I am a Ukrainian IT specialist currently based in Bratislava. Between work and everyday routines, photography has become a quiet counterbalance — a way to slow down, observe, and express how I experience the world.

I live in Bratislava, and from time to time I visit my relatives, who live in Vienna. Their house is located right next to the beautiful vineyards of Grinzing, a small area on the outskirts of the city. Every time I visit them, I try to walk around the neighborhood and explore it a little more. Over time, I have even found a few favorite spots where I enjoy taking photographs, and this particular image was taken at one of them.

I captured this photograph in early December 2025, during a period when dense fog lingered over parts of Lower Austria for several days. That day I had a few free hours, so I decided to take a walk with my camera. I didn’t have a specific intention to photograph this exact spot; instead, I simply wandered through the vineyards, trying to respond to the atmosphere and the light.

I took several images that day, but on my way back, I noticed how beautifully the mist was covering the top of the hill, and how the rows of vines gradually dissolved into it. The composition felt obvious to me, as I had photographed this scene before, but this time, something was different. The missing element was finally there. In fact, it was the first time I managed to capture what I had been looking for at this location. I had always sensed its potential, but until then, something was never quite right.

I knew immediately that there was something in this photograph. At the same time, I’m aware that photographers can sometimes be overly excited about their own work, so I usually show my best images to my wife and close friends to get an honest reaction. Their response was exactly the same as mine — something difficult to put into words, but you simply feel that there is something special in it.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

For me, the two most impactful elements are composition and conditions. If either of them had been missing, the photograph wouldn’t have worked.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?

I would be curious to introduce a human figure into the scene, transforming it into something more dreamlike and imaginative.

Yaroslav Yevchuk shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Yaroslav Yevchuk, Slovakia, Bratislava

INSTAGRAM

Equipment and settings

Fujifilm X-T30 + Helios 44M-5 58mm