Difficult

Every day it gets more difficult to accept the world as it is.

When watching tv, when reading newspapers or the messages at twitter and facebook, I get scared, angry and sad.

What a world we are living in, and for all, where will it all lead to?

Terrorism seems to have succeeded in reaching their target. People are spreading hate and battle against each other, without being intrested in destroying the real evil.

Civil guards are battling against eachother to get the most power, and people like we, we wait, scared with every message of violence again.

The strange phenomena of publicity! 

The days that I read more, I get scared more.

The days I read less, I feel better.

On those days I am more open for what and who is around me.

Friends who are ill, people that share beautiful things, like photography, art, poetry, a smile, a friendly word.

Om those days I realize, that not the world is bad. 

Look around you, every day.

See the people that you are dealing with.

Are they bad?

Sure, bad things happen, but good things happen as well.

What, if there is war, and no one is going?

We should not make others responsible for the bad things that happen.

Because the bad things happen because we allow it.

When you hate your neighbours, you have a chance to change it.

And if you don't change it, don't point to them, first clean your own street. 

Again you have the choice, to put the trash in the bin, or to give it to others.

When you hate the violence of others, remember that you are doing and encouraging exactly that, when you choose to use violence as well.

A little bit of promotion

I am not good in promoting myself. My former chief told me already so: Hans, you are good, but when you want others to see it you need to show it better.

I think that his well meant advice is a thing that will stay with me for a lifetime and that I will never be able to sell myself properly.  And that whilst I am living with a sales manager, who is very good in this kind of things.  Hmmm..  I am hopeless.

After the photowalk from past Saturday (what was an awesome one, the park was filled with golden trees, the light was perfect and so are the pictures), I was so excited about my photo's that I want the entire world to see them.
Now that is not even possible with the best promotion, but... I was so brave and did promote my photo site at facebook a bit.

The site, DreamsUnlimited, exists about 5 years and only did grow in the past year from over 100 until 223 today.  Past week it was 200, also in one week 10 percent more 'likes', I am excited, and I know pretty well how it comes. Not only by my pictures, but as well with telling the people about it, in groups, on other sites. And still, I am very polite in asking people to 'like'  the page.

But I am a tiny bit exited, to see that it works. My 'slogan'  is, if you like my photo's, why then not make it easy, and 'like'  my facebook photo site, so that you are informed all the time about what is happening?

Okay, that does mean that I need to update the site regurarily. It is a matter of getting used to it. And of course I use Facebook as a backup for my photography. It will not come so far that the photo's at facebook are more important then the ones at HaFri Photography. There is where all my work is collected.  But I am not sure how I want to promote that. If ever. :)

Sliding away

Sliding away

All I want is

To hold you

To wrap my arms around you

All I want is to be there

To tell you, whatever happens, I will be there

I want you to feel my heart beat

I want you to stroke your hair

I want to take away your worries

Soften your pain, fullfill your need

When you fall asleep

Away from worries and pain

I want to be in your dreams

With cheerfull moments again

When you wake up in the morning

I want you to meet a happy day

Not necessarily just roses

But that you feel happy and are okay

Now, that you are finally asleep

My soul is fully awake

And I wonder, how much longer 

How much more is there to take

I can't give an answer

Other then Time will say

In the meantime I feel helpless

When you slip sliding away

14/09/2014

Nothng new

There is nothing new, when there happens some drama at the social networks.  I am too long into them to be surprised by anythinig at all.

So, if people want to create a new group with the same intrest as other groups, they just should do.
They should not be surprised when they get some questions, like, do we need another group, what makes you different and so more.
But when people are young, and love the power of being a group owner, well, they should try it and they should not lt themself being tracked down with such questions.  It is not that I do not allow competition :-) We are all a big family, same intrests so we can live together. It is all in all a small world, sooner or later we meet each other, because of that similar intrest.
So, when people get upset from such questions, I think that it proves that they are not ready. Not ready for being administraotors, or not ready to start a new group.

For me it means that I stop having intrest in that group. They still can do what they want, I do not pay attention, so I might end in being just a number in the big book

Another typical thing from social media is profiling. People who feel themselves so wonderful and who take every chance to show it.  When someone writes that 'Edwin cannot dance'  then all the sudden the Edwin Fanclub stands up and beats down the person that tells this.  Not asking what is behind that thought. Okay, maybe it should not have been written, but it is, and when you realy respect others you can ask .. why.
Edwin himself uses his tactics again, what confirms again what a disgusting extremist he is.  He tells 'how can they say such when they don't know me'  and.. I did block that lady, soooo sorry that she did ccause trouble.
What a manipulator!  If he had guts he should have talked with that person, in public or in private chats. But no, Edwin chooses to tell it in public and this way he executes that person in public.  It is like being (digital) put for the fire batallion, the death penalty is said out about that person.  Bwha.  I should wish that he did block me again.  He once did, because I did tell that he has extreme right behavior, patriotism and nazism influences. He never did deny it, he just did block me and now somehow, the almighty leader did decide I am good enough. Well Edwin, what I wrote about you (what for I was banned from that group) still stays. I am more convinced of what I did wrote then!

You can read this, if you want, but I am pretty sure you won't.  Because this is not what maes you popular. :-)

Kindergerden for adults, it all is.

What did it bring me?  A poetry of sadness. Read it at Poetry in Emotion  May 2015.
Nice chats with a few people, who did think alike.  I am always pretty insecure, if I act too rude, I know myself,.  I need people to reflect to and I am so lucky that I have them.

Life is beautiful. Digital life as well. What is the difference anyway?  :-)

early bloopers and sweet revenches

Tsja,  dieses Jahr ist 'Eisi'  ein großes Foto Thema

Jetzt, wenn ich weiß wo ich suchen kann, finde ich sie (natürlich) schneller und ofter. Und es ist dann weniger eine Herausförderung sie zu fotografieren, aber eher wie ich sie am Besten kriege. Deshalb mein kleines Experiment auf Facebook und auch hier.

Die Eisvogel Stelle is einen Punkt wo die Fotografen einander manchmal treffen. Zusammen Eisi fotografieren ist halt nicht so einfach. Einen Schritt von einen Kollega und mein Knips war... zu spät!

Also, dann mal ein bisschen Einkaufen und auf den Rückweg nochmals versuchen


geht doch!

Free to speak?

Let's talk about freedom of speech, rules and such.

A theme what comes up into my life very often, and most definitely as well in the internet world (what is a horrible word, because the internet is a part of the normal world, just like our television or fridge).

I am someone who loves feedom of speech, but I am at the same point the person that many people blame, for restricting their freedom of speech in groups.
I am guilty!  Yes, I do moderate now and then, yes, I sometimes make mistakes with it, yes, you are right to complain.

A person like me, who loves to walk at both sides of the borderline, who feels extreme pissed off when someone retricts my freedom of speech, and still I do let others shut up.

I am not going to excuse myself for doing so. I am also not telling that i should do it less, nor that I shall step less over the borders, and violate rules.  '
Rules need to be tested. When I enter a markation, where stands do not enter, and I do, I take the fully consequences for stepping over the line.
When others tell things that I disagree with, I do not hesitate to give a word back. Sometimes it is hard, other moments I play the game with the other.  All with the same purpose, getting the other thinnking about why and how to behave.

I am an Administrator in several (chat) groups and there this 'freedom'  is a contineous discussion. I use the right to speak up, and sometimes it is not allowed, then I am put back at my place.
Especially people who have a (right) extremistic attitude (pegida, nazi, racists) do not like when I ask why, and they prefer to ban me, to shut me up completely, rather then taking the chance to convince me from their ideas. That way I never will be able to understand them from dialogues, and is my knowledge of the sick ideas of the brown shirts coming from what I read in the papoers, own experiences and what others tell me.

To a bit less deep matter it comes in (queen) fora, where I am an Admin in a few as well
For who knows the world I don't have to tell about the difference between, for example, a group where never is moderation, like Queenzone, or a group where is one moderation rule (respect)  like in In The Lap Of The Gods.

Both are my favorite Queen groups, Queenzone as long as I am at the internet, almost 20 years, and In The Lap Of The Gods from its birth, 1,5 years ago.

How amazing is the difference between the moderation and the non moderation!
In In the Lap Of ... there is no place for bullying, no matter if it goes to persons or if it goes to  other artists.
In Queenzone we see a lot of bashing and crashing between different persons, and it often gets very personal.
Both has their attraction. I love the peace in In The Lap-. , and I sometimes need the uproars what comes in Queenzone.

What I don't need, however, is persons that contineously put oil on the fire.
I go to name names now :)

When you know that you are in a Queen group, and that the role of Adam Lambert in Queen is questionalbele, then it is not cool to constantly post a link to  your group what is about A.L..
You know you get discussions about it, it seems so innocent, just a linnk, but if you see that link 10 times in a week (or more), and you also see how it hurts others to be confrontated constantly with this, then it is not funny anymore.

Well, I hear you say, then block that person and the messages are gone. True!  But curiosity killst the cat, in this case. Some people just have too much time and feed the trollis with their reaction. Screaming loud that they don't want to, but in the mean time giving the trolls the chance to continue.  Do notice that their threads are very limited and often repeating theirselves.
Those Trolls know exactly what they are doing, there is a pattern in it and they can become a true treathening for the groups.

That is why I am glad that at least one of those Trolls is stopped, in Queenzone, the place of all places, where NEVER is moderation.
The freedom of speech shall NEVER be mis used for questionable purposes as destroying (groups or people).

Queenzone rocks!  Queen rocks more :)

the struggle

No, I can not get rid of FaceBook yet, and most of all it is because there are too much connections with other places, and persons, that I do not want to give up now.

My first time out lasted exactly 24 hours, and then I did return again. As one person said, Facebook is a huge time swallowing monster and that is so true, but how can I get rid of it?

So, I think I have to change strategy. I can not let it go just like a 'cold turkey', quit and live happily.
I have the plan in my head to do it slightly.  I did manage one day, how about a weekend?

And again, the groups will remain, I don't give them up -yet-, but who kows how long that will last?
What is the use, for example, to be in a group with 6 admins, and only me is taking initiatives?  Ohh, hey, that sounds so me, that did happen the past 50 years so often, and so often I did quit as well. It is a consideration for the coming time. I shall not post anything anymore other then pictures and comments. No new initiatives. There is a huge horse event, this weekend, in Düsseldorf, it could be cool to photograph it (not for me), but does it matter?
I mark the dates that might be intresting for myself. I mark the trips I want to make (kaarster see is getting higher at the wish list).  It is a pitty, but I don't share it anymore, if others don't share it as well. Life goes on, and I have to go on as well.  I hate Facebook! :) I can't live with you.. but I can't live without you :)

Surprises of the day

I love my photography. It never is boring, and even when I am a bit limited in the places to go, it is always a challenge to find something new, a new point of view, a new subject, whatever. I keep on learning to look 'free', and part of it is as well joining challenges.

At this moment it is a hype to join 'black and white' challenges, that is putting 5 days in a row a black and white picture, and encourage others to do the same. I am in the middle of the 4th one, and I don't mind it, it is just nice to try out and to look different.














But, who knows me a bit, they will also know that I am not a person what always wants to join the mass, I like to do things my way. I came up with the (not original, okay...) idea to make a picture of the same 'motive', for a year. Every week I go to the park, and I make a picture of the same spot.

I have a bank there, and when I sit in the middle of it, I can photograph the pond and the walkover behind it. Today I went there for the 3rd time (also 3 weeks in a row now), and I made my picture.

It was a bit grey, but dry, and I did hear the birds whistling in the trees around me. So, after that my challenge was done, I did look around and I did spot a little robin.  I did change the lenses, and little Robin was singing on, I got the time to walk to him (or her?) and make a few pictures.

How cool is that? A kind of reward for being there? I dont know, it was a happy surprise. Photographing is never boring, and this little robin can fly ofter in front of the camera. The advantages of winter, not many places (leaves) to hide, also challenges more over for us, photographers!