Kemal Baba - 1980?

Kemal Baba - 1980?, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This is the best picture I've seen of a very special person. I believe this photo was taken by my good friend, Douglas Aronson, who had a true gift for choosing the right shot at the right moment. He remains my inspiration.

Kemal Baba had a rich deep voice and a warm, stress-free, smiley, comforting personality. He died in the fall of 1986.

Snow shoveling

Snow shoveling, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

One of the Sloatsburg winter traditions is creating a place to park on Johnsontown Road whenever it snows. We are hard at work shoveling, hence the unusually healthy glow.

Kids of Krusha

Kids of Krusha, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

These kids live in a village where all of the adult men above the age of 13 were rounded up and killed before NATO stepped into the Kosova conflict, five years previous to the time the picture was taken.

The old women were despondent but the kids were intensely full of joy and life, as a reminder that no matter how sad or tragic the past may be, life and hope are always reborn in the children.

Mountains of Kosova

Mountains of Kosova, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

I've never been to Switzerland, although I've flown over it.

I've never seen the Rocky Mountains either.

Kosova is surrounded by mountains. These provided the most stupendous mountain view I've ever seen.

Layla as butterfly

Layla as butterfly, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Layla on the 'Id.

Yes. She's a butterfly.

Next question?

The Perfect Day of Fishing with Uncle Bob

Fishing with Uncle Bob, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Uncle Bob was entirely instrumental in the success of this rare fishing activity. It was a day that will be long remembered, as both Rashida AND Ahmed caught an equal number of fish, of the same sizes, at the same time. It was memorable because there was no question of inequality or who was better at fishing. Amazing.

Ahmed with umbrella

Ahmed with umbrella, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

During the Memorial Weekend Tournament in Stroudsburg, PA., May 2005.

It was pouring rain, and cold, but they won the game.

Fishing

Fishing, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Rashida caught a fish. 2004 at a small pond in the Adirondacks near Ausable Forks, NY.

Dancer at Ramapo High School

dancer1, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Art from the walls of Ramapo High School, Spring Valley, NY

I think, of all the paintings on all the walls, all of which are memorable or amazing or important for one reason or another, this is the one that stands out most for me.

I can't say why. It's alive. It moves. I am amazed that a student painted it, I guess.

Muhammad Shahjahan

Muhammad Shahjahan, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This is my very good friend and brother, Muhammad Shahjahan, who passed away on September 11, 2001. He worked in No. 1 World Trade Center on the 95th floor. That floor was hit first in the terrorist attacks. This picture was taken on March 11, 2001, exactly six months before he left this world. In the original picture, he was sitting next to his brother, Farooqi Salimullah. People returning from the Hajj were being welcomed with a small dinner get-together in the mosque in Chestnut Ridge.

Rashida looking cute

Rashida looking cute, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Taking a bath, December 1988 maybe.

Korukoy garden

Korukoy garden, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

1980? This shot of Ceyda's grandmother, her mother, her aunt Ozcan, her sister and cousins in the garden of the summer house near Yalova.

Tosun Efendi and Safer Efendi

Tosun Efendi and Safer Efendi, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Tosun Bayrak and Safer Dal in the garden of Safer Efendi's house in Haremustu, Uskudar, Istanbul. 1985?

Venera offers a cookie

Vezna offers candy, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This woman was very funny. I undertand that she doesn't work for the Albanian Women's Organization anymore.

This picture was taken inside a van in Kosovo, summer of 2003. Sitting next to her, enjoying some cookies, is Uncle Oguz.

My mother's cooking

My mother's cooking, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

I like the colors. Reminds me of the Italian flag, perhaps? My mother always takes good care of us. I think there's some shrimp in there among the pasta, tomatoes and asparagus.

How to copy any of these pictures

If you want to see any of these pictures in a larger size, just to look at, or to download, simply click on the picture itself. You will be taken to my FLICKR website. By clicking on "all sizes" above the picture itself, you will be able to choose any size you wish to view. The "original size" is usually enormous, too big for comfortable viewing but very good for saving and editing with photoediting software.

Ceyda amidst a gang of kids and women

Ceyda amidst a gang of kids and women, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

I think this was taken in Korukoy, near Yalova, in Turkey. Ceyda is in the white dress holding the doll. It was probably taken in 1969 or thereabouts.

Ahmed works on his journal

Ahmed works on his journal, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This was taken in my in-laws' apartment in Istanbul.

In 1999, the summer of the big earthquake in Turkey, Ahmed kept a journal. Wait a minute. Is that a journal or a big homework sheet? I like the look on his face, his haircut and the way he is holding the pencil.

Tosun Bayrak and Gilbert Gordon

Tosun Bayrak and Gilbert Gordon, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This is a picture of Tosun Efendi and Gul Ali Baba on a ferry across the Bosporus, in Istanbul. They're drinking tea, which is served on every ferry ride. The picture was taken in about 1985 or 1986.

Focus of this blog

I guess I've decided to post any interesting pictures, family or otherwise, that I find in my collection of digital images. I give up on making it focus on any particular area. The unifying feature is that I like these pictures and choose to share them with family and friends.

1973 at Pocono Lake

1973 at Pocono Lake, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This photo was taken in the summer of 1973 in front of the lakefront building in Swiftwater, PA. It includes a wide selection of family members including Pauls, Millers, Butzs, Ratazzi's, Ed Butler, etc.

I was in France, so I'm not in the picture.

Central Park 1989

Central Park 1989, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Ozden, Ceyda and Rashida in Central Park, near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Neighbors

Neighbors, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

These people are from a neighbor's family near Yalova, I think.

Ozden's Mother & Women

Ozden's Mother & Women, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

Ceyda's grandmother is sitting on the left side in the back. What are they making?

Family in Mendham

Family in Mendham, originally uploaded by rdpaul.

This picture was taken in the living room of Gladys and Margaret's home in Mendham, NJ. Judging by the size of Ahmed and Rashida, it was probably taken in about 2001? Most likely summer, as some people are wearing shorts.

First post on new PHOTO blog

I hope to be able to post photos on this blog and share them with friends and family.

We'll see how it works.