened near their heads. I ignored it for a bit, but then I saw it shine again.
A drop of water?
You can click for a bigger image!
No, a doorway to a fairy world. I stood there, gazing at their tiny houses. The strangers saw it too. And we stood there in awe, cold rain dropping down our faces. But we were too big, too big to go through. The drops of rain were mixed with tears.
The tears of the giants.
p.s. I used the drop as a tiny lens to focus on the houses behind it. Then I reversed the image, so the houses were not sitting on their roofs. Taken with Nikkor's 18-55mm kit lens, which is surprisingly good at macro photography.
DEK Photography: Underpass Graffiti
A couple of shots I took of some stunning graffiti, at a local underpass.
Underpasses are like a magnet for graffiti artists. There are vulgar drawings, clumsy drawings, unfinished run-away-the-police-is-coming-dude drawings, and then there are works of art, which deserve to be put in a museum of modern art history.
The evil cat. No, it's the Angry Cat. One eye in the shadows, the other peering right into the soul of the monkey in front of it. If cats take over the world, I know this will be their leader.
You can click for a bigger image! He won't bite!
The pimp seagull. The Pimpull. The Seamp. However he is called, he's got more swag and bling than any of you, sore losers. I wish his pimpmobile was drawn behind him.
You can click for a bigger image! He won't pimp you!
DEK Photography: Is That You Master Yoda?
Black and white photography is an art of its own, which very few are truly capable to master.
Although my skills are nowhere near to photographers - no, let's call them artists - like Vivian Maier, I do enjoy the black and white format. It's capable of expressing feelings, which words often fail to convey to the viewer.
This photo was taken at the same underpass, which I mentioned in my previous post, DEK Photography: Underpass Graffiti. The contrasting clouds and the bright sky, which made the subjects darker, created that much sought after contrast in black and white photography.
You can click for a bigger image!
DEK Photography: Is That You Sith Master?
No, they are certainly not Sith masters, but quite possibly in tune with the Force.
These two Orthodox nuns passed by me and I loved the contrast between their humble presence and the pseudo-arabesque architectural kitsch of the distant hotels, where tourists from Russia and Western Europe pass out from too much alcohol and drugs.
You can click for a bigger image! Taken at 55mm, f/8, 1/400s, ISO 100. RAW file edited in Linux!
Nerd bonus! Eastern Orthodox monasteries are either for men or women, but operate in much the same way. Although it's typical for catholics to call ascetics living in monasteries "nuns" or "convents", in Orthodox monasteries, they are called "monastics" ("монаси" in Bulgarian). The abbess of the monastery is called "hegumen" or "hegumenia" ("игуменка" in Bulgarian).
DEK Photography: Black And White Nectar
Can you imagine a world with gray skies and black flowers, where shadowy creatures gather inky nectar for their sustenance? Now, also imagine a black Nikon with a 50mm 1.8 G lens, clicking away at this lovely Hummingbird moth, who's become my involuntary photo shoot subject.
You can click for a bigger image!
Nerd Fact! The Hummingbird moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), also called "Dove's Tail" in Bulgaria, is a butterfly from the Sphingidae family. Its strong flying abilities and flying pattern, along with its long proboscis (its trunk!), make it look like a hummingbird. Its wingspan of around 5 cm (2 inches) and hairy, brown to orange body color, make every self respecting lady jump in the arms of the closest gentleman.
DEK Photography: Beyond Our Comfortable Bubble
I've shot this photo on election day, last year. Politicians were spending millions on advertising campaigns, apparently fighting over that all important and glorious 1000 Euro monthly paycheck. People knew they were corrupt and simply ignored them. They ignored their lies on TV, they ignored their smug faces plastered around town, they ignored them everywhere.
They also ignored this woman.
You can click for a bigger image!
In fact, they tried particularly hard to ignore this old woman, because it was their ignorance that brought her to the streets. But she refused to be ignored. She was there, every day, talking to herself, sometimes shouting at them, reminding them of what they did by simply doing nothing.
So here she is. Back against that classy jewelry store, wearing all her clothes, holding tight to an umbrella.
Don't dare to ignore her.
DEK Photography: Candle Light
This little girl had a birthday, the day before I took this shot. She insisted that her aunt gave her a candle, because she really enjoyed blowing the birthday cake candles.
After blowing this candle over a hundred times, my lens was covered in paraffin. Yep, an expensive lens, covered in sticky oily stuff. But I think it was all worth this magical photo.
You can click for a bigger image! Don't worry, she won't set you on fire!
But honestly... looking around, getting close to your year ... I think she's a pyromaniac. But a cute one too, right?!
- See, honey, there you were, just a small four-year-old pyrokinetic, lighting up candles! And now you torch corrupt politicians. Good, job, Charlene, good job!
Thank you for taking the time to look through this week's photos! Be sure to follow #dek-photography for more of my work!
Check out my latest articles:
- Poll: Steemit User Loyalty
- DEK Photography: Candle Light
- Why Steemit is Keeping the Price of Steem Down
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You are a very good photographer. I like them all.
That's high praise, coming for a talented artist such as yourself. Much appreciated, thank you!
Haha, you're welcome. The snapshot is what I admire most in photography, and you make them look like a planned shot.
Do you mean candid shots, in other words people not knowing they are being photographed? That's what I'm striving for, these make the best photos, at least for me :)
Yes, candid... that's probably the word. I especially like the man on the plinth that looks like a Greek God taking a break, and the man and the dog growing out of the massive stone construction.
... and the nuns.
Ah! It's actually a young woman and her dog! Thanks again, you can image how good it feels, when someone appreciates your work :)
Btw, your Krita drawing skills are amazing! I've recently installed it, but can't find the time to explore it any further.