SnílekPhoto (Posts about story)

Stones for Statehood / Kameny pro státnost

Jan Janský — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Take a stone,
tourist, and erect
a pyramid as a symbol
of our statehood which,
from times immemorial,
was guarded here by
Chods.

These words are greeting tourists ascending to the remains of guardian castle Přimda. A little remainder, that in real world there were — and still are — forces outside. Forces one must be prepared to fend of. Forces that one needs to be aware of — in time. That's what a guardian castles were build for.

Remember. And as a symbol for others to remember too, build a small stone pyramid.

The pyramids are there in the hundreds. Beside a quiet forest path to a half-forgotten castle. Exposed to elements, nature, animals and occasional vandals. Many collapsed. Many still standing. Destroyed, yet built again. Every day.

It's a sign that many passersby still remember. Still want to remember. A sign, that — in people's hearts — the guardian castles are still standing.

It's a sign of hope.

Seber turisto
kamen a založ
pyramidu jako symbol
naší státnosti, kterou
zde odedávna bránili
Chodové.

Tato slova zdraví turisty, stoupající k ruinám strážního hradu Přimda. Malé připomenutí, že ve skutečném světě byly — a stále jsou — vnější síly. Síly, jimž musí být člověk připraven čelit. Síly, o kterých by měl vědět — včas. K tomuto účelu se budovaly strážní hrady.

Pamatuj. A jako symbol, aby pamatovali i ostatní, postav malou kamennou pyramidu.

Těch pyramid jsou tam stovky. Vedle tiché lesní cesty k polozapomenutému hradu. Vystaveny živlům, přírodě, zvířatům a příležitostným vandalům. Mnoho se jich rozpadlo. Mnoho jich stojí. Bořené, a přece znovu stavěné. Každý den.

Je to znamení, že mnozí kolemjdoucí stále pamatují. Stále chtějí pamatovat. Znamení, že — v lidských srdcích — strážní hrady stále stojí.

Je to znamení naděje.

Burnt Woods / Spálený les

Jan Janský — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 22:00:00 GMT

There was a fire. A forest was burning in the hills (Krkavec) northwest of Pilsen and most of local firefighters were called to action. Thanks to their efforts, most of the woods there did not burn down. A few hectares did, though, but the rest was saved. End of the story? Quite the opposite.

Double Exposure / Dvojitá expozice

Jan Janský — Wed, 09 May 2018 22:00:00 GMT

Sometimes you just know it. You can feel you are somewhere special. Where time stopped, or perhaps repeats itself in an incomprehensible loop, or simply does not make sense whatsoever. Somewhere where two realities overlap one another. Where things that are — or really should be — separate become united, cast into one in some absurd fashion. Somewhere, where miracles are everyday reality and are not only no longer surprising to anyone… but, maybe, become mundane to such an extend that no one really sees them anymore.

Places like that do exist.

Punkers Against Other Forms / Pankáči proti jiným formám

Jan Janský — Fri, 04 May 2018 22:00:00 GMT

I still can't just shoot people. Even though I try to practice, it is still a challenge for me — to turn my camera on some stranger and press the shutter. The following is a note of one such a failed challenge.

Saw him, or her, well, this punker, on a train platform in Pilsen. Standing there in the light, obviously waiting for the same train I did. I had a difficulty to guess the gender. And it did not really matter. Looking around for other photographic opportunities I quickly forgot about him.

Alone, Waiting in the Dark / Sama, čekající v temnotě

Jan Janský — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 23:00:00 GMT

We were just returning from Divadlo Kampa (Kampa Theatre) — myself and my four-year-old son. It was after eight and it was dark. He held my hand. We walked slowly across the little square towards Charles Bridge.

"Pee, I need to pee," says my son.

"I just asked you a few moments ago in the theatre, if you need to go to a toilet," I reply. "Ok then, come here under this tree."

Pensioner / Důchodce

Jan Janský — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 23:00:00 GMT

He sat by the aisle.
green cloak of cloth,
gloves, cane and bag,
even with dogs on,
not a rag.

Standing right next to him,
camera on my neck,
several stops,
pondering The Question.

To take his soul,

or not to...

Not even bothered to ask...

Ten pán seděl u uličky.
Zelený plátěný kabát,
rukavice, hůl a taška.
Dokonce s pejskama,
žádná fraška.

A já stál hned vedle
s foťákem na krku
a několik zastávek přemítal
nad Otázkou,

Jestli mu tu duši vzít

či nevzít...

Ani jsem se nezeptal...

— snílek

(Plzeň, MHD, 11.2.2018)