Hydra, a photo from Attiki, Attica

Photographer's Note

Hydra (Greek: Ύδρα) is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf.
It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water.
In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea (Υδρέα, derived from the Greek word for "water"), which was a reference to the springs on the island.
The municipality of Hydra consists of the islands Hydra, Dokos and a few uninhabited islets. The province of Hydra (Greek: Επαρχία Ύδρας) was one of the provinces of the Piraeus Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality. It was abolished in 2006.
There is one main town, known simply as "Hydra port". It consists of a crescent-shaped harbor, around which is centered a strand of restaurants, shops, markets, and galleries that cater to tourists and locals (Hydriots). Steep stone streets lead up and outwards from the harbor area.
Most of the local residences, as well as the hostelries on the island are located on these streets. Other small villages or hamlets on the island include Mandraki , Kamini, Vlychos , Palamidas , Episkopi, and Molos.
Hydra depends upon tourism, and Athenians comprise a sizeable segment of its visitors.
High speed hydrofoils and catamarans from Piraeus, some 37 nautical miles (69 km) away, serve Hydra, as do daily island ferry boats. (The ferries take about three hours for the transit; the hydrofoils and catamarans substantially less.) The island also has ferries to Aegina, Poros, Spetses, Nafplion and Monemvasia.
Rubbish trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island, as cars or motorcycles are not allowed by law. Donkeys, bicycles, and water taxis provide public transportation. The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere.

dta, lousat, PaulVDV, bukitgolfb301, thebest, Romano46, Miguel82, ikeharel, jhm, danos, chrislo, macjake, abmdsudi, saxo042, Cricri, mirosu, maria-v1981, dip, fds, ourania has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dta (52250) 2013-02-10 13:53

Hello Elena ,
A picture full of sun and colors , of this so picturesque village . It is curious to see all these horses on the harbour , but you explain the reason in your note .
Regards

PaulVDV (15365) 2013-02-10 14:04

Hello Eleni,
I have a picture that is almost exactly the same :) Including the donkeys and mules. But of course, they are always there and they make an attractive foreground for the beautiful view of the houses built behind each other on the steep hill. The combination of blue and white at the houses makes them very appealing. The colours of the Greek flag!
Beautiful bright and colourful picture.
Best regards, Paul

carlo62 (13544) 2013-02-10 14:40

Ciao Eleni
simpatica panoramica con gli asinelli pronti alla passeggiata per le vie di questo splendido villaggio dai tipici colori.
Saluti
Carlo

bukitgolfb301 (30401) 2013-02-10 16:57

Hi dear Eleni

At a glance I am surprised but jutst find that this was taken 10 years ago. But I am sure the atmosphere almost remains aunchanged. So nice snap shot inn all aspects. Wo derful to see ideed.
Thanks for your sharing and have a good day!

PS. Ya I am tired with busy works

Takero

pajaran (36906) 2013-02-10 23:15

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak ...
Dobar trenutak snimka, ostrina, kontrast, lepe boje.
Dobar tekst i kompozicija, lepo pokazano.
Lepa uspomena.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Nice view and a moment ...
A good time recording, sharpness, contrast, beautiful color.
Good content and composition, well demonstrated.
Beautiful memories.
Have a nice day, all the best in the new week that started.
Good luck.
Paja.

emka (59010) 2013-02-10 23:43

Hi Eleni, What a funny name for this island. very nice place for holidays. The donkeys are waiting for the tourist to take them around. But I do not see here many visitors. Must be great fun to ride them. Nice houses white and blue, that see to me typical for Greece.

WArm regrads

MAlgo

thebest (3370) 2013-02-10 23:50

Hi Eleni,

Beautiful photo - I love the horses they look so well behaved maybe they are all tired...
Wonderful colours clarity & I just love the atmosphere of your photo.
Just noticed that you took the photo in 2004... well done its a little hidden treasure.

Kindest regards,
Dawn.

GiovanniG (1619) 2013-02-11 0:05

Ciao Eleni,
What a wonderful capture so well done with excellent light management good prospective, color and detail. Thanks for sharing,
Warm regards,
GiovanniG
Wonderful narrative makes the photo come to life.

Romano46 (5988) 2013-02-11 2:31

Ciao Eleni,
simpatico ed originale il soggetto di oggi, oltre che ricco di colore.
Avevo sentito parlare di questa località, ma non pensavo fosse così bella.
Ogni tua foto è un invito a visitare la tua terra.
Da elogiare ogni volta le tue informazioni sulle località proposte.
Ciao e buona giornata
Romano

tomi1 (1932) 2013-02-11 5:46

Oeiras, 11-2-13
Hallo Eleni
The restaurant next to the water remembers me one in Mykonos. Nevertheless I even do not know how large is this island as what interest for visting. But Hydra as you say is the point of departure to the other islands including small islets. I do appreciate the rules against any vehicles in some islands. At least these ones keep its originality of wildness. You present here to everybody useful information. By the way this may I think to spend a week in a small island called (Porto Santo)near Madeira. I already have visited several times. The beach is famous by its sand. It is said it is good for the skin. Its length is 9km. It has airport however I never went by plane. Perhaps this time I prefer to go directly to the hotel (Pestana). Make a small research to your self knowlegement. Warm regards. Tomi

Miguel82 (8595) 2013-02-11 5:55

Ola Eleni,
Una magnifica imagen de esos burritos..
Me gusta mucho la collina con casas blancas y azul
Bonne soirée

Silvio1953 (99199) 2013-02-11 6:17

Ciao Eleni, gran bella vista del delizioso villaggio, ottima composizione con i cavalli in primo piano, splendida luce e bei colori mediterranei, brava, ciao Silvio

Sergiom (40169) 2013-02-11 6:26

Bonjour Eleni,

Ils se reposent un petit peu en attendant la prochaine horde de touristes qui vont débarquer. J'aime la construction de l'image avec les très belles maisons blanches derrière.

Amicalement

Serge

ikeharel (38090) 2013-02-11 6:35

Kalispea Eleni,
Good choise by the authorities not to allow motor-vhicles on the small island, and keep clean air around. That also detectable on the white facades of the waterfront houses.
Is it bright daylight or clean air? - hope the answer are both factord.
Nice taken the photo, conveys well the fine ambiance prevails there.
Cheers,
Ike

jhm (123140) 2013-02-11 7:24

Hello Eleni,

I reads in your note, no cars, everything with horses or donkeys or bicycle, this is splendid for people and animals also for the nature.
Lovely picture made with high quality, and nice subject.
I can real enjoy of your nice picture.
Excellent composition, pleasant colors too.
Very well Done, TFS.

Have a nice Monday,
John.

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-02-11 9:39

Hello Eleni,
this photo is so "Greek" I do not have to read description to know where it was taken ;-) So nice to see all these typical elements of Greek culture gathered together. Lovely scene and well composed. Colors are well given and properly saturated.
TFS and have a nice evening
Kamila

danos (74518) 2013-02-11 10:22

Ελένη γεια σου,
πολύ όμορφη φωτογραφία από την ανεπανάληπτη Ύδρα,με τα μουλάρια να περιμένουν υπομονετικά για να μεταφέρουν τους επισκέπτες του νησιού και να κάνουν κανένα τουρ με τους τουρίστες.Μου αρέσουν η αντίθεση των χρωμάτων όπως και το εξαιρετικό φως της ημέρας.

Σε χαιρετώ,Δάνος

cornejo (18714) 2013-02-11 11:52

Hola Eleni, muy buena foto de esta encantadora e interesante escena en el bonito lugar. Encantadora imagen muy bien compuesta, encuadrada y captada, con muy buena nitidez y calidad. Excelente y encantador trabajo muy bien realizado, mis felicitaciones amiga mia. Gracias por compartir este interesante trabajo.

Buen dia y feliz semana.
Un cordial abrazo desde el sur de España.
Angel.

chrislo (2179) 2013-02-11 13:40

Kalispera Eleni,
What a bright and colourful picture of this charming Greek island with a nice summer holiday mood ! This is Greece at first glance, at its most authentic, and I suppose nothing much has changed since you last visited the island. Although the donkeys are a tourist attraction, they add to the picturesque of the place. Greece is definitely my favourite holiday destination. Thanks for giving us a foretaste of holidays.
Kind regards,
Christian

macjake (39998) 2013-02-11 15:12

Hi Eleni
I'm still not sure if they are mules, donkey's or horses! lol
they look like smaller horses!

you explained exactly why they are not used much, i guess walking around is just fine enough. poor animals though, they look bored!

I'm not bored looking at the scenery though. very bright and cheerful appearance, lovely light and great subjects.
Wishing I was there
cheers
craig

abmdsudi (27118) 2013-02-11 22:44

Hi Eleni
It is the colors of contrasty old houses on the slope within this street scape really catch. A very interesting insight of a unique and charming sight but remains one of the very photogenic spots for sure with lots of shooting possibilities. The viewpoint gets us to explore deeper into the scene with a special enchantment about it and presence of fg interest add so much vitality. Great shot, Congrats.
Kind regards

saxo042 (31862) 2013-02-12 8:00

Hi Eleni,
All the donkeys provide both life and colours to this very pleasant harbour view. The long slope behind includes a fine pattern from the white houses, with their blue window shutters and red roof. A very warm and summerlike picture!
Kind regards
Gunnar

Cricri (87288) 2013-02-12 10:46

Hi Eleni
Qu'il doit être agréable de faire la visite a dos d'âne ou cheval, belle présentation avec les maisons sur la colline, celle au bord de mer, un temps déjà bien agréable au mois d'avril
Belle soirée
cricri

mirosu (5557) 2013-02-12 23:46

Hell Eleni,
A great use of colors and light. The depth of field is perfect. A well presented crop allows eyes to remain fixed on the donkies and the nice houses behind. This is a really excellent photo, and is a good example of town street photography. The colors and clarity are beautiful and your composition with low angle view works so well. Very nice!

TopGeo (38000) 2013-02-12 23:54

Καλημέρα Ελένη!
Ειναι ίσως ένα από τα μοναδικά μέρη της Ελλάδος που ο χρόνος δείχνει να σταμάτησε σε μία ρομαντική αλλά τόσο γνήσια εποχή.. Η εικόνα σου καλύτερη απόδειξη της ομορφιάς, αγνότητας, και αφθεντικότητας ενός νησιού που έχει ιστορία και τόσα να δώσει σε όποιον την επισκεφθεί..Τέλεια ιδέα και παρουσίαση. Χαιρετώ σας
Γεώργιος

maria-v1981 (10409) 2013-02-13 1:17

Καλημέρα Ελένη,
Δυστυχώς δεν έχω επισκεφτεί την Ύδρα. Είναι ένα παραδοσιακό νησί με τα γαϊδουράκια μεταφορικό μέσο να σε γυρνάνε σε όλο το νησί. Τα λευκά σπιτάκια με τα χρωματιστά παραθυρόφυλλα αντανακλούν το όμορφο φώς. Η ατμοσφαίρα είναι απλά υπέροχη.
Καλή συνέχεια και καλή μέρα,
Μαρία

dip (21961) 2013-02-13 22:59

Καλημέρα Ελένη,
Η ιδιαίτερη γοητεία αυτού του νησιού είναι η έλλειψη αυτοκινήτων,
τα γαϊδουράκια και τα μουλάρια είναι πολύ πιο φωτογενή απ'τα αυτοκίνητα!
σε χαιρετώ,
Δημήτρης.

COSTANTINO (42760) 2013-02-14 12:06

Γεια σου Ελενη,
Ομορφη καρποσταλ αποτην γραφικη Υδρα,
με εντυπωσιακα καλοκαιρινα χρωματα,
υπεροχο φωτισμο,και πολλα φολκοριστικα, και Αρχιτεκτονικα στοιχεια,συγχαρητηρια
και πολλες ευχες για την σημερινη ημερα του
san valentino,
καλο βραδυ,
Costantino

npecanhuk (54221) 2013-02-14 15:50

Hello Eleni!
Charming place!
Beautiful and lovely picture!
The presence of those animals is so welcome!
Special regards to the exposure, colors, chosen pov and composition! I miss a tiny bit more of sharpness!
TFS,
Cheers,
Neyvan

fds (5497) 2013-02-14 22:22

ciao cara eleni veramente pittoresco questo scorcio sul porticciolo di hydra con gli asini in primo piano e i palazzi subito dietro
bella cartolina del luogo
grazie per la condivisione

fabianoleite (9098) 2013-02-15 6:32

Hi, Eleni. Every time we think of Greece, the blue and white houses come to mind, and they are beautiful, creating a patterned coast which is interesting. There the addition of the horses improve the composition a lot, and I like hte overall view. Good work, and have a nice day!

ourania (13085) 2013-02-28 12:44

Καλησπέρα Ελένη,
μια πανέμορφη κλασική εικόνα που περικλείει πολλά στοιχεία από τη γοητεία και γλυκύτητα της Ύδρας. Η τοποθέτηση του σκηνικού στο κάδρο έγινε με μεγάλη μαεστρία και το βάθος είναι εξαιρετικό. Η καθαρότητα του φωτός και της εικόνας, τα υπέροχα ζωντανά χρώματα και οι προσεκτικά ρυθμισμένες αντιθέσεις κάνουν την παρατήρηση του συνόλου και των λεπτομερειών απολαυστική. Συγχαρητήρια και ευχαριστώ!
Να είσαι καλά, καλό βράδυ,
Ουρανία