*Cencula*. Get yours at bighugelabs.com/flickr

You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it. ~Author Unknown



Ok, so the day has finally come for me to update and fill my profile. First of all, thanks for visiting. Second of all, ....wait...there's no second of all...I'm just glad you people are tuned in and watching.



I'm a 30 year old from Zagreb, Croatia.
All of you aware of it's communist past will surely understand why , 10 years ago, I had to travel to Austria to buy my first camera and smuggle it back to Croatia. (Nikon F60....ahhhh...then, the love of my life)...... I remember, sitting at the back of a car, getting rid of all the nice boxes my Nikon came with and stuffing the parts in any bag I could, thinking of options that would be least suspicious. When we finally approached the border patrol officer each of us (3) had a Milka candy bar in our hands and an innocent face to accompany it. We had a good laugh when we crossed the border without a scratch, but mostly we were relieved. That's how I became initiated in photography. My "criminal past" was the start of what will become the only solid constant in my life: self expression.

I graduated on Zagreb University/School of Design. During my college years I was lucky enough to have a great photography teacher. He was the one that turned my interest for photography into love. So here's to him : Stanko - you rock!!!!!!

Style? I don't know if I have one - like a signature thing. I'll take a picture of anything that catches my eye and while I'm enjoying how I'm doing it I don't really think about making it into a style.

There are a few things that I DO favor though, first being a human face. I love doing portraits. I yet have to find a person I wouldn't be inspired to take a picture of. It makes me all giddy when I can see someones character rising to the surface. The inner world..... (sigh) .......beautiful.

But....it's hard sometimes, you know...... getting people to pose (sometimes not even pose, sometimes just to be...). It breaks my heart .......I walk around the town and see trillions of pictures walking past me. Some I manage to take, some I take facing grave danger (lol) , some disappear into time forever. It's a head banging situation but I try and fix it by using myself as a model and doing self portraits. I guess that's the next best thing.

Apart from that I enjoy photographing nature and landscapes, mostly during my travelings, but sometimes even when I'm not on the move....lol

As for me personally..... I'd say I'm: determined, curious, adventurous, passionate, stubborn, sort of a perfectionist when it comes to pictures I take (or anything else for that matter), incurable romantic, sucker for soft colors + sucker for strong colors (I don't like the ones in the middle - bland inexpressive stuff ), I'm interested in a million other things and I find it hard to juggle them all successfully.... but on good days you'll probably see me gardening in the morning, cooking in the afternoon, dancing tango late at night and on Sundays even knitting; and that's just a little fragment of what I usually try and cramp in a day.

I think I'll wrap it up for now and maybe add a few notes more as time goes by.
To all that might be interested in learning a bit or two more about me or what I'm doing click here to visit my blog.

Before I go, I have to say that I'm constantly inspired by all the photostreams here and people living and sharing their passion. It's a great thing to be part of it.



My "tools":

Nikon D70s
AF Nikkor 50mm / 1.8
AF Nikkor 75-240mm / 4.5
AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm / 3.5
Still have my Nikon F60 (not in much use in the past while)...but he's still my first love
tripoid and all the other little bits...

Copyright notice: All photography is copyright © Irena H~Cencula
All Rights Reserved Worldwide. My photographs may NOT be reproduced and/or disclosed publicly in any way, shape or form without the written permission of myself.

Photos of *Cencula* (3)

  • Reflections by *Cencula*
  • I think I've lost something... by *Cencula*
  • My baby is finally here!!!!!! by *Cencula*
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*Cencula*'s favorite photos from other Flickr members (2,338)

  • 32\52 {on Explore} by el.sun
  • PY11 by peterbaker
  • Harmony string by Miss Aniela
  • by lauren {elycerose}
  • by lauren {elycerose}
  • double underdog by Karen.Strolia
  • picture of a woman in Bennett Park looking at her picture . by Susan NYC
  • blue portrait by aiduke
  • by Photos by Gina
  • snow cookies *** by aiduke
  • by empalagarme de mar
  • Junto al camino / Next to the road by alvar astúlez
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Contacts (358)

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Testimonials (10)

  • view profile

    violeta minnick says:

    "Irena is her photography and her photography is Irena ;). I said.

    In her pictures you can see her delicate, feminine, determined, adventurous and fun soul. She has a unique talent to express emotions, feelings and moods through the lens and I admire her so much for that! (Yes, I really do and shouldn’t have said it! Now she’s going to get all fussy and showy around me *lol*) :p

    She’s a playful photographer who knows exactly what parts to show or focus and which to hide or unfocus, to get us all intrigued and unable to stop looking at the picture. I hate her for that! ;p

    I can't forget to say that she's also known for writting the best comments EVER, which have me twisting and rolling on my chair until my tummy hurts from laughing so hard!

    Apart from being a great inspiration and sometimes even a “daymaker” when I feel blue, she is one of my first and longest friends in flickr and I’m certain that we will meet one day! :)"

    5th January, 2010

  • view profile

    *ChRiSeDa* OFF & ON says:

    "I love her pictures, I love how every single shot expresses something so beautiful and powerful. There is a story, a message that she gets accross. I feel like i've known her for such a long time and i am very glad that i do. She is one of my inspirations.

    xoxo, Eda

    Oct. 9th, 2009"

    9th October, 2009

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    Almost Here (Taking a break) says:

    "Irena's pictures are absolutely amazing. Of all my contacts that I visit daily, I always find myself hoping that she has loaded new photos to share. Her stream bursts with talent and beautiful tones, she makes the most amazing "naturey crap" shots and shares the most adorable self portraits. Plus, she's easily one of the nicest and funniest people I've met here on flickr. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful photography with us. You rock, girl! xoxo"

    30th May, 2009

  • view profile

    ebmonster says:

    "Irena's work is amazing. She is a bright light on a cloudy day. In addition to being a wonderful photographer with a creative and sensual eye.. she is hilarious. I think I enjoy her humor as much as her beautiful photography! It is a pleasure to have in you my circle of flickr friends! xoxoxoxoxoxox
    ~Eileen"

    8th May, 2009

  • view profile

    dsmphoto says:

    "I could pen a lengthy testimonial full of verbose and flattering language. But when it comes down to it, Irena's photos make me smile. More specifically, her photos of her make me smile. Every time. That's all that needs to be said.

    So I've come back to edit my original testimonial a wee bit. Yeah, all that stuff up there is true and yadda yadda yadda. But I have come to know that Irena is an exceptional person, with an extraordinary spirit. She is a dear, sweet woman and yadda yadda yadda. I am truly blessed to have her as a friend."

    16th April, 2009

  • view profile

    kat images says:

    "Cencula is a beautiful artist with a big sense of humour. her work on aphrodite and feminity is so expressive, funny, wonderful and creative. she always makes me smile and think at the same time! a gorgeous combination! it's always a pleasure and inspiration to visit her stream. you rock girl, keep on the great work!"

    1st April, 2009

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    scarletd says:

    "She's one of my favourite flickr women! Funny, creative, bold experimenter, smart, sensitive, droll, feminine, sensual...shortly, when you take a look at her stream you will discover all the wonderful shades of a real woman's personality!
    Irena Rules!!"

    29th March, 2009

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    sunmamma says:

    "Irena's work is AMAZING!!!!! Her stream is one of my favorites! Irena is also a wonderful flickr friend. She leaves the nicest comments that always brighten my day! Keep posting gorgeous photo's my friend!!!
    xo Sebrina"

    19th March, 2009

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    Vintage Liaison says:

    "You're a BRIGHT LIGHT Irena,
    and we Moths to the Flickr of your Flame...

    Her skilful and creative photographic eye offers so much feeling, while her reflective insights stimulate and inspire. I enjoy seeing what she sees, and feeling something of what she feels."

    16th March, 2009

  • view profile

    Melanie {Inspirationszauber} says:

    "I discovered her stream a few days ago and it catched me from the first moment on. Cencula adds so much feelings to her pictures, every piece is a wonderful creation. Her pictures touch me and inspire me. I'm so sure she is on the road to go very far."

    27th February, 2009

Name:
Irena
Joined:
May 2007
Hometown:
Zagreb
Currently:
Zagreb, Croatia
I am:
Female and Taken
Occupation:
photographer / designer