2. Photography

Project RuSu 365

Not always so successful or interesting, & not always daily, though certainly a reflection of our daily lives - more like pick of the day. Our goal - to share our world and improve our skills. Thanks to all the members of the SmugMug Daily Community for your support and input. Feel free to leave feedback by clicking on 'Add Comment' below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. The photo of the day will always be in first position. Thank you for looking. - Rustem Safronov & Susan Gilman a.k.a. RuSu. This gallery was started on October 26, 2010.

Henri Cartier-Bresson said, "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.", so bear with us...
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Agave Americana (12.2010)
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Agave Americana (12.2010)

Sonoran Desertdesert botanical gardenyuccaphoenix arizonarusurusu photographyюккаAgave Americana

  • Romantic Russia. Perhaps a vision of Russia many envision, though reality is far removed from such beauty. <br /> <br /> This church, the Church of St Demetrius of the Spilled Blood, was built in 1692 by order of Peter the Great. It commemorates the murder of Prince Dimitry, the youngest son of Czar Ivan the Terrible in 1591. The church is painted red as a reminder that blood was spilled on this site centuries ago. The church is located in another 'Golden Ring' town, Uglich, founded in 1148 on the Volga River.<br /> <br /> Happy Valentine's Day!
  • Shoveling snow off the roof on a sunny day in Vyatskoye village. (Yaroslavl region, Russia)
  • Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's woman on the streets of Yaroslavl. Here's a shot of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Savior at night in the nearby town of Rybinsk, one of the oldest settlements on the Volga River. About 266 kilometers (165 miles) from Moscow, both towns are part of Russia's "Golden Ring", cities & towns famous for their architecture & historical & religious importance. Have a good weekend! <br /> <br /> Собор Спаса Преображения. (Рыбинск)
  • Woman dressed against the cold on the street in Yaroslavl, Russia.
  • Agave Americana (12.2010)
  • Dinner in a Siberian village - dried fish, caviar, and fried goodies. (Tyumen Oblast)
  • Thanks for all your comments on our ravens - really overwhelmed by your feedback. Yes, they were difficult to shoot & I think they're one of our 1st really successful bird shots (unlike so many of yours) - mainly because they were so cooperative. <br /> <br /> Here's a shot of some mini kachinas for sale at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. (RS)
  • Ravens in the snow.<br /> <br /> Again, thanks for your comments on yesterday's canyon shot. Yes, it was very special seeing the canyon in the snow. Hope your week starts off right. (SG)
  • Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's Grand Canyon shot. Watching that fog & clouds lift was truly amazing. This was my 4th trip to the canyon, the 1st time in winter, & it never ceases to overwhelm me. We never got one of those grand panoramic shots given the cloud cover, but the canyon in winter has its own drama. Here's a shot of some of the canyon's colors with snow covered trees in the foreground. (RS)
  • Thanks to everyone for your kind comments & support concerning my hospital shot & my thumb problem. Feeling better psychologically thanks to all of you.<br /> <br /> Here's a shot of the sun rising over Grand Canyon from our recent trip. I almost cringe putting up a canyon shot as it's one of the most photographed places in the world & I've seen some magnificent canyon shots taken by fellow Smuggers, but for what it's worth...<br /> <br /> Generally we had horrible weather everywhere, but in each place we were lucky to have a few hours of sunshine. Most of the time the canyon was totally fogged in & invisible under heavy snow. We extended our stay & were rewarded with a few hours of dramatic glory. (SG)
  • Russian indignities. <br /> <br /> I sneaked my point & shoot into the hospital I just visited for a consultation. This is the corridor outside the traumatologist's office. The gurneys in the rear look like chain link fencing on wheels with a thin, 1/4" pad on them as a mattress. By western standards, the place is filthy & most of the people are rude. Couldn't get a shot off in the reception area which looks more like a prison than a hospital. Built in 1763 by decree of Catherine the Great as a hospital for the poor, this isn't nearly as bad as most hospitals in Russia.<br /> <br /> I'd have avoided it like the plague except that one of the only hand specialists in the entire country is here. For 3 months I've had a problem with my thumb & since we returned from our holidays it suddenly locked in position. I'd been to every specialist imaginable most of whom diagnosed it as arthritis (though all my other fingers are fine). When I asked the orthopedist if would always be this way he answered, "God knows". Finally, one of my doctors ordered an x-ray. The x-ray technician looked at my thumb (before taking the x-ray) and said, "It's arthritis - what, you don't understand/can't accept that you're an old lady & that's just how life is!"<br /> <br /> To set the record straight - yes, I am over 50, but I didn't quite think I was ready for the graveyard yet. I was so outraged that I went to the head of the clinic who, to make a long story short, gave me a referral to this hospital.<br /> <br /> Thankfully, the doctor I saw was nice & knowledgeable. She could only smile sardonically when told of the arthritis diagnosis. Seems there are tears in the tendon that enable the thumb to move. I need to have an ultra-sound next week to confirm (this lovely facility doesn't have one), but because nothing was done 3 months ago when the problem appeared, I'm told there's a 99.9% chance I'll need surgery. No details about that thus far.<br /> <br /> Nothing special about this photo - just a slice of Russian reality. Thanks for letting me sound off. (Feb. 3, 2011)<br /> <br /> 2.28.2011 Update: So far I'm in a cast. Another ultrasound next week should tell whether or not I need surgery.
  • Girl in bandana.
  • Hello fellow daily Smuggers! Hope everyone had good holiday season - didn't expect to be out of touch so long, but such is life. Too tired & busy while in the States, & some health issues since we've been back. Now going through our trip photos. This is a shot taken on the road from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon.
  • Not a new shot, but wanted to put up something seasonal. Russians put up trees for New Year's & Russian Christmas which is celebrated on January 7th, so it's way too early for trees to be up here - they're not even being sold yet. <br /> <br /> We leave early tomorrow morning for Florida so our New Year star will remain packed away this year as it'll be palm trees for us.<br /> <br /> Hope we'll be back posting & commenting in a few days. Will see how the jet lag goes.<br /> <br /> We want to thank everyone in the daily community for their support & though we've only been with you a short time, we feel as if we've already made friends with many of you. <br /> <br /> With all the best wishes for the holiday season. Happy shooting. <br /> <br /> Susan & Rustem (RuSu)
  • In honor of the holiday season, here's one from last year above the Arctic Circle with the Nenets people. This Yamp-to Nenets boy was proudly showing off his favorite white reindeer. <br /> <br /> A nomadic people, this shot was taken on what's known as the "big tundra", accessible only by helicopter or reindeer, in the Kara Sea region of Russia. It's a difficult life making sure Santa's reindeer are ready for their December 24th flight :-)<br /> <br /> For more on the Nenets, you can have a look here:<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://rusuphotography.com/Russia/Nenets/9601892_tTD9H#650113439_TZZWm">http://rusuphotography.com/Russia/Nenets/9601892_tTD9H#650113439_TZZWm</a>
  • While the Border Patrol checks his boat, this fisherman takes time out for a coffee break. (Off Sakhalin Island)
  • Not sure we'll be able to put up much new this week, so here's a Siberian sunrise shot from earlier this year. How cold was it? About -40C. (Tyumen, Siberia, Russia)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the rainbow shot yesterday! Much appreciated.
  • Rainbow on the road to Parmailovo. (Perm Region, Russia)<br /> <br /> Missed posting & commenting the past 2 days as we've been overwhelmed by work & getting ready to head out. This shot was actually taken 2 weeks ago, but am just now getting around to it. I hope to catch up with everyone tomorrow. Hope you're off to a good start.
  • Gribushin House. (Perm, Russia) <br /> <br /> This 18 room mansion was built in the early 1900s for a local tea merchant is said to be the prototype of the 'House with Figures' in Pasternak's novel, "Dr. Zhivago". The Gribushin family left Russia after the Revolution during which time the building was used as a hospital. It is now home to the Urals branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.<br /> <br /> For those who've been wondering about snow - there basically, isn't any. It's been too cold (-25C) the last few days to snow. Am sure we'll get hit soon though we're hoping it holds off another week until we leave for the States (fingers crossed).
  • View of Cathedral Square on a gloomy morning. The cathedrals are from the 17-18th centuries. (Solikamsk, Russia, a town of approximately 102,000)<br /> <br /> г. Соликамск. Соборная площадь. Вид из окна гостиницы "Сильвинита"

  • Guest

    on February 11, 2011

    I like the light and shadows too, well seen!

  • Chuck Beehner

    on February 11, 2011

    neat shot!
    pb

  • whitetree

    on February 11, 2011

    Neat shot.

  • irishmurr

    on February 11, 2011

    Neat comp and perspective!

  • fotoeffects

    on February 11, 2011

    Love the contortions of the agave. Terrific comp.

  • Kazimiera W.M

    on February 11, 2011

    Wonderfully photographed, great tones and light.

  • Tom Reichert

    on February 11, 2011

    nice lines and shapes

  • Donna McCommon

    on February 10, 2011

    Super lines!

  • Kerry Milkie Photography

    on February 10, 2011

    Love the lines and curves

  • webstersway

    on February 10, 2011

    Terrific capture!!!

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