Caterpillar in motion Photo

Photographer’s Note

Made in Greece, especially for Zagori region.
Bridge of Kalogeriko or Plakida between Koukouli and Kipi villages.
Originally built out of wood, it was converted into stone in 1814 at a cost of 20,000 "grossia" by the abbot Seraphim of the Prophet Elias monastery of Vitsa. This is why it is named "kalogeriko" meaning "monkish". Its other name "Plakida" was originally used after 1865 when members of the Plakida family financed its maintenance. It was repaired in 1950 by the community of Koukouli and later by the Archaeological Society.
Triple arch, 10.5, 12.5 and 14.4 metres in length and 3.65, 6.10 and 5 metres tall, respectively.

Γεφύρι του Πλακίδα ή Καλογερικό (1814 – τρίτοξο) : Το γεφύρι βρίσκεται απέναντι από τους Κήπους. Η επιφάνεια διάβασης του με τη ρυθμική της κίνηση, καθώς ακολουθεί τα τρία τόξα, δίνει μια ανάλαφρη κομψότητα στην ογκώδη κατασκευή του. Σε αυτό συμβάλλουν και τα οδοντωτά περβάζια. Παραστατικός ο χαρακτηρισμός “κάμπια εν κινήσει” που του έχει δοθεί. Το γεφύρι ανήκε στο Κουκούλι, με το οποίο επικοινωνούσε με πέτρινη “σκάλα”. Δίπλα στο γεφύρι υπήρχε παλιά και μύλος.
Αρχικά ήταν ξύλινο, έχοντας ως χορηγό το Ζώτο Ρούσση, ο οποίος ξόδεψε 8.000 γρόσια για την κατασκευή του. Η μετατροπή του σε πέτρινο οφείλεται στη χορηγία 20.000 γροσίων από τον ηγούμενο του μοναστηριού των Κήπων (του Προφήτη Ηλία), τον Σεραφείμ. Γι αυτό το λόγο πήρε το όνομα “Καλογερικό”. Το άλλο του όνομα, δηλαδή του Πλακίδα, άρχισε να χρησιμοποιείται μετά το 1865, όταν επισκευάσθηκε από τον Κουκουλιώτη Αλέξη Πλακίδα και τον αδερφό του Ανδρέα. Υπάρχει μάλιστα και σχετική επιγραφή για την επισκευή του.
Το γεφύρι εξυπηρέτησε κυρίως τους Κουκουλιώτες, για να πηγαίνουν τα γίδια στα “κεφάλια της Μπίκαινας” και να φέρνουν ξύλα από την “πετούρνα”. Επίσης τους κατοίκους από τα απέναντι χωριά, για να έρχονται να αλέθουν στον μύλο.

Οι παραπάνω πληροφορίες προέρχονται από το 6ο Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ιωαννίνων ‘Ο Ιωάννης Κωλέττης’.
Συγχαρητήρια στους παιδαγωγούς, στις μαθήτριες και στους μαθητές αυτού του σχολείου.

© 2008 - All rights reserved. The photos taken by photographer Athanasios Benisis are registered and copyrighted. Use in any form (web, paper publication, public exposure, etc.) is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the photographer. To contact with photographer please use his intro page Hellas on TrekEarth.

danos, azaf1, dip, bostankorkulugu, Paul65, aimiliospet, stelli, pboehringer, AiresSantos, steliosk, Bruno40, jorgi, MLINES, giorgimer, yogi32, leo61, jafadabret has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

linask (2786) 2008-02-27 2:29

The bridge is well placed in the photo - diagonal lines usually look good.
I think sharpening is a bit overdone, especially with the trees.

Linas

Catspjm (153) 2008-02-27 2:51

I like people who think like us! Nice pic

Vames (4356) 2008-02-27 4:40

γεια σου Αθανάσιε,ωραία χρώματα σε μια ενδιαφέρουσα λήψη στο πολύ γνωστό τρίτοξο ζαγορίτικο γεφύρι !

ls7902 (6200) 2008-02-27 7:18

Hi Athanasios,
Same bridge as the one when you spoke about meeting a bear but maybe not? I remember that one has arching trees at the end of the bridge. Lovely old bridge. The top is run down but the structure is still perfect. Nice dense vegetation & clear green water. Regards. Latiff.

CatherineD (4860) 2008-02-27 10:12

Geia sou Thanasi,
Very nice place. Excellent composition and colours, with the constrast between the bridge and the green bushes and river.
Xairetw,
Katerina

dip (12584) 2008-02-27 11:33

Katapliktiki sunthesi kai polu endiaferon san thema toso fotografika oso kai apo arxitektonikis apopsis,
eksairetiko kai to simeioma pou tin sunotheuei,
polu kali douleia,sugxaritiria!
Dimitris.

bostankorkulugu (33598) 2008-02-27 13:57

i love those bridges with arches that you have in greece and that we also have many similar ones all around anatolia... this is a beautiful shot taken from a good POv Thanasi, my compliments...

ta leme... korkut

azaf1 (15547) 2008-02-28 0:51

Geia sou Thanasi
Omorfi h paromoiosi me caterpillar afou to katapliktiko giofiri dimiourgei panemorfi prooptiki kai pigainei to vlemma sto vathos
filika
Argiris

izmirli (3181) 2008-02-28 1:01

kalimera dear athanasios
wonderful interesting historic bridge.wonderful light and reflections.well done.
friendly greetings from Istanbul.
gürkan akçakır.

pablominto (40732) 2008-02-28 1:04

Hello Athanasios,
I like the fine diagonal composition!
Effective point of view to expose the ancient bridge from a good angle...
A lovely composition with sharp fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

danos (32512) 2008-02-28 1:24

Θανάση καλησπέρα,
εξαιρετική απεικόνιση και καταγραφή της 'κάμπιας' αυτού του σπάνιου τρίτοξου γεφυριού.Νομίζω εαν δεν κάνω λάθος, είναι και το μοναδικό στο είδος του στην Ελλάδα τουλάχιστον.Λίγο ακόμα και θα ανέβαζα και εγώ το ίδιο γεφύρι, από άλλη γωνία βεβαίως αλλά την τελευταία στιγμή άλλαξα γνώμη.Ωραία τα χρώματα και το φως όπως επίσης και το λεπτομερές σημείωμά σου.

Σε χαιρετώ,Δάνος

stelli (2945) 2008-02-28 10:37

Excellent POV and framing! It looks indeed like a caterpillar! Thnak you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

Graal (57995) 2008-02-28 23:07

Hi Athanasios,
amazing "catepillar", good POV and composition, an interesting old bridge. I like it. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

testmaniac (12136) 2008-02-29 0:13

Hi Athanasios, good photo and very nice place and bridge. Only the photo quality may be better.

TFS and regards,
Philip

Budapestman (41974) 2008-02-29 12:20

Hi Athanasios,
Great architectural image with beautiful environment, I like the spectacular composition and the fine colours, clarity is excellent. Romatic impression, Well done! Have a nice weekend
George

kiks (6089) 2008-03-03 2:55

Beautiful scene. I like the diagonal on it. The architecture of the bridge is very diffrent and lovely with all his round lines. The green framing the structure works very good.
TFS
KIks

pboehringer (770) 2008-03-03 8:54

Athanasios,
what a funny title to express what the bridge does. It certainly resembles the curving of a caterpillar. The shot reminds of many others that I saw from Greece her at TE. Mainly Hercules (cretense) is a master of it.
The light seems to be somewhat to harsh and I would strongly suggest you to try the same image with the same light, but with a polarizing filter. The water would be darker, with less reflections and the shrubs less silver stained.
Peter

giorgimer (21176) 2008-03-06 15:39

Hi Athanasios,

very fascinating architecture, excellent POV and composition.

Well done!

Gio

AiresSantos (42156) 2008-03-07 4:28

Hi Athanasios
Great view of this unusual bridge. I like the diagonal and how you framed it.
Very nice reflections and colours
TFS and have a nice weekend
Aires

steliosk (4784) 2008-03-07 8:37

ee de 8a mporousa na mh sxoliasw edw, ta gefyria einai h adynamia mou.
Dyskolh eikona kai mh to arnh8eis ka8ws h leukh petra me ton hlio symmaxo, kanoun ex8ro thn katagrafh sto film.
Eksaisia perigrafh/prooptikh/xrwma/ka8arothta kai h epimonh sou sto film pou kserw oti de sygxwrei la8h mou kanei entypwsh kai mou empnaiei sebasmo, giati auto pou trabame emeis oi pshfio-fwtografoi 5 fores gia na paroume ena kare, esy to trabas apo thn arxh 1 kare kai teleiwnei h istoria.

Se sygxairw gia th lhpsh/exposure kai thn probolh

synexizw...

atus (15476) 2008-03-09 11:42

Hi Athanasios,
very well framed ans captured shot from a perfect pov. The diagonal perspective of this interesting and spectacular bridge is great an what I also like a lot is the emerald colored water below it. Well done!
Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

evanrizo (456) 2008-03-10 13:08

Γειάσου Αθανάσιε,
αυτές οι κυματοειδής γέφυρες εκτός από το πρακτικό μέρος το σχέδιο τους έχουν πολύ υψηλό γούστο.
Η καταγραφή της είναι υπέροχη.
Καλή Σαρακοστή φίλε.
Βαγγέλης

vinicio (22412) 2008-03-12 1:11

Beautiful old bridge, I much like its shape as "caterpillar", well seen and done Athanasios, compliments.
Have a nice day
Ciao
Vinicio

jemaflor (39385) 2008-03-12 4:16

Hi A,
Nice perspective with this angle to take the view, good contrast between green trees and stones, interesting diagonal effect.

bakes888 (18221) 2008-03-15 0:08

Hi Athanasios. Well seen and well captured. I love the colours, especially the water. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

jmcl (13839) 2008-03-15 20:14

Hi Athanasios.

I love the greens ... especially in the water ... wonderful architecture from a great point of view ... I wish the time of day was just a breath less bright .. for that matter this would be a great point of view for a study in the beauty of different times of day .. very nice.

take care,

John

Angshu (33665) 2008-03-20 8:00

Hello Athanasios
What an apt title! Very nice diagonal composition of the old walking bridge as it spans the stream. But would you know why this undulating shape? The light does seem harsh but you've done pretty well controlling it here & showing the details of the architecture as well as the reflections in the shadows.
Regards
Angshu

jrj (34779) 2008-03-24 4:20

Interesting bridge A. in a setting of curves most special. Good capture the display the special construction here - good note.

Bruno40 (6440) 2008-03-28 6:14

Hi Athanasios
I like bold bridges (and new also), and your photo brings a good POV and compsoition of a interesting structure.
Well done, with a lot of details. Maybe some portions with oe due to strong light.
cheers
Jorge

NMaverick (0) 2008-04-09 4:00

Entypwsiakotath ka8ws kai o titlos pou ths vrhkes. Skepsou mhpws eftiaxnes me kapoion tropo to overexposure ths gefyras giati exeis katagrapsei to prasino fovera. Epishs de 8a me peiraze ena xamhlo POV apo to shmeio dipla sth gefyra pou 8a perilamvane kai ligo neraki.
Poly kalh kai pali
Nikos

MLINES (10884) 2008-04-24 0:21

Hi Thanasi, A very unique looking bridge. The POV emphasises the waviness of this structure well. Greece has so many wonderful sites to see and learn from. The colours are very realistic. TFS. Myrray.

leo61 (43404) 2009-03-18 23:29

Hi Athanasios!
What a wonderful old bridge.Good composition with this diagonal and I like how it is surrounded by the rich vegetation.
Regards,leo

jafadabret (39669) 2009-09-19 2:19

Kalimera Athenasie.
Ce pont qui fait la chenille est une curiosité des plus intéressantes. J'aime le décor de verdure qui l'enserre comme pour le protéger.
L'eau est très bien rendue.
Amical salut !
Jacques