Kong Oscars Havn Photo

Photographer’s Note

This photograph was taken from the top of the hill in the middle of Tasiilaq (population 1,800), the largest community on the east coast of Greenland, looking over its small port and across its picturesque bay which is called Kong Oscars Havn (which is Danish for King Oscar’s Harbour).

The empty shipping containers stacked down by the wharf are waiting for the arrival of the first supply ship of the year, which was due two days after this photograph was taken.

Tasiilaq receives supply ships only between the end of June and the end of September, because for the rest of the year the pack ice is too thick for ships to reach the port.

When we were in Tasiilaq, as there had been no supply ships for nine months, the shelves of the two small supermarkets were mostly bare, and there were no fresh fruits or vegetables. There was nothing to drink except tap water (or instant coffee and tea of course) but both supermarkets still had plenty of ice creams in stock (maybe they are not big sellers in the winter!)

I have not increased the saturation in this photograph. This was taken in the late afternoon using a polarising filter, and I’ve done no PP except sharpening. As anyone who has photographed Greenland knows, on a sunny day the light is so good (because the sun is always relatively low in the sky) and the air is so clear, a polarising filter is all you need to bring out the ‘natural’ saturation of the colours.

Without a polarising filter, you do lose a lot of the natural saturation. For comparison purposes I’ve posted to the Workshop here a shot looking down one of Tasiilaq’s streets that I took one morning when walking back to our guesthouse after breakfast. That was taken with a little Sony Cybershot (without a polarising filter of course) and you can see the difference. If I’d taken that shot with a polarising filter it would have made a great main post, but I didn’t have my Nikon with me at that time (oh how I wish someone would make a lightweight P&S with filters!).

Greg1949, john_c, Bruno40, Floydian, linask, Cretense, leo61, riclopes, feather, ktanska, AiresSantos, pboehringer, plimrn, euryan, edal, elmec, Charo, kiwi_explorer, Philippe, John_F_Kennedy, asajernigan, vinicio, Wandering_Dan, jmcl, bakes888, soni, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Greg1949 (8519) 2007-08-04 19:09

David, this is a beautiful scene. The color you have captured, especially the blue of the bay, and the detail is just great, and the fact that it is all natural is even better. The note is also very good, gives the whole scene a feeling of reality. Well seen.

Greg

Brian (1) 2007-08-04 19:25

Wow David,
This is sharp, colorful, and clear. I really admire your Greenland photos. The polariser really is necessary in giving a proper saturated photo isn't it?

Cheers,
Brian

john_c (24635) 2007-08-04 20:09

Hi David,
Congrats on a stunning photo, made even more impressive by your lack of PP work. The shadow effect is most effective and I also like the way the one green building aligns with the trees and perfectly contrasts with the prevailing red structures. The clarity of detail is also excellent. I can smell the fresh clear air from here. Cheers.
John

Bruno40 (6442) 2007-08-04 21:44

Hi David
Fantatstic view and colours, I like it a lot, but I think there is too much shadow. I don't know if there is another POV in that place to avoid such shadow.
Good photo overall. Beautiful country
TFS
Jorge

kensimage (8543) 2007-08-04 22:01

Wow, beautiful rich color, David! I guess they paint the houses brightly to compensate for the long dim winters. Even though it's dangerous, the floating ice is really beautiful. Have the ice-free seasons there lengthened substantially in recent decades? Regards, Ken.

vincz (19045) 2007-08-04 23:31

This is truly amazing and beautiful. So exotic, so beautful colours, great ice blocks in the sea. i like it a lot.

jackart (5616) 2007-08-05 0:50

Hi David!

It's like beautiful dream or scenery for a fable. Amazing lanscape very attractive colors and framing.

Amazing place, Excellent shot

Regards
Jacek

Kirych (2698) 2007-08-05 1:15

Amazing country and nature! Beautiful blue water with ice and contrast red houses. One thing I don't like - big shadow on the fforeground.
Tanya.

Floydian (30970) 2007-08-05 2:20

Hi David,
I see the point Bruno makes about the long shadow but on the other hand i would look through that and focus more and the beautiful red and green houses. They form such a good contrast to the blue icy water with the mountain rangs at the back that the large dark part in front do not really bothers me.
Colours are crisp and bright with excellent sharpness...very good.
Regards, Henk

Cretense (57010) 2007-08-05 6:26

Hi David!

This is an amazing landscape (or should I say "cityscape"?) photo! Perfect POV, flawless composition, inmense depth of field and some brilliant colours make this photo a really great one. Nice to see some ice in the middle of the hot greek summer. Congratulations!

Best regards,
Hercules

leo61 (43816) 2007-08-05 6:31

Hi David!
For me the big shadow is not disturbing,it gives an interest to the hill in the foreground.The light in the distance is great and the sharpness is amazing.There is a great depth given by your POV and this arrangement of houses and the deep blue of the sea looks wonderful.
Regards,Leo

riclopes (33135) 2007-08-05 7:25

Olá David, quite an interesting daily life picture in WS. I like the originality of your shadow. And also the big red house at right that makes a good balance with the shadow. The place is incredibly beautiful and the colorful houses make such a nice contrast. The image made me remember the ones of Attila, problably taken in a place not far from here:
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Denmark/photo602558.htm
At 1a.m. his colors are quite diferent from yours.
Cheers,
ricardo

thea0211 (1355) 2007-08-05 7:25

hi david,
long time no see ... but truth is i haven't been much online lately - so it's my fault :)!
very appealing fairy-tale like place you're showing us here - the colorful houses look like the perfect doll houses :), their red and green makes a good contrast with the icy water in the background; nice perspective, too! well seen and crafted image!
thanks,
dora

feather (50168) 2007-08-05 9:26

The colours are stunning and hit you in the eye, especially the blue of the sea dotted with ice floes. The light low in the sky is always good for photography. Interesting comparison in the WS too. Good work
Kath

smarcell (14653) 2007-08-05 9:42

Beautiful colors, very bright, and good sharpness.

batalay (21213) 2007-08-06 2:45

Hello David,

A very niceley composed, beautifully exposed shot. The brilliant colors and definition suggest that the Nikon D200 has served you well. I have been using a D70, which I believe is comparable to your previous camera (D 80?). Would you recommen the upgrade?

About you photo, I wonder if anyone suffering from red-green color blindness would really have difficulties distinguishing between the buildings that serve as counterpoints for each other in the image?

Warm regards,
Bulent

ktanska (16695) 2007-08-06 3:39

Hi David,
Superb scene. Clear air and brightly painted houses make very colourful scene. Ice floating all around the bay is fascinating. I'd like to visit Greenlan, but I guess there's no guarantee of good weather any time of the year.
Kari

Burberry1 (6041) 2007-08-06 3:39

WOW!!! This is a fairy tail town!!
The POV and light are just fantastic :)))
With greetings,
Agnieszka

pboehringer (770) 2007-08-06 12:39

David, it is really difficult to say which of your nordic pictures is the best. This one certainly comes into the inner circle when considering the winner. I love the strong contrast between the shadows and sunlite areas. It gives the exact feeling of the low incoming light. The colors of the buildings are strong and pops so well against the blues of the sea and sky as well the white of the icebergs floating around.
Regards, Peter

AiresSantos (42964) 2007-08-07 0:39

Lovely landscape, David !
Wondeful composition with perfect colours, light and sharpness
TFS and greetings
Aires

plimrn (19740) 2007-08-08 3:55

Hi David,
Excellent framing with the long shadows interspersed with spring greens and tiny flowers. The uniquely blue and white harbor provides balance for ther bright reds of the houses. I also like the way you framed the shot in the ws and appreciated your discussions of filters and cameras. I did't know that the D200 would accept so many lenses.

It sounds like a very hard life in this little town yet the brightly painted houses and the children playing jump rope show the ability to love what they have. I've noticed in northern climates like Alaska and Nova Scotia, there is a huge reluctance to go inside when there is light.
HLJ, Pat

euryan (8351) 2007-08-10 22:54

The polarizer certainly did its job well here. The colors of the houses are just awesome, as is the nice blue water and sky. I really like how you composed this shot as well. Great perspective. Now I have to add Greenland to my list of places to visit someday.
Regards,
Ryan

edal (6601) 2007-08-11 8:27

Hello David!
It's admirable how people in this northern patt of the earth fill their life with bright colours! It's great to see also how ice and snow are floating in the blue ocean. The clarity of the capture is amasing, the pov - too.
Thanks for sharing!
Anton

yso (3205) 2007-08-11 12:34

Hi David,
Very beuatiful photo with so many details and great color contrast, congratulations !
Regards,
Yves

Charo (31851) 2007-08-12 14:27

Hola David,
Precioso y pintoresco lugar con maravillosos colores y excelente luz.
Bonito paisaje y excelente perspectiva.
Cordialmente
Charo

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2007-08-12 17:43

Hi David,
What a fascinating port and possibly dangerous too with all that iceberg floating around. There must be a practical reason why the buildings are all brightly painted ... one of the reason could be that it is easily seen during snowstorm. Well captured and composed with outstanding image and color quality. Excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

elmec (12194) 2007-08-13 5:13

Hello David!
I love danish houses!
They are just like form fairy tale, and this scenery too!
Congratulation for this view and work!
Best regards!
;))

rbcy1974 (20746) 2007-08-20 4:20

HellO David
nice use of the wide angle lens to capture this place, stunning mixture of man made bright colours and the impressive nature around it
well done
Regards
Daniel

Philippe (11787) 2007-08-21 8:31

Hi, David. The colours in this picture are splendid. The red and green houses contrast very well with the blue of the sea that is dotted with ice. The mountains in the background make an excellent backdrop.

AleGaro (269) 2007-08-22 1:18

Hi David,
lovely picture with an amazing colour saturation and good contrast of colours. Red, green and blue are so clear. I also like the composition and framing.
Ale

cessy (13647) 2007-08-22 13:55

ah so wonderful colors spreading on the frame, red, green, on blue (RGB hehehe..)
very nice capture of the place, David
love the colors

John_F_Kennedy (32032) 2007-08-23 3:25

Fantastic capture! Beautiful nature and ice and blue water. Very good landscape and trees. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

vbl (1402) 2007-08-23 6:20

Hi David:
Wonderful place and nice capture. Perfect colors and sharpness.
nice compo
regards vanessa

Buin (38310) 2007-08-24 7:57

Hallo David!
This one definitely deserves another two points! What a view and what a scenery! Especially I like the light here. Midnight sun ...!? A great photo of a breathtaking landscape, I like it a lot!
Greetings from Germany - and have a nice weekend!
Frank

asajernigan (14304) 2007-08-25 9:32

David,
This is a very nice shot. The ice floating in the water adds a nice touch to the shot as well as helping with the color. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF. The shadow in the foreground bothers me a little but the main focus of the shot for me is the waterway and mountains.
TFS,
Asa

vinicio (22428) 2007-08-27 5:25

Wonderful image of this wonderful place, David, compliments, excellent quality and definition and landscape fabulous with the colored houses and the ice-blocks into the sea, well done.
Ciao
Vinicio

Stepan (27175) 2007-08-27 13:04

I was wondering if Greenland could be an interesting journey project and when I see this, the answer is clear !
A little too much shadow but except that an unbelievable landscape with these puppets houses and this lagoon.
Stéphane

jmcl (14149) 2007-08-28 23:21

hi David,

I love the layers of this image .. I love your point of view .. I love the strange connection between the clutter of the red buildings on the land and the clutter of the white ice on the water .. very nice.

take care,

John

anesugur (17018) 2007-08-29 15:42

Hi David,
Very nice shot.
I like this composition and POV.
The colors are also wonderful.
Thanks and best wishes. Uğur

bakes888 (18353) 2007-09-08 2:35

Hi David. Looks like a great place to visit, I have also just checked out Jens’s gallery, (inuit66), he has some great images from there also. Great photo. The colours are indeed remarkable. Well composed with excellent detail. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.
PS For a P&S with filter attachment check out the Sony DSC H-XX model range. Sue has the DSC H-2 and with the supplied adapter a 58mm filter screws straight on. Great little camera also.

noborders (14201) 2007-09-21 1:00

Colours are splendid and the air has a sort of pure quality that seems to enhance them - great POV, you make me want to go there one day...
Bravo,
Cath.

vagabondtravels (6115) 2007-10-17 5:16

Hi David

What a beautiful and colorful country. Very sharp. You have really set the scene here. Excellent. Beautiful with the ice floating in the water. Well done.
Ben

Tibo (1842) 2008-01-08 4:54

HI David! This is an absolutely wonderful picture. Sharp, colourful and refreshing. I put it as desktop! Thanks and all the very best in 2008. Tibo