Suzie Blue Photography

Sunhopper

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:05:44 PDT

Excuse Me

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:39:34 PDT

Yup, right in the middle of the woods. :)

A Gentle Touch of Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:03:35 PDT

I Ain't Gonna Hurt You

Stand Still, Look Pretty

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:14:23 PDT

Blinding sun. Strong wind. No tripod. Challenge guaranteed.

The photo is a bit over-burned, but I've noticed it too late. I need to practise, practise, practise. :-)

Fields of May

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:50:54 PDT

I like the BW variation better, but colors of yellow and green were so amazing that I had to share this one as well...

Blues in the Night

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:30:29 PDT

Blues in the Night

Wooden Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:46:22 PDT

“Regular maps have few surprises: their contour lines reveal where the Andes are, and are reasonably clear. More precious, though, are the unpublished maps we make ourselves, of our city, our place, our daily world, our life ...”

― Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland

So Quietly

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:35:10 PDT

Svo Hljótt ...... indeed.

Dravsko polje

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:54:49 PDT

Fields in my village on a foggy afternoon ...

Say Cheese!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:39:31 PDT

In Musikafe with friends ...

I'm still working on my photo-processing skills. Any tips? :)

When the Sun Goes Down

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:36:44 PDT

Easter Art for Every Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 07:48:33 PDT

Dear followers, I wish you all a happy Easter. I hope you've had a great egg hunt and that the Bunny brought you lots of sweets.

When it comes to egg painting and colouring, I'm the one who has to get her hands dirty in my family. This year I've decided to try out something new. And since I've always admired Easter eggs with amazing patterns that are typical of Bela Krajina (a region in Slovenia), I went to an art shop and bought a special pen for applying beeswax. Well, it's everything but easy, so be patient! It helps if you draw your patterns on eggs with a pencil first. Now you just have to figure out the right temperature of the beeswax and the party gets started. :)

Here are some of my this year's ''masterpieces'' – far away from what I imagined, but unique ... and there is always next year. ;-)

Last but not least (from Kurentovanje 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:39:00 PDT

Juršinci Grapes

Vičavski štromarji (Electricians)

Turks in Slovenia and attack on Ptujska Gora from Kulturno turistično društvo Soviče Dravci

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Penguins

Arlon, Belgium

With sweets for all the kids ... <3

Catch me if you can ...

Happy Hippies

The "Gypsies" from Dornava

Franklin & His Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:01:16 PDT

Awarded 52. carnival parade groups:

1. Lego city from Mala vas

2. Turtles Frančki, Bukovci Vopošnica

3. Turks in Slovenia and attack on Ptujska Gora from Kulturno turistično društvo Soviče Dravci

4. Miki Mouses from Stojnci Siget

5. Juršinci Grapes

6. Music box puppets, Stojnci

7. Cirkus gimnazius Ptuj

8. Kostevski devils

9. Rabbits and carrots from Spuhlja

10. Borovje Devil

The Turtles – so happy together. :)

Fire Blower

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:49:04 PDT

Fire Blower

Kurents

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:33:34 PDT

Kurent (also known as korant) is the central traditional carnival figure in this part of the world, and the most popular and widespread traditional carnival figure in the areas of Ptujsko and Dravsko polje and Haloze. The Ptuj carnival, called Kurentovanje, which is one of the most important traditional events in Slovenia and Central Europe, stems from a hundred-year-old tradition of celebrating the Carnival in the areas of Dravsko and Ptujsko polje, and always brings magical joy and good humour.

The present day kurent stems from folk tradition. In the old days, only unmarried men were allowed to put on the kurent costume, while today anyone, even a woman, a married man or a child, can wear it. The main role that kurents have today is the preservation of carnival cultural heritage and tradition. In the lowland as well as the mountainous part of Haloze in the Ptuj area, the kurent’s role has always been to drive away winter by jumping from side to side, bell-ringing and rituals, which is why they are thought to have supernatural powers. In the country, the arrival of the kurent has always announced the beginning of the new life which comes with the springtime. Therefore, this creature has always been respected.

Source: http://www.slovenia.si/en/culture/tradition/kurents/

Chasing girls ... :)

Mickey & Minnie Mouses from Stojnci

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:51:04 PDT

Awarded 52. carnival parade groups:

1. Lego city from Mala vas

2. Turtles Frančki, Bukovci Vopošnica

3. Turks in Slovenia and attack on Ptujska Gora from Kulturno turistično društvo Soviče Dravci

4. Miki Mouses from Stojnci Siget

5. Juršinci Grapes

6. Music box puppets, Stojnci

7. Cirkus gimnazius Ptuj

8. Kostevski devils

9. Rabbits and carrots from Spuhlja

10. Borovje Devil

La la la la la ...

Clap your hands!

Come on everybody!

Humh ... one step left and to the right?

OMG!

Sleeping tight ...

Bears, Rabbits & Carrots

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:57:31 PDT

Traditional Carnival Masks

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:29:22 PDT

On Shrove Saturday, 27^th February 1960, the first organised event called Kurentovanje was held in Ptuj featuring the traditional carnival masks from Markovci lined up in a carnival procession. At the sound of music played by a local band, the ones to lead the procession were the dancing spearmen followed by ploughmen, »rusa«, a bear, the fairies, cockerels and Kurents. The typical performance and customs of each traditional mask were explained to the gathered crowd over loud-speakers. The event knew a tremendous success and aroused general interest which encouraged the organisers to continue. A year later masks from Markovci were joined by ploughmen from Lancova Vas, log-haulers from Cirkovci and the mourners coming from Hajdina. For the first time carnival (non-ethnographic) groups presented themselves in the afternoon. In 1962 the event reached beyond the local boundaries by inviting »laufarji» (runners) from Cerkno and “borovo gostuvanje” (the marriage of pine) from Predanovci in the Prekmurje region. But the international dimension was only acquired in the years to follow when local and Slovene traditional masks were joined by masks from Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and many others. On the other hand, thousands of spectators came to the carnival for the amusing and varied carnival part.

The main event of Kurentovanje is the procession of traditional carnival masks and groups taking place on Shrove Sunday in the afternoon. For a great number of years the constituent part of the event was also the presentation of individual traditional carnival groups taking place either on Saturday or Sunday morning prior to the afternoon procession. In 1994 Kurentovanje knew an upgrade as the event was conceived to last for more than a couple of days featuring various carnival events, performances of traditional carnival masks on the square in front of the Town Hall, the burial of the Carnival, and the organised entertainment programme held in the carnival tent. In 1999 the organisers introduced the Prince of the Carnival who has since been chosen among numerous active perpetuators of the masquerading tradition in the region of Ptuj. The enthronement of the Prince takes place on 11^th November each year – on St. Martin’s Day – which has become an important cultural and entertaining event in itself.

The Prince

''Mala Rusa''

During the past few years, the carnival time has started at midnight on 2^ndFebruary – Candlemas. Budina, one of the mostly rural suburbs of Ptuj, stages the event – a huge bonfire around which start dancing, on the strike of twelve, Kurents, simply equipped with a chain and five bells, holding a wooden club in their hands, thus announcing the beginning of carnival. From this moment on Kurents are “allowed” to do their habitual rounds.

The marry part of the carnival has gladly followed this habit and nowadays lasts for approximately eleven days, starting on Saturday, a week before Shrove Sunday, when only traditional carnival masks form a procession on the streets of Ptuj and when the Prince of the Carnival is bestowed upon the honour to rule the town during the carnival period. Each day features performances of masks and many other entertaining events taking place on the square in front of the Town Hall and in the carnival tent. All these activities culminate in the Saturday’s procession of traditional, and typically carnival masks, children’s carnival parade, the burial of Carnival and the return of power to the Mayor of the town. But sometimes there are just a few days between Candlemas and Shrove Tuesday which means that other activities are of shorter duration, too. Consequently, this strongly influences the entire programme and development of the event.

The idea of an organised carnival event in Ptuj came up in the 50’s of the last century, as the carnival masks spontaneously formed processions on Shrove Tuesday preceded by a band. That was how in 1959 Drago Hasl, strongly backed by those who shared his views, proposed to the Historical Society of Ptuj to take over the organisation and the implementation of the carnival event that should be named after the most well-known mask Kurent – Kurentovanje in Ptuj. Drago Hasl, indefatigable organiser of Kurentovanje since its beginnings until the 70’s of the past century, was strongly convinced that the organised event could prevent the extremely rapid progression toward extinction of carnival habits in the surrounding villages; on the other hand, such performances could meet expectations of numerous spectators. Hasl also made a draft regarding the content and outlined the major guidelines to be followed in order to transform Kurentovanje into an event of ethnographic importance containing the unique carnival figures and habits from the Ptuj region, which could have been joined at a later stage by other traditional Slovene masks, thus making the event grow into a festival of masks. He equally planned to expand the content of the event by introducing contemporary carnival masks. The conjunction of the aforementioned guidelines and efforts employed by the organisers has turned Kurentovanje into the Carnival of European dimensions, confirmed also by admitting the town of Ptuj into the European Federation of Carnival Cities (EFCC-FECC) in 1991.

In 2010 we've celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the first organised procession of traditional carnival masks in Ptuj.

(Please note: This text has been taken from http://www.kurentovanje.net/en/homepage/1-o-kurentovanju/5-osrednji-dogodki.)

A few ''traditional'' masks from this year's carnival ...

Spearmen (kopjaši)

And the famous ''KURENT'' deserves it's own post, so see ya soon. ;-D

Lego

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:29:08 PST

What's the slogan for Lego? Find your inspiration? Well, this carnival group certainly found it!

The LEGO city from Mala vas was one of my favourite ones this year and won the first place at the 52nd carnival parade. Congratulations!

First Carnival Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:59:03 PST

First photos of the 52nd International Ethnographic and Carnival Parade in Ptuj. These lovely Mozart dolls finished at place 6.

I Follow Rivers

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:47:34 PDT

Run deep, run wild.

I, I follow, I follow you.

Deep sea baby, I follow you.

I, I follow, I follow you.

Dark doom honey, I follow you.

Icy Flow

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:34:01 PST

A river flows in you ...

And the following ones remind me of feet. :)

Winter Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:47:02 PDT

Got to enjoy winter ... it's so much fun to take photos of a snowy landscape and it's dreamy details.

Last Whispers of Perfection

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:43:24 PST

Finally some snow! Ok, not as much as we are used to in this time of year, but at least we have been blessed with a couple of snowflakes this weekend. And I was really happy about it. I like to watch those tiny perfect snowflakes.

But little by little the perfection vanishes into the floor...