Streets of Vienna
Russia
One vast country, two very different metropoles. Last October, I had the chance to visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Russian capital is a sprawling metropolis, seemingly endless in size and grand scope (picture 2), with the medieval Kremlin (picture 7) being in the center, carrying the weight of the old Russian culture. Moscow is also very much a Russian city. Impressive still are the ancient Soviet monuments like the seven sisters (again, picture 7) and the subway system (picture 3). St. Petersburg is different. The city is much younger than Moscow and was erected by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1703. It was conceived as a European city built on a former swamp (pictures 1, 8). Many channels divide the city, making it seem like a northern Venice or Amsterdam (picture 5). As the former capital of the Russian monarchy, it contains many beautiful palaces, such as the Eremitage (picture 4) and Katherine’s Palace (pictures 6, 9). The visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow makes an exciting mix and enables one to get different perspectives on a fascinating country with a multifaceted history and soul.
City in Construction: Seestadt at Sunset
On the site of a former airfield, a new city planned from scratch is being built to accommodate thousands of new people. Vienna is expected to grow in the upcoming decade. A city within the city, basically. Seestadt, translated in English, means lake city and is named due to the artificial lake in the center of the town. To date, there is not much to see besides the newly built metro station (the Violet Line U2), many cranes, and a giant mud hole in the middle (the lake to be). But especially at sunset, the symphony of cranes has beauty on its own. There is also an exhibition worthwhile visiting with a lot of information about the project and a wooden panorama tower with a nice view (last picture). Local artists were allowed to spray the exhibition’s container, giving the place an urban flair. Although the city itself is yet missing…
Afternoon Project: London Pt. 2
Shot during one afternoon on the 10th of November. More information about the series is in the last post.
Michael Hoffman Photography 