About 120,000 people in colorful clothes took part in Vienna’s annual Rainbow Parade on Saturday to call for equal rights for gays, lesbians and transvestites. I must add that to be transvestite does not necessarily mean to be homosexual. Some transvestites are fascinated with women’s clothes only, and want to feel themselves, at least temporarily, the object of passionate desire. Some quite normal from traditional point of view heterosexual relationships may lack real intimacy. When I was looking at gays and lesbians, especially those ones who not only demonstrated presence of homo feelings, but obviously had them – tenderly holding their partner’s hand, I knew to be really intimate with somebody and to be understood, you can be of any gender you feel yourself comfortable with. Person posing for photo and person depicted in his natural environment or unaware have different energetic levels and expressiveness, why I am still devoted to street photography. From my point of view many shows, manifestations and demonstrations have zero expressive value

Young female beggar in one of Vienna streets listening to arguments of older woman who suddenly stopped to express her opinion on beggary.

For the first time in my life, I was brought at the place against my will and kept there shut. I felt shaken and thought it must be mistake and soon they would let me go.

At the same time, I knew in my heart that the world where I lived before would never be the same again. On incomprehensible reasons, I became outcast, object of persecution; I broke certain rules and revealed my alien nature to others. I failed to act in reality that all others people except of me shared. So albino crow in flock of black birds is hit by beaks of others till it is dead. I had feeling that all others shared knowledge I had no access to.

Many years would pass until I realize that everybody creates his own truth, and common reality for all does not exist. I would realize that unanimity and group thinking point out to higher levels of compromise only and also ability to float at surface of interactions without digging deep inside Feeling of being fatally unique and isolated was destructive and overwhelming illusion of my youth. I was subservient and quiet girl, brought up in family of five children as youngest, accustomed to respect older and rely on their wisdom. (more…)

Minister Doris Bures and Werner Faymann (SPOe) with Westbahnhof under reconstruction in background.

I must confess I had sent emails to representatives of all Austrian political parties offering my services as photographer, and Franz Voves – governor of Styria (SPOe) was the only one who replied. Thanks, Franz! When I photographed you, I was fantasizing how it could be to travel together with you in one compartment of Trans-Siberian express. Usually there is rather pleasant vibration in the trains

Group of people in Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna. That plump woman with hair standing on at her head looked rather funny. She addressed me with idea to get a few coins for drink
Zhanna
It was sunny spring of 1982. The university alley of apple and peach trees was all pink lace of blossoms. The air was fresh and clear. But I was ascending marble staircase of main building with monument of Great Chief at the top feeling chill in my heart.
I was first year philology student and had exam on history of communist party.
There were two sleepless nights before due to quantity of books to read, which added to feeling of emptiness inside.
The group of students gathered in corridor by the classroom where professor Zhanna – pride of Kyrgyz historical materialism and peril of neglecting freshmen was receiving exams. (more…)

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

Benevolent, you are welcome to visit my recent flash gallery created with Lightroom and Autoviewer. I am fond of Eckhart Tolle, look what he writes: “Everything, a bird, a tree, even a simple stone, and certainly a human being, is ultimately unknowable” From “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. He writes that all our suffering is result of our escape from present moment or lack of awareness. Photography is pure meditation sometimes, one must be alert and fully present at the moment.

Nobody really knows, why the bird sings. Maybe because of joy.

Street photography which depicts recognizable faces can survive only on pages of private blogs

Blogs which bring to author nothing except two-three duty comments and tons of spam

To go on like that photographer must be bird

Who sings because of pure joy and does not bother herself about value and purpose of her singing

Walking tours, cold day, shopping street, no gloves. Boy from the right told patronizingly touching my shoulder that Nikon D200 is somewhat old. It was fun to shoot them. It is always easy to shoot young people. Older persons are often suspicious about something and full of false apprehensions: “Are you going to sell picture of me? Are you from newspaper? Are you private detective?” It is close to impossibility to sell snapshot of somebody, unless this person is perfectly attractive, and gives you model release- paper permission to be photographed. Today I visited “Wiener Zeitung”. Then I came to Südbahnhof and recollected time when I came to Vienna for the first time from Graz.