Foggy Dew: Tribute to the people of Ukraine

The last time I was in Ukraine was in 1989. We took a flight to Simferopol and then a trolleybus to Yalta, a beautiful resort town on the North coast of the Black Sea.

Wikipedia says that Crimean Trolleybus Line  is the longest trolleybus line in the world. It is a 86 km (53 mi) long, pollution-free, low cost, 2 hours long dream ride. The road passes through the Crimean Mountains across the Angarskyi Pass reaching 752 metres (2,500 ft) at the highest point, descends down to the coastal town of Alushta, and turns south winding along the sea for another 41 km.

I cannot share any decent images of Yalta here: on that trip I was using a reversal film, and the slides didn’t survive well. The first one I took from the cable car, clinging to dear life, and the other one from the balcony of the room we rented.

crimea

crimea

This beautiful place is almost desolated these days. The main source of income in Yalta is tourism. There are very little tourists visiting this summer…

I have never been to Donetsk, and it looks like I never will, but every week I am getting updates from a person who lives there. Russian Grad missiles bring death and destruction turning the area into a bloody nightmare. My heart goes out to you, my Ukrainian brothers and sisters. You only wanted to live your life by your own choice.

I went to University in Moscow, Russia. It was a happy and fun time, we did our best to visit all the museums and theatres; we listened to Vladimir Vysotsky and Mashina Vremeni and wrote satirical poems and songs about the Soviet reality. My dear Russian friends, what happened to you? Since when are you worshipping the Beast? It breaks my heart.

I want to share this video as a tribute to those who lost their lives in Ukraine. The song is The Foggy Dew ( by Sinead O’Connor), and the movie is The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006). Seeing violence makes my heart bleed. I know that there are the times… but still, unnecessary violence doesn’t do any good to anybody. Nevertheless, I am for freedom for every country and their citizens. May God bless those who defend their freedom.

These foggy images were taken walking along the water edge, in the times of peace. If your life is safe, secure and comfortable, send a word of prayer for the innocent victims in Ukraine.

fog

fog

fog

fog

Photography tip of the day: When taking pictures in the fog it is great to have at least some of your subjects close to the camera so that they come out darker and sharper. Also great if you subjects create layers.

www.inesemjphotography.comHave a peaceful weekend!

38 comments

  1. Interesting photos You’re a photojournalist. I guess my concern with foggy photos would be the lens getting foggy as well. However that might make for an interesting photo. Keep up the great work. 🙂

  2. Conflict is always so very sad wherever it takes place. I pray for peace often but believe it will only come in full at God’s final intervention.

  3. I agree with your sentiments, and yes I too have been to Ukraine. the bits I saw weren’t too special. An orphanage for 260 with finding for 60 and one broken toilet between the whole lot of them. This wasn’t so long ago either….

        1. Oh no, even in 1989 Crimea didn’t look so bad. It was crowded but still enjoyable place.
          If Russia let Ukraine alone in the 1990-s everything would be different.

  4. One imagines that a lot of the people living in both countries are outraged and horrified at what is happening but don’t have much say…And it is not as if external intervention in conflicts always ends up well. We don’t seem to speak the same language, have the same priorities or communicate effectively… Thanks for the posts. Like many of the best ones, we have more questions than answers.

    1. Thank you for your comment, Olga. I too agree that the external intervention is very seldom a success. In overpopulated Europe it can start a disaster, especially when a maniac has a hold of the power.

  5. the day is near when Wladimir Wladimirowitsch will overrun this poor country…and EU states and Mr. Obama wash their hands in innocence…so sorry, but signs are pointing to storm… 😦

    1. I am afraid you are right… I don’t see though how Europe and the USA can help except the economical pressure they apply. Who wants to start the World War III? We don’t know, may be it is the beast’s plan, may be he is just waiting for a trigger to hit Europe and the USA with his missiles… I am full of worry, to be honest…

        1. He is the one. He wants to restore the USSR. Napoleonic ambitions, but you never know. I have seen a photograph of soldiers kissing his portrait. Seriously, standing in line to kiss his image!

          1. agree with you – or he is just the figurehead of Russian Federations Army…? have a good midweek, think u are dry and sunny too… 😉

  6. Dear Inese.
    Your tribute to Ukraine, your touching words and those foggy photos speak out loud to me… My peace guide Mankind, despite it all. Let’s peace get into our souls and hearts to shine throughout…
    Thanks for such a beautiful post, best wishes and hugs to you,
    Aquileana 🙂

    1. Dear Aquileana,
      Thank you for this comment. You are so right about peace. Now there is only hatred, and it is why there is no progress.
      Hope your week is peaceful and pleasant!
      Inese

  7. I spent two years in Ukraine with my family. It is so sad and pity that this beautiful country is separated now in two. Not officially but emotionally. Hope the peace will come back soon.

  8. Inese – The human element you give your photography brings it to life a million times over. Of course your photography stands on its own but your personal stories make every post that much more meaningful. Why is it the bully’s are never content with what they already have? I know, it’s a universal answer. It’s called greed.

      1. Inese – I wasn’t finished checking out your blog when my shih tzu demanded dinner be served. How do they know what time it is? Same time every day. Then I went out to move my watering hose, although it’s 105 out, give or take a few degrees, I saw weeds that had to be pulled right now! But, I’m back for awhile until someone else wants my time. Have a great weekend.

        1. Thank you for reading, Sheri, I really appreciate that. You have so much to care about. Have a great weekend, and hope your weeds stop growing 🙂

    1. Thank you Andrea. It was 25 years ago when my daughter and I went to Crimea for holidays. My memories are probably very different than today’s reality…

    1. Thank you for reading, Vijay. It is a real war going on there, and it will definitely have a grave impact on Europe and the World. Just wait a couple of months. Putin doesn’t make it a secret that he wants the Soviet Union back at any cost. For starters.
      Inese

  11. Beautiful tribute. It’s so sad on what happens in certain countries nowadays. Sometimes I just can’t stand the news anymore and stop browsing the news website 😦 My wishes for the peace on your mother’s homeland and safety for people who live there.

    1. Thank you Indah! I am interested in Family History and recently I traced a family of my relatives whom I met only twice in my life: the last time it was 40 years ago during a short visit. And of all the places, they live in Donetsk area! My childhood memories of them are the fondest, it is why I am so sad and sick with worry. On the other hand, I have great memories of my days in Moscow, and I cannot believe that it is the same country I knew. It is terrible how everything changes in 30-40 years!

  13. This is a beautiful and moving post. Having a personal touch and face put to the factual knowledge of what’s happening in the Ukraine is very touching. I wish your photos had survived as a testament to the beauty that is being ruined by greed. When will it ever stop?!

    1. It is all very sad. My mother was from Ukraine, and I studied 5 years in Moscow in the 1970s, so both countries mean a lot for me. To be honest I had no idea what the life over there looks like until this horror started. I thought all was well…
      I do have some more slides, but they are all damaged, spotted etc. We went there for a whole month

    1. Thank you! 🙂 It is not exactly my homeland, but my mother’s. I have been to Ukraine just on a few occasions, may be 5-6 times altogether. I knew nothing about the life over there, until the invasion.

      1. I see. I am 53 and have never known a world with no wars and all that comes with it. It’s so sad that our specie can’t simply stop this and be together in peace.

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