Report from Kenya 2009 – part II

Publikováno 17.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

Jiří Pergl, Enterpreneur, Czech republic

Report from Kenya 3.8. – 9.8.2009 – part I

5.8. The way to slums and Maasai village Doldo

The number of children living in the Children’s Home is 78; that’s the limit the government has decreed shall not be exceeded. Nevertheless, a larger number of children (specifically, 142) who come to the Home everyday, because the school is part of it. These children have lunch in the Home and that’s their only food they have the entire day as they will get nothing during the day in their homes. They are grateful for this single serving of food daily. On the basis of this fact, Jarda and Hellen and I made the decision that we would do something special for these specific children. Unfortunately, it was not possible to help all of them, because to visit 142 families would mean staying longer than we could. Hellen helped us to choose the ten saddest cases, and then we went to buy some basic food for them. Children from these families had already gone through such hell in their 8 years of life that we cannot barely understand it (they are affected by AIDS, their parents have already died, they sniff glue to calm down, they endure starvation, and it’s not even worth discussing water purity and hygiene).

In illustration, I point out our first stop at a little girl named Sarafin’ place. She lives in the slum with her great-grandmother and foster parents. Her parents died of AIDS and unfortunately, Sarafin has AIDS as well. She has to take medication and mainly eat, because the medication is very aggressive, and she has huge stomach-aches. The fact that she doesn’t eat for several days or that she discontinues her medication because her great-grandmother or foster parents can’t pay for it damaged her health so much that her time here on earth is rapidly declining.

Other cases are almost the same. So we settled on journey to help the rest of the families. In Nanyuki, there are 6 slums and the number of people living there is approximately 350,000. During our second stop, we visited 6 children living in their grandmother’s home as well, due to the death of their parents. Half of them are suffering from AIDS.

The third case was the worst with regard to psychology. We met with 12 children from 2 to 13 years of age. The thing was that we couldn’t find them. In the place where they were supposed to live there were just locked doors and nobody around. They had lived with one old African woman who threw them out onto the street because they hadn’t paid the rent for three month. We tried to find them to help put everything in order. As there were no OMDC financial resources remaining, I paid the debt plus rent for the next 4 months by myself and warned the woman that if she did it one more time she would meet with furious mudzunga (which means white men).

The next visits were in the same spirit as the earlier visit Joy, hugs, thanks (asante sana in Swahili), and a lot of happiness. We took the last five big bags of food and went to Somalia, which is 180 km away from Nanyuki. In Dodol, there was a big surprise awaiting us. The first stop was not as was usually the case at a children’s home, but directly at the office of local civil authorities. The city’s mayor’s personal invitation really surprised me. He had learned from Hellen about my organization, OMCD, and about our help to the Children’s Home in Nanyuki. He acquainted us with the problems of the province where 90% of inhabitants are Masai. Local girls are married at the age of seven, and they must fulfil all the marital duties. In addition, all these girls undergo female genital mutilation. This practice is still present, and not only in this area. The city’s mayor announced to us that for this reason he would give us an area of 1000 acres for OMDC to operate and help these desperate girls. He gave us a specific time frame to establish the background and schools for girls with security to prevent husbands from coming into the building.

That day, we were accommodated in an Old House, just beyond Nanyuki. Hellen surprised us once more when she invited journalists to share dinner with us. One man was from Daily Nation Kenya, which has the largest daily circulation in Kenya, and two other men came from different Kenyan radio stations. We talked about our organization, about helping children in this area, and all three were enthusiastic. They promised to publish an article in the journal and to make reference to our organization.

6.8 Departure from Nanyuki to Nairobi with the stop in another slum

In the morning, we discovered in a suitcase one blown-out plastic bag the stuffed toys that a school called Chvaletická from Czech Republic had donated to us. It occurred to us that we could go to the next slum and hand out the stuffed toys from the car. Although the joy in the Children’s Home in Nanyuki was amazing, the joy of children living in poor slums without the chance to get into the Children´s Home was incredible. It was fascinating and wonderful.

In Jaroslav’s and my opinion, this journey leading back to children from Nanyuki succeeded. We cared for two-hundred and twenty children who will have enough food for the next four to five months; they can watch fairytales for the first time in their life, and, finally, they know the feeling of having something in their own possession—like stuffed toys.

7.8. – 8.8. Departure from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

The second part of our trip to Kenya wasn’t related to the OMDC program. Jarda was in Kenya for the first time so, possibly like most others, he wanted to visit a national park to encounter African nature and its wildlife. The most famous park in Kenya is Masai Mara National Reserve. It’s situated in south-western Kenya and borders Tanzania. It’s such a large reserve that it’s not possible to pass through it in one day. Mara River, which divides it, is known for its annual migration of thousands of animals coming from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Nile crocodile, which is the largest crocodilian in Africa measuring 8 meters, lives in this river. The migrating animals, such as zebras, wildebeests, etc., have to cross the river, and very often, it’s not easy. Either they drown or are eaten by the crocodiles. August is the best month to see this nature show. Another amazing adventure is the view of the large number of lions, which you can come close to and look them face to face, or just watch them eating their food. Apart from lions, there are also other interesting animals—leopards, elephants, giraffes, waterbucks, hyenas, hippos, and various kinds of snakes including black mambas and cobras.

The entrance to this national reserve costs 60 USD for mudzunga and 40 USD for a car. It’s better to set up sleeping arrangements in advance in Nairobi at any Kenyan agency. If not, you might have to drive 400 km to Masai Mara and there discover there is no vacancy. In nearly all cases accommodation is provided in tents where there are 2 beds, a shower and toilets. The prices can be different—from 40 USD per person without food to 250 USD per person all inclusive. You can meet all kinds of people–including rich Germans, French, Italian, Japanese, Americans, etc. We paid for the cheapest one and went two days without taking a shower. We also enjoyed dirty water from the tap, a toilet that was out of order, and over-roasted food.

9.8. Masai Mara and leaving to Nairobi

The price of entry to the Masai Mara National Reserve is for a one and a half day visit. If you are able to wake up at 6 a.m., you have a unique chance to watch lions during hunt. Their attacks on wildebeests and zebras are an everyday spectacle. But you have to be lucky as we were because we found a huge pack of lions that hunted down two animals. Even our guide told us that he had never seen such a spectacle although he has been going to the reserve for more than 5 years.

After watching the animals we leave Masai Mara and go to Nairobi. It’s almost impossible to drive on this road by ordinary car. You drive 80 km on the dusty roads that are full of pot-holes where even a big Jeep has problems. Near the city Narok, we finally were able to continue on an asphalt road which was in construction and should be finished by the end of 2009 which is almost a miracle in Kenya. When we arrived in Nairobi, we went to our favourite hotel, Central Park Hotel, and after being two days without clean water we finally had a shower, food, and clean bed …

Our Kenya adventure lasted until August 12, 2009. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to help children from the children’s home in Nanyuki through our organization One More Day For Children and at the same time show a little piece of this magical country to my friend, Jaroslav Tarczal.

Jiří Pergl

Weeks of Jiří Pergl

Upřímná Eva Mueller

Publikováno 16.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Eva Mueller, Fotograf, USA

Již od první chvíle, co nám fotografka Eva Mueller nafotila svůj týden života, se její fotografie vymykaly svojí naprostou upřímností. Ukázala nám svůj život takový, jaký je. Odhalila nám velký kus sebe sama a zároveň nám přiblížila život fotografky žijící v New Yorku, městě, které nikdy nespí. Z fotografií Evy Mueller je velmi dobře patrné její umění grafického cítění, které získala během studií grafického designu. Osobitost Eviných fotografií a způsob, jakým nafocení svého týdne pojala ji právem řadí mezi Mistry Week of Life a my vám s ní dnes přinášíme rozhovor.

Kdy jste se poprvé seznámila s médiem zvaným fotografie? A jak se váš vztah k fotografii vyvíjí?

Když jsem studovala v osmdesátých letech v Německu grafický design, začala jsem se hodně dívat na fotografické umění. Ohromně mě inspirovalo. Byly to skvělé současné osobnosti jako Javier Valhonrat nebo Peter Lindbergh, ale zároveň jsem milovala klasiky, jako je Erwin Blumenfeld nebo Penn. Ze začátku jsem fotila hlavně fashion a beauty fotografii. V posledních několika letech fotím více portrétů, hodně aktů, hlavně pánských aktů, a překvapivě abstraktních snímků. Tím se zabývám již 3 roky.

Jaké je vaše povolání, koníčky a kde se svou rodinou žijete?

Moje povolání je fotografka a je to zároveň i můj koníček! Miluji cestování a kino a kdykoliv se mi naskytne příležitost, sleduji všechny možné druhy umění. Mám malou rodinu. Moje matka žije v Německu, já bydlím v New York City.

Jak jste se poprvé seznámila s projektem Week of Life a jaký byl váš první pocit?

Linda z Week of Life mě našla na Fashion TV a nabídla mi zúčastnit se projektu ještě předtím, než byla spuštěna jeho webová stránka. Byla to skvělá zkušenost! Opravdu se mi moc líbilo fotit svůj život tímto velmi časově strukturovaným způsobem.

Myslíte si, že projekt tohoto stylu může nějak pomoci jedinci a nebo dokonce společnosti?

Rozhodně je prospěšný! Jak jsem zmínila, když začnete fotit svůj život na každodenní bázi, začnete najednou vidět věci, kterých byste si jinak nevšimli. Zvyšuje to vaši pozornost a uvědomění. Takže je prospěšný pro společnost obecně.

Zmínila jste esa světové fotografie, jako je Lindbergh a další. Potkala jste na svých studiích či cestách za fotografií někoho z nich někdy osobně a pokud ano, jaké to setkání bylo?

Ne, bohužel jsem jeho ani jiné osobnosti, jejichž práci velmi obdivuji, nepotkala osobně.

Jak jste pociťovala přechod z analogové fotografie na digitální?

Nemohla jsem se dočkat, až přechod nastane v takové kvalitě, která je nezbytná pro profesionální fotografy. Už jsem se opravdu nabažila temné komory. Jsem nadšená z toho, o kolik víc kreativních nástrojů je k dispozici u digitální fotografie.

Mnoho lidí říká, že s příchodem digitální fotografie se ztratilo řemeslo a že fotograf může být dnes skoro každý. Co si o tom myslíte?

Je to pravda, kdokoliv může být fotograf, protože si každý může dovolit k tomu potřebné nástroje. Nicméně jsou to jen nástroje a to, že máte v počítači Garageband z vás taky hudebníka nedělá. Stále je potřeba mít dobré oko, schopnosti a rozumět světlu.

Je těžké uživit se ve městě, které bylo od počátku vzniku fotografie jedním z hlavních měst tohoto oboru? Konkurence musí být strašně velká..?

To rozhodně je!

Co je podle vás budoucnost fotografie, kde je vlastně hranice mezi tím, co je ještě originál, a tím, co už je počítačově upravený hybrid?

Budoucností fotografie je video. Ve výtvarném umění ale bude vždy místo pro krásně zpracované fotografie, ať už budou na filmu či digitální, čisté či upravené.

Na jakém místě planety byste chtěla bydlet, pokud byste nežila právě v New Yorku?

V Brazílii nebo Itálii.

Týdny Evy Mueller

Sincere Eva Mueller

Publikováno 16.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Eva Mueller, Photographer, USA

From the very moment when photographer Eva Mueller documented her week of life, her photographs stood out with their absolute honesty. She has shown us her life the way it is. She revealed a large piece of herself and at the same time introduced us to the life of a photographer living in New York, a city that never sleeps. The art and visual sense that she gained during her graphic design studies are evident from Eva Mueller’s photographs. The peculiarity of Eva’s photographs and the way, in which she approached capturing her week justly ranks her among Week of Life Masters. Today we bring you an interview with her.

When did you first get acquainted with the medium called photography? And how has your relationship with photography developed?

When I studied Graphic Design in Germany in the 80s I started looking at a lot of photography. It inspired me tremendously. There were great contemporary people like Javier Valhonrat and Peter Lindbergh, but I also loved the classics like Erwin Blumenfeld and Penn. When I really started out it was mostly about fashion and beauty. In the last few years I’m shooting more portraits, lots of nudes, mostly male nudes and surprisingly abstract images. Those started to come out of me three years ago.

What is your job, what are your hobbies and where do you live with your family?

My job is being a photographer, and it’s my hobby as well! I love traveling and cinema and I look at all kinds of art whenever I can. I have a small family. My mother lives in Germany, I live in New York City.

Where did you first come across the Week of Life project and how did you feel about it?

Linda Brabcova, the project manager of „Week of Life“ found me on Fashion TV and asked me to participate before the website launched. It was a great experience! I really enjoyed taking pictures of my life in a very time structured way.

Do you think that this type of project could be in any way helpful to an individual or even society as a whole?

It is helpful! As I said if you start shooting your life on a daily base you suddenly see things you wouldn’t notice otherwise. It raises your attention and awareness. Therefore it will be beneficial for society in general.

You mentioned some luminaries of the world of photography such as Peter Lindbergh and others. Have you ever met any of them personally on your journeys or during your studies? If yes, what was it like?

No, unfortunately I never met him or other people whose work I admire a lot.

How did you experience the transition from analog to digital photography?

I couldn’t wait for it to happen at a quality that was necessary for professional photographers. I really had gotten tired of the darkroom. I love how many more creative tools you have in digital photography.

Many people say that the true photographic craft disappeared with the arrival of digital photography and that nowadays nearly anyone can be a photographer. What do you think about this statement?

It is true, anyone can be a photographer because anybody can afford the tools. However they’re just tools, so just because you have Garageband in your computer doesn’t mean you’re a musician. It still takes the eye and the skill and the understanding of light.

Is it difficult to survive in a city, which has been among the main centers of photography since this branch first appeared? The competition must be great..?

It certainly is!

In your opinion, what is the future of photography? Where is actually the line between which lies the boundary of original, and digitally modified hybrid?

The future of photography is video, but in the fine art sector there will always be a place for beautifully crafted photographs whether it be on film or digital, pure or altered.

If you didn’t live in New York where would you choose to live?

Brazil or Italy.

Weeks of Eva Mueller

Remote places – Samoa

Publikováno 11.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Nadya Domashneva, Designer, Sаmoa

Samoa is certainly a remote country for many of us. Its very name and the beautiful way it sounds invites exploration. Nadya Domashneva is not a native Samoan, yet for this very reason you have an opportunity to discover this land through her eyes: the eyes of someone who fell in love with it while striving to keep a realistic outlook. Let yourself get carried away by the words of a woman who adopted a life in a country that is very diff erent from her native Russia.

How did it happen that a girl like you, who comes from Russia, came to live in such a distant and outlying place?

I was born and lived in Russia until my 24th birthday. Life in Moscow is very hectic and fast. Time flies there like nowhere else (apart from Tokyo, people say). I really wanted to slow down or to do something to remember, not just metro-work-metro-sleep, metro-work etc. So, I went to Australia to study Graphic Design for 1 year. During this year I met my future husband, who came to Australia from Samoa (I knew of no such country on planet Earth) to visit his relatives. So we went back together and got married about a year later.

Was it difficult to get accustomed to the local climate and inhabitants of this wonderful country? Did you encounter any problems during your early days?

The climate was all right, because I had already experienced the Australian heat. The inhabitants of this country are friendly, and at first it seems that there is nothing very different. But later I discovered that there is a huge difference between us. Their family structure, their very well preserved traditions from the old days, the power of the Christian church and even their climate and location on the world’s map affect their attitude towards each other, the way they see and understand things and their humor. Two things you always have to consider: traditions and Christian ways.

It was a problem to get used to lizards, giant cockroaches, worms etc. Plus as it is an island in the middle of the ocean – the food supply is quite limited. The magic words “chocolate from overseas” remind me of the times in the Soviet Union, when good stuff could be found only in foreign countries. And, coming from Moscow, the lack of entertainment was quite shocking in the beginning. Clubs here are only open until midnight, we have one cinema and there is a circus, too. Nothing is open on Sundays, because it’s a church day. But now, after almost 2 years of living here, it seems normal and right.

What is the thing most particular to Samoa, when you compare it with the country of your origin?

It’s the landscape and, most of all, the skies! Skies are so beautiful! It’s like a dome covering the island. At night you can see stars at eye level all around you. Stars start at the horizon. You can see the Milky Way very vividly (because we are close to equator and have no pollution at all), and the moon has the shape of a smile, not of a „C“ like in the Northern Hemisphere. In the daytime, clouds are incredibly tall. They pile on top of one another. I guess it’s because of the evaporation from the ocean, which, by the way, you can see from almost any place on the island.

And on the other hand, can you think of anything that these two countries have in common?

Surprisingly yes. I think the common thing is how we raise our children. We are quite strict to them, compared to Australian, American or even European parents. From a young age Samoan and Russian kids know the rules and don’t run around disturbing people. I think Samoan methods are even more strict than Russian ones. In a traditional Samoan family the young ones are responsible for almost all of the household chores, they ought to serve adults, which seems a bit too much for me, but that’s the way people have lived here for centuries.

Is there anything about Samoa that you will never get accustomed to and on the contrary, is there anything you would never change about it?

Well, I guess I will never be able to live in a traditional Samoan house, which has no walls, only roof and posts. I had difficulties even to get accustomed to calling it a house. Though it’s really nice to spend a couple of days on the beach sleeping in one, minimum comfort, maximum nature.

However, as I already mentioned, I believe that Samoa has the most beautiful landscape. It is hard to believe that all these colors and the variety of plants really exist. The fact that you can literally step into paradise just by opening the door (that is, if you even have one) is fascinating. As well as the fact that you can swim in the Pacific Ocean every day if you like, and it will take about 10 minutes to get to the beach. It’s a crazy thought for someone coming from the Ural mountains, where my hometown is.

Do you plan to stay in Samoa forever or do you and your husband ever consider moving to any other places?

I would not mind staying here forever, it’s a great place to raise kids and enjoy life as it is. People have lots of time to spend with their families and friends, time doesn’t fly so fast. You can find time for everything. Work is not the most important thing in the world. To me, it looks like people appreciate true values over here much more than people from big cities.

Many people from America, Australia, New Zealand and some from Europe stay here for the rest of their lives. But, we might try something else. It would be nice to have a New Zealand passport to make it easier for our kids to travel and study overseas.

Do you ever visit your home in Russia and what do you feel when you’re going back there?

I went to Russia only once, after more than a year of travelling. I can’t say that I felt very good in Moscow. Everyone wears black, everyone is rushing, everyone is kind of grumpy… Though I know that is only a facade.

I was so happy to see my relatives and friends, they are the best, of course. But, as for the surroundings, the city… I don’t think I want to live in such a big place anymore. In fact my best time in Russia was when we went with couple of my friends to my country house, away from the noise and transport of the city (life in Samoa reminds me that place a lot with its relaxing on the edge-of being-boring atmosphere). Though before I went to Australia I used to be fond of clubs, parties, and restaurants. I had enough, I guess.

How did you learn about the Week of Life project and what do you think about it?

It’s kind of funny. My husband is an IT worker. Every day he fixes people’s computers and sometimes he sets nice wallpapers on their desktops. He searches for nice ones on the internet. So, some time ago, he found several really nice backgrounds made by someone called Vlad. We assumed that he was Russian. Later on I found Vlad’s website with his beautiful works. He is Russian indeed. In the section where he tells the public about himself was a link to Week of Life website with Vlad’s set. I really loved the idea and started shooting photos of my week the same very day.

I truly admire those members of Week of Life project whose professions are not connected with art, design or other similar things, where being creative is a part of the job. Still they find time and energy to create those beautiful sets and don’t give up on Day 3 or Day 4, when it becomes less entertaining and more obligatory. But, the feeling when everything is finished and uploaded is great! All the effort is definitely worth it!

Weeks of Nadya Domashneva

Olympus μ TOUGH-6010

Publikováno 10.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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We perceive the overwhelming majority of cameras as sensitive devices that need to be handled with due care because unfavorable conditions such as humidity or dust are usually not tolerated by the electronics and the fine mechanics of cameras. But there are exceptions – the so-called outdoor devices – designed to withstand relatively rough conditions.

There are not many tough digital cameras on the market, but Olympus has quite a tradition in this segment. The newest model, the “mju” – μ TOUGH-6010 – is characterized by the following basic parameters: waterproof up to 3m depth, shockproof to a fall from a height of 1.5m, and freeze-proof with the ability to operate in temperatures of down to -10°C.

Aside from resilience, the main features of its photographic equipment should be noted. Olympus μ TOUGH-6010 is a 12 Mpx camera equipped with a 3.6 wide-angle optics 28–102 mm F3.5–5.1. Images and video sequences are stored on a xD-Picture Card memory cards (or MicroSD cards using the standard supplied adapter).
The device is conceived as a pocket camera. With a width of less than one hundred millimeters, it will certainly not be in your way; just as with a weight of 170 g it will definitely not make a hole in your pocket.

Olympus μ TOUGH-6010 –in short
Resolution	12 Mpx, sensor stabilization
Optics	28–102 mm
Video	VGA (640 × 480 px)
Resistance	3 m submersion/1,5 m drop

Even though this is a tough camera, don’t expect a design resembling medieval armor – at first glance it seems like an ordinary digital compact. Nearly none of the control elements differ particularly from other compact cameras; the one exception is the so-called hidden function Tap Control, which enables the user to operate basic functions (flash, macro, browsing) by tapping on the edges of the camera. What is it good for? One example would be when scuba diving in neoprene gloves, which would make it impossible to press the fine buttons on the body of the mju.

The lens of the camera is encased – when turned on, it does not slide out – thus the depth of the device stays the same. Looking at the main circular select switch on the back suggests that it is a full-automatic camera fitted with the common motif programs, in this case completed with several regimes of underwater photography – see menu examples below.
This camera can be purchased in one of three combinations of black sides and a color front panel.

Super features

Waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof

Wide-angle lens

Pocket size

Tap control

A special feature of this Olympus is the regime Beauty, intended mainly for portraits. Beauty smoothes skin, adds a spark in the eyes, and widens them for a more dramatic look. These effects can also be activated afterward when browsing photographs in the camera..

An experienced user will detect resistance to water and dust with a glance at the casings of the camera. The bottom – proper metal, worth noting – cover of the battery space and memory card, as well as the smaller side cover of the communication port are fitted with sealing, which prevents the access of undesirable matters.

As a camera for adventurous journeys, Olympus μ TOUGH-6010 is equipped with a small LED lamp, which can be found next to the flash lamp. You can turn on the LED light anytime using the DISP button on the back side, and it is activated automatically in the Super Macro LED regime. Thanks to the fact that the angle of light is directed to the left to the lens this “battery” may also serve as additional lighting for macro photography.

Camera Menu – Olympus μ TOUGH-6010

Overall evaluation

Photographs taken with Olympus μ TOUGH-6010 excel with a correct color scheme with a slight shift towards pleasant hues, the sensor system has a solid dynamic range; the photographs are rarely burned. The twelve megapixel resolution verges towards co-operation with the optics – to keep maximum quality it is better to reduce the resolution in the menu to 5 Mpx. This also effectively suppresses noise with higher sensitivity.
The durable construction naturally makes Olympus μ TOUGH-6010 a camera for truly everyday use in nearly any conditions.

Common price (at the time of this review’s publication): £299.99, $488, 300

Basic technical data for Olympus μ TOUGH-6010

Sensor

CCD 1/2,33″
12 Mpx (3 968 × 2 976 px)
Sensitivity ISO 64 to 1 600
Stabilized sensor

Optics

28–102 mm F3,5–5,1

Memory medium

xD-Picture Card, MicroSD

Datova formats

Image: JPEG
Video: AVI

Video

640 × 480 px, 30 fps (max. 10 s of recording)
640 × 480 px, 15 fps (up to full capacity of card)
320 × 240 px, 30 fps (up to full capacity of card)
Mono sound

LCD

Screen size 2,7“ (69 mm)
230 000 px

Power supply

Li-Ion battery

Dimensions and weight

95 × 63 × 24 mm (w × h × d)
170 g (incl. battery and memory card)

Místa vzdálená – Samoa

Publikováno 10.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Země vzdálená, jakou Samoa pro mnohé z nás je, láká k jejímu prozkoumání už jen pro její název, který tak krásně zní. Nadya Domashneva sice není rodilou Samoankou, ale právě díky tomu máte teď možnost poznat tuto zemi prostřednictvím očí, které se do ní zamilovaly, ale zároveň si zachovaly realistický náhled. Nechte se unášet čtivou výpovědí ženy, která se rozhodla pro život v zemi, která je v mnohém tak jiná, než její rodné Rusko.

Jak vlastně došlo k tomu, že se dívka pocházející z Ruska objevila až na tak vzdáleném a odlehlém koutě naší planety?

V Rusku jsem se narodila a žila zde až do svých 24. narozenin. Životní styl v Moskvě je velmi hektický a uspěchaný, čas tu letí jako nikde jinde na světě (tedy s výjimkou Tokya, podle tvrzení lidí). Opravdu jsem už potřebovala zpomalit nebo alespoň udělat něco, na co bych mohla vzpomínat a netrávit život pouze mezi domovem a prací. A tak jsem na jeden rok odletěla do Austrálie studovat grafický design. Během tohoto roku jsem se seznámila se svým budoucím manželem, který do Austrálie přiletěl ze Samoi (neměla jsem ani tušení, že takové místo na Zemi vůbec existuje) navštívit své příbuzné. Zpátky jsem se vraceli již spolu a o rok později jsme se vzali.

Jak moc bylo obtížné zvyknout si na zdejší podnebí a na obyvatele této nádherné země? Dělalo Vám to ze začátku problémy?

Podnebí mi nijak nevadilo, jelikož jsem zažila australská vedra. Obyvatelé Samoi jsou přátelští a tak se na první pohled zdálo, že se pro mě téměř nic nemění. Později jsem však zjistila, že je mezi mnou a jimi obrovský rozdíl. Rodinné uspořádání, zachovávání starých tradic, síla křesťanského náboženství a i tamní podnebí a umístění na mapě ovlivňuje jejich vzájemný postoj a způsob, jakým vidí a chápou různé věci a i jejich humor.

Nejhorší bylo zvyknout si na všechny ty ještěrky, obrovské šváby, červy, atd. Navíc vzhledem k tomu, že se jedná o ostrov uprostřed oceánu, zásobování potravinami je docela omezené. Magická slova jako „čokoláda z dovozu“ mi připomínají éru Sovětského svazu, kdy to lepší zboží bylo možné sehnat pouze v cizině. Jelikož pocházím z Mosky, na začátku mě také šokovalo, že je zde velice málo možností, jak a kde se pobavit. Kluby jsou otevřeny pouze do půlnoci, je zde jedno kino a cirkus. V neděli nic nefunguje, jelikož se jedná o sváteční den. Teď, téměř po dvou letech, mi to už ale přijde normální.

Co je na Samoe nejzvláštnější v porovnání se zemí, kde jste bydlela?

Určitě krajina a především nebe! Zdejší nebe je tak nádherné! Vypadá jako klenba, která se klene nad celým ostrovem. V noci je všude plno hvězd, které máte přímo před vámi. Objevují se již na horizontu. Mléčnou dráhu je možné vidět z blízké vzdálenosti (jsme blízko rovníku a nemáme znečištěné ovzduší) a měsíc nemá tvar písmene C, jako je tomu na severní polokouli, ale je vytvarován do úsměvu. Mraky jsou během dne až nereálně veliké a vrství se jeden na druhý. Domnívám se, že je to způsobeno vypařováním vody z oceánu, což je mimochodem možné vidět z kteréhokoli místa na ostrově.

Mají naopak tyto dvě země něco společné?

Překvapivě ano. Myslím si, že se shodují ve výchově dětí. V porovnání s rodiči v Austrálii, Americe či Evropě jsme mnohem přísnější. Ruské a samojské děti již od útlého věku vědí, jak se chovat a neobtěžují lidi okolo sebe svým dováděním. Samojský způsob výchovy je možná ještě striktnější než ruský. V tradiční samojské rodině mají ti nejmladší na starosti téměř všechny domácí práce a je jejich povinností dospělým sloužit, což je na mě trochu moc, ale tak to tady již několik desetiletí chodí.

Existuje na Samoe něco, na co si nikdy nezvyknete a naopak něco, díky čemu byste ji nikdy nevyměnila?

Myslím, že bych nemohla bydlet v tradičním samojském domě, který nemá žádné stěny, pouze střechu a podpěry. Měla jsem problémy už jen s tím, abych to nazývala domem. I když je pěkné strávit pár dní spaním na pláži v takovémto domku, kde máte minimum komfortu, ale maximum přírody.

Jak už jsem ale zmínila předtím, věřím, že na Samoe se nachází nejkrásnější krajina. Jen těžko lze věří tomu, že všechny ty barvy a druhy rostlin opravdu existují. Skutečnost, že se doslova ocitnete v ráji jen pouhým otevřením dveří (v případě, že nějaké máte) je fascinující. Stejně tak jako fakt, že když chcete, můžete si každý den zaplavat v Tichém oceánu, přičemž na pláži jste za 10 minut. Šílená myšlenka pro někoho, kdo pochází z města, které se nachází v oblasti pohoří Uralu.

Takže dnes už jste na Samoe napořád a nebo plánujete s manželem ještě nějaký přesun?

Nevadilo by mi usadit se zde napořád, je to skvělé místo na výchovu dětí a užívání života takového, jaký je. Lidé zde mohou trávit spoustu času se svojí rodinou a přáteli, čas tu neplyne tak rychle. Můžete si najít čas na vše. Práce tu není tou nejdůležitější věcí na světě. Připadá mi, že lidé žijící tady si více váží opravdových hodnot než lidé žijící ve velkých městech.

Mnoho lidí z Ameriky, Austrálie, Nového Zélandu a Evropy zde nakonec zůstávají. My bychom ale možná chtěli zkusit něco jiného. Bylo by skvělé mít novozélandský pas a zjednodušit tak našim dětem cestování a studování v zámoří.

Vracíte se někdy domů do Ruska a jaký je to pocit, když se tam vracíte?

V Rusku jsem byla pouze jednou, po více než roce cestování. Nemůžu říct, že bych se v Moskvě cítila úplně nejlépe. Všichni jsou oblečení v černém, pospíchají a jsou nabroušení… Přestože vím, že je to jen póza.

Byla jsem moc šťastná, když jsem se viděla s příbuznými a přáteli, kteří jsou samozřejmě úžasní. Ale co se týče okolí, města … Myslím, že už nikdy nechci žít v tak velkém městě. Nejkrásnější období v Rusku jsem prožila, když jsem s několika přáteli odjela do mého domku na venkově, daleko od hluku a městské dopravy (život na Samoe mi svou uvolněností, která balancuje na těsném pokraji sklouznutí do nudné atmosféry, toto místo hodně připomíná). Před svým odjezdem do Austrálie jsem všechny ty kluby, párty a restaurace milovala. Ale už mám, myslím, dost.

Kde jste se s Week of Life seznámila a co si o celém projektu myslíte?

Je to docela vtipné. Můj manžel pracuje jako IT pracovník. Každý den se někomu stará o počítač a občas jim na plochu nahrává i zajímavé tapety, které vyhledává na internetu. Před nějakou dobou narazil na několik opravdu pěkných pozadí od člověka, který se jmenuje Vlad. Odhadovali jsme, že je Rus. Poté jsem našla i Vladovu internetovou stránku, kde je možné si prohlédnout jeho úžasnou práci. A opravdu je Rus. V sekci, kde návštěvníkům píše něco o sobě byl i odkaz na jeho týden na Week of Life. Myšlenka projektu se mi zalíbila a tak jsem ten samý den začala svůj týden fotit i já.

Upřímně obdivuji uživatele Week of Life, jejichž profese nemá co do činění s uměním, designem či jinou podobnou oblastí, kde kreativita je součástí práce. A přesto dokáží najít čas a sílu vytvořit nádherné sety, aniž by ve chvíli, kdy po 3 až 4 dnech už to focení není tak zábavné, jako spíše zavazující, vzdali. Ten pocit, když je vše dofoceno a nahráno je úžasný! Všechno to úsilí za to rozhodně stojí!

týdny uživatele Nadya Domashneva

Reportáž Kenya 3.8. – 9.8.2009

Publikováno 10.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Jiří Pergl, Podnikatel, Česká republika

Jiří Pergl je amatérský cestovatel, člověk, jehož nejlépe vystihuje slovo dobrodruh! Je pro mě ale také osobnost plná protikladů a mnohdy i dodnes nepochopených činů. Naštěstí se ale jedná o činy kladné, záslužné a někdy až dojemné. A právě jedním z nich jsou i jeho aktivity směrem k africkým dětem z Keni, jejichž osudy stojí na hranici zájmu společnosti. Dnes vám přinášíme první jeho vyprávění, které jsme se rozhodli neupravovat a nechat takzvaně v původním znění. Možná právě proto, abyste pochopili i jeho osobnost skrze řádky. Tento pán, kterému stojí v garáži dvě krásná červená Ferrari, si v jedné fázi svého života uvědomil, že na světě jsou i jiné věci než závodní okruh, silné stroje a takzvaný životní styl. Jeho dřívější zájmy jsou tak vzdálené současným aktivitám, že ho řadím mezi lidi s největším kontrastem osobních činností, jaké jsem kdy poznal. Přeji jemu i jeho nadaci co nejvíce splněných cílů. Adolf Zika WEEK OF LIFE

V lednu 2009 jsem s kamarádem Danem Ručkalem uskutečnil již pátou expedici do Keni, Ugandy a Tanzanie. Poznali jsme tam spoustu nových přátel, krásy, ale i mnoho smutku, bídy a utrpení. To největší utrpení, které jsem viděl, bylo v Keni ve městě Nanyuki, když jsem zavítal do místních slumů a navštívil dětský domov, kde žijí děti postižené nemocí AIDS. Na základě této zkušenosti jsem spolu s paní Hellen, ředitelkou tamního dětského domova, založil charitativní organizaci s názvem ONE MORE DAY FOR CHILDREN (OMDC), která je posvěcená keňskou vládou. Stejnou organizaci jsem po návratu založil i v České republice. Hlavním cílem organizace je pomoc dětem trpícím hladomorem a nemocí AIDS, které žijí ve slumech v provincii národního parku Mount Kenya a města Dolodol.

Po uplynutí 5 měsíců jsem se rozhodl do Keni opět vrátit a jak svými finančními prostředky, tak prostředky vybranými při různých charitativních činnostech OMDC jsme odjeli pomoci již zmíněným dětem. Odjeli? Ano, přidal se ke mě nový člen – Jaroslav Tarczal, majitel restaurace U Zelených ve městě Beroun, který viděl můj dokumentární film, který jsem v únoru natočil a rozhodl se odjet do Keni se mnou. Nebyl jediný, na koho dokument silně zapůsobil. Mnoho lidí se po jeho prezentaci v Čechách rozhodlo také pomoci a přispět různými dary.

Tato cesta do vnitra Keni měla za cíl jediné – doručit finanční dary organizace ONE MORE DAY FOR CHILDREN tam, kde jich bylo nejvíce potřeba.

3.8. Nairobi

Po nočním příletu do Nairobi pro nás přijel ve starém Suzuki Vitara kamarád našich keňských přátel Patricka a Cyruse a odvezl nás na můj oblíbený Hotel Central Park, který se nachází v centru té horší části Nairobi. Je v něm zajištěná ostraha, večeře, postel a teplá sprcha. Víc v Keni nepotřebujete. Cena za pokoj se pohybuje podle sezony – od 50 USD do 100 USD na noc za dvoulůžkový pokoj.

Již v Čechách jsme spolu s Cyrusem a Patrickem objednali auto na dobu, kterou v Keni strávíme. V zimě jsem jim totiž zařídil pasy, víza a pozvánku, aby mohli na 3 měsíce přiletět do Čech. Po celou dobu pobytu jsem byl jejich hostitelem a seznamoval je s úplně jiným životem, než je ten v Keni. Z Čech odlétali 2.8. a ve stejný den jsme se vypravili na cestu i já s Jaroslavem Tarczalem.

V 9 hodin ráno přijel Sam a pomohl nám vyřídit zapůjčení auta Toyota Prado 4×4. Cena na 1 den se pohybuje kolem 4 000 Kč (216 USD), což se může zdát drahé, ale opravdu se vyplatí do dražšího automobilu investovat vzhledem k policejním kontrolám za městem, které zastavují každé horší auto a vždy na něm najdou něco špatného, aby z vás dostali nějaký ten šilink. Navíc cesty v Keni včetně jejich tradičních “zpomalováků” jsou v takovém stavu, že po 100km musíte vyhledat nejbližší servis kvůli utrhlému výfuku, v horším případě nápravě. Šetřit se tedy vážně nevyplatí.

Po vyřízení všech náležitostí jsme odjeli za Dr. Martinem, který na nás již čekal v nemocnici. Když jsem Dr. Martina, který se zabývá léčbou pacientů s HIV a AIDS navštívil v lednu, měl ve svém programu na záchranu těhotných matek s virem HIV 537 těhotných žen a 137 dětí. Dnes nám oznámil, že v současné době má již 1680 HIV pozitivních matek a 589 pozitivních dětí. Úplně nás z této informace zamrazilo. Darovali jsme mu tedy utišující léky a antibiotika, které jsme dovezli z Čech a také finanční obnos na jídlo pro pacienty, jelikož jak Dr. Martin stále opakuje – když pacient bere léky na HIV, žaludek to bez jídla nezvládá. Od ledna mu již 30% pacientů zemřelo na podvýživu.

Naše další cesta vedla na letiště, jelikož ve 13 hod přilétali Patrick a Cyrus, kteří letěli jinou linkou než my. Přivítání od jejich rodin bylo famózní, na každého čekalo kolem 30 lidí. Já jsem však musel vyřizovat něco jiného. V Čechách jsme totiž klukům zabalili do kufrů hračky pro děti z dětského domova v Nanyuki. Celníkům se to však nelíbilo a chtěli po nich, aby za ty hračky, knihy a ostatní věci zaplatili clo. To se mi samozřejmě nelíbilo, tak jsem na nich požadoval vysvětlení, jak si vůbec můžou dovolit zadržet hračky, které jsou určené jejich dětem, umírajícím na AIDS. A kromě toho se jednalo o hračky již použité. Nakonec jsem si nechal zavolat šéfa celníků a ostrahy. Po nekonečném dohadování rozhodli, že nás nechají s těmi kufry jít. Stejně si mě pak ale vzali stranou a musel jsem něco zaplatit. Keňa je svou korupcí vyhlášená.

Po konzultaci s paní Hellen jsem se rozhodl, že z vybraných peněz OMDC dětem koupíme TV plasmu. DVD přehrávač a pohádky jsme přivezli z Čech. Děti v dětském domově v Nanyuki nikdy žádnou pohádku neviděli a vůbec netušili, co to vlastně je.

4.8. Cesta do Nanyuki

Po probuzení a snídani na hotelu jsme naložili všechny kufry a televizi do Toyoty a vyrazili směr Nanyuki. Cesta do Nanyuki trvá přibližně 4 hodiny. Zde v Keni se vzdálenosti neberou na km, nýbrž na hodiny. Silnice jsou zde ve velmi katastrofálním stavu, proto průměrná rychlost auta nevystoupá na více než 50km/h. V polovině cesty nás ale čekalo to nejdůležitější. Nákup jídla pro děti. Obrovský africký trh s jídlem se nachází v půli cesty ve městě Karatina. Bylo potřeba nakoupit mouku, cukr, kukuřici, mrkev, hlávkové zelí, fazole, zelené fazolky, olej, prášek na praní, rajčata, cibuli, brambory, apod. Celkem toho bylo půl tuny.

Po domluvě nám dva místní kluci nakoupené jídlo uprostřed trhu hlídali a dva ho nosili. Docela se nadřeli, např. se 130 kg brambor. Vzhledem k celkovému množství a objemu jídla bylo zapotřebí objednat pickup taxi, jelikož do naší plně naložené Toyoty by se to už v žádném případě nevešlo.

Před příjezdem do domova bylo zapotřebí ještě nadrtit kukuřici, ze které se spolu s dalšími ingrediencemi vyrábí kaše. V Nanyuki jsme vyhledali drtičku a nakoupenou kukuřici nadrtili.

Děti v Nanyuki už o nás věděly, takže nás čekal řev na uvítanou a ohromná radost, které si v ničem nezadají ani s příjezdem Baracka Obami do Keni. Obami si tu všichni velmi považují a jsou hrdí na to, že se jeden z nich stal prezidentem USA.

Radost v dětských očích byla nepopsatelná. Je samozřejmé, že byly z jídla nadšené, ale asi největší radost měly, když jsme do společenské místnosti v dětském domově začali nosit kufry plné hraček. Museli jsme také okamžitě vyndat velkou plazmovou televizi, a přestože jsme ji měli zabalenou ve spacím pytli, bylo od dětí slyšet tývý, tývý. Hellen jim poté oznámila, že jsme z České republiky, přivezli jsme jim jídlo, dárky, sladkosti a také jedno překvapení. Děti společně s Hellen a ostatními členy personálu dětského domova začali zpívat a tancovat africké lidové písničky. Takovou radost si nikdo z nás nedokáže představit a kdo neviděl, nepochopí. Musím přiznat, že jsem měl v očích slzy štěstí.

Reportáž Kenya – II. díl

Týdny Jiřího Pergla

Let's meet Zdeněk Dvořák!

Publikováno 3.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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Zdeněk Dvořák, Special education needs teacher, Czech Republic

In the simplest way possible, Zdeněk Dvořák’s photographs can be described as an absolute celebration of ordinary life. However, in this case ordinariness is pushed back by atmosphere, which radiates from his images; atmosphere that clearly demonstrates that no life is ordinary if it’s lived to its fullest and with joy. We are very glad that we have the privilege to welcome the author of this photographic style in the premiere interview for the new section Week of Life Masters.

When did you first get acquainted with the medium called photography? And how has your relationship with photography developed? Are you an amateur or a semiprofessional?

The medium called photography surrounded me from early childhood. My dad had a tiny dark room and processed his photographs himself. Before the revolution my dad could travel to Switzerland to see his sister, and I remember evenings with slide shows from this incredibly beautiful country to this day. These memories have been in my memory for nearly 25 years and yet it’s as if it were yesterday. He had outstanding equipment for the time, Practica MTL with three lenses. More than ten years ago, it was also my first real camera. During the years, photography became a part of my self and I can no longer imagine a life without the view through the viewfinder. I love documentary photography (especially of the near surroundings) and so this project, too, is very close to my heart. I have a trade license for photographic services, where my dad and I document weddings. It is not enough to earn a living and sometimes the paper annoys me but I cannot venture photographing without it. At first it was my friends’ weddings, then their friends’ weddings and that’s too big of a risk. I use this activity as an opportunity to obtain better equipment for my free time photography and it is my free creative work, which makes sense to me. Thus the label semiprofessional is probably the most appropriate classification.

What is your profession, what are your hobbies and how big is your family?

My profession is a special education needs teacher. My path to this job led through 5 years of studies for a pastry cook and then entering civil military service. I worked for 18 months as an assistant in a home for the mentally disabled in a grange, which practiced hippotherapy. These 18 months determined my course in life, both in terms of work and photography. Other than photography, my hobbies include my family, our animals, and other smaller free time activities. Both my wife and I come from large families. And it is my wife’s family (the Prčíks), which has been my most extensive photographic documentary so far. We have a four year old son Zdeněk.

How did you first come across the Week of Life project and what were your first impressions?

A friend of mine sent me a link to this project a few months ago and later I saw it in other media. It is an extraordinary project. I have behind me successful participation in project 1DEN (1DAY), I entered all the rounds of the VIA LUCIS project and so the Week of Life form is something new and brilliantly conceived. It’s amazing that this worldwide project is run from such a small country like the Czech Republic.

One can feel in your photographs that you know your surroundings very well, can you imagine capturing an environment, which would be entirely unknown to you, just as closely and intimately? If yes, what place attracts you the most?

Exactly! Most of my photographs were created in an environment that is very familiar to me. Directly in my home, at work or by my wife’s parents. The photo documentation at the Prčíks is in its third year and when I don’t have a camera on me, they make fun of me 🙂 I admit that the familiarity of the environment, where I take my photographs constitutes a large part of success. Unknown places, which would attract me, would be somewhere abroad. My dream is the streets of New York or Tokyo.

As you say yourself, you experienced classical photography. But you accepted digital photography as well. What do you think that it gave to the world and took from it on the other hand?

Analog photography is great. In particular, my opinion is that classic black and white film is even in this age still unsurpassed. My friend Petr Vokurek still makes photographs at home on baryta paper by hand and to have the option to hold a photograph, feel the paper and see the grain is a powerful experience. I had a similar experience recently during the handover of photographs by maestro Štreit to an exhibition in Znojmo. But there is never enough time and so I never worked my way to this craftsmanship, although I did soak my fingers in the developing bath quite frequently at one point.
Digital photography enables immediate feedback, the possibility of new views and experiments. I think that many photographs that capture unique moments would never come to life with film in non-commercial conditions. I think that the absolute top of professional digital equipment probably exceeds the abilities of film and I’m looking forward to the time when I’ll set an iso of 6400 or higher and will be able to capture my life moments without paying any regard to poor quality in bad light.

Why do you think people should contribute to a project like WOL? Why should they reveal their private sphere?

As written in the propositions, let’s show what we want to show. Years ago, when moms in villages saw someone with a camera, they ran for their festive apron and children’s jumper for the church, to look good in the photograph. Now everyone hides behind high fences to have their privacy and even neighbors are often strangers. Yet at the same time people share their private world with strangers, for example on Facebook. Why do people travel across half of the globe? To learn about different lands and different people. With this worldwide project we can show them a piece of ourselves not only with the view of the world through the viewfinder but also through a piece of our life we live in our environment.

In your opinion, where is the line between healthy contribution to the cause and exhibitionism in the project?

As I wrote already, let’s show what we want to show. We are all different and either we show a piece of ourselves or we don’t. In the last half a year I have tried to capture my son in views, which would interest not only the close family. I could be criticized for taking photographs of my family but it is my family which I know the best and so I try to translate this into my photographs. Of course, the goal is not to show that my child is the most beautiful in the world, what car I drive, that my wife has the nicest breasts. As I saw in some contributions, it is possible for a photographer to show nearly nothing from his or her intimate life but share, for instance, pictures taken on way to work, free time and so on, while some contributions contained a little too much exhibitionism for my taste…

When you look around at world photography competitions, what do you see? What impressions do the photographs and themes that dominate them have on you?

I follow competitions such as World Press Photo. The last winner with the theme execution appealed greatly to me and as for its theme, it applies to the whole world. The theme of war and human suffering appear frequently in photographs and it is of course part of our world but at times it seems that perhaps nothing else goes on in half of our planet. With respect to theme, I am always interested in people and their natural environment in their ordinary life. For instance, the overall winner in 2003 in the Czech Press Photo Ibra Ibrahimovič appealed to me with the set Story of Farmer Rajter in this sense.

How do you think the photography medium will develop?

It will continue to be more and more of a medium that will become a part of everyday life. Today, mobile phones without a built-in camera are nearly not manufactured any more. It will be possible to record almost everything but at the same time people will protect their privacy more carefully. A disadvantage will probably be that not everyone owning a camera will also be a photographer. It will still be necessary to learn and have a sense for photography. The advantage is that the quality of photographic equipment continually improves while the price drops. Thereby it becomes a very affordable medium.

In your opinion, what is the real private sphere of a person, the one that should not be disclosed in any media?

This should be a question for every one of us. One person would not allow someone to photograph a beautiful rock garden with a dwarf in front of his house. Another one will present videos from his intimate life on the internet with peace and joy. The line is different for each individual. We must, for example, think whether a photograph of our child playing naked in the swimming pool would not be misused by a pedophile and so on. Everyone must set this limit themselves alone. I’m not afraid to present the family around me in the form of photographs but I would definitely never allow my family to participate in some reality show. In my opinion, these programs deprive people of the most privacy.

Weeks of Zdeněk Dvořák

Fujifilm FinePix F70 EXR

Publikováno 1.12.2009 | Autor: Zdeněk Kamrla

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There are hundreds of types of compact digital cameras on the market and many are like peas in a pod. None the less, it is possible to find interesting items in manufaturers’ selections, even though they may look very inconspicuous at first glance. This is exactly the case with the Fujifilm FinePix F70 EXR.

This camera, which can be purchased optionally either in a full-silver or silver-black high-gloss coated finish, indeed looks like any common digital camera, but several important differences must be noted. Disregarding the 10x zoom with a wide-angle opening, which is a feature we are beginning to slowly get accustomed to even with such small compacts, the determining factor for the FinePix F70 is primarily the abbreviation EXR in its name.

That’s because the FinePix F70 is equipped with a Super CCD EXR sensor from the same brand, which unlike common chips not only has cells in the shape of an octagon, but above all is able to work in one of three operating regimes. In HR mode (High Resolution) it photographs with an emphasis on capturing the smallest details in the image, in the DR regime (Wide Dynamic Range) it balances out high light differences in scenes with high contrast and finally in SN mode(High Sensitivity and Low Noise) it creates images even in poor lighting without any disturbing noise. It’s worth noting that even though the DR and SN regimes operate with half the sensor system resolution, i.e. 5 Mpx, the results are excellent.

Fujifilm FinePix F70 EXR – in short
Resolution	10 Mpx, stabilized sensor
Optics	27–270 mm
Video	VGA (640 × 480 px)

FinePix F70 allows the user to activate EXR regimes either manually or leave the choice up to automatic, which according to the character and lighting of the photographed scene selects the correct HR, DR or SN mode. It is also possible to use this camera in common program automatic mode and a fully manual exposition regime is also available, although it is limited—with only two available f-stops.

A special feature of Fujifilm is the F button on the back side that provides access to a simplified menu, which, among other things, offers to set a type of “film” that is a simulation of a specific film material, naturally from Fujifilm. You can thus choose standard Provia, rich images à la Fujifilm Velvia or a soft rendering, imitating the Astia film. Other than that, it’s of course possible to select sepia or black and white photography.

Super Features

RegimesEXR

10x wide-angle zoom

Elegant design and pocket size

Image stabilization

Fujifilm FinePix F70 EXR is also one of the smallest digital cameras with a 10x lens. A pleasant discovery is the wide-angle (27 mm) opening of the optics, which enables the user to fit wider space in the shot and or use the perspective of the wide focus.

You will know at once that the optics of the FinePix F70 EXR is not quite ordinary when you turn on the camera. Whereas when turned off, the lens, protected by an automatic multi-plate cover, is entirely encased in the camera body, when turned on it slides out and nearly doubles the depth of the body. The lens barrel extends even further once you zoom to maximum focal length of 270 mm using the lever by the shutter release.