Mouaroa Rising, a photo from French Polynesia, Other

Photographer's Note

After returning from a brief trip to the French Polynesian Island of Moorea last week, I submitted the photo "Return from Paradise". There the view was a beach scene in front of our bungalow shortly after sunrise.

During our brief stay on the island, we rented a car and circumnavigated the 60 km (38 mile) periphery. In two spots on the periphery there exist a pair of meandering roads that climb into the interior and converge at a lookout point, "Belvédere." The prominent peak that soars to an altitude of 880 m (2640 ft) is Mouaroa, one of four prominent peaks on the island. The lush green vegetation permeating every nook and cranny of the island is evocative of an imagined Jurassic Park. The time on my camera read 14.51.38 (or 2:51:38 pm) at the time I took the photo.

Along with the earlier photo from Moorea, I am placing this shot in the new group theme, "PARADISE ON EARTH". I welcome others to contribute photos they deem nature showing off its very best.

Warm regards to my friends at Trekearth, especially the French who own this distant corner of the earth, the last home to Jacques Brel and Paul Gaugin. They are buried in the same cemetery on the Island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas.

Sonata11, PaulVDV, ikeharel, jjcordier, papagolf21, macondo, Royaldevon, Zengi001, jhm, snunney, marina7, nobuikehonda, yanastallerova, worldcitizen, adores, agulberk, kordinator, jlbrthnn, Cricri, Cricri, delpeoples, delpeoples, maria-v1981, shevchenko, Angshu, s_lush, Ricx, holmertz, josepmarin, TRB, macjake, baddori has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sonata11 (16346) 2012-01-29 19:59

Hello Bulent,
Awesome !!! this picture of this scenery is wonderfully captured. Beautiful light, colors, sharpness, clarity, exposure, contrast and nice pov and dof as well, are wonderfully menage. I like it this presentation of this marvelous view. It's a very beautiful. Well done. Thanks for sharing.
All the best,
Barbara

PaulVDV (12410) 2012-01-29 21:28

Hello Bulent,
Now this looks very paradisiacal and pristine!
Your framing proves that the lush green vegetation covers every square inch.
Excellent composition, clarity and sharpness.
Best regards, Paul

serp2000 (23149) 2012-01-29 22:21

Hello, Bulent,
I remember the name of these island from the news of 1980-1990th's, when the French government used this paradise like a nuclear polygon. Outstanding vertical composition with very beautiful background and perfect sharpness.
Greetings from cold Ural,
Serghei

jjcordier (52073) 2012-01-29 22:38

Bulent
Très belle photo de ce "paradis terrestre" à la luxuriante végétation. Ce pic en arrière plan est splendide.
Amicalement
JJ

Graal (82166) 2012-01-30 0:14

Hi Bulent,
fine trip You had. The unusual exotic place and the view. Nice vertical composition and format. Photo I like. Well note also.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

JFS (21914) 2012-01-30 0:37

Hi Bulent,
You got to reach the paradise! I travel that I would like to do one day! You captured the exhuberance of this place, good composition, I like the vertical format.

Thanks and have a good week!

Cheers,
Juan

Fis2 (65944) 2012-01-30 0:56

Witaj Bulent!
Beautiful place.
Good vertical frame and composition.
A very interesting flora.
Excellent colors.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

papagolf21 (70574) 2012-01-30 0:57

Bonjour, cher ami Bulent,
Le mot "paradis" n'est pas usurpé à travers cette magnifique composition.
L'environnement végétal exprime ici toute sa beauté.
Vue impressionnante et très agréable à contempler.
Amitiés.
Philippe

golden (2283) 2012-01-30 1:33

Hi Bulent!
What a beautiful place, a real paradise!I'm so jealous of you..

Have a nice week!

macondo (17133) 2012-01-30 1:48

Hello Bulent.
I could see right away from the thumbnail that this would have been quite a challenging exposure in the bright light. You obviously gave some time and thought to the composition, and have found a superb viewpoint with a natural frame of foliage, and some foreground interest. Very good control of the bright highlights on those tropical leaves. No doubt about the effective way this one conveys both the geography and the fecundity of the place. Interesting note, too.
Regards,
Andrew

Royaldevon (12698) 2012-01-30 2:03

Good Morning Bulent,

The thumbnail looked exciting and full size the shot met all the promises.
The f/g, shining with new light, sharp and verdant, makes a beautiful, natural, eye-catching border through which the peak is the natural finishing point. there is a notable transition from the f/g light to the b/g shade, quite a challenge, but successfully tackled.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

dta (39960) 2012-01-30 2:16

Hello Bulent ,
For sure , a wondeful lush paradise . You've chosen the perfect POV to show us this beautiful volcanic peak , so well framed bu different kinds of vegetation . The DOF is excellent .
Regards

Zengi001 (1982) 2012-01-30 2:20

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Kayıp Cennet gibi bi yermiş burası,
Paylaşımınınz ve açıklayıcı notunuz için çok teşekkürler.
Selamlarımla,
Engin.

ikeharel (25421) 2012-01-30 2:41

A magnificent rock overwhelming in sight and great captured, Bulent.
An excelent composition, good depth from the leaves on close vegetation's till top-of-the-rock's, and fabulous the rain-forest in mid slope.
My cong.'s for this Paradise photo.
Ike

jhm (112100) 2012-01-30 2:54

Dear Bulent,

These picture is perfect technical made, also high quality.
I like your choice of exposure, this is extraordinarily good done.
Composition and presentation make this image attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice week,
John

snunney (59111) 2012-01-30 4:04

Hello Bulent,
An expertly composed image of this curiously shaped mountain. The light is very attractive and brings out the multi-toned greens of the lush vegetation superbly. Wonderful sharpness throughout.

Nicou (83142) 2012-01-30 4:17

Hello

quelle compo et iamge superbe ce cadrage naturel végétatif et cette montagne à la très belle forme en fond superbe captage et compo.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

wolf38 (24135) 2012-01-30 5:32

Hello Bulent. What a heavenly sight. Very nice composition, natural colors and wonderful light. The instructive text pleases me very well. Unfortunately, everything is far away.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

Bluejeans (59394) 2012-01-30 5:33

Ola amigo Bulent ,
Linda esta paisagem verde com esta fantástica montanha , um paraiso tropical , sem duvida um belo lugar para passar umas férias , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

mesutilgim (58910) 2012-01-30 7:38

Hello dear Bulent,
How nice to see that you fully enjoy your retirement days !!
Great landscape. I like specially how you've left at right and upper part the trees and plants which creates a natural framing.
Very nice and interesting notes as well.
TFS and best regards from İstanbul under heavy snow !!
MESUT ILGIM

marina7 (3640) 2012-01-30 10:30

Hi Bulent,

I absolutely agree with your definition of paradise! But yours is even harder to reach for me than the one I found in Malaysia:)) It's soooooo far away I can only dream of getting to Polynesia one day. But it's certainly worth trying as your beautiful picture shows. Yes, some people grow accustomed to the beauty they live in but for us in the Northern Hemisphere such views will be a symbol of Paradise for keeps:))

Thanks for your visit and have a good time,
Marina

nobuikehonda (3832) 2012-01-30 12:00

Hello Professor Atalay,

I believe that you really have seen paradise manifested here on earth. The vertical format is full of green foliage through which we have this magnificent view. As colour theory dictates the distant view has very nicely unsaturated colours, making the depth of this image most captivating. How attractive and charming this image is. One really has to see the image to believe it. We are virtual neighbours today as I have just checked this. It is very nice to sit so close to paradise. The frame that you created for this photo also deserves a compliment.

With my very best wishes,
Have a very nice week ahead, professor
Nobu.

cavli (1874) 2012-01-30 12:16

Merhaba Bülent Bey,

Uzun zaman oldu evet.. tekrardan dönüş yaptım TE'ye. :)
Hala Bbrada olmanız çok güzel. Eski arkadaşlardan pek az kişi kalmış.
Fotoğrafınız çok güzel. Indiana Jones filmlerinden bir kare sanki. Harika bir bakış açısı.elinize sağlık.. görüşmek üzere..
size iyi günler, bize iyi uykular :)

Gigidusud (2655) 2012-01-30 12:29

Hello Bulent,
Fantastic composition,i like it!
Thanks for sharing.
Ghislaine

TopGeo (34819) 2012-01-30 12:40

Hello Bulent! Very impressive photo, like a beautiful postcard from a place with full nature! Great POV and diagonal perspective, great light management, great choice of frame! Paradises in the ground can see no one with the eyes of soul! Still in the eyes of child, or in the creation, in the love, I even believe it is personally each individual criterions!
Best regards
Georgios

nikkitta (3594) 2012-01-30 14:15

Hola Bulent
Happy to add more points to your very beautiful capture all in green ( also the frame)

Its really like paradise on earth presented in a good vertical format with the branches at the FG

Informative note as usual
TFS and greetings

Maria

worldcitizen (4031) 2012-01-30 15:07

Hello Bulent,
Paradise does exist! It must be a wonderful feeling to wake up and see this view outside your window. I love all of the lush greenery, and the way it even covers the entire peak. All the different types of leaves create nice texture and detail, too.

adores (24260) 2012-01-30 17:15

Hi Bulent!
You have travelled really far this time:))! And what an excellent destination! Good photo, with a very good pov! Seems a really amazing place - nature must be really something in those islands!

sabermonajati (5738) 2012-01-30 21:18

hi
fascinating paysage you captured.this rock has a wonderful form .
regard
saber

agulberk (3299) 2012-01-31 20:10

Bülent Hocam Merhabalar.
Her şeyiyle doğal ,her yerden hayat mucizesinin fışkırdığı,zerafet ve güzelliklerin inanılmaz desen ve nakışlarıyla sergilendiği ,insanı heyecanlandıran cennetten bir parça. Elinize sağlık.
Tebrikler,
Bembeyaz karla örtülmüş Ankara'dan selam ve sevgiler...
Adnan

archimatica (19367) 2012-02-01 6:40

Hello Bulent,
This picture of this scenery is wonderfully captured, good vertical frame and composition.
A paradise!

All the best,
Renzo

MJR (2414) 2012-02-01 13:43

Bulent
A fine view captured in a fine photograph.. And I like your new theme; maybe one day I will find a photo of my own worthy of the title !

This is a glorious collection of greens, positively sculptural in their combinations, set off by a beautful blue sky, the like of which I can only vaguely recall !

I was thinking of you and your educative posts, as I ( sadly ) rushed round Lord Leverhulme's Gallery in Liverpool. Some amazing pictures and rare artifacts, I wondered where you would rate it amongst the amazing and rare that you will have seen in your time ?

Kind regards
Martin

aliabazari (3843) 2012-02-01 21:21

Hi my master.
This background image and Beck is an excellent Grand good rated perspective. Say congratulations to you.

In the answer you question about the correct word (Golestan) you have picked. Derived from flowers and roses. Thank you.
With interest and respect for you

eldancer1 (9962) 2012-02-02 9:20

Wow! Beautiful scene! Nicely captured with good pov and dof with sharp details. So green! (I guess I've been living in the desert for too long.) Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

patdeph (35108) 2012-02-02 12:37

hello Bulent
how beautiful it must be to see this in reality! The peak is impressive, and I love how the exotic vegetation is framing it.It's the paradise reached before the death.
Regards
Pascale

anokutan (14866) 2012-02-02 12:45

Bülent bey merhaba,
Kadrajı,çerçevesi,detayları ön ve arka planıyla enfes bir çalışma.Usta işi.Tebrikler.

kordinator (11519) 2012-02-03 1:33

Hello dear Bulent
Nice informative article about your trip and a series of works "PARADISE ON EARTH".
I like this unusual exotic place and the view.
Green vegetation on foot prefektan natural frame for this wonderful peak.
Beautiful light, colors, sharpness, clarity.
Great job
Warm regards from cold Serbia .
Saša

resat1972 (5532) 2012-02-03 5:53

Merhaba Bülent Bey
Dikey kadrajda çok güzel görünüyor
renkler, kompozisyon muhteşem
Tebrikler
Reşat

jlbrthnn (71902) 2012-02-03 7:37

Hello Bulent,
It's a little piece of France distant, very interesting to discover with this sweet image, but spectacular. I like the framing with the vegetation and this amazing geological formation. The light, colors, sharpness and depth are excellent. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Cricri (74079) 2012-02-03 10:15

Hi Bulent
Belles variétés de vert dans ce paysage exotique avec le rocher bien cadrer dans l'image, la lumière et la présentation parfaite, c'est vraiment très joli
Belle soirée
cricri

tober (8496) 2012-02-04 15:39

Merhaba Saygıdeğer Hocam, herkesin kolay kolay gidemeyeceği bu ücra, fakat tabiatı zengin coğrafyadan çok güzel ve ilginç bir kompozisyona imza atmışsınız. Rakımı 880 metre olduğuna göre tepenin zirvesi hemen hemen Ankara'yla aynı seviyede. Bir de bu kadar yüksek ve yalçın bir tepenin tamamen yemyeşil bir dokuyla kaplanmış olması da çok ilginç.

Elinize sağlık, saygılar.

ChrisJ (82363) 2012-02-05 0:45

Hello Bulent,

Looks like you quickly discovered Tahiti is one of the nicer islands in the Pacific! I like the textural details & lighting on the eroded peak. Good sharpness & upward pov. Tfs!

delpeoples (34853) 2012-02-05 4:32

Merhaba dear Bulent

I'm so glad you escaped the harsh American winter for this paradise. The dominant green tones are wonderful and I like how you composed the shot with the palm tree leading our eye into the frame towards the mountain beyond. Excellent shot.

Warm regards
Lisa

sacimar (23605) 2012-02-05 9:26

Hello Bulent,

this is a beautiful image of this impressive landscape, I like the composition with the interesting green peak in the background, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

maria-v1981 (3775) 2012-02-06 4:09

Hello Bulent,
A wonderful and fantastic scenery. Very good light moment and beautiful colours. This superb view is a paradise i will agree with you.
Excellent details and clarity.
Cheers,
Maria

emilbo (17644) 2012-02-07 6:46

Bonjour Bulent,
Une merveille ce coin de paradis et bien présenté ce monument rocheux encadré naturellement par une superbe végétation. L'éclairage est à son meilleur et les tons de verts sont merveilleux. Beau travail.
Félicitations!... et bonne journée,
Emilius

shevchenko (17013) 2012-02-07 18:24

Hi Bulent,
Lovely green view, good vertical format to frame the forest and the beautiful peak in the depth, good perepsctive, clear to show variety types of plants that growing dense here, distinct image, well done.
Ally

Angshu (47527) 2012-02-08 8:11

Hello Professor 'A'
The hill seems to rise like a phoenix...so much of green around with the palm leaves in the FG signifying tropical climate. The light is pretty strong but handled well, especially because the sun seems to be above your head. You've framed the hill well with the foliage, creepers & the bushes.
With Warmest Regards
Angshuman

s_lush (13908) 2012-02-08 22:04

Hello Bulent,
In this picture, the view of unique forms of landscape is so beautifully framed with lush tropical vegetation, that makes the scene looking exactly like a green paradise. Excellent composition and highly favorable point of view to show this picturesque place in all its beauty!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Ricx (12780) 2012-02-09 14:58

Hello Bulent- It is a pleasure to give this photo its 100th point. It deserves all the positive comments- from POV , depth, coloiurs and framing - a truely tremendous piece of work.. Have a good evening my friend.. Rich

zoomer (2613) 2012-02-09 17:02

Greetings,this image evokes Melvilles Typee.Nature just bursts with tropical abundance.Astounding DOF.Regarding my Orca shot,I took it from a boat.All the best,Wolfgang.

holmertz (20554) 2012-02-11 3:01

Hello Bülent,
To people in the South Pacific life may not be paradisical, but this view is. The picture is well composed with the dramatically rising peak well surrounded by branches and palms.
The TE idea of geography amuses me however. This may be "France" in a strictly political way, but "Europe"? Never!
Kind regards,
Gert

josepmarin (50366) 2012-02-11 3:39

Hi Bulent,
your composition is very attractive, because there shows us the spectacular beauty of this paradise, with its exuberant tropical vegetation and the impressive mountain in background, that we see across a fantastic green natural frame, which you have searched skilfully by means of a good framing. A great work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

siudzi (15766) 2012-02-11 4:49

Hi Bulent,

Sorry I've missed that one but it's truly spectacular post! The green of vegetation is absolutely vibrant and highly saturated. Awesome result achieved. TFS.

Regards,
Malgorzata

Silvio1953 (83393) 2012-02-12 8:20

Ciao Bulent, great view of fantastic mountain, beautiful natural ambientation, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done my friend, have a good week, ciao Silvio

TRB (11341) 2012-02-14 11:24

merhaba Hocam,
Günler öncesinde bu karenizi görüp çok beğenmiştim.
Kısmet bugüneymiş, harika ışığı, netliği, renkleri ve kadraj kullanımı ile mükemmel.Cennet bu olmalı, harika bir görüntü.İnsanın baktıkça bakası geliyor.
tebrikler, selam ve saygılar

Tülay

Afsanehbagheri (2582) 2012-02-15 9:14

سلام دوست من

عکس سرسبز با درختان خیلی بلند و آسمان آبی

تصویر جالب

daddo (16675) 2012-02-18 5:01

Merhaba Bulent Bey. Truly a paradise and how meritorious were the intrepid and resourceful Polynesians who sailed so far on the wing of a prayer. God only knows how many never sighted land (these specks upon the immensity of the ocean.I do find your last sentence interesting about ownership. I think you can guess my thoughts on such a term which belongs to the same lexicon as Abel Tasman "discovered" New Zealand or Columbus America. Best wishes. Klaudio.

Atousa (6866) 2012-02-18 5:47

Salam Bulent,

A beautiful nature shot n I like the different green tunes of it.. Mouaroa is really well placed in the framing.. a lovely composition.. tfs
Best regards, Atousa

jemaflor (59029) 2012-02-21 23:12

Hi Bulent,
Great landscape well framed in a vertical format, I like this original peak and the composition with all the vegetation in the fg.

macjake (28585) 2012-03-02 12:45

Hi Bulent
yes, certainly the landscape is lush with vegetation that just seems to get deeper and deeper.
the middle foreground vegeation is the best subject here.
amazing to see the full throtle of plant life like this.
good shot despite the harsh lighting.
cheers
craig

GFSSD-1 (3096) 2012-03-06 10:38

Objektifinizden düşen incilerle bizi de gezdirmiş oldunuz, teşekkürler..
en iyi dileklerle
r yuksel

corjan3 (1617) 2012-03-13 5:29

Hello Bulent,
A fabulous image with wonderful composition. I will certainly visit your "Paradise on Earth" group and I hope there will be many contributions. Well done, once again, and best wishes.

npecanhuk (45285) 2012-03-13 5:35

Hello Bulent!
Wonderful natural spot!
Very beautiful picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, vertical format, green borders, chosen pov and composition are excellent!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

baddori (17511) 2012-03-21 0:19

Bulent
La Francia che vorrei vivere....
Una montagna che vorrei scalare.
Ottima presentazione di un luogo splendido.
GF

mkamionka (20323) 2012-03-28 3:45

Hi Bulent,
I had a pleasure to see a similarly strage mountain on Maui.
Beautiful view. Perfectly framed with exotic vegetation.
Makes me wanna go for vacations now...
Best regards,
M