Lali, Tbilisi/Mtskheta, Georgia

First attempts at a vision still being pursued

Mamuka, Tbilisi, Georgia

He's a friend of mine who recently found his calling as an artist, and now does mostly Orthodox-style work for his church and others. This is work in progress.

Lenin in Tbilisi, Georgia

Hi to Macau, #103!

... So I was taking a bus through an industrial part of the city, in late March 2009 - not 15 years ago, not 20 - and there, looming over the top of a slab concrete wall, was this huge Lenin head thing. Reminded me of the massive Stalin portrait carried aloft by a hot air balloon in Milkhakov's film "Burnt by the Sun".

Next day I went back to the scene so as to photograph it as quickly as possible. Found a hole in the wall, snuck through to the abandoned factory site, got my shots amidst the garbage, and left, unseen or uncared-about. It was all very strange. Where was this metres-high monstrosity originally displayed? How long has it been here (there's clearly no body meant to be attached to it) - days, or nearly 2 decades?

the W()RD: Waiting for Tomorrow...

... (April 9) when protest demonstratrations against Georgia's President Mikheil Saakishvili will begin, led by all the opposition parties. Several blog posts I've already entered with future dates, including tomorrow, will continue to upload. I may be returning to Ushguli tomorow or the next day - depends on when the public transport from there to Mestia will make its weekly run. Stay tuned to Georgia's news, readers... and mshvidoba iqos (let there be peace).

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tqemali (sour plum) buds soon after I returned from Ushguli to Tbilisi: Spring at last!

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

This is what those cold mornings are for, -10 C or colder: frost on the insides of the windows after enough people have spent a night humidifying the air with their breath

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

How does H2O get into such delicate structures? A complete hydrodynamic explanation would somehow still miss the poetry of it

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

With the snow coming down hard, I decided to brave the elements and see what pictures resulted. Camera on tripod for slow shutter speeds to blur the snow, covered with a plastic bag; umbrella which wasn't much use; winter clothing. Didn't stay out too long as it was QUITE miserable, but enough to experience shooting in such conditions and get a few images. The bottom shot is the 2nd highest of the village's 7 churches, Jgurag (St George's)