The Power of Photography as Documentation of Lost Cultural Heritage

by Melinda Eliza Sabo - Global Snapshots

( April 8th, 2012 )

I am feeling nostalgic for Moldova today and so I pulled out my Peace Corps photo albums and ran through the entire collection. When I came across the images below I felt pangs of both sorrow and anger. These vibrant Soviet-era murals were a part of the casa de cultura (community center) in my village Anenii-Noi, and they were one of the few art installations in the region. Sadly, they have recently been destroyed. One of my former students told me that they were in need of repair and that the Mayor decided to tear them down and paint the walls because the village lacked the necessary budget and resources to fix them.

Moldova, Anenii Noi, Casa de Cultura, destruction of art, lost art [Detail from lost Soviet-era mural in Anenii-Noi, Moldova – Women Harvesting Grapes – Spring 2003]

Moldova, Anenii Noi, Casa de Cultura, destruction of art, lost art [Detail from lost Soviet-era mural in Anenii-Noi, Moldova – Women Dancing and Singing – Spring 2003]

I had always hoped to shoot these murals again with my modern equipment. I imagined these ladies in their traditional costumes would be dancing for years to come and that the peasants would be picking grapes for as long as the building and the village survived. I often used to wonder about the artist and think about the skill it took to create these giant murals. The women in the bottom photo who is sitting with the peasants watching the dancers wearing a yellow skirt is my favorite. She looks so sad and lonely. I can’t believe they tore her down. I know first hand how desperately poor the area is and yet I still can’t believe that they tore her down.

My student commented that these may well be the only photographs or documentation of the mural’s existence and so it seems appropriate to share them with you so that all is not totally lost. Yet again I am reminded of and amazed by the power of photography.

In Joy,

Melinda Eliza

Dedicaton: This blog post is dedicated to the unknown artists who first created what was a beautiful tribute to Moldovan culture.

Following the Sun – In Search of Long Shadows

by Melinda Eliza Sabo - Global Snapshots

( March 29th, 2012 )

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

Charles Dickens

Green shutters, Italian shutters, Long afternoon shadows [Long afternoon shadow of an Italian street lamp – Florence, Italy – July 2010]

I love the warm light of dawn and dusk. I especially enjoy the long shadows that the sun casts. I find the images I take of shadows often have more to say then the images of the very item itself.

Photo Challenge: Next time you’re out exploring the world with your camera, challenge yourself to take as many images of shadows as possible.

In joy,

Melinda Eliza

Camera Bags for Women: The Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home

by Melinda Eliza Sabo - Global Snapshots

( March 19th, 2012 )

Colosseum, Rome, Crumpler Camera Bag [Portrait of me with my Crumpler bag in front of the Colosseum – photo © Tony Boccaccio]

I first met the fun folks at Crumpler in 2004 at a camera and photography convention in Florida. They immediately struck me as exactly the kind of vibrant, savvy, and smart people you’d like to travel the world and drink beer with. At the time, there were very few available camera bags with both flair and practicality. I fell hard for the sturdy yet stylish bag. Fast forward to 2012 and there are a variety of well-made, bold camera bags on the market – many of them made by and specifically for women. I love all the variety of feminine camera bags on the market today; I especially love that feminine style is defined in such myriad ways. It’s amazing how fast and how far the camera bag industry has come. Over the years, Crumpler bags have maintained their stylish, sporty design and rugged construction. I maintain that feminine can be stylish, sporty, and rugged too. Whatever your favorite camera bag may be – you should consider adding a Crumpler to your closet for your more wild adventures.

Review: [rating system = 1 to 5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor]

•   Sex Appeal: [2.5] This bag has many great attributes, but sexy-in-black-leather-boots isn’t one of them. Sexy-on-the-back-of-a-mountain-bike? Yes. Sexy at the mall or at the office? No. Don’t let this discourage you though – it’s a bag worth owning.
•   Sport Appeal: [5.0] Here is where the Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home really shines. It is waterproof and rugged but still light and manageable. I was surprised at how small and light it seems compared to how much camera gear I can fit into it. It has a lot of sporty charisma and there is a color combination that is sure to entice you. I field tested the blue dot print bag (below) and I found it’s wild, happy colors brought a smile to my face.
•   Day-tripping: [3.75] If your day trips include nature photography in exotic locales, hiking, biking and the like, then – yes. If your day-trips include a dressy lunch at an elegant bed and breakfast and shooting local architecture, then – no. If you like a bit of both, then consider purchasing a Crumpler bag as your “inclement weather and sports activity” camera bag.
•   World-trekking: [4.25] A few years ago, I traveled through Italy with a Crumpler bag. I was impressed with its sturdiness. It fit all the gear and extras I needed for a 14-hour+ day of exploring. At one point (all aflutter with excitement over gorgeous Italia) I put the bag down in a puddle. Yes – a puddle. Thank the camera gods that the bag is waterproof and nothing was ruined.

Crumpler Camera Bags, Waterproof Camera Bags, DSLR Camera Bags for Women, Camera Bags for Women, Crumpler USA [6 Million Dollar Home in Blue Dot Print – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]

•   Wearablility & Comfort: [1.0/5.0 (dependent on body shape)] It’s worth noting that despite my positive feelings about the bag, when I returned home, I gave it to a male friend. I only parted with it because the strap was quite difficult to manage with my curves. The wide, rigid sturdiness of the strap makes it uncomfortable and even painful to wear. If you are blessed with smaller curves, this will not be an issue for you – in fact, you may find that the wide strap makes the bag easier to carry.
•   Dimensions: 11.4”L—-9.8’”H—-7.7’”D
•   Price: $115.00 (plus shipping)
•   Price-to-coolness ratio: [2.5-4.5 (depending on your body shape)]

Crumpler Camera Bags, DSLR Camera Bags for Women, Camera Bags for Women, Crumpler USA [6 Million Dollar Home in Black and Green – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]

•   Comments from women: 50-50 – split down the middle on hobby lines. Those with active/outdoorsy hobbies loved it, but everyone agreed that it can’t be carried as a purse in a formal office setting.
•   Comments from men: None.
•   Drawbacks: Mentioned above in wearability and comfort.
•   Highlights: The bag is tough and strong and yet stylish too. As the website says they are “built to last a lifetime.” I also feel the need to say again how truly comforthing it is to travel with a bag that is waterproof. Here’s what the website has to say about waterproofing: “The seamless one-piece 900D base prevents water seepage when the bag is placed on wet surfaces, while the double thickness 900D flap does the same to rain, hail, sleet, snow, beer and mixed drinks.” Traveling with this Crumpler is traveling well prepared indeed.

Crumpler Camera Bags, DSLR Camera Bags for Women, Camera Bags for Women, Crumpler USA [6 Million Dollar Home in Olive Dot Print – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]