Raki Distillers, a photo from Lasithi, Crete

Photographer's Note

This shot is from my hometown Ierapetra, Crete. These two guys (precious friends) are distilling Raki, the traditional drink of the island. It’ crystal clear and very strong (very often over 50 degrees of alcohol). Satisfaction guaranteed, no hangover included. Similar types of drink are distilled throughout Greece. In the Central and Northern part of the country it is called “Tsipouro” and in the islands of Northern Aegean it is called “Souma”.
The process is the same as centuries ago and almost every Cretan family has a cauldron (its called Rakokazano) of its own. The beginning of distillation (which can last several days), is something like a national celebration. People are moving from Rakokazano to Rakokazano, consuming endless amounts of tradicional cretan food (remember that the famous Mediterranean Cuisine has its roots here) and of course Raki. If you happen to be in Crete during the months of October and November (that’s when Rakokazano takes place) try and find one. You are always and everywhere invited, the Cretans are well known for their hospitality. But be prepared to eat and drink a lot! The locals can’t take “no” for an answer when they offer you “mezedakia” and especially Raki.

droonsta, lestans, Cuba-Junky, besnard, stat, Karitsiotis, Xalkida, spetzouras, Jeppe, CRATEOS, att, parbo, mfonda, Izobretenik, craiggc, SchwebagMike, ilghiz, TopGeo, Felip, andante, ymrk has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

droonsta (423) 2006-04-06 6:08

WOW great photo.. love how its been taken :) great colour of the fire and stuff :) excellent subject matter well balanced!

lestans (16820) 2006-04-06 6:19

Well done, interesting to see your friend making a so hard work :-))) for a so useful aim!
Colors are so well managed, sparks are fantastic over the dark background
Livia

postvikram (1199) 2006-04-06 6:23

Hercules,
Excellent composition.The fire looks excellent.The other things in the pic are nicely soft in color and this is awesome to look at.
Very nicely done and TFS - Vikram

besnard (49031) 2006-04-06 6:50

Bonjour Hercules
Cliché très intéressant et original.
Merci pour le partage.
Amitiés
Nicole

raphsax (275) 2006-04-06 7:03

Bonjour,
photo originale et très bien réussie!
Beau travail!
Raphsax

stat (2853) 2006-04-06 7:18

Ωραία φωτογραφία και αυθεντική στιγμή.
Ο μερικός αποχρωματισμός δίνει την ένταση της φωτιάς!!
Μου άρεσε !!
---Stat--

craiggc (2509) 2006-04-06 7:24

Great shot Hercules,well done!

Karitsiotis (845) 2006-04-06 8:41

It is a beautiful comp my friend..

Nicely focused,with great details and amazing colours..Especially the contrast of the fire,the kazani and the rest of the pic..Bravo!

As for the note,I know exactly what you are talking about and i have to say that it is at least useful!I believe that everyone has to experience this,at least once in his/her life..

Have a nice day!

Friendly,
Nikos..

Xalkida (11740) 2006-04-06 17:48

Γειά σου Ηρακλή και καλώς ήλθες στο ΤΕ.

Εξαιρετική κι ενδιαφέρουσα η φωτογραφία σου. Πετυχημένη η μετατροπή σε ασπρόμαυρο αφήνοντας την φωτιά να κυριαρχήσει ως χρώμα. Εξαιρετικό και το note.

Καλή συνέχεια.

spetzouras (244) 2006-04-07 3:35

Πάρα πολύ καλή δουλειά!!
Και στη λεπτομέρεια επίσης...
Και το Note πολύ καλό.
Άντε,στην υγειά μας *χικ*...

Jribeirosantos (1916) 2006-04-07 6:27

Kalispera Hercules!

Excellent photo! Really good galery !
COngratulations! Welcome to TE

Joana

Now the smiles :)

Jeppe (18654) 2006-04-09 10:23

Hi Hercules

So this how its done - I still have a bottle from my holidays to Greece - very dramatic use of B&W&R colours

thanks for sharing.

veronika (6052) 2006-04-09 10:41

Hercules, i like BaW work on this picture with the orange colour of fire.. excellent!

veronika

evanrizo (456) 2006-04-09 11:11

Ðù ðù ðùùù óå ôóéðïõñïêáôÜíõîç íá öùôïãñáößæåéò ...æçëåýù. åêðëçêôéêÞ öùôïãôáößá. Ýêáíåò èáýìá ìå ôéò öëüãåò ìðñïóôÜ íá óðéèïâïëïýí êáé ôá ãñÜäá íá ...êáëáúäïýí.
ÌðñÜâï êáé ðÜëé ìðñÜâï ãéá ôçí öùôïãñáößá.

CRATEOS (7278) 2006-04-12 16:55

Poly kalo stisimo ke skinothesia..to efe eine panemorfo...milaei....monitis exeretcoPOV xeretizo met epenon !!!!Nikiforos

AthaPan (0) 2006-04-17 10:04

Alli mia fantastiki forografia
Ase na les oti eisai "newby"...

Poly fantastiki fotografia
kai ekseretiko note.

Filika
Sakis

sergio1 (12150) 2006-04-24 5:12

Hi Hercules,
Excelente toma que nos presentas llena de interés. Realmente es muy original. Me mucho el detalle de la desaturación para realazar el fuego.
Saludos
Sergio

att (1114) 2006-05-05 17:45

Hi Hercules, this is a very interesting subject. Of course Raki is a favourite drink on this side of the Aegean. We have also special ones apart from the traditional grape Raki, here they make plum and apple raki and even watermelon raki. My grandfather was born in Khania in Crete, and even though he died before meeting me, I am told that he also used to make raki Cretan way when he migrated here. Unfortunately no body makes it in the family now even though we consume great quantaties of it with fish...!

Take care

Tolga

spyros60 (32) 2006-05-06 17:51

Αγαπητέ Ηρακλή
Σ’ ευχαριστώ που έκανες τον κόπο να μου γράψεις αυτά τα όμορφα λόγια,
πάντως αισθάνομαι περισσότερο μαθητούδι παρά δάσκαλος, έχεις δει τι γίνετε στο photo.net!!! Φαντάζομε πως κι εσύ έχεις εξαιρετικό φωτογραφικό υλικό αν κρίνω από τις καταχωρήσεις στο ΤΕ όπως η συγκεκριμένη που την θεωρώ πανέξυπνη και ευρηματική, καταγράφοντας αυτή τη μοναδική στιγμή κάτω από πολύ δύσκολες φωτιστικές συνθήκες. Πραγματικά την ζηλεύω!!!
Τα λέμε
Σπύρος

SchwebagMike (1490) 2006-06-04 6:47

Hi there,
It's a perfect photo and a nice usefull note !
Thank you (:

ilghiz (708) 2007-05-30 6:16

The lines created by the fire particles are amazing! I like the contrast between the fire and its gray environment.

By the way, does Greek raki have anything to do with Turkish rakı?

WeLoveCrete (1) 2007-12-16 0:40

Yiasou Iraklis,
A wonderful photo...we would love to talk to you over the email/contact form on www.we-love-crete.com
Please contact us about Ierapetra.
Yiasou
Katia

Felip (3907) 2008-05-05 9:24

Amigo mío, con estas notas me matas!!!. No te da verguenza?, vas a acabar conmigo. Ponerme la miel en los labios de esta manera, que si el Raki (no te enfades pero pensaba que era originario de Turquía!), que si la fiesta del Rakokazano, que si la hospitalidad cretense, que si comida y bebida por todos los lugares donde vas durante ésta fiesta...Arrrrrghhhh!, te voy a matar Hercules!, como si no tuviese suficientes ganas de ir a Grecia, como para que tu me vayas dando todavía mas. Cuando vaya, será en estas fechas, y tu me harás de guía!. Vaya que sí.
A propósito, esplendida la desaturación parcial de la imágen. De éste modo está llena de vida y fuerza.

Un abrazo.

Felip

andante (7092) 2008-11-11 10:00

Cheers!! Happy 500th... I know is not this one, but this is merrier. A drink of Raki to commemorate the ocassion.
Love the desaturation effect.

ymrk (14929) 2009-03-06 11:57

Kalimerhaba mybest photographer!
What a splendid,and very beautiful local desaturation.Very "attractive",with very different work!
Have a good time,Iraklis!
Take care of yourself!

Yağmur