A vacuum often fills quickly, but even then, the effects of it are still felt. I like to think that it's because of our awareness of how important something is. Things change and there will always be those pangs of remembrance. Hopefully, though, life sweetens again. And as for this photo. It's amazing. Quite poignant and haunting. It's a glimpse into a life that's all at once familiar (and easily romanticized) and strangely alien. The details are amazing here, and they give such poignant glimpses into a routine that I've only glimpsed from afar. The wood, the bricks, the rotting mortar all reminds me of stuff I experienced in Prague, albeit different (and definitely not in Czech!) I saw doors like that entire wall, I saw numbers, recognizable as such, but rendered in a hand that learned to write numbers in a slightly different way: with a different kind of curve over here and a slightly "off center" stroke over there. And when I look at this photo, I can imagine scores of stories: some happy, some sad, and most of them poetic in whatever ways the characters might make them. That's why I appreciate your work so much; it's so rich in everything I cherish, even if I'm a little bit afraid of it. Human honesty is the draw and this is about as honestly human as I've ever seen. And it's gorgeous! This is most excellent, most sublimely piercing a piece of work as I've seen. Brilliant! I love the monochrome/sepia as it heightens so much emotion without diluting it with the distractions of color (if that makes any sense!) Super!

Great Photo !! Has the look of an old photo.

Wonderful image mate, looks like something the masters of the last century would do. It's just full of character well done my friend. Geoff.

yes indeed ...wonderful scene !!like it in b/w

What a wonderful capture superb work i like the B/W !!

Marvellously evocative. I do hope you will soon give another dog a lovely life with you. He/she is out there somewhere waiting. you might enjoy this short story http://rescuemedog.org/dog-blog/i-rescued-a-human-today-by-janine-allen/

A wonderful capture, dear Nikolay. She is carrying a heavy load and has probably done so all her life.. Hugs. Di. xx

Poignant shot ! Had to be in BW !

Intense in a very subtle way, life as it just is for this woman. Wonderful subtle sepia.

A wonderful capture!!

To us - here in the Western world - this photo appears at first, like a grim reality, We are so spoiled by modern conveniences and that is why, we could never ever produce an intimate photo like this one ... 'she had some big shoes to fill' A very pristine and sharp presentation Nikolay, BB p.s. Personally I don't know, if replacing your beloved Mona with another dog so soon - is the answer ? I know, I couldn't and wouldn't.

Remarquable.

This is so rich in atmosphere and detail ... a rare combination. What a superb image! I love it when a photograph captures my attention and holds it for a long time, and this grabbed me immediately and wouldn't let go. The scene is so different from my own experience, yet your title tells me this is perfectly ordinary. Superb work!

Haunting and lovely

Wow. Just: wow.

Babushka. Difficult to imagine she was young once.