Beauty of Orthodoxy

Hello, everyone!

I have some exciting photography news. I entered a competition called, "Beauty of Orthodoxy" in a Russian journal. Here are the results.

This photo won the second prize! Featured in this photo is Mother Anna from a Serbian Monastery in Ohio and miracle baby, Abby.




Posting Troitsa (Pentecost) photos in the next entry!

In Christ,
Darina

Hi, everyone~

I'm back in Chicago for a couple of weeks. I just got done photographing my good friend baby's baptism. The following are my favorites from the baptism. It was filled with joy and laughter. Many family members came in from out of town. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces. Serezha was peaceful (almost) through the entire ceremony. :-) He's quite an angel.

Many years to Serezhen'ka and his Godparents!

Well, I haven't been around for a while.

A lot has happened since last time I wrote. I'm continuing on my photography path, decided that I wasn't going to go professional (at least right now). Maybe as a hobby later. I love taking pictures a lot, but what I love is to see the subjects in front my lens maturing and becoming older (and cuter). I love the continuity, and don't think I will get that if I were to become professional.

Here are a few of my favorites taken in the past couple of months!


Until next time!

Darina

Merry Christmas

I took some pictures of the Christmas decorations here in Little Italy.

Yet another wedding

Hello, all!

Wedding season is coming to a close here in what's soon to be snow land. I got to attend a very beautiful wedding a couple of weeks ago. The bride and the groom have asked the choir to sing. We were more than happy to oblige. It was a Russian/American wedding. It was great to see Russian traditions merge with the traditional wedding style. Charochka is a tradition where the groom/bride are presented with 2 shots of vodka (or what will be H2O in my case) accompanied with a chorus. Not sure where this tradition originated, but I personally really like it. Especially the singing part!!!


Here are some pictures from the wedding.


First Dance


Mother of the Bride

I love autumn

Yes, let's be clear. I love AUTUMN, not fall...
I never understood why it is common for Americans to use this term for this most beautiful time of the year. Because leaves are falling? I don't know. Anyone, please shed a light on this situation.

Today was gorgeous. When I moved to Cleveland I was aware of the weather issue, however I didn't think it was going to be that bad. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, I'm just noting the obvious fact. Sometimes this area does get gorgeous weather, like today and hopefully tomorrow. That's why I always enjoy the sun peaking out of the clouds. Chilly, not rainy weather! Just enough for your fingers to be cool when taking them out of pockets, but not cold enough to put them back in! Corn maizes, pumpkins, smell of apple cider. America really has this one down well.

My friend Yuliya and I took a couple of wonderful girls with us to go explore the farm nearby. Turned out to be a great time.. I only wish more youth came out from church. Oh well, there is always next time!

New website

Hold on to your seats, ladies and gentlemen!

I'll be releasing my new website, sometime really soon. Maybe even at the end of THIS week. I decided to have that as to begin advertise for my new business, which I plan on doing part time.

Here is a beautiful picture of Laura, as she and I traveled to Paris this summer.

Darina