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esther.bs.k4zka.online
North of Somewhere 🇺🇦💙📖📸⚛️
@esther.bs.k4zka.online
46 followers 39 following 91 posts
Still suspicious of Bluesky, but PDS calms my paranoia 👀
Ukrainian American. Liberal. Biochemist. Film camera & book addict. Atheist. 🏳️‍⚧️ Ally
Love hiking, forests & wild nature
Enthusiastic & mediocre
📍MN
✍️English, Ukrainian or Yiddish only, please
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esther.bs.k4zka.online
Finished Autocracy, Inc. by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social Her faith in Russian “liberals” is almost cute. Still, she sees reality and tries to act. My hope in her success is probably as naïve as her belief that there’s such a thing as a Russian unspoiled by corruption or empire 🤭

#books #booksky
Cover of Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum. The design shows a dark blue world map with the title and author’s name in bold white uppercase letters. Below the title, it notes she is a Pulitzer Prize winner. The audiobook listing underneath shows its length (4 h 48 m), tags “21st Century,” “Fascism,” “Geopolitics,” and a 4.7-star rating from 815 reviews.
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Got 2 boxes with 12 bottles of House of the Dragon for $39 a box. Winter may be coming, but I’m clearly prepared 😆. Apparently, even Targaryens couldn’t escape inflation, though at $3 a dragon, I’d call it a victorious alliance 🥂❄️
A close-up of a House of the Dragon 2021 Pinot Noir bottle from Oregon, held in a hand. The matte black label features a golden three-headed dragon emblem, catching the light against a neutral indoor background. A House of the Dragon 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon bottle from California, held in a hand. The deep red label with a golden dragon sigil stands out against a soft brown background, creating a warm, fantasy-inspired mood.
November 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
On Artist’s Point I always feel a bit sad that I can’t draw, it’s such a perfect place for a sketchbook 😍

📷 Canon elan 7e| Fuji 200, developed in Cinestill
Film photo of a view of a white building with red roofs near the water in Grand Marais, Minnesota, captured at sunset. The light reflects softly on the calm water dotted with dark rocks, with a faint mist over the distant hills and a pastel sky above.
November 2, 2025 at 3:52 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Summer memories

📷 Canon Elan 7e | 🎞️ Fuji 200 (developed in Cinestill)

#FilmPhotography #AnalogPhotography #35mmFilm #Fuji200 #CanonElan7e #Canon #Fujifilm #Photography #Nature #GoldenHour #AnalogVibes #FilmIsNotDead #ShootFilm #BelieveInFilm #Photo #EverydayBeauty #FilmCommunity #Sunset
Close-up of tall sunlit prairie grass glowing in soft golden light at sunrise or sunset. The background is blurred and warm, giving the image a dreamy, nostalgic mood. Wildflowers and dried seed heads illuminated by the setting sun in a golden field. The warm light filters through petals and stems, creating a soft, hazy atmosphere of late summer.
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Cardinal feeding season

📷 Canon R6

#Cardinal #NorthernCardinal #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #Nature #FeederBirds #CanonR6 #BackyardBirds #BirdWatching #WinterBirds #Birds #Photography #PhotoOfTheDay #BirdLovers #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography
A female Northern Cardinal with soft brown and red plumage perched on the edge of a wooden bird feeder, surrounded by scattered seeds. Her orange beak and subtle crest stand out against the blurred beige background. A bright red male Northern Cardinal sitting in a wooden bird feeder, his feathers glowing vividly against a green, softly blurred background.
October 31, 2025 at 2:49 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
We bought tiny pond fish in summer, now they’ve tripled in size and relocated to fishtank for the winter. One squatter bullfrog was relocated to the nearby stream too :)

📷 Canon R6
#Photo #Photography #Fish #Goldfish #Nature #Funny #Home #Story #Life #Aquarium #Animals
Two bright orange goldfish swimming close together in clear greenish-blue water, with long green aquatic leaves softly blurred in the background. One fish faces downward while the other seems to nudge it gently, creating a peaceful and slightly playful scene
October 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Somewhere in the Smokies, pretending it’s all wilderness and not a parking lot just behind me

📷 Canon R6
📍 Tennessee

#Photo #Photography #Nature #Mountains #FallColors #Landscape #Travel #Hiking #Outdoors #CanonR6 #Smokies #NationalPark #Fog #Wilderness #Scenery #Forest #Tennessee
A misty mountain scene in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during autumn. Red and green foliage fills the foreground, with tree-covered hills fading into fog and clouds above. The photo feels peaceful, though the area was actually crowded with tourists.
October 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Apparently, I’m not the only one who enjoys the fall colors

📷 Canon R6
📍 Minnesota

#PhotoOfTheDay #NaturePhotography #Wildlife #AutumnVibes #Snake #Outdoors #FallColors #CanonR6 #Minnesota #Fall #PhotographyLovers #photo #photography
A small brown-and-yellow snake with a thin stripe along its body peeks through a pile of dry orange and brown maple leaves in warm autumn light
October 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Colors of Maplewood State park, MN

📸 Canon R6

#autumn #Minnesota #Fall #Nature #Woods #Leaves #Forest #Trail #Colors #October #Photography #Photo #CanonR6 #Landscape #Reflection #Golden #Peaceful #Outdoors #Hike
Still autumn lake reflecting orange trees under a clear deep-blue Minnesota sky, with tall dry grass in the foreground. Sunlit forest trail covered with fallen leaves, winding through dense trees glowing in deep orange and golden tones of autumn. Close-up of golden maple leaves with sunlight breaking through, creating a warm sparkle and soft bokeh in the background. Cluster of orange maple leaves glowing in gentle sunlight, slightly curled and speckled with tiny imperfections of late fall.
October 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Unexpected сompany

He froze for a second, I did too. Only one of us had a camera :)

📷 Canon R6
#chipmunk #fall #forest #wildlife #nature #photo #photograpy #fallcolors #quietmoment #woods #animals #closeup #peaceful #everydaybeauty #goldenlight #photooftheday
A chipmunk sits on a fallen tree branch surrounded by glowing orange autumn leaves. Soft sunlight filters through the forest, giving the scene a warm, golden atmosphere. The chipmunk looks alert and still, framed by blurred branches in the foreground
October 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
👩🏻‍🔬 Waiting for the bath to reach 102°F. Because film developing is just cooking, but with more anxiety :)

#C41 #FilmPhotography #AnalogVibes #KitchenLab #ShootFilm #FilmDeveloping #Darkroom #FilmIsNotDead
A sous-vide immersion heater set to 107°F stands in a plastic tub filled with water. Two black chemical bottles labeled “Blix” and “Dev” sit in the bath, warming up for film developing. The scene looks half like a science experiment, half like kitchen improvisation.
October 21, 2025 at 8:17 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Sunrise on Beers Lake
On Sunday I woke up at 5 a.m. for the sunrise, only to realize it’s at eight 🙈. Froze my ass off, but it was worth it.
📷 Canon R6
📍 Maplewood State Park, MN
#Photography #Minnesota #Nature #Calm #Sunrise #Photo #Fall #Hiking #Light
October 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
My Ioniq 5 just made fall camping suspiciously comfortable. The backpacking ultralight tent stays for the wild trips, but the glamping one can happily retire 🍁⚡️
#fall #camping #EV #ioniq #travel
Side mirror of a car reflecting a blaze of orange and golden autumn leaves, with more colorful trees surrounding the vehicle. Fallen leaves cover the ground, and sunlight filters through the branches, creating a warm, late-afternoon glow
October 20, 2025 at 12:26 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
I thought I’d missed the fall colors, but decided to take a chance anyway, turned out I didn’t.
📷 iPhone
📍 Maplewood State Park, MN
#Minnesota #FallColors #photo #photography #hiking #fall
A forest trail in Maplewood State Park blanketed with fallen leaves, surrounded by bright orange and golden trees under clear autumn sunlight.
October 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Went camping and, of course, forgot the matches. But the world isn’t without kind people - someone gave me some, so dinner’s back on
A metal camping stove sits on a wooden picnic table inside a tent at night. A stainless-steel pot with a spoon rests on one burner, while a box of matches lies nearby. The scene is dimly lit by a flashlight or lantern, capturing the cozy, improvised atmosphere of outdoor cooking.
October 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Just realized I’ve never posted a #Caturday here. Fixing that now

📷 Pentax KX
🎞️ Ilford
👩‍🔬 Rodinal 50+1

#FilmPhotography #BlackAndWhite #Photography #FilmisNotDead #BelieveInFilm #cat #film #analog #photography #photo #35mmFilm
A black and white film photograph of a cat lying sideways in the sunlight. The soft light highlights the texture of its fur and the calm expression in its half-open eyes, capturing a quiet, dreamy mood
October 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
I built a LEGO Polaroid and then photographed it with a real one.
Not sure if that’s art, recursion, or just me having fun, but can we call it metaphotography? 🤣

#Polaroid #InstantPhotography #Photo #Instant #AnalogVibes #InstantFilm #Retro #Lego #Hobby
A LEGO Polaroid OneStep camera sits on a wooden table. A real Polaroid photograph showing the LEGO camera lies beside it, along with a colorful Polaroid film box and another small printed photo sliding out of the LEGO camera. The scene playfully blurs the line between toy and reality, evoking a nostalgic, metafotography vibe
October 18, 2025 at 1:38 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Inside Ruby Falls cave I felt like in an RPG side quest the - discoverer’s voice echoed from speakers, lights changed colors, and I kept waiting for a boss fight. Instead, there was a waterfall. Not bad for an ending :)

📷Canon R6 📍Chattanooga, TN
#RubyFalls #Cave #Travel #photo
A vertical view inside Ruby Falls cave, with purple and pink lights illuminating tall stone walls that seem to stretch endlessly upward. The atmosphere feels mystical, almost like a fantasy game setting. Reflections of red and violet lights shimmer on wet cave walls at Ruby Falls, creating a mirror-like effect that blends water and rock into abstract shapes. A group of visitors stands deep inside Ruby Falls cave, gazing upward at illuminated rock formations as colored lights shift around them, giving the moment a cinematic feel. A close-up of textured stone formations at Ruby Falls glowing in warm amber light, highlighting their smooth, almost sculpted surface.
October 17, 2025 at 2:07 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Tiny Tennessee residents 🕷️🐦🦋

The only wildlife that was patient enough to pose for me on my Tennessee trip :)

📷 Canon R6

#NaturePhotography #Tennessee #PhotoOfTheDay #Wildlife #Spider #Bird #Butterfly #Photography #Nature #Travel #TravelPhotography #photo
A brightly patterned spider with long black legs hangs from a nearly invisible thread against a soft green bokeh background. A gray-and-white mockingbird perches at the top of a leafy branch with small red berries, singing against a vivid blue sky. A swallowtail butterfly with shimmering blue wings, orange and white spots, rests on a purple wildflower surrounded by green grass
October 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
First time in the Smokies. Turns out the name isn’t poetic, it’s quite literal :)

📷 IPhone

#Tennessee #photo #shotoniphone #fall #mountains
Mist hanging low over forested mountain ridges, the slopes covered with red, orange, and green trees glowing through the fog. Early autumn light softens the dramatic view. A small mountain stream lined with autumn trees and fallen leaves. A narrow road runs beside it, with a few parked cars visible in the distance under soft cloudy light.
October 11, 2025 at 3:21 AM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
walk between seasons.

📷 Pentax KX
🎞️ Ilford
👩‍🔬 Rodinal 50+1

#FilmPhotography #BlackAndWhite #Photography #FilmisNotDead #BelieveInFilm
A black-and-white film photograph of a wooden boardwalk curving gently through a forest. The path is framed by overhanging branches that create a dark canopy above, while soft light opens up in the distance. Fallen leaves scatter across the weathered planks, and the scene feels calm, quiet, and slightly nostalgic.
October 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
It’s strange watching a Netflix show set in Minneapolis - a city I’d never even heard of before moving to Minnesota.
And even stranger seeing a hospital where doctors actually have time and care for patients 🤭
A tablet screen showing the Netflix series Doc, paused on a scene with a female doctor wearing a white coat and stethoscope. The tablet rests in front of a window with sheer curtains, and behind it is a cozy room with shelves full of books, plants, and decorations. The atmosphere feels homely and warm, with afternoon light coming through the window.
October 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
A year ago in Red Wing,MN I really wanted to see this sculpture called Eggspert, but it had already been sold.
Yesterday, we finally found it in Hutchinson, MN.
The great egg hunt is complete 🥚✔️ :)

📷 iPhone

#Minnesota #Art #SmallTown #FoundIt #photo #sculpture
Black and white photo of a bronze sculpture shaped like an egg with glasses, a hat, and a bow tie, sitting on a brick ledge and reading a book. The sculpture, called “Eggspert,” looks cheerful and scholarly, positioned near a stairway outside a building in Hutchinson, Minnesota.
October 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
My husband really gets me. Some people wake up to breakfast in bed - I woke up to a couple of rolls of Portra . And honestly, that’s way better. You can’t develop pancakes in C-41 ;)

📷 iPhone

#35mm #Film #filmisnotdead #analog
A close-up of two 35mm film rolls standing on a reflective dark countertop, one labeled “Portra 400.” The background is softly blurred, with warm morning light coming through a window, giving the scene a nostalgic, quiet mood.
October 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
esther.bs.k4zka.online
Not Bellingham, but… :)
A khaki-green K&F Concept backpack sits on a black chair. A small orange plush toy with sharp teeth, dressed in jeans and a checkered scarf, hangs from the strap, holding a miniature camera. Below it, a blue-and-yellow crocheted heart dangles, symbolizing Ukraine. A round yellow pin is attached to the top flap
October 5, 2025 at 2:08 AM