The view from Kasprowy Wierch towards Beskid, where a winding trail crosses one of the most scenic ridges in the Polish Tatras.
The view from Kasprowy Wierch towards Beskid was one of the highlights of our trip to the Polish Tatras. On the second day, my son and I climbed to the summit before continuing along the ridge, while my wife, whose heart belongs to the sea rather than the mountains, waited for us at the Murowaniec mountain shelter. Although the uphill trail was only about three kilometres long, it was demanding, with large uneven stones and several steep sections that required careful footing.
A cable car climbs towards Kasprowy Wierch, seen from the peaceful meadow at Kalatówki in the Polish Tatras.
For the past few months, my camera focused almost entirely on wildlife around my local lakes and rivers. This time, I traded my telephoto lens for hiking boots and returned to the Polish Tatra Mountains. I began my trip with an easy hike to the beautiful meadow at Kalatówki, where magnificent views of Kasprowy Wierch welcomed me.
A dragonfly hovering above the lake, silhouetted against warm evening reflections after the birds stayed out of reach.
The poor summer weather continues. Rain, heavy clouds and strong winds have been the story of this summer lately. Better weather is finally on the horizon, but in the meantime I wasn’t ready to stay indoors. I headed to my favorite lake hoping for some bird photography, knowing the conditions probably wouldn’t be ideal.
Young coot chicks gather around an adult bird in the shallow waters of Arturówek Park.
Coot chicks are not the birds most people notice when visiting Arturówek Park near Łódź. Most visitors come for the beach, playgrounds, rope courses, cafés, or simply to enjoy a sunny day by the water. My family and I came for the same reason, but as often happens, I also brought my camera.
Birds settling on a wire as the autumn evening slowly fades
The walk wasn’t planned around birds — it rarely is. It was one of those late autumn afternoons when the sky feels thin and undecided, pale with mist, as if the day is already halfway gone.
A small countryside church rising above fields and forested hills — a quiet landmark blending seamlessly into the rural landscape
Nestled among rolling hills, a small countryside church rises gently above the rooftops and treetops. It stands as a bastion of tradition within a vibrant, living landscape. From this vantage point, the view unfolds across golden fields and meadows before giving way to dark forest ridges that fade softly into the horizon. It’s one of those rare rural places where architecture doesn’t dominate nature but instead seems to grow from it, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
A full village scene created from hay bales — storytelling in straw
In late August and September, a special rhythm takes over the Polish countryside. Fields that only weeks ago swayed with golden grain now hum with activity — combines and tractors clear the land, leaving neat rows of straw and preparing the soil for winter. For cyclists on rural roads, it’s a captivating spectacle of change — a landscape actively shifting day by day.
