JACOB DANEK
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRAVEL
Travel has always been a passion of mine. I love being able to go places and experience new things, meet new people, and become a more cultured individual. Ask anyone who knows me, whenever I go someplace new, I will most likely have a camera in my hand, ready to snap a picture of all the exciting and new things that are happening around me. These pictures were taken during a foreign exchange trip last summer to Germany and Austria. All of the photos on this page were not published in the school newspaper or yearbook. We originally were going to feature them in a photo story, but then another topic came up and the foreign exchange idea was pushed out. However, I thought these would show you a different aspect of my photography skills, outside a normal school setting.
Misty Peaks: Take me to the mountains and I will be truly happy. Far above the stressful hustle and bustle of everyday life, I can breath in the thin air and truly be free and happy. I took this picture on top of the Austrian Alps. At first when we came to the top of the mountain we couldn't see a thing, the clouds were too dense. However, just as we thought the trip was a bust, the clouds parted, revealing the beautiful and majestic peaks. If you look closely you can see small crosses on the tops of the peaks. These crosses are for the mountain climbers who have lost their lives climbing the jagged peaks of the Alps. These crosses made me wonder about those fallen climbers, who they were, and what their lives were like. This is another power of photography, it makes people wonder and ponder.
Beneath the Silver Paint: Also while in Austria we were able to walk the streets of Innsbruck, a dense tourist city. We had trouble keeping with our group, as dozens of groups of different tourists walked the cobble-stoned streets. Many street performers showed off their talents, but one stood out to me. She was a performer who stood still, like a statue. Painted silver, she stood there for hours without food, drink, or a bathroom break, not even flinching when a baby started wailing feet away from her. I couldn't help but to snap a picture of her, and many weeks after the trip, safely back in America, when I scrolled through my thousands of pictures, I came across this still woman...and I wondered if she was still standing in the street, thousands of miles away in the bustling tourist city she called home.
The End of the Tunnel: The light at the end of the tunnel. An elusive thing that is rumored to be the last think one sees, before his/her soul vanishes and travels far from earth. This is what I thought of after snapping this picture. Graffiti is illegal in the US, but in parts of Europe is perfectly legal. Being American, I associate graffiti as a criminal activity. However, as a photographer and a creative individual, I think of graffiti as a crime that can be beautiful, intricate, and extremely interesting. This tunnel, filled with graffiti made me wonder, when our lives are over, will we be so focused on the light that we won't notice the tunnel itself. Because I hope my tunnel is filled with images of my life, or beautiful graffiti.
Peaceful Fields: What is it about fields that makes for a good picture? I think it is the simple fact that fields, most of the time, are peaceful. This peace draws us in, makes us want to run through the field and forget about everything. I love this picture because when I look at it, I am instantly at peace. The ironic thing is this picture was taken at Point Alpha, in Germany. This infamous place was a border between West and East Germany, where hundreds of people lost their lives. This field, grown decades after the bloodshed, is almost like a means for peace to finally reach a place of great conflict and war.
Holy Light: This photo was taken in Trier, Germany, a city filled with history and culture. I love this picture because the light was shining only on one of the three religious figures. Almost as if some divine spirit was shining a light on the statue. The shadows also create an eeriness to the image. The two figures on the right are in the shadows, making them have a creepy look. This is another power of photography. Something that usually is a certain way can be changed depending on the light and angle.
Aerial View: A postcard-like photo is very hard to take. Usually the lighting is off, or you simply are not in the right place in the right time. However, this picture was taken in Innsbruck, after I climbed up a flight of winding stairs to get to the top of a clock tower. The views were stunning and I was able to capture a rare, postcard worthy shot.
Intricate Architecture: I have always admired intricate architecture. I look at building or structures, with their ornate carvings and artwork and wonder how many hours it took to create something so magnificent. I took this picture outside a castle in Germany. I loved the intricate iron work of this gazebo. It showed the time and effort it took to make a functional structure into something much more. I think people sometimes don't realize that life isn't just about making things for the lowest price, but life is about making things that we are proud of and will cherish. Much of European architechture shows that the builders thought of more than just function.
Through the Trees: Another thing I love about photography is how spontaneous it can be. A simple walk can turn into an opportunity to capture something breath-taking. I was walking down the cobble-stoned streets of Trier, Germany, when I looked up and saw the church clock, framed with the green branches of an apple tree. This would make a perfect picture, so I pulled out my Nikon and snapped a photo.