Kędzierzyn - Koźle, town's summer festival

Those unpronounceable two words at the beginning of the title - Kędzierzyn - Koźle, is my hometown, a heavily industrialised agglomeration of few burgs, that's often, by the town's council, referred to as the Polish capital of chemistry.

Well, apart from chemistry, Kentucky, as some teenagers call the town, has not too much to do with the splendour of the capitals. Since the fall of communism, in 1989, ruling officials have failed to bring the town onto the path of growth, although it's prime location in the south-west Poland, in particular in the Upper Silesia, the most industrialised area of the country.

It's a pity, that a town with such a potential, has been sentenced for an extinction, thus every June a wake takes place. The main street, 'Aleja Jana Pawła II' (John Paul II Avenue), transforms into the show grounds, a four lane wide beer garden with a funfair and a stage, under which the citizens dance pogo on the the town's corpse.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Although, I had a great time, and it was a very interesting social experience. Suddenly I found myself among a different society, a different place to that that I left over five years ago, and at the same time so constant in terms of street life.

I was very unhappy about lighting conditions, hence I shipped my photo gear back to parents house, then a story has started. A plot good for a decent film, a storyline that brought so many great memories from those good old days, when the town's festival was a big deal for us, and maybe still is for many, just the times have changed, we've got older, but it was great to be a teenager for a few hours again. Only why the camera was away?

Stage and the four lane beer garden

A funfair located on the main street

Funfair worker, miles away, while the ride is on

One of the funfair's spectators, holding a Polish lager

Tired food hall worker, sausage or a chuck stake?

No way through, OK?

Even though

Last week was a difficult one. Suppose it's easier to by a bully then to be bullied, but I'll stop here, and won't continue to drill into this matter, as it makes no sense at all. I need to stop giving a sugar about all of that! At the end of the day it has no value. Well, a paycheck carries a material one, with some fancy architecture printed on, but that's all, and nothing else is beyond that!

Well, I've nothing more to say. Or, maybe?

In search for war remains

Last summer holidays I went over to Croatia. During one of the hot days, decided to do a little bit of sightseeing. Bagged my Nikon and drove over to Skradin, a small town in Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia. This small town, as according to the travel guide, has suffered a lot during the Balkan War in 1991-1995. I wasn't expecting much really, as it serves as a transport hub directing traffic to the nearby National Park Krka, but to my amusement, as we arrived, we were welcomed by a young man without one leg. Although the travel guide mentioned that it is highly possible to meet people who suffer from various war injuries, I stayed sceptical, until the arrival.

After the visit to the National Park Krka I went on strolling around the narrow streets of Skradin, looking for a chance to take some good photographs. To be honest, despite the sad view of that young man at the beginning of the day, the whole town seemed to be aimed at tourists. Well, that should've been obvious to me, but anyway Skradin is a very magical place, and I've managed to find some of that magic on one of the side streets.

When reinforcements arrived

I thought that I've lost not only a battle, but the whole war, a conflict with myself, that nearly made me fail. Luckily some reinforcements have just arrived!

First of all, I've acquired a brand new tank! It's not Abrams nor T-34, it even doesn't have a cannon, but on the college work battlefield it will cause havoc. Take cover! Hopefully none of the film rolls will get wounded.

Thanks to my mate, some mercenaries have also arrived. He lent me a manual M42 mount Sigma 80-200 f/3.5 zoom lens. Straight away it's been equipped with an adapter to fit my Nikon, unfortunately this method wouldn't allow to focus in infinity. However, I was still tempted to get the new mercenary howitzer into action.

Well, sport again, this time football, U14's to be precise. The best way to test a new lens is to make it sweat, while others are sweating on the pitch. So, I went to a Dublin and District Schoolboys League game, that was held at Mill Lane Pitch, the home "stadium" for Palmerstown Rangers FC, a schoolboys club that my cousin plays for.

Haven't got any plan for the shoot really, maybe because my head was so empty after a very difficult week, so I just walked around the pitch and took few random pictures, trying to depict those boys effort towards the win.

Well, haven't noticed much effort though. Sorry to say that guys. I've seen my cousin, on the photograph above, trying really hard, sweating and panting. Look at the picture above again, while the game is on, the rest seems to be interested in something else, definitely not the game itself. My insights are probably biased a lot, but coach, have a look at that.

I'm a bit harsh on the boys performance evaluation today, sorry about that, it's a building critique I hope. Actually I can't be so subjective. Others also tried, but if only would have invested a few more drops of sweat into the game, the result wouldn't be 2:2. 

Can't blame Rangers goalie too, their opponents, Confey FC spent some amount of time in front of the net keeping him busy. First, I went in behind of the Confey's post, but after spending about 10 minutes in there, waiting for Rangers to try to shoot a goal, I surrendered my idea and got back to the side of the pitch.

Knew this is going to happen. As I got back to the side line Rangers assaulted opponents net. Typical. The game ended 2:2, leaving it without a winner.

It wasn't an easy assignment. First of all, long lens equals heavy load not only on the hand, but especially on the camera's body mount, what means I had to hold the lens instead of the Nikon what made focusing slightly more difficult. Secondly, it's a zoom lens, controlling both focus and zoom, holding the lens, all in a very fast pacing setting, a football game, was a bit challenging, but not impossible.

Check out the full gallery here!

Tomasz Tomaszewski

It's been a good while since I've posted for the last time. The amount of work, that has to be done in a very near weeks, makes me feel like Christ carrying the cross up the Golgotha. Please! Don't! I'm unworthy to be crucified! 

Via College'rosa. It's station three, I've just fallen for the first time, but that fall has to make me stronger, more motivated and much more able to reach the goal that I set.

One of the recent posts was about my guru of guru's - Garry Winogrand. Today, I'm inviting you to meet a photographer that is in the most responsible for my drag towards documentary photography. A National Geographic photographer for past 20 years and the Pulitzer Prize winner - Tomasz Tomaszewski. 

About 10 years ago I came across his superb work for the first time. It was during a school trip to a World Press Photo exhibition; his photographs; his approach and his way of telling a story did cast a spell on me.

Today, I was researching his work up to date. What I found and what did appeal the most to me, was his photoreportage on the mine workers in my home region of Poland - Silesia. Although, in the clip Tomasz Tomaszewski talks about it in Polish, it is well worth watching. English subtitles provided. Enjoy!

And finally, his gallery that also includes his work in Silesian mines, don't miss it: Tomasz Tomaszewski Gallery.

Thank you Tomek! Thanks for leading me to the place where I am now! I owe you everything! Dziękuję!