My 2023 in pictures
A year-long travel photo story
Photography remains one of my main hobbies, and I still may take photos (which is not available for all and not everywhere in Ukraine now). That’s why I usually make a selection of my images yearly (that are important to me or I like them).
It could have been a great year if not for the Russians who still try to subdue or kill us all. I visited the Carpathian mountains four times, including climbing the highest mountain. I saw the castles of Volyn and Lviv region and flooded quarries in Korostyshiv. It all was for the first time. But I also have many places I revisited and would revisit again and again (I’m getting old, maybe?) — Zalishchyky and Chervone tract and regional centers of northern and western Ukraine. And, of course, my Vinnytsia with such close and gorgeous outskirts.
In the current situation, the future is dark. But at least I have these memories. Let me fly through them one more time.
Below, there are 50 photos in chronological order. With one exception, all of them were outside my flat. Otherwise, most would be photos of my cat; that’s why I’ll tell you about the cat sometime later.
Let this remain in memory as the bright side of 2023 (the dark and ugly one is here).
I visited the mountains in winter for the first time in my life. The trip’s main goal was to see the Christmas rituals of the Hutsuls who live in mountain villages.
Despite the weather being snowless and warm, the mountains were still adorable.
February is typically the least traveled month for me, but I caught a sunny Sunday to make a one-day trip.
Without showing my cat, I can’t ignore cats at all, of course.
Finally, I waited for April, which is comfortable enough for longer trips.
Spring around the hometown was no less beautiful.
We met him accidentally while searching…
Then, it was time for the second Carpathian trip.
This is the most highland village in Ukraine, and its mornings are fantastic.
That was the culmination of that trip. Before walking above the clouds, we were caught in a storm where I thought I’d die.
The third trip to the mountains was dedicated to climbing on Hoverla — the highest top in Ukraine. But mostly, I remembered the sunrise I caught from a hotel window.
Many roads to the hills start in the nearest cozy regional center.
The end of September and October are my favorite time to see sunrises close to my home.
We also visited our capital city after a few years’ break.
And more early October walks, then.
Finally, I saw golden autumn in the mountains. It was my last visit to the Carpathians in 2023, and I’m afraid it could be the last at all.
After grey November, the first days of December pleased us with snow (but typically, it melted before Christmas and New Year).
