Pelješac, Croatia

Pelješac, Croatia

Summer, the dreaded period when kids don’t have school and you have to figure out how to arrange time for them with your limited number of days off. Also, the time when we observe what has become a family tradition, namely, a trip to Croatia.

It was our fourth visit, and for the second time in a row, we drove to the same place, the Pelješac peninsula in the very south of the Dalmatian coast, just a stone’s throw from Dubrovnik.

One thing I don’t particularly like about vacationing in Croatia is that it takes two days worth of driving to get there. I am always close to reaching the limit of my sanity at the end of day two. Whoever here has kids will know what I am on about. Still, having your own car in Croatia opens up a myriad of possibilities: from visiting secluded beaches, to exploring the countryside and less touristy places. It is a beautiful country, with stunning scenery and rich cultural heritage. Curiously, despite its differences, Croatia feels vaguely familiar, as it is a Slavonic country like Poland. I don’t really feel like I am abroad here, even though I am 1500 km from home. The coast is vastly different from the interior part of the country, with the latter being very similar to Poland or Slovakia. The coast is however full mediterranean extravaganza.

As in previous years, I couldn't devote as much time to photography as I wished, but I came better prepared, and had specific ideas what I wanted to photograph. Some destinations were duly noted during my previous visit last year, and I was hyped to come back to them with my camera – time permitting.

These aren’t your typical vacation beach shots, but rest assured that Croatia delivers plentiful occasions and places to make such photos.

I am now in my colour period (lol), and it was a real pleasure to be able to witness the southern light. My previous Croatian project was black and white on purpose. This time I went full colour. Still, the palette is limited to a handful of colours, namely green, blue, and earthy tones, with occasional pop of red. I am quite happy with the selection, and I had a lot of fun with sequencing. So, without further ado, here’s my collection of ruins and car wrecks. I am not giving out the locations, in case this post gains traction, and everyone suddenly wants to shoot that red Volkswagen Golf in someone’s backyard. Enjoy!

For those who got this far, there is an easter egg in one of the photos. See if you can spot the tortoise…

Till the next time!

Jakub

Disclaimer:

Some photos shown here were made in abandoned and scruffy places. Croatia is an amazing country, but despite the best efforts of its authorities, there are still places here that haven’t been cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance from the 1990s Croatian War of Independence.

Entering and exploring abandoned buildings and villages in former Yugoslavia may be extremely dangerous and potentially lethal if you happen to do that in the areas that were part of the theatre of war. Urbex is fun, but make sure you know why the amazing location you are about to explore was abandoned in the first place. Also, if possible, ask somebody local to show you around.