Illustrated Life

WELCOME - This is the greeting that travellers get when arriving in Vienna from the south. A multi-colour confusion of signs and lights, etc. I took this photo last summer whilst travelling by tram from Baden bei Wien to Vienna.

Westlicht Vienna

Picture by Nigel James

World Press Photo 09

Suspended Progress

Once again the judges have decided. And, once again we are able to view the very best of what the world press has shot. And, this year, like all previous years, it is an exhibition of very brave brilliance.

But, however brilliant the pictures may be, there is no way of hiding the illustrated violence in all its multi-coloured gore that makes the best much better than the rest! Brilliance doesn't mean beauty; in a press photographic sense it means the capturing of the moment as it really is and presenting it as such.

The world is how it is, and thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who often risk all, we are able to witness the world from the comfort of our very own and very safe armchairs. For us, the pictures are frozen moments of history, not front line danger. And this is the point of the show, it is images of suspended progress.

This exhibition proves once again the importance of Westlicht as an important centre of world class photography in Vienna. Its program is varied and hhighly interesting, and, if you have time, a visit is well worth the while.

Westlicht. westbahnstrasse 40. 1070 Vienna. www.westlicht.com

Language Help

decided - entschieden

brave - kühn/mutig

gore - blutig und scheußlich

point - Sinne

suspended - gefroren

varied - vielfältig.

Illustrated Life

Animals still attract! My son, Maxi, took this picture in Hungary. We were enjoying a performance of the Hungarian National Circus. I have always been a fan of the circus, and the Hungarian National Circus is one of the best I know- and the great thing about it is - that it keeps getting better and better.

Bert Millinger's Project

Bert Millinger's daughter Susie singing with the Vienna Hausmeister Project - photo Nigel James

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Bert Millinger
Vienna Hausmeister Project

My good friend, Bert Millinger is well on his way to becoming one of Vienna’s most popular singers; and, just the other day, I had the great pleasure of seeing him once again in action. He was playing in Vienna at Günter’s coffee house, The Garten Café in Rodaun, and his performance was, as always, superb.

Bert Millinger is himself when he is helping others to achieve their own dreams, and the people he helps are the singers of tomorrow, and he does this in his events by giving them what is his – and what is his is his time.

Bert Millinger divides his happenings into two halves. The first half prepares the way for the second half, and the second half makes the first half possible. And this is the secret of Bert Millinger’s way of helping the young on their way to the top.

Their is no shortage of young talent in Vienna, and each time Bert Millinger organizes an occasion he usually invites 3 or 4 youngsters to perform, and his daughter, Susie is usually one of them, and this is what happened last week

When it comes to choosing for the future, Bert Millinger knows how. All of the kids who sang – sang well, and everyone enjoyed them very much indeed. And it was the pleasure that these youngsters gave that set the mood for the evening – for the second half, just like the first, was simply great!

After the interval was Bert Millinger’s Hausmeister Project. A band with a feeling of electricity that is able to set an exciting current in action that goes right through and touches the innermost feelings of the people who are experiencing their music. Their interpretations of Viennese music, both ancient and modern, brought the songs of long, long ago (and not so long ago, too) once more to the surface, proving, that when played superbly well, old Viennese songs (and not so old, too) are just as meaningful as they always have been.

The Hausmeister Project is deep pleasure in action, and, as long as it continues to play, one of the nicest traditions of Viennese music will continue to be heard; and, as long as Bert Millinger continues to encourage the young, tomorrow will have the musical comfort that is expected of this great musical city!

There is more about the Vienna Hausmeister Project in the net, it is worth looking in Google.

Bert Millinger - photo by Nigel James