one could say, it is already the beginning of June 2016. Although I realize not many people really read all of this, I should try and continue with this stories more frequently and not so sporadic as of late. Well, sitting here on a Saturday, happy it is weekend and I am not at work. Lately it has gotten quite intense and much, but for better or worse I need to carry on, at least for a little while. As one can read in the international and local press and also in the meantime on the internet, there have been direct threats of attacks made against the organization, so we are all taking precautions and even around our residences there is currently high  security. Let's all hope that nothing happens and this all passes, the world is already crazy but seems there are not limits.

So, since I last wrote, indeed I went to the mountains as long planned. The trip to the Qadisha Valley and Bsharre happened, it was the Easter Weekend but it was still cold and rainy, even mixed with snow at the higher altitudes. Never mind, I had a taste of the area, a view of Tripoli (another place to visit, especially the old exhibition grounds designed by Oscar Niemeyer). Also the coast between Batroun and Tripoli looks promising with regard to photography. The salt pans and Enfeh are definitive a destination worth a visit, later this year after the summer has subsided. Otherwise I have not been much around the country this year, only Beirut for the weekly sojourns but not even lately, security is high and one has to think if each trip is necessary. There were local elections during the months of May, so the situation was volatile and I rather stayed at home, also, the maddening traffic is not very enticing to engage in all the time.

In April I went to Germany for my dad eye operation, which in the end did not happen due to a severe infection he got elsewhere that send him to hospital and the planned surgery at the eye had to be cancelled. He recovered, but it took quite a while and left him weak, his age of 86 showing and not helping in the recovery. In May then off to Cyprus to attend the weeding of one of my best friends daughter. It was a nice welcome break but the weekend was one of the hottest so far. Despite Cyprus being close and the flight is only 25 minutes, it takes about five hours from Tyre to either Nicosia or Limassol. The weekend was great with little sleep and tiring but well worth it.

Photography wise nothing dramatic happened during all this time. The mountains I photographed with the OMD and x100s, Germany a little with the x100s and Cyprus also with the x100s. Both of the cameras worked flawlessly and I am happy with the results, even they are not highly artistic. Despite all of that, I am also taking quite a few photos (or pictures?) with the Samsung S6, just because I guess I have with me all/most of the time and the results are, if not used in an too dark environment, are quite good. I also like the post processing of those images in Snapseed, which is a very nice tool to create unique images from photos taken on the S6. Most often I photograph in the square format so it is easily to identify as having been taken with the S6. I also like the square format from the days of the 120mm film, Rollei, Mamiya and Yashica 124G! I still have my Medium Format film cameras but have not used them in years, and for the price of a  digital Hasselblad one can better make a down-payment for a house!! The medium format Pentax is much more affordable but I do not need it for what I am currently do.

So, enough said, any more would be rambling only. I will attach a few photos from the recent months. Until next time, take care and good bye!