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November 30, 2005
Who are you?
Today I am posting two pictures that a friend of mine, Matthias Cremer took with my camera. Matthias works at Der Standard to see more of his work. -->click here <-- The pictures are of another friend of mine Georg. Georg is a journalist and works for a company that is sort of the Associated Press back home. Different newspapers in Austria use their stuff, but I don't think they have their own newspaper. So today I have been very pensive. I think this dreary weather does this. Maybe I just have my period. I can be a bit over dramatic sometimes. Any way who am I? Who are you? or as I would say to Danny or Martin, Who the $%^# do you think you are mother#$@!&%!?? Anyway if anyone reading this I am interested to hear back from you. Who are you? what do you do? what do you want out of life. Are you happy? What do you want most? What do you have that you are thankful for. How are you enjoying life? Do you like life? are you bored out of your mind? are you too busy to know? blah blah blah, anyway. Post me an answer or email me privately, I would like to know Who are you!! I'll post my answer to that question tomorrow. Today is the first day i approached someone and I asked them if I could sit with them and have a coffee and ask them a few questions and snap a few pictures of them. At first I could see they were suspicious and perhaps very skeptical. By the end of the conversation they agreed and were smiling. So I will be posting that soon. Then you will see Who that person is. Don't worry its not someone famous or anything just an ordinary person. Those are the people i find most interesting.
Posted by Victor at 03:22 PM | Comments (2)
November 29, 2005
Sebastião Salgado
My Friend Martin Fuchs who is back from 6 months in New York invited me to go with him to this openning. I almost didnt go because of the tons of german homework I've been getting. Erich Lessing of Magnum Photos was there and gave a speach just before Sebastiao Sagado spoke. Sebastiao Sagado gave a very nice inspiring speach in English. The photos that were being showed were part of the work that Sebastiao Salgado has been working on for the past 7 or so years. There are photos of displaced children. There were two cameras that were used for this project that were auctioned off the day before. With the money of this project they will be able to plant something like a million trees. With his photography Sebastiao Salgado is able to bring awareness to his fans about saving the rain forest as well as bringing attention to the help this kids need as well. I'm so glad that I went. Not only did i get to see these nice portraits but I also got to hang out with Martin and I ran into a friend of mine that I play basketball with, Matthias Cremer. He works as a photographer at Der Standard, one of Vienna's big newspapers. He recently started his photo blog, -->click here<-- to see it. Remember its in German. So this past week I have been talking to Martin about photography and I've been thinking about it. I love photography and I need to do it more often and I need to expose myself to other photographers of past and present.
Posted by Victor at 02:24 PM | Comments (2)
November 28, 2005
Got My Camera Back
It's great to have my camera back, I started shooting right away and these were two shots that I liked the most. I'm waiting for Nikon USA's response because my warranty isn't covered here in Vienna and since the problem with the camera was a defect by no fault of my own ( I had the Nikon Camera Service center here in Wien write me a letter saying this. ) So we'll see what they respond with. It's F$%@ing cold here in Wien. I love the snow and have seen snow just about everyday for the past week. Something about the apartments and homes in Europe make it feel cold. Even when I went to Greece last year it was in the 60's or mid teens but in the apartment I was staying in felt like if it was freezing!! At least on a day like today I can light a fire in our old fashioned stove. Its like a fireplace but with a small door and these were used to heat living rooms and bedrooms in Vienna and old apartments still have them. Kitchens, bathrooms and dining rooms weren't usually heated luckily we have electric heaters for the kitchen and diningroom. Man the days are so short. Its getting dark by 3:30 and by 4 its dark.
Posted by Victor at 12:23 PM | Comments (1)
November 24, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving
Being Thankful is something that is lost. People tend to take things for granted. It's just human nature to. I try to be thankful everyday and I think that the people around me everyday see this and feel it. So Thanksgiving day isn't celebrated here but I found out about a holiday celebrated in the countryside mostly called Martini Day (Nov.11) that celebrates St. Martin. So for this day there is a goose specially raised and eaten for this day or during this season. The name of the goose is Martini Ganz (goose). I had the opportunity to try this last week with Monika and her parents at a Haurigan (wine house). It was delicous and to me it tasted alot like pork (Schweinefleisch)
So back to being thankful because the season calls for it, I will say that I am very thankful and greatful for all of the people that have made my "vacation" possible. So many people are involved in this. From those that gave me support and encouragement, to those that were a bit skeptical at the farfetched idea. I have to say that everyone gave me good feedback, well wishes and words of encouragement.
I'm greatful to my family, friends and peers that await eagerly for my updates back in the US and to my new found family, friends and peers that are over here supporting me, helping me and getting to know me. So remember to be thankful for the everyday people, blessings, and ordinary occurrances everyday. Surprise someone and tell them you appreciate what they do for you everyday.
Posted by Victor at 11:44 AM | Comments (3)
November 18, 2005
Friday: The day my camera got sick...
Me and Jo came home after school to do our german homework and then to practice speaking german. I got the idea to show her Westend Cafe and the Christmas Market at Mariahilfer Kirche (church). This is the season of the Christmas Markets in Vienna. You can get home made ornaments and all kinds of christmas items. You can get all types of food and best of all you can get Punsch! Its like hot apple cider but its made with wine usually and they have all kinds of flavors. I went to one early in Novemeber when my friend Martin and I met. The one is a famous one at Rathouse Platz and is one of the first Christmas markets that open up. So any way at the Mariahilfer Kirche Christmas market my camera started acting up, taking photos that didnt fit with the settings I had set. So we had some Punsch and then we saw at the Haydn Movies ( aka american movies ) that the latest Harry Potter movie was showing in 5 minutes. We decided to go see it.
Posted by Victor at 07:12 AM | Comments (1)
November 17, 2005
Breakfast at Tunnell
This has become the afterschool hangout, we just go and have breakfast and talk. I've made some nice school friends and I really enjoy their company. I'm really enjoying Vienna. The girl in the first picture in the back is Nikki and today is her Birthday, Happy Birthday Nikki!
The second picture is of my friend Jo. She is really fun to hangout with. We sometimes do our german homework and then just practice speaking german to one another. I find her adventures here in Vienna so funny and interesting.
Posted by Victor at 10:37 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2005
Sebastian
Birgit, Josef and Sebastian came over on Sunday to visit us and to put our apartment to the " kid proof " test. Its really a joy to see a happy family. Most important to see good parents. Josef and Birgirt are really doing an amazing job with Sebastian. Even when he was getting a little moody cause he was tired already they were able to keep him in check. They seem to be teaching him the right stuff and it shows. Keep up the good work! Its a joy to watch the little ones play and interact. I was impressed that Sebastian's books had more nouns and vocabulary than my german course books. Maybe I can start a language trade with him. Its great to see Monika holding a little guy and of course I can't help but imagine that one day she will be holding one of ours. But that is a little further down the road for us. ;-)
Posted by Victor at 03:30 PM | Comments (2)
November 15, 2005
More Simmering Party photos
again, I had such a nice time. I hope to hear from some of the people that I spoke to that night and gave my card. If you like any of the photos let me know and I will later in the week post the rest of the photos on my main website.
Posted by Victor at 11:16 PM | Comments (1)
November 14, 2005
Simmering Party
I went to a party that happens every Friday in Simmering where two of my classmates from german course live. I went with another classmate Shantanu " the Chess Wizard ." I had a great time and met a bunch of nice people. I will post more of the photos from that party tomorrow.
Posted by Victor at 10:30 PM | Comments (4)
November 13, 2005
Bratislava
Click here to view larger image
Posted by Victor at 11:36 AM | Comments (3)
A week
So, its been a week of no posts. I'm not sure why I havent posted. I've been busy and I've been going places and doing things but I havent had the motivation to post. I'm not sure if its the change of seasons and shorter days or if I'm not managing my time correctly. Any how I feel a little out of it. I mean I'm having a good time here and it seems I know only great people. I've been working out, riding bike, going to the movies, going to medival dinners in old castles, I went to Bratislavia last week on bike with Monika for the weekend, we had another party at the Orange Monkey, I had breakfast three times after class with my classmates at this cool place called Tunnell( "the breakfastclub" ) and I have a wedding that i will photograph at the begining of next month, I have a few photopgraph gigs with Festspielhaus St. Polten again, another newspaper used one of my photos from a workshop I shot last month. So why no postings? I'm not sure but anyway here is one for today. Hope all of you that stop by here are well. I will post a few photos of this past weeks events.
Did you know that if you click on the Comments button below you can leave a comment for me and everyone else to read? I know alot of you that see my photos and comments but don't post, so dont be shy just leave me a little hello from time to time, thanks!
Posted by Victor at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2005
Fly
Click on photo to see a larger image.
Posted by Victor at 08:28 PM | Comments (3)
November 05, 2005
Thinking
Posted by Victor at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)
November 04, 2005
Just a Bike Path
Posted by Victor at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2005
Hello My Love.
I like this picture of you Monika. What do you think?
Posted by Victor at 10:33 PM | Comments (3)
November 02, 2005
Shantanu the Chess Wizard
Last night we had another Barty at the Orange Monkey. Shantanu who is a classmate from my german courses invited me to play a game of chess because he saw the chess board by the bar. Little did I know that he has been playing since the age of 5. Not only has he been playing but he has take the time and effort to increase his knowledge of the game and to improve his game. Any way to make a long story short he won and Today we went after class to my new favorite place for breakfast to play some more games. I feel I can learn alot from losing to Shantanu. His stories and pointers during the game are very entertaining and informative. I look forward to our next game.
Posted by Victor at 10:26 PM | Comments (3)
November 01, 2005
Halloween at Heinz and Babsi's house
Here is Sabine putting the finishing touches on her and Roberts pumpkin. Robert had the fun part of gutting the pumpkin and cutting out the eyes nose and mouth.
My Pumpikin
Monika's
Heinz's
Babsi's
Robert and Sabine's
First we carved pumkins, then we ate delicious food that Heinz and Babsi cooked, then we watched a scary movie: Beyond the Reanimator!! What else could you ask of a Halloween Party! Oh and of course there were beer and wine and plenty of "spirits" in the air!!
By the end of the night Heinz secret invisibility potion started to work. His hand is starting to disappear!
The biggest trick of the night was how much food and beer we ate and drank, not mention the many laughs we had. Me and Monika even had a pair of trick o treaters before we went over to Heinz and Babsi's place. Vienna does a nice job with Halloween. I can't wait until Fashing Season. Something Americans know nothing about. its like a month of Halloween!! haha. Now that is going to be fun!
Posted by Victor at 12:38 PM | Comments (1)