18. Freedom

Dear friends,
with great sadness (and maybe a little bit of pleasure) I have to let you know that this is the last blog post you are reading from The Capture Challenge. I have devoted ten weeks of my last semester at the American University in Bulgaria to this class blog and I dare to say I do not regret a single thing in that period. As hard and as time-consuming as it was, it was interesting, it was fun, it was different. I even felt special – probably because of the participatory culture and the social motivation, as Shirky says. 

For this last official post, I chose the topic Freedom. It was the freedom of choice that I was given that led to the overall idea of the blog. It was the freedom of doing my own research and choosing my own sources that made the blog an interesting experience for me as well. And it is freedom that I want to conclude it with as Freedom is what I wish to you from now on.

I hope you get the freedom we all desire at your workplace.  I wish you to be free from possessions to sense the real happiness. And I hope you get the feeling of freedom when you stand on the edge of cliff. [Remember, the freedom is in the concept of NOT falling!]

Cisco Beach, Nantucket, USA

I hope you stand on the shoreline with your feet barely touching the water. Or maybe not at all. I hope you stand careless and relaxed, motivated by the simplicity in the air. I wish you the purity of the ocean  to be your muse, the color of the seaweeds to be your inspiration.

 Be open, be calm, be free!

17. Addiction

This should probably be my favorite post because of all the beautiful things in this picture. Or the topic itself. It says it all. This is what makes my life easier, what makes me happy. My Addiction. This photo was taken during my last summer in the USA... when I worked on 3 jobs and barely saw the beach. But I still found time to have as much of these things as I could..Wine & Books, ladies and gentlemen - the way to pure happiness.

These became three of my favorite books. The one at the bottom translates to "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I took all the way from home when I went to the States. And I do not regret it - it is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. The book describes the road of obstacles that Greg Mortenson goes through when his failed attempt to climb K2 - the world's second highest mountain - leads him to an adventure that redefines his purpose in life. He takes on the initiative to create schools in some of the most remote regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The book shows his biggest challenges and struggles to achieve the cause but also the transformations in his personal life. It is a beautiful book that can inspire many to take on the same path! Hopefully!

The book on top of this small pile is called "Meditations for Women who do Too Much". A friend of mine once showed me a similar title and said the book was for me. I laughed. But this summer I found this small book full of daily tips on how to slow down the mad rush of modern living (quite helpful, especially at AUBG).

The book in middle I saved for last because it relates to the other delightful objects in the photo. "Wine for Women" by Leslie Sbrocco. The author of the book is a wine expert and she claims that the taste buds are different in a male and a female tongue. See, I don't know if it's the gender or the mentality but there might be something true in this. Because I am not sure whether my guy friends would have liked the three bottles in the background that I diminished with pleasure.

From left to right: Malvira Trinita (Italy), Le p'tit Loire (France), Pino Gris Nantucket Vineyard (USA)
ALL OF THEM ARE FABULOUS!
I will be back on Nantucket this summer, and I accept request. I would love to share these tastes with you! Or some good readings, too if you'd like! Gosh, I wish they were paying me for reading and drinking...I would have made a fortune!

16. Happiness

Dear psychoanalysis class, this post exists partially because of your influence on me. And it has nothing related to you. Or maybe something. Or someone who I wish we had discussed more.
According to Carl Gustav Jung (yes, that's the one), there are five basic factors of happiness:

1. Good physical and mental health.
2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.

Even though I agree with these statements, somehow I refuse to accept them as strictly determined factors. To me, happiness is individual. It is not a term, and quite often I do not think of it as a feeling either. Excitement and the rush of adrenaline could be defined as feelings, but happiness I consider a state of being. And yes, it could probably change any minute just like any other state you are in - whether you are lying straight on your back or you are curled up on one side, you could switch these at any moment. And yet, I also wonder what makes a human happy? Although it is all subjective, part of our psychic is fundamentally the same. Or is it?

Here is a cool video by Soul Pancake - a kind of an experiment (or a real social study? Idk). The channel is awesome, I have personally subscribed! :) So in case you wonder what brings you happy, you might find this interesting.

This post's photo defines my general state of happiness. And it is not only directly expressed through the objects on the photo (as awesome as they are) but also through the subjects (a.k.a. the people) behind them. You are my happiness!!

Nantucket, USA [July 19, 2013]

  

15. Path

A topic that I consider rather general and open for interpretation, and at the same time quite pleasing (like most other topics). A word selected by a friend who I believe is on the right way to happiness now. Path. Or the way I decided to look at it - the path to inner peace.

While I am browsing my favorite blogs or online magazines during my morning coffee or the mids of a sleepless night, I very often come across people's stories about their realizations of the need for inner peace. And not surprisingly, most of the times this comes from the pain of unpleasant experiences - like being told you have melanoma, or seeing a family member pass away. Grief is often what opens our hearts to intuition, yoga, meditation or simply nature. It is sad how we need a negative experience to show us the way to positivism..

Rila Mountain

Nature in itself can be one's path to inner peace - it carries the energy of the Gods, the power of the universe. Call it as you wish. But I am sure there won't be a single person who would say nature treats him badly. We have this giant oak tree near my grandparents' village which is even said to charge you up with energy once you press your body against its stalk. Some people find it healing to listen to nature sounds while they are in their office or as a background music while at home. You might say it's not the same, but that's their modification of the natural path - a way to bring peace to your daily routine.
What I find particularly interesting, however, is meditation. And before you say "Oh, Gosh, no," let me tell you that Katy Perry and Hugh Jackman are two of the many celebrities who practice meditation on a daily basis. The practice of meditation promotes relaxation and supports the connection between mind and body . It usually involves focusing on your breathing, an object or a mantra. Whichever of these you choose, remember it has to carry a positive meaning! You can find much more about meditation online but make sure you choose reliable sources which can actually teach you something useful. I recommend Peace Revolution... and even dare you to take the 42-day challenge on self-development through meditation! :)

14. The World Upside Down

The photo topic this week is The World Upside Down. It sounds quite easy and predictable but try looking through your photo collections and see if you will find something even slightly close to this topic... Well, I was lucky enough to have exactly what I wanted to find :) I talked about my trip to Prague in previous posts but this one will show you my favorite place of all - Restaurant Luka Lu.

Half of the interior in this beautiful venue was hanging from the ceiling, as you can see yourselves! A wooden cat is creepy and weird enough, you might think. But once you take a closer look you will notice the skillful arrangement of every single element in these hanging suitcases. There are lamps (with electricity!), wine glasses, books, a vintage scarf, an old alarm clock, a whole table, aaaand a couple of more wooden cats. Lovely! The only thing they were missing was a ladder which I could climb up to investigate even better what the owners of the place had put in these treasure chests!

In my traditional research phase of the topic for this post, I found numerous website or other blog entries about the world upside down and its forms. There a couple of things, though, that I cannot keep from sharing! It's absolutely stunning to what extremest people go these days... And what I mean precisely is a new trend in house design. Yes, inverted house design! Please, take a look at all these images that the generous Mr. Google is showing me! It's insane! Even though these are most often art installations, some people dare to live in them.. Tell me, how does this happen exactly?! How do you sleep in your bed hanging from the ceiling, or even worse - how do you flush the toilet?! Actually, I don't want to know!!

"Fortune cookies", Martin Tremblay

Something a bit more undisturbing to look at is the upside-down trend in fashion photo shoots. Gravity is not an issue in fashion, and here is one more proof - Martin Tremblay's photos for the 23rd issue of Schön! Magazine (December 2013). The photos show a model taking "a walk" in Chinatown and featured fashion pieces by designer brands like Dolce&Gabbana and Givenchy.

NB! If there are any design-interested bar-visitors among my readers who are living or visiting Berlin any time soon, this might be a place you'd like to check out - Madame Claude. An upside-down bar!

13. Cheese

Ciao, my dear readers! Bonjour to another spring day of sun rays and gentle wind. Today we say hello to quite a different topic than the ones I had posted so far. While previous posts were somehow related to more spiritual or abstract topics, today we dive into the world of... Cheese.

I find this topic quite challenging but at the same time very pleasing because I have always wanted to know something more about cheese. In Bulgaria, we produce only 2 main types of cheese - feta cheese (sirene) and yellow cheese (kashkaval). In other parts of the world, however, you could be amazed at the variety of tastes and textures of the cheese produced there.

La Formaggeria Gran Moravia, Prague

The website for American cheese craftsman, Artisanal Cheese, developed the Artisanal Cheese Clock which guides new and lifetime cheese fans through a proper journey along the tastes of various cheeses. It starts with milder tastes and goes the bold strong flavors while at the same time suggesting the best wine pairings for each type. Cheese plates are a common treat for upper medium class families in the chill summer nights, but to us, the AUBG community, they are very often something we serve after a $100 meal in our Work and Travel restaurants.

Grilled cheese! (bonappetit.com)

What we seem to be more familiar is... grilled cheese sandwiches. It might be new for some of you to find out that the the grilled cheese gained popularity in 1920s America and soon became a widely used way of getting protein, fat, and carbs in one simple meal. Today, Americans consume more than 2.2 billion grilled cheese sandwiches per year.

For those of you who enjoy having a dose of cheese in your daily meals, I suggest checking out these recipes - something simple to prepare and quite tasty to freshen up your lunch or dinner. If you are a vegan (like one of my best friends who I hope will read this post), here is something cheese-y for you, too : Vegan Cheeses!

I wish I knew something more spectacular to share with you but hopefully this will come with time. Until then, I am looking forward to hearing about YOUR favorite cheese plate ingredients!

12. The Same Old Road

This is a post for those of you who never read the silly writings in my posts but only look at the even simpler photos. This is a post that I devote to all the lonely souls who were ones happy with their solitude. Once, long ago, when they had the freedom to take a breath and live in peace close to someone they loved. This is a post that doesn't say anything more than what it has already said. That this is a post about you. And I keep writing because I can say so much more that you have already heard. So much more you don’t want to hear, the same so much more I will continue to say. You are going down the same old road.

This is not a post to which I had dedicated too much time or enough investigation. But this is a post I have given enough emotion and a fair amount of alcohol. I simply wanted to remind you that alone does not always mean lonely. And that obviously in your case, it does. Obviously, you need to play “Unchain my heart” not by whoever but by Hugh Laurie /who is coming toSofia this July fyi/. Misery is what usually brings you here or there or on the same path you always end up taking. A road can be windy but it can be shiny, too. And it only depends on how many times you have already been on it, and how many times you've been going down. Or how judgmental you can get when you know you are not walking down this road alone… Same place after all. But it’s all about the direction you are facing and how many 360degree spins you can make till you get to the right one...

And that’s all I wanted to tell you. To remember what this post is about. To think of how many chains you need to let go of, or what is the circumference length you need to fully walk your circle. Figure it out. Solitude is not always loneliness, unless you keep going down the same old road.

In the photo, the road is going up. To the highest peak on the Balkans. Up.

Rila

11. Motivation

At the end of the old week and right before the new one, I already feel tired. Is it procrastination or simply spring laziness? I don't really want to know. What I need to understand, though, is how to get past it and motivate myself for yet another busy week. Exactly. Motivation. The topic of this post.

I thought of moments when I was really motivated to do something that I wasn't required to. You know, homework and assignments do not fall in my category of "Things I can't wait to do". So here is one instance of a minute, I felt really motivated to accomplish the task I had undertaken. Precisely, climbing the Coca-Cola Case Tower. This is a team-building exercise we do every summer with the Resident Assistants at AUBG. This post's photo is exactly from this task (not me climbing, though). The number of cases should be around 17, as far as I remember. Almost a record. :) The lovely person on the top - Artemie - who has a birthday in a couple of days! :) What a lovely coincidence!

Predela, August 2013

Motivation was the topic of my Consumer Behavior class last week, too. Or to be more precise, that was the question on my quiz, haha. What I will definitely remember from that chapter is the issues a person faces when they experience motivational conflicts. Have you ever experience both desire and resistance towards a product? Well, that's the approach-avoidance conflict. I found that quite a terrible feeling... It happens to me all the time, I guess I hesitate too much. Should I go to my Monday classes, or should I not? Not good. And I hope this doesn't happen to you, so here is a gallery of positive quotes I found to motivate you for a great Monday. Last but not least, the educational part: a nice animation about Motivation. Enjoy!

And please, tell me how you survive a Monday!

10. Traffic Lights

Don't laugh. Please, don't. This is probably the wildest imagination on the topic Traffic Lights that you will ever see. Meaning, there is nothing related to traffic lights in here... Or at least not in the photo. But I captured this image when I was on a trip in Bansko and it was so sudden and unexpected that I could not ignore the moment. These are three soaps. Seriously, soap. Strawberry and cream, Honey and milk, and Kiwi. "Homemade," the label said. I traffic light was probably never homemade but who cares?! I created my own :)

Traffic Lights. Or Soap.

Now, on the topic of traffic lights... Hm. First thing that comes to my mind is quite symbolic as well. I guess we won't get to the mechanics of the real traffic light just yet. But what pops in my mind is... The Stop Light Parties. I sincerely dislike these [probably because I always had to be in red and make use of the idea fully :D ]... For those of you who don't know what those thoughtful events are, here is a quick explanation: You simply have to wear the color that represents your relationship status. Red: Taken. Yellow: It's complicated /. Green: Go for it. Taken, I mean... Gosh... 

I hope the person that gave me the topic did not have those parties in mind, when he wanted to see a "Traffic Light" photo... Let's hope they saw one of these somewhere:

Image Source: BoredPanda

Is this AMAZING?! I love it! This is a very interactive and smart design done by the designer Thanva Tivawong several years ago. It's beautiful, and I would definitely enjoy it if I get stuck in a traffic jam near one of these LED stop lights. If I ever get a car, that is! :) But in case you need something even more amusing, please take a look at these Creative Traffic Lights.  The smiley is my favorite but it doesn't carry the right message at all.. At least it's yellow.

Last thing, I promise. In case you are in a very childish mood when reading this, you might like singing Twinkle Twinkle along the lines of this song... but this is probably way way way too far from the original idea incorporated in that topic... Yeah, not that Soap was any closer... :D At least I had fun. Whatever the color or form is, it should be fun. Right? :)

9. Erotic

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since my last post in this picturesque blog but we have to prioritize, and Spring Break definitely comes at least 1 step ahead of class project responsibilities. I am sure you know what I mean. :)
And since it's just the beginning of our next half of the semester, I have prepared a very interesting and somewhat extravagant topic for today's photo... and this is precisely the Erotic /Burning Desire/ topic. :) To be honest, I was quite pleasantly surprised when I received this word as a challenge because it was one of my married girlfriends who suggested it to me. Make your conclusions... But to me, this topic gave reasons to believe that there is life after marriage too... :) Here is my photo, but don't be too judgmental! Explanations to follow below :)

Alumni Challenge 2013 - Obstacle Game

So... hah. Are words necessary for this at all? I wonder what you are thinking when you look at this (without reading the caption). Please, let me know in the comments below!
Well, I hope you see the funny aspect in this. The photo was taken during the annual Alumni Challenge at AUBG which takes places every April. A group of fellow alumni from the AUBG Alumni Association challenge a team of current students in a number of fun games. At the end of the event, the overall winner from the games is determined. At the very beginning of the event, a deal is made between the captains of the two teams that the losing captain will do something embarrassing - in the field of running around campus in their underwear. Surprisingly, some people volunteer to accompany the losing captain in their "humiliation". :D
The photo is from the Obstacle game which is a timed race involving a lot of drinking and running around. Amazing! This particular photo shows the moment when a girl has to take a shot glass without using her hands. No worries, it's not that erotic after all, right? Since the organization of this years' Alumni Challenge 2014, just started, I thought this might be an appropriate photo reminding the tons of fun during the event. Please, attend it and let's win this together! :)
For everyone else who found deeper meaning in the blow up doll... Hm, I think you ended up in the wrong blog. But here are a couple of things you might have fun doing with a blow up doll (besides THAT) /via http://www.bachelorpartytips.com/:

• Hold your beer in one of the many "love orifices"
• Ride on your motorcycle with the doll on the back.
• Lay it on the train tracks, Wait for excitement to happen..
• Send to a friend, see if they mention it or if they suddenly start spending evenings with a mysterious new "friend".
• Fill with Helium, carry around attached to a string.
• Bring Helium filled doll to post office. Tell clerk you want to ship it to Japan and that they owe you money.

Thank you for enjoying this with me! I hope you laughed a little. And sorry if you expected some glamorous nude photos. Probably next time! :)

8. One Whole

This is probably a weird approach to take on this topic but after all it is my decision. :)
For today's topic, I chose a photo of garden decoration I encountered during one of my busy days at work. These cute little owls, however, make me think of something much more than gardening.. They remind me of the team of AUBG Daily - people gathered together with a common purpose and passion to create something. To form One Whole.

Nantucket, MA,USA

Some people still wonder what's the issue with the OWL and AUBG Daily. Our tagline is 'Owl the News' and we DO know that 'owl' and 'all' do not have the same pronunciation. Some people don't, though. And that's an advantage for us. :-D For you, smarta*s fellas, here's an explanation.

I hope you notice the big eyes in these owls because I can honestly say that they are all that matters. Big open eyes full of curiosity - of impatience to know what will happen next, to see where our world is going. Big open eyes who stay aware and guard their beloved ones, they guard the forest. They see and know everything. And yes,it sound's like More Honors' next Gossip nomination but... yeaaah, sure, we'll take it.

This is a family that has several Mama & Papa Owls. And one original Papa Owl, and a bunch of somewhat grown-up baby owls. And we are all together, fighting and investigating whatever may stand on our AUBG way...

If you have any concerns, comments, problems. Do not hesitate to find a Daily owl around you. We will keep our eye open for you and your stories!

Working together, as one whole. The AUBG Daily

7. City at Night

It's time for Spring break and almost everyone has left Skapto... Well, I am still here, and I think I'll stay :) I like the quiet and calm evenings here when nobody is around - only the voices of the night and the songs of the wind.. My photo for this week is dedicated to this - our own little City at night, Skapto.

It's pretty. It's something I will truly miss when I graduate - the nights. Whether they were drowned in laughter and dizziness or covered up in books and papers. Skapto Nights. The best ones. It's the darkness that made them amazing.. and if you still find some fear within you, this is how the darkness helps us evolve - an article in one of the best online journals. :) Or if you are reading this from somewhere far far away from Skapto and Blagoevgrad, maybe you can find yourself dreaming about the Maldives at night... Wherever, I hope you find your Spring break calmness in the dark. :)

6. Morning Glory

The last few days reminded me of times long gone. Times which made me happy simply with the tiny moments of pleasure in them. When friends were friends when sharing good & bad, when there was no competition or back-stabbing, when we drank beer on benches in cities we'd never been to, when we skipped duties and choirs cause we knew we could. My first July Morning - a weekend with the best. Morning Glory is the only topic that can describe it fully. Not only because of the sun's glamour but because of our messy hairs and puffy eyes, because of the empty bottles and the sound of guitars. It was 5am somewhere. And at 6, we were hitch-hiking back. Kamen Bryag, I miss you! Lovech, I miss you! Cause there I was on a July morning, looking for love...

Too bad this is officially just a Bulgarian tradition. We should be glad Uriah Heep make it every year for the event.. ;] Even if you are not Bulgaria, I hope you have at least one July Morning that you can never forget. Shame on you if you don't. Let's change that!

5. Surprise

When you boyfriend says you two have to go pick up some shoes from the shoemaker's on your way to your date, you might want to sink underground with anger. But when he suddenly buys you a bouquet of your favorite flowers, you not only get back on Earth, but you start feeling somewhere in the area of the sublime... Even when you told him you want a bouquet 4 times that week, you still love the fact that he remembered. And you ARE surprised! :-D

I thought of the silly Valentine's Day when I took this photo even though I got my bouquet on a regular day. 'Cause Valentine's Day is bullshit, sorry. When we love, we love all the time. ;] and still, this photo is for all the people who like taking it mainstream on February 14.

I mentioned the word bouquet but I am not sure whether many people use it in their daily lives.. They just like getting 'flowers'. Bouquets are for weddings. Well, here are some brides that decided to throw something else on their wedding ceremonies rather than a bouquet. If those were true cases, then I don't envy those manicures...

I hope for next Valentine's Day, some of you girls who like tulips like me, will get a surprise flight over Dutch tulips..

Childhood +1

I think you deserve a better photo on this topic...
Dear reader,
My niece and nephew being happy.

4. Childhood

As you can get from the title, the topic for today’s photo is Childhood. Randomly chosen but again with perfect timing. Since I started with Resident Assistants in my last post, it turns out I will continue… This time the RA is not in the photo but the person behind the topic. It was Mirela Cholakova, who chose the Childhood topic. Why do I think you are not surprised? She is one of the most smiling people around, just like a little kid being positive about everything. Not naïve, simply happy and carefree! J

Maybe the kid in the photo does not seem quite happy (yet) but she is still learning. I took this photo in Bansko during the weekend.  My boyfriend and I were wandering around the town when we found this ice-skating rink (tooooo expensive!). But we saw those frustrated kids trying to ice-skate, and their moms right outside the rink cheering them up. I couldn’t resist taking a photo. Not because it was as glamorous as the Sochi Figure Skating, but because it was too nostalgic.

 

Ice Skating Attempts. Bansko, Feb 2014  

The days my generation spent playing outside, our parents yelling at us to come home, the toys we had which seem too stupid for today’s kids… all of this was so beautiful! J I am sure some of you who read this will actually remember these amazing toys: the slinky, the tetris games, the tamagotchi, the Power Rangers or the Care Bears! And do you remember Teletubbies? Oh, God! Was it that long ago? Some of my younger fellows never watched Sesame Street!! How is this possible at all ?!
Well, if you remember at least some of the above, you are a true kid of the 90s like me. Do any of these apply to you? As a Kid of the 90s, you probably:

1.        Learned how to use computers before your parents did. /do you recall mIRC, ICQ, Paint?/
2.        Still know the Macarena moves by heart.
3.        Used to rent movies on VHS tapes. /and our kids are definitely not ever doing that…/
4.        Spent hours recording songs from the TV or radio on a cassette.
5.        Liked visiting your grandparents and playing with the kids there.
6.        Used to play Dodgeball, Hide & Seek, Freeze Tag, Hopscotch, Hand-Clap games…
7.        Loved collecting chewing gum pictures, color napkins or chocolate egg toys.
8.       Carried no more than 1 euro in your pocket when you went to school each day.
9.       Watched too much Tom & Jerry, Bucks Bunny or The Flinstones.
10.       Had chalk on your hands because of the drawings you made on the road outside your house.  
11.      Used passwords for games rather than social network accounts.
12.     Gathered your birthday photos in albums made of plastic, not in Facebook albums.

 These make me so happy and so sad at the same time! It is widely claimed that the 90s are the best years one could grow up in. But how is it now? Is there really the opposition Childhood Yesterday vs Today? We still had technology back then, it was just… different. Is this what we blame it on, really? I truly hope that it is us, as “someday parents”, who can show our kids what it was like and transfer the fun of the 90s to them! J

Which of the 12 points above apply to you? Are you a child of the 90s?

3. People in Their Sleep

I can’t say this post was planned unlike most other events in my life. But that’s what brings happiness – little surprises. Now it sounds like this post will be on the Surprise topic. Maybe people are right when they say I am not good at explaining… Oh, well. This post will be about People in their sleep. And what happens to them during this time. J

Before I show you the photo, I wanted to ask – what is the position you sleep in? I started to wonder about mine but couldn't reach a conclusion. I guess it’s different every day. I think what I most often do is lie on my back with my arms up and around the pillow, or what Professor ChrisIdzikowski called the Starfish position.

Image Source: BBC

BBC reports on the 6 most common positions he defines right here. Apparently, I make a good friend. (I know, right! What a surprise…)

I must admit I sleep with two of my stuffed toys (no, my boyfriend is not one of them but that was a nice joke :D) They are both frogs and I call them Debbie and Lola. You can meet them later throughout the blog, they are way too shy and never get out of the bed. If you think that’s still to childish, I am ok with it. And I definitely think it is better than sleeping with my phone! According to a HuffPost survey, 64% of youngsters at the age of 18-29 sleep with their phone or tablet! Now, how do you hug these?! I am sure at least in the photo to be shown, this did not happen.

Ok, let’s call this a story collage, rather than 1 photo…

RA Tricks

I hope you really see the lines of yellow highlighter because they were unforgettable. I realize this is not the most amazing photography you have seen but I warned you and I still do in every post. :)
So ladies and gentlemen, the story of Liu and Marko.

One day, Herr Marko, King of Serbiantra, reached out for help when he saw his first right eye wrinkles in the mirror. He was horrified! The King of the most developed region in Europeria was coming of age, and that meant war! He had to hide it. So he approached the oldest Magician Salih, born in the long-gone country Shqiperiantra. The region was once known for the widespread application of magic and hypnosis. And Salih was the great-great-great-grandson of the most skillful wizard in the area. He came to King Marko, played some music on his five-century-old guitar and put him down to hypnosis. What Herr Marko did not know, however, is that Salih played him the Abracadabra song by The Steve Miller Band which was no good for wrinkle removal. Old Salih went " ''Round and 'round, 'Round and 'round and 'round it goes, Where it stops nobody knows." And there he is Salih from Shqiperiantra, applying bad magic quietly to the King of Serbiantra... He had turned to black magic! Black as the darkest hair of Salih's eyebrows and beard. Not Marko's because they were ginger. Wrinkle here, wrinkle there, wrinkles everywhere. King Marko woke up in the morning suprised to see his peasants disobeying and laughing at him. He tried to bring order back in the country but the rebellious noises were spreading: "We are aware, you've got wrinkles everywhere. If yellow they remain, it'd be the King for the War to blame." A war was about to begin..

I have no idea how I ended up writing so much of this terrible, terrible fairytale... I could have done much better, next time I promise. I just want to clarify - no political affiliations of any kind! Please, do not try fighting Serbs or Albanians at home!

I took this photo last weekend when I went on a team-building with the Skapto 2 RAs. What made me upload these photos is the middle photo - Liu /under the name of Salih/ is literally meditating! Or praying. Or simply sleeping... I wonder what Bad Kind of RA Liu is considering this prank he did to Marko.... :)

What pranks have you done to your friends while they were sleeping?

Animals & Love +1

Ok, guys, I had to share this one as well... Isn't it cute? :)

This is probably one of my favorite animal photos, too. And I would say it should be targeted to all those people afraid of stray dogs and little puppies jumping all over them. I hope such people open up and step out of their comfort zone to play for a while with the cute animals. :) A lick on the cheek can mean a lot more than a drip of saliva - it's a piece of happiness on a busy day. Someone shows they like you. :)

This photo was taken on a trip to the village of Leshten with my photojournalism class.

2. Animals & Love

Hello once again!
It is now time for my next photo. J And as I said in my first post, it is not professional photography that you will see in the images to follow. Even though the desire is plenty, there’s not much skill there… The photo is a simple moment captured in a frame.

This photo is about Animals and Love. If this was a topic about animals & hate, I should have probably done a vox pop about the stray dogs on campus and how the guards kick them around… But no. It is about love. It took me some time to decide what to do about this but then I remembered I had an amazing photo for the occasion. I took this photo when I was on a trip to the Netherlands a year ago (exactly a year). These two beautiful dogs, Choco and Daisy, were the pets of my friends’ parents. When you look at them, you might get the willies but once you approach to pad them, you will see they are the most polite and caring dogs. Unfortunately, during the summer Daisy had to be put to sleep. Even I felt sad when I heard about that…

I decided to dedicate this post to two of my college roommates – one of them gave me the topic of this post, and the other one is the reason I managed to take this photo. Thank you, Sashka & Laura! J

Choco & Daisy, March 2013

Now, when I talk about dogs, I can’t neglect the most recent hustle about the puppy and the horse from the Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial. I heard someone say that when advertisers can’t think of anything smart, they create a commercial with people’s all-time favorite symbols – babies, puppies or sex (love, no?). Well, as true as this might be, I must say that in my mind Budweiser’s commercial is brilliant. It shows the love between Buds! Ok, I’ll admit, I had tears in my eyes when I saw it… If there is anyone who has not seen the ad yet (really?), here it is:

 /you can read more about the ad in Elena Parangoni's blog post/

 We all know all of this is intention, and the ad is directed and all that but you can’t say no to the truth – animals love purely and more deeply than humans. Even researches found out that animals feel emotions such as joy, love and grief… 

And in case the photo and the ad haven’t touched you yet, take a look at baby Beau and puppy Theo sleeping together – photos taken by a loving mother which lead to a new nap ritual in the house. J

The Words

Hola once again!

Welcome to another week of adventures - both online and in your personal lives. And, of course, we start on Tuesday because Mondays are not even worth being days at all... Before I continue with the challenge, I would like to present to you all the words that you, my friends, have gathered for me. :) I hope there is at least one or two that you find interesting. 

I believe there is something magnificent in each of them - whether it's the visual beauty or the emotion they evoke in a person. You will see that some of these are not exactly "one-word" topics but hey - you can write an essay, too, and I will only take one image for it. :D I really hope you are looking forward to the photos behind each of these words because I know I certainly am. You might find some words quite common or expected but I will try to capture an alternative meaning behind them. Yes, it's the "parrot" I am talking about. :-D So here is the list....

If you come up with more words along the way, do not hesitate to message me or comment on a post! I will more than happy to try them out with my camera. :)

Which ones do you find most interesting so far? Do you have a favorite? 

The 'Selfie' Issue

While we are still on the topic about the modern version of self-portraits, take a look at what one of my Facebook friends posted this morning about a club he goes to:

Well... how would you react to that? Are we taking the 'selfie' phenomenon a step too far? Do we have to take selfies all the time? Sometimes? WHY? Maybe when there is no one with us to capture our fantastic moment. But we can always ask someone who passes by to take the photo... Exchange a smile or a word with them. Say 'Thank you' even. Did selfies make us more egoistic and self-centered? Does our obsession really depend on the gender? And I keep asking...

 When do we really need to take a selfie? Or... do we at all?

1. Self-Portrait

As most photography challenges start, this one will, too, start with a Self Portrait.

You might expect something glamorous or subtle and rather artistic, but hey, I decided to ‘surprise’ you in the most expected way… with a Selfie. (duh...)

And while some of you may start whining about the similarity between this post and any other recent Instagram or Facebook entries, to others it will be no new information to hear that the so disliked (or addictive?) selfie was recognized as an official English word by the Oxford OnlineDictionaries (in August 2013). And even though CNN claimed selfies “the most embarrassing phenomenon of the digital age,” Oxford gave it the title “Word of the year” for 2013. Well, what can I say when the experts have said their word. Selfie. 

Image: someecards.com

 “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website". Ending either in ‘ie’ or ‘y’. Researchers found out that the frequency of the use of the word has increased 17,000% in the last year (as in 17 thousand!!!) And even though the word has been in use since 2002 when a man posted a blurred photo of his injuries, the selfie gained popularity in early 2012 thanks to well-known social media websites, most often appearing with a hashtag.

Somehow, I was not surprised. We all see our classmates taking selfies during “amusing” lectures. Even some professors check out their makeup with their front camera before entering a classroom (Hey, I am not saying names, ok?!) But when have we seen the United States’ president or the Vatican Pope taking a selfie before?! And don’t get me started on popcelebrities and their trendy self-portraits. 

Image Source: panoramata.bg

 Nothing new, not that shocking either, I know. But here is something some of you may not have heard of: a #Selfiebition. The event took place on November 1, 2013 in Sofia, Bulgaria as a part of the Absolut:Transform Today campaign. The Selfiebition was initiated by Nikolay Vaiarov, a real estate broker, as part of a party-tour across three of the most popular bars in Sofia, Bulgaria. The photos in the selfiebition are done by well-known Bulgarian artists (some of them during their live performances). You see the full Selfiebition on the Abosult Vodka Bulgaria Facebook page. I must say I sincerely admire the organization of this Selfie-themed campaign. Amusing, innovative and even shocking to some, but definitely innovative. 

And while I was kinda whining about selfies in the beginning of this post, I looked through the photos on my phone to choose the best one for this post, and here is the result. My self-portrait - I am the one who my friends let me be.

 
So I haven't realized it so far but... Such a Selfie addict I am! Are you? When do you take selfies? Which are you favorite moments captured in a selfie?

BUS 449 Post 1

Hello everyone!

My name is Dilyana Dobrinova, a last-year student at the American University in Bulgaria, double majoring in Business Administration and Journalism & Mass Communication. As a part of the Social Media Management class I am currently taking, I was given a intriguing assignment...

The Task - Launch & Maintain a Blog of any Topic.
And... Voila! :)




Welcome to The "Capture" Challenge!

The "Capture" Challenge will be a blog about life. Not many blogs about death out there, I know... So how will this one be different?
This blog will try to present some fragile segments of our daily lives... captured through a lens.

I asked some of my unique and loving friends to come up with a topic for a photo - a moment they would like to see captured in a frame. In the next several months, you will be able to see various moment of life and my modest photographic interpretation of them.


This is not a blog about professional photography. It's a blog about the caffeine drinks with no sugar, the sun rays through your lover's hair, the tiny holes on your left sock, the sophistication of figs with lemon zest...

I hope you enjoy it! :)