Photo Gallery
Photography of Ancestral Towns & Villages
Sadly, Standa won't be planning another photo tour anytime soon. For the past 5 years he made trips to towns and villages for clients who could not be here themselves. During this time he photographed more than 800 towns and villages. Only a portion of these were places that we consigned him to. The others were simply places he found interesting, and these will be featured in the months to come, as a tribute to Standa's love of his native land. I will updated these as time permits, and many of his photos will be featured in an annual cycle of seasonal images. High resolution copies (printed or digital) may be purchased upon request.
TOPICS :
- Nature & Other Wonders
- Castles & Churches
- Arts & Crafts
- People
- Events
- Grave Markers, Memorials & Cemeteries
Nature & Other Wonders
Prague, like other capital cities of Europe, is well know for it's hundreds of man made spires and a veritable trove of architectural wonders. Not as well known, but perhaps equally impressive, is the inspiration for much of this, which can be found in various natural and man made landscapes, both the products of a magnificent God and an industrious people. Thus, this section of the "Photo Album" contains pictures on the theme "Nature & Other Wonders".
Castles & Churches
As truly extraordinary symbols of wealth and power, castles and churches represented the height of science and technology at the time they were built. While at different times of war and peace their functions differed accordingly, A close examination is like a window into the past, where we can witness the ebb and flow of history. Not to be confused with the palaces and chateaus from later times, castles represent the harsh reality of the middle ages. Even more so, ancient Rotunda's and early Romanesque churches, which withstood countless times of war, now stand the test of time, some more defiant than others, but each as a symbol of towering aspirations.
Arts & Crafts
If there is any truth to the expression, "a picture is worth a thousand words", then here is the evidence. Let these pictures speak for themselves about the masters who crafted such lasting expressions in stone, wood, mortar, clay, textile (lace), oil and ink. Indeed, if you visit just about any town, and wander through the cobbled alley ways, there is no telling what your camera will find, or what stories those images will later conjure... To the patient observer, and sincere searcher, a further reward awaits inside the many galleries, old book stores, and museums.
People
People are everywhere. In case you haven't already noticed, it's not easy to find places where you won't see them. Although we are rather averse to crowds, there is never enough time in life to spend in the company of those people we call family and friends. One of my daughter's story books, "Lu and Swamp Ghost", makes the case that "you're not poor if you have family and at least one good friend". Thus, this page is dedicated to a few of the many people we are blessed to call our friends.
Events
For the moment this will be the final page in our Photo Album. In many ways it encompasses all the previous pages, since quite often Events Happen, wherever there are mysterious Castles, wonderous Nature, playful Art & Architecture, and lots of loving People. So here you will find, as the culmination of all the above, some of the Events we were fortunate to capture.
Grave Markers, Memorials & Cemeteries
Here we are posting just a few of the many markers and memorials that we have photographed. We offer to travel to villages and create photo albums for those who are searching and may not be able to visit themselves. The objective of most family history explorations, besides finding living family, ancestral houses and parish churches, is to visit the cemetery where relatives were laid to rest.
