Photographer’s Note
Here we are - the charming small town Balchik, situated some 30 km north of Varna.
They say, the exceptional view of the town from sea impressed the great Ovid so much, that he exclaimed: O white stone town, I salute thee for thy inimitable beauty!
The Milesian colonists believed that goddes of beauty Aphrodite was born there out of the sea foam.
The sprouting carst springs gave the town its first name Krunoi (meaning spring or source in Old Greek). Then it was named Dionysopolis, after god Dyonisos. In Roman times it has the statute of a municipius. Later on it was included in the territory of Bulgaria. 13-14th century it moved to Dzhina Bair, fortification ruled by the boyar Balik, and so it was called Balchik. After the Crimme War (1853-1856) the town flourished and grew into a big corn-trading centre.
After the Balkan War in 1913 it was included in the territories of Romania. Struck by the natural beauty of the place, Queen Maria built a palace, botanical garden, small chapel and a villa complex for the Romanian aristocrats. At that time the town turned into a luxurious resort. After 1940 Balchik was included again in Bulgarian territory.
Now it is a seaside resort, situated terrace-like on a small bay on Black Sea. Tourism in summer and fishing all year round are the main means of livelihood for the citizents there.
I offer you today a view from the main alley going along the sea, and a BOAT, used for art decoration in a small cafe there...:-) At far distance you can see the small yacht port of Balchik.
Hope you will enjoy it...:-)
Rinie_Hoff, Cool-ice, bertolucci, cmartos, Galeota, ChrisJ, nwoehnl, avigur_11, Rockyboy, Jeppe, jhonny_blue, aralda has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
Cool-ice
(5289) 2004-06-01 6:29
It is romantic, your image, Maria ;-)
Simple but well composed.
And a very interesting note.
Thank you !
ephemere33
(9729) 2004-06-01 7:10
longue la note...rire...belle la composition , intéressante..les couleurs sont vives...bien vu pour le détail du roseau...et la barque echouée dans les rochers...bravo...bi
bertolucci
(11976) 2004-06-01 7:15
I surely do, Maria! This is a very charming composition which invites us to have a seat in this nice quay side cafe and then let our eyes wander round this nice port. Love the colours & angle.
And I marvel at the way you again found a new way to include a boat in your picture :-)
Great job and thanx for your informative note!!
Pabos (167) 2004-06-01 7:55
on retrouve chez nous en Gaspesie des petits ports qui ressemblent à celui-ci.La position de la barque donne l'impression qu'elle est la protégée et a la retraite.les couleurs de l'ensemble la font resortir.et finalement avec des notes comme la vôtre nous donne l'envie de retourner à nos livres d'histoire.
Galeota
(10334) 2004-06-01 8:19
Maria, not only your photo is well balanced, but you also give us a complete note which is really interesting. I love this kind of cafe/bar, that seems to be on balance on the water. Seens to be a nice place to have a drink.
Rinie_Hoff
(9332) 2004-06-01 13:16
Hi Maria, very invitatory, this place, good use of an old boat. I wouldn't mind having a drink there. Good colours, and good angle, Maria, and a very good note, too, as usual.
nwoehnl (120) 2004-06-01 14:15
Lovely view, Maria, almost kind of like taking a (very!) short holiday. Very inviting scene that makes me want to sit down, have a cool beer, and enjoy the look out on the marina and the sea. Very good shooting angle, and fine details and colors. Once again the writing job on your note is outstanding. Great!
avigur_11
(21293) 2004-06-01 15:18
Your note is very interesting, as always, Maria. The image is very pleasant, but I think that in this case the too busy compo, needed a specific major subject - a shallow dof, a special dominant color or another special focus. It's a good shot, but something is missing. I amde a WS, tried to improve it, I hope that you like it.
Rockyboy
(20580) 2004-06-01 16:08
Again a wondeful photo of your favourite subject... The old Boat! Very nice framing here and nice colors. Very well done, Maria!
cdewet
(0) 2004-06-01 16:11
Maria
Beautiful in everyway, and I like this a lot.
A small suggestion, always, not so? Crop off just a very smal bit from the bottom, so that the bottom of the grass has just a sliver below it. Just below that small rock, and note the impact on the picture.
Jeppe
(18623) 2004-06-02 2:51
Well I’m not sure if this romantic - that old boat placed on an odd stone-ground and the tables seams a little dangerous to sit by - but never mind in the right dim light I'm be glad to enjoy a glass of wine here.
Thanks Maria, for sharing this documentary from your nice and interesting homeland.
cmartos
(6086) 2004-06-02 3:07
Hi Maria, welcome back. I told you in one of your last posts that you'll find a boat which is a cafe ;-). Simply and nicely composed with excellent angle. Nice colours too, they make one want to be there right now. I surely enjoy it Maria.
RGatward
(19743) 2004-06-02 3:34
SO even in pretty little Balchik, you manage to find a derelict boat. Makes a nice contrast with the general air of the rest of the view.
jrj
(34779) 2004-06-02 4:04
A fine capture from this seaside resort and not least very informative and interesting notes. Very good Maria
jhonny_blue
(4938) 2004-06-02 5:30
Beautiful boat series Maria ! I inspired you to this ? :)
One more beautiful composition, congratulations.
yesterday
(9787) 2004-06-02 5:45
I like boat's, romantic? I look a bit make· a mess:-)) sorry.
It is interresting, and age have a kind of charme.
I would like to sit and have a beer anyway, I could look at some other boats:-)
In my eyes, not your best photo, but you done vell with light,contrast and color. I do perfer it a bit more simple.
Mrg
(823) 2004-06-26 10:15
Very nice composition with the green plant. Like the old look of the boat. Detailed and sharp.Very good
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Maria Veleva (sunny)
(3068) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2004-05-30
- Categories: Daily Life
- Camera: Pentax Optio 33-LF
- Exposure: f/4.8, 1/320 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2004-06-01 6:17
Discussions
- To cdewet: Cropping (2)
by sunny, last updated 06-01 16:42 - To avigur_11: The WS (2)
by sunny, last updated 06-01 16:21








