Motherland Monument

This sculpture in Kiev is part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.  This photo doesn’t do the sculpture justice….it is very big, very big.  This stainless steel statue is over 203 feet tall and weighs 560 tons.  The sword is 52 feet long and the shield is 43 feet long/26 feet wide.   The Soviets build this to impress.

To view a larger version, click HERE

BTW_7045 wm.JPG

Motherland Monument

This massive statue sits on top of the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)…we know it as World War II.  This stainless-steel statue is 203 feet tall.  Counting the museum building it sit on, the entire structure is 335 feet tall and it weighs 560 tons.  The sword in her right hand is 52 feet long by itself and weighs 9 tons.  That’s a huge statue by any comparison!!  The State Emblem of the Soviet Union is on the shield.  Even though this war ended in 1945, they didn’t start the construction of this statue until 1979 and it was completed in 1981.

 

In Kiev, Ukraine where this is located, the statue is controversial due to Ukraine’s complicated and currently rough relationship with Russia.  Blair and I spent a few hours walking around this national park photographing the war monuments, tanks, etc….  If you’re wondering, the blue and yellow tank in the foreground is painted the Ukrainian colors.

To view a larger version, click HERE

BTW_6959 wm.JPG

Matt Ryan

I’m so far behind in my photo editing.  Last night I edited some photos from the Steelers vs. Falcons on October 7th.  I was looking through them for a good Matt Ryan photo for a friend of mine.  In my opinion, this isn’t the typical “good” sports photo, but I liked it.  So here he is….. As you can tell from his dirty uniform, the Steelers got to him a bunch on this day.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often. 

BTW_1843 wm.jpg

Strip Sack

It was an extremely hot day on the sideline yesterday during the Steelers vs. Falcons game.  I’d rather have that then the freezing weather that comes with games later in the season, but it was a little to hot for football, if you ask me.  The Steelers had a good game in all three phases of the game (offense, defense, and special teams) regardless of the heat. 

I took this photo of T.J. Watt’s strip-sack of Matt Ryan towards the end of the game, which ended with the Steelers recovering the fumble in the End Zone for a defensive touchdown. 

To view a larger version, click HERE 

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often. 

BTW_1861 strip-sack wm.JPG

Myers

The Steelers got their butts kicked yesterday by the Jacksonville Jaguars.  No doubt about it.  They just lost to a team that was better than them on that day for whatever reason.  Tonight’s photo is Jason Myers (#2), who is the placekicker for the Jaguars.  He’s in his third season and seems to be having a good career (so far). 

Most of the football photos I share are action shots.  So from time to time, I try to throw in some candid photos of the “action” off the field.

To view a larger version, click HERE

Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries.  I update and add to them often.

BTW_9884 sc.jpg

Table For Two?

Tonight’s photo is an exclusive table for two on the beach in Tulum Mexico.  The thatch roof above it looks like it could fall in at any moment, but it didn’t collapse while I was standing there.   This was such a great trip, I wish I was back there again.

Here are links to some other pictures from this trip:  Lagoon, Beach Sunrise, & Cave Diving

Photo Setup:

Of course, I made it to this spot before the privileged couple showed up for their reservation.  I used my Nikon D800 with the 14-24mm wide-angle lens setup on a tripod.  This was taken in Aperture mode at f11 with a 5-bracket set (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2).  The exposure times ranged from 1 second to 15 seconds.  I created the HDR picture in Photomatix Pro and completed some minor edits in Photoshop CS6.

To purchase a print, please click the picture above.

To purchase a print, please click the picture above.