Western Ireland

It is hard not to fall in love with this country.

Vibrant, happy people, unspoiled villages, rugged ancient abbeys, broad peat lowlands, and the dramatic coastline.

Join me and the local guide and musician on a photographic and cultural adventure
June 1-12 2014.
Here is my slideshow from June 2013 trip..

For itinerary and registration visit  Strabo Tours site:

http://phototc.com/leaders/maria-korab-laskowska

http://phototc.com/tours/details/the-quiet-side-of-ireland1

Intensive Photography Course July 22-26

I will be teaching 5 days long Intensive Photography Course at the 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts in Brockville, Ontario

This course is designed for beginners and  intermediate.

Each day includes presentation, shooting, image evaluation and fun.

Extra field trip for night and architectural photography.

Tuition 291$ for 5 days x 6 hours per day and discount on campus residence.

For more info and registration check the link http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/parttime/SummerArtsSched04.htm

Kazimierz

Town of Kazimierz was founded in 1335 by King Casimir the Great. Before World War II lived here 65,000 Jews. Only few thousand of Jew survived the War. Most of them were killed in the Krakow Ghetto (1941-1943), in the Nazi concentration camps.

In recent years, the Jewish Quarter has become very popular. Attract not only the sights but the atmosphere of this place. There are many galleries, small shops, coffee shops with interesting decor and menu card. Almost every evening in the numerous restaurants Klezmer music concerts are held.

In addition, annually organized Jewish Culture Festival attracts enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad.

Krakow

Krakow’s Old Town, along with Wawel Castle and the city’s Kazimierz district were placed on the first World Heritage UNESCO List.

Krakow is a very charming city, all the major monuments (there are plenty of them!) within the walking distance. The city was the old capital of Poland, and the Castle "Wawel" is on the limestone hill looking down the river Wisla.

Among the most impressive monuments are "Barbakan", "Sukiennice", and the "Collegium Maius" of Jagiellonian University.

The Bazylika Mariacka (Saint Mary’s Basilica) is undoubtedly one of Krakow’s most famous and most spectacular landmarks.The real jewel of the basilica is its high-altar, which took the master craftsman Wit Stwosz (Veit Stoss) 12 years to complete. It is 13 meters high and 11 meters wide and is the largest medieval wooden altar in Europe.

 

Podhale

The Podhale , which means under the mountain meadows, is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian Mountains.

The region is characterized by a rich tradition of folklore and inhabited by humorous, religious and welcoming highlanders.

For last two hundred years Tatra Mountains and Podhale played an important role in polish culture.

Local culture and nature inspired many artists...composers, painters, poets. Town of Zakopane become main center for polish artistic, political and scientific life.

Podhale is especially photogenic because of its rich folk traditions, original architecture and beautiful mountain views.

According to the old tradition seasonal collective shepherding was base of economy. Even now, when shepherding does not bring profit the old system is used.

Typically the herds come back at the beginning of September and the festival is held. Dairy products; oscypek and zentyca are tested, there are fun competitions, music and dance.

It was from buildings such as these in Chocholow that Stanislaw Witkiewicz took his inspiration for the 'Zakopane Style'. The first building ever erected in the Zakopane style was the Villa "Koliba." Built between 1892 and 1894, it stands to this day and is open as a museum of the style.