According to a local paper here in Mockba this year we’ve had record snow fall already and we’ve just started февраля. It hasn’t snowed this much in 100 years. The average snowfall in Mockba is 61cm (24 inches). To date we’ve had 216cm (85 inches) which includes a massive storm we had a few days ago that yielded 26cm (10 inches).
Snow clearance in the parking lot in our compound is pretty primitive. Four or 5 guys every time it snows spend most the day pushing snow around with large double-handled (home-made) shovels and piling it up. The era of snow blowers is not upon us here in Mockba although I did see my first one yesterday in another neighborhood on the other side of town.
The piles have gotten well over 2 meters in some places and the guys are having a hard time finding places to put it. The snow is now encroaching on parking spaces and it’s been getting difficult to get around in the park lot.
Today (this happened last year too) a Bobcat loader and several large dumpsters were brought in to remove the encroaching snow. It took the Bobcat nearly a day to remove the snow. Actually it’s still here – I can hear it from our 5th floor window. A testament to how much snow we’ve had and how much manual labor (and expense) is expended. You’d think they’d bring the Bobcat in at the outset of a big storm or invest in a few snow blowers. But…this is Mockba and doing things the easy way here is just not an option.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Monday, December 17, 2012
On the Gloom Lifting
17 декабря 2012
We have endured nearly 6 weeks of over overcast, gloomy skies with snow and a good bit of rain here in Mockva. The sun peaked out twice for less than an hour each time. Sunrise is now just before 10AM.
For the past 3 days temperatures have hovered in the low teens C. This morning it was -19 degrees C (-2.2 degrees F). And just like last year, but earlier than last year, as the temperature plunged blue skies have emerged nearly without a cloud to be seen. Last night we saw the moon for the first time in a very long time. The stars were out too.
We’re headed back to the US for a while. On January 9th stopping in Vienna for a few days before heading back north to Mockva. A week in Thailand is scheduled for February. Keep on traveling…
До следующего раза ...
Борис
For the past 3 days temperatures have hovered in the low teens C. This morning it was -19 degrees C (-2.2 degrees F). And just like last year, but earlier than last year, as the temperature plunged blue skies have emerged nearly without a cloud to be seen. Last night we saw the moon for the first time in a very long time. The stars were out too.
We’re headed back to the US for a while. On January 9th stopping in Vienna for a few days before heading back north to Mockva. A week in Thailand is scheduled for February. Keep on traveling…
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
On Soviet Era World War II Posters
5 декабря 2012
Recently we went to Ismailovo Market along with two of our good friends here in Moscow. Ismailovo is a flea market where you can find old and new souvenirs and just about anything else. The market has indoor (meaning a roof overhead – no heat) and outdoor space where people sell old and new things. The adage that your treasures are someone else’s junk is in full swing here. Some tables are loaded with interesting items sometimes including fine antiques while others look like the seller just cleaned out their attic or barn and decided to sell whatever they could scrounge together to make a few extra rubles. Bartering is common and you can often get the seller to come down in price – often way down if you’re good at bargaining.
In one of the indoor areas was a series of posters that hung in the rafters depicting Soviet era themes to rally support for the troops during the Second World War. Other posters seemed like advertisements for an idealized life stressing the family and work ethic in the USSR. The posters look like reproductions of the originals but nonetheless are great pieces of art (some might say propaganda).
I was particularly impressed with the posters concerning WW2 and so I shot a series of pictures. If you’re interested I’ve put a brief slideshow of these images. The easiest way to see the show is to click on this link: http://vimeo.com/54918369
I’ve also posted the show on my site at: http://www.andrewmcdonoughphotography.com
Click on the RUSSA link and scroll down to the last entry. The filename is: soviet_posters.exe
The music is: “March of the Soviet Militia, op. 39 by Gennady Rozhdestvensky and the Stockholm Concert Band.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
In one of the indoor areas was a series of posters that hung in the rafters depicting Soviet era themes to rally support for the troops during the Second World War. Other posters seemed like advertisements for an idealized life stressing the family and work ethic in the USSR. The posters look like reproductions of the originals but nonetheless are great pieces of art (some might say propaganda).
I was particularly impressed with the posters concerning WW2 and so I shot a series of pictures. If you’re interested I’ve put a brief slideshow of these images. The easiest way to see the show is to click on this link: http://vimeo.com/54918369
I’ve also posted the show on my site at: http://www.andrewmcdonoughphotography.com
Click on the RUSSA link and scroll down to the last entry. The filename is: soviet_posters.exe
The music is: “March of the Soviet Militia, op. 39 by Gennady Rozhdestvensky and the Stockholm Concert Band.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Friday, November 9, 2012
On Doors and Windows in the South of France
9 ноября 2012
Nancy’s school had a week off in late October-early November so we spent the time in the South of France. We started in Marseille and then moved north to Avignon and Saint Remy exploring many small towns along the way including Aix-en Provence, Rousillon and Gordes among others.
One of my photographic interests is texture with color. Doors and windows in old and ancient buildings provide a vast array of textures and colors. I’ve put together a slide show of Doors and Windows of the South of France.
The easiest way to view the show is to click on this link: http://vimeo.com/53138188
I’ve also posted the show on my site:
andrewmcdonoughphotography.com and click on the RUSSIA link
More to follow from the South of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
One of my photographic interests is texture with color. Doors and windows in old and ancient buildings provide a vast array of textures and colors. I’ve put together a slide show of Doors and Windows of the South of France.
The easiest way to view the show is to click on this link: http://vimeo.com/53138188
I’ve also posted the show on my site:
andrewmcdonoughphotography.com and click on the RUSSIA link
More to follow from the South of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
On the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
24 октября 2012
The Cathedral is located near the Kremlin just off the Moscow River. It is a major church in Moscow of the Russian Orthodox religion. Alexander I commissioned the construction of the Cathedral which was completed after many years in 1860. Alexander III consecrated the Cathedral in 1883.
The Cathedral was demolished by the Bolsheviks under Joef Stalin as part of an anti-religious campaign after the Russian Revolution. Demolition was completed in 1926. It was intended to serve as a site of a huge statue of Vladimir Lenin who Stalin succeeded him after his death in 1824. A lack of funds in the 1930s prevented the statue from being built. Nikita Khruschev who succeeded Stalin turned the site into an enormous swimming pool.
After the fall of the Soviet Union the Cathedral was reconstructed starting in 1994 and took several years to rebuild. The Cathedral was consecrated in 2000.
Both the exterior and interior are stunning works of architecture and art. Unfortunately picture taking is prohibited inside.
The Cathedral has recently been the site of a number of protests by opposition groups to Vladimir Putin’s administration. Under Putin’s regime church and state have been again closely allied. The church is lead by Archbishop Krill who has emerged as a controversial figure both in religious as well as political affairs. As such, the Orthodox church has regained a significant place in the culture of Moscow and Russia after the fall of the USSR.
I’ve put together a brief slideshow of images I took during a recent visit this fall. Most of the slides are of the cathedral itself as well as shots of the Kremlin taking from the patios surrounding the cathedral.
The easiest way to view the show is to click on the following link: http://player.vimeo.com/video/52064127
The show is also located on my Website: www.andrewmcdonoughphotography.com/russia
До следующего раза ...
Борис
The Cathedral was demolished by the Bolsheviks under Joef Stalin as part of an anti-religious campaign after the Russian Revolution. Demolition was completed in 1926. It was intended to serve as a site of a huge statue of Vladimir Lenin who Stalin succeeded him after his death in 1824. A lack of funds in the 1930s prevented the statue from being built. Nikita Khruschev who succeeded Stalin turned the site into an enormous swimming pool.
After the fall of the Soviet Union the Cathedral was reconstructed starting in 1994 and took several years to rebuild. The Cathedral was consecrated in 2000.
Both the exterior and interior are stunning works of architecture and art. Unfortunately picture taking is prohibited inside.
The Cathedral has recently been the site of a number of protests by opposition groups to Vladimir Putin’s administration. Under Putin’s regime church and state have been again closely allied. The church is lead by Archbishop Krill who has emerged as a controversial figure both in religious as well as political affairs. As such, the Orthodox church has regained a significant place in the culture of Moscow and Russia after the fall of the USSR.
I’ve put together a brief slideshow of images I took during a recent visit this fall. Most of the slides are of the cathedral itself as well as shots of the Kremlin taking from the patios surrounding the cathedral.
The easiest way to view the show is to click on the following link: http://player.vimeo.com/video/52064127
The show is also located on my Website: www.andrewmcdonoughphotography.com/russia
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
All of a sudden it’s cold here is Mockba. Yesterday we’re were in the teens (Celsius). This morning we awoke to about +50 C. As I’m writing this it’s 23:14 and the temperature is 00 C going down to -1 or -20 C tonight with a chance of frost.
Days are again getting shorter with sunrise about 7:30 and sunset around 17:30.
Looks like winter weather is starting to arrive. Last year it held off until mid-November.
Nancy’s school is off next week so we’re off to the south of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Days are again getting shorter with sunrise about 7:30 and sunset around 17:30.
Looks like winter weather is starting to arrive. Last year it held off until mid-November.
Nancy’s school is off next week so we’re off to the south of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
All of a sudden it’s cold here is Mockba. Yesterday we’re were in the teens (Celsius). This morning we awoke to about +50 C. As I’m writing this it’s 23:14 and the temperature is 00 C going down to -1 or -20 C tonight with a chance of frost.
Days are again getting shorter with sunrise about 7:30 and sunset around 17:30.
Looks like winter weather is starting to arrive. Last year it held off until mid-November.
Nancy’s school is off next week so we’re off to the south of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
Days are again getting shorter with sunrise about 7:30 and sunset around 17:30.
Looks like winter weather is starting to arrive. Last year it held off until mid-November.
Nancy’s school is off next week so we’re off to the south of France.
До следующего раза ...
Борис
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