Faces of Eastern Europe

There are a myriad of words to describe my homeland, but the one that most often makes its way into memory is melancholy. A specific kind of melancholy that is often visible in the people's faces, despite their actual expression. Perhaps a result of centuries of struggles against foreign and internal enemies, or simply an acquired habit, it makes the smiles even more poignant whenever they do come out. Uncertainty is a constant companion in a land that while blessed with enormous natural potential, has too often had those blessings tarnished by its very rulers and citizens. Nevertheless, this is where the ties of heritage bind, and through the years, I have found endless fascination and enormous creative satisfaction in documenting the looks, stories and history etched on the faces of my people - the faces of Eastern Europe.