#weathered
Standing inside the monolithic Buzludzha Monument is an experience that firmly imprints itself on your mind. When the brief for the "Weathered" competition came up, my thoughts immediately went back to this moment in Bulgaria. I genuinely couldn't think of a more fitting subject than this decaying brutalist relic sitting atop a mountain, slowly being reclaimed by the elements.

Looking up into the cavernous, skeletal remains of the dome, the atmosphere was heavy with history and neglect. The crumbling concrete and rusting steel framework were already fascinating, but then I caught this brilliant ping of sunlight piercing right through the ruined roof. It was one of those cracking moments of light that you just have to grab.

To do the scene justice and truly capture the sheer scale and brutal contrast—the deep, ominous shadows of the interior fighting against the blinding sunburst—I knew a single frame wouldn't cut it. It practically demanded the HDR treatment. I shot a bracketed series to ensure I could pull out every gritty, weathered texture hidden in the shadows without blowing out that crucial starburst. Running it through the post-processing stack allowed me to emphasize the relentless passage of time etched into the structure.

It’s a bold, heavy image, and I think it hits the competition theme right on the nose. As always, let me know what you think... csj