Explore my work and online presence or

Summer Walks by the Water: Close to Home, Full of Peace

There’s something timeless about wandering by the water on a bright summer’s day. The world seems to slow, the air feels lighter, and each step falls into a rhythm as old as the seasons themselves. Over the course of two warm days, we followed different paths yet found the same sense of calm and contentment — all just a short distance from our home. How fortunate we are to live so close to lakes and riverside trails, where the simple act of stepping outside becomes an escape into quiet beauty.


Our first walk led us to Jezioro Paprocanskie in Tychy, a lake that winds gently around its shoreline for just over seven kilometres. The path is lined with trees whose branches arch overhead, creating shifting patterns of light on the ground. Sunlight filters through the leaves, dancing on the path as the wind moves the branches, and the water stretches wide, reflecting the open sky in a mirror-like calm. Here, each step invites you to pause, breathe, and let your thoughts drift like the soft ripples on the lake. It’s a walk that encourages mindfulness, where time seems measured not by hours, but by footsteps and the gentle lapping of water.

The second stroll was even closer — only a five-minute walk from our doorstep — leading us along a scenic path towards Goczalkowice. This shorter route may seem familiar, but summer has a way of making even well-trodden paths feel new. Long stretches of water open alongside leafy banks, alive with the hum of insects and the occasional splash of a fish breaking the surface. Birds call and answer each other across the distance, and the quiet is punctuated only by the rhythm of our steps. Walking here, it’s impossible not to appreciate the gift of proximity: the luxury of being able to immerse ourselves in nature whenever the mood strikes, without the need for planning or travel.

Both days shared a common thread: movement without rush, time without demand, and the quiet joy of sharing the journey. With Dorota by my side and Monty trotting happily at our feet, these walks became more than just exercise — they were moments of ease, reflection, and togetherness. Each route, though different in scenery and length, offered the same reward: the serenity of water, the calm of open skies, and the gentle reminder that the world doesn’t always demand speed or urgency.

Living so close to these lakes and paths is a daily blessing. We are lucky that stepping outside can transport us into these peaceful settings, that summer mornings and afternoons are spent in such simple yet profound connection with nature. There is a calmness in still waters and open skies that lingers long after the walk ends, a quiet joy that stays with you and makes the ordinary feel extraordinary. In these moments, it’s easy to see that the best memories are often found not in distant adventures, but right on our doorstep, where water, sky, and trees meet in a perfect harmony.

View the Gallery Discover More.. Experience Tranquility – View the Journey!

Popular posts from this blog

Redesigning MontyPix: A Reflection on Purpose and Presence

Image
Websites, even the smallest of them, have a way of telling a story. For us, MontyPix began as something purely functional—a digital signpost pointing people towards our photography and studios. Useful, yes, but it always felt like it was missing something. Over time, I realised that a link site is often the first encounter people have with our work. It is the doorway. And like any doorway, it should give you a sense of what lies beyond. Ours wasn’t doing that—it was practical, but it didn’t speak. The redesign was born out of a desire to make MontyPix more than just a collection of links. It became about creating an experience. When shaping the new design, three principles guided me: Clarity — Visitors shouldn’t have to think twice about where to click. Simplicity is powerful, and reducing friction makes the journey effortless. Visual presence — As photographers, we live and breathe aesthetics. The site needed to echo that, with visuals that engage without overwhelming. ...
Read more

Zbiornik Retencyjny Gańczorka – Reflections Beneath a Summer Sky

Image
Beneath the kind of summer sky that seems impossibly blue and heavy with light, we set out for Zbiornik retencyjny „Gańczorka”. The road wound steadily upward through stretches of pine and birch, the air shifting from the heat of the valleys to the cooler whispers of the hills. Even before we caught sight of the water, there was a sense that the day would leave its mark. When we arrived, the reservoir lay before us like a sheet of liquid glass, its stillness disturbed only by the faintest ripple. Here, engineering and nature share an uneasy alliance — the concrete walls and channels holding back a body of water that seems too wild to be contained. The sun poured gold over the surface, and every shift of the breeze sent waves of light dancing into the trees that guard its edges. Dorota and I wandered the winding paths, sometimes close to the water’s edge, other times climbing to look down upon it from above. The forest was alive with soft rustlings — the sound of leaves stirred by the...
Read more

Beneath the Trees Beside the Water Lake Paprocany in Fragments

Image
A 6.5-kilometre circular walk around Lake Paprocany unfolds as a journey of quiet discovery, where every step reveals subtle moments often overlooked. Shadows stretch across wooden walkways, sunlight glimmers on rippling water, and the gentle rustle of leaves provides a soft soundtrack for contemplation. Monty, nestled comfortably in his little Monty truck, pauses between short explorations, enjoying treats and water, while we, too, take frequent breaks to savour the shade, breathe in the scent of the forest, and notice the distant calls of birds echoing across the lake. The day was documented through multiple perspectives. The Nikon D7200 captured intricate textures and fleeting details of the path, the DJI Pocket 2 recorded intimate close-ups that reveal hidden corners, and the DJI Mini 3 Pro drone offered sweeping aerial views of the lake, the surrounding forest, and the winding paths, presenting familiar landscapes in a new light. Each photograph becomes a meditation on the interpl...
Read more