To much surprise it started to snow this morning. And I was really wanting a change in the weather, to feel the winter finally. It's Boxing Day for me but a regular day for Armenians, I hadn't slept the night before and was feeling the fatigue, but I pulled myself together and went for a short walk to photograph a nearby park under the snow falling. Little did I know I'd stumble across a lot of history along the way. Things I had never seen before, areas that I fully intend to return and give more attention. This ended up being one of my most favourite walks despite that cold and tiredness, and I look forward to giving the area I stumbled across a revisit soon. With the snow I had the Helios 44-2 on the camera, a portrait lens that is a bit tight. I wanted to get a closer perspective of the natural world through it.
I walked and went behind an area where I thought a garden remained. Before my eyes revealed something incredibly old. Buildings from the Soviet 1950s and beyond. At the front was a sign. I had never seen one of these in person before, but I knew what it was right away: a rare sign which during the USSR would once display the best employees at the factories or admin buildings around. This was a big deal for the workers, it meant that had displayed an exemplary attitude towards labour and had managed to pursue their tasks with success. Basically, a glorified version of an employee(s) of the month board. It was hidden within overgrowth, and I had easily missed it the previous times of going here since I never walked this far down its old path. I have to return soon and photograph this properly. Though the Helios wasn't ideal for any of it. I had stepped back in time.
I had no intentions of pursuing any historical or urbex adventures today. I was tired as it was. I was cold from the beautiful snow falling around me, but happy to be outside given how bored I was getting at home with a totally ruined sleeping pattern I've been struggling to shake off lately. I photographed the plants and bushes around still. The Helios performed beautifully in these areas, though the snow wasn't too heavy, making some images not quite capture the wintery atmosphere I had intended prior to looking out of the window like a sad dog debating whether I should pull myself together and go out or not. I'm so glad I did though. I feel so motivated from my discoveries, and motivated by the weather that finally felt like Christmas, given I have never really experienced snow over the Christmas season before.
I still love how these images turned out. I'm waiting for my new Soviet lens still which is a wider focal length with similar characteristics, though it keeps getting delayed. I hope to use it soon and maybe really photograph the Soviet history I stumbled across, not wanting to leave. Feeling that excitement of seeing the world before me, untouched. Forgotten. Soon, however, that story will continue.
Beautiful picture, perfect focus to highlight objects in the snow... what type of camera are you using?
An old Sony A6000 which is really showing its age recently. But with a Soviet era Helios 44-2 lens from the 1980s which gives everything so much more character than a more modern lens. I mostly use vintage glass these days :)
La historia es mejor contada con una foto.... Son verdaderos guerreros del tiempo ... Prevalecen en el avance del reloj y nos recuerdan aquellas historias que no deben ser olvidadas