IF YOU WANT TO GET ME A PRESENT :)

Well,
I'm in love....And typically with something that is fun, cute, and can't be used for serious things! Look at this baby.....So totally useless and commersial but also so sweet....Get me that and a ticket to the -forgotten land- and I might become the happiest gal on the block!


The HDC-SD9 offers full-HD 1920 x 1080 progressive recording (25 frames per second)** to capture images with a richness and beauty simply not possible with previous consumer camcorders. Users can record motion images with the kind of film-like quality enjoyed in movies at the cinema. Even though there is a natural conflict between high image quality and a high compression ratio, the 17-Mbps bit rate of the HDC-SD9 gives superb image quality and motion response, while its high compression ratio enables one full hour of recording onto a 4-GB SD Memory Card (in HX mode) at full-HD resolution. The model also introduces new features such as Face Detection and the Intelligent Shooting Guide, which make it easier to capture mistake-free shots. It also offers Panasonic's original 3CCD camera system, Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), and a Leica Dicomar lens - three technologies that team up to deliver full-HD images of exquisite beauty. Viewed on today's high-quality large-screen TVs, video clips shot with the HDC-SD9 are simply breathtaking, with vivid colouring, intricate detail and exceptional clarity.*
*taken from the panasonic official website

DP REEL

There will be soon a series of reels on this website. I am starting with my Director of Photography reel which shows my cinematographic skills. For all the projects on this reel I was the one to decide what lighting, what media (film, digital , or HD), what camera movements and camera angles, position of actors and movement within frame, continuity of the project, colors,and mood....I provided the story boards or was the one to influence the final story boarding. At the end I shot the projects.
Coming soon:
director's reel,editing reel,artist portfolio,graphics designer portfolio,and interior lighting designer portfolio.
Enjoy!

VOICES FOR BURMA

and yes, people do actually care about what's happening in Burma...
check out for more info:
uscampaignforburma.org
burmacampaign.org.uk
honoringhome.blogspot.com
internationalcampaignforfreedom.blogspot.com

LIGHTS!

I've decided to spend more time with working on interior lighting designs...as some of you know I am very passionate about lights and it gives me incredible pleasure to turn spaces into light altars. lighting creates mood...with the proper shadows your whole world can change....if you are looking for suggestions on how to lighten up your life don't hesitate to send me your questions at sasha.stefanova@gmail.com

p.s.
this is an old picture from one of the places i used to live at. i loved the light in that roof room. it's extremely important to find enlightenment at home after a long hard day at work and the proper lighting can help so much.

zaidi zaidi iasno slunce

This is a clip (Message For The Queen) from the film 300 that I recently saw.
Apparently Tyler Bates was influenced by the magical traditions of Bulgarian folklore. Though Tyler Bates claims to have composed the song it is obvious that in fact he didn't. Many people were not happy with that fact but in cases like such it is impossible to track down the composer of the song , since many of the Bulgarian folk songs are made by the people for the people and they do not belong to anyone but to the Bulgarian people. I was extremely happy to hear the song in this movie but I wished the filmmaker and the composer researched more thoroughly the history of this beautiful musical piece and credited it properly in the titles. And I want to make it clear that I am saying this not for the sake of a specific artist or musician, but for the sake of Bulgarian folklore. I do believe it is high time that people start recognizing and appreciating more the amazing Bulgarian culture. However, if people don't know where exactly that musical piece was taken from they would not get curious and explore more what Bulgaria has to offer.

First lyrics record of the song was published in Turnovo (Bulgaria) by Ljuben Karavelov in 1878.
Here is the original lyrics of the song and an English translation. I have to note several things...It is impossible to translate the absolute meaning of this song the same way we Bulgarians hear it. A small example is the fact that the woods in Bulgaria have a very powerful meaning for us. The word itself in Bulgarian is "gora" and is in feminine grammatical gender (Bulgarian grammar) and for this reason the performer also calls the woods sister- "sestro". In addition, in the past the woods was the place where many of the revolutionary movements had hidden and many Bulgarian sons and daughters found their death there. The woods is a sacred place in Bulgaria. It was a shelter and a "mother" for many Bulgarians for a long time.

Zaidi zaidi iasno slunce
zaidi pomrachi se
I ti iasna mesechinko
Zaidi zaidi udavi se

Plachi goro plachi sestro
Dvete da zaplachem
Ti za tvoite lista goro
Az za moita mladost

Tvoite listia goro sestro
Pak shte se zavurnat
Moita mladost goro sestro
Niama da se vurne

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Hide… hide… bright sun
Hide….. go dark
You too bright moon
Hide… hide…. Drawn

Cry woods, cry sister
We should both cry
You- for your fallen leaves
and I -for my youth

Your leaves, woods, sister
They will grow back one day
My youth, woods, sister
It will never come back