Thursday 25 August 2016

Built in nature...

It took me a while to write this post. Usually when I am showing photographs and writing about modernism all words just flowing out of my head. This time however was a bit different.
I tried to write something a few times this week but decided to postpone it at the end.
It is probably because disappointment sitting deep in my head related to camera incident I am constantly talking about... I know... 
Material for this article was the most important for me and most of photographs which never came out were made exactly on described below site. Close-ups, some details and really interesting frames showing how well this building is connected to the nature. 
I am here anyway with what’s left and with some description...  at last.

Visiting described place was special for couple of reasons. It is the only naturally preserved structure in the area, structure so well representing my beloved period in architecture. It is also the only one which stands out and looks simply beautiful. 
The most interesting aspect however is the fact that the owner of the house was my history teacher in secondary school. Absolutely lovely lady! It was a pure pleasure to meet her after all these years.

How did I get to photographing described building? I was thinking about it many times when my trip to Poland was approaching… and believe me or not but actually It’s happened spontaneously. 
I mentioned Mariusz Tomczuk in my last post.  Yep, he lives almost next door :) and Mariusz also had a plan to visit neighbouring modernist treasure so… we just did it. 


House was built in 1938 by the father of present owner. This extraordinary building sits on a beautiful plot surrounded by an amazing trees. Generally it is a very green part of the town, away from a busy streets. All of it makes this place very special.

What’s the most important if the fact that interior looks like the time has stopped decades ago. It is not only about furnitures but also the smallest details. Incredible. I was seriously amazed when I entered the house.
This applies to the entire building.

I also had an opportunity to see part of the original project. Very exciting moment. Small A4, already yellow/brownish pages with hand drown layouts . Unfortunately there was no obvious these days data table so I don’t have the name of the Architect.

Anyway - there is nothing more to say to be honest. Have a look please at photographs. This house is just beautiful and its every corner speaks for itself!








We had a plan to split our session into two parts that day in order to get a proper lighting on all elevations. Time was flying however so we managed to do it in one go. Sun smoothly illuminated our 'model' from the east to the west perfectly!

I am not sure when I will be in Hrubieszow again and if I will be able to rephotograph what has been lost but I am really happy with images I got and possibility of seeing the house.
Many thanks to the owner of the place for having us! 

Tech info:

All photographs here were made with Hasselblad 500c/m and Distagon 50/4 on Ilford Pan F Plus 50 and Kodak TMax 400 exposed at ISO 50.









Thursday 18 August 2016

Journey to the East...

Every few years I am visiting Poland and the small town where I was born... 
Hrubieszow - this very old, quiet, easternmost town in Poland, surrounded by beautiful woods, meadows, farmlands is also filled with unique old architecture ...
This time it was almost a month (!). Being there for so long I decided to photograph some treasures of the region. It is always like a journey down the memory lane ... Everything has changed of course comparing to the time I left this place almost 25 years ago moving to Krakow, my next (not the last) stop for another 10 years.
Lots of places I remeber as a child don't exist or looks completely different. Obvious sign of time... however It is still good to walk the same streets, corners and observe... 
It was also great to meet a few old friends and some new, especially those sharing the same passion to analogue photography. Here I have to mention Mariusz Tomczuk who made some of my local visits/sessions possible. Thank you Mariusz!
You can check his website: HERE and ArtLimited profile HERE .

Some of you already know about the problem with one of my cameras which resulted in a loss of about a half of all photographs made over there. Some of them could be pretty good but as one of my friends said: ‘the best images regardless will always be in your head’ (Thanks Steven!)
It also reminds me of something from the past, described in this article: 'Untaken photograph’.
Apparently I have enough photographic material for a few articles. Most of it however I will show on my FB fan pageInstagram and twitter as a single images. 

Survived photographs were made mostly with Holga camera. Weather was perfect for this type of work. Blue sky, great light which gave stronger contrasts (best thing ever) …and unfortunately (for me) very high temperature. Most of my friends know that I should live probably on the North Pole ;) haha

Hrubieszow was not the only place I photographed of course. I also spend a short time in Lublin (capital of the region) and Zamosc

Sun was waking up before 5am and so do I …there was nothing better to do after a morning coffee and cigarette than packing camera in the bag and going out … before temperature raised and my kids woke up ;)

Eastern Poland is mostly rural and very picturesque area… not an easy place for the concrete and urban jungles maniac like me ;) …still very pleasing place to be.


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Yeah, photographs... Just a few images for now. 

Grain silos, Teratyn  (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)

Such structure is quite common probably in a most places on earth. In this sun however and surrounding fields   it looked very special. Also this is the only image I have. Lots of other photographs from this place made with my Hasselblad has 'gone with the wind'...

Orthodox Church, Hrubieszow (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)

The only Church in Poland with 13 domes.
'This is a typical religious building from the second half of the nineteenth century, built at the request of the Russian government in the Russian-Byzantine style, after the suppression of the January Uprising. Built on a cruciform plan, with octagonal bell tower, semicircular chancel and two lateral wings. It is topped with typical thirteen onion domes, one of the bell-tower, five conventional arrangement of the central part of the nave, three on each wing and one on the chancel. Across the Europe, only two churches have 13 domes (the second can be seen in Finland).' Info: Poland Travel



Kiesewetter Palace, Hrubieszow (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)
Kiesewetter's family Palace built in XIX century, rebuilt in XX century.

Wooden houses, Hrubieszow (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)


... A type of architecture characteristic for this region. Unfortunately lots of similar houses are in a very poor condition and in most cases renovation will never happen...
The City Hall, Zamosc (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)

The City Hall of Zamosc was built in late XVI by the Italian architect Bernardo MorandoQuite an obvious photograph when you are on the Great Market Square in Zamosc ;)

Władysław Panas Alley, Lublin (Holga + Kodak TMax 400)

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All photographs above were made with Holga 120 GN camera, except the colour once snapped with mobile phone. I photographed some buildings with Hasselblad 500c/m, Distagon 50mm and Planar 80mm lenses. As far as I know now, 80mm lens failed. All equipment is being repaired now by one and the only Noel Young so it will be like new after that. 

Here are once again links to my other social media if you would like to be up to date with my photography. Photographs from this particular trip will be posted regularly over there:

Facebook website
Instagram
Twitter

Thank you!