M and I saw this man a mile away, or should I say heard him. He was making a terrible racket, screaming and swearing and growling. He couldn’t walk in a straight line, and I was certain he would fall and break something. But like every professional drunk, he somehow managed to stay on his feet.
As he came closer I held on to my camera a little tighter. He seemed angry, menacing, and even violent. He stopped to look at us, his eyes bloodshot from too much vodka. He eyed my camera and opened his mouth to speak.
"The European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs screwed us over."
M and I blinked. Huh?
"That’s what politicians do, they screw you over. We sent him there to fix our financial problems, to fix Europe’s problems, and look at what’s happened!"
We blinked some more. Huh?
He then went on to spin a story about how Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, is an undercover spy, how politics in Finland is rigged and how Europe is going down. Despite his dirty clothes and stinky breath, he showed a surprising knowledge of the workings of financial politics in the EU, and as he walked away, I snapped a photo of him, wondering if it was all just a big fish tale, or if there might have been a grain of truth to his conspiracy theories.
This post is a part of the 30 Days of Photographs II challenge. Please visit the rest of the participants for more fantastic photos: MikeWJ, Nicky and Mike, Mo, Meleah, John, aka nonamedufus, Bryan, aka Unfinished Person, Mariann, Malisa, Nora, LaughingMom, Tanya, Elizabeth A., 00dozo, Cheryl, Kristen and Katherine. *
I tend to believe conspiracy theories. The mystery...the lies, the intrigue...the little insignificant people. Yep...I believe them.
ReplyDeleteSo you, like, took his picture just for the halibut?
ReplyDeleteWow. I thought we only had nuts like that in the U.S. Good ? to know it's a worldwide phenomenon. :)
ReplyDeleteLike yesterday's photo - I really love the use of color. The yellow gives it a haunting quality but not morose. I think you are spinning a fish tale with your story, though...hmm?
ReplyDeleteWell, it's true, the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs did screw you over, partly because he's an undercover spy, partly because Finland's politics are rigged, and partly because the Illuminati control world banking are attempting to usher in a one-world government.
ReplyDeleteIt's enough to drive you to drink.
At the risk of sounding repetitive, but I'm not sure how else to sound when you keep posting great photo after great photo, this is a great photo, Ziva. The lighting, the composition, and most of all, the mood.
This photo is spectacular! Really wonderful! Now this guy might be drunk, but he probably isn't stupid. You can get over drunk. But you never get over stupid.
ReplyDeleteOh Ziva! You are a brave woman, taking the picture of that mad man! And I loved the story too!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photo and great tale, Ziva, whether the tale be true or not (I certainly know the photo is true - still snowing there, eh?).
ReplyDeleteAnd I had to laugh out loud at your line, "That's what politicians do, they screw you over" - it's reminiscent of BonyMike's repetitive contention that all birds will peck your eyes out. Because that's what they do. Politicians will screw you over and birds will peck your eyes out.
Yet there may be much truth to both assertions.
;-)
Fantastic shot; absolutely love the snow-lit evening. He looks so beaten down.
ReplyDeleteCould be he's onto something, in spite of the booze.
Politics make me drink too. Sorry I've been away so long! Catching up on everyone's photos now. It's nice to be home with my friends!
ReplyDeleteYou are so wise my friend!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought some people communicate better while drunk. Maybe this poor guys is one of them.
ReplyDeleteThe photo captured the sentiments exactly!
I'm pretty sure I communicate better while drunk. ;) I think you can almost see that he's drunk just from the photo.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have you back, Nora! Politics make me drink, too.. So do idiots, ignorance, bad books, small dogs, lumpy beds, people who write e' instead of é, waking up in the morning.. just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl, I'm really glad you liked it. :)
ReplyDeleteCould be he's onto something because of the booze, too...
Haha, well, as Michael would say, politicians will screw you over. Because that's what politicians do, they screw you over.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the photo, Double-O, it is very true indeed. ;)
I was actually a little worried, taking that photo! He turned around as I was trying to get my first photo, so I had to pretend to shoot some nearby trees, and then when he turned his back to me again, I quickly took this photo and ran away. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, don't I know it, Linda. I was diagnosed with stupid a while ago, and I'm still trying to get over it. I'm glad you liked the photo, though. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I read your post. Politicians will screw you over. Because that's what politicians do. They screw you over.
ReplyDeleteThe Illuminati, huh? Tell me, Mike, you didn't happen to be in Finland a while back, did you? Maybe drinking a little? Talking to strange people?
ReplyDeleteThank you, you say the nicest things about my photos. :)
The yellow is pretty neat, isn't it? The street lights were yellow and made the entire world seem bathed in that soft glow.
ReplyDeleteYup. We have McDonald's here, too.
ReplyDelete*groan*
ReplyDeleteYou two would have gotten along splendidly. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I said!
ReplyDeleteOh hell yes.
ReplyDeleteI would have run away too!
Glad you got the picture, though!
Every bit of Finland you provide makes me want to visit. It's all so snowy and perfectly lit. Even the street lamps look classy.
ReplyDeleteFor the record though, I wasn't drunk, it was just the antihistamines.
Ya just never know when it comes to booze. Or politics.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen my other alternative. Beautiful, calm river, the church in the background, lit up by the evening sun. You would've been on a plane here in no time.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, though, that's what they all say.
So true.
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteFabulous shot, Ziva! I'd totally be jealous of your talent and hate you if I didn't love you so much, you know?
ReplyDeleteI thought they peck your eyes out? Because I've heard that's what they do. They peck your eyes out.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell he's drunk. I recognize that lumbering posture. Also.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you took this back in March, because if there's really still snow there, well, well I don't know.
That might have been someone VERY in the know!!!! Dun Dun DUNNNN!
ReplyDeleteWhen I get my European cruise, it stops in Helsinki - so will you come show me the hot spots (red, yellow, color doesn't matter)?!?
ReplyDeleteI should have seen it? You should have shown it to me.
ReplyDeleteLike.. an ex Russian spy, perhaps? This is very exciting, my life should be a movie!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I took the photo back in March. :) The snow has melted many time since then, only to come back the next day. Right now, though, it seems like spring is finally here to stay.
ReplyDeleteI love you, gorgeous. And I don't have any talent to be jealous of, it's the camera, remember? ;)
ReplyDeleteI did. "Stupid waste of time," my ass.
ReplyDeleteOf course! Just let me know when you're arriving and I'll be there. I'll be the one with the ridiculously big camera.
ReplyDeleteHa ha but I made you laugh, right?
ReplyDeleteFine, maybe a little. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh! I was going to look for the whip, but okay I'll search for a camera. Really want to go in the next two years - we'll see...
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there are European cruises that actually stop in Helsinki. I'd imagine most of them would focus on the Mediterranean.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, moody, intriguing. And the story was pretty damn interesting, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jayne! I love this comment because you used the exact words to describe it that I hoped it would convey.
ReplyDelete