Secondary Alterations
I’ve been wanting to use the term “human urban interface” but that will have to be in a different context. Perhaps secondary alteration is a more fitting term. Whereas the first alteration generalises all efforts to set up something for the (intended) benefit of the community, secondary implies an action taken by an individual for whichever reason.
It can be a complex process, or, in this case something more shallow – at first glance. Our reactionary artist hasn’t merely added a willy, on a more abstract note he has simply removed the prohibited item and substituted it.
But his endeavour is doomed – for his revolutionary action to succeed, the public would have to accept his proposal. This is unlikely to happen, as he has questioned common norms most people are happy to live with.
Perhaps it’s a cry for help.
texture: hasselbrook
Masters do not equal technology
An old topic, but one I’m quite happy to hop onto again: it’s not about technology, it’s about creativity, intuition and other “personal” qualities. Obviously, Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa an others did not rely on HD-able top range digital cameras. Perhaps the better so? Here’s a great blog post about the (un)importance of technology in photography.
The takeaway? Use all available light, set your camera to f8, and it’s OK for blacked-out areas in the photograph, of course depending on your composition. Since the ols masters were shooting in black and white, they already had some level of abstraction working for them. Which brings me to two ideas or decisions: first, set the camera to f8 and experiment a bit. Second, must reactivate my father’s Kiev rangefinder again and do some b/w shooting.
Here’s a first go with the 350 today. Not that I am a Capa or anything, just plain fun.
[Link via Kottke]
Copenhagen, Bavaria
Stumbled across this picture which I took in Copenhagen last summer: typical Bavarian beer tables lined up outside a wine bar (!) along Skt. Jörgens Sö. So now there’s no need anymore to head south to the Mediterannean beaches to have that “home” experience. It’s perfectly safe to go north too.
Urban Camouflage
Telephone exchange boxes, or whatever they are, tend to be grey and ugly, so I am partial to this camouflaged specimen:
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Welcome
Welcome to Irakli West's personal pages on the Web. I am Danish, live close to Munich in Germany, and run FWnetz, an online magazine and training resource for firefighters. In real life, I am Regional Manager Northern Europe for Paratech, teach Heavy Rescue (it's fun, challenging and serves a good purpose) and try to learn more about USAR. I am a member of the Munich Volunteer Fire Department as well as @fire, a USAR and Wildfire NGO outfit.
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