Spring Photos - Part 1.

[MattSh]

Spring Photos - Part 1.

No, not spring photos, as in the contest. Just some photos I've taken this spring.

St. Volodymyr's, Taras Shevchenko Blvd, Kiev.



Where Toxic Meets Toxic. Just shows that reality trumps fantasy every time.



Soviet Imagery, Patona Bridge, Kiev



Kiev, a many other parts of the USSR are experiencing a slow decay since the fall of the Soviet Union. From this hole in the sidewalk on the Patona Bridge, you can see the water below. The road deck for vehicles "seems" to be fine.



Founders of Kiev Statue, Dneiper Waterfront.



The UN Rock. Not an unrock, the UN rock.



More spring photos in part 2.

[Celebration]

1. wow

I was about to ooh and aah at the first picture and then I see the BRIDGE! Good grief!

Do many people go to these churches?

Yup saw all those McDonald's in Japan too, sometimes in great buildings. I opted for the Japanese equivalent--a Mos Burger, when I got a bit tired of chopsticks and associated foods.

[MattSh]

3. Churches

For me, there are a surprising number of people attending churches, given during Soviet times, religion was frowned upon. Obviously more people attend around holiday time, just like many churches in the states. This particular one was selected for demolition during the 1930's but was saved and became a museum of religion and atheism. Immediately after WWII, it became a working church again, despite official government policy toward religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Volodymyr's_Cathedral

What really struck me about the McD's picture is that A.I.G. occupies space in the same building. Otherwise, I likely would have skipped this photo op.

[Celebration]

6. Cool

Nothing like AIG/McDonald's combo in historical buildings.

Thank goodness they did not demolish that church!

Think of all the historical buildings that have almost been demolished. I was born in San Antonio, and did you know that back in the early 1900s there was a plan to demolish the Alamo?

Ugh, I knew there was something seriously wrong with the Taliban in Afghanistan when they blew up centuries old Buddhist sculptures. And I knew there was something seriously wrong with Bush when he didn't protect the Baghdad museum. (Of course I knew it before that!)

[intheflow]

2. The first shot is beautiful, Matt!

I also love the statue shot. I'll bet it's 1000x more impressive in person. Photos rarely catch the beauty sculpture carries in real life. I think it's a 3D vs. 2D thing.

[MattSh]

4. Well, thank you !

There's any number of hidden gems of statues at various places around the city.

I'd been here 3 years before I came upon this one. There's another one in the city center, so I guess I thought they were one and the same.

[MattSh]

5. Here's that other one...

Founders of Kiev, Independence Square, Kiev.

[Tallison]

7. Yes, the first one is really good

I love wide angle shots. They tempt me to hit the ground on my belly:

[Maestro]

8. Awesome series

You do architecture very well as well as the other stuff. You are a very well-rounded photographer. That first one is amazing. The Toxic meets Toxic is great too because of the theme.