One from Vladivostok

[DanielA]

Here's another one from my recent trip. From a memorial in Vladivostok, Russia.


I've cropped it, lightened his uniform a bit and sharpened.

Daniel

[Matt. K]

Great shot! Hope to see more from this interesting area?

[sirhc55]

I really like this shot - the contrast between the military cast in stone to the modern military man forms a very visual link.

[PiroStitch]

Very symbolic photo At least he didn't have a gun pointed at you

[DanielA]

Great shot! Hope to see more from this interesting area?

While Vladivostok is an interesting place to visit it is not really a picturesque city. I don't have many photos I would call that good.

The military history is interesting, but I don't have many photos that capture that well.


The weather was cold and foggy. This shot was from the morning, which was much clearer than that afternoon.


The streets could almost be anywhere.

(Our tour guides, Olya and Olga, in shot)

Thanks

Daniel

[Killakoala]

That first photo with the statue and the soldier really 'looks' Russian. Typical modern Russian art. Brilliant.

Vladivostok looks like every other part of Russia. Run down buildings, concrete everywhere and foggy and dreary.

[Hutchy]

I love the first shot but to me it looks a little too flat. I think you needed to be a little closer to condense the wall sculpture with the soldier while blurring the windowed background. I feel the emphasis needs to be on the soldier as he is portrayed to be quite powerful yet the perspective makes him less so. I'm presuming you shot this on-the-fly and at full zoom?

[sirhc55]

Daniel - I am always fascinated by seeing other parts of the world.

You could have taken 2 shots in Vladivostock that would have shown the other side of this fascinating city.

#1 - Vladivostock is the terminus for trade between Japan and Russia on grey cars - the interesting point about this is that the Russian navy use their ships to transport the cars - destroyers, cruisers - anything. This keeps the Russian navy in existence in the far east. A picture of a Russian cruiser loaded with Nissans would have been a classic.

#2 - Decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines have been left to rot in Vladivostock. The problem is that they have no money to remove the nuclear piles from the subs. As the subs fall into ruin there is a good chance that the nuclear waste will enter the gulf stream and end up in Australian waters. A pic of these rotting hulks would be a reminder of what can happen in the future - not nice.

[DanielA]

I love the first shot but to me it looks a little too flat. I think you needed to be a little closer to condense the wall sculpture with the soldier while blurring the windowed background. I feel the emphasis needs to be on the soldier as he is portrayed to be quite powerful yet the perspective makes him less so. I'm presuming you shot this on-the-fly and at full zoom?

You're right. I noticed him just as my tour group was leaving. I zoomed in to 70mm and snapped one shot. Here you can see the same view at 18mm.


I did a quick len blur in photoshop to give:

Perhaps too blurry, but it does make him stand out.

Thanks

Daniel

[Hlop]

Hi Daniel,

Great photos! I haven't been in Vladivostok since 1994 but it's the one of very few cities in Russia that I love

[DanielA]

You could have taken 2 shots in Vladivostock that would have shown the other side of this fascinating city.

#1 - Vladivostock is the terminus for trade between Japan and Russia on grey cars - the interesting point about this is that the Russian navy use their ships to transport the cars - destroyers, cruisers - anything. This keeps the Russian navy in existence in the far east. A picture of a Russian cruiser loaded with Nissans would have been a classic.

I didn't know this. The only navy ships I saw were missile frigate or something. There was also a medical ship, but I didn't see any ships carrying cargo. I was only there for one day, so probably just missed them.

#2 - Decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines have been left to rot in Vladivostock. The problem is that they have no money to remove the nuclear piles from the subs. As the subs fall into ruin there is a good chance that the nuclear waste will enter the gulf stream and end up in Australian waters. A pic of these rotting hulks would be a reminder of what can happen in the future - not nice.

I didn't travel far from where the ship docked, so the only submarine I saw was:

Which was just a museum. (They were repaving, so we had to climb over bricks and the workers laying them.)

Thanks

Daniel

[DanielA]

Great photos! I haven't been in Vladivostok since 1994 but it's the one of very few cities in Russia that I love

Thanks. This was the first time I've visited Russia. I've heard Vladivostok is different from other Russian cities, due to it's remoteness. I've also heard St. Petersburg is great to visit.

Daniel

[Hlop]

I've heard Vladivostok is different from other Russian cities, due to it's remoteness. I've also heard St. Petersburg is great to visit.

Daniel

True, it is different and there are many factors

St.Petersburg is the best place to visit in Russia, IMHO. I can not describe it, you have to see it

[mudder]

The "shot" of the soldier on the statue, complete with smoke in hand, staring at you is a very evocative shot... Very powerful image, that's a great capture...

Might be a good one to try B&W with???

[DanielA]

The "shot" of the soldier on the statue, complete with smoke in hand, staring at you is a very evocative shot... Very powerful image, that's a great capture...

Thanks. It's one of the most memorable photos from my trip.

Might be a good one to try B&W with???

I might try that. Although I'm concerned the guy will be lost in the background.

Thanks

Daniel