Tag: autumn

Moscow Throughout the Seasons: An Inviting Adventure to Photography

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Moscow, though often associated with endless coldness, goes through a variety of unique seasons. Every month possesses an air of mysteriousness; however, despite the unreliability of the weather, a creative opportunity is always waiting to be found and cherished. In this article, you’ll be introduced to the unpredictable seasons of Moscow, from freezing winter months to welcoming spring days. I hope this gives you a better idea of what this grand city is like throughout the year.

Moscow’s Winter

Winters are unrelenting in Moscow’s more rural areas. The city is treated kinder than surrounding villages, providing visitors with warm stores and outdoor food stands. Exploring the city’s streets often feels like observing everything through fogged up glass. The snow, often reminiscent of the violent storms one sees in documentaries, seems to speak of endless cold days and silence (save for the endless traffic, which is at its busiest). This time of year in Moscow is perfect for cozy indoor shoots. Those who have the time and desire to experiment with studio photography will find themselves thriving during this time. The brave individuals who do step outside are often provided with outstanding photo opportunities. Whichever option you choose if you ever visit the city, remember to dress warmly and have a thermos (or two) with you at all times!

In villages, the silencing atmosphere can be either comforting or intimidating, depending on how much of a city person you are. Village homes are covered in thin layers of frost. It’s not uncommon to see chickens huddling and clucking busily, completely familiar with the season’s harshness. The sight is so unique that one can’t help but take photos of everything, even if the temperature threatens to freeze any exposed skin. Though this time of year is considered the most discouraging, it holds uplifting treasures for those who listen, observe, and create.

Moscow’s Spring

In the spring, magic resides in details. Winter’s ice cold hands finally begin to thaw, leaving behind signs of exhilarating life. This is a hopeful and tender time of year filled with long days and sweet-smelling parks. Colors slowly begin to bleed into the picture; though they’re not as intense as summer’s bursts of color, their presence is strong enough to lift even the heaviest of spirits. This, of course, is necessary after months of dullness. Spring, unlike winter, is ideal for outdoor shoots. The floral additions, rejuvenating golden hours, and energizing mornings promise gorgeous wedding, portrait, and nature shots. Those who love anything flower related in the creative world will find joy in the middle of the month when the flowers lose their shyness and confidently step into the world.

Moscow’s Summer

Summer enters the scene grandly, like a relative you can always rely on. It lazily walks around, each step a day full of hazy thoughts and memories. The heat in Moscow isn’t unbearable, much to everyone’s relief. There may be days when the very center of the city seeks to burn your skin, but that is often impossible to predict beforehand. (This is why it’s always handy to have access to suncream and a hat.) It’s during this time of year that photographers of all sorts can thrive. Golden hours and longer days generously spend their time with people, promising endless creativity. The endlessness is so comforting and believable that for a moment, it’s possible to forget that the colder months are just around the corner. However, summer has a way of removing that fear and we almost, almost, don’t mind it when autumn knocks on the door with a suitcase full of leaves.

Moscow’s Autumn

This is a product of summer and winter, a realm between two very different worlds. Autumns in Moscow are crisp morning air, dry hands, and the foretelling of a renewed cycle. This is a time of preparation, of finding warmth before the winter calls the city’s name. Autumns are perhaps the most wonderful time of year for fashion and portrait photographers. Before the leaves depart, Moscow is a golden nest ideal for portraiture, landscapes, and everything in between. The lack of intense coldness allows for relatively comfortable shoots; at the same time, the chilly weather makes coming home all the more pleasant.

And just like that, the cycle begins all over again, each season waiting for an artist to capture its best and worst sides.

Cyprus throughout the seasons: Meeting a Paradise

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Cyprus is relatively warm and bright all year round. The brilliant sun lovingly showers the island with happiness and luxurious light more often than not. To photographers, this is paradise – the golden hour is present for a very long time during the year, leaving only during the winter months (but even then, the days are long). No matter what kind of photographer you are, Cyprus will provide you with spectacular things and people to document and cherish your whole life. Below is an exploration of each season in Cyprus.

Winter

While winters in countries like Russia are rarely welcome, Cyprus winters are embraced with open arms. It is in the winter when the island’s inhabitants finally get to wear another layer of clothing. It is also when seeking unoccupied shades under trees stops being a continuous hobby. Tourists, however, freely walk around in T-shirts and vests, sometimes diving, unperturbedly, into the chilly sea. Despite the slight drop in temperature, the sun continues to generously give out its light; this time, the only difference is the intensity of the heat itself. A lack of humidity allows for long walks on the beach or spontaneous visits to the mountains, where winter can be experienced on a very mild level. A harmless layer of snow temporarily resides in the mountains – if you’d like to take great snowy photographs without freezing, Cyprus is just the right place for you.

Spring

Spring arrives with the promise of mild humidity. While it can get unbearable in the summers, spring humidity is tolerable and almost enjoyable after months of dryness. This time of year is perfect for mountain hiking, cycling, and running on the beach. Though flowers rarely wilt to the point of leaving the island gray and bare, certain types do disappear for a while. They gracefully emerge in the spring, dipping the island in uplifting colors of royal purple, lilac, and periwinkle. Spotting watermelons in people’s backyards during this time is far from strange – in fact, it’s a pleasant and drool-worthy sight. Best of all, spring is a time of new kinds of fruit and vegetables on the island, all of which can be obtained at humble little markets. These locations are ideal for street photography enthusiasts as most of the locals are more than happy to have their photo taken. In addition to a striking photo, you’ll get a good deal and will get the chance to enjoy a wonderful and refreshing meal at home.

Summer

Cyprus summers are viewed from two very distinct and different perspectives. There are those who thoroughly enjoying swimming or eating in restaurants by the beach and those who prefer the cool comfort of home. The former find satisfaction in fresh underwater photos or in appealing phone snaps of food and landscapes. The latter enjoy the great indoor lighting conditions provided by the endless, generous sunshine. If visitors wish to escape the heat, they can find refuge in the cool mountains of Troodos; this place is comfortably chilly all year round, providing tourists with both picturesque locations and bearable weather conditions.

Autumn

This could be considered the dullest time of year due to the empty trees and fallen leaves. A feeling of neglect washes over the island when autumn arrives, leaving people feeling slightly disappointed. However, the sadness doesn’t last long thanks to the breathtaking sunsets; these remain loyal to the island no matter what kind of weather is present. Even if most of the trees look haunting, the promise of another perfect sky is worth it. Photographers who adore feeling cozy outdoors will thoroughly enjoy the beginning of fall, whereas those who enjoy spending time absorbing and photographing landscapes will find an abundance of creativity in the entire season.

The key to making the most of Cyprus all year round is knowing where to spend your time as the seasons blend into each other. Summers are perfect for camping in the mountains; the months of spring can be fully enjoying in friendly markets; autumn can be enjoyed with a hot cup of cocoa during the sunset, and winter can be fully enjoyed by the beach. The beauty of this homely island is the amazing creative opportunities it gives to every artist throughout the seasons. No matter when you visit Cyprus, you’ll find something there to call home.

An Autumn Morning in Cyprus and Self-Reflections

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Autumns in Cyprus are a blur of fog, crunchy leaves, and rainy (self) reflections. Every autumn, my family and I would spend hours collecting refreshing water, hiking, and taking quirky photos in the mountains. Since Cyprus is a fairly humble little island free of endless traffic jams, getting to places requires no effort at all. This easiness allows the island’s inhabitants to freely explore the entire island. In the autumn, this is particularly useful.

There was a certain year when autumn grandly announced its arrival and showered the island with shades of amber and brown. Everybody was in a state of perpetual awe during this enchanting time; most people were either taking snapshots all the time or simply absorbing, wide-eyed, the bountiful supply of picturesque scenes. I was amongst the former, dutifully photographing both landscapes and details with any camera I could get my hands on. It was a refreshing period of time which put us all in a world where worries concerning time and pain didn’t exist. Because every individual had the chance to experience this worry-less reality, even if temporarily, more people seemed to get along. It was as if the season had cast a spell of tranquility on us all, blocking all resentment from entering our newfound bubble of safety.

The mountains’ personality changes along with the time of day. Aware of this fact, we decided to visit the mountains before they awakened. On a cozy morning, we packed spinach pie and a thermos full of hot tea and went looking for an adventure. On our way there (a trip that takes no longer than an hour and a half), we spotted a shepherd herding a flock of sheep. The group was carefully hidden behind a timid layer of fog, a ghostly yet comforting reminder of a simpler life. Such a sight, though common in the mountains, is a rare occurrence in the city itself. This is why exploration is precious – you could visit the same location over and over again, but the creative opportunities it would provide you with would always be diverse and endless. Finding unexpected situations to photograph is an absolute joy for us all. The good news is that you needn’t go far to experience this joy.

Around 30 minutes into the trip, we stopped to grab a few snacks in our favorite store, a place that smells like the best bakery in the world mixed with the wondrous scent of forests. There, we spotted another unexpected moment: birds appearing out of nowhere like fountains in the sky. They quickly and elegantly flew around the area, leaving behind mild echoes and feather souvenirs. This, combined with Birdy’s cover of the song Skinny Love, left an unforgettable mark on me. Though the grandiosity of this moment might not have abandoned me in the years to come, I would’ve forgotten to remember it had it not been for the images I took during that experience. It is for this reason – that significant yet unpredictable moment, when documented in one form or another, stay with us forever – that I cherish photography and everything it has to offer.

Entering the heart of the mountains was, as always, akin to a sigh of relief. Our favorite spot, an outdoor space where visitors could relax and collect fresh water, was located next to an abandoned little shed surrounded by a stream. In another environment, this would’ve been a disconcerting view; in the autumnal morning mountains, it was a visually appealing comfort. We spent the rest of the morning nibbling on goodies, discussing the beauty of the chilly season, and taking comfortable walks in the area. Every moment felt strangely endless, and in a way it was. When I go through the photographs I took back then, I find myself reliving every vivid moment as if it only happened a week ago. To quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse Five: “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.”

I encourage you to visit all kinds of places, even your own backyard, and to look at them through the eyes of a curious observer. In that world of inquisitive thoughts, you will find exactly what you need, especially things you never knew you needed. There is endless value in being both present and photo-ready on this unpredictable, marvelous, colorful earth.