Ruska kapelica (Russian Chapel)
Ruska kapelica is a small wooden Russian Orthodox chapel dedicated to Russian POWs who died building the military road over the pass in 1916. Hundreds died in an avalanche that winter, and the surviving prisoners built this chapel as a memorial. The chapel sits on stone foundations with two small towers topped by Russian Baroque style domes, and covered in intriate wooden planks. It is a tiny building, but the domes and the staircase leading up to the entrance give it a presence that photographs well against the dense alpine forest behind it. The surrounding area is fenced and landscaped with paths and benches, so your movement may be limited, but the chapel's small footprint means you can cover most angles quickly. Morning light filters through the trees from the east and picks up the warm tones of the wood. Overcast days suit this location well too, since the soft light brings out texture in the planks and stonework without harsh shadows. A wide angle from the base of the staircase looking up emphasizes the height of the domes, while a tighter lens from across the clearing isolates the chapel against the forest canopy. Parking is directly across the road. The pass road is typically open from late May through October, weather dependent. (Kranjska Gora, Upper Carniola, Slovenia)
