Photo by Toktalieva, Vienna, Heldenplatz

Associated Press-MOSCOW – Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill over Barack Obama’s election.
In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed Washington for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.
Echoing Putin, who made criticism of Washington, Medvedev used the speech in an Kremlin reception hall to cast Russia as a nation threatened by encroaching American military might.
“From what we have seen in recent years — the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO — we have clear impression that they are testing our strength,” Medvedev said. He signaled Moscow would not give in to Western calls to pull troops from Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or rescind its recognition of their independence following the August war.
“We will not retreat in the Caucasus,” he said.

Homeless woman had found in junk container something to eat. I made the snapshot in very center of Vienna. Perhaps she is crazy, like many of homeless persons. At least she was talking to herself. This email I received today:
I read Die Wiener Nachrichten today and it upset me that you are not finding satisfaction in Vienna.
I can understand why you are contemplating moving to another city or country – I think of it often myself…
Apart from American and British Embassies being difficult and depressing places, the reality of life in America for someone with no regular job or appearance that looks vaguely Asian is not good. I have spent some time in the USA over the last few years and now I have no desire to go there because of their inherent racism and their fanatical control of their borders.
Britain might be a little better as far as getting into the country from the EU is concerned, but it depends on your political status. London is very expensive to live in. While it is a very cosmopolitan city with many opportunities, I have found that it is physically and mentally draining to live there – but then I am now 58 and not as lively as I was…

Of all the European cities I have visited – and that has been a lot! – I have always found Berlin to be the most exciting, busy, sensual and forgiving city in Europe. Its people are far friendlier than Parisians and it is now reclaiming some of the grandeur it lost during the Cold War. Ian, Scotland

Karambala, I wonder what this man was thinking about, when I tried to depict him. Feeling sincere interest to people, I discovered it was impossible to cheat people trying secretly photograph them, individuality under the question always knows he(she) is object of interest, even being surrounded by others, being in the group. As if they feel it, so we always know we are loved. They say the dogs always know who is afraid of them. Dogs catch micro movements and vibrations of our bodies, and also the smell of stress (distress) I think people are subconsciously sensitive about unknown for science vibrations of other creatures from the point of possible threat or incident.

Kallypso, my higher self, you know for sure, that I like red and green. In Graz the trams are green, and here in Vienna they are red. I guess too much sitting with pictures makes me asocial. After many hours of privacy I find it difficult to bare prolonged small talks. I read yesterday letters of Vincent van Gogh to his brother. He knew he was wild and asocial, and also knew he would stay in state of extreme poverty till the end of his life. He wrote that painting was hard physical work. Only he himself knew true value of his art at that time. It is the same with all of us. Only we ourselves can estimate our own efforts. We go forward, not because others value or don’t value us. What have been written or said, can not be changed.

Bishkek, Osh, Sratov, Moscow, Zelenograd, Slite, Nairobi, Kopenhagen, Graz, Vienna- all places of the world I used to live in, I hope you remember me. This is fast portrait of a young worker, which I make in Karlsplatz. Light is best artist, it creates something impressive and bright without slightest effort. The lack of light makes everything dull and flat, and a few hours of work over such photos hardly improve anything. It is like relationship. When relationship is dull from the very beginning, it will hardly be better after months of closeness. Only it will be much more difficult to split. Relationship is very complicated sphere, difficult to judge and give advice, impossible to predict.

Kallypso, nothing can be done and nothing can be changed. I wanted to photograph book window, but occasionally made a few shots of this blind elderly man accompanied by black dog today in vicinity of Michaelaplatz, it looked symbolic that he decided to take rest in place where bookshop with big window was situated. Blue globes and black dog are metaphoric. Picture occurred to be very heavy because of many different colors and I reduced quality a little bit. Shot was made with Nikon D200 and Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 lens

Karambala, this is the lady in the brown hat, photographed with Nikkor AF 70-210mm, f4-5.6

Snapshot was made in conditions of cloudy weather. Woman appeared suddenly in front of me and moved rather quickly. It is also question of ethics to photograph people in the street when they maybe don’t want this to be photographed. Some time later, analyzing my personal history of street photographer, I see that I devoted too much time and effort to this business, and always felt frustrated that nobody noticed my work.

When you are in this business, you must prepare yourself to fact, that it will not be not only financially rewarded, it will not be appreciated either. You must realize, if you do it, you do it having higher goals or because you are devoted to the art by itself.

This is the destiny of street photographer – to stay unknown and poor, if he does not have other sources of existence. Gurus teach us that the business you are involved into, can become the source of existence. May be it is true. But with photography, it is rather doubtful

Incredible popularity of rosy cafe among older women. Cafe Aida. Spinnst du? (Are you crazy?)

Hurra-a-a! Galina has the new lens at last! She is preoccupied now only with one thought: why construction of human head is so that humans don’t see what is going on behind their back. If they go along dark street or through jungles (what is the same) – to prevent sudden attack from behind they need constantly turn their head. I miss many things walking in the city without third eye at the back of my head that I would like very much to have. Now I am writing remark about this post almost year later, being a little bit cooled down about this particular lens, but it is still good for portrait, though demands to make a few shots to secure one more or less sharp shot. 50 and 60mm lenses are considered to be best for portrait, but almost any lens gives possibility to create good portrait on excellent light conditions.