Storyteller

Another old wooden church in village Jelićka near Prijedor (cca 30km sout-east) in Republic of Srpska, BiH. Church is between 200 and 300 years old and it is very accessible on the regional road to Banja Luka over Bronzani Majdan.

Church is currently under reconstruction (internal) and it is under the state protection as a national monument.

Characteristic of these churches are high roof and small entrance door. Why?

Legend says that Turkish soldiers liked to go in to churches on their horses. So… people build small doors to prevent it. Not only that. They built it small so when Turkish soldier wanted to enter on foot, he would need to crouch so he would unintentionally “give respect to God”. Another thing that Turkish soldiers did, was taking women, so that is why high floors. There was hidden stairway next to the entrance door so women were upstairs in secret chamber so Turks couldn’t find them.

Next to this old church is new modern church.

Again, first three pictures are HDRs. I had a dilemma, to shoot classic pictures or try with HDR again. Weather conditions were bad, heavy overcast with light mist. I decided to do HDR because of the snow which is very bright in opposite to very dark wood and trees. HDR gives you opportunity to bring out that light snow structure and gives better texture to image in general.