Back from an amazing trip to Estonia. Lovely people. Lovely food. Top draw Vodka. Sauna and a plunge into 5ft of snow. Thrashed with beech. Interesting faces. Winter Wheels. Shuba. Black Bread. Icicles. Russians. Belorussians. Estonians. Photographs. Brummie’s (one, anyway)
Lina’s birthday on the 1st Jan. Crap day to have birthday. All your special occasions gone in a week. I bought her that bow though, as a joint present for all three. She loved it.
Lina's birthday
A lover’s bridge in Keila-Joa. Newly-weds leave a padlock inscribed with their details, on the chains of the bridge. Cool, that.
A lover's bridge in Keila-Joa.
Wedlock
Frozen Waterfall
Part of our time was spent in Tallinn and the other in the coastal village of Laulasmaa. During our stay in Tallinn, which is the capital of culture in 2011, I visited Kestkurg Market, to try and capture some of the local people. After a couple of portraits I was told that no photography was allowed in the market. This is apparently due to the local authorities being cautious of any negative representation. I found that most local people I spoke to, weren’t keen on being photographed but some were willing at least.
Market trader, Kestkurg Market
Fresh Produce Trader, Kestkurg Market, Tallinn
Having had some portrait opportunities arranged by Lina’s dad, I was able to shoot some of his employers at MIVAR, a textiles company in central Tallinn.
Non of the ladies in the factory were keen on having their picture taken but as the boss was standing close by they didn’t have much choice. You can see the look of caution on this lady’s face. She subsequently gestured for me to leave her alone but not before I caught this shot of her looking straight down my lens.
MIVAR Seamstress
The next few shots are of the veterans of the company. I believe they’ve all been there for over 30 yrs. All great characters, as far as I was aware from the translating that was carried out and three nice close up’s, in my humble opinion, anyway.
Old Firm
Old Firm
Old Firm
Back in Laulasmaa, the bi-weekly milk delivery was due. Fresh cows milk from the the local farm, hand delivered by the farmer, Ants. Lovely people!! You can see my fav shots in my portrait section on the main site.
Laulasmaa Milk Delivery
Ants
Laulasmaa Mild Delivery- Punters
Heldor - Former Soviet Army, now a fisherman.
Two years running now that I’ve been in the New Year. Perhaps this year I’ll get there in the summer to witness greenery and sunshine. Thanks to Lina’s old for having me.
Until next time…
Styled on Annie Lennox but Robert Palmers Addicted To Love comes to mind.
