We all know about historical buildings and events. Even if they occurred in our own lives. After all, everything we know is history, right? In Eastern Europe, Ukraine to be exact, history is part of life. You can find old buildings and newer buildings still old enough to be called historical. Some buildings have a risk of being historical and becoming a memory as well…

In the center of Kiev, Ukraine, as you know it is the capital of Ukraine, stands the Lavra complex. The Lavra complex is officially called Pecherskaya Lavra, or in plain English Lavra Monastery of the Caves.

Pecherskaya Lavra, Kiev, Ukraine

Let’s get a closer look, shall we?

Read more: History and future

Photography, photos, pictures, apertures, shutter speeds, tripods, flashes… You could ask yourself if there is nothing else in the life of a photographer. Many would say no. But if you really keep your mind only on the visible aspect of life, visibly you’re going to miss something.

Even more, if you go out in the streets, look around, snap away and forget that city life is full of sound. And music. Many of the musicians in the streets are playing for you. I have no recording material (yet), but at least let me show you some musical effects in the streets.

Before the concert on Khreshchatyk, Kiev, Ukraine

In Kiev, Ukraine, music in the street can take a day to set up, and block the main street of the city for the rest of the weekend. Material enough to let the biggest band play without troubles. It also attracts the most interesting public…

Read more: Let there be music

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” – John Donne, Meditation 17.

No man is an island, but life on an island however can have it charms. Mostly when the weather is nice. Not many people here in Winnipeg will have had the pleasure of living on an island or perhaps even visiting one for some time. In the north of Holland, there is a row of islands, most of them big enough to have permanent residents on them. Living on a few square miles looks like a dream to many.

Flying to the island called Ameland

An island is defined as a piece of land, maybe inhabited and surrounded completely by water. I would like to add that the climate of the entire island should also be governed by the sea, so Australia for example should not qualify. Ameland is only a small piece of land and so we head out for this beautiful little island…

Read more: Island life

Winnipeg is known for its winters, cold and sometimes even brutal. Of course we experience some good weather too, in summer *and* in winter. A temperature of –25C or colder might look terrible to some, for others these temperatures are a relief from colds and sore throats. These ailments get no chance in winter here. One thing for which Winnipeg is certainly not famous is its parks and gardens. That is a big mistake. Many parks and gardens are beautiful in all seasons.

The garden that really comes to my mind is obviously one that is not too far from my house: The English Garden in the Assiniboine Park.

English garden in Winnipeg

Of course, in order not to disappoint you I will start with a wintery picture… But come inside and see what else we can find…

Read more: An English garden in town

Fishing on Lake Manitoba is for the professionals. I’m no professional fisherman, not even an amateur, not even a fisherman. As said in the previous post about Ice Fishing on Lake Manitoba at The Narrows, you need some serious tools in order to get yourself a chance to get some fish for supper.

The need for professional fishing material on Lake Manitoba

And yes, the material we used to go fishing one morning on Lake Manitoba was almost as old and aged as in this picture. Want to see some more?

Read more: Ice fishing on Lake Manitoba

“ I’m going fishin’… I got me a line… I know nothin’ about fishing… “ Chris Rhea couldn’t have put it better: I know nothing about fishing. Beyond casting a line with some kind of fish food in the water and wait and wait and wait until some fish shows that it has more intelligence than me by eating that bait and leaving the hook untouched, well I know nothing.

Here in Manitoba, fishing is a whole different affair, it’s an art and a real sport. Even more if you start talking ice fishing. Fishing on ice is a whole different way of fishing and for some a way of living. At any rate fishing in Manitoba is a good opportunity to catch great photographs.

On Lake Manitoba waiting for fish

And no, the fish is not biting through the ice to come up to present itself for my supper…

Read more: Gone fishin’

Most of the time, quietness and town or city do not go together. Either it is quiet and the town looks like a ghost town, or the town is lively but far from quiet. I like my relaxation in the weekend and just go far from the house and from the city. Ok, in Winnipeg there are enough quiet places to find, but a bit farther out is always good.

Every now and then we take a car to get out, and try to find some nature and calm down from the week’s hassles. Now if you find places like these in this picture, you can imagine that this is not a very hectic place.

The Winnipeg River

And once you find the place, you’ll want to stay for some time, well…

Read more: Wild quietness in town