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.

Collaboration, that is what I seek. I seek it, but never find. The thought of the day: my human relationships are imperfect and always will be so; imperfections cause sufferings, and sufferings reconciliate me with the absence of all and any relationships, with nothingness. We are mortally afraid and at the same time unconsciously strive for perfection of unknown which will never come in cramped space of individual destiny. How many books can I read during my life time, how many men can I meet? Numbers are rather limited, and years and years of short journey are spent in sufferings and adaptation to next painful imperfection. Never try to be perfect, as it is illusion and parody on divine perfection of universe.

Kallypso, my dear self, you know that usually I start my everyday street hunt with great enthusiasm. But gradually becoming tired, struggling forward and finding nothing interesting to shoot, frozen, hungry, I feel misery. Shoulder with camera bag aches. It is not so easy to find original face in the street at all. After so many months of search, perhaps nobody knows that better than me. People tend to hide their peculiarities. But not only. Often they do not hide anything. They have standard appearance that reflects standard attitude, by other words, I dare say, people prefer not to burden themselves to be original. Therefore they look alike. They move from underground station till shop and back and have fewer differences in their looks than ants or autumn leaves. Only sometimes I am lucky to spot somebody standing aside from crowd, even if they have criminal aura like these two young gypsies. Woman is looking at me aggressively. I know that in criminal world women often are more ruthless and bold than men. The woman was afraid I am from press or police.

Whenever pink morning light transits to yellow of midday, and wind blowing from Schmelz stops bringing meditative tunes of kukus bird, I start my everyday journey. Mirror in my small flat is the gateway. I step behind it and as invisible clot of energy roll outside. Together with gust of wind I move along streets of Vienna and touch cheeks of passers-by with cool breathing of fog. I witness street life, its secrets and its drama.
Sometimes I occur to be that small beggar girl sitting at the corner of main street. She has cheap plastic doll in her pocket she wants very much to play with. For a while, I was also that woman in furs gazing at jewelry in window of fashionable shop. She seemed seized with anticipation to purchase precious thing.
I could be that invalid who crawled on his knees along Mariahilfer strasse and roared -Bitter!- with low hoarse voice. He had only one thought that after reaching the corner of Neubaugasse, he would make a break. (more…)

Galina Toktalieva for Die Wiener Nachrichten
Photo by author
Audacious I am presenting here collection of photos depicting small beggars in Vienna streets. Very often they are accompanied by adults who hide themselves somewhere and then take away collected rewards. I photographed already so often the beggars, that knew all of them in the face. Some time after the begging in the streets with children will be prohibited. I associated myself with these downtrodden people, as it was very hard time for me in Austrian capital, when I lived on nobody knows what and didn’t see any improvement for myself in the future. It is difficult to photograph homeless children, they are afraid of everybody, and many a time I asked myself, do I have moral right to do that. (more…)

Many-a-time I thought why numbers three and seven have symbolic and sacred meaning. Group of three looks rather good at photo, because two is mostly closed unit, and four is unstable. This family was crossing Huetteldorferstrasse when I made quick snap going home. Girl was running, and her feet look not so sharp out. It is quite close to the place, where I live.