Transylvania #2 Photography - M1key - Michal Huniewicz
Valea Viilor
The most appealing feature of the historical Romanian region of Transylvania are, to me at least, its fortified churches.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.6, 1/640s.
In the Courtyard of a Fortified Church
They are silent witnesses to the complicated and often brutal history of the region, and they were built by the Saxons. Those Transylvanian Saxons migrated here from the 12 century onwards, coming from the
Holy Roman Empire. Technically, they were not necessarily Saxons. [
2]
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/900s.
Secret Passage
It was their task to defend the the southeastern border of the Kingdom of Hungary against the Asiatic hordes. [
2]
In the photo, a "secret" passage in a church.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/15s.
Climbing Stairs
The defence did not go so well, and as a result, fortified churches and fortified towns were created. Thus, Transylvania was called in German "Siebenbürgen" - the Seven Cities, referring to the the seven fortified cities. Cluj-Napoca or Sibiu or Sighișoara potentially being among them, although there is no certainty. [
3] The three were respectively called Klausenburg, Hermannstadt, and Schässburg.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/35s.
Transylvanian Hills
The Saxons would go on to become a privileged class, with the Romanians and the Hungarians being usually in the lower classes.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/16.0, 1/250s.
Tractor
Today, very few Saxons remain (we're talking the low end of tens of thousands), as most of them moved to Germany during and after the Communist era.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/900s.
Sighișoara
The World Heritage Site of Sighișoara.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/100s.
Chalet
We drove on unlit Romanian roads for hours at night, and it wrecked me completely. We then had to drive uphill on some sort of mountainous dirt track, but we ended up in this chalet! I nearly passed out from exhaustion, so I don't remember much at all.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Hay
Not far from Brașov, we did a mountain hike.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/1000s.
Transylvanian Woods
Lush Transylvanian forest.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/800s.
We Are Joined by Mo
Romania has an issue with stray dogs. This one joined us in the woods.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/900s.
Ammari
Ammar viewing the landscape.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/2500s.
Tall
Dzinman looking at a tall tree.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1900s.
Soth
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/220s.
Cool
The dog just dived into this puddle.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/140s.
13
In one of the hotels, I noticed they weren't taking any chances with luck.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/35s.
Bobsleigh
By chance, we found this bobsleigh track, and followed it nearly to the top.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Rock St. Anne
Here, we found a religious site dedicated to St. Anne. Behind it, there were people climbing, and we cheered them on as one of them had difficulties abseiling.
ISO 250, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/60s.
Sibiu
Nothing exactly straight about this building.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1100s.
Winding
Stairs leading to the tower. The guide (I think a Transylvanian Saxon) hit me on the arm when I placed my elbows on something apparently precious for stability when taking a photo, the rough bastard!
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/60s.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral of Sibiu and the wonderful, medieval landscape of Transylvania.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1250s.
Lost in Prayer
Man wearing hearing protection and hiding behind benches to study religious texts in peace and quiet (that I disturbed - well, he didn't notice me).
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/20s.
Wonderful Dolls
Dolls staring at passers-by.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1700s.
Need for Meat
We visited the famous salt mines of Transylvania, and I found this vending machine with meat in it.
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/800s.
Deep Underground
We descended into the caves, not unlike those I saw in
Colombia.
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Salina Turda
In the salt mine, we rented boats to row in a salt lake.
ISO 1000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.
Goodbye Transylvania
This was a quick and intense trip, but it didn't feel like we did as much as last time.
ISO 101, 4mm, f/2.6, 1/1000s.