Rajd przez Polskę #1 Photography - M1key - Michal Huniewicz
Rajd przez Polskę #1
Meet my mum.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/300s.
Bociek
The title of this gallery comes from a very old Polish racing game (that I never played, actually).
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/140s.
Hotel
My mum booked this rather superb place in Karczemka where we stayed for the night.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/45s.
Path
The place offers a quiet refuge (and mosquitoes).
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/60s.
Heron
There's a lake nearby, and one can rent a bicycle.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/550s.
Arbour
As much as I needed to spend some time in a place like this, I instantly felt a bit bored.
ISO 640, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/60s.
Outdoor Exercise
My mum engaged in physical exercise.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/300s.
Mama
She cancelled some activies to be able to go on this trip with me.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/320s.
Road to Dobrocin
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/250s.
Cow
A cow in the village of Wilamowo.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/480s.
Tomek
We were lucky to have a local with us - potentially the first person in the village to listen to Metallica (maybe even before 1989).
ISO 200, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/1250s.
Listening
He told us stories about local history that we did not know, and drove us in his 4x4 through the woods.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/1600s.
Sup Beeches?
Some of the roads were fine for the BMW we had rented, but certainly not all.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/125s.
Sup Witches?
Witches I spotted.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/6.4, 1/600s.
Niedźwiedź Duży
I vaguely remembered some this part of the forest from my childhood, but the greeny has changed a lot, especially given they cut down huge parts of it.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/640s.
Green
My done sure came in handy.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/180s.
Take Off
We spent 2 or 3 days there, and moved on east. I will dedicate a separate gallery to Dobrocin.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/250s.
Pink
If you've ever tried the Żubrówka vodka - this is where it gets made: Białystok. I was surprised it's been made since the 16th century. The fourth photo shows part of the Branicki Palace, built in the 16th century by Jan Klemens Branicki, who was a member of... the Brotherhood of Enemies of Abstinence, founded by Augustus II, an elected King of Poland.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/1250s.
Pałac Branickich
The city had a distinctly Eastern feel.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/450s.
Jesus
Jesus in a church.
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Socialism
Then there was traditional socialist architecture.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/350s.
Facade
An older building on the same street.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/550s.
Caution
"Caution. God's grace being spilled".
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/80s.
On Your Knees and Pray
A couple pray to what they believe is tissue from Jesus' heart that miraculously appeared on sacramental bread in this church in 2008. You can see it further away in the photo. This is located in a Catholic church even though the Church as an organisation does not recognise the miracle. Sokółka, Poland.
ISO 2000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Organs
Church organs close-up.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/55s.
Sculpture
I was surprised to see this Polish Muslim sculpture depicting an imam. Islam isn't overly enthusiastic about depiction of humans.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Moustache
We moved deeper into the Polish Tatar area.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/6.4, 1/100s.
Rustic
The Tatars were the remnants of the Golden Horde that eventually fought for Poland and became Polish.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/6.4, 1/60s.
No Minarets
They were given land in lieu of the payment they expected. There are a couple of wooden mosques left.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/6.4, 1/320s.
Mosque
The decorations were made in Turkey.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Peaceful
I enjoyed the mix of Polish and Islamic styles.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/60s.
Guide
The guides seemed to have a somewhat superficial knowledge of Islam, and were a bit better versed in the history.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Canteen
Canteen where you can try Islamic dishes.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/105s.
Crescent Moon
Crescent moon.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/340s.
Yummy
Tatar food in Eastern Poland - pierekaczewnik and chebureki and drink they call ashura (which is actually an Islamic commemoration).
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/9.0, 1/60s.
Muslim Cemetery
The people here will have Islamic first names and Polish surnames.
ISO 250, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/60s.
Birch Trees
In the cemetery.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/200s.
Graves
ISO 250, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/60s.
Alley
Alley leading up to the cemetery.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/120s.
Countryside
Polish countryside.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/200s.
Toi Toi
And a portable toilet.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/6.4, 1/280s.
Road
We're moving south now.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/180s.
Reading
Books you can read for free.
ISO 320, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/60s.
Well
Here's a well in the middle of the road.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/125s.
Hermit
We visited an Orthodox hermit here, who, as it turned out, knew about my photography!
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Harvest
Man working in the fields.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/500s.
Orthodox Church
An Orthodox church in Białowieża.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/1000s.
Skull and Bones
At primary school, I got an F for drawing the scene of Jesus' crucifixion - with a skull. Well, well, what have we here!
ISO 640, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Chopped Off Head
A bit gruesome...
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Oak
An oak tree.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/210s.
Swamp
Swamps in the immense primeval Białowieża Forest.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/550s.
Cut Down Trees
Poland violated EU laws just to cut these down.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/600s.
Ferns
But nature always prevails.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1250s.
Cross
Grabarka is the holiest Orthodox Christian place in Poland.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/60s.
Crutches
I got told off for trying to take a photo of a nun.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/150s.
Notice
Do not leave tissues/scarves on the trees.
ISO 320, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Crosses
There are countless crosses here.
ISO 1000, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/60s.
Viking Jesus
One of them looked quite viking to me.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/550s.
Wash Your Troubles Away
People come here to wash in a stream, and leave the tissue/cloth they wipe their faces with, symbolically leaving trouble and worries behind.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Sunset
The beautiful Poland.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.5, 1/950s.
Graveyard
An Orthodox graveyard.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/280s.
Gorge
One of the gorges in Kazimierz Dolny.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/4.5, 1/60s.
Roots
Root Gorge.
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/60s.
Children
Children in the root gorge.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/60s.
Broken
It was great to visit living Tatar and Orthodox cultures in Poland, but after World War 2 and Communist Poland there are only traces of Jewish culture left, sadly.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/60s.
Jewish Tombstones
In these photos, Jewish cemetery and a memorial in Kazimierz Dolny.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/170s.
Tombstone
It's all that's left.
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Bad Dog
Bad dog.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
The Shroud
A copy of the Shroud of Turin.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/140s.
Saint
A John Paul II cushion.
ISO 2000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
It's Not Just The Nose They Rub
It's not just the nose that people rub...
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/320s.
Vistula
Vistula River.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/900s.
Kazimierz
A building in Kazimierz.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/280s.
Overseeing Vistula
River Vistula in the distance - we're in Janowiec.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/850s.
Janowiec Castle
These white-red stripes remind me of ablaq - Islamic architecture motif. This Polish castle was designed by Italian architects. In windy weather you're not allowed to climb this hill, as there are many trees that might fall.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/500s.
Stripes
Almost Middle Eastern feel.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/125s.
Courtyard
My mum in the courtyard.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/750s.
Defensive Position
And a look away from the river.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/470s.
Forest
In an artificial forest created for economic purposes.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/240s.
Wood
I got to visit the village of Lipce, where the Nobel Prize-winning author Władysław Reymont set his novel "The Peasants". It's not quite what it used to be, as I found tanks (perhaps guarding the tranquillity of rural life) and an outdoor gym. Some speculate that the novel is the first Polish-language work of fiction to describe an orgasm.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/170s.
Boryna
A symbolic grave of one of the novel's protagonists.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/950s.
Communion
First communion decoration.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1900s.
Tanks
Guarding the tranquility of rural life!
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/500s.
Museum
Museum of peasant life.
ISO 500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Village House
It's an open air museum.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/680s.
Reymont Street
Street dedicated to the writer.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/340s.
Village Church
Village church. There was a funeral going on when we visited.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/800s.
Macierewicz
Office of one of Poland's more controversial politicians.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/1400s.
Wedding
Wedding in Łowicz.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/400s.
Egyptian
Late 18th century Romantic Park of Arkadia. [
1] Here, an ancient Egyptian artefact (not a real one, I don't think).
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/210s.
Blurry
A bit of ancient Greece too.
ISO 2500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Aquaduct
And a bit of ancient Rome.
ISO 320, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Asleep
Asleep forever.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/80s.
Pond
Women at a pond.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/60s.
Face
Close up.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/210s.
Puppy
Finally my mum with someone's puppy. Part 2 coming soon!
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/1000s.