Windmills Jungle: 2013

12.26.2013

The Christmas Zoo

26 December 2013

Yes, another Christmas Day is gone.

And let's face it, this is the Day of Melancholy.

No more "All I want for Christmas is you". No more guessing the presents riddle. No more counting down the days.

We ate, we celebrated, we forgot to buy presents for all those people who gave us wonderful gifts, and bought great things for the ones who didn't even say "merry christmas".

Yesterday we had the strongest headache of our lives and cursed the noise, the chatting, the laughing, wishing for silence, peace, isolation. But we also realized that our family is great and we love everyone sooo much. And today we already miss all that chaos.

A few hours ago we wanted all of this to end as soon as possible, while now we would just like to come back to Christmas Eve, and live again that atmosphere...

Honestly, I couldn't wish for anything better.

For once, I have to abandon my usual cynical skeptical and prickly attitude.

Ready for another year waiting for another Christmas, with great friends by my side!

12.23.2013

Professional Photographers

Pretty Little Photographers

Triyng to immortalize precious moments

while adults,

as always happens,

are getting lost.

22 December 2013

Happy Birthday Super Duper Mummy!

12.11.2013

People Have the Power..

What are you staring at?

Mind your own business, please.

12.09.2013

Do You Believe in Signs?

Sunday afternoon. It's really cold in Florence, and when you breathe fog comes out of your mouth. You find yourself wandering through a crowded flea market in one of the most Florentine of Florentine squares. With a great friend to listen to and a the desire for dusty forgotten treasures.

Is all this cahos in our lives something like a giant spiderweb?

Then your camera winks at some older sisters abandoned on one of the flea market stalls. How many spiderwebs have they immortalized so far?

Pretty Old Cameras, do you know what should I do?

What did you see, before renouncing the living world, before leaving yourself to your own devices on a dusty stall, in a cold December night, looking at my friend and me, with my camera and all the spiderwebs of our heads!?

You have new worlds of all kinds within reach, but you decide not to look at them.

Isn't this what I am desperately triyng to do?!

12.08.2013

Traditions.

The thing with traditions is that they make you feel safe.

December 8 finally arrives, and suddenly your house seems Santa's home.

Love these days.

Waiting for.

12.05.2013

In Italian They Call It "Sproloquio Natalizio".

December, December.... I was waiting for you.

Haven't you always been my favorite time of the year?

Since I was a little child I have always looked for magic...looking for that unusual temporary point of view that would make it possible to have things look differently. And we know that it is in differences that one can find truth.

In December things usually look different. People become Christmas people. Everything is brighter than ever and cities like Florence literally shine with all this Christmas lights (which every year get uglier and uglier, as if they were chosen by a poor blind bloke who then tries to put them on the city centre trees properly. As a result you have streets that seem huge shining twistings and turnings - if you did not have a headache, now you have it). In December people smile more. People find new sources of satisfaction (yes, I'm talking aout you, middle aged woman with red hair and five children screaming and trying to destroy the supermarket.Yes, you go to the supermarket, you grab the last poor chicken abandoned alone on the shelf and, looking at your enemy straight in the eyes, with a soft, sweet and Christmas voice you say "I'm sorry, I won. You can have the turkey. Or a fried egg. Or a pre-cooked pizza. Let's face it, you've been a terrible cook since high school. Maybe this is the reason why you will be alone on Christmas Day with your cat, your grandma who doesn't recognize you and your turkey. By the way, Have a nice Christmas. God bless your family"...I adore such lovely women). Moreove, though only for a few days, someone really manages to be a little less selfish: you spend hundreds of euros for presents to all your people, then realize that all this waisting of money is totally against (your, not mine) God and all his talking about being humble ecc ecc, therefore your guilty soul needs to be saved. So you finally decide to act and prove yoursel you still have a soul somewhere and that soul knows the word "forgiveness". You decide to speak again with that friend of yours you hated since she told you you were a sad selfish isolated crazy schizophrenic young woman with hips large like the Florentine Dome. But it's Christmas, and Christmas means forgiveness. (and of course this has NOTHING to do with the fact that a friend of a friend told you that she broke up with her man and put on weight while you finally manged to lose it and look fairly fabulous. and is it your brain that goes on singing "white revenge" instead of "white Christmas"?! No way, there must be some kind of misunderstanding. You are a lovely sweet person, always was). At Christmas time you become more patient and when you find yourself stuck in traffic you start yelling at the whole human race and at the one who started all of this. you curse the creation day and start asking yourself why the hell someone smart like God one day had this bright idea of creating such an idiot race. Well, at least you are talking about God. Christmas takes you closer to God. Then one day the judging day will come and you'll have to explain all your talking and yelling.. but this is why they invented Easter... You act like a total stupid and superficial Christmas-God-hater, then you have about three months to repent your sins and ask for forgiveness. Ready for the next Christmas' hypocrisy. The genius of Catholicism..

Anyway, whether you are a religious person or not, in some way you change during the holidays. I mean, everyone - even the most convinced of atheists - literally adores going to church on Christmas Eve. Would you believe it?! She's here with her new boyfriend in those hideous red shoes.... Simply pathetic. A shame. And on Christmas Eve!

Christmas is magic, I know it is. And it is also that period of the year when people really are themselves and are not afraid of showing a little more love. Christmas can be all about appearances and waisting money. But it is also something about truth. At Christmas you can see contraddictions and hypocrisy, but also the desire for happiness. You can see that need to see something good in everyone. And whether this is a religios or commercial issue, I think is something truly human and fascinating. It's true. It's powerful. It's Christmas. And it's presents. Everyone likes presents. It's love. Even for a cynical atheist like me.

Waiting for.

11.27.2013

From Black to Pink and Back.

“But would you kindly ponder this question: What would your good do if
evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows
disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the
shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and living beings.
Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because
of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You're stupid.”
― Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita

Don't worry, I haven't turned into a sad missed philospher (unfortunately).

I am the same. It's still me cynical and incapable of any optimism.

It has been another hopeless Wednesday.

Today I realized I have actually been studying Russian for 4 years and I cannot speak a word without feeling like one of those sad and totally unrealistic american characters pretending to speak with a fake Russian accent. Good for me. I have been nominated "SSY" (saddest student of the year).

I am the goddess of the three Is:

Impatience

Intolerance

Irritability

All my friends know all of me and carefully stay away from me and my incurable pessimis: I inspire self-destruction and suicidal manias.

So I am here alone with my cat, my reflex and a very power desire for leaving.

But where am I supposed to go?
And who am I supposed to leave my beloved cat with?!

But then... then I see a pink winter sky. With threads and contrasts. And nobody will probably undestrand but in some way I manage to find my daily balance.

And everything suddenly looks like magic. And my beloved Rufus cat is safe.
At least for now.

11.24.2013

Independence Day Reflection - Some Sunday Nonsense Never Killed Anyone.

I know, I know. Today is not July 4th.

And I am not here to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the USA signed in 1776, Thomas Jefferson and bla bla bla...

I'd like to write about independence, since it has been one of the subjects of my reflections for the latest weeks.

I happen to be surronded by girls who claim their own independence. I keep reading blogs and status about how independent these girls are and how able they are in keeping their own existences under sharp control. Every girl I know wants to prove she has her whole life in her hands. They know what they want. They know who they want to be with. What they want to do or not to do. They know who they want to be. They have complete power over themselves.

And I like it. I admire them. Listen to them. I am completely fascinated by them.

But of course it is not that easy. After showing my complete admiration and respect, reflection time comes. What the hell they mean by independence? What is independence?

The Question I have been asking myself is:

Am I independent?

"The answer is still no! Absolutely and unequivocally, no!" (only a few will recognize the quotation-respect for all of them!).

I am not independent at all. I live with my parents and, although I keep telling myself that soon I will be long gone in my own new house in a wonderful city (London/Berlin/Paris/NewYork) and that probably I will become a powerful and independent business woman, deep down I know the bitter plain truth. I am going to stay here for a long time. And, I mean, my parents and my cat are great.

But does a place I can really call mine exist?

But let's not talk about houses and properties. These are dark times and independence must be seen as a far deeper state of mind. Something connected with our personality and our relations. Okay. Then the question is:

Am I independent from all the people I care or do not care?

How much do they affect my decisions, my habits and my mood?

Do I have my whole life in my hands and know exactly where I want to go?

Guess what Laura, the answer is still no.

I don't have the faintest idea about who I am and who I want to be.

The people I love and care about really affect me and my decisions.

I usually let them define me and explain myself to me. Those who are around me affect me and my first care is not to disappoint or upset them.

Does independence mean being selfish?

Do you need to be more selfish and self focused in order to be able to call youself an independent woman?

I wish I was more selfish. And more confident.

Because the only thing I really know is that I envy all those people who finally feel confident and able to do everything in their own way, without wanting help or advice from others.

But I also think that independence is like freedom: it depends on balance.

As much as I hate human beings and prefer animals, I have to accept the fact that everyone needs other people in order to be independently happy.

Is it enough to call yourself independent in order to be truly independent?

Just something to think about before another sleepless night.

11.14.2013

Her State of Being

"It was her profound state of being that one wanted to catch and turn to words, the state that is to the mind what breathing is to the body, what one calls happiness or unhappiness".

From "The Lady in the Looking-Glass: A Reflection" by Virgina Woolf

11.13.2013

The Owls Are Not What They Seem. And never will be.

Owls won't ever be what they seem.

For me they will always be the image of that little fundamental piece of myself... I lost.

Missing My Owl.
Missing my Grandma All the Time.

Venice, November 2013

11.12.2013

Henri Cartier-Bresson...Memories

She thought she rembered.
She thought she knew everything that she had felt, done, and realise.
She thought she had learnt something from the mistakes she had done.
She thought she had changed.

But she was the same.
And thinking about that Henri Cartier-Bresson picture they were lookin at, she couldn't help feeling so sad.
It had been a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Fall was all around and they truly believed that never again in the world they would lose each other again.
They were in Lucca and, despite all the fight they used to have, they were happy.

But people don't change, and fighters will always keep acting like fighters.
Like b&w photographs, time passes and eventually all that black will fade away...but people will always remain the same in them.

The Henri Cartier-Bresson Exhibition in Lucca,
Then Getting Lost and Actually Enjoiying it so much!

Sips/Tips of Fashion - Weekend Breaks!

Weekend Breaks.

Ok, Tartan is the new trend of the season but you don't want to look like Highlander lost in Venice, do you?

When in doubt,

Total Black will always be the best way to rock a a beautiful city.

And please, wear heels.

Unfortunately there's only one Naomi Campbell on earth!

"The sun would beat down on her face, into her eyes; but no, at the critical moment a veil of cloud covered the sun, making the expression of her eyes doubtful - was it mocking or tender, brilliant or dull? One could only see the indetermined outline of her rather faded, fine faces looking at the sky. She was thinking... (...) "

From "The Lady in the Looking-Glass: A Reflection" by Virginia Woolf

In Beautiful Places

Everyone Looks Much More Beautiful...

At Least, Almost Everyone!

11.06.2013

Street Friendship

Friendship Instinct Passion Heart Immagination Innocence.

Please, Take Off your Masks.

11.02.2013

A Jungle of Spiderwebs

November's here.

The chimney wakes up and November air smells like dust and fire.

Like the thorns of a delicate rose in a sea of blood that runs cold.

Goodbye October.

Greetings to you all,

This is a Skull writing!

Halloween night had to be celebrated properly.

Take a dark wood,

A dozen of spiderwebs,

Two Mexican Skulls,

A Dead Bride,

Two Vampires,

And Three Evil Fairs.

Mix it up with some great music.

The Magic Potion is ready!

31 October 2013

Teo Skellington

10.21.2013

Think Wider.

A wider perspective

Makes things look different.

Don't be fooled by appearances,

You won't ever be happy living in a cage,

Even if a golden one.

10.14.2013

Misty Countryside

Sunday morning.

The scent of misty cold air.

October, the image of silence.

It's getting colder in the countryside.

Misty-eyed, observing.

"Winds in the East,

Mist coming in..

Like somethin' is brewin'

and about to begin.."

10.11.2013

Portrait Project - the Cat and the Grandpa

Once upon a time,

On a grey windy Friday morning,

There was a cat, sitting on a balcony.

He stood still,

Watching the street, the roofs, the trees.

On his side, a misty-eyed man who's always looking for someone.
Someone lost...

Rufus & Grandpa Bobi.

10.10.2013

Sips of ...Invisibility

I really need some writing, I just don't know what I could write about.

Actually I don't feel like writing...but I'm gonna write this post anyway.

The fact that I actually created a Facebook page for this blog makes me realise that something's probabily wrong with me. More than usual.

I mean, I am not a social being. No way I will ever turn into one.

I strongly believe that there are far too many people on earth.

And I love anonymousness, living in obscurity.

I actually enjoy when people I met - often more than once - can't remember my name.

I 've always tried to manage invisibility.

If you're invisible you can be an observer.

No risk taking, no judging involved..people don't care about you, you can be whoever you prefer.

I've always seen invisibility as the real face of freedom. And a great shortcut.

Everyone wants a shortcut in life after all.

Anyway, for some strange reason I'm kinda enjoying writing all these inanities and letting my friends reading them.

I've always had some difficulties in showing them who I am and what I like/want/believe/think... Writing has always helped a lot.

Fall is inspiring me, always has always will.

October is just a countdown to Halloween, the second greatest "holiday" after Christmas.. (I wouldn't hesitate a second in trading Easter for Halloween. Take your chocolate and your rabbits, I want ghosts, witches and pumpkin cookies - Tuvvofal'Americano,masinatoinItaly)

No photographs of mine this time. My portrait project is a work in progress, I actually need people to portray with my camera. No queue at my door so far.

Just my world with nothing taken too seriously, a superficial interest for important stuff and a deep passion for useless and vain things, like the die-for-shoes-of the-moment and dead photographers.

This October jigsaw puzzle is all about NY, the city of my dreams:

Sips of Shopping!

Subscription to "The New Yorker" made, just waiting for the first number. A magazine from NY, some of the words from The City always with me! A very merry unbirthday to me!

Fall, umbrellas and the City conquered by raving running legs..

Andre Kertesz was born in Budapest, but died in NY in 1985.

"We all owe something to Kertész", said Henri Cartier-Bresson..

I love his taking a higher perspective in order to look at the city from a different point of view.. an observer who tried to be invisible?!

http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/09/16/10-lessons-andre-kertesz-has-taught-me-about-street-photography/

(Thank you Ettore for this link, miss you).

Lisette Model, Austrian-born American photographer who took marvellous portraits of people.

Personally I fell in love with her "running legs".

Another invisible but precious point of view.

Simply Banksy.

Always had a crush on his works, works of art, always been fascinated but the no-identity thing. An invisible man whose name is known all over the world.
Invisibility exists. And it means power and freedom.


© Estate of Banksy

New york City & Banksy: http://www.banksyny.com/

10.06.2013

Portraits Project - The Beginning

So, it's been a while since the idea of this project came out.
I have to say, portraits have never been my favourite kinds of pics so far.
But the power of photography is to make eternity possible, real.

The Project is easy: I want to catch the very original and emblematic facial expressions of those I love, of all the people who live my life with me.

Every person explained and revealed within a picture.

From now on I'm going to wander through my world with my reflex, ready to immortalize the people I love most, catching and surprising them with the expressions that make them the people I love most.

...Good luck to me.

Today - October 6, heart of Autumn.

It's been a long good week, full of people and smile - though a lot of worries are constantly hunting my mind.

A lot of new amazing websites and shops have been discovered but no money has appeared out of thin air... the closet's still poor and sad. My hips are still outrageously large, but I've been avoiding mirrors.

Another Sunday has almost gone, with a delicious grey sky and a great man by my side.

"The Russian Avant-Garde Siberia and the East" exhibition visited this afternoon in Palazzo Strozzi was amazing, Filonov's paintings are something to die for.

Rumours say that twelve Impressionism masterpieces from Musée d'Orsay are on exhibition in Palazzo Pitti..another great week is just about to start.

Stay Tuned.

Portraits Experiments on a windy Thursday night:

Pagine