Shoot!

I think this is when looks could kill.

Just the....5 of us

As a last Sunday promise, here are the next group photos consisting of five people.

Panthera tigris

The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur, Altaic, Korean, North Chinese or Ussuri tiger, is a subspecies of tiger which once ranged throughout Western Asia, Central Asia and eastern Russia, and as far east as Alaska during prehistoric times, though it is now completely confined to the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia, where it is now protected. It is the biggest of the eight recent tiger subspecies and the largest living felid, attaining 320 kg (710 lb) in an exceptional specimen.

(Wikipedia.org)

I saw this tiger in Tallinn Zoo, which I respect a lot, but on the other hand it is really ruthless for the animals who are supposed to live in other climatic zone and be free. If to think closely about it, then there are "yes'" and "no's" to zoo as an institution, but no matter how many right or wrong answers there are, the most important are the animals. Let them long live!

Tree

Just some different trees from Estonia.

Klaasikillumäng

When I was little and watched cartoons on TV at a special time, as it was the only time cartoon were on, the worst of them all was "Klaasikillumäng", because it was the most boring! I was always so unhappy and mad when it was on, and since there wasn't many cartoons available to show in a former USSR republic, as Estonia was, my evening was ruined. Anyway, but now when I look at the glass I have been taking photos of, then it seems quite nice.

These were made during an assignment, which was to build a city landscape of glass. Lightboard was pretty handy to illuminate glass from the bottom and glass itself is quite an interesting material when working in low-light conditions.

Old Anatomical Theatre

I have this shot for couple of years waiting for its turn. It was taken in one frosty February morning and I like how the sun lighted up the side of the house, while the one in the shadow presents a completely different color.
The sad thing about the historical house is how it looks, both in- and outside. It desperately needs money, but then again, it is not supposed to be a clean and neat euro complex, but it should be able to stand the time.

The Old Anatomical Theatre was built in 1805 according to designs by the university’s architect, Johann Wilhelm Krause on the south slope of Toome Hill in a location formerly occupied by the Carl Gustaf bastion, a defensive structure erected during the reign of Swedish kings in Estonia.

Originally built as a classicist rotunda, the anatomical theatre received arc-shaped wings in 1825-1827, also according to Krause’s plans. The building acquired its current U-shaped floorplan in 1856-1860 with the addition of the last major extensions, designed by the architect Karl Rathaus.

The word ‘old’ was added to the name of the building in 1888, when construction of the ‘new’ anatomical theatre was completed.

Many famous medical scientists have worked at the Old Anatomical Theatre.
(University of Tartu History Museum)

Olana

Olana's landscape was created over forty years of Frederic Church's life and many consider it his greatest work. Over 250 acres of an artist designed landscape that can be experienced by walking over five miles of carriage drives that bisect the property. Walks around the landscape can be as short as 15 minutes to over two hours if one wants to walk the entire carriage drive system. (Olana.org)

I never took that walk, I just looked around the house and took a looked, no, I was eating with my eyes the amazing view. Hudson and the surroundings. It all became possible thanks to Nick.

Thank you.

Marvi Vallaste

There is not much to say about Marvi Vallaste, than that she is an Estonian singer and born on the same day when Shania Twain and Lev Tolstoy, Besides singing she was active few years ago on TV, presenting weather forecasts. Last year she started her role as Iti in Estonian famous children musical "Nukitsamees". She can be seen often backing other singers, such as Ithaka Maria and Lenna, for example.

During last year's Eesti Laul.

Just the....6 of us

Sunday has always been an easy day, so have been the photos here. I will do some calculating for the next few Sunday's, just to show you certain number of faces on every photo. When I will reach to "Just the 2 of us"....ugh!

Roadkill

Though nature and all its residents are supreme, they are still vulnerable to man and vehicles it has created. Pile of metal which is deadly to people and to animals too. What happens is a roadkill. I am sure majority of people didn't want this to happen and only few are caring enough to take the body off from the road, not just hit the gas stronger.

Wildlife in US is pretty variegated, so for me it was great joy to see different birds and animals. Only reptile I saw was unfortunately this one. I had to take photos of it, maybe because to make myself more acquainted with the reality, as this may happen and it would be the best to handle the situation rationally. I don't like the bloody part, but I like the movement of the red car and the texture of asphalt, which feels really cold and texturous.
Be careful and please notice the signs.

In between

Now imagine all this beauty covered with snow.
Nature is the greatest artist. I know many would say: God is too. I would agree.

Home made food/food from home

I think one of the most important things, leaving family and friends out, what people are going to miss while they are away from home for a long time is food. When we are at home cooking our everyday meals and buying food to home, we hardly think about that, but it will affect us a lot. Imagine yourself being away from home and you get a packet from home, what you expect there to be made in... band-aid's, paper, shirt- no, you definitely expect it would be made in... chocolate, candies, crisp bread etc.
While I was in Iceland I got the surprise packet and it was one of my happiest days while being away from home. Don't forget to send food-packages from home to your friends when they are far ;)

And the most wonderful feeling is while traveling away and being on the first trip closer to your final destination, you can open a box full of home-made delicious and healthy food. No matter that it happened because you were too busy while loading things out from your suitcase to make it lighter. "That heavy packing must end!" - repeat this next time you have to go to a long trip.

Love goes through the stomach.

This year's "1st" place

Check out the fabulous t-shirt! Oh my! And what's the other stuff there? :P

Anyway, we win some we lose some. Who cares, life goes on.


Pääk võidab!

Siili 6

I have an attraction to white houses with strong lines and with geometrical elements. Remember this. This house is located near River Emajõgi and is just some years of an age. It looks as good as Guggenheim Museum, but it is located in Estonia, in Tartu! :)

Jõekaare is a next step closer to tomorrow. This is a home, which window shows a view to River Emajõgi and also to the future. Through new architectural solution and modern inner design bold vision of Austrian architects became real. Result is future home today.

The architectural solution of the building was a result of a competition. Austrian architects Thomas Pucher's and Alfred Bramberger's winning project is surprisingly spacious, based on the dialogue between ergonomical usage and design of the room. Result is bold and unique, leaving sporadically sense that as if some of the walls are missing. (Direct translation from Joekaare.ee)

Eesti Laul 2010, not the winner

Anyway I already feel that next Eesti Laul is just around the corner and it would be nice to look back into last year when Malcolm Lincoln and Lenna wanted to make it happen. We, the people (at least not me) believed that ML was the suitable candidate to represent Estonia in Eurovision, (though Malcolm Lincoln didn't make it happen at all), but wasn't it obvious that Lenna would have caused lots of sensation next to Lena Mayer, even if to think about how similar are their names, not to mention their songs and even their young age. Well, what if is really not a solution, as we never found this out and never will, but I just wanted to make it loud and clear, that SHE had the best song last year, while she indeed was the worst loser getting 2nd position.
Too bad that Urban Symphony can't participate with "Skorpion" :/

Got you!

There is a thin line between candid and posed portrait. That line is very interesting and happens always suddenly. There is no need for eye contact always to form a nice portrait, often it is nicer to have a relaxed photo of two people having a conversation or somebody just sitting in their thoughts. Then you frame to capture this and something reveals your intentions to that person and you are caught! Then there is the look. Surprising, sharp, deep, a bit clueless, sometimes curious and scared, depending on a person. It is a striking moment to capture this, but it is not so nice, when somebody notices your actions....I am not here, right? 8-)

Hannes is growing up

Well, now when some time has passed since the last time I had a photo of Hannes up here, maybe even that long, it is time to share his gracious beauty once again. He has grown a lot and the fins are looking just wonderful. True beauty of nature.
And he could even be she, but it doesn't matter at all.

May is for poppies

I have kept these for some time. I mean everything always is happening for a reason, maybe today it was the day. These were taken in 2009, in Edinburgh, in a botanical garden. Whether are these photos or Edinburgh it makes me think of Kati, who hosted me and Kadri there and then soon took off to Australia. I hope she is all right and the floods are not causing any difficulties to her and her friends.
Poppies have for me still quite negative meaning. When I grew up then I saw many Russian movies which portrayed (I think they always do, if it not a comedy) hard life in Russia. Often some leading characters were killed because of the gang related problems because of drugs. The bad plant was in those movies always a poppy. Movies is one thing, but there were many stories in the news as well of violent acts people had held to each other or deaths because of the drug made of poppies. So something so beautiful can be also something so negative and with the influences of TV. When you are a child and watch TV you NEVER think of those things, but when you're old enough to put some things together, then it really makes sense - too much and too wrong broadcasts can affect how children think. But you already know that.
One last thing about pretty poppy is its spelling in Estonian - m o o n. Doesn't it sound beautiful?

Poppies have long been used as a symbol of both sleep and death: sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the blood-red color of the red poppy in particular, a common color of poppy. (wikipedia.org)

Good night!

Exhibition photography

Just a little observation, that world for me has changed a lot, even if to think about visiting an exhibition with a camera and taking photos of exhibits. Probably the cultures between Eastern Europe and the Western for example, or US are very different on that, but for me ten years ago it wouldn't even have crossed my mind to bring a camera to the exhibition. I must say I am still shy while doing it and attentively look for the signs or remarks about the camera, in the museums but generally it is okay thing to do. So we can do there and do repro's or take photos of....eeee.....nude people.

95

I started to think how many interesting shots I have taken from the car. I can recall several times when I have used camera in the car, but mostly the photos portray people or action inside of the care, nothing interesting from outside, except this one. I do not know, but for some reason when I look at it it makes me think of two people Assar Jõepera and Jez Coulson, both are photographers, one from Estonia, other from UK. I think it because that photo has old school kind of feeling, which reminds me of Assar's photos and Jez' kind of style taking (candid) photos from the...taxi's :) Anyway just wanted to tell you "hi" with this :) Enjoy your shots!
By the way it is from 2007 and from near Kallaste!

Motel Paradise

Once there was a shop called "Motel Paradise". It was located in Tallinn, in Estonian capital. Whenever I went there I tried to visit the shop, as it has just the greatest inner design from all the shops I have ever visited. The clothes were cool of course, but not exactly my style, though I would love to have many merchandise they had, but it was too expensive. In 2008 they also opened store in Tartu. Nice move. I went there often just to do so-called window shopping. Though just before closing I bought quite many things and I am still very pleased by the comfort and durability of the clothes they sold me. Yes, now both of these stores are closed and no more crazy inner design. But I found out just a week ago, that they have a new shop opened in another location, which at least on online offering the same crazy style. Whohooo! Hope to visit it one day.
Even when there is no evidence of busy life portrayed in the photos of the shop rooms, they still have so much soul and power.