A Mystic Place

• Prize
  Bronze in Nature/Panoramic
• Photographer
  Virgilijus Usinavicius
• Agency / Studio
  Augulis Photo
• Technical Info
  The project was made using Hasselblad Xpan camera on Ilford Hp5+ and FP4+ films.
• Photo Date
  2020-2021
• Website
  https://www.augulisphoto.com/

Mystic days break above the mounds - morning fogs coat everything from sacred groves to the old burial places in Kernavė. Situated in the legendary Pajauta Valley, it was the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the last European pagan capital. The area is abundant with various cultural, historical, and archaeological monuments dating back to the late Palaeolithic Period. During such mornings one can almost feel the spirits of ancestors breathing behind one's shoulder. Spectacular stone altars on bald mounds still gather neo-pagan communities to light the sacred fires.

• Biography
  Virgilijus Usinavicius-Augulis is a Lithuanian photographer with extensive experience in photojournalism as well as commercial and fine art photography. He specializes in both analogue and digital photographic techniques with a strong preference for the former. In his artistic practice, the author is guided by the traditional fine-art photography criteria to create picturesque, painterly pictures as if influenced by the Pictorialists. V. Usinavicius-Augulis's recent works have been presented in both group and solo exhibitions and have been awarded international and national prizes.
• Awards
  Spider Awards 2022 1st place in Abstract - Professional Lithuanian Press Photography 2021 Winner of the Golden Shot in the category of "Reportage, Photo Story" Tokyo International Foto Awards 2021 Bronze Professional nature/panoramic photography Freedom of Religion and Belief in Lithuania 2020 1st place for photo series of indulgence feasts Tokyo Internacional Foto Awards 2018 Silver in the category of Architecture / Cityscapes Monochrome Awards 2018 3rd place in Professional Architecture Photography Money in Photography II 2013 2nd place Medal for "Accomplishments in Journalism" granted by the Lithuanian Union of Journalists The Medal of January 13 for outstanding performance in defending the freedom and independence of Lithuania in January - September 1991.