RURAL ALBANIA
Something about nostalgic feelings and vast mountainous landscapes. This is a walk down the memory lane of innocence and the uphill path towards a blue sunset behind a deserted white pickup truck. The view will be enjoyed while being seated on a abandoned bunker, which is nothing more than what this photo collection is; ruins and leftovers of memory from an era when everything had too much grain. Thus, take off your shoes like you would when entering a mosque and proceed with reverence. For every emotion that might get evoked, touch your nose and whisper 'Mashallah'.
My nan is obsessed with her Mulberry trees. She picks up the fallen Mulberries two times a day, one after the sun has risen and the other before the sun sets. She carries the pride of being the second person in the entire village to have so many Mulberry trees and she uses all those Mulberries to make raki (really strong green coloured alcoholic beverage).
The first time I hopped on a horse must have been so many years ago that I can't even trace the timeline to tell. I just remember I felt free.
As above, so below; first shooting day of NËNA documentary.
It is true that she has this power to attract the sun.
In the photograph below we were ready to leave the chapel on the hill when she decided to tell me a funny story about a relative. While she was narrating it she stepped in front of the sun, so I had to interrupt her and urge her to stay still. She just stood there laughing and said "At least the sun warms by back" .
On the left there's a road and on the right there's my brother. They seem like two irrelevant subjects but here's the thing; The road above is the only road I had never explored while strolling around my village, something about it just pushed me away. One day my brother and I wanted to smoke a joint, so he tells me to trust him because he knows a place. We took the road on the left and after walking all the way down a vast valley with an incredible view appeared in front of us. We stood there and got high as a kite while sharing dreams and aspirations in life. The moment he passed me the joint I stared at him for a while, admiring his lion heart and hazel eyes and thought that sometimes you take yourself places and you explore and that's amazing but what about the road we chose not to walk until someone takes us by the hand and walks it with us. Maybe in our selfishness we forget that some things in life cannot be experienced alone but with company.
Above; A surprisingly personal photograph. It's always August and it's always sunny. The ground is usually painted in a polka-dot pattern by the sun.Our village is one of the few villages in Albania where Mulberry trees grow. We have the luxury to enjoy their density while the rest of the world remains oblivious. This is a rather long and thin path because Mulberry trees love to lay. I remember returning home before the sun set after we had picked all the fallen mulberries with my nan and walking through this path which was bathed in polka dotted light. Keep in mind, it's August, it's warm, it's sunny and you're walking through a trail, arched by thick branches and mulberries, the light and its absence hit you so fast it's almost becoming trippy. It feels like entering another world, it feels like entering home.
Above; accidental Rembrandt. People tell me that this is the best photograph I have ever taken. To be frank, I love it too. It's still life, it's lighted like an oil on canvas and it sums up my multiple visits; honey and horses.
Below; nothing can be compared to this. I feel that this the best and warmest portrait I've ever taken as a photographer. Despite knowing what's technically exceptional and what's emotionally exceptional I've chosen to hang this portrait in my heart.
One of the things I enjoy about visiting my village is the walks I take with this guy. This is my cousin, the only cousin my brother and I have from my mom's side. He is not like a younger brother, he is our younger brother. I'll never forget when once my nan teased him about him not having another sibling. He replied that he doesn't want another sibling since he already has two older ones. My nan got surprised and asked him who are his other siblings. He simply said my brother's name and mine. I love listening to him talking about the child life struggle, how he sees things, what he wants to do _how he exists in general. Maybe it's an attempt for inspiration. Maybe we've missed being present, maybe survival kicks hard from a point and on. Is this too dark? Yeah, I know.
I couldn't but quote my favorite polyphonic song "Ah, keto vende anë e mbanë mor bukuri"
"Ah, these places everywhere hold such great beauty"
Leftovers from an era people thought comfort was freedom. Albanians are obsessed with Mercedes cars. By the way, we're here. This is the bunker. If you sit on that bunker you will have the most beautiful view; small houses with brick coloured roofs, valleys of green and the horizon blocked by huge piles of soil, rocks and trees. I preferred instead of focusing on the view, to focus on the point of view in order to not spoil the imagination of the reader. Our trip is slowly coming to an end.
They saw me and my camera and their eyes glimpsed of playfulness. I said "Come closer, let me take a picture". He laughed and started running around, she stayed shyly behind. At some point he came closer and looked directly towards me.
"I got you little rascal"
We've come to an end. The walk finishes here. As promised, a white pickup truck and a blue sunset. I hope you sat comfortably on the deserted bunker above. Something comforting about laying peacefully on ruins of the past thinking you've freed yourself from it. I wish you have. It's not an easy thing to be haunted but remember that "it's so hard to dance with the devil on your back so shake it off". I could finish this text by saying "Elhamdulillah" which means "praise to God" but as we all know God may not exist, especially around these landscapes and that is why you should praise yourself and praise both the good and the bad because both "are". Maybe, tho, we need to praise love and peace and oneness and solidarity a bit more. Maybe, we need it. Maybe we need to be kind. Kindness, such an odd way to communicate to another person that there's still love in the world. Now, maybe I'm getting too poetic and I hate it when I come off as a pretentious cultural pal. I'm raw and nostalgic. The sun has set, it's getting dark and cold, we've communicated so much and it's only our first date. Pick up your shoes love and go.
The mosque is closing.
