Keeping the Faith Photo

Photographer’s Note

I thought this shot provided an interesting commentary on post independent Ukraine. In a country where private wealth is held by the relatively few, and public funds are scarce and badly managed, it’s the church (and the banks) which can afford to go in for expensive refurbishment. It’s also interesting that after 74 years of religious suppression, there’s been a popular revival since the ending of restrictions.

The scene is from the station at Chervenograd, where a regular market (ринок, as seen on the sign behind the lorries) is held next to the station yard. The derelict lorries are used as makeshift stores for the stallholders. I like the way the church is sandwiched between this and the standard issue Soviet flats beyond.

I was on a local train from Kovel to Lviv, and the composition was limited to the view from my carriage window. A pity about the leaning mast to the left of he church.

PP, some tweaking of levels in PS.

Josh69, Steely, merpb, Jeppe, chagovets has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

WoodPigeon (457) 2004-04-14 6:02

On the contrary, the leaning mast add to the picture I think.

I like your commentary and if you don't mind me saying, while the picture could be improved a touch - I this definately is a good TE picture!!

Nice work! - by the way, maybe people are turning to the church because they are the richest people in town!!??

joergen115 (2244) 2004-04-14 6:16

Very good Picture.But take a look howe it look when you crop it and put some more color and clear it.Hope you like it? and i put a new name on it now -spell Trucks.

[workshop] [compare] +

Steely (895) 2004-04-14 8:37

Everyone has to believe in something :), it might be the orthodox church was merely invisible,and, what is not seen is tolerated?
Good message

merpb (1970) 2004-04-14 17:55

Nice image Richard.
The trucks provide the key contextual element to this shot and whilst they are interesting on their own and indeed the remainder of the shot works without them, together they provide the sort of commentary that takes this image above the usual record shot.

Jeppe (18623) 2004-04-15 10:21

Interesting to watch this place - the composition and colours interesting - for instance the different blue colours of the trucks and the nice church in the middle of a "mess". Very well spotted and captured Richard - Thanks for sharing.

maciekda (19599) 2004-04-16 8:49

ha, what a nice composition made by people - cars, the church and thos residental blocks - all put together in one frame creates a very interesting composition. unfortunatelly the picture is tilted quite much - you had tried to keep the cars in the line.. anyway, a nice one