Author Archives: Vladimir Brezina

Clean-up Crew

By Vladimir Brezina

Do not watch if you are prone to nightmares involving swarming insects! (However, more than 8 million people have not been able to resist watching this classic YouTube video…)

I particularly like the way they carry off the skull in the end… :-)

Some background and explanation is here.

Our 2015 Calendar

By Vladimir Brezina and Johna Till Johnson

Picking Vlad’s photos for our calendar is an annual ritual for us.  It’s harder than it sounds, because you’re looking both backwards and forwards at the same time: remembering the past while wondering about the future. And, like most artistic endeavors, you’re never sure how it will turn out.

This year the task was particularly challenging, for various reasons. So we were both pleased and surprised at the result. Our theme, as you can see, was “water”. But the selection of photos carried a greater-than-usual sense of whimsy. It also included some of our favorite photos (you’ll probably recognize at least one).

See what you think:

Cover

Cover(Story and more photos are here)

If I were called in
To construct a religion
I should make use of water.

Philip Larkin, Water

Continue reading

New

By Vladimir Brezina

Each morning is a new morning—

 (click on any photo to start slideshow)

A contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, New.

Sparkle

By Vladimir Brezina

We’ve just had Twinkle as a Photo Challenge—and now we have Sparkle. And, indeed, there is a difference!

Here’s some Sparkle—

Sparkling seas 1
Sparkling seas 2
Sparkling seas 3From the 2014 Everglades Challenge

Now I am looking forward to Glitter, or perhaps Shimmer, Glimmer, or Flicker…

Last Days of the Year

By Vladimir Brezina

Last red leaf
.
.
.
The one red leaf, the last of its clan,
That dances as often as dance it can,
Hanging so light, and hanging so high,
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.
— Coleridge, Christabel
.
.
.
Sunset at the end of December 2014 in NYC’s Central Park—
.
Winter sunset
.
(Click on any photo to start slideshow)
.

Last light over the Central Park Reservoir—

Last light

Travel Theme: Minimalist

By Vladimir Brezina

Minimalist again? Ailsa, you and The Daily Post really have to coordinate your Photo Challenges! :-)

Anyhow, we do strive to travel in a minimalist fashion, with only the gear that is absolutely necessary. But it’s a work in progress—

How will it all fit?At the start of the 2014 Everglades Challenge.

Warmth

By Vladimir Brezina

The sun rises above the horizon, and immediately its warming rays disperse the morning chill. It’s going to be another hot one!

Warmth

A response to this week’s Photo Challenge, Warmth.

Merry Christmas!

By Vladimir Brezina and Johna Till Johnson

Merry Christmas!(Johna enjoying our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of roast goose, red cabbage, and mashed potatoes…)

Merry Christmas to all our readers!!

The Turn of the Year

By Vladimir Brezina

I mean, of course, the ancient turn of the year, the Winter Solstice—not that newfangled, artificial New Year on January 1st.

The Winter Solstice occurs today, December 21st, at 6:03 PM EST (New York time).  This year, especially, we look forward to the days finally getting longer…

Winter sunset at the Central Park Reseervoir

… and we are still waiting for our first real snowstorm, which at least for a day or two makes everything brighter :-)

Happy Winter Solstice from us in NYC!

Golden

By Vladimir Brezina

Golden light in New York Harbor…

Tug silhouettes
In the Kill van Kull
Bayonne Bridge
Turning her aroundFrom the Hidden Harbor Tour, September 2013.

A contribution to Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge, Golden.