Natural Silk

A treasure of silver and gold in the middle of nowhere. Stunning.

Just a Shadow

Treat me like a prisoner,

treat me like a fool.

Treat me like a looser,

use me as a tool,

waste me till I'm hungry,

lose me in the cold.

Treat me like a criminal ...

just a shadow on the wall.

                                             

                                                   (Mike Oldfield)

2011 © Suzie Blue Photography

Ptuj at Night

Ptuj is the oldest city in Slovenia. There is evidence that the area was settled in the Stone Age. In the Late Iron Age it was settled by Celts. By the 1st century BC, the settlement was controlled by Ancient Rome. In 69 AD, Vespasian was elected Roman Emperor by the Danubian legions in Ptuj, and the first written mention of the city of Ptuj is from the same year. The city of Poetovio was the base-camp of Legio XIII Gemina in Pannonia. The name originated in the times of Emperor Trajan, who granted the settlement city status and named it Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio in 103. 

Ptuj, 2011 © Suzie Blue Photography

Read and see more ............

The city had 40,000 inhabitants until it was plundered by the Huns in 450. In 570 the city was occupied by Eurasian Avars and Slavic tribes. Ptuj became part of the Frankish Empire after the fall of Avar state at the end of 8th century. Between 840 and 874 it belonged to the Slavic Balaton Principality of Pribina and Kocelj. Between 874 and 890 Ptuj gradually came under the influence of the Archbishopric of Salzburg; city rights passed in 1376 began an economic upswing for the settlement. As Pettau, it was incorporated into the Duchy of Styria in 1555.

Pettau was a battleground during the Ottoman wars in Europe and suffered from fires in 1684, 1705, 1710, and 1744. Its population and importance began to decline in the 19th century, however, after the completion of the Vienna-Trieste route of the Austrian Southern Railway, as the line went through Marburg (Maribor) instead.

According to the 1910 Austro-Hungarian census, 86% of the population of Pettau's Old Town was German-speaking, while the population of the surrounding villages predominantly spoke Slovene. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I, Pettau was included in the short-lived Republic of German Austria, but after the military intervention of the Slovenian general Rudolf Maister, the entire territory of Lower Styria was included into the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (Yugoslavia). During the interwar period, the number and the percentage of those identifying as Germans in the city, which was renamed Ptuj, decreased rapidly, although a relatively strong ethnic German minority remained. After the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Ptuj was occupied by Nazi Germany. From 1941 to 1944 the town's Slovenian population was dispossessed and deported. Their homes were taken over by German speakers from South Tyrol and the Gottschee County, who had themselves been evicted according to an agreement between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. These German immigrants, along with the native German Pettauer, were expelled to Austria in 1945; many later settled in North America.

Since 1945 Ptuj has been populated almost completely by Slovenians.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Ptuj, 2011 © Suzie Blue Photography

Snailish

Snailish (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

Looking for a Way Out

We all feel a bit lonely and lost sometimes. And while I was looking for a way out of my vicious circle, I was lucky enough to have a friend who stood by my side and cheered me up. What a creative day! After taking a few shots of my friend Katja, I just couldn't resist to get on the stonewall myself ... so we switched the roles. She did an excellent job in capturing my mood. :)

Looking for a Way Out (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

FOTOLIFE 17 ( Life - življenje, potovanje, ljudje...) – best shot of the week:
http://www.fotosalon.si/fotobook/groups/viewgroup/51-FOTOLIFE+17+(158228),+zmagovalka%3A+Suzana+Jus+Looking+for+a+way+out

Teardrop

Water is my eye. Most faithful mirror… Teardrop on the fire.

A Harlequin Ladybird

A Harlequin Ladybird (2011)

                                                                                                                                       .....     .....

 

Fisherman's Catch

Another photo from my village. A proof that there are still some big fish to catch in this stream ... but of course with lots of patience.

Beautiful Dawn

Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn.

Take me to the place where we come from.

Take me to the end so I can see the start. 

…

                                                               (James Blunt) 

Heart of Dawn

Taken at a nearby field ... the heart was almost perfectly shaped, so it's not my 'invention'. And even if it's not as sharp as it should be, I believe it's a nice pick to brighten the day. ;)

Frostwork

Christmas ornaments take many different forms, from a simple round ball to highly artistic designs. Well, I have found a very special ornament this years – a natural one. Do you recognize it? Yes, it's a frozen dandelion also known as blow-ball. I won't put it on my tree, but it's a nice photo for this year's Christmas cards.

Frostwork (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

And a Ney Year card:

2011 © Suzie Blue Photography

A Winter Story

Winter Story (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

Let's fly

Little Fly, 

Thy summer's play 

My thoughtless hand 

Has brushed away.

Am not I 

A fly like thee? 

Or art not thou 

A man like me?

                            (William Blake)

There are a few flaws, but I wanted to share it anyway since it's winter and I'll have to wait 4 or 5 months to get another chance of catching such reddish eyes again.

It's Coffee Time!

Not so long ago I came across an interesting signboard 'Kavarna' in a nearby town and, since I'm a huge fan of coffee and 'kavarna' is the Slovene word for a café, I just couldn't resist to take a photo of it. The original colours were a bit harsh on the eyes, so a colleague has suggested to give it a try in the Pop Art Studio. As you can see it was fun!

Kavarna (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

The Butterfly Effect

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

The photo was taken on a sunny afternoon in my living room a few months ago. When I saw the butterfly I immediately got the idea of catching its reflection in the window. It took me about an hour to capture the right angle – not much if I consider the end result. So the next time you see a butterfly or a ladybird on your window, give it a try! You might be surprised how easy a ''Picture Perfect'' photo might be done.

Coenonympha pamphilus (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

Scars of Time

    ... Scars of time left on my skin along with those I've kept within ...

                             (Deride)

Scars of Time (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

Summer Souvenir

Summer Souvenir (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

1, 2, 3 – How Old Are We?

Counting the spots to see how old they are? Stop.

Different ladybugs have different numbers of spots and the spots are with them all their life. They don't get more spots as they get older, nor do they lose spots. But if you're interested in their age: the spots do fade as they get older. :)

Pikapolonica (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

Information found at http://www.ladybuglady.com/.

Feathers on a Rainy Day

Taken on a boring rainy day at a lake ... thanks to Photoshop the outcome was not so bad after all. 

Feathers (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

And a dreamy one ....

Soft Dream (2011 © Suzie Blue Photography)

The Beauty of Sun and Its Flowers

  I see you there in glory shining bright,

  Following the sun and its path of light.

  Standing tall above all others in the field,

  You grow, conquer, and do not yield.

                                                                  

                           By Katherine R. Lane

Welcome!

Welcome to my brand new (and my first) photolog. It's a challenge, but I will do my best to keep you interested. :))

                                                                                                        Thank you for your support.

                                                   

                                                                                                                          Regards,

                                                                                                                                  Suzie