Open email to chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer
****Dear Mr. Gusenbauer!
Excuse me for breaking rules and sending you photo with a piece of nudity, but I do not see other way to attract your attention to the point.
I am freelance photographer and journalist, and once you posed for me and other photographers during election campaign in Graz in autumn of 2006. Unfortunately, there were poor light conditions, and since that time, I had no possibility to photograph you again.
Here are a few words about my personal history.
Originally from Kyrgyzstan, I got higher education and worked for many years as journalist for Russian press.
In 2001, I fell in love with Austrian man and moved to Graz, where I resided permanently. Our relation did not last long, but I continued to live in the country and considered Graz to be my hometown. It was hard time, as being not EU-citizen I struggled for survival in Austria between 2001-2007 without work permit.
This way I came to photography! Posing for painters and photographers, I tried to earn for my life.
But my wish to create images, be not only passive object, but individuality, was stronger, so feeling myself happy I started as street photographer in summer of 2006.
I have special passion for spontaneous portrait, feeling sincere interest to humans and manifestations of their characters in front of my lens.
Last year I moved to Vienna seeking ways to earn in event, portrait and street photography. As I wanted to depict our time with all its peculiarities, I started writing non-fiction book about life in Austria, which would include best street and portrait photos.
I would be glad to get any formal permit to attain press conferences and public events, where I could portray you, Mr.Gusenbauer, and also some artifacts of Austrian political reality. Any assistance and advice is deeply appreciated.
With best wishes and kind regards Galina Toktalieva
