Bidun Photography

Wildlife, Landscape, and Architectural Photographer

[michaelbidunphotography]

Concentrated pockets of gas are often a problem in mines. To combat the gas problem, the miner would be dressed in a dampened coat and given a long stick with a burning torch on the end. These miners would crawl along the floor with the torch raised until the fire and pocket of gases met. The flame would, in theory, pass over the miner, and the miner would be able to retreat safely. It was not until the early 19th century that the invention of safety lamps would help to reduce the number of mining-related injuries and deaths significantly.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka, Poland

June 27, 2019

Nikon D7200 10-24mm f/3.5

Inspiration: Whiplash - Don Ellis

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The Chapel of Saint Kinga is the crown jewel of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The Chapel is located 331 feet (10 meters) underground and was primarily carved by three artists, Antoni Wyrodek and brothers Józef and Tomasz Markowski. Tomasz Markowski was the artist that sculpted the high altar, pulpit, and side altars. The church currently holds regular mass on Sundays and is the largest underground church in the world.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka, Poland

June 27, 2019

Nikon D7200, 10-24mm F/3.5

[michaelbidunphotography]

Here's a view looking up in one of the many chambers of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Two staircases can be seen with light pouring out from the well lit tunnels.

For over 700 years, the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been a staple of Polish legends and a symbol of the hospitality, dedication, and work ethic of the Polish people. Salt mining became established in the 13th century via a royal decree. With help from King Casimir III throughout the middle of the 14th-century production of the mine was able to generate a third of the royal treasury's income. In 1363, the Saltworks Statute passed, guaranteeing the continued growth of the mine. The 16th and 18th centuries saw the development of the mine into becoming the largest production plant in the region.

Following World War Two, the mine would expand again to nine levels covering 190 miles of tunnels going to a depth over 1000 feet. The Salt Mine was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site during the first year of nominations in 1978 and was considered endangered from 1989 until 1998 when the UNESCO World Heritage Fund put in a $100,000 effort to install dehumidifier equipment in the mine. While the official production of salt in the mine stopped in 1996, it is still open to tourists today. Inspiration: Natural Green - Blazo June 27, 2019 Nikon D7200, 10-24mm f/3.5

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For the Dreamers

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Inspiration: A Couple Dollars - Apollo Brown, Skyzoo, Joell Ortiz

Taken: 11-27-18 1056PM

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From 1333 until 1370, King Casimir III the Great was the ruler of Poland. During his reign, he brought wealth and prosperity to Poland, where he was facetiously called “the Peasants’ King.” He was known as a peaceful leader and practical diplomat, his policies were unbiased and often attempted to lessen the superiority of the ruling class. In one example, King Casimir III, facing the possibility of death, prohibited Jews from being kidnapped for enforced Christian Baptism.

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The rock salt statue of King Casimir III pictured above was sculpted by salt miners at the Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland. The King founded a hospital near the Salt Mine in 1363. The production of the mine was vital to Poland’s national wealth, and the impact went throughout the country. King Casimir reformed the polish military, ordered the construction of over 40 castles, established the University of Krakow, expanded land holdings, and reformed the judicial system.

Inspiration: Harder Than You Think - Public Enemy

Taken: Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka, Poland 6-27-2019

Nikon D7200 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

[michaelbidunphotography]

There's a Polish legend associated with the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland. Hungarian Princess Kinga, was to marry the Prince of Hungary. As a dowry, the Princess asked her father, King Bela, for a lump of salt. During the 13th century, salt was more valuable than gold. When Princess Kinga was at the salt mine in Máramaros, she tossed her engagement ring in a shaft, and upon returning to Krakow, she told the miners to dig a deep pit until they found a rock. The rock the miners found was a lump of salt, and when they split it in two, the Princess's ring was inside. This event solidified her as the patron saint of salt miners.

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Pictured above is a salt statue of Princess Kinga depicting the moment the rock salt was split open to reveal her ring.  She's holding her hands open to receive the ring from a miner off to the right.

Inspiration: LOGOUT - Saba, Chance the Rapper

Taken: Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka, Poland 6-19-19

Nikon D7200 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

[michaelbidunphotography]

While I was in Florence for 6 weeks over the summer, I had a mission to visit the two countries within Italy’s borders; Vatican City and San Marino. With a couple weeks left of my stay, I booked a train from Florence to Rimini for me and my partner, Lauren. I had read a forum post online that suggested there was a bus line taking tourists to and from San Marino. That was enough evidence for me, besides, if there wasn’t a bus, at least Lauren was stuck with me. 

MORE LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY HERE

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We arrived at the station in Rimini and, after a little bit of debate, stumbled into a small convenience store a short walk away. Luckily the forum post was correct, and within a half-hour, we were on a bus packed with tourists traveling the remaining 23 miles to San Marino. I had read that San Marino was built atop the tallest mountain in the region (Monte Titano), but I wasn’t ready for just how much hiking the city would require. Most of the streets were on an incline, and just walking to my hotel room required a small feat of athleticism. This was a small price to pay for the views that were afforded. 

To the North was a great view of Rimini, to the east was the Adriatic sea, to the south and west were mountains dotting the green countryside. To top it off, most of the tourists that visit San Marino are gone before sunset, meaning that we were free to wander around the city with little foot traffic. It was like we had the place to ourselves. Pictured above is a shot of Guaita Castle.

Inspiration: 2009 - Mac Miller

Taken: 06-01-2019 825PM Guaita Castle, San Marino City, San Marino

Nikon D7200 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

The apple is a symbol of immortality, temptation, the fall of man, and sin. Contrary to the meaning attributed to apples through Christian tradition as the forbidden fruit, they're also a token of good luck and a gift given during the cornish festival of Allantide. In Norse mythology, the apple is associated with Iðunn, the goddess of youthfulness. The golden apples of the Hesperides in Greek mythology gave eternal youth, and a golden apple inadvertently started the Trojan War when Paris of Troy gave one to Aphrodite, who tempted Paris with the beautiful Helen of Sparta. Apple's are also a traditional gift to give teachers and a symbol of knowledge or good health.

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A famous saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples have seen continued use in cinema as an indicator of who the villain is. The crunch of an apple cuts through a scene; it is often just as loud as someone speaking and allows the villain to control the flow of a conversation.

Inspiration: TEMPTATION - Joey Bada$$

Nikon D7200 18-300 mm f/3.5-5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

This image was taken on my final evening in the small Republic of San Marino. My partner and I had booked a trip here on a whim while we were staying in Florence, Italy. Usually the country is only a day trip for most tourists and they are unable to stay and see the sunset. We decided to book a two night stay and enjoyed every minute of the wonderful hospitality and picturesque landscape views.

MORE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY HERE

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Through the past 1700 years, San Marino has struggled to maintain a sovereign status. According to the Republic, San Marino was founded on September 3, 301, marking the death of Saint Marinus and the formation of the Republic inheriting the land. The country was under the command of the Pope until the 14th and 15th centuries when it started to break away from the papacy’s control.

The papacy would not officially recognize the Republic until February 5, 1740, after multiple attempts to occupy San Marino failed. Today San Marino Operates as an independent republic; however, the Italian government dictates all imports have to travel through Italy first and that the Republic can not issue currency.

Inspiration: Still Dreamin - Dreamville, JID, Lute, 6LACK

Taken: San Marino City, San Marino 6-1-19 750PM

Nikon D7200, 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

The American Magpie is common in the Western United States and often found around barnyards and livestock. They are not particularly fond of dense woods, preferring to stay in groups along open stretches of plains and valleys feeding on wild fruits, grains, small bugs, and even small mammals such as voles. Unfortunately, the American Magpie, like many other bird species, has seen a 26% decline in population between 1966 and 2014. The birds are under the protection of the Migratory Bird Act; however, they have seen their fair share of challenges in the past against agricultural pesticides and persecution by farmers.

MORE BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY HERE

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These Magpies were exceptionally curious, often flying within a few feet of people and hanging out on wooden posts, almost as if they were enjoying the mountain breeze and view of the Rockies, if only for just a moment.

Inspiration: Exhibit C - Jay Electronica

Taken: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 12-16-19 713AM

Nikon D7200 200-500mm f/5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

Just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park lies Gianttrack Mountain standing at an elevation of 9091 feet. The Southern Rockies, which Gianttrack is a part of, were eroded 10,000 feet by glaciers, with the most recent episode of glaciation happening 7,500 years ago.

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This shot was made right outside of my cabin in Estes Park, Colorado. I had been waiting for the clouds to clear from the peak for a few days. The dip in the wooden fence allowed me to line up a shot with a focus leading towards the mountain. After this, I packed up my gear and headed into the park.

Inspiration: Masego - Queen Tings

Taken: Gianttrack Mountain, Estes Park, Colorado 12-15-19 716AM Nikon D3200 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

[michaelbidunphotography]

Finding something to eat in the winter is a challenge! This Rocky Mountain Mule Deer is searching through the snow for grasses and forbs. During the winter months, Mule Deer in the Rockies eat primarily (74%) shrubs and trees, although this can vary based on location and current climate. Mule Deer eat 788 different plant species. This flexible diet allows them to have a range that extends from Canada across the United States and into Mexico.

MORE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY HERE

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I was inside a car at the time I took this photo; we were driving into the park when these deer came in to view along the side of the road. My 200-500mm lens allowed the car to stay a distance away while my camera still captured all the detail. I wasn’t sure if I had caught this mule deer blowing into the snow or if my shutter had gotten the better of me. The moment lasted only a fraction of a second.

Inspiration: Sunny - Stanley Turrentine

Taken: Rocky Mountain National Park, 12-16-19 701AM

Nikon Nikon D7200 200-500mm f/5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park reaches an elevation of 12,720 feet. The popular Northcutt-Carter Route is a technical climbing route featured in a classic piece of climbing literature, Fifty Classic Climbs of North America by Steve Roper and Allen Steck. Currently, no one has completed all fifty climbs, although many climbers disagree with the list. More specifically, the placement of the Hummingbird Ridge route of Mount Logan on the list has been a cause for controversy as only one group of climbers (including Allen Steck) has ever managed the feat.

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Inspiration: Invocation - Common

Taken: Hallett Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, 12-15-19 923AM

Nikon D7200 200-500mm f/5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

Lauren | 12-13-19

Nikon D7200 | 18-300m f/3.5-5.6 | Interfit Honey Badger 320W Flash

Inspiration: Good Vibrations - Alex Wiley

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The Rocky Mountain Subalpine Fir Tree is one of the essential parts of the ecosystem in the Rockies, according to the US Forest Service, the tree is highly sensitive to fire, and even low-intensity fires prove fatal for all but the healthiest trees. The last major fire in the park was the 2012 Fern Lake Fire, which was caused by an illegal campfire and burned for two months, causing firefighters from around the world to be called in for support.

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The sub-alpine fir provides good environmental protection for elk, moose, mule deer, small mammals, and birds in Colorado. It also has a high potential for erosion control in Colorado. Conversely,  the sub-alpine fir provides good environmental protection for elk, moose, mule deer, small mammals, and birds in Colorado. It also has a high potential for erosion control in Colorado.

Inspiration: Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

Taken: Rocky Mountain National Park, 12-15-19 943AM

Nikon D7200, 200-500mm f/5.6

[michaelbidunphotography]

The Grand Nain (aka the Chiquita Banana) pictured above is a sub-species of the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish came to prominence during the 1960s after the Gros Michel banana was wiped out by Panama Disease, a wilting disease caused by a fungus that infects the vascular system of the plant, making older leaves to wither before progressing on to newer leaves, eventually killing the organism. The banana industry had to come up with a solution, which they found in another species called the Cavendish; this new species was resistant to the type of Panama disease that destroyed the Gros Michel.

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Today, we see a new outbreak of Panama disease that the Cavendish species is not resistant to called Tropical Race 4 (TR4). In August of 2019, it was confirmed that TR4 had spread to Colombia, marking the official spread of the disease into Latin America. The disease can wait dormant in the soil for up to 30 years, meaning that the spread of disease cannot be tracked or quarantined quickly. While genetic modification of other banana sub-species has shown some success, most of the world outside of the United States is unwilling to accept products that are genetically modified. As TR4 spreads further, the spotlight will be on lawmakers as the second most-produced fruit in the world grows scarce.

Banana 01 | 12-17-19

Inspiration: The Question - Mac Miller, Lil Wayne

[michaelbidunphotography]

This photo is of the Colosseum in Rome looking down Via degli Annibaldi, a street that leads partially up to the Colosseum. The day started with a nice breakfast and ended with a five-hour wait in line and a sprint back to the hotel room before running to catch the last train back to Florence. Let's say it was one of those days traveling where quick thinking and experience helped me skirt by only a little worse for wear.

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I haven't posted much from my travels this past summer but more is on the way. It took a lot of time to sort and edit through everything, but most of the project is in the final stages. 

Inspiration: Sunny - Stanley Turrentine 

Taken: 6-16-19 1025AM 

Nikon D7200 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3