Daugavpils Fortress I Photo

Photographer’s Note

Probably surprisingly, I found Daugavpils to be one of the most fascinating cities I've been to in the Baltics, not least because of the amazing fortress. This huge army base was built by Alexander I about 200 years ago, became a concentration camp i the second world war, and was a soviet army base until Latvian independance in 1991. It's now owned by the Latvian state, and they don't really seem to know what to do with it. It's about the size of small walled city and is part museum, part decayed housing estate, part industrial site and part ruin. Apart from that, most of the structure is still intact and more or less as conceived. To me and my Lithuanian friend it seemed like an amazing development opportunity for anyone with the resources.

The marker on the map is pointing to the building featured.

orme, bertolucci has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Booz (13880) 2007-03-29 4:21

Hi Richard - very good view of past today.. - old bulding and true fresf-life. I like your POV at this picture.
Best regards
TW

snunney (35464) 2007-03-29 4:57

Hello Richard,
Great perspective looking down these severe lines. There is a definite feeling of abandonment, but as you say someone with money and imagination could do something special with it. I like the inclusion of the couple with their dog, they provide a sense of scale and some feeling of relief from the sense of desolation. Well seen.

Graal (58714) 2007-03-29 5:15

Hi Richard,
interesting architecture, note and view in Google map. Fine vertical frame and perspective. Good quality. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

orme (6746) 2007-03-29 10:41

A very interesting shot, Richard - on different levels. First I stopped to look at the architecture and the perspective of the 'arch' windows. Then I scrolled down and saw the people - and liked the sense of scale that they added. Then I saw the dog!! Good use of the map function too. Very well framed.

bertolucci (11994) 2007-03-30 12:12

Great opposition here Richard, between these stark barracks and this young couple with their dog. Kind of illustrating the new possibilities of this compound. A fascinating image, brimfull of engaging detail.
Have a fine weekend,
Bert.

illusion108 (95) 2007-04-08 6:25

good angle :)