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!"

Place Tertre, Butte Montmartre : painters

The small girl, my grand daughter, in this picture grew up: is not 19 years old. Her two bigger cousins where visiting in Paris, the first time in their life. Now all three are in different universities. 

We went to visit place de Tertre, on the top of Butte Montmartre. Was I still living there, or already in Argenteuil, North West of Paris? I have to admit, I do not remember. 

What I remember, and at least ten pictures give me "back" the time, is that my Grand Daughter was the one daring to ask the Painter questions, and that the Painter, very nicely did answer her. Not only answered her but showed her how he does paint. Gaby become an Art student! She does different things with creation of the art, does not specifically paint, but being interested, daring to ask, discover, for sure helped her. 

First street scene: the grapes were not sour!

First workshop of Paris Photography, we went at the back of Butte Montmartre, near the 18e District, and we were supposed, after taking a few pictures together to go each our way, and meet near the rue Poteaux market. There is a cafee at the corner café - pub, with chairs outside.

I was one of the firsts to arrive there and sit down, looking at the market and street life around me.

At the corner, was a fruits seller with a shop inside and fruits outside to entice clients. Suddenly, I see this old lady arriving and tasting. Tasting the grapes, tasting and tasting and tasting. I took this photography, without her noticing, she was all in eating, in fact. 

She stopped only when the seller come out, and made her buy a small amount of fruits. 

Earth day, Greenwich park with my camera. Went to take picture of the Royal Observatory and the tourists, and the view from up the hill. Come back with this picture, one of the favorites. 

At one side, it is already spring, beautiful spring green leaves cover the trees along the alley. On the other side, still winter. Do we look only at one side? "It is winter, it is cold, it is sad." we can say then. But when we look at the other side, the new, renewal, hope is already there.

My ex husband died and just learned it, as his third wife called one of her daughter. Suddenly so many memories rushed to me. Some, towards our end together were like the winter trees. Difficult times. Others, not only months but years of the beginnings, joyful  wonderful moments remembered. In fact, have to look at both. Accept both sides.

Kissing in the Park, Paris

It was so long I was not kissed! 

Did I ever kiss in  a Park? In plain view? 

I do remember once, when I was 23 but it was a hidden bench, in a huge park near a lake. Our first kisses, with Sandu, who later, a lot later become the father of my children. 

This was taken in the suspended park, in the back of the new Opera house near Bastille, Paris. It was our second photowalk with my photography workshop. We were show shadowns of the benches, and then to take photos looking down. Then all rushed down and I went slower. As I approached the stairs to go down here is what I discovered. 

They were kissing, kissing all around them forgotten. 

I decided to show them this angle, where their faces do not show. All of us add to it what can, want, may.

Are you home?

I visited a pal in Dophinee, her home place home house. We both wrote Autobiographies. A couple that lived near Grenoble most of the year, where her husband was university professor, but whenever she could, she came "home". This woman was the village's older woman.

My pal left me one morning, for a whole day with this 90+ years old wonderful woman and we had a great day together. This was the last photo I took away from her, after many others. Showed me and posed with her flowers, at the bench behind her house. Inside.

But my preferred photo is not this one but the one bellow. 

She wanted to present me to her best friend, a few houses farther in the village. Her friend did not answer. Then she looked in the window: "was she really not home?"

Looking at it, I still feel, I am there. It seems so real, so authentic to me. 

I have send her all the photos, direct to her address. And my pal had gifted me with an album of André Kertesz in Dophinée, photos he did in the mountains, not very far, for a newspaper magazine, that never appeared finally. The article was not written. As André Kertesz gifted all his French photos to Louvre, some researchers found the Dophinee pictures and published them with a long text. I learned so much from those photos!