Ema's Adventures

South of France after the smliling cloud

2009-07-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

France has always been Black & White for me. It seems that I can just sit forever in the small cafe's and people watch, think of where they are going, what their dreams and thoughts are, wonder if they ever notice the camera in my hands. Have they loved, have they suffered, what their smile looks like. They become my main characters, actors in my moments, shadows in my light, they are me and you, they are, they exist so I can create an image that spells my own world.

South of France

2009-07-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

So everything starts with a smiling cloud. If you cannot see his smile in this photo you should stop and find your inner child, the one that saw smiling clouds. The one that saw all beautiful features of life.
It is funny how a smiling cloud can mean so much for me. It can make my day, week, year. No trip can be really something special without clouds like this. More to come very soon :)

i got lost but i found you

2009-03-27T01:01:00.001-07:00

I traveled to so many places and met so many people - LA, Boston, Hawaii, Dallas, London, Puket, Seoul ,Phi Phi. I had great times with great friends. I took great assignments and did magic. I enjoyed every second of it. I also realized a lot. Time flies, time goes so fast we cannot ignore it, there might be no tomorrow, no today, not a moment to miss. There are dreams, there is magic, there is so much you can have, I can have, just if i wish for it.
A sunrise will always make me feel like I managed to catch the beginning , like I managed to find the start, it is always me alone holding a camera. Have I found you my magic moment. I think I have.

Put Your Breasts Forward Cover

2008-10-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Calendar is ready and we are all very excited about the launch party which will be on the 22nd of October at Heist Lounge in Vancouver. It has been many months of work of all of these wonderful women and I am so happy that I was part of it. For sure we had some unforgettable moments and I am sure we will have even greater fun creating the calendar next year.

You can support us by buying the calendar. Here is the online store:
http://putyourbestbreastforward.bigcartel.com/

Thank you for your support.

no words needed

2008-09-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

A Paris.............

2008-08-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

There are no better words for how I feel now than the words in this amazing song!
Sous le Ciel de Paris - Yves Montand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzH48aXSBlE&feature=related

I am off

2008-08-20T18:39:00.002-07:00

photo by Filipe Wiens

So strange that I am off, I got so used to work 24 hour days that the concept of traveling again seems bizzare. But I will get on the plane tomorrow and I will probably just aim to get the best pictures I possibly can and to enjoy a bit. I have amazing feeling about this trip and I know a door will open and there will be a million wonderful things for my future. I know because it has been a while since the first one opened almost 6 years ago. All that is gypsy talk and it is not meant to be understood :)

time to see the clouds

2008-08-16T09:11:00.001-07:00

My life in the passed 8 months revolves around work which I love but this summer I managed to still some moments for me and sped them with my friends :) Lucky enough there were some amazing clouds around also.

cruzes

2008-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

With 5-6 of my co workers we had the fun experience to shoot some of the cruise ships that stopped in Vancouver. We truly enjoyed the experience and seeing the city from a different perspective. Some crazy nights after the work was done :)

Put Your Breasts Forward

2008-08-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

With 9 of my girlfriends we started a project to raise money for the Brest Awareness month and to make our donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation. So in the last 4 months we have been planning, organizing and taking our clothes off for a calendar which will come out in October.
It has been an amazing experience and truly an inspiration. Hopefully we will be able to make our little donation to finding a cure! Here is our blog:

http://putyourbestbreastforward.wordpress.com/

the power suit

2008-08-16T08:23:00.001-07:00

I have had some amazing and exciting times recently. Lots of trips and many business meetings, boardrooms and powers suits at all experience which I have enjoyed tremendously. If I have to be honest I am loving marketing and reading too much Harvard Business Review. I will be getting more and more into this kind of work which makes me sooo happy :)

light

2008-06-16T20:27:00.001-07:00

I have always loved light more than anything. The ability to see all the colors of life. In the last few days it seems like I could walk again on the light paths. I am just happy that is all, happy that I have the ability to see every reflection, every pattern to see it all in frames. Probably that is why I am a photographer and that is why I love every second of this crazy life.

magic

2008-06-06T21:06:00.001-07:00

So Paris and Cote D'Azur it is! Another amazing experience again with my mum. We will be flying to Paris, heading to Marseilles and staying there 10 days. Driving by the sea to Cannes, Saint Tropez, Nice and Monte Carlo. I cannot wait to hold my camera again and just walk on cobble streets, chase shadows and swim in the sea. There is something so magic about the old cities in Europe. We do this every year - Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence and now Provence and Cote D'Azure.
I remember 3 years ago having an amazing time driving down in South of France and stopping in little villages surrounded by vineyards. I remember the smell of fresh bread and wine. Life is so simple, there are those little things that make you feel complete that make you feel alive all the rest is just not significant.

the Bulgarian in me

2008-05-26T22:33:00.001-07:00

I seem to be staying up late sitting on the floor like we did long time ago listening to music. Here is a song:

And the sun rise and the sun set and there is always something new.
We are now, we are our dreams, the dreams we were dreaming about long before.
We are now our dreams but are we happier.
Nobody managed to change your face in my dreams.
Me and you are not here by chance.

amazing memories from the past

2008-05-25T10:17:00.001-07:00

With time I lost connection with some of my good friends from University. People I have spend sleepless nights discovering what our cameras can create, crazy hours in the dark room, talked about what we want to achieve and what we dream about.
I have thought about them for years and remembering what amazing times we had. We fought against the regime, on the streets for days, we made exhibitions and tried to make an impact, to make the world to see our little country and its fight. The bonds that we created even if we don't ever see each other will be always there as a little part of our hearths.

Couple of nights ago I was listening to Bulgarian music from the revolution times when I was a student and trying to find images, in my search I ended up finding the web site of one of my good friends from University. When we started e-mailing we could not believe that it has been so long.
He send me this photos from amazing 7 days on the Bulgarian coast - every year all Bulgarian photographers gather on the coast for a Photo Vacation. These 7 days are usually full of photography contests, lots of images and crazy nights.

This images put a big smile on my face. It seems like it was yesterday I was walking on this beach. :)

Texas, nascar and well great times

2008-05-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

I have to say I have been so bad with my blog and honestly recently I was looking at my blog and seeing what I have done and where I have been. Life is so full you forget so many incredible moments and writting here allows me to capture those moments and to remind me how blessed I am for having them.

So what has been happening in the passed 3 months. I was in Dallas, Texas ( funny enough I am writing from Dallas, Texas right now and it is 12.49 a.m).

Well this trip was quite amazing and was spent with co-workesr and close friends Steph, Tinu and Jean. We were out there for a conference and had the amazing opportunity to drive on the Nascar track. Quite the unique experience. I think I would have made an amazing Nascar driver. I love the adrenalin and for most of you that know me I love speed.

In any case I think that the funniest thing was our trip to a locatl Texas bar - us an Indian, a Philipino and a Bulgarian. This sounds like a beginning of a joke but honestly I think that we were more of an attraction in the bar than the country band singing. I ended up being on stage with them and at all we had one fun and eventful evening!

Fair well my teacher, your art will always live trough my eyes

2008-03-23T20:21:00.001-07:00

How can I explain it, the pain of losing a mentor! How can I explain losing someone who had taught me how to see! My life has been always about photography. My passion and my heart have always been captured by the magic of stealing moments. I can see, I can see life in a different way, I can see life in frames.
Today the man who taught me how to feel with all my senses when the moment in my frame is perfect, the moment when my fingers can press the shutter of my camera, died.
I want this blog entry to be my Good Bye! So hard to say these words.

Thank you that you led me through that magic ride of learning that life is going to reveal itself to you only if you look with pure eyes!

Thank you for showing me how to draw with light! How to sense and capture it!

Thank you for giving me all of your wisdom without wanting anything back but for me to be better in photography!

Thank you for the wonderful times, for the strength, for making me fall in love with all of Cartier-Bresson's work, for the crazy hours in the dark room, for tearing my images and making me go and redo them.Thank you for teaching me all! I remember your last words when I finished University. In the hallway you told me: " You see it was all worth it".

I will photograph for you. I will keep the passion for photography alive. I will see because of you.

Good Bye! :)

Victoria, clouds and the beginning of the year

2008-03-22T09:36:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that 3 months passed since the beginning of the year!!!! 3 of the craziest months in my life and some of the best ones in my life. I have worked like crazy almost no time for breaks or any time for myself to the point that I schedule the time for my friends and do you know what I am loving it! As most of you know I have now two jobs I am manager in the company I have worked for years, so I manage the photography department and my own business in developing really well also.
The year started on 2nd of January when Steve one of my good friends and a colleague flew on a tiny float plane from Vancouver to Victoria to photograph the Fairmont Empress Hotel. We had 6 great days in Victoria and lot and lost of clouds. So the year couldn't start better....... lots more coming soon :)

my feet in the sand, me and my camera

2008-03-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

Magic forever because fairy tales exist

2008-01-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

I always stick to the words of my favorite fairy tale writer Oscar Wilde: "We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars". Wilde together with Exupery who wrote the little prince I think have discovered the magic of life and how easy it is to forget that we can see, breath, love and that we are so easily consumed by all that is insignificant and little.
This year started with the word magic and it will be magical because I believe in it, I believe that if you have enough passion, enough strength, enough to see the world trough the eyes of a child you can be happy, you can feel everything and smile at everyone. It is just that simple.

Arriving in Mexico

2008-01-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Mexico has a very special place in my heart. I feel like part of my life, part of who I am that was hidden and lost I found there. Four years ago or maybe more I remember arriving in Mexico my first trip alone ever, flying next to the huge thunder clouds in which I could see the lightnings flashing every second, seeing the palm trees underneath me and thinking " Where are you going?" It was a great question and I feel like I was going towards understanding how important it is to find your own freedom.

Feeling my feet touching the sand again on that incredible beach in Los Cabos miles and miles long was amazing. Huge crashing waves, ocean spray everywhere and none on the beach but me, my camera and amazing sky and clouds.

The resort was beautiful and we had days sunbathing and enjoying the warm weather, long walks on the beach, swimming and than after a game of tennis seeing the amazing sunsets with a drink in hand, well camera more often. We truly enjoyed being on the beach and relaxing.

Our Christmas Evening was specifically fun. There was a full moon and we took our drinks and headed for the beach. Rob suggested that we have to figure out a fun way to take photos of the two of us. Getting one of the beach tables and setting the camera we used only the moonlight to do this:

tales from Christmas parties

2008-01-02T20:55:00.001-08:00

It was an amazing and very festive Christmas party season. It is one of the few times in my life I have not been back in Europe mainly due to the fact that with Rob we decided to escape from Christmas madness and trying to get some well deserved rest in a great resort in Mexico.

There were photo scavenger hunts ( you can see some images if you fallow this link: http://gallery.mac.com/vitalartery#100033/Team-207-20--206_3 ), Ugly Sweater Party : http://gallery.mac.com/vitalartery#100047/DSC_0061, Norwegian Glogg Party, Chocolate Christmas Party, company Christmas parties and at all it was fun it was crazy and fun with so much laughter and unexpected moments.

You can understand that after all of this combined with work nearly till the last moment we left for Mexico I felt like I deserved a good rest after this crazy year.

Happy 2008!!!

2008-01-01T14:44:00.001-08:00

and let it be a magic one!!!!

lights over greenland, lights in Vancouver

2007-12-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

I found magic dust. The biggest treat this past months was seeing the Northern Lights for nearly 2 hours from my window flying over Greenland on the way back to Vancouver. You know those moments that you just turn into a child again and it is all so incredibly perfect just for your eyes to record. It was incredible, more than incredible I am now addicted and would like to go and experience this again. All of the shapes and colors were spectacular.

Back in Vancouver almost the next morning I saw this trough my window at home. No those are no aliens kidnapping the sea bus as I called this image and for the hundreds of people that asked me no there is no photoshop involved. The light is reflecting from the building at the back, going trough the cloud and falling on the water. The bus was just happening to be passing.
So in less than 24 hours I saw lots of incredible light.

Ros and Lee's wedding

2007-12-15T08:22:00.001-08:00

British weddings are one of my most favorite things and this one was the last one from our group of friends weddings. Ros and Lee are two of the most amazing, intelligent and well traveled people I know. They are the type of people that you will receive several times a year post cards from the most fascinating places of the world. Their honeymoon was of course not a 5 star resort on the Caribbean but India and Nepal.
We has amazing time, lots of crazy photos and the most importantly for once in the year all of our UK friends in the same spot :)

so many magic things

2007-12-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

I thought a lot how to start this entry. A good storyteller always thinks a lot before starting or maybe this is my lame excuse that I forgot about the fun parts of my life one of which is my blog. I will tell you the story of me becoming 30. I was in London with my camera in a sunny day of course there were clouds, the British clouds I love so much. I felt so extremely peaceful walking and taking photographs.. I am happy that after so many years my 30 start with the same passion, the same desire for life, the same love towards images. I am older , I am wiser but I will always have this little line in my head:

I will always look at the stars. I have been repeating recently that there are no impossible things, there is magic, there is so much to live for. You just have to believe in it. So on my birthday I tried to find this little magic moments and record them and had the biggest smile on my face.

for the amazing people that I will always keep in my hearth

2007-11-29T19:04:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been very good in writing recently but life seems to be going with such an extreme pace that there is no time for quiet moments when I can sit down and do something I enjoy so much.
Today I was reminded about the incredible people that I had in my life till couple of years ago. My family is amazing, they have been trough wars, communist regime, being separated in all the corners of the world and always stayed close always kept the sense of belonging.
I grew up surrounded by incredible tremendously intelligent people who thought me how to live and love and how to always look for the happiness in life. People that never gave up, people that managed to forgive and forget, people who knew the true meaning of life and who would sacrifice everything for the one close to them.
I have heard amazing stories, stories that inspire and have always felt blessed to be part of this family.

Vancouver

2007-10-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

This is my everyday view and I will never be able to get enough of this beauty. The colors and the light change every minute and so often is breathtaking what my eyes can see. We are blessed living in Vancouver. I have never seen a place like this in the entire world.

i know you will read this

2007-10-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

I know you are reading this. leave life every moment, every second, every breath as if there is no tomorrow, no today, no time. Sense the chances and don' miss them. Life is too short :)

The Italian Job

2007-09-02T21:19:00.001-07:00

August is the month when Europe is on holiday, the month when all tourists head towards the big European cities and the population of this cities escape to the coast. So this year for first time I was the tourist going back to Italy which absolutely captivated me the previous two times I visited. Heading first to Sofia via Minneapolis and then London I had my first emergency landing. The plane over the Atlantic I took made an emergency landing because it didn't have enough fuel to reach London. I sure was happy they didn't find that out over the Ocean. So we had to land in Ireland on a tiny airport called Shannon. We had to wait two hours for refueling and change of oil from the only mechanic on this airport. All this meant that I didn't get my flight to Sofia and I ended up with a night in London.

24 hours later I was on another flight to Rome and than to Venice with my mum. This is our 3rd trip only the two of us, Paris and Rome the previous years. Arriving in Venice was magic. We flew over the city on a sunset and took a boat to get to our hotel. The smell of the sea and the beauty of this fascinating city were a fantastic beginning of the trip. Our hotel was 200 m from San Marko square. We walked from early morning till late afternoon. The mornings were quiet, with gentle pink light on the beautiful buildings and the port with the gondolas. It doesn't matter in which city in the world I go I always try to be awake for the first raws of light.

The Gondolas. so many times I listened about this romantic experience. I found one gondola which I liked the most and it was mainly because of the face of the gondolier who allowed me every day I passed by the usual place he used to stop to photograph him. I will remember this as my gondola experience not the huge amounts of tourists waiting on line ups to get to one, or the traffic jams of gondolas in the tiny channels
From Venice we took a train an traveled to Florence, where we had as much fun and took tons of photos. All I know is that Italy is a great experience every time. Next holiday I am aiming for the Amalfi coast, Positano and Tuscany.
Back in Sofia it was time for lots of friends and family, great sunshine and wonderful parties.

in the streets of Venice

2007-08-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is exactly what I needed, just me and my camera and those perfect little moments.

what makes you smile

2007-08-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

Yes I disappeared, I disappeared in the land of photography again. I have had the most amazing month when I have photographed every day and it makes me happy. Happy, have thought so many times what is that puts a smile on our faces and I truly believe that those are the little things surrounding us, my smile today was because of a song. I kept singing Tiny Dancer and that was enough to make life great! :)

summer time

2007-07-08T23:29:00.001-07:00

So last few days we spent mainly on the beach with friends and Sunday we took the ferry to Bowen Island where I am going to photograph a golf course. The ferry took only 20 minutes and we were on this beautiful little island which reminds me so much of Salts Spring. It is like a little paradise and as on the other islands surrounding Vancouver there are many artists who create unique and beautiful pieces of art. It surprises me so much 20 minutes and it seems like the city doesn't exist. 20 minutes to a place where I can actually relax, drink a glass of wine and enjoy the sun after work. This is exactly what we did on the patio in the amazing house of friends of hours. It is great to be summer again.

Jamaican dreams

2007-07-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Back in Vancouver the work continues and I catch myself wanting to be back in Jamaica, to be close to the warm ocean and the unbelievable sunsets. This trip was special and I enjoyed every second of it.

Summer arrived here also and walking by the beach and having barbeque's with friends have been great, looking forward to more sunny days and more adventures here and on the road.

Caribbean

2007-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

The last week was truly amazing and we had a lot of fun. Five of us, Tara, David, Dale, Steve and myself headed to the Caribbean, Jamaica where we had to do a high end shoot in an all inclusive resort. We worked and learned a lot of each other and managed to get some sunshine and to take a great sunset cruise on our last evening. Great times with great people and truly amazing results.

words

2007-06-14T22:56:00.001-07:00

I heard this today and decided to share it. Desire leaves us heartbroken, it wears us out, desire can wreck your life, but as tough as wanting something can be the people that suffer the most are the ones that don't know what they want. The dream is to have a dream at all.

not enough hours in the day

2007-06-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

The last week passed like a dream, I don't even remember the week starting and now I will be flying again on Sunday. It has been so busy it truly feels like there are not enough hours of the day but I am happy to be working and achieving my dreams.

Vancouver is beautiful, I love walking around Downtown and enjoying the co lours and lights of the buildings. Sometimes what we do defines us, I think what defines me the most is light. I have been facinated with it for years and it doesn't stop to amaze me every day.

a song that happened twice in my life

2007-06-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

Someone today reminded me about this song that I love so much

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvCXLJg7LWY

Don't bother saying you're sorry

Why don't you come in

Smoke all my cigarettes again

Every time I get no further

How long has it been?

Come on in now, wipe your feet on my dreams

You take up my time

Like some cheap magazine

When I could have been learning something

Oh well, you know what I mean, oh

I've done this before

And I will do it again

Come on and kill me baby

While you smile like a friend

Oh and I'll come running

Just to do it again

You are the last drink I never should have drunk

You are the body hidden in the trunk

You are the habit I can't seem to kick

You are my secrets on the front page every week

You are the car I never should have bought

You are the dream I never should have caught

You are the cut that makes me hide my face

You are the party that makes me feel my age

Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid

Like a plane I've been told I never should board

Like a film that's so bad but I've got to stay till the end

Let me tell you now: it's lucky for you that we're friends.

around the world and back

2007-06-06T13:11:00.001-07:00

So what happened in the last 3 weeks. In 13 days I had 11 flights Vancouver - Dublin - Manchester - Paris - Rome - Milan - Sofia - Milan - Rome - Munich - Los Angeles - Vancouver.
I was so tired when I came back but happy to have seen Dublin and Rome and spent some quality time with my parents in Sofia. The day after I arrived back and all the rest of the days till now I had my own shoots and being busy became part of everyday life. For all of you that know me, I love this and I do enjoy every minute.

Sofia I loved being home, the city is so beautiful in the summer months. I think that for his 4 days I did a lot more than I have in any of my previous visits. It was my dad's 60th Birthday and we had a great party.

Back here in Vancouver managed to spent some time with Rob, he came back to Vancouver on the same day as me and he is now back on the field and I have a lot of work and another short trip coming going to the Caribbean. Hope you are all doing great!

the love of what you do

2007-05-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yes I have always had this feeling and thought that this is the most important thing in life. Love, just simple pure, uncontrollable love. In the passed days I have thought how important it is to be able to give this feeling to the people you care the most, to protect them, to make them happy, to give some of your happiness only so they can be what they want, where they want. In Bulgaria we say I love you so much, it almost feels that it is never enough to tell someone I love you only ones.

And the other love, the love for what you do. Work that becomes part of you, almost part of every glimpse we give to the world. I am blessed with what I do and the fact that I tell myself every day how important this love is makes me never leave my camera.

Today I watched a documentary movie, a movie that showed the beauty of people that devote their lives to what they love the most. The documentary was for an extraordinary woman. 40 years of her life were spent translating movies live in the little booth at the back of the cinema.

Translating the movies of Federico Felini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Bernardo Bertoluchi, Sergio Leone and at all all of the major Italian directors who created masterpieces. She is 78, she has lived trough this movies in Italy but never been allowed by the regime to go there. On 78 a young Bulgarian director and his crew took her to Italy and filmed her.

All her moments of excitement and pure joy presented in connection with clips from the great Italian movies. It was overwhelming, a life lived only because there is cinema. Life lived trough the life's of the hero's in this movies until she became a character in a movie as well. The passion in her eyes looked the same, as probably it was the first time when she started, she looked so young, alive and full of energy.
Yes this is the magic coming from the love of life and what you do. This reminded me of a saying I saw years ago in the cetre of London: "We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars."

photos

2007-05-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

So exept the tons of photos we have taken in the last few days we took a lot of photos of each other aslo. Having great time, eating great food and at all living La Dolce Vita.

cobble streets

2007-05-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

If I have to be honest Rome will always stay for me one of the most photogenic and magic plases in the world. Wondering all day through the cobble streets and watching how the light changes is incredible. It is a city where I feel like a child. I never knwo what I am going to see behind every corner, the only thing I know is that it will be visualy amazing. It is truly candy store for photographers :) It is hot and sunny and Dean ( good friend and colegue of mine) and I walk everywhere, have wine and pasta.

Roma

2007-05-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

So been in Rome for a while and will be here till the 26th and than off to Sofia for my dad's 60th Birthday. Only 4 days but still I will see my family and friends. In the meantime party time with friends here.

Ireland

2007-05-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

It feels like I have not written here forever. It has been happy and busy times for me and I absolutely love not having time at all. Being busy for my business is something fantastic and I am expecting even more work and fun. Well been having back problems but as Rob says carrying a 30 - 40 pounds backpack does not help.
I am currently in Ireland for a shoot and having great time. Dublin is the windiest city ever but it has been sunny and beautiful. Athmospere and people are amazing and looking forward to spending some time here in the Guiness paradise. Irish know how to party big time.

Been fascinated by the colourful doors here, painted in all the colours of the rainbow. Apparently there is a reason for it. Irishman drink so much they have trouble finding their own doors late at night so the colourful your door is better chance you have not to enter another home. :)

magic clouds, magic cats and a fantastic work weekend

2007-04-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

It is this magic time of the year where clouds are the so amazing, so breathtaking the only thing I can do is take millions of photos. Magic this is the best description, moments, beautiful shapes, incredible light. Clouds are the most fascinating expressions of nature.
Last weekend started and finished with clouds. With a close friend and colleague of mine Barry we had off for a shoot to Vancouver Island. We had great time on the ferry, getting there, photographing and meeting with wonderful people.

One of the most fascinating things that happen is that I actually saw and played with not one but two Van cats. This cats are from the Armenian region Van, or this is the location that there are most commonly found. I spend so much time in Turkey trying to find one and photograph it but the only place I saw them was on Van postcards. This cats are extremely rare, naturally occurring bread have one blue and one green eye, they are all white and they are deaf. Their senses because of the lack of hearing are extremely sharpened. They love water, they are crazy about it and the odd thing is that they can swim. I could not believe my eyes, I am so lucky to have seen not one but two of them. Magic cats!

Magic cats and magic clouds, so many of them!

Good luck Barry you will rock in Borneo, you are one of the people that chase their dreams!

New York Fairytale

2007-04-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

Where do I start in a city where there is no beginning and no end, in a place where the senses are so extremely sharpened that every sound and colour seem thousands of times enhanced. Yes it almost seems that my fairytale and reality mix in this city that never rests, that always searches for something new, for another extreme and passion. Yes, New York is for me a place where I can risk artisticaly more than I am allowed, love artisticaly more than possible, live and create to the absolute fullest . Diving in an atmosphere where all worlds seem to blend into one is where a photographer can make magic.

This is how our mornings started, on the streets with a cup of coffee, mixing with the life of the waking city. Rob seemed as passionate and happy on the streets of New York as me. The early morning light could make every building talk, every shape to come alive.

So many times I am catching myself looking up and admiring the structures of this magnificent buildings. The Chrysler Building my absolute favourite.

One thing that always amazes me in New York is the fact how easy is for me to capture moments, they seem to be everywhere, so many that I cannot put the camera down. A feast of light and shadow, people and structures, emotions and stories. I have always thought that when you can tell a story with your images you have won, just for a fracture of a second than you will have to start all over again, until you become the best storyteller in the world.

We walked everywhere, saw as much as possible, enjoyed the vibrancy of this beautiful place. Two of my favourite experiences were visiting the Metropolitan Museum ( no I didn't stop taking photos there either) and seeing Turandot in the Metropolitan Opera.
and seeing this in Central Park. on a small bench it was written : " For Caroline who loved this park and George who was always with her". How can one sentence say all that is important in life? It makes me smile because yes, it is that simple.
I hope my story put a smile on your face! Yours truly Ema

crazy life

2007-04-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

Yes life is crazy, vivid and more than interesting and entertaining. In the passed 3 weeks I have been so busy but I have enjoyed every minute of it. From San Diego I flew back to Vancouver and than off to Las Vegas for TravelCom one of the biggest travel conferences. Shall we say the party was amazing. The last night we went to the Google party in Mandalay Bay, than off to Vegas.com party in the Palms Hotel and Casino which took place in Hue Hefner's penthouse. Yes there was a Playboy bunny in the swimming pool and an amazing view. One of the nicest thing was late drive in a convertible on Las Vegas Boulevard at 12 at night.

Coming back Friday night and Saturday morning off on the float plane to salt Spring Island. Great Easter with family and some rest.

Sunday night back in Vancouver with friends and drinks :) It was a great evening and great evening as usual. Now I am back on the airport flying to New York. Love you all Ema

Vancouver in blossom

2007-04-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is in front of my house and I can tell you honestly that there is no place in the world like Vancouver when all is blossom. The streets look absolutely beautiful with the pink spring blossoms of the cherry and magnolia trees. Puts a big smile on my face. The weekend was more than amazing spend with friends, great dinners, wonderful conversations and fun. Spring is here!

San Diego

2007-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am currently in San Diego. Apparently I am 20 minutes from the Mexican border so was contemplating taking all my gear and escaping there. Summer all year won't be at all bad and you can all come visit me.
San Diego seems different from all the other US cities I have been to. Seems smaller and except the Seaport Village which has a beautiful seawall walk ( + about 20 shops with every little tacky gift you can buy on the planet earth) I was not particularly impressed.
I am going home tomorrow, Vegas on Tuesday-Friday, Salt Spring on Saturday ( taking the float plane :) ), big photo shoot on the 9th, New York on the 12th. Yes this is how busy it gets.

can men drive you crazy? the answer is yes

2007-03-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Yes men have the ability to make women absolutely crazy. Pure example of this is Rob this afternoon. He was teasing me for a while and everyone knows I do not take this lightly, so when I thought that I have completely lost my patience I told him : "Get Lost!" on this he looked me very calmly and said : " I can't get lost, I'm a geologist, I have inherent sense of where I am." Yes this is exactly what I mean man can ofter drive you crazy!

fun time in Miami - Part 2

2007-03-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

You have to see this. There are some fun photos of Adele and me in Miami. On the second day we were refused entry to one of the cruise ships we were supposed to shoot so we spent hours camping in the ID Office of Port of Miami. We got in eventualy shot and hit the beach.
See here: http://adeleontheroad.wordpress.com/
:)

fun shoot

2007-03-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Back in Vancouver and back to work but I had some free time and a day without rain to do a shoot with a friend and co-worker Jackie. I have forgotten how much fun it is to photograph people. Enjoyed it a lot, I hope Jackie did too, we were laughing that the most difficult thing for a photographer is to be in front of the camera. I remember on my wedding day I drove the poor photographer crazy. There is a photo of me holding his camera and taking photos of the people. I am sure since than he has refused every wedding in which the bride or the groom are photographers :)

I love images

2007-03-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

I know I have gone wild this time and have tons of images. I just came back from South Beach in Miami where together with a colleague of mine Adele we photographed 2 cruise ships and had great time enjoying hot weather, sunshine, ocean and great dinners.
There is no direct way to fly to Miami so my way was via Phoenix. We few over the place I want to go the most in the world probably - Grand Canyon. It is one of the most unbelievable places I have seen visually and I have seen it only on images and when I fly over.
One day I want to spend at least a month just photographing how the light and the colours change of this unbelievable place.

This is early morning in Miami, it seems like even if I go to bed at 4 in the morning I will be up by 6 if I am close to the beach. It was such a beautiful morning. So peaceful, so beautiful.

Light is amazing!

busy times

2007-03-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

Yes this is where I want to be right now, or maybe not. Life has been great and my time is so booked I have no time, absolutely no time for anything. I actually have one of those organizers so I can write my schedule and meetings. I truly love it being busy and for me this equals paradise.
Along with my own projects I am flying next week to Miami for a shoot, the week after to San Diego and the week after to Las Vegas, so can't say that it is boring at all.
After Vegas Rob and I are officially taking a weeks holiday and going to New York for some sightseeing and relaxing. Can't be happier, this is my most favourite place in the world.

One of the highlights of this week was Monday evening when one of my colleagues, amazing photographer and a true inspiration for me Marek, took me to the Burnaby Photography Club where there was a discussion on recent images taken by the members. Two of my images where there and I loved the critique. I loved seeing how people discuss photography and are not afraid to say their opinion, I loved being in a circle I felt so comfortable.

Anyway that is all the time I have, hope you are all doing great.
Kisses Ema

Vegas Baby

2007-02-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Yes it has been a while since I wrote last but life is great and so busy that there is no time for anything but this is what 29 year old people are supposed to do, work, party and enjoy life.
I just came back from Vegas where I was for a short trip which I loved. There is something absolutely surreal about Vegas, the real thing are the crazy parties and amazing night clubs.
The second evening there with my two colleagues we hit one of the most popular clubs in town called TAO. It is a special place, I visited Tao in New York a year ago and was fascinated by this incredible space with a huge Buddha in the middle all candle lit. We had great time there eating Asian Fusion food and enjoying the atmosphere. This time in Vegas we managed to get in the VIP section and see the club also. Yes people there truly know how to party maybe not how to dress because most of them were semi naked but what the hell it is Vegas.This is Tinu and Rob doing what everyone should do here walk on Las Vegas boulevard with a drink in hand.

Walking around the Venetian I saw this picture and absolutely loved it.

Yes and this is me at the end jumping around in the funky hallway of the Flamingo hotel. It is all pink and white, very jazzy. Our rooms were as fun, they are galled Go Go rooms and have a very high tech style and even in the bathroom there is a TV inserted in the mirror, as if you will have time to watch TV in Vegas.

Back in Vancouver it is raining but the mountains look absolutely stunning, covered with snow. Very busy week ahead of me but I love it.

what a good movie can trigger

2007-02-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

I could never relate to Africa, the problems, the conflicts the suffering. I remember the first time I opened the box with images from the famin in Somalia and Ethiopia while working in Magnum. I have heard about it I knew exactly where this box is but never wanted to look at the photographs just from human fear, the same fear that make us turn the newspaper or the magazine on our breakfast table to the next page when we see something that just doesn't fit with our perfect life.
I remember how much this images influenced me and still how they didn't manage to make me understand the whole suffering. In my selfish way coming from the nightmare of the communism in Bulgaria where one word against the regime could put you in a concentration camp, where the orphaned children are so many and living in such poor conditions, where everything inside was rotten but outside we had to show that there is no better place to live in. Coming from this perspective, the poverty and the suffering in my country I felt like I need to help there and that the world gives so much to so many of the African countries but ignores us the leftovers of the communist regime.

I saw a movie yesterday called "Blood Diamond". Most of you have probably seen it. I knew very well about the conflict in Sierra Leone but it felt as if for first time I could really feel how tragic, how unbelievably painful the issues there are. I wish one day I have the ability to help, to make a difference. The character of the main actress in this movie reminded me of what I wanted to be, all I wanted when I started to do photography is be like her, take photos and try to make a difference, try to make you pick up the newspaper see the image on the front page and not turn the page but relate to it, make you help. It is never too late isn't it?

Rome photos

2007-02-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Just going trough my images and found this ones of my mum and me in Rome. One of my best holidays ever. We did have a blast and this year it will probably be Venice!

what a night, again!!!

2007-02-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Yes this looked like me yesterday, ready to shout after quite the eventful evening, I am thinking that it all had something to with the full moon, lol. First event was finding a wallet that was definitely not mine in the cooperative car on a way to a party. Apparently in belong to an absent minded Anthropology professor from UBC.
Than after an amazing party, lots of East Asian food and great conversations with friends, I was told by nearly everyone not to drive due to the fact that I had couple of drinks. Well they always say that but having 2 drinks in 5 hours I thought it is fine.
12 o'clock at night my car battery died, 2 o'clock BCAA came to start the car, 2.30 I was stopped by police block after Lion's Gate Bridge. Now you will laugh, they were doing a alcohol check, so I got a flash light in my face and the policeman asked me have I had to drink on which I innocently said no and explained how my battery died. He didn't even continue with the check and said that this must have been such a long evening for me. So I got out of it again but next time will think twice before driving and drinking. Good bye bad Bulgarian habits!

New York, New York

2007-01-31T07:21:00.000-08:00

Couple of days ago ( funny the last 3 days passed so fast I feel like I have been dreaming rather than experiencing the real thing) together with three of my colleagues we head back towards the most amazing, exciting and full of life New York. The moment I mention the name of this place I feel already happy, it is like going home somewhere I completely feel that I belong to. So the people traveling with me had to listen to me about a thousand times to say: "We are going to New York!!!!"

Elisa, Hamish and myself were the official photographers for the Adrian Awards. The official gala event nominating the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Industries. Here we are on the sunny streets of New York.

We had amazing time and lots of fun. Working as a team was great and we did so well on the award ceremony. I was responsible for the red carpet and quite frankly this was one of the most challenging but also most rewarding and fun evenings working I have had for a long time.

After the event we hit the streets of New York, had a lovely dinner in a small French bistro in Manhattan and had couple of Manhattan's which where more than necessary for us after a long evening of work. We were the only 3 people on Times Square at 3a.m and went back to our hotel at 4 in the morning tired but happy.

The next morning we had time to go and photograph around town and to enjoy a sunny and cold morning in the city of my dreams.

parties, friends and so much more

2007-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

Party time, yes this is what has been happening every evening in the last week. It has been so crazy that parties in the last 3 days are 2 each evening so actually running around and trying to attend all is quite the challenge but so much fun. Yesterday was specifically entertaining running between a exhibition opening and a pot luck party, or between the North Shore and Commercial Drive ( both parties started at same time). The photo above is from the exhibition of a friend of mine Jackie Connolly http://www.jacquelinconnelly.com/main.html Her work is amazing and a big inspiration. So continuing is the pot luck party which takes place in the wonderful artistic house of a friend of mine Kiron. He is organizing this great parties every Thursday and every week we decide on a specific cuisine. This week the theme was CHEESE. Can it get better,I don't think so - fondue, baked Brie with rastberries and blueberries on top, variety of cheese's and fruit, macaroni and cheese ( the real thing home cooked and first time try for me), cheescake and lots and lots of wine. Here is part of the 15 people that are regular visitors of this wonderful Thursdays. East Asian next week :)

So before I go off to join a crowd at a bar downtown I want to say how impressed by one of my friends . He has amazing passion toward photojournalism http://filipephotos.com/Welcome.html and reminds me of me when I was 23 and went to Magnum and wanted to become a war photographer, follow the steps of Cartier-Bresson and MacCury ( still want to and still love photojournalism as much). He flew today to follow his dreams and I am so impressed by the lack of fear and his incredible determination to go and photograph. Good luck, be safe and bring back amazing photos.

i disappeared

2007-01-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

Yes I know I kinda disappeared but I hope very soon a big wish will come true, so a little more patience before I tell you all what is happening in my world.

Except this big thing and tons of work I have been going out seeing friends and having great time. Yesterday night was truly fascinating. I saw Movement http://www.movent.ca/movent%20events.htm beautiful performances by young contemporary dancers and this experience felt so different as if I have found a whole new world in Vancouver that I didn't know anything about. Tomorrow off to see an exhibition of one of my colleagues Jackie and to attend another very interesting pot luck party, this weeks theme is Cheese. Sunday off to New York for the Adrian awards! Lots of love to all of you. Em

the world of unique people

2007-01-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

There are many around me that have amazing eye for the world, have a different perspective and unique ideas. I have many friends who are absolute inspiration, they are people who achieve so much only by being themselves. One of my friends Mike send me this web site, full of this amazing images: http://www.philborges.com/ So nice to see that while the people who can't do anything only talk how great they are, the ones who are talented make an impact in the world. Enjoy!

new dreams, new goals

2007-01-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

So 2007 started amazing for me and again with a flight!!! It started with a new beginning also something I can't talk about but which will change my life for so much better. Very very big plans yes but what is life without a Big Plan :) Being in the UK in the first few days of the year was fun, we met with lots of friends and spent as much time as we could with family. Coming back in Vancouver was great also and I so much enjoy the snow that has covered the city. I hope the New Year started amazing for you all. Kisses Ema

2007!!!!!!

2007-01-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!! I hope you all had great time and the party was as good as the one here in London! Lots of love Ema

Happy New Year

2006-12-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

It has been an amazing year. I flew to many parts of the world and enjoyed every trip so much (Rome, New York and Mexico my most favourite). I met amazing people that made a great impact in my life and made great friends. I learned what I would like to achieve in the future, what will make me happy and where I would like to take my life. The most important thing is if you truly believe that life will go perfectly for you this is exactly what is going to happen. Farewell 2006, Welcome 2007 and what a year it will be! :) To all of my family and friends I love you soooo much and I wish you all your dreams to come true!

Bulgaria and the European Union

2006-12-29T01:26:00.000-08:00

I am still in Bulgaria and politically this has to be one of the most interesting times recently! Bulgaria has always been interesting place to live. Communism, Revolutions, Hyper Inflation, having our king as a prime minister, having the communist come back and to be the ruling party now when we are getting in the European Union. Coming back this winter meant that I will still be faced with all of the Mafia issue and seeing 4 parked Ferraris and Lamburginys in the centre of Sofia next to the elderly people begging for food is quite the cite.
So what comes next, Bulgaria in 2 days will be part of the European Union a step that the country is not ready for. Apparently nothing that Bulgaria produces is good for the European Standards. So from 1st of January Bulgarians can't eat Bulgarian pork or any other meat, can't smoke Bulgarian cigarettes, can't fly on Bulgarian planes, everything have to be imported. The worst thing is that Bulgarian people in the villages are not allowed anymore to make their own Rakia ( the Bulgarian national drink, 60% alcohol, made out of grapes). To tell a Bulgarian that they can't drink this is almost condemning them to death! Well the only good thing is that we can travel everywhere, sober but at least the border authorities are not going to treat us like criminals! The view of everyone I talked to was that there will be no European Union after a year of Bulgaria joining in, instead of them teaching us how to get in the right way we will just convert them to our pirates rules.

...Sofia for Christmas

2006-12-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

I am in snowy Sofia and inspite the cold I am loving every moment of it. Last night in London we had a great night, very eventful one but a truly memorable one. Seeing Ros and Lee and Suzanne and Richard is always great, but this time we had some extra fun.
So what happens when you do not get the right service in a restaurant in downtown London with a group of British people? I always thought that the answer is nothing I thought British people are way too polite ( the opposite of Bulgarians) to make a big fuss about things ( no offence guys) but Ros and Suzanne really changed my perception of this. We 3 girls ( well the boys where helpful also) made the biggest fuss ever for the fact that we not only didn't get the service but also half of our food that the owner of the restaurant gave us the food complimentary. Yes we definitely have to meet more often so we can try lots more restaurants in London :)

So on the next day after 2 Bellini's, 5 glasses of wine and 4 hours sleep I was off to Heathrow where the zoo was unbelievable. Anyway we were the lucky people diverted to Business class and got trough very quickly to find out that 180 flights were cancelled, again by chance ours wasn't. Landing in Sofia and seeing my family was amazing. Usually the first face I see getting out of the terminal is my granfather's, he is always there always waiting with flowers. He is 89, he is one of the most amazing man in my life and one of the most important part of it as well.

Now off to see all of my friends and family and to drink lots and lots of the traditional Bulgarian rakia and take some photos in the snow.

...going home for Christmas

2006-12-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yes it is Christmas time, well I can call it Christmas fever, when the stores in the UK are full of amazing pressies, cakes, cards and many many Father Christmases in all shapes and forms. Time for kids like little Abigail above to be waiting for the bearded men to come down the chimney late at night and live them tons of gifts. I remember my childhood, when Father Christmas did not exist, actualy Christmas did not exist either at least this is what we were told from the leaders of the comunist party, they wanted to erase every sign of Christian religion and anything that reminded the people that there is a free world out there. Instead we had Father Frost, who came for New Years Eve from Russia had a big red star on his hat and demanded vodka when we were offering milk and cookies. Inspite all of this we always had Christmas with my family and it was always white Christmas with so much snow we could build tunnels down the streets and have great snow ball fights. Now when I am watching all this crazy rush to buy presents and to buy more and more I am thiking that nothing of this can compare with my memories of secret Christmases where one present was speciall, one present was more than enough.

in the clouds

2006-12-15T02:19:00.000-08:00

I love long flights, love them because this is the view through my window. I can watch forever how the light and the formations of the clouds are changing. So beautiful.
Well this was also a really entertaining flight. We were scheduled to fly at 8.30 p.m ( wishful thinking) from Vancouver to London. The plane was late two hours, then after boarding the luggage van got jammed with the plane and at the end just before take off a passenger had a heart attack so we left at 12.30 at night. Still a great flight and so many amazing clouds. Now it is time for some shopping, hope my credit card will survive.

hidden treasures

2006-12-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

Just about to head back to Europe and I bought the last National Geographic ( my favorite read while on the plane) and there it is an article about my little country. Bulgaria is famous with the Royal tombs of the Thracians build 5th and 3rd centuries B.C, which are full of incredible golden artifacts. National Geographic calls Bulgaria " El Dorado for the looters". The article tells the tale of the Tracians but also tells the story of a Bulgarian archeologist fighting to find as many of the gold treasures as he can before they are found by people who will never even appreciate the historical value. His name is Georgi Kitov and he is my person of the week. People like him at least try to safe this little country with so much heritage.

it is getting crazy....

2006-12-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

It has been 4 days since I came back and two days before I leave again. At the moment I feel like I have been running like crazy in the passed 4-5 months and well the year isn't over yet, so Christmas shopping, writing millions of Christmas cards, unpacking and packing again, going to way too many Christmas parties and drinking way too many Mohitoes ( well the Mohitoes fest started in Miami so I kinda lost track how many did I have in the last month). I am flying to Europe on the 13th, can't wait to see you all. kisses em

another part of paradise

2006-12-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Miami was amazing,we truly took advantage of the warm weather, beautiful beaches and swimming pools. This place truly seems like another planet where people have one and only task - to enjoy themselves. The best part was the late night swimming in the ocean on full moon and the early morning walks on the beach. The entire travel industry on this conference had a blast, lots of dancing and partying.

Miami, Miami

2006-12-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

Yes no more cold, I am in hot Miami. We are truly having a blast, partying, swimming in the ocean at 2a.m on a full moon with other crazy travel people and at all living life as it should be lived to the fullest.

snowy farytale

2006-11-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

Yes this looks like a snowy farytale! It is the place I live, looking particularly magical. In Bulgaria, every year of my childhood I waited for the snow to start falling and the moment I loved the most was the first sunny morning after a big snowfall, when the snow on the ground changes color, from violet early in the morning, to pink with the first rays of light, to white and than blue. I used to walk in the park and just lay down in the snow, before anyone else has made a step in it. I used to think and I still do that this is as close to being on a cloud as I can be. I am going out to do this right now, see you there and oh yes to the bunch of people that I have challenged to snowball fights - Be ware I am coming!! lol from snowy Vancouver Em

LOVE IT

2006-11-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpyYnyViLq8
Put a big smile on my face, so much like our lifes! I absolutely loved it! :)

flying around the world

2006-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Ola to you all, yes this is the best I can do on Photoshop to explain how the last 30 days looked like. I tried, so you just have to appreciate the effort and love me for it! I promise that at the end of the year I will creat a much more professional map with all of the places i have been.
So I am currently in Mexico city, it is 11 o'clock and I have already had one flight, two wicky's on the plane from Villahermosa, with Alberto a guy from Venetsuela, this is how travel should be. When boarding we were told that the flight is too heavy an all passengers have to go at the back, so we got drunk instead am flying today from Villahermosa to Mexico city, Mexico city to Cancun, Cancun to Houston, Houston to Vancouver. This is way too much drinking coming my way but I promise I am going to do my best. So I have had 12 flights in the last 30 days and have 3 more. love you Ema

the world is full of talented people

2006-11-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

i am listening to the songs of one of my cousin's friends Yann (http://guilbert.yann.free.fr/index.php?rub=chanson&songname=fool). A really talented young guy and I am thinking how in every part of the world someone is creating their art, their message. We meet these people which have so much talent and energy. They seem to recharge us also, make us want to go and get what we want, never to forget that dreams are there to be reached. Meeting people like this is something you cannot forget, they have the sparkles in their eyes. They have the vibrant personality, they put the negativity of the other people in the back drawer and try to see the world trough children's eyes. they are just free spirits, they are something you can't catch. i will try to find one every week and show you what they do to put a smile on my face and hopefully it will do the same for you... :)

being a woman...

2006-11-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Being a woman requires at least from time to time to glam up even if we are not going out anywhere and just remember what it is to feel good in nice clothes. At the end of every trip I so want to throw away the content of my entire suitcase.

Having to spent a month, or two or three with the same clothes ( this is of course if I don't go on a shopping spree in the meantime) has to be one of the experiences i truly do not enjoy. I feel like on the road I just forget to pamper myself and the funny thing is that I hear from my male not female colleagues how they have been to the spa, massages and shopping sprees. Girls we are definitely doing something wrong!!!

So now I always carry a set of glam clothes, just for the sake of making me feel good, just for going out and dancing the whole night and feeling like I belong somewhere.

At the end what would a woman be without inspiration so kudos to Mike Bednar, you are one of the people that make me want to photograph every second of my life. You are incredible photographer I will never get tired of seeing your photos. Check this guys http://www.bednarphoto.com/ and Filipe we have to have those discussions again, it is good to challenge ourselves. posted some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46341737@N00/ view as a slideshow.

Villahermosa - Ema's search for pirates

2006-11-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

I am currently in a place called Villahermosa. It is the capital of the Tabasco State and once centre of the Olmec civilization. The city has moved numerous times down the coast due to the massive pirates attacks. Have not seen any pirates yet, will take some pictures if I see any. All I met so far are British oil geologists and I can say they drink as much as the pirates do. I am here 3 more days and than home for a week :)

LA, friends and good times

2006-11-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Ok so what happen to me in the passed 5 days. I had the most amazing last night in Acapulco. Got to the beach and relaxed, swam in the ocean and after went straigh to the restaurant on the beach, watched the unbelievable sunset drinking Champaign and eating a fantastic meal. I really appreciated it and loved the moment so much.
Things got even better and that was because on the next day I flew to Mexico city and than to LA where Eli ( one of my colleagues), David, Christopher and Tinu ( my bosses) were waiting for me and the same evening one of the biggest Travel conferences started. All CEO's of all the biggest travel companies showed up. We did great job and most importantly had a blast. The presentation of out company was very successful and everyone wanted to be around us.
In the evenings lots of fun, drinking, good food, laughs, karaoke, bull riding and at all amazing times. I have a funny photo of Eli and me doing a Virtual Tout, the tripod is on a bar table and we are walking on the bar chairs around it. This is called determination. I loved every minute of the trip to LA and my wonderful company. Really didn't want them to leave at all. Eli, we are going to have even bigger blast in Miami, will try the bull than, lol.

So today I am back in Mexico, flew to Cancun, than took a tiny plane to Villahermosa where I am now. Evey time I see those planes I think that they are joking with me and very soon my big shiny plane will come but no. I still remember flying from Pueto Rico to St.Lucia last year. We were bussed to a very small plane and not allowed to come out of the bus till the plane is fully checked that means we were watching the the pilot kicking the tires to see if they are fine and spinning the propellers. I think myself and all the rest of the passengers got slightly worried that he is doing the checking of the plane in such fashion, but hey makes life definitely more interesting.

Acapulco singing and dancing

2006-11-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

I am in a place I have always wanted to visit. I have childhood memories of my mum singing a song called Acapulco, it was one of those places which sounded like paradise and the escape from our grey communist reality, place that we can never go to or see and now I am here, here and smiling all the time. It is beautiful, it is full of atmosphere it is amazing.

My Mexican trip has been one of my best professionaly. People run around me and after me, carrying my tripod and camera and not allowing me to do anything that can strain me, all they want is beautiful photos. My contacts in all of the properties have been amazing and have done all they can for me to have the easiest and the best shoot ever. I have asked for crazy things ( get access to buildings in the area so I can get a better exterior, have all of the lights on the balconies of all of the rooms in the entire hotel to be switched on, so I can take a dusk shot, pools blocked for a whole morning....... Wow). The best thing is that I found great friends and I am coming back and going on a holiday with them. Jose Enrique we are off to the Mayan city in the jungle!!

Off to LA on Monday, Cancun on Thursday, Villahermosa on Friday, Vancouver on 23rd, Miami on 3rd, London on 13th, Sofia on 20th.
kisses to all of you

We have a colorful life

2006-11-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

I was thinking today what a colorful life we lead. Today as usual I talked to many friends and than realized where they all are and that in couple of hours I have talked to people in Bangkok( Thailand), Mumbai ( India), Sofia ( Bulgaria), Hohhot ( China), Marseilles ( France), London (UK), various US states and Vancouver and I am in Merida Mexico. We do have a colorful life! Love you guys Ema

Merida the place for taking photos

2006-11-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

Merida, the white city, an amazing place which has gathered so much history and has so many faces. Merida is the capital city of the Mexican state Yucatan, founded in 1512 and build over the Maya city of Ti'ho, also known as Ichcaanzih or land of the great "sihoes". The architecture is unbelievable and on the main boulevardard Plaseo Monteo one can find the most interesting Colonial buildings and in the same time if you dive in the small streets you are surrounded by the typical colorfulful one story buildings. Three differentent worlds.

Sunday morning I had time to go take some photos for myself and found out what Sunday really means in this city. All streets leading to the church are closed and thousands of people head for the morning service which was truly incredible and I managed to take some shots inside and than to bribe the old ladies outside to allow me to photograph them for a while. This is another of those magic places where I feel like photographing non stop. Oh yes this is a city where the sky is never cloudless, makes me love it even more.

Asta luego

Ema

fishing for a dream

2006-11-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Lets go fishing for a dream, lets find some place new, somewhere we can be ourselves all of the time. The whole world will see you shine. :)

free in the rain

2006-11-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

It was pouring rain today, pouring, I have never seen a sky like this, so gray, so amazing. I did what I do always when it rains - go out and get soaked it just makes you feel like there are no worries in the world. So I went to the beach and stood there having the drops of rain and ocean spray fall on my face, tickle my skin, such amazing sensation. I was the only person there, I could not see anyone on the miles long beach. I ran, I swam I did everything just because I was there alone and hell it was good to feel free.

paradise and me

2006-10-30T20:48:00.000-08:00

Ok where to start I am back in paradise, I am back on the Caribbean, well almost, my new home for the next month is Mexico, currently Cancun. I absolutely loved the first time I came here 3 years ago and I remember smiling all the time, swimming in the ocean and at all having the time of my life. I can surely say that this trip started also with lots of smiling. Arriving in Cancun I head towards the Information desk where 4 guys explained to me where is the taxi stand and where abouts is my hotel, at the end they said that I definitely have to get the Mexican welcome. I did not remember anything like this from my last trip so they started explaining they gave examples - in Hawaii you get flowers, in Italy kisses and in Mexico.... before I could say anything they all came and gave me a hug. Yes this is the way to start a trip, lol.
I got up at 5 this morning I took this photo, went for a walk on the beach and swam in the ocean. The entire day I spend surrounded by the amazing staff of this hotel, all so kind and so helpful, I feel like I am at home, I walked all day with a big smile on my face.
I truly love Mexico...:)
Hugs and kisses
Ema

just a dream...

2006-10-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Do we miss moments because we are so afraid that they will pass us by anyway without stopping? Do we miss someone just because we are too scared that it will be too good to bare, too good to have forever, are we afraid of forever? Do we want everything that we can't have? What happens if you reach and say no I will have it now and always? What happens if you choose to fight and to live, to experience, to suffer but to know that every minute, every second is lived trough like there is no today, no tomorrow? What happens if you say I will have it all, I will dream of it all, I am all. Where is the breaking point when you say I will run wild, I will enjoy with every sense I have? So many questions and all you have to do is say: today I begin.

why you should smile

2006-10-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

What do you want to do?
What do you want to be?
What do you want to have?
Where do you want to go?
Who do you want to go with?
How the hell do you plan to get there?
Write it down. Go do it. Enjoy it. Share it.
It doesn't get much simpler or better than that.

It's my Birthday....

2006-10-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

I was born 29 years ago without heartbeat, I took my first breath minutes later and maybe that is why I love life and I fight for it every minute of every day. I love you mum!!!!
My Birthday started last night ( it was already the 19th in Bulgaria) so many phone calls and wonderful wishes.

This morning while waking up and smiling I was thinking for my passed Birthdays and where I was in the world.
My 23rd Birthday was spent with my family and friends in Bulgaria, I was still a student and had a fantastic day with my colleagues in the crazy Film, Theater and Art University. Great times.
My 24th in Paris all of the day with colleagues in Magnum Photo agency and than all night with my family drinking Champaign and eating tons of chocolate watching the night Paris, the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.
My 25th in Ankara, Turkey again with fantastic bunch of friends and many presents and of course some belly dancing.
The 26th in Mexico in a resort called El Tamarindo with a colleague of mine Darryl. We were photographing this amazing place with 29 private villas surrounded by incredible forest finishing on a private little lagoon. All was candle lit at night and had the most amazing atmosphere. After work we swam in the ocean ( floated is more like what we did) and I still remember Darryl singing “ It’s your Birthday” all day long.
The night finished with a cake and a candle and 5 Mexican waiters singing in broken English “Happy Birthday to you…..”
My 27th - Paris again, this time with another colleague of mine Art. We were doing destination work all day and it was hot, sunny and beautiful. In the evening we found a little corner restaurant on the coble streets close to the Opera and we drank a lot of wine and played a game of people watching.
My 28th – London. Finally a Birthday spent with Rob and I still remember we had amazing Columbus clouds on that day, together with amazing warm weather and a fantastic dinner in the evening.
Finally today I am 29, I feel young I feel like there is so much to achieve and that I will do it all. I had the most fantastic start of the day with Rob and a gift that made me so happy. A little blue camera. What else can a girl want!

This is where I am going to be very soon

2006-10-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

One of those magical places where time seems to stop

2006-10-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

So often I wonder what captivates me and makes me love a place so much that it hurts. So often I wonder what exactly makes me want to loose myself somewhere on the streets and just enjoy the smell of the city, its vibrancy and atmosphere. So many times I experience the arising sensation of total satisfaction, of carrying a smile on my face and not being able to escape from the feeling that this is all meant for me to see and live trough.

Chicago is one of those places that makes me feel like I am on top of the world. A place where you just can't close your eyes, can't sleep, can't even daydream because you can miss something. And this is exactly what I did, I took all I can, felt like a kid in a candy store and for a second time this year experienced this magical city. I am still there right now, in my thoughts and my dreams and desires.

Chicago, Chicago

2006-10-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, I love this place, I am here second time this year and I am truly loving it. I am at the Travel Distribution Summit and having a real blast. CEO's of companies are definitely fun. Will write and post more photos later. :)

I AM FAMOUS

2006-10-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

As you all know (for the ones that don’t see Archives from July ) I am a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society. On their web site http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/ they have some of the most stunning images of clouds I have seen taken by fellow members ( most of them professional photographers). Well I send one photo also and today I received an e-mail from their photo editor that they want to publish the image that you see here in the International Meteorology Magazine. It just can't get better than that I feel so happy that my cloud dreams are coming true!

World From Above

2006-10-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

It was another of those days when I thought that I am blessed with what I do. Hanging 57 m above ground for 4 hours from a bright yellow crane all I could think about is how much I love my job. I had the most amazing view ever of early morning Vancouver all in beautiful sunlight; I just kept smiling and pressing the shutter of my camera. Such moments just make you feel so alive without any fear, without anything to stop your eyes recording, without anything to stop you from flying! I truly loved the whole experience seeing the world from above.

Eastern European Mafia

2006-09-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

What happens when two girls from the same part of Europe gather in Canada? I think the answer is lots of fun and adventures. I think every Canadian company has to have mandatory at least 2 to 3 people from Eastern Europe to make things even crazier.
Example- with one of my friends Diem ( she is Polish) for one day we managed to turn Vancouver upside down, get in a car crash, get out of the car crash laughing, cook a great meal ( see the photo, Dean another friend is included, he was on talking to us on Skype from New Jersey), get drunk and at all good times.
Shall I say Vancouver so far has been a blast( been back nearly a week). Seeing Rob for a day and having an amazing time. Meeting all my friends and doing things like Fear Factor Beer Garden or paintballing and all this in the last sunny, gorgeous days of the year.
Back to work on Monday and off to a trade show in Chicago early October.
Hope you are all doing great.
Lots of love from sunny Vancouver.

My Indian life

2006-09-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Ema, I travel around the world photographing luxury hotels and resorts, I travel and I try to stop the time so I can steal moments. My eyes always look for the unforgettable and this trip shooting much smaller hotels my soul was the one that found it. I found new culture that I have known so little about. So fascinating, so new, made me feel like I have so much more to explore. To this you said: "The World is so small, you can make a full circle for 24 hours", it is that simple.

My teachers, Ken and Jana, Mr and Mrs B, you made my trip unforgettable. You opened my eyes for your culture and took me into your homes and hearths and showed me the everyday life of the Indian people.

How much we don't know about the world? Makes me feel so ignorant but I have tried on this trip to soak it all, to feel it all. The religion that has 33 000 000 Gods, the main one Ganes, and the Gods of the Fire, Water, Air and Earth. One of the most curios was the Richest God in the World - people wait for hours in front of his temple and they give so much money that they can't be counted they can be only weighed. This little cup is 500 years old, it is made of an unknown metal and is used for meditation. When you rub the wooden stick around it's edge the sound that comes from it makes you feel so calm, so relaxed, it makes it all disappear. While doing this we had a little heater burning a mix of 32 spices and rose petals. It was meant to clear our minds of all bad
thoughts. My friend Karl was the first to show me how to meditate and try to calm my spirit, this felt like the next level.

We ate home meade Indian food and then two women dressed me in the traditional sari and I truly felt part of it all, the culture, the atmosphere and part of people's lives.

2006-09-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

2006-09-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

free sky

2006-09-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

how is it possible not to be happy when the sky above me can look like this. It carries something magic, the sense of freedom, desire and passion. as if clouds carry a different world, that reflects in me and makes me want to adore life even more. is there more important feeling than the one of complete happiness and satisfaction that the nature can create so much beauty.

a fish called Ema

2006-09-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

" This is Ema!" Those were almost the first words I heard from the front desk manager in the hotel I am in when she heard my name. I looked where she was pointing and I saw this little orange fish with blue eyes. Apparently she smiles ( tried to get the smile) , likes attention more than any fish I have ever seen and also can be petted. I actually got quite attached to this tiny fish and she seemed to show as much interest in me and curiously looking while I was photographing the lobby.

This is funny for the ones that know me, animals are not my thing. I had a nightmare sleeping in the same room in Marseille with my cousins blue blooded rats ( sorry Maguy, thank God we had so much to drink), I was definitely not fascinated by my other cousins Vince's Love Bird, that had anything but love towards everyone and bite my legs any time it could, because it was walking at this point not like normal birds flying.
Funny enough on the road I have had really funny moments with animals - I danced with a parrot in Jamaica ( he was hilarious and funny enough liked me), I had a crab knocking on my window at 4 a.m again on the coast. How did this animal climb to the terrace on the 2nd floor I don't know and now Ema, the fish that smiles.

As you can see still having a blast on the road...
Love ya.