Tip of the day

Traveling blog: I am learning from you

Many of the bloggers that follow me and I follow in return are doing amazing job and I admire them. I am overwhelmed by talent! Last week a passionate blogger and mental health advocate Sheri de Grom http://sheridegrom.wordpress.com/ asked me to join the Traveling blog. I felt so grateful and truly humbled. Sheri is doing a job of tremendous importance speaking for the people suffering from mental illness. Her blog is a powerful tool, my blog is only a little piece of love I have for my fellow human beings.

As I accepted the invitation, here are a few questions I am supposed to answer.

What I am working on at the moment?

I am planning to visit Saltee Islands, Co Wexford, for bird photography. Now I am doing some research for this trip. My next destination is Cliffs of Moher, also mostly for bird photography, and after that I am going to Dublin for street photography (Pride festival).

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Well, it must differ a bit because I write in a language which is not native to me. Common sense tells me to rather keep to photography than do any writings, but sometimes there are things I do want to tell about. . I write just about everything:) When I work I am thinking, and if it looks like a good thought to share, so I do. Sometimes I read about some place or person, and I like to go and see them by myself, take my own pictures and share. Usually I don’t have a detailed plan, because I love to surprise myself too:)

Why do I write what I do?

I feel good when I think that somebody smiles reading my blog, or sighs, or drops a tear, or gets inspired for doing something special. I must love humans, otherwise why would I pursue portrait photography:) I want them to be safe and comfortable, to understand and love humor, to be touched by beauty and amazed by new knowledge.

How does my writing process work?

I am a person who is amazed with things all the time, so it is easy for me to pick up a subject. I write what I see, what I know, what I care about. Most of the times I am smiling when I write:). Usually I do research and write a draft; then I take pictures, and then… I write all over again.

Here are some fellow bloggers who have accepted my invitation. I don’t know why I am so lucky to meet the most amazing people! Please visit their blogs. I know you will love what they do.

Incredibly talented Hattie Wilcox, http://availablelightonly.com/ , http://writingwithoutahelmet.com/ I am walking through her blog like through an enchanted forest. Every picture tells a story, every word of poetry takes me away.

Warm humor of Emily Grace http://beefandsweettea.com/ always makes my day. When I read her blog I do want to have a goat and chop the mustard… I want every day to be a National Agriculture Day. Today I stuck behind a tractor on my way home – had no bad feelings, seriously:)

Leyla Garza http://darkpink.wordpress.com/ , her photographs will tell you what a young girl likes. She lost her lens cap you see, and since then she cannot stop taking pictures:)

Here are some pictures from last week. Hope your day is nice and peaceful.

Photography tip of the day: photo editing is art itself.

Have a great day!

Clancy Brothers music festival in Carrick on Suir

What a great time to visit Ireland! This weekend Carrick on Suir, Tipperary, hosts the 7th annual Clancy Brothers Music and Arts Festival! The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were an influential Irish folk group in the 60s; they are loved and honored in their hometown and recognized by folk song lovers throughout the world. There are a few pictures of the shop windows decorated for the occasion.

A harvest time for street photography, but for me as a jet lag casualty it is impossible to see everything. I just walked Main Street to listen to the street performing, or busking, competitions, and went to the Ormond castle for a Family Day fun. I find it very fascinating to watch the street performers. Closeness to the art happening in front of your eyes gives you a false feeling of belonging, but when you look in their inspired face you realise how far away they are now, unreachable, deep in their work, focused and beautiful.

Ormond Castle welcomes families to enjoy the medieval experience.

Some people enjoy it even more than the others 🙂

The Falconry exhibition was grand but this 7-weeks old baby owl girl stole the show. It is exactly what we call a cuteness overflow. I wish you could hear the gentle sounds she made and see her cuddling in my lap.

There are so much more music and creative arts events, I wish I could be everywhere… Song writing workshop and competition, concerts of local and visiting performers and choirs, pub live music sessions all over the town, a river walk, children drama workshop and theatrical performances, visual art exhibitions…

Now you can go to the first picture and tell me what is your idea about the Guinness pints on the table. As you see some of them are full, some not 🙂

I didn’t make it to the River festival, so I just share with you my favorite song.

Have a great day!

Flight drama film by Robert Zemeckis, and my own dramas

Right now I am recovering from jetlag.

I love traveling and don’t mind airports; the airplanes are not my favorites, but they haven’t done me any harm so far, and it is enough to ask for. I have got two close calls though.

In 1979 I visited a friend who used to work on a tiny island north of the Arctic Circle. On my way home, very tired, I fell asleep without buckling up my safety belt. I woke up from a sharp pain in my leg, and when I opened my eyes I saw the cockpit door upside down. The airplane was spinning! I was in the first row, and I heard people behind me scream, and it was so surreal – that door, the screams and me flapping around ( I didn’t realize my leg stuck somehow between the seats, which perhaps saved my life). I just remember the only thought that came into my mind : how high we are? I don’t know how long it all lasted, probably just a few seconds. The airplane straightened up and started to regain altitude. The crew members didn’t explain us anything about the incident, but when we landed in an hour the place was all lit by the fire trucks and ambulances flashing lights. Some passengers were injured.

Since then I read everything I find about the plane crashes and incidents in the air. That strange spinning of the aircraft during its nosediving has never left my mind. Perhaps I found my answers when watching the movie Flight by Robert Zemeckis. Great movie, by the way.

Another close call was an aborted take off. We were said that one of the doors was not locked properly. Well, to be precise, it was not even closed.

There are a few pictures from the airports. I love Chicago O’Hare for its artistic air.