"I collect loose change for all tomorrow's parties"

My Christmas present, got it?

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I feel like I've been dangling between exhaustion and consciousness. As usual, I slip and melt and fit right through the tiny cracks between these two. I guess this is what happens when nights are spent away from the cool sheets of the bed and instead are lost in a play of smoke rings that dance in the streetlights and warm cuddles on old mattresses and fast-food eating on the go between here and there.

This week I passed by my old highschool and saw the freshmen walking to school, so young and ignorant that I was jealous for a second. I have so much in my life right now and at the same time lack so many things that I am feeling like my bones are cracking under this tension, this buzz that I can't figure out exactly.

Feeling old, you say? Not old, just worn-out.

But not in a bad way.
Worn-out like a favorite tee-shirt that has been washed way to many times, so worn-through it's almost translucent, with a few tiny holes where the material has broken apart and the skin peeks through, but so very very soft. So soft that it falls perfectly around the body and hugs collarbones and shoulders blades just right.

Yeah, that kind of soft-spoken tiredness that creeps around the edges but feels so good.

Needless to say I don't mind, not really :)

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Wednesday, the 18th:

An old house with squeaky floors and white walls and empty rooms with dim lights that feels like it's been taken out of an old French movie.

And pancakes. Cannot forget the pancakes!

Our house in the middle of the street at Number 17.

And even though I am a creature who is attracted to any sort of game and gathering like a moth to flame thrower, I decided some time ago that cards are not my game. So I looked on with the steely look of an observer who steals a pancake and a smoke from time to time. Still a very fun night :)


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Thursday, the 19th:

Have I told you how much I love the boys from The Amsterdams? My 4th show of theirs, they didn't disappoint as always and of course I was the unofficial official photographer of the night. Hey, as long as that gets me some photo practice, a free way in and a good show, you don't see me complaining!

Rest of the photos here.

And the night could not end without some dancing. Like I've said before, two redheads are always, always better than one, right Rox?

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Sunday, the 22nd:

The House again (capitalization is oh-so-needed). No pancakes this time, just the usual suspects and some movies: (500) Days of Summer and Snatch. Been speaking English with a weird British accent and singing Sweet Disposition non stop since then.

And the night was rounded out with some great music too. You take one really great sounding band, a basement and a camera and you get some awesome photos and a free semi-concert. That's like adding some sugar and spice to an already good sundae.

The band is Eloize. Check them out here and enjoy! I've been listening to Hide and Seek all week :)

The rest of the photos here.

This was that point in the night where my eyelids couldn't hold themselves up anymore. Thank god for people who let me cuddle and use them as pillows :)











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Tuesday, the 24th:

Yeah, yeah, she's gorgeous but she's my best friend and you can't have her! Jealous yet? ;)

My darling girl Roxana. A photo exhibit by the extremely talented and always super sweet and smiley Alex Galmeanu (still loving his work more than ever!). Red wine and good food in small bistro's. Hours passing by quickly yet leaving traces on my mind that still make me smile.

And of course, awesome shoes. Perfect day or what? ;)

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Song of the day: Amanda Palmer - Blake Says

"I love smart people who make cool things"

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If you thought I was excited about Decat o Revista before, you should see me now that I have read it. What can I say, it's even better than I expected!

Sunday night was the night it finally came out. I had been lucky to get my (greedy, overly excited) hands on it two days earlier so I already knew that the excitement was for a good reason! I can't even imagine how it felt for the people who made it happen, who started it all months ago, between empty beer glasses and hastily scribbled words.

It was a fun night, the room buzzing with energy and excitement. There was a reading of some of my favorite articles from the magazine, a magic show, suited up surprise guests. People laughed, applauded and left with a copy of the magazine. 500 of them handed out, signed or unsigned, leaving behind brown wrapping paper and the feeling that the work is over or just begun.


What else can I say? Here's hoping the reviews are great (although I can't see it go any other way!) and hopefully this is just the first step :)

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My way to celebrate is by finally posting the rest of the backstage photos from the photoshoot.

As always, find them on my Flickr: CinnamonAnna

Enjoy :)

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"Only * a magazine"

(*title on purpose)


I wonder what everyone is so excited about?

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I fell in love with photography in my teens. It started when I realized that I read fashion magazines more for the stunning photographs than for anything else. I stayed up late rummaging websites for Vogue scans just so I could be amazed over and over by the talents of Steven Meisel, Miles Aldridge or the always surprising Paolo Roversi. I loved getting lost in those worlds and every photo that took my breath away made me love this art form more and more. Of course, all was fine and dandy except that I wanted something that hits closer to home. So I started buying Romanian magazines, curious to see if they'd have the same impact.

And that is the way I discovered the work of Mister Alex Galmeanu. At first he was just a name that adorned the pages of the fashion magazines I devoured. And then he became my favorite one. I loved his photography. I loved the feeling of new and originality and how it always managed to surprise me always.

Years passed, compact cameras turned to SLRs, ISO and aperture and millimeters stopped being the foreign words on the camera box and started making sense. I became known to all my friends as the girl with the camera, a nickname I try to honor every time I leave home with my camera in my bag. And whenever someone asked me what photographers I admired, Alex Galmeanu's name would always leave my lips first.


So you can imagine that when I was offered the chance to meet up with my favorite photographer my reaction was just short of doing an embarrassing happy dance in a public place.

It stated with a magazine. Only a magazine - Decat o Revista.
A group of people who decided to create a publication up to their own high standards, with though-provoking articles and beautiful photoshoots. Built from the ground up through their initiative and through their talent. Vampires and politics and chocolate cakes and tattoos and Bucharest and so much more meeting between two covers. Just one number, made to be a collector's piece and not something to be thrown out once read.
No compromises. Just surprising. Just that. Decat.

And did I mention a cover shot by Galmeanu himself. My stalking (kidding!) of Cristian Lupsa's twitter payed off and on a rainy Wednesday I found myself at a studio surrounded by people running to and from, magazine pages waiting to be read and re-read, so many clothes that would make any fashionista's day and funny, sweet (albeit a little stressed out) people and one photographer, all of them under one roof.

I wish I could I could tell you what the photoshoot was about but you'll have to wait and see. All I can say is that it will be a great one and it was so amusing watching the guys and girls get into character and making everyone else laugh.

I was the designated backstage photographer, a daunting task considering the company. But to say I loved it would be an understatement and it was fascinating and so much fun to be part of that. Needless to say I've taken my role of number one fan very seriously since then!

Decat o Revista will be out this weekend. And I already know it will be something surprising that will leave a mark. After all the work and dedication I seriously can not see it go any other way.

I will offer my congratulations now (that's how much faith I have in it ;D) and I cannot wait for the celebratory beer meet!

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More about them on their Facebook page.

Thanks to everyone (you know who you are :)) for letting me be that annoying girl with the camera - I mean, for being part of this.