zeitgeist, a photo from Moscow, Center

Photographer's Note

I did not plan to post any photos today, but after travelling about Moscow half of the day I can't help posting some shots of what I saw.

Imagine yourself in Moscow these days..

but be sure to put on a mask before going outside - without a mask you will cough;
take a lot of water with you - not only to drink but also to wash your eyes which will be severely "bitten" by the heavy smoke (or smog - whatever you wish to call it)...
and try to remain outdoors as little time as possible.

You won't be able to escape and hide from the heavy stifling smoke even in the Metro stations: they are filled with smoke, too..

In the Workshop: 2 additional photos

All these photos were taken in those streets which tourists never visit, even though they are almost in the very centre of the city.

PaulVDV, gabrielpat, holmertz, saxo042, DariaK, bukitgolfb301, maloutim, jlbrthnn, siamesa, worldcitizen, rodgerg, ellelloo, Didi, skippy007 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (15017) 2010-08-06 11:07

Hello Elena,
We have seen similar images of Moscow on TV here.
I really hope the fires can be controlled soon.
Not only the daily life is disrupted but it has cost already so many human lives.
The picture will remain a testimony of a terrible summer.
Hopefully this will end soon, Paul

korbee (6299) 2010-08-06 11:44

Ive just seen this on the news Elena,it must be pretty scary situation over there,I hope the problem soon will be solved,your picture is a sharp journalistic vieuw.

jan

npecanhuk (53909) 2010-08-06 11:48

Hi Elena!
I've heard about that here too! It must be terrible to have this smog and hot weather! Hopefully, it'll all end soon! The picture is documentary and has a very good quality!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

leo61 (0) 2010-08-06 11:50

HI Elena!
3 good documentary photos!!!!!
I hope the problem will be solved soon,but the weather forecast is not the best.You need the rain we have here in Germany since about ten days.
All the best,
Leo

gabrielpat (7163) 2010-08-06 11:50

hi elena,
a great job with a "phone"! stuning results.very interesting shot of actuality.regards,patrick.

holmertz (26958) 2010-08-06 12:51

Hello Elena,
You always surprise me with that phone of yours, taking such remarkably sharp pictures with natural colours. Now, these days nothing seems to be natural in Moscow, which looks like it's November, except for the lightly dressed people. I can imagine the horror of the situation, not mainly the heat but the unpleasant and possibly unhealthy smoke. At least you have provided three important documents for TE.
Wishing you rain any day now,
Gert

bema (25936) 2010-08-06 13:00

Hi Elena,

looks like all those pictures we can watch these days at TV every hour, terrible moments, hope where will be some rain soon over there..
much better would be, if the government would do something in preparing of such weather-??

hope you will take care..

all the best, Bernd

saxo042 (31802) 2010-08-06 13:13

Hi Elena,
Here you have provided three very strong and very up-to-date documentary pictures, showing your situation in a much better way than we see on TV. I really hope things get better soon.
Kind regards
Gunnar

bukitgolfb301 (30067) 2010-08-06 17:00

Hello my dear Elena

Ya I am always afraid of you and your health, because I experienced quite same condition when the serious forest fires ocuurred in Indonesia. Quite same as your photo, everbody including me had to use mask any time.
Please take care yourself but have a good weekend!
thanks for sharing, Best regards
Takero

rbellemare (2087) 2010-08-06 18:34

Hello

Very nice photo journalism. It is certainly a tragedy those fires in Russia. I hope that everything will be settled soon.

Thank you for this beautiful picture.

Réjean

wolf38 (28190) 2010-08-06 23:27

Hi elena. Very current and authentic. The smog is terrible in this intensity. We all hope that everything will soon be over. Regards, Wolfgang.

maloutim (8612) 2010-08-07 0:00

Bonjour Elena!
Une très bonne photo documentaire qui nous montre bien dans quelle situation vous vivez à Moscou ces derniers temps!
Malgré l'aspect tragique de la situation, ta photo est belle , comme si tu l'avais prise par un matin de brouillard!
Hélas, les masques sont là pour nous rappeler le triste réalité!
Tu donnes de bons cons conseils; j'espère qu'ils seront suivis par les usagers des rues!
Bon courage et meilleures amitiés!
Marie Louise.

AiresSantos (56155) 2010-08-07 7:52

Hi Elena
Terrific situation in your country !
Excellent picture that demostrate the real situation
Fine work
I hope you solve quickly the problem
All the best
Aires

jlbrthnn (79773) 2010-08-07 11:42

Good evening Fanni,
It is simply incredible! It is the day after a nuclear war. This photograph and the ws are more effective than a length discour! I hope that this plague will be stopped. I also hope that the damage on the installations and the cultures will be limited. Excellent work of report.
Have a good evening
Cordially
Joël

siamesa (27449) 2010-08-07 15:20

Boa noit Elena

I can imagine how difficult is to go out with this time.
Surely the climate around the world is become "crazy".
Very good register, my friend
Abraços
maria

worldcitizen (4858) 2010-08-07 16:24

Hello Elena,
This is a scary scene, and I worry about the health of everyone there. To see these two women going about their normal business under these dire conditions is eerie. The face masks really have a strong impact, and so does the haze hanging in the air. Stay well!!

TopGeo (37994) 2010-08-08 2:07

Hi Elena They is a picture that speaks alone her what I learn for unprecedented heat wave there and the fires! they is tragic!!! I wish it finishes this martyrdom!
Regards
Georgios

rodgerg (55767) 2010-08-08 3:54

Hello Elena,

Excellent and especially very , very impressive photoreportage. Excellent composition vertical with the cables and the high houses which give graphic effect. Very interesting and very impressive shot.
Best regards,
Roger

ellelloo (6570) 2010-08-08 11:56

Hello Elena,
Your photos are good documentary photos of the horrible situation there. Amazingly good quality for a mobile phone camera. I am wishing you rain and cooler soon!
Kind regards,
Lasse

Urs (11826) 2010-08-08 19:23

Hi Elena

That is haze - this very bad weather phenomena we often have in South East Asia during monsoon season - so I know what you mean. In Malaysia haze can be as bad as that you cannot see anymore the house of your neighbor. It is especially dangerous for the very young and very old one. Good photo job. Thanks for your critique of my net flying fisherman. The framing could be better, accepted, but we had very limited time and had to catch a bus back to Alor Star. So I could not walk much nearer to him.

Best regards
Urs

CMJC (3964) 2010-08-09 6:09 [Comment]

Show Comment

AKITA (15125) 2010-08-09 14:22

dear Elena,
wow, it is severe "smog" scene,
if they were not wear musks, I could not distinguish it from the nature fog...
but it is really "zeitgeist" indeed, almost all modern cities are covered with same smog,
and it causes asthma, cancer and other modern diseases of course,
anyway, though it includes evil essence, the foggy view is my favorite, it is a veil for all to make up,
well composed perspective shot of common street,
the lines vanishing in the veil looks romantic,
thank you for your nice shot,
Akihisa

Didi (48930) 2010-08-11 3:45

Bonjour Elena
Une scène terrible, quelle triste réalité.
Maintenant cela semble se calmer.
Tu décris très bien ce sujet.
Et j'éprouve beaucoup de compassion envers ce peuple courageux.
Bises

skippy007 (12500) 2010-08-11 4:34

Hello Elena, When I first saw the thumbnail I thought what a lovely mood you have captured here, I thought it was a cool mist, nothing like the hot weather you told me about. When I looked at the larger image I was disappointed not in the the photo quality or the interest factor but at the appalling conditions created by the smog and the people wearing masks, unbelievable!!!!. Is it smog or smoke from fires?
Excellent documentary photography, well done, you have made the most of this awful situation. The WS photos complete the picture.
Thanks
Take care
Santo

adramad (27556) 2010-08-11 10:14

Hi Elena.
Impressive picture, one would think seeing it in a thick fog on a cold winter day, I've been watching TV and listening to the high temperatures that you are taking this summer. Here in Madrid we also a very hot summer, but it is more normal than in Moscow.
An image of reporting that shows the terrible atmosphere of the city, the presence of the ladies with masks gives more drama to the composition.
I hope that everything will, today I saw on TV that makes less heat and fewer fires.
Best regards.
Luis.

emka (58152) 2010-08-11 23:11

Hi Elene,

Thanks for these reportage photo. You must have really hard days now in Moscow. Very impressive view of the town covered with smoke. I hope that the situation will improve soon. I wish you all the best

Malgorzata

tomi1 (1924) 2010-11-28 19:03

Oeiras, 29-11-10
Elena
Really last summer Moscow lived the most unthinkable events hit by the uncommon heating and smoke. The stifling atmosphere certainly threatened all you and it was a relief knowing it began weaken. Perhaps for the eyes plastic goggles avoided the painful contact. It is case to think what phenomenon else will come next.
(Here I am not liking the damp cold. I look like a onion with cloths. Underwear thermal pants and T-shirt. Here we call them "termo teb". But there are parts of the body that cannot be hidden but they should as the hands. Even with gloves I have the hands fully slit and it hurts when beat at anything. I began putting cream but it will take time to the sore hands be normal. In the kitchen avoid washing and puts dirt dishes into the wash machine). Have a good day Elena. Yourt friend tomi.