The Three Babushkas*

Actually, to be correct, it should be babuskij (where 'j' equals

a 'y' indicating a plural. A ba' bushka (emphasis is on the first

syllable) is a 'grandmother' or simply an 'old woman' in Russian,

the usual language of Ukraine, where this photo was taken, on a

building portico. These pleasant women serve as 'building guards'

simply by their presence' -- a security factor. Your ratings and

critiques are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly or very

critically, please submit a helpful and constructive comment; Please

share your superior photographic knowledge to help improve my

photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

they look like nice gals, john

These women really are 'nice gals'. Each one also is very different, with the one, foreground being extremely intelligent and most complicated in her thought processes, I think, but the other women are also 'high class' Ukrainian/Russian women -- they all live in a sought-after building in a major Ukrainian city and are well-dressed.

 

They sit on the 'stoop' of the apartment building, which is a security building, at the intersection of two prominent avenues/boulevards in that city and in summer evenings, as here, watch the people and traffic go by.

 

And, they are my friends, and not phony friends, but when I went away, there were some real sad faces and I think some real tears shed. As a security device there's nothing better than a gauntlet of well-meaning, intelligent and watchful grandmothers who see who and what's going on, especially if one is a photographer who carries expensive cameras and has models going and coming from time to time.

 

(People tell me things about police, and I have no way of verifying, so I cannot speak or pass on the stories, and stories I can verify are from other cities, and I am not sure they are universal, but surely police there are NOT like they are in the West Coast of the United States where they're pretty straight-laced, and so having watchful grandmothers like these can be very helpful. Some people I have known always kept geese around their houses, and one local used to keep peacocks (not peahens) because of the ruckus when there was an 'intruder' or just a neighbor moving about, and there I have my grandmothers (babushkij)

 

John (Crosley)

Really enjoyed the commentary along with the picture.

 

Regards, Brendan

Hello my friend, what a nice commentary to go along with you photo. I found it fasinating. You must have a very interesting life. I like the faces on these women. They have a lot of charictor. I wish the third one was more in focus, other than that great shot.

 

Sincerly

 

Berryl

I am glad you took a moment to say you enjoyed the commentary.

 

I occasionally get similar comments and value them highly.

 

In fact, I think a large number of member read these comments and view the photographs for the integration of photos AND comments, if that makes any sense.

 

Sometimes photos 'stand on all fours' and need no explanation' -- other times they are helped by being part of a story.

 

I like to share interesting stories and am glad this site provides a place to do just that, and very thankful in fact.

 

Thanks for your comment.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

Thanks, John.

Thank you also for taking the time to comment on the commentary as well as the photograph.

 

When I spent a year with a publication in large business publishing company before law school, in a staff meeting the main publisher, a well-respected guy, called us editorial staff members into a huge staff meeting with all his publications and said he wanted to single out ONE STORY to call our attention to and that singled out how he wanted us all to write.

 

We all listened to raptly, wanting to know the source of that story, what is was about, and who had written it, including me.

 

He said the story was not long, but it went beyond the minimal way such stories often were covered, that it showed curiosity and it also showed journalistic excellence (I was then but not since, a journalist), and I longed to know about that wonderful story as did everyone else.

 

Then he proceeded to read it, a small story I had written from a handout about a staff change, but I had been curious and called the employee leaving the post and the new guy taking over the job about why the change, and the answer revealed truths about the fortunes of the giant chain store they worked for -- they weren't selling enough and staff changes were reflective of that. The story was no longer than this post.

 

I have had success following my nose and my curiosity, although sometimes it's gotten me into trouble, or people have misunderstood that.

 

I try to do a good job by my own 'internal standards' which are not written down anywhere, but if I satisfy those standards, I feel a sense of accomplishment, no matter what the ratings or criticisms, which is how I lead myself on this site.

 

Which is also, why I can post a photo like this which was guaranteed not to get high ratings, but fits in the theme very well of this folder -- now doesn't it? -- Faces.

 

These are three very interesting faces -- and reflective of what I've posted the folder about.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

John (Crosley)

Great line formed by the women. I also like the colours. They look fresh, like the ladies :) Their expressions are soft and fascinated.

Good analysis -- right on point.

 

And of course, they're Russian women (though in Ukraine), and you may not know it, but Russian women do NOT go out unless they're dressed to the teeth -- a young woman won't go out without makeup and nice clothes -- to go out in curlers to the 7-11 would be considered deranged.

 

You'd maybe have to have been married to a Russian woman or be a Russian (or have lived in Russia to understand fully -- as a male, I've lived both lives -- spouse and Russian resident.

 

I agree with your analysis, which is on-point more than maybe you knew.

 

Thanks for sharing it and stopping by.

 

John (Crosley)