Category Archives: Photo Impressions

Saint George slaying the dragon

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One of the main buildings in historic Riga is the House of the Black Heads. It was originally built in the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Black Heads, a guild for unmarried merchants, shipowners, and foreigners in Riga. The Brotherhood of Black Heads was named after Saint Maurice, a Christian martyr who was depicted as a black African in medieval art. This building has a very beautiful facade adorned with statues of various figures, among them Saint George slaying the dragon, whose feast we celebrate today.

Latvia Riga, Saint George slaying the dragon

Saint George slaying the dragon on the facade of the House of Black Heads in Riga.

Saint George, believed to have been a Roman soldier of Greek origin from Cappadocia and an officer in the Guard of Diocletian, is best known for this mythic tale, which is set in a town called Silene in Libya.

According to the legend, Silene was plagued by a dragon living in a nearby lake. The beast terrorized the town and poisoned the countryside. To appease the dragon, the townspeople fed it two sheep every day. When they ran out of sheep, they resorted to sacrificing their children, chosen by lottery. One day, the lot fell on the king’s daughter. Despite the king’s pleas for her life, she was dressed as a bride and sent out to the lake.

Just then, Saint George rode past the lake. The princess tried to send him away to save him from the dragon, but he vowed to remain. When the dragon emerged, Saint George made the sign of the cross, charged it on horseback, and thrust his lance into the beast’s flesh, seriously wounding it.

He then used the princess’s girdle to leash the dragon and led it back to Silene. Saint George offered to kill the dragon if the people would agree to become Christians and be baptized. The king and his people accepted the offer, and Saint George slayed the dragon. Following the dragon’s death, the body was carted out of the city on four ox-carts. A church was built on the site where the dragon died, featuring a spring that healed the sick.

Over time, Saint George became a symbol of good conquering evil and a patron saint of many countries and cities across Europe and the Middle East. His story is celebrated on Saint George’s Day, April 23, in various Christian churches.

Riga, Hanseatic league

The House of the Black Heads in Riga.

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Saint George slaying the dragon

Mirror Lakes

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Mirror Lakes New Zealand
New Zealand Milford Sound
Mirror Lakes New Zealand

Located along the Milford Road in Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zeland, Mirror Lakes is a popular stop for tourists traveling to Milford Sound. The lakes are small bodies of water nestled amidst lush native vegetation. On calm days, Mirror Lakes offer a reflection of the nearby Earl Mountains and surrounding forest. Accessible via a short walk from the parking area along Milford Road, it’s a convenient stop for visitors on their journey through Fiordland.

Mirror Lakes provide excellent photo opportunities, especially during the early morning or late afternoon. The photos above were taken on two consecutive days during the midst of the Southern Hemisphere summer, in February). The first one was done in the very early morning at sunrise. The orange reflection that you see in the lake is in fact a double delight of the rising sun. The rising sun is rasting a warm orange glow upon the Earl Mountains before mirroring in the still waters below. The other three photos had been made a day earlier in the afternoon.

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Mirror Lakes

Whanganui

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Whanganui, New Zealand

A view onto the Whanganui, New Zealand

Whanganui is a national park located in the North Island of New Zealand. Established in 1986, the park covers an area of about 742 square kilometers and is named after the Whanganui River, which flows through it from the mountains to the Tasman Sea. It holds deep cultural significance for the local Māori tribes, particularly for the Whanganui iwi (tribe), who view the river as a living ancestor. In 2017, in recognition of the deep spiritual connection between the Whanganui iwi and the river, the New Zealand government passed groundbreaking legislation granting the Whanganui River legal personhood. This historic decision acknowledges the river as an indivisible and living whole.

The park offers stunning landscapes, including untouched forests. The main outdoor attraction is considered to be the Whanganui Journey, a canoe or kayak trip that spans 3 to 5 days, covering 145 kilometers of the river. The photo above was taken at the start of our journey from a scenic overlook on a hill.

There is only one main road leading into the park, and it’s a dead end. This means to leave the park, you must turn back. At the entrance, there’s a sign warning that the nearest gas station is very far away. If you don’t have a full tank, it’s advisable to turn back and fill up. We spent only several hours in the park, mainly admiring the views from our car. Only briefly we visited a Māori cultural center, where we enjoyed some coffee.

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Whanganui