Just walking

My search for a perfect lens that tells the story the way I intend it too is on the right track. And it appears that this will be my old, beloved Sigma for Nikon lens I cherished so much. So Sigma Art 35 1.4 is back. Connected via Steelsring AF adapter to 50R it gives this moody, a bit analogue, imperfect rendering. AF is a bit buggy, vignette on distant subjects sucks but I’m so optimistic on first results.

[ all photos taken in Poland during “covid” 2022 ]

The moment I started taking photos with 50R I noticed I can focus on much smaller subjects. Not only because of number of details each photo caries, but more by separations of tonality and depth the system can carry. Sounds good but it’s not always an advantage, as this way I’m caught in seeing the expected result only on bigger, “nicer” screens.

[ last days of 2021, near Magurka Peak in Little Beskids, Poland ]

Away from a trial while traversing a small range I fount this marvelous hideout on a setting sun’s background. Almost like a view from Christian Andersen’s fairly tale or Christmas postcard.

of an oil paint. Maybe someday ;).

Wandering with my son&dog on a wild bank of Vistula River in the late, cold winter evening I heard a shout: “Friend or a foe!!!?” A bit surprised I noticed 2 silhouettes that while carrying something stopped running and faced me some 20 meters before me. “Friend” I calmly said, “don’t worry about us”. After few seconds of hesitation they dragged their package near water and moved away.

[ Warsaw, east, wild side, first days of 2022 ]

2 days later I visited the same place before the sun went down. Tents. A camp. Who are they? Why here? What’s their story? Some fast stereotypes appeared in my mind but are not worth to share here. The reality is that they are living hidden before someone’s view, outcasted in a center of polish capital. Would love to hear their novel and check if I can help but still don’t have a courage to do so.

Those last photos have an additional filter on - Tiffen Pro-Mist. I use it from time to time to mitigate high contrast while retaining great GFX tonality. This 50R + Sigma 35 1.4 + Pro-Mist + Capture One mix can create a rather unique output when You want to highlight softness and tonality im Your photos.

When Covid hit in early 2020 I found myself in one of rare moments in my life. Situation was so new, so strange that I lost my confidence and view on the future. I lost my intuition. For a person that find’s peace in having “a plan” for weeks, months and years that was a very nervous and tiresome time.

[ view form Babia Góra / “Witches' Mountain” / “Devil’s Peak” in Beskidy Mountains ]

Around that time I was trying to understand how quantum computers work. Cubits, superposition etc., complicated stuff. Hard to grasp. And then I found it. Explanation. Quantum computers - they work like intuition. Like our minds, we calculate multitude of options at once and make instant decisions. Intuition, from “analogue” inputs around us select one intuitive output. These computers work in the same way, entanglements, interferences and then at the end one output, like prediction, just like this intuition. Quantum intuition.

[ way down form Babia Góra / “Witches' Mountain” / “Devil’s Peak” in Beskidy Mountains ]

Mountains also need intuition, especially during winter. Right form the beginning when you plan your way. Then on the trail, with every step, with every weather change, every problem encountered. But it’s not enough. You must be prepared, and bring as much constants, axioms, experiences to the equation as You can. Remember that and don’t follow my mistakes, for mountains just intuition might be not enough.

[ view on Babia Góra / “Witches' Mountain” / “Devil’s Peak” in Beskidy Mountains ]

[ descending from Little Babia Gora, first place in “Beskidy stopped in the frame 2023” ]

Being in love with mountains ,visiting them as often as possible, yet living few hundred km from them creates some kind of “drug starvation”. As this love is just an addiction. And for me at around 3rd week of “withdrawal” I start to get nervous. I get angry easy, lack motivation on weekends etc. Luckily my lovely wife knows this state and allows for reaction :). This time it was new range I’ve heard a lot past my years.

[ Low Beskid, starting from north near Grybow city ]

It’s not that easy to find that kind of view anymore but it is essentially what I imagine as the most “polish”, most “painterly” rural view I came across lately.

[ Low Beskid, near historical Radocyna village, Poland ]

[ on the slope of “Sheep Mountain”, first place in “Beskidy stopped in the frame 2023” ]

[ on the slope of “Sheep Mountain”, first place in “Beskidy stopped in the frame 2023” ]