Aurevoir, adieu! Last post for now.

Here is a collage of the pictures "most favorited" and looked and "most interesting" on the photographers site, named Flickr.

Montmartre "Maison Rose" not so far from where I once lived.
Plain but very different tomatoes: interesting by their differences in form and color and tastes
Butte Montmartre in fog, which is not often: many went to see those stairs
An unhappy fish in Athens fish market, still protesting after no more alive
Stop! for children to pass: why was this one taken fast from car so many times favorited?
Two instances of tiny flowers that become clearer as I went nearer, the background fading
My selfie that made me "famous" when I got the best autoportrait of 2005 with it, bad hair day
An affiche of young woman and an older one in almost same position snapped candid in France
Other small flowers almost in macro seen from "profile"

and another collection, perhaps the one most commented on.

Artist shops near Saint Martin canal
Repairing a car in Bucarest centre street
Kissing near the bridge, couple of birds
In the caffee in Paris, simple but speaking picture
A fallen leave on steps in London centre
A man candid, with sad eyes near market in Paris
Two kids with same missing teeth cute at 7 (not at 77)
A corridor I was so afraid to pass, but camera helped me.

Some of them already published others not. Each is a moment in my life, and each one by one can be seen on Flickr and in a special album too.

I will with those stop my photo blog for now.

Experimenting, while sitting in a busy street

I was sitting across Gare Saint Lazare, before a coffee shop, drinking my expresso, and waiting for someone I had to meet. The street was busy all around people walking but I wanted to take out the background noise.

Experimenting with my camera, I tried "point click" : it worked. All around faded. I am still stunned how well it worked and how much a camera different features can change the results.

I still have it and love it!

I met in Greenwich park a lady, older then me, who was originally from Hungary and we begun to see each other and speak in our mother language. 

In 2004, we decided to go together to Tunisia, and found a bread and breakfast motel, a tour to some places in Tunisia was in the package we took. She was tiny and slim, I am the one with the nightgown. 

I had a huge surprise the first morning, to see my nightgown thus arranged as I come back from the beach and the market they took us later. 

I did remember this picture, when I have seen a presentation where the Vision wanted was to get rid of all her things there were old. I still use this to sleep often! Why should I get rid of it?

There is always something to discover, remember

I went to the town museum and found the door closed. Not very happy, I come out from the entrance and my eyes fall on this opened chestnut lying on the floor.

It did bring me back instantly to my childhood park then to the terrace of the house we lived. I played  a lot with those beautiful chestnuts and made a lot of things with them, forgetting I was alone.

In fact, no more alone: I was with the chestnuts ! And a knife my father offered me. The acacia tree across the terrace enchanted me with its perfume and the small river behind the tree quietly accompanied with its music.

"Will I go sometime as far as the water in the river goes?"

I arrived a lot farther, with time.

But going back, even if only in my mind's eye,  is always a good memory.

Dance class two pals come out in the pause

Many years has passed. I am happy for this memory. What a wonderful one! The small blond was my grand daughter now 19 years old.

Walk along the Thames river

That afternoon, it was only 4:30 but the sun set down early in December. I decided to walk along the Thames and see the buildings across and the illumination.

Finally, it is this picture I like the most, caught in the moment.

I arrived tired, to the next exit, took a bus home, but very happy I walked the walk. So many things London can offer if we take the pain to go, to look, to enjoy.

Back to Bucarest after many years

Going back to Bucarest, after many years, here is what I observed on a street corner.

There are young women with bluejeans, looking as if they could be in London, Paris or Washington. That was new and I was surprised. Also, still alas very poor women, selling flowers in the corner here. Captured both of them "candid" without them suspecting it.

The contradiction is what I wanted to portray here, as well as the true street life.

Eggs for Eastern & the story of One Egg

This colored eggs, were taken in Romania when I visited a neighbor, at Orthodox Eastern, in a house I lived for a month. So many of them, so beautiful ! 

Eggs used to cost a lot of money, no more, for us at least.

Eggs, are also used for Seder, the first evening of Jewish Eastern and I found out from Google, eggs signify sorrow and are offered also when someone dies. So many traditions are interconnected in some ways from different religions. 

One egg. 

I was 11 years old, and we just escaped the Nazis, after a year of hiding with papers of an other family, and going from place to place. We were hiding the last three month in a cellar of a villa in Buda. The house was half destroyed by Russian canons but the cellar and first level was still staying when the Soviet (Russian or Turkestan) soldier come in.

For the soldiers, all women they like were fair game. One night, they come, stolen as much as they wanted and left a paper for my mother to come to "potatoes duty" in their camp. We escaped departing at 5 in the morning, so my mother not be raped by their soldiers, by passing the large river Danube from Buda to Pest. As all the bridges were bombed and destroyed, when the German army went away, we crossed on the yet frozen river. 

We went to live for a few days to my mother cousin and my father tried to find a way to go back to Kolozsvar, Cluj-Napica now, Transylvania, from where we come when we fled for a year peregrination and hiding from Hungarian Nazis. The cousins gave us shelter, not food. After a few days we begun to feel more the absence of food, perhaps the only time in my life, as my parents always gave me whatever was available. 

We could not bring any food with us. We did have a little but even that would have been too heavy. The ice on the river not strong enough in March any more, others died because of the weight and the ice broking. As our family crossed early in the morning slowly, the Ice did not Brake (title of my Toastmasters Icebreaker).  

One morning, I went down to a neighbor living in a lower level: she offered me an EGG ! 

I still see myself there, going "home" and showing my mother my treasure. A real egg! An egg to eat! I remember that egg in my hand. Feel it still now, so many years later. We begun to discuss with my mother, how to prepare it. Finally, I accepted to boil it in water, as my mother explained, it is how I do not loose any of it.
The egg was enjoyed.   Egg remained a special treat for me. Three minutes egg, spooned out from its cock or scrambled or 10 minutes boiled and sliced. 

We did not eat an egg or fresh fruits or vegetables for month, by then. Shells were coming down on houses for months, we were not allowed to go out, we lived from what we had taken from the last place we were in a village. In that cellar, for three month. I got one apple in three month from one other cellar the house nearby and that was a special joy.

From the coloured eggs you see in this blog, I was offered three and got to eat one each day with pleasure, as where I lived that time, I did not got yet a heater or boiler in the kitchen. Not because there was not enough food to eat. 

Eggs are hidden in French families and kids asked to find them, Eastern time. Matzos is hidden in some Jewish tradition and kids asked to find them. Eggs are eaten Eastern time, as each remembers something else, as reason to celebrate - the spring that is coming, in my opinion. Or the Escape from being slaves in Egypt. Or the rebirth of Christ. Both religions use EGG for different reasons or symbols, both celebrate at almost same date. In Transylvania, we made colored eggs to offer to boys if they come in visit with perfume, no more with water. In the villages, girls where taken near the fountain... 

I celebrate that I do have one Egg, a few eggs! Taste it, savor it. Remember.

Sky always there

The sky is always there for us, and it is free.

Each time Or often, I see a beautiful, changing sky early morning or late towards the evening, it brings me back to a time of my life when I really needed it. A hope. A pleasure. An enjoyment for which we do not have to pay. Only stop, observe, enjoy.

Also, at that mbment in my life I was driving and crying and did not stop my car. Admired the sun showing me its Beaty while driving, and crying less and less.

Deciding I had to divorce, my husband not only cheating but making future plans with his 20 years younger then mistress, living afar. We went to a common lawyer and decided, as we come out “we are divorced”. We did not feel married only when it was legalized we will not wait for formality.

As usual I worked all week and Saturday drove to the nearest supermarket to buy food for my to children and me. When I arrived to the cassier, gave my card, she told me “there is not enough money”.

What?

I found out that way, my EX still legally husband, has taken ALL money out from my common account. As I had some cash too, I paid for half of what I put in the cart and gave back the rest. Should I say that it was a huge shock for me?

What I will do? How we go till my next paycheck? My eyes blurred. Not the moment, I am driving! I begun to ponder all for which we have still to pay and all that is already paid. And then suddenly the sky begun to play its magic for me.

It was a very important moment and told me I can always enjoy the nature and it is there free for us all.

Spring green: renewal

Today, I will ask questions in my club to a few members and guests. The theme is Renewal. Spring. But there is a lot to tell about spring. 

As well about this special green that exist only at the beginning, and I love a lot.

"You are lucky! Have a taxi."

One of my most cherished moments, photos I have taken. I was traveling with my car, all the way from Paris through Transylvanian villages. It was morning, when I met this woman and I stopped fascinated first by her hat. 

While others were going to the fields to work with bicycle, or a common cart, she was on foot. "My son married, can not help me any more now" and she was going to work on the potatoes field, even old and tired. 

"You are so lucky! You have a taxi." she told me, did not imagine even the car may be mine. She could not even afford a bike. 

I then realized how lucky I am. Yes, divorced, yes, alone, yes... and so on, but I am not so down and my life is a lot easier then hers. 

Every time I look at this picture, I tell myself "I am lucky and well!"

Cornerstone Communicators Pathways Panel

Moderating a Panel is Level 5 Project. 

Yesterday evening, inside the online meeting of the Cornerstone Communicators Advanced Toastmasters club, President Clifford Hurst,
John Kendall moderated the Panel discussion about Pathways.

Excellently prepared and conducted in 30 minutes with four panelists; Elizabeth Jordan and Jenny Chalmers, members of the club, and Aaron Leung and Julie Kertesz (me) as Panelist.

Here is my recording the Panel discussion, "Gallery view so I can see all participants reactions, recorded by Replay Video Capture, uploaded to YouTube. 

Many interesting questions and different answers that give together a great view.

John Kendall was moderating it very well, asking the questions to us directly and with short answers also signaling very nicely when our part of a specific answer run out of time or was answered enough.

After the Panel the club had Table Topics, then Evaluations - and at the end questions to the Panelists from the Audience. Alas, I did not record that part as it come rather a surprise to me after I commented that I regret that we did not have questions from all. 

Creating a Panel in a club meeting is a great idea, and one can do it with at the same time, having less speakers or less Table Topics speakers. Best prepare the club members to gather their questions, prepare them, at the same time as the Panelists. We were very well prepared with questions send to us in advance, so we did have time to think of our answers and then deliver it well but shortly.

Using the wether

Eiffel Tower Paris in wind and rain, also from my car : a picture as not often shown

Early morning mist in North Carolina

Sunny early morning in North Carolina. One of my first landscape pictures.

Wind blows on colorful scarfs in the market

At marché Saint Pierre, at the bottom of Butte Montmartre, I went out to take some vendors with my new digital camera. I discovered that it can take also small videos, and also capture the movement. The wind begun to blow on these colourful scarfs on display.

Bed made in Tunisia, Closed passage in Granada

One of my first pictures published on Flickr, hotel service at Djerba motels in Tunisia, one of the firsts I like a lot. A huge surprise they prepared my night gown, I used it also today! so nicely. And the surprise that my friend, old nice lady I went with, is so small. I did not realize till I looked at this picture. 

We went and come back still friends, it was in Granada that our friendship ended. I could not keep up with her lot higher pension, and her spending, and she refused to "lower" the way she wanted to eat. At the return, a sudden snow in Madrid, our change of plain, completed our misunderstandings, our values were too different.

My prefered picture from Granada 

But Tunisia remains, even Granada... a great memory! Click on Granada to see 100 pictures, but I have taken a lot more there! December and beautiful weather.

London phone boots in rain, near Opera

Covent Garden, near it is the Opera House. And of course, near Opera a statue of a ballerina. This statue fascinated me and went well with the unused (other then taking photos outside it) old red telephone boots. 

It begun to rain: that made the image even more fascinating. At least for me. The Red Telephone boots where also reflected on the ground, and the statue shined.

New pictures

Some of my favorite pictures are old, others from the day before. 

Just now, I feel I have to show this one, even if no one comes to look any more of my picture blog. I will have to spend time, to posting it to different places, other then my usual.

Palermo market

I used to travel once a year, when the season offered the cheapest rates, for 5 to 7 days. Because I took lots of pictures, and showed them mostly after home, after playing a lot with them, many believe I travel a lot!

So once, from Paris still, I decided to go to a place I feared most: Palermo, the Mafia's centre. A tiny hotel centre town, not far from the market or even University, or sea. All was different then I thought, to photographer girls showed me around, each one Sunday, and gave me advices. The restaurants were expensive for me, so I did buy in bakeries and in the market, great interesting food.

First evening, I arrived, there was an anti mafia manifestation, lots of young and a few politicians in a square not far. Lots of people smiled and let me take photo of them. 

I also went up north in very old town with a bus, and down south to visit a small town near the sea, with a great view traveling with train. But after so many pictures, in Sicily, this is my favorite one: the pears that were arranged like soldiers. 

Kids : first Halloween in Argenteuil

We were not used to kids coming for sweets Halloween time, but here I found in 2005 a bunch of kids who come from other countries running on the street. I did have some bonbons home, and wanted to take some pictures of them. They were happy to pose, after I spoke to them.

This is my preferred kid between them and his preferred expression.

Is it the same? It depends

Some do look only at one of them, the was or the projection of it on the wall.

Macro spring flowers nearby

In homage of André Kertesz

My name is Julie Kertesz. Often, I was asked "are you parent of André Kertesz" ?

André Kertész was also Hungarian, then in time, he went to Paris where he was friend with famous painters and become a recognized photographer. He did wonderful photos also for magazines, often of "ordinary" people, not specially for or of the famous. 

He has some images also of very simple objects, like this one. This I took in his honor. I did try to emulate his photography, "seeing people" that others would not think worth taking and remembering, in their everyday lives and taking not only beautiful flowers, but also simple objects, colourful food, and yes, kiss! 

André Kertesz become famous also because a "kiss in Paris": later, he did admit, it was staged. I did take a lot of kiss that I had "stolen" : never got to know who where they. But did not publish in any magazine.

Here is my best "kiss" from many I have taken. Rue Mont Cenis, Paris on top of stairs.

I lived 25 years in the house on left, and went back many years later to take picture of the house and the stairs that start there, on Butte Montmartre. 

That day, as I approached, I see this couple meeting and kissing and kissing. Picture taken. Then they went to discover Place the Tertre, and I followed them "should I tell them? perhaps they would like a memory?" I heard them speaking: they where British! 

Finally, I did not dare to speak and did not want to disturb the great happiness they felt, to meet, to be there, to be together.

Passing street with care

Street portraits, candids, have to be made fast. The moment comes, the moment passes. 

We were strolling in the 19th Paris with another photographer, he showed me his "arrondissment". I took many pictures, all uploaded in an album. Buildings, walls, people. And then from afar, I see HIM, hesitating, waiting to cross. A baguette and a newspaper in one hand, a walking stick in the other. 

I took more then one picture of him, here are his first steps, when he finally decided he can cross slow, without being crushed by a car passing. 

A real hero

Past Toastmasters International President, in his late 90th, become online member at his retirement home. Wanted to experience all and even using green screen.

It is enough one click on the wrong colour, and the computer believes our face is the colour of the “green” screen. This is the result.

What you see, is the new Toastmasters Building in Colorado, which importance he wanted to convey. Even seing the result, he continued to speak about it. Ego did not come in, and for that, he become Firebirds Collective hero. And mine. 

Eating, preparing - different cultures

 London Borough Market, near the restaurant : sharing and eating in their way
--- they did approve I take the picture, and after smiling to me continued to chat

A glimpse inside a restaurant kitchen, Morocco

1st May 12 years ago, it was "remembering impressionist days" but also a warm day. French traditional table cloth, and no, they did not see I have taken this picture, I did not disturb.

Expressions

Expressions, so important to me. Here are three portraits, from the street.

He was standing near a beautiful car, with such a sorrow in his eyes. Would have wanted to have such a car? I took a picture from afar first, then I asked him to pose. 

The pose was instantly different, and his expression, the one you see here changed. He "posed".

Rue Poteaux, Paris 18 a market. I begun to take picture of him, selling vegetables, with his permission, then as I was shopping often there come back again. Even bringing him, his printed photo. By the time this picture was taken, we were pots. 

I think, just before this expression, I told him his new bird is becoming him, or similar. 

Was in Athens, years later and that day, alone in the central square. As I asked him if I can take picture, we realized, we do not have other common language then gestures. But the gestures were enough. Somehow, we did understood each other as one can see from this smile and expression.

Oh, no!

This is not my picture, but so funny! And today, I celebrate my comedy Icebreaker. Funny often comes when something sad or annoying arrives. 

A tomato and what it did made me remember

Real tasty fresh tomatoes, even found in a small supermarket near Paris, when I visited, went back once. This were taken inside the market, on the stall, but I did not resist.

I did buy and took home, tasted and savored, and they were so much "more" then the one's I find and eat nowadays in London. They remind me at the real home grown tomatoes we found in the market in Bucarest, before going to a picknick with my boyfriend, that remains always in my memory. 

I was 25 and him 26 and well, that day, even if not in the forest, but after that when we went to a room his best friend had, I went all the way with him. Two years later, we married, and later, he gave me my two children.

We did not have a lot of money, so we did buy only great fresh cheese, leaf of bread and tomatoes. But still remember, how good that lunch tasted. Followed by kisses in the middle of the forest. 

When I got home, that day, not too late even so my father could not object, I looked at the mirror: "How come nothing different is apparent on me?" It took month, then I begin to have a special mysterious smile on my face. 

A simple, or special tomato may speak more to me then one would believe. 

Now, perhaps even to you?

Workers, on the road

Stopped on the middle of rain and the road, to ask them "may I take a picture"? but did take this picture, before I went out already. Both were happy and proud to have their photo taken and we spoke shortly. France, coming back from Rennes.

Demolishing an old bank, before building a newer one, he posed for me in middle of Paris, so proud I asked him and told him he looked like Depardieux, a french actor.

Then I arrived to London. He is my first portrait of someone working on the street, I took. 
"I am too old, not interesting".
"I am older then you" I answered him. "Am I not interesting any more?"
His answer was this expression. 

Human understanding, human connection is so important! Even after ten years it does warm up my soul.

Aspirations

In Edinburg, I told personal, funny stories for Grant Whisky company, 6 days. Each day it was a different theme, and we did not have to be funny but we did have to tell six different stories each afternoon. Not easy, but I succeeded. 

I would have been happy to meet a nice Scotsman  like this one, near a restaurant, at our show exit.

I went to Las Vegas for my first ever International Convention in August 2011: very very warm time! I met a clown, again as a statue, hoped to be like him in the future, a good clown. I just begun to study comedy by then. 

I did got to become "comedian" but never met my Scotsman. 

Contrast at hairdresser

Not young myself either, waiting for my tour to come and my hair being washed before setting it up, I looked first at this unhappy young woman working. 

So much difference between her unhappy face and those of young women on the wall! Then I noticed also the difference, as I put those two older women in the photo. None of them observed I took the image. Yet, it is an image that speaks to me even now.

Snow crystals on Vercors: beauty of winter

Each season has it's beauty.

I have not seen ice and snow for many years. There is little or seldom in or around Paris. When I wrote this to an Autobiography pal, she and her husband invited me to their home in Vercors, in the middle of winter.

We went out together to a long walk in the snow, the sun was shining, it is then I discovered the beautiful crystals ! The first time in my life, looked at admired them so near. And I also discovered, after going back, how strongly blue the winter sky can be. 

They played for me music, song, and made wonderful meals. An unforgettable holiday.

My street in fall

This one leads and shows the place, the building I live now, in London. With other kind of "more ordinary" fall leaves - some yet on the tree, others already fallen.

My fall tree

In France, Argenteuil, I had a similar tree that I called "my fall tree" before my window. It did signal fall, offered me beautiful fall colors, year after year. 

Till one day, my grand-son, who must have been 7 by the time, not happy with me or with life, did kill it a spring time. When I come to London, it just tried to open again. 

What was my joy, to discover the same tree, not far from my block, towards the beginning of my street corner after I moved to London. It is huge, and every fall, it gives beautiful leaves, but that first year, it offered me the feeling of "home" the feeling that things are not so different after all from city to city, country to country. A sort of continuity. 

Mime and musician near Sacré Coeur, Paris

Remaining on Butte Montmartre, where I returned, lived, and took many pictures, beside painters and designers, there are mimes, and musicians.

Always something is happening, before and in the back of the Sacré Coeur Cathedral.

In both these pictures, they where aware I take a photo, as I asked them if I may.

Both miss some front teeth, so cute!

Same grand daughter, a few years later, already in School. Here she is, coming out from the school with her best friend. I used to take her back home, as her parents worked later. And later, also my grand-son who begun two years later the school.

When I was 77 years old and begun Standup Comedy, one day, my daughter by error, through away my denture, that I put on the table covered by Kleenex tissue. It took some time to order new ones. 

Meanwhile, I wrote this that somedays finds the way in my comedy set: "Is is so cute to have front teeth missing", pause, "That is when you are 7 years old, not 77!"