Something has been in my mind for a while now... A friend proposed this idea of doing a joint photo project about the city we live in, Jogja. I gladly welcome it, since the concept is something I've also felt for as long as I've lived here, yet I haven't been bothered to give it further thoughts. Now since somebody else brought it up I'm starting to wonder if it's really something which could be worked out. Problem is, I'm not sure how to visualize it. How do you photograph something which isn't even visible? I'm not good at elaborating ideas, but to put it simple, it is something about a sense of belonging to a place. Something which makes people feel right at home in this small city of Jogja, even when it's not their actual hometown. I know a lot of people like that, myself included. When I ask people this, there are the obvious factors such as low living cost, the hospitality, the convenience of going around the city due to its relatively small size, etc etc... but I've always thought it goes beyond that though I can't tell what. If you live in Jogja for quite some time you'll know what I mean. Perhaps it's something in the air, I don't know.
While I (lazily) ponder about that, here are few photos.
10 comments:
never been to Jogja :(
sad sad
I would think of many things about Jogja. Its tolerant people, its ever-changing role as city of students, its many facets of kingdom, etc.
On the accompanying pictures...looks like you have not taken pictures for quite sometimes.
ini foto presentasi kemarin ya?
ah menyimak ahhhhh
@yoyok:
You really should! :D
@billitone:
"I would think of many things about Jogja. Its tolerant people, its ever-changing role as city of students, its many facets of kingdom, etc."
Yes, those are (somewhat) true to some degree, but the problem is that they are pretty much what people *expect* of Jogja. Things that non-citizens have in mind when they hear about the city. Old cultures living alongside the modern, natural beauties, etc etc. The problem with those is that they're a kind of 'romanticized' views... I can say that most people who actually live here aren't that much concerned about those things. We live life just like everybody else in other cities. And I do notice Jogja is becoming more and more like other cities, at least in appearance. Yet something non-physical (the spirit?), stays the same. What I'm after is more of an insider view, how a mere citizen sees his own city, how he loves it despite all the shortcomings, and detached from how the outer world apparently imagines the city to be like they want.
"On the accompanying pictures...looks like you have not taken pictures for quite sometimes."
Admittedly so. I suppose the pictures are not up to the usual standard? (were there any? :p)
@ticer:
nggak, yg dipresentasiin foto lama semua kok, wong nggak punya bahan baru.
lets make it personal ...
I'll make self portrait with keraton, malioboro, tugu, merapi, etc on the background. I'm good on that, trust me coz i work for friendster agency ...
"trust me coz i work for friendster agency.."
=))
foto yg balonnya... ajib!
8->
menyimak kakak frenster agency...film-e nyusul yak, arang mlaku2 ki..
i stayed in Jogja for almost 6 year.. that was 12 years ago... as far as i remember, it's not just another city... it's the Jogja! i don't know the situation now... but i'm sure you will be able to dig something out of it...
wid...
bikin buku!
YR: yeah ... but all of sudden you will miss those memories when you get there again these days ... i know that things change, but in Jogja's case, i dont wanna see it occurs. but hey, Jogja now already changing. sometimes I feel its not a best place to live for the rest of my time ... I just not ready yet for the change, its killing Jogjakartan people softly. but whatsoever, I have fall in love to this place, the people, the places, the foods and its culture.
hopy + eric: good news is, the friendster's editor always accept my images ... and yeah 8 months ago I joint the facebook agency. the money is good, i got lots of link to several editors and fellow photographer from around mother earth ... I guess we are on the same agency now ... dont we???
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