David Hilgier Photographs

Evening arrives. The red striping of a chimney in the distance peaks above the foliage of Park Cytadela.

A faraway stare as she awaits the arrival of the next tram.

Tending to the final transactions of the day prior to the market’s mid-afternoon closing time.

The spires of the city’s cathedral play a game of hide and seek as we wander around the quaint island.

The morning air still crisp. Winter remains a recent memory as spring fights to make its presence permanent.

As fate would have it, last spring I found myself making my way to Poland. The enigma of the internet allowing for a spur of the moment introduction to newly acquainted family members. Our separation resulting from my Dziadzia’s immigration to the United States after World War II. Its quite the feeling to arbitrarily wake up one day to correspondence from family of which I had no knowledge of the night prior when I fell asleep. I surmise that few in this world are afforded the opportunity to visit their ancestral lands, let alone in the company, generous hospitality, and guidance of their relatives. The next 60+ photographs are captures created from my time in the county. Their thesis to encapsulate the day-to-day life of a country I’m lucky and to have visited. My gratitude, appreciation, and love to my family unable to be expressed in words beyond these.

An exemplification of the spirit of New Orleans reflected in an alternate angle of one of my favorite scenes we encountered in the city to conclude this series.

A vignette exemplifying the details, textures, and colors found within this particular district of the city.

Though faded, worn, and a little rough around the edges, its inherit beauty still remains. A visual metaphor for my impressions of New Orleans formulated during my time there.

Giving the passage of time a run for its money, this car bears witness to the history of New Orleans.