Nathan's PAW 41 & 42: Poland
- From: Nathan Wajsman <nathan.wajsman@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: LEG <leica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Leica Users Group <lug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 20:27:07 +0200
I took a brief trip to Poland earlier this month, and as it spanned both
weeks 41 and 42 (and I took a lot of pictures), I can get some mileage
from it by covering two weeks' worth of PAW. All of the images here were
made with my newly acquired Canon 1D Mark II. Lenses and speeds are
noted as always below the thumbnails table.
WEEK 41
For week 41, I give a selection from Wroclaw, the city where I was born
and where my sister lives. My sister lives in the tall 60s-era apartment
blocks at the end of this street close to the city center:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41.jpg
This is Ostrow Tumski, site of the city's cathedral and numerous other
church buildings:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt1.jpg
This is the view from my sister's balcony. The open air bazar in the
foreground has been there forever; it was there also during Communist
times. But soon it must give way to the new Poland, as a big shopping
center is being constructed right behind it:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt2.jpg
Just outside the open air market, a vendor who is not able to or does
not want to pay the fee for having an official stall, is setting up shop
on the sidewalk:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt3.jpg
Another symbol of the new Poland: yet another advertising billboard is
being put up:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt4.jpg
Poland had parliamentary and presidential elections during the past
couple of months, and the city is full of political billboards. Those
parties unwise enough to buy billboards at street level suffered various
indignities, since politicians are not held in high esteem in Poland.
Here is one for a left-wing populist party. The original text reads "A
man with character" but through one simple addition someone has turned
it into "A man with the character of a moron":
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt5.jpg
And here is somewhat more primitive political commentary:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt6.jpg
Finally, a couple of children looking at the fountain on Wroclaw's
beautiful central square, Rynek:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_41alt7.jpg
WEEK 42
My theme for week 42 is the strong influence of the Catholic Church.
Poland is easily the most religious country in Europe, comparable to the
Deep South in the US, and the Catholic church is probably the strongest
social force in the country.
Here is Wroclaw's cathedral as seen at sunset from my sister's balcony:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42.jpg
Religious symbols are everywhere, such as this cross in front of an
apartment building:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt1.jpg
We went for a drive and happened across this procession. They were on
their way to a small town called Trzebnica which was celebrating some
religious event. The distance they were walking was 20 km:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt2.jpg
We drove on to the town. The Poles may be very religious, but they are
also very commercially oriented, so of course there was a market. The
late Pope was everywhere:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt3.jpg
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt4.jpg
Another shot from the market, traditional Polish bread rolls:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt5.jpg
And to finish off the series, this is the central square of Milicz,
another small town near Wroclaw, renowned for its fish ponds:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_42alt6.jpg
The complete PAW index is at:
http://www.nathanfoto.com/indexpaw2005.html
and comments and critique are always welcome and appreciated.
Nathan
--
Nathan Wajsman
Almere, The Netherlands
General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com
Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com
Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman
http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507
Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com
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