A World Natural Heritage Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Viñales Valley

It is worth arriving here, this valley really impress a lot when you see it. 30 minutes early a heavy storm was hitting the valley!

The Viñales valley is encircled by mountains and its landscape is interspersed with dramatic rocky outcrops, known as “Mogotes”, these hills you can see in the background, like green clouds on earth with a rounded silhouette.

Traditional techniques are still in use for agricultural production, particularly of tobacco. The quality of this cultural landscape is enhanced by a rich vernacular tradition in its architecture of its farms and villages, where a rich multi-ethnic society survives, its crafts, and its music, illustrating the cultural development of the islands of the Caribbean, and of Cuba.

All these characteristics were considered to convert this Valley of Viñales a world heritage place by the UNESCO, in 1999.

This area, in the west of the Island of Cuba, is almost always hit by the hurricanes, as the last well known Rita, Katrina and Wilma.

jhm, capthaddock, MiguelP, rafelito, singuanti, UlfE, rildin, ChristianS, anakin, tiobibi, quantabeh, Cuba-Junky has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

DiaAzul (1365) 2005-12-08 10:58

I love this picture for the textures and colours. It is also not the typical Cuban picture that one is used to and your note gives a different perspective on the country - ie there is more than beaches and old american cars ;-)

The only suggestion I could make is to get closer to the ground or find a foreground object to draw the viewer more closely into the image. Whilst the picture is good there is a certain feeling of detachment, as if looking at a postcard. With some nearground detail it may be possible to give a feeling of involvement in the scene.

BlaiseCendrars (0) 2005-12-08 11:16

I have seen many photos from this place but never in these light conditions, which you have mastered to create a very atmosperic panorama. Well composed also - you have found an attractive foreground to harmonize with the stunning backdrop.

Thanks!

Chris

jhm (82185) 2005-12-08 11:50

Splendid picture and great panorama view Jaume, through the different colours make your picture a very attractive impression, absolutely sharp and clear, maybe I have a little bit cropped to the sky, for a better composition, but I like absolutely this photo.
Best regards,
John.

capthaddock (28640) 2005-12-08 11:59

Hi Jaume - as mentioned before, this is not the typical photo from Cuba, and is a refreshing change. The soft and lush foreground goes well with the dark steep hills,. The scattered palm trees and trhe single black roof add a nice touch. (I see 3 cables in front of the black roof that can be erased easily in PS), excellenmt work and welcome back.

P-S-I-G (24482) 2005-12-08 12:01

Hello Jaume,
Very nice view. Good framing and colors. Well done.
Best regards,
Fabrice

coco (27754) 2005-12-08 12:06

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Jaume.
Nunca diría que esto es Cuba. Se aluja mucho de la idea tradicional de lo que es Cuba, pero bienvenido sea: porque es magnífica.
La composición y el color son geniales, y además has conseguido una buena profundidad.
La definición también es muy buena.

Es como un paraiso hecho foto (pese a los casi invisibles cables de... ¿luz? ¿teléfono?).

Un saludo.

MiguelP (14322) 2005-12-08 12:43

Vaya foto Jaumita, bonita de verdad, por un lado creo que se te ha ido con poco la mano con el enfoque, pero por otro lado le da a la foto una textura de grabado o aguafuerte en color que me gusta muchísimo ¡Qué bueno verte por aquí de nuevo! Estas navidades voy a Girona, si paso por Barna te lo hago saber.

quelquepart (802) 2005-12-08 13:24

great colors and "tropical version of the peacefull countryside feeling"
TFS,
Olivier

peck (2779) 2005-12-08 14:34

Hello,
It's a amazing "green" photo.
Very clearly and colorful! Nice landscape. good POV

regards
Gregory

anesugur (16782) 2005-12-08 16:39

Hi Jaume
Very nice atmosphere beautiful picture.
I like it.Thanks for sharing. Uğur

rbcy1974 (20742) 2005-12-08 17:00

Hola Jaume
Un punto de vista estupendo, nos regalas una vista de pajaro del valle, los colores osn magicos
es una verdadera belleza
saludos
Daniel

Ann75 (0) 2005-12-08 17:35

Oh my, what a beautiful photo! I love the green look of this photo and the whole landscape. The mountains in the back and all the different trees, amazing! Great composition and well captured!

Ann

rafelito (3645) 2005-12-08 19:52

Independientemente de los ajustes digitales que pudiste haberle hecho, es una de las fotos más hermosas que he visto de Cuba recientemente. Captaste la esencia de Viñales y de sus mogotes.Conozco bien este lugar y por eso te felicito.
Saludos
Rafael

singuanti (15240) 2005-12-08 22:51

Hi Jaume. Nice to see a new one from you. Look at all of that green! The scan and image quality are great. The area is very beautiful but I sure wouldn't want to be there during any of those nasty hurricanes you mentioned. Nice shot Jaume!

RGatward (19737) 2005-12-09 7:03

Hi Jaume, a long time since you posted. Beautiful scenary you've captured here, from a well found PoV, I never got down there, pity.

sergio1 (12150) 2005-12-09 7:36

Hola jaume
En primer lugar gracias por las criticas.
En segundo lugar decirte que estoy conociendo mucho más cuba por tus fotos que por mi viaje, ya que Iberia ne lo fastidio.
Y respecto a la foto, decir que la composición está genial con esa pequeña cabaña, los contrastes de colores buenisimos y buen definición.
saludos y hasta pronto.
Sergio

UlfE (8933) 2005-12-09 14:57

Hello Jaume,

You have so many wonderful pictures from Cuba. This one is among those I really like. Excellent composition and lovely green colors. Superb job!
Ulf

castellano (708) 2005-12-11 9:34

Hola Jaume,
Extraordinaria toma cargada de verdes. El punto desde el que tomaste la foto es sensacional, en vivo tiene que ser mucho mejor aún. Las montañas del fondo, pese a ser un viejo reclamo de la isla, no dejan de sorprenderme. Los tonos del cielo son fabulosos también. Buen trabajo.
Un saludo,
Javier

banyanman (7716) 2005-12-11 12:13

A wonderful landscape, Jaume, and very well framed with those interesting landforms in the background. There is a lot of interesting detail in this photograph with good sharpness and DOF. I have not seen anything from this part of Cuba before, so TFS. Cheers . . . David

ChristianS (2997) 2005-12-14 14:37

Hola Jaume,
Wonderful landscape you captured here, the lush is amazing, well enhanced by the saturated green tones. The perspective is very nice overlooking the valley and the hazy, distant green hills in the background. I also like the colours, the dof and the light conditions with the cloudly sky which adds some kind of softness and less contrast in relation to the green landscape which imo works very nice here. Well done!

Regards, Christian

anakin (2775) 2005-12-16 8:21

Maniiiiii que bonito lugar !
Bellos colores en un bello panorama.
La verdad que es un extraño conjunto de elementos.
Tomaste una buena perspectiva.
Solo salio algo de ruido en el cielo y las montañas algo descoloridas :p
Pero me gusta mani !
Feliz Navidad ;)
Saludos
Jose

quantabeh (5203) 2006-02-04 21:07

hola Jaume,
este imagen es impresionante. No pensaría que este es Cuba. wow! que buenos colores y granjas hermosas.
saludos
Behrang