Creating a new book: Embracing the Darkness

Have been wanting to create a photography zine for some time now. 

 One that I could print, edit, bind, and share without resorting to outside sources.

After our trip last Fall to Spain, I felt I finally had enough of the right material

 to complete the storyline. Then, I researched how to produce the book, the mechanics and the artistic.

Today, it is in draft form to be tweaked further.

 Now I'll rely on several photographer friends to critique the layout, the images,

 the storyline, make suggestions to smooth the literary and the visual flow, 

plus find aberrations or flaws in the text or images. 

For now though, here is the cover for 

Embracing the Darkness.

( Any and all pages might change before it is finalized )

But for now, in February 2025, it is a work in progress.

Ride safe, ride far,

CCjon

Valladolid - Marcin Ryczek, Polish Photographer

If you are interested in and have read much about Black & White photography, most likely you have seen this award-winning image called:

 "Man feeding the Swans"

by Marcin Ryczek

Marcin and I met quite by accident last Fall in Spain. 

We both were out early one morning photographing the Pisuerga River that runs through the middle of the city.

Standing on the far side of the bridge looking back toward the city, I captured this early morning mist photo. Marcin was taking photos from the middle of the bridge. He is the far figure, about halfway down the bridge, facing the river.

Crossing back toward town, I noticed a tall man taking photos with a very nice Nikon camera and lens, like what a professional would use. As is my habit of talking to strangers, I commented in Spanish about being a great morning for photography. That's when I learned that Marcin does not speak Spanish. We both tried English and that clicked for us. Talking there on the bridge we shared tips on good spots for images, angles, light, etc. Things photographers always talk about, boring our spouses to no end.  

 Marcin explained that he was there participating in a two-month-long cultural exchange program in the city which included two other international artists, one in music and the other in interactive arts.

Marcin had a translator assigned to him as not everyone in the shops and cafes in Valladolid spoke English. Even fewer speak Polish as Valladolid is not an international tourist destination.

 Marcin and I hit it off and got together a half dozen different times over the next two months. We took a photo walk to check out shadow patterns on stucco walls, looked for where the resident storks have nests, talked of image concepts, and shared views on photography as a hobby and a career.

From our conversations, I learned that Marcin is a very accomplished, talented, award-winning photographer from Krakow.

The conclusion of the cultural exchange was for Marcin to have a gallery show with the best photos he had captured during his short time in Valladolid. The daily pressure on him was intense, to capture, edit, print, and present a gallery show demonstrating his artistic vision. Nevertheless, he accomplished it on time with great images that drew admiration from his Spanish hosts and the public.

Marcin's lady friend Patrycja came in from Poland to attend the gallery showing.

 

During this last week, I told Marcin I would like to take a few portrait shots of him in the gallery where his photos were on display before he returned to Poland.

Marcin commented that no one takes his photo as he is normally busy shooting photos of others. He suggested a photo that reflected on his style of photography, high contrast black & white. 

On the final evening of his gallery showing, Marcin, Patrycja and I gathered for a challenging low-light portrait shoot. The tiny intense LED lights illuminating the walls with his photos made the photo session more difficult.

In the background of this first portrait, you can see a reflection of one of Marcin's prints

 floating on top of two other framed pieces of his work as he tries to be serious.  

He commented that people expect him to be very distant and secretive based on the subject matter and his style of photography.  While in reality, Marcin is a very friendly, engaging person. 

I think you can see both personas here trying to be serious, yet the playfulness around the eyes gives away his true nature.

Then we thought he should be holding a camera to emphasize

 that his profession is photography. Below is version #6 of the photo shoot.

I think I like the first one stronger. What do you think?

Then we convinced Marcin's model friend Patrycja that it was her turn to pose.  She jumped right into character like a professional, adding content and emotion to each shot. 

Patrycja first created a sense of painful suffering that tied in perfectly with one of Marcin's images in the background. One of Marcin's photos of a priest and a shadow of the crucifixion taken here in Valladolid.

Then Patrycja went for an uplifting Joan of Arc inspiration in front of another of Marcin's images.  

The moods she created for the camera were fantastic. Made capturing her image so much easier.

And for me?

  

Well, I felt honored that my new friends would place their trust in me to create images

 that reflected their mood and personalities, truthfully and honestly.

 It was a very fortunate pleasure to meet these two creative personalities, Marcin and Patrycja,

To spend some time with them in Spain,

 learning more about how Europeans view black-and-white photography 

with craft, passion, and dedication.

Stopping to talk to a stranger standing on a bridge opened a door 

for learning and sharing life experiences.

Thank you Marcin and Patrycja...

Ride safe and far, my friends.

CCjon

 

p.s. To learn more about Marcin and his photography, go to: https://marcinryczek.com/

       Marcin is a very talented, award-winning photographer building a career with image making.

        

 

Valladolid, Spain - The Unfinished Cathedral

This is a chronicle, 

(No, it is a hodgepodge of reports, articles and statements made )

concerning the history of

Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

 of Valladolid, Spain

 

" The origin of the cathedral is linked to the history of the city. In 1074, under orders from King Alfonso VI, Count Ansurez ordered the construction of a main church dedicated to Santa Maria. The temple became a collegiate church under the care of the Cluniac monks. From this first collegiate of a single nave, only the Romanesque tower of the early twelfth century, is preserved.

Due to the small dimensions of the temple, in the 13th century, it was decided to build a larger church with three naves in Gothic style. 

During the 14th century, a series of funerary chapels were added to the collegiate church as well as a Gothic cloister, which was destroyed in the 17th century. In these enclosures were hosted councils, courts, treaty signings, the seat of the town hall, and the University...

 

In 1527 it was decided to build a new collegiate church with a different orientation from the primitive one. After Herrera and several subsequent administrators passed on, the work had barely advanced. The project was abandoned due to lack of interest and money.

 

Shortly thereafter, in 1595, Pope Clement VII, at the request of King Philip II, named the site of Valladolid as a diocese, thus converting it from a collegiate into a Cathedral."

**************************************

Our view of the Cathedral from the third-floor balcony.

The cypress trees on the right are growing where 

the north end of the cathedral was to be built.

The southern end of the Cathedral 

"Diego de Pravas was in charge of directing Herrera's plans since he was never on site. At Diego's death, his son Francisco de Praves took over. But due to a shortage of funds the work was paralyzed at the height of the Crusades.

 Of the four planned towers, only one was built: the Buena Moza (measuring about 75 m), on the left of the southern facade. But in 1841, as a result of the Lisboa earthquake of 1755, it collapsed."

"After the collapse of the left tower in 1841, work began in 1880 on the right (far) tower, with an octagonal body. In it were placed the bells (10 in total) and the clock with machinery of 1911. This Sagrado Corazon de Jesus was solemnly blessed on June 24, 1923. In total it is 76 meters high, being the tallest building in the city."

  

What are some of the details one sees when visiting the Cathedral?

The south entrance, which was once the main entrance directly to the central nave, is closed and opened only for special events.

A large projection screen temporarily covers the south entrance, promoting a special historic Christmas show inside.

 Today, the main entrance is on the east side of the Cathedral in what was to be the side entrance. It is in the middle of the long side of the rectangular layout,

according to the Cathedral's original plans.

An iron gate limits access today to a southern side door.

A smaller access door on the southern facade..

This door is at the base of the tower that collapsed in 1841.

Note: the replacement lintel above the door is of a different stone than the original masonry in the walls.

A remaining statue on the southern facade

Inside the Cathedral, the nave has not changed dramatically since it was first constructed in the sixteenth century.

The same wrought iron chandeliers that used to illuminate the central nave with candles now hold electric light bulbs. These chandeliers were lowered manually with chains to light the candles.

The stone sanctuary walls embrace a solitary altar made of silver.

This sanctuary was to be temporary, as it sits midway 

in the planned long central nave.

A tomb cover/floor stone inside the Cathedral

How many centuries, or how many thousands

 of bare feet, sandals, and shoes

have worn these steps smooth?

One of the early wood doors

A new lock on the Cathedral door looks more like a desk lock than something you would find on a massive Cathedral door.

The consolidated capital of Spain was moved to Valladolid in 1600 from Toledo, five years after King Alfonso II made a request of the pope naming this church a Cathedral.

Then, due to area water shortages, the Royal Court and the Capital of Spain was moved once again in 1606, to Madrid. 

After the royal court, with all of its attendant administrative officials, moved on to Madrid, interest and funds for the continuing construction of what was to be the largest cathedral in Europe evaporated. 

The Cathedral today is less than 50% complete, weathering, and slowly deteriorating.  Between earthquakes, being built on unstable ground, and using inferior building materials, the edifice's struggles are evident today.

Below is a view of the unfinished area (northwest corner) of the Cathedral. One can count five or six different construction styles and materials employed, revealing what has evolved over the centuries after the original construction was halted.

The conglomerate of low structures seen here, now house the Cathedral's 

display of many religious statues and paintings.

These smaller structures were built over the subsequent years using a variety of materials on the land of what was supposed to be the north end of the Cathedral.  

Here is one of the typical paving stones that were laid in and around the Cathedral. 

It appears that these weaker paver stones, 

were also used as part of the main building structure.

Were they incorporating an inherent weakness in the Cathedral structure?

Examining the stones used in the Cathedral construction, they do not appear to be of solid stable granite as found in many other large Cathedrals.

They appear more porous, not an ideal material for a tall, heavy structure.

The historical account mentioned the southern left tower collapsing 86 years after the 1755 Lisboa earthquake. That quake was thought to have weakened the tower so much that it could not be saved or rebuilt.  

Is it possible, that because of the stone's structural weakness, 

the Cathedral itself was doomed from the beginning? 

All due to the selection of less-than-ideal building materials?

Is this the only religious structure in Valladolid? No, no, there are many, many

Catholic Churches here with their elaborate naves and sanctuaries all built using the same porous stones. But those structures are a fraction of the size of the planned Cathedral.

Nevertheless, this half-finished structure,

 lacking the polish and gold of other European Churches

 that now draw tourists, still remains standing. 

It is a testament to the struggle of man,

working with the materials available, 

to erect a monument to his God.

*************

Will the Cathedral ever be completed according to the original design? Ever doubtful with today's cost of materials, labor, and declining church attendance. Kings and Popes can no longer command a church to be built with a tax on the local citizenry.

These are the tales and stories that were related to me concerning the half-finished Cathedral...

in many ways an interesting history. 

Don't you think?

***************************************

Adjacent to the Cathedral, in the shady plaza, 

is a statue dedicated to a famous author who, 

while living in Valladolid, wrote his novel... 

"The Man of La Mancha". 

This Spanish tale made the names Don Quixote, 

Dulcinea, and Sancho Panza be known worldwide.

Today, the Plaza is a relaxing oasis in a busy city 

for local residents to rest and wait.

Ride safe, Ride far... my friends

CCjon

p.s. Happy Holidays to all

Valladolid - High Contrast Photography, Part II

Today, we have a few more city scenes and high-contrast images to share.

But first, Photo of the Week

Mallard duck guards the weathered boats.

The boats don't appear to have been used in quite a while.

Maybe she has a nest in one.

Looking down through the tree foliage, we spot people walking.

Soon these large yellow and orange leaves will soon be gone as winter is approaching.

People add blur to a slow shutter speed reflection 

of the Policia Motorcycle.

Speaking of motorcycles, scooters are seen everywhere here.

Actually, it is a smart way to get around the city's narrow winding streets.

Note: his Hippo Hands style gloves that insulate and protect his hands from the cold wind.

Catching warming rays while checking messages with his morning coffee.

Others text without Coffee

 The Major Bridge over the Pisuerga River

Still Water Reflection

Same river, different bridge, the Poniente.

Unusual find here, modern sculpture near the old museum.

The Colon Museum gate is closed, again. 

My timing to get inside is off.

One can see the brick building behind the gate.

Autumn has arrived, the falling leaves...

 It was a bit too cool to sit outdoors this morning with no warming sun.

By late afternoon, the clouds were gone, and the sun came out. 

Now, the fading sun reflects off the city skyline,

temperatures are dropping once again.

With the fading light, a day worker is almost home.

That wraps up today's walkabout in the city of Valladolid, Spain.

*****************

Note: I had heard about this statue called the 'Traveler' located in a remote neighborhood Plaza.

Finally found it by taking the wrong turn. 

We, too, will be the "Traveler" later this week,

 as we pack our suitcases to fly south to a warmer Texas.

Thank you for joining us as we explored this beautiful historic city

 in the Spanish wine country.

Ride safe, ride long, my friends

CCjon

Valladolid - Spanish Doors Speak

Walked out the front door, looked left, looked right, what to photograph on today's walk... hmmm?

DOORS! That's it, doors are everywhere. Today, we'll photograph different doors... in color, too. 

Flipped the switch on the camera, now we are colorful.

Here's the selection from today's walkabout...

Old Door

New Door

Open Door

Closed Door

Castle Door

Dungeon Door

Branded Door

Shouting Door

Lipstick Door

Small Print Door

Arrows pointing to Restaurant Door

 Beer Bottle Caps Nailed to Nightclub Door

That's enough!  Time to close the door...

winding up today's walkabout in Valladolid.

Ride safe, ride far, my friends

CCjon