Viking Melon

Hey! Want another melon head? Here it is, this time a Viking.

Take Me to Your Leader!

Hey, why have a pumpkin? Everybody has one of those! To truly stick out in the crowd, you need a Halloween watermelon!

Dawn's Early Light

From a Vermont trip in 2003.

As with a number of my Vermont photos, I remember approximately where we were, but when I try to geo-encode it on Google Earth, I have trouble locating where I think it was. I do know this is in the Killington, VT region.

Sunrise over Kiev (HDR)

Four image panorama using Hugin. Then a five image HDR of the four image panorama using Photomatix.

First, I stitched together the four images in Hugin to create one panoramic photo. Cropped the panorama the way I wanted. I then created five different versions of this panorama, at values -2EV, -1EV, 0EV, +1EV, +2EV. Then created the HDR using these five versions. Pretty much stuck to the settings Photomatix selected. Did a few final adjustments, like toning down the greens a bit.

This photo was taken September 11, 2010, in Park Slavy (Glory) in Kiev. This view is from the right bank of the river Dnieper, looking toward the left bank.

April 26, 1986. Chernobyl.

The date April 26, 1986 may remind some people of a specific event, to others, the date might sound familiar, and to others, this date is meaningless.

April 26, 1986 is the date of the Chernobyl disaster, and this sculpture commemorates this event. This event has more meaning to residents of Chernigov, since it was (and still is) the closest major population center (100,000+ residents) to Chernobyl. Chernigov lies 52 miles or 84 kilometers from Chernobyl.

Kiev, a much larger population center (2 million+) lies only 67 miles or 107 kilometers from Chernobyl.

The Path Home (HDR)

Seen at the Kiev Flower Show, 2010.

Simena Sunset

Sunset at Simena Sun Club, Kemer, Turkey. This was taken on a pier located on the resort property.

This photo is HDR.

Watch Your Step

Part of Photo Series ~ Reminisces of Summers Past.

Hydropark, a Sunday in July

Just another abandoned ride at Hydropark, Kiev. However, parts of Hydropark are still used somewhat extensively. There are a few rides nearby that are still operating. The beaches on the Dneiper are still well used during the summer. Some beaches are free, and some are operated for profit. There is an fitness area with Soviet era weight training equipment (note to self: must get a picture of this). And there is an area with the biggest number of outdoor ping pong tables that I've ever seen.

On the Road from Antalya to Kemer

A decorative pool in front of a hotel on the road between Antalya and Kemer, Turkey.

Taken on a family vacation to Simena Sun Club, Kemer Turkey.

Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb (HDR)

Chernigov, Ukraine

The Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb dates back to the year 1123.

This photo is in HDR.

Soviet Era Dacha

Soviet Era Dacha (Summer Cottage)

This is quite typical of a Soviet era dacha. One floor with an attic and cellar, likely two rooms on the main floor. (Anything more signaled that you just might be a closet capitalist, necessitating a visit from the KGB). Although it's clearly been maintained sometime since the fall of the USSR, I have not seen anyone live here in the five years I've spent summers here. It clearly could be worth something to the owner, since the property is a five minute walk from a river and in an area close enough to Kiev that it could command a nice price. But this dacha, along with at least ten others within a five minute walk, remains unmaintained and unused.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (HDR)

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

~~ Lyrics by Green Day ~~

Hydropark, Kiev

With infrastructure like this, it's not surprising that there are not a lot of people here anymore, and that the few businesses that are still trying to make a go of it are struggling. The place still maintains some of what used to make it appealing, but as the sidewalks crumble and the trees fall, it's appeal falls by the wayside. The stray dogs don't help either.

This is an HDR photo, although this isn't the usual candidate for such treatment. Sadly, I didn't expose the sky quite right either.

The Lavra on a January Day (HDR)

Lavra on a January Day.

Kiev, Ukraine.

This photo was taken in January of 2007. I did not do anything with it at that time, though I thought it had potential. Three and a half years later, with a number of new post-processing tricks under my belt, I returned to this photo. The result you see here. I guess it was worth the wait.