Memorial to Soviet Citizens Killed at Babi Yar

OK, bear with me one more time, then on to happier themes next week.

This is the central memorial at the site of Babi Yar and the Syrets concentration camp site. The official title of this is the "Memorial to Soviet Citizens Killed at Babi Yar." Although a vast majority of the initial and ongoing deaths at Babi Yar were of Jews, official Soviet policy was to stress that this was a crime against the Soviet people, and residents of Kiev in particular. No specific Jewish memorial would be raised at the site until 1991, after the fall of the USSR. This statue was dedicated in 1976, 35 years after the initial massacres at the site.

Babi Yar on Wikipedia

Children's Memorial, Babi Yar

The last week in September is a tragic week in history for Kiev, and this memorial at Babi Yar memorializes one of these tragedies. More information here.

Babi Yar on Wikipedia

To Better Days

Today is the 70th anniversary of the first Battle of Kiev, a battle Nazi Germany won decisively. Read more about it on my post here... The first Battle of Kiev

Heroes on the Home Front

These statues have been a difficult quest for me. And I’m still not 100% happy with this.

These statues are in an outdoor mostly enclosed corridor, with open air openings at each end, and several open shafts going up. These statues come out dull and uninteresting in any kind of sunlight, and with shafts of light coming from above, you often get an impossible mix of shadows and sunlight. So, they must be photographed on an overcast day, or early or late in the day. But the combination of a mostly enclosed corridor and gray skies lead to challenging low-light conditions.

My intention was to go elsewhere this day, so I did not have my tripod handy. But for all the difficulties encountered, this actually turned out fairly well. This is a HDR, and a four image panorama, with a bit of Topaz Adjust added.

Castle Walls

Seen at the Palonok Castle, just outside Mukachevo, Ukraine.

Chernobyl Memorial, Vyshgorod

A new memorial unveiled for the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Located in Vyshgorod, Ukraine, around 50 miles, 65 km from Chernobyl.

Desert Landscape

Normally if you want to take a photo of a desert, you have to go to a desert.  Yet by all accounts, this is not a desert.  And it doesn't look like a plowed field either, although it's likely closer to the second then the first.

This was seen about an hour south of Kiev.

Poolside, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

So, you're not ready to let go of summer just yet? Just like I thought. So here's a touch of summer, delivered right to your computer.

This is the Sonesta Beach Resort, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Deep in the Heart of Kiev

This photo was quite literally taken near the center of Kiev. The two main parts of Kiev are the "Right Bank" and the "Left Bank." Flowing between the two is the Dneiper River, and in the center of the river are several islands. This is found on one of those islands, Trukhaniv island. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a river, a stream, or an inlet. Whatever it technically is, it's quite striking to find something like this in the heart of any city.

Additional processing. Topaz Adjust, Other Photoshop adjustments.

Schonborn Castle, Ukraine

Part of the Schonborn Castle Complex, outside Mukachevo, Ukraine.

Your Own Private Beach

Wow, some of the things that get overlooked.  I guess I just assumed that this one had been posted here already.  I mean, I've shown this to everyone!  Except viewers of this website, apparently!

This was taken on a kayak trip originating in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  This was taken on an island just south and east of there, on Ilsa Carmen.

The Former Leipzig Hotel

•  The Saturday Archive Series

My second most popular photo on Flickr, with over 4,000 views.

The Crab Claw Restaurant

On a personal note:

Besides my personal website (this one), I also host my photos in a number of different locations.  One of those is Flickr.com.  Well, yesterday, I reached an important milestone there, reaching 150,000 total views!  Thanks for viewing my photos, here or elsewhere!

The Crab Claw Restaurant

Taken in St. Michaels, Maryland, USA, Summer of 2002. Scanned from film.

Here Comes the (K)night(s)

Waiting for the evening show to begin.  Seen at Park Kievan Rus, (way) outside of Kiev.

Sun Setting on Summer

Oh oh, it's that time of year again.

Watch Your Step

Hydropark, a Sunday in July

•  The Saturday Archive Series

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. And there is an area with the biggest number of outdoor ping pong tables that I’ve ever seen.

Balloon at Sunset

Seen at Park Kievan Rus, (way) south of Kiev.