From @instagram to reality

I am a big fan of instagram.
I can literally (I hate that word, but I can't help myself) spend hours looking at photos from total strangers. I find it really fascinating, peeking into someone's life, getting a glimpse of someone else's reality or dreams. A compilation of photos can say so much about a person. I tend to erase some of my posts from time to time, because I feel like they don't represent the real me.
Loosing your identity while being active on the social media happens sooner than one can expect. Or maybe it's just me and my split-personality issues. I truly think it should be wiser for someone like me to stay off social media all together. Which obviously is not going to happen anytime soon ... Is my fixation with certain forms of online self-exposure connected to my poor social skills in real life? Maybe.
I follow a lot of celebrity accounts both on @instagram and @twitter . I tend to follow the ones which have real people behind them although I should probably not count too much on the aspect of "real". But I have to praise my deductive online observation skills - I have managed to figure out a handful of people who really post their mind. And that is really worth the trouble of going through tons of junk.
.....
I got a bit lost with my thoughts as usual.
To be continued.

Sometimes you just post a photo with a bear on it

Üks tähelepanek, üks foto

Olen viimasel ajal veetnud märkimisväärse protsendi oma n.ö. netiajast erinevates fotofoorumites. Nii eesti omades (Fotofoorum, Fotokala, Eestifoto), kui sattunud otsingute kaudu ka ingliskeelsetesse (Photographyreview, PhotoForum, dpreview ) Olen lugenud, mida ütlevad Ken Rockwell või Thom Hogan, kuna olen otsustanud siiski Nikonile truuks jääda ning nende leheküljed on minusugusele algajale piisavalt informatiivsed.
Mind hämmastab, kui sõjakad ja õelad on ligi kolmandik vastustest eesti foorumites. Loomulikult ajab nende foormite püsiliikmeid närvi, kui ilmub järjekordne "Millise kaamera ma peaksin ostma, millega saab filmida kaaaa?" tüüpi küsimus, kuid samas ongi nendes foorumites ju alajaotused, mis selliseid küsimusi eeldavad, mis just sellisteks küsimusteks mõeldud on. Vastasel juhul võiks need foorumid olla "members only" blokeeritud leheküljed, mitte avalikud vestlusringid. Selge see, et palju teemasid oleks olemata, kui viitsitaks rohkem otsingut kasutada ning kaks ja kaks ise kokku panna, kuid õelutsemist ja üleolevat suhtumist pole üldjuhul ükski siiralt oma küsimuse esitanu ära teeninud. Õnneks on ka neid, kes viitsivad normaalselt vastata või vähemalt paar linki juba olemasolevatele teemadele lisada.
Tunnistan, et ma pole siiamaani julgenud eesti foorumites ühtegi mind huvitavat teemat püstitada ega küsimust küsida. Just nendesamade bitchivate asjatundjate pärast, kes mõnuga algaja igat keelevääratustki järavad. Praegu pean tõdema, et see hirm on mulle isegi kasuks tulnud, sest olen omal käel ennast juba paljust läbi närinud ning nii mõnedki küsimused on saanud pikad ja põhjalikud vastused ülalnimetatud ingliskeelsetest foorumitest.
Igal juhul mõjub väga kummastavalt, et inimesed, kes suudavad teinekord väga hingeminevaid pilte teha, ei oma tegelikkuses piisavalt hingesuurust, et inimlikult ja empaatiavõimeliselt käituda. Kõik on ju kuskilt alustanud ning seda ei tasuks "profina" ära unustada.

Vastukaaluks sellele negatiivsele emotsioonile, sain eelmisel nädalal ka ühe väga positiivse. Läbi twitteri jõudsin ühe fotoseeriani, mis mind kummaliselt puudutas. Eriti üks foto, mis varsti mind koduseinal inspireerima hakkab. Pärast filme Cidade de Deus ja Última Parada 174 olen Rio favelasid hoopis teise pilguga vaatama hakanud ning kuigi ma pole seal ise kunagi käinud, mõjuvad mõned fotod või videod lausa lummavalt. Need, keda huvitab - vaadake siia!

New horizons

I decided to pick up photography again. I found some photos from my old computer and I have to say they were not that bad. And watching them reminded me of all the good emotions I used to go through while being out with my camera. My old proper camera (Canon) is broken and unfortunately it would cost ridiculously too much to repair it so I have to get a new one. All I have right now is a Nikon Coolpix which can produce surprisingly good pictures, but of course it is not enough for more serious work.
As I have birthday coming up soon I will try to get my loved ones to participate in my purchase, how clever is that? I will probably stick with Nikon and take advantage of their free photography course.
It surprises me how few (reliable) photography courses there are in Tallinn. And of course the ones that classify have the most ridiculous schedules, but I try to find smth. that I can attend. Meanwhile there are some online courses and free materials in the net.
Am I crazy or am I crazy? We'll see.

La Habana ... una ciudad misteriosa