Graffiti at the Old Train Station by Mirka Krivankova
Captured at the historic train station in Mestec Kralove, this photograph explores the evocative intersection of decay and contemporary expression. The photographer utilizes the sharp contrast between weathered, forgotten architecture and vibrant, modern graffiti to breathe new life into a stagnant space. By focusing on these symbols of urban transition, the image highlights the unique atmosphere of the site, turning a derelict structure into a canvas of enchantment. This work is award-worthy for its ability to bridge the gap between historical stillness and modern artistic intervention, demonstrating a keen eye for finding beauty in the overlooked corners of the urban landscape.
Dariusz Stec
A portrait and documentary photographer, based in Northampton, Dariusz Stec loves to click, sail and travel, who would like to show how and what he sees through the lens of his camera. Smena-8m was the first camera in his possession in 1985, created around 3000 photos mostly during soaring, and was totally preoccupied with the darkroom photo processing. The next camera was zenit-ttl. Even when he was absorbed by sailing, photography has played important role in his life. After some time he had decided to master his photography, together with his son (Adam Stec), who found himself within portrait fashion photography. They have decided to develop the knowledge of the art of photography.
Stec Studios isn’t just a place to take pictures, it’s a place where, through capturing portraits, they try to find out more about the subject through capturing their soul. And when photographing documentary style event photography, they focus on capturing the decisive moment/candid photographs throughout the special day.
Camera Gear: Nikon D4s, Nikon D800E, Nikon D610
Lenses: Nikkor AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.
Flash : Nikon SB-700 Speedlight. Tripod, head Manfrotto
Current Location: Stec Studios, Northampton, UK
Website: http://www.stecstudios.co.uk
Website: http://www.dariuszstecphotography.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DStecPhoto
500px: https://500px.com/dariuszstecphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceanman.DS
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DariuszStecPhotography/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dstecphotography/
Best Achievements & Exhibitions:
Multi-awarded by the professional photography associations : The Guild Of Photographers and The Societies of Photographers.
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Resonance Score Breakdown
Transparency Note: The resonance score (7.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.
Expert Photography Reviews · 4
Voices on the Wall
I walked past the old brick wall near the bus stop this morning and noticed a new layer of paint. Someone had scrawled a name in bright, jagged blue, right over a patch of crumbling mortar that looked like it hadn't been touched in decades. It made me stop for a second.
Read the reflection →The Ink of Abandonment
It is 3:14 am. The house is holding its breath, and I am staring at the wall, tracing the cracks in the plaster until they look like maps to places I have never been.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
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A phone camera at a derelict station in Mestec Kralove. It’s a convenient choice, though one wonders if the light was truly earned or merely stumbled upon. The composition holds a certain grit, yet I’m left wanting the texture of a real shutter. I’ve spent enough freezing mornings waiting for the sun to hit a wall just so to know when someone’s just passing through. It’s a decent eye, but it’s not a commitment.
The station’s fenestration is now a jagged void, yet Krivankova captures how light rakes across the masonry, emphasizing the heavy, crumbling datum of the wall. It’s a brutal collision of eras. I’m struck by how the graffiti’s frantic lines disrupt the building’s original, rigid proportion. It doesn’t just document decay; it reveals the building’s final, desperate pulse. I find myself wanting to walk through that threshold, even if the structure’s integrity is long gone.
The frame’s architecture relies on the harsh verticality of the station pillars. It’s a rigid grid, yet the graffiti disrupts the spatial tension, forcing the eye toward the center. The negative space doesn’t quite hold the weight of the decaying masonry. It’s structurally uneven. I’ve stared at these lines for an hour, and frankly, the lack of geometric resolution irritates me. The composition doesn’t resolve; it merely exists within a fractured, unstable plane.
You stood in that station and felt the weight of what’s been left behind. It’s not just the graffiti; it’s the silence of the tracks. I’ve spent enough time in abandoned places to know that ache. You didn’t just document decay; you found the ghost of a commute that stopped years ago. And that’s the truth of it. You waited for the light to hit those tags just right. I respect that patience. It’s honest work.