Dangerous air, photography gear, and the beauty within Soviet decay
There has been a bit of a haze in the city lately. A haze that with cold weather you would think is generally harmless and just a sign of the changing seasons. I've been getting out in the cold quite a bit lately as I love to do, constantly exploring and finding things to capture and be creative with. And in the mornings I had noticed a bit of a cough appearing, with some tightness in the chest. I thought perhaps I hadn't been wrapping up enough to meet the cold that only gets colder as the day progresses. Later in the evening, after a few days of some rough mornings, it became clear that people in the area were starting to take note of this 'haze'. So much so that in actuality the Internet was stating a highly dangerous level of something called PM 2.5. Six times the considered safe level!
I come from the English countryside where the air quality is pretty much as good as it gets. Where fog on a cold night and morning is just fog. I looked up what PM 2.5 is and it appears to be a mixture of highly dangerous particles that can really fuck you up with frequent exposure. Including things like sulphur and nitrogen dioxide. After seeing the warnings online over how little exposure you should get and how you should absolutely take caution with masks at levels far below what we were experiencing, I figured it would probably be best to sit this one out if I can. To lay a bit low and avoid getting out until it goes back a, well, more normal level for Armenia at least. This is a hard one for me. I love getting outside, and I have so much work to do. These being from the last day I had out there.
I guess from here on I'll shoot things indoors and maybe try to work on the product side of my portfolio a bit more. Though my energy levels are always way too high to be sitting around at home. I've really been enjoying capturing things lately. I don't know why, but it does feel like I've had a big boost in creativity and motivation. To have felt like my love for film and photography has increased somehow. I've loved looking at subjects differently, appreciating light more, and finding the beauty in everyday locations even if they are old, decayed, and generally a bit bleak after all that neglect. I've found myself really wanting to try new things. And when I'm home I'm just endlessly browsing through marketplaces in search of vintage lenses to pick up, looking for deals. Wish listing cameras that I just absolutely cannot afford right now. That Blackmagic Pyxis 6k looks like a beauty...
I think I have a few days of images backed up to share, but supposedly this dangerous air is meant to linger on for the upcoming week. I probably won't share the product and portfolio stuff I do here as that just isn't really something I think I need to share nor would have much interest in comparison to these. Where old Soviet architecture meets various conceptual designs: the strong orange of the Armenian stone. Down to the shapes of balconies from old buildings of the 1970s. Or the changing landscape of street art trying to revive some life to those older buildings which would otherwise be crumbling away their paint and brickwork by now, like many others. I'm going to miss making such discoveries during this week. I'm going to miss the random steps I take each time I go out there that brings me to these new locations. And the emotions I feel when I stumble across them. The sense of discovery that fills me with great joy.
Hopefully, though, once this dangerous air has passed, the Christmas markets throughout Yerevan will open up and that begins a new type of fun! Capturing more of the busy streets under the festive lights. And hopefully distributing a whole lot of business cards to pick up some creative work with some of those small businesses. I guess that's something to look forward to!
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That’s what I meant to tell you yesterday—make the most of your time at home. I really like the photos you’ve shared in this post... and yes, visualising those cameras and lenses you want will surely help bring them your way. I believe in that. Hehe... well, I’m sure you’ll create beautiful things this week.
I’ve been thinking about air quality 🤔. I've never heard of any way to measure it here. I’ll look into it soon.
There's a thick layer of mist that increases and decreases throughout the day here. It's very visible. Sometimes has a smell to it. Sometimes not. I figured it was just general winter haze to begin with but apparently it's a highly toxic mix of particles that you really shouldn't get much exposure to. In the past 24 hours more people have started to talk about it online, and people are also wearing masks in public.
I checked Havana and it seems to be absolutely wonderful there compared to here!
Thank you :) I've been loving changing things up and trying new styles and shooting different things lately. It has been really fun. To the point where my ideal camera at this point is more a cine one rather than a hybrid!
Today I realised that I really need to get some lights for both indoor and outdoor stuff. Some handheld little LED thing which can either go on the camera or just be used anywhere I want them. Tried doing a few shots and with the muted natural light even near the windows things looked a bit too flat. So in the end it's a good bit of growth so far. So many little things I could get to help push me ahead even if I am stuck inside. Though I'd have to order lights from abroad and that'd take a few weeks at least!
Oh, I found the website. Thanks... I believe that as long as you're envisioning and planning how to bring each idea to life, you won’t be wasting your time. Good luck!
They are vestiges of a past that still endures.
!discovery
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I'm a bit shocked to read your words. When I saw your first photo, I said what a fantastic shot, but only from photographic point of view as when you look at the building, it's heartbreaking.
I hope air quality gets back to normal parameters.
It's a really common sight here. You'd think the buildings are in terrible condition, but much of it is really just the various changes individual owners have done to their own apartments throughout the years. You can see some still have the original wooden window panelling which is old and peeling off. Some have completely removed them and replaced them with something more modern. You can also see that some have just removed the windows entirely and made that space in balconies.
Basically every Soviet era building here looks this way, and much of it comes from the lack of regulation (and enforcement) over the changes of certain buildings. Some have the strangest additions to them where they'll build entire new rooms several floors up and it'll just be held up by one big beam. It's insane how people are fine living like that, and more insane that despite these being considered illegal, nothing is really done about it. It was the same in Georgia too. Some buildings have smaller details changed like just the windows, other buildings like that one just look like an unfinished jenga game!
Funnily enough, those are still the stronger built constructions around. The newer stuff is built so poorly that it's always already crumbling and developers have cheapened out in material. With some actual TLC those Soviet concrete buildings could continue lasting for generations to come.
Oh yeah me too! I haven't been getting out at all because of it, ended up a little sick over the weekend and getting better, but the air quality seems to have not changed at all. There was a protest to raise more awareness about it today that I unfortunately missed, I wanted to go and photograph it.
In a week this is the first time I've seen it dip below 'Hazardous'!