Hi, > Looking at the 30x45cm print hanging on the wall I can only feel > sorry the web image is such a pale representation; I like to let my > eyes wandering through the branches in search of fine shadows. I > took this image very early in a springtime morning; wished the > location was some lost county corner but, with the risk of clearing > the Dracula mystery, it's but the Village Museum in Bucharest - > otherwise a destination I strongly recommend to anyone spending > time in Romania. [This is one place that truly preserves some of the > (lost) traditions. With a bit of luck you might enjoy some folk > music performance or even attend a genuine Romanian wedding.] > Related to a previous film discussion, this Ilford XP2 frame was a > tough scan/print job. Despite shooting it at 200 ASA the shadows on > the willow trunk exhibit huge grain that I had to clip together with > the darkest tones. I'm sure a genuine B/W would have done better. > Bob, I'm glad that you in particular felt drawn to this picture. I > guess that your staying in Romania brought you some of the > subconscious reactions of the natives. ;o) > Thanks.
I hope to return sometime in the next couple of years. My partner and her children have sponsored a Romanian orphan for the last 4 or 5 years, and would like to visit him sometime. Coincidentally, he lives in Suceava, the town I went to after I said goodbye to you in Bucharest. I never went to the village museum, and I'm rather surprised to learn that you took the photo there. There are so many beautiful and interesting living villages in the country still, despite the unfortunate history of resettlement. I often think about the places I visited with Valentin, and about Maramures county, and would like to spend more time there, as well as visiting the mountains. -- Cheers, Bob
