Piece of Life
Tbilisi - Pearl of Caucasus
I have spent about five years as an expat living in Georgia, most of the time I have lived in Tbilisi (about six months I spent in Batumi). In today's Piece of Life post series I just wanted to share some piece of Tbilisi. Allow me to call this vibrant city - The Pearl of Caucasus (Thus Yerevan rocks, and most probably Baku too - I still haven't visited Azerbaijan, thus once I fished on the border with Azerbaijan, see Fishing on Jandari lake).…
Beautiful morning mist
It was an early morning of August, back in 2015, I was still sleeping, tired of yesterday's hard work of unloading few tones of sand from our rural house's loft, probably still dreaming to finish anytime soon roofing works, when my better part took DSLR camera and went out shooting - look - what a beautiful mist she captured today: Morning mist Mist in our backyard territory Mist in apple orchard mist over pine coppice
New Life for Agmashenebeli avenue, Tbilisi
A major and very much needed reconstruction works recently (February 2016) have begun on one of the major Tbilisi streets - David Agmanashebeli avenue. Funded by Tbilisi Development Fund (which is pretty much financed from city budget + private investor capital) promises a completely renovated street by the Autumn 2016. It was mid February and we decided to explore how construction works were held on this street. Another reason I find these…
Postcards from Modena, Italy
Modena is a little charming town in the middle of Italy. Known as the birthplace of Worlds famous Ferrari car. We spent a few days in vicinity of Modena (during our recent trip to Italy), enjoyed a colorful facades of houses, narrow streets, a lot of prosciutto and of course great Italian coffee. Back at the time - I was tired of photography and made just a few random shots here: Colored residential buildings and window shutters in Modena…
Rainy day in Verona
It was a damn cold, rainy and very grey day when we arrived to Verona, Italy. I was looking to photograph some nice looking pictures but found it very difficult to make any decent exposure today at all. Calendar told us it is January 2nd, 2016. We had made a long Italy trip and arrived here from Venice (where celebrated New Years eve). Our goal was to reach Juliet's balcony... We had not a single clue where actually in city it is located. …
Italian Cemetery
Life is not always about life, sometimes it's about death. Although not a huge fan of cemetery photography, I mus admit - cemeteries are interesting for photography, best if no one you use to loved rests there. During a week long trip to Italy we made a short stop of some of the Italian cemeteries... Feelings after visiting such cemetery? Like from some Gangster movies... Perhaps it would be even more dramatic if following photographs were…
Enjoying narrow Italian roads and Dancing Waltz in Town Square
It was on the afternoon of January 1st, we had left Venice in the morning and traveled towards Verona, we made a few stops before in some local lovely municipalities. Our car radio was tuned to some Italian radio who played The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert under the baton of Mariss Jansons. Janaury 1st is magical, streets are empty and those at the wheel can enjoy empty roads Empty and narrow Italian road Town square in Italy…
Postcards from Tallinn
Tallinn is a small and cool, naval town in Baltic's. I spent here my 30th birthday back in 2015 and here is how I (we) saw it. One of the famous Tallinn towers Tallinn's Old Town Air balloon flying over Tallinn Towers of Tallinn It's just fascinating to see how well old and new architecture blends in here in Tallinn The times we had I asked some American tourist to make a capture of us here in Tallinn right next to this lovely…
Something from the Past - Hotel 'London' in Tbilisi
There was a time when after a visit to local literature cafe in Tbilisi, I felt in love with works of Russian poet and writer Mikhail Lermontov. Who knows, maybe it's time to get familiar with another great writer of his time - Knut Hamsun. In today's Piece of Life photo story series old Hotel "London" in Tbilisi, or about more precisely what's left from old day fame. Stairways at Hotel London in Tbilisi I'm amazed of seeing some elements…
Postcards from Este, Italy
It was sunny January 1st afternoon when we visited Este in northern Italy. One of our first stops in 2016. Este, Italy One of the main sights in Este is the Castle Carrarese of Este Roundabout in Este I would say a very piccolo roundabout Ice rink in Este town square
How Valentine's day was celebrated in Tbilisi
We were of to Tbilisi streets looking for Valentine's day photography, when I concluded - Valentine's day, thus not popular in Republic of Georgia, makes some good for local economy - first of all for local flower markets, second for cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants. We made a dozen of photos today, experimented with black and white, panorama and other photography techniques. Tbilisi didn't seemed too busy on celebrating Valentine's day, but…
Postcards from Rabati Fortress
I first visited Rabati Fortress in Akhaltsikhe, Republic of Georgia, in Summer of 2014, during a two day rafting drive on river Mtkavri, next time we booked a lovely hotel inside fortress complex at the start of 2015, during our stay here I created a lot of pictures and crafted an article about Rabati fortress Castle featuring 48 pictures. (You think its a lot? I have an article from Keukenhof's tulip garden in the Netherlands with 136 images…
Postcards from Venice, Italy
We went to Venice on New Year's Eve (2015/2016), for me as a beginner photographer it was a great challenge to photograph here. I prepared well (brought tripod and practiced a lot previously) but I made a huge mistake this night, I messed up with the clock (Flying from country to country is a mess with time, so I have stopped to look in watch when traveling), so we went out for a New Years fireworks one hour earlier. This extra hour resulted in…
Postcards from Florence, Italy
Florence is a destination to head for if you are looking for renaissance art. Florence is famous for its history: a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, it is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages" In today's Piece of Life photo series - Postcards from Florence, taken at the end of 2015 View towards Florence If you are new to…
Postcards from Gudauri
Gudauri is a popular ski resort located on the southern slopes of The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia. The resort is situated in the Stepantsminda District, along the Georgian Military Highway near the Cross Pass, at an elevation of 2,196 meters (7,200 ft.) above sea level. We have been heading to Gudauri at least once in a year. There are few great reviews about Gudauri on my blog, Gudauri - Georgian Winter Capital for skiing,…
Stacking firewood in barn
Last summer taught me a lot of new things. I tried mowing grass with a scythe after which I "upgraded" to a trimmer. After all I was doing a new thing for me - home remodeling. In today's Piece of Life photo series I will share with you another great outdoor activity I did last summer - stacking firewood in barn. Firewood waiting to be stacked in barn Stacking firewood in barn Stacking firewood in barn Stacking firewood in barn…
Vineyards in Tuscany, Italy
If there are a thousands things to see before we die - I believe to see vineyards in Tuscany are among them. At the end of December 2015, we traveled around region of Tuscany in Italy and to memorize those fascinating places I created a few panorama photos. Vineyards in Tuscany - Piece of Life. Vineyards in Tuscany It is amazing to observe how using a simple DSLR camera with kit lens I figured out to create a panorama photo here (stitching…
Feast in Kuldiga
A brilliant festival is held in town of Kuldiga (Western Latvia) each year just shortly after midsummer. In today's Piece of Life photo project series I would love to share some images from Feast in Kuldiga (taken July, 2015) Such trade fairs are pretty popular in Latvia - visitors can buy goods from local craftsmen, artists or small producers. Cider sold from retro car in Kuldiga Feast in Kuldiga banner Basket ware sold at fair…
Postcards from Jvari Monastery
Postcards from... are actually a really cool photo project some can run, after submitting postcards from Tbilisi and postcards from Sighnaghi (both are located in wonderful Caucasian Republic of Georgia) I realized - postcards from.. are going to be more often featured on Piece of Life series photo posts. In today's article - let me share some postcards from Jvari monastery (again, Republic of Georgia) Postcard from Jvari monastery Jvari…
Tbilisi - Fairyland in Winter
It was an early morning at the end of January when my better part awakened me and told me - hey, it's snowing - it's time to make those lovely and socially sharable Tbilisi winter photos! That's exactly we actually did - after some five minutes the coffee was served, and 10 minutes later we were already on street catching a taxi. I was so excited of seeing a snow (again, after some 3 weeks, previously I seen it back in Italy, when we did a week…
Postcards From Sighnaghi
Signhaghi (Region of Kakheti, Republic of Georgia) has always been a special place for us to visit. Probably because it's pretty far away from nations capital Tbilisi, we have been heading rarely, but every visit here has been spectacular at least. Learn more about my Travel guide to Signagi View to Sighnaghi town The town and its environs are also known for their landscapes and historical monuments. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a…
Summer in Latvia
Ask me - what does Latvia associates to me - and I will answer - haystacks and mild Summer nights. Unfortunately last summer (2015) I didn't find any haystack in Latvia at all (instead they are using hay rolls), but I did enjoyed some wanderings in cornfields (and, yes, they are great for photography) In today's Piece of Life photo project series - allow me to introduce you - Latvia in Summer. Margret Cornfield in Latvia Ancient…
Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi
While there is a good reason to visit St Mark's square in Venice, Italy (that's exactly we did this New Year) - the chances to photograph New Year's fireworks turned much brighter from our Tbilisi's apartments balcony. Shortly before clock turned twelve on night between January 13 to January 14, we made a moka coffee, I installed a tripod and enjoyed amazing Old New year's firework.. Piece of Life! Fireworks in our Tbilisi apartments…
Railroad crossing in Skrunda municipality, Latvia
Skrunda is actually a very lovely small Latvian town, you can find here both Soviet military heritage (Read: Skrunda-1 Abandoned Soviet Military Ghost Town In Latvia) , delicious Latvian cuisine (Bistro 'Elvi' In Skrunda) or just enjoy a lovely walk near river Venta (Read: Skrunda Open-Air Stage and Park). In today's Piece of Life project series I would love to show a beautiful place where poppy field meets railroad - a railway crossing point…