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15-AUG-2005 Jola Dziubinska

Warsaw Mermaid

Poland, Warsaw

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The Warsaw mermaid, "Syrenka Warszawska" in The Old Town Market Square . This figure in the shape of half-woman and half-fish was made in 1855.
It is the symbol of city and is featured in Warsaw's coat of arms since the mid of 14th century.

Legend by Artur Oppman:
Once upon a time there were two mermaid sisters, who swam to the shore of the Baltic Sea from their home deep in the sea. They were very beautiful. One of them decided to swim towards the Danish straits, to the port of Copenhagen. The second swam up the Vistula River and came out of the water onto the sandy bank to rest. It was at the foot of today's Old Town and she decided to stay.
The fishermen living in this area noticed, that during their fishing someone was churning the waves of the Vistula River, tangling the nets and releasing the fish. But the mermaid enchanted them with her beautiful singing, and they did not harm her.
One day a wealthy merchant saw the mermaid and heard her lovely song. He quickly calculated how much money he could make displaying her at market fairs, so he captured her and imprisoned in a wooden shed without any water. A young farmhand heard the mermaid's cries, and with the help of friends he freed her at night. Grateful that the townspeople had defended her, the mermaid promised to help them in time of danger. This is why the Warsaw Mermaid is armed: she bears a sword and a shield to defend the city.

Canon PowerShot G6
1/125s f/4.0 at 17.6mm hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time15-Aug-2005 18:55:48
MakeCanon
ModelCanon PowerShot G6
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length17.6 mm
Exposure Time1/125 sec
Aperturef/4
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modecenter weighted (2)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Marek Kacprzak13-Dec-2005 17:03
Jola, very nicely composed to 'eliminate' the summer tourist crowds. I like the attached historical background as well. when I was there in late November, the weather was so dreary, most of my images came out almost depressing:( maybe I will post some in B&W (still have ~1000 RAW images left to sort through)

cheers!
- Marek
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