Dristela, the ecological washing machine Photo

Photographer’s Note

In my previous post (***PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER***), you can see the final "stage" of laundry in a "dristela" ("δριστέλα") or "nerotrivi" ("νεροτριβή"), the place where blankets, carpets and bockings are left to dry. That previous photo was taken close to Aghios Georgios village, Preveza Prefecture.

This photo is taken a few hundred kilometres to the north, close to Konitsa town, very close to the Greek-albanian borders, in a place called Bourazani. Here you can see how a "dristela" really looks like, (there were 3 similar ones in Aghios Georgios, where my previous photo was taken).

Dristela is a natural, ecological "washing machine", where no chemicals or detergents are used to clean the items mentioned above. The water comes from nearby springs and falls from some height with full power and rush, creating a whirlpool. The power of water is so big that sometimes it takes 4 men to drag a blanket out of the wirlpool.

***MORE PHOTOS FROM IOANNINA PREFECTURE***

Copyright © 2009 – Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

ymrk, portmanndominic, dta, eversmile, vasilpro, Vato_Law, pauloog, JCG, Hellas, Budapestman, antua, Longroute, axiotea, Dashab, manousos_jr, Didi, bakes888, ellelloo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ymrk (9276) 2009-10-05 5:35

Kalimerhaba!
Can i tell the turth?I want to drink water on that!!!Well,Is water drinking at here?Is it sweat water?
Anyway,good photo and this has reall great details..Specially i have loved of long exposure.
Congratulations!

Yağmur

jimmyjimmy (581) 2009-10-05 5:47

Hello Hercules

I learn something new everyday. Nice image and story on this washing maching. Very interesting.

Regards
Jimmy

kozerog (1198) 2009-10-05 5:57

Nice shot. Great looking with long exposure and well composition.

portmanndominic (2390) 2009-10-05 6:23

Irakli Geia sou

the picture is beautiful with a good speed effect and we learn something more about tradition .TFS
Filika
Dominic

Dashab (1368) 2009-10-05 6:28

Hello Hercules,
This thing is amazing! What an invention! Would love to see one of these washers in action in reality one day. Your work with the exposure creates a very dynamic effect, and the light is managed perfectly, as always. TSF and have a nice week, Dasha

dta (6622) 2009-10-05 6:31

Hello Hercules ,
Thanks for this shot . Really interesting , and very well realized . The framing is excellent , and the effect of the long exposure works very well here .
regards

stefanocer (10416) 2009-10-05 7:37

Fantastic washing machine Hercules , compliments for this fine shot , well done.
Stefano.

diego9969 (139) 2009-10-05 7:38

Hi Hercules
That is a brilliant shot. Very,very good work in here.
Best regards
Damian

bebbetto (3141) 2009-10-05 7:53

Ciao Hercules.
This picture is a small masterpiece of technique and phantasy

eversmile (6543) 2009-10-05 8:05

Hi Hercules

An interesting subject upon which I ignored everything, a spectacular image on the dristela, with warm colors and a sharp evidence : this is a great ecological invention. Congrats.
Marine

sayeed_rahman (2337) 2009-10-05 9:39

Yours continue to have the gripping graphic effect..but think this one lacks a few elements..something that i am used to in your kind of photography and construction.

Ammm not you though..

cheers
sayeed

Yves-triga (3827) 2009-10-05 9:41

Hello hercules,
very nice effect,this water is frezed,i like,
very nice composition.
well see
yves

JT50 (1075) 2009-10-05 9:52

Hi Hecules,
Fantastic shot. The churning water
in a wooden enclosure and the colours
are just super.
Regards.
Janak

vasilpro (9823) 2009-10-05 10:15

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Εξαιρετική η απόδοση της υφής του νερού και η αποτύπωση της μεγάλης ταχύτητας, στην αρχή νόμιζα ότι ήταν μηχανή παραγωγής μαλλιού της γριάς (αστεϊσμός).
Καλό βράδυ, Βασίλης.

quillo (7440) 2009-10-05 10:48

♥

Hola Hércules ->

Nunca había vista nada parecido ....
¿una lavadora ecológica? .... muy interesante, si señor. Deberíamos tener todos una en casa....
bromas a parte es una excelente toma y te felicito por ello.

Un saludo.

♥

bema (9268) 2009-10-05 11:45

Hercules kalispera,

a great one my friend..best of technology ever seen..
perhabs i will scan my version from souli montains, it´s a bit more urban version..

have a nice evening, kalo vrady, Bernd.

Vato_Law (11782) 2009-10-05 11:53

Hello Hercules.
nice little story allong with the photo where this big swirl rules right in its middle.
It's quite an interesting story this one you bring us which turns the photo into something even more interesting than a "simple" swirl surrounded by rocks.
I didn't know at all about the existence of this washing technique so I can say that today i learned something.
Cheers.
Paulo

francio64 (12182) 2009-10-05 13:02

Ciao Ercules, molto bella e moderna questa ecologic washing machine :))
Il tempo di esposizione un pò lento, ha creato l'effetto vortice nell'acqua, dando movimento alla scena.
Un lavoro molto ben eseguito, grazie anche alla buona gestione della luce. Ottimo lo sharp!

Compliments!
Francesco

coco (28328) 2009-10-05 13:16

Kalispera Hercules.

Fotón. Consigues lo que otros no habrían ni intentado pero que acaba siendo un poco tu seña de identidad: usas la larga exposición como otros no lo harían y tienes resultados como éste con una composición y POV fantástico, además que el lugar también lo es.

Ta leme, file mou.

PD: no te imaginas lo que me ha pasado... hace dos días me iba a ir a Grecia y vino a España aquella chica de Lavrio de la que te hablé y cambié Nafplio y Meteora (seguirán ahí para una próxima vez) por un fin de semana acompañando a mi amiga en el norte de España

giorgimer (21710) 2009-10-05 13:20

Hi Hercules,

with your technical skills and your creativity you can create artworks from each subject! Excellent quality, I like the blurry water.

Very well done!

G

pauloog (7121) 2009-10-05 23:07

Hello Hercules,
A most interesting documentary view, well brought with the spiraling movement of the water well presented together with the worn wooden planks.
Regards,
Paul

muunal (328) 2009-10-06 0:34

Very nice capture of the motion and interesting subject.

Hellas (5131) 2009-10-06 0:35

Τέτοιου είδους εικόνες, ταξιδεύουν ανθρώπους εγκλωβισμένους σε τσιμεντουπόλεις!
Η εσχατιά αυτή του τόπου μας, είναι από τις πολυαγαπημένες μου, ξέρεις!
Παρά τον εκσυγχρονισμό κάποιοι επιμένουν στον παλιό τρόπο και καλά κάνουν!
Τους συμπαθούμε και με τον τρόπο μας τους παροτρύνουμε να συνεχίσουν!
Με παρέσυρες με την φωτογραφία σου και μ’ έκανες να βγάλω ένα αυθόρμητο, αχ!

Το κάδρο είναι απίθανο, με πολύ καλή διαχείριση του χρόνου έκθεσης, του φωτός και με απόδοση εξαιρετική σε χρώμα και ευκρίνεια λεπτομερειών.

Αποδέξου τα συγχαρητήρια μου!

JCG (25911) 2009-10-06 2:49

Hi Hercules,

Very beautiful effect of the long exposure here, I like much this swirl which contrasts marvelously well with the remainder of your image. Once more I appreciate the beautiful quality of the image in particular in the management of the lights, which is not easy in this kind of place… Thank you Hercules.

With all my friendships and a very good day,

Jean-Charles

Budapestman (43344) 2009-10-06 3:40

Hi Hercules,
this is a very interesting photo of this place with spectacular composition and graphic details, superb colours and interesting note, splendid shot! Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

johannita (383) 2009-10-06 4:06

geia sou irakli,

uperoxi i empnefsi sou me tin ekseretiki apotuposi tou trexoumenou nerou na kosmei ti photo. Endiaferon prokalei o prosegmenos fotismos kai to contrast. Mou aresei i leptomeris apotyposi tou ksulou. Aksiologi kai i simiosi sou . Bravo.

xereto,
johannita

antua (470) 2009-10-06 9:12

Καλησπέρα Ηρακλή,

μία εξαιρετική σύνθεση με όμορφες γήινες αποχρώσεις και με το νερό να δημιουργεί ένα καταπληκτικό "εφέ"! Συγχαρητήρια!

Χαιρετώ,
Αντώνης

Dyerco (9404) 2009-10-06 9:34

Fabulous shot. Better than any washing machine today. Good textures in the wood and the stone.
Phil

baclama (4741) 2009-10-06 9:39

bonsoir,
quel bel effet de tourbillon!!!superbement realisé...le jour où j'arriverai à maitriser la vitesse aussi bien, je serai plus que contente!!!
bravo
vero

Longroute (10133) 2009-10-06 11:03

This spinning water in the distela is fantastic and with the fine textures of the surrounding walls create an original and most interesting composition. So good to see. perfect exposure.
Best compliments,
Donato

amazon (10931) 2009-10-06 11:34

yes washing machine)))
perfect timing and details,
i like long exposure,
regards friend,
iffet

Bluejeans (33457) 2009-10-06 12:56

Ola Hercules,
Ficou magnifico o movimento da agua , deu uma bela sensação , os detalhes ficaram fantásticos , boas cores e luz , bom uso do f/11, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

lightsensor (733) 2009-10-06 13:13

hi, Hercules,

nice management on slow shuttle speed here. a prefect example of long exposure and aperture setting. without slower speed, this photo will be boring. as a photographer, you make everything interesting! good job, buddy!

J-P,

barrufeto_77 (25957) 2009-10-06 15:07

Hola tio!

Tremendo el efecto del agua si señor! La verdad que impacta muchísimo!

Un slaudo!

delpeoples (7016) 2009-10-06 16:36

Geia sou Hercules, I've been waiting for your dristela, and as always you give us a very unique and beautiful interpretation of it. The effect on the water both in and outside the dristela is superb. I love the colours and the vertical format. The only problem is how I set one up in my laundry. Any clues? Thanks for sharing and have a great week, Lisa.

axiotea (16359) 2009-10-06 20:36

Geia sou Hercules
Something new for me and an interesting note to understand the functioning of this fantastic ecological washing machine! You have captured very well the swirling movement, by using the long expo, which contrasts nicely with the cylindrical wooden barrel.
Xe xereto
Marilyn

manousos_jr (257) 2009-10-07 10:59

geia sou Irakli!

ekseretiki sunthesi!
to nero se kanei na xanese!
apsoga xrwmata!

poly dynath fwto.
ta sunxaritiria mou!

filika
Georgios....

jemaflor (39895) 2009-10-07 11:46

Hi Hercule,
Superbe effet for the water with the good choice with 1/3s, water seems like ice or fog, interesting result.

Urs (3480) 2009-10-07 16:51

Dear Hercules

Very interesting subject, an ecological washing machine, I had no idea that something like that exists. Thanks for sharing, I must better look out, perhaps similar things are also in this part of the world. Your note is very informative. Also your photograph is very nicely composed and executed - the vapor makes it very special. Well done

best regards
urs

molla (6935) 2009-10-09 1:20

Hercules !
Could this be the great cauldron of The witch boil all her victims in.
it has a bit of a fairytaleish mood in it.
Creatively done
Anders

Tweety (3472) 2009-10-09 23:10

Bonjour Hercules,
Par le choix de la vitesse tu as su extraire un très joli cliché. Le sujet n'érait pourtant pas facile ! Les couleurs bien saturées sont aussi très agréables ainsi que les pierres.
Bravo à toi.
Christophe

Didi (36712) 2009-10-11 4:38

Hi Hercules
Very original and interesting ecological subject.
Well done for the image quality with a low speed.
Best regards

bakes888 (18353) 2009-10-13 23:34

Hi Hercules.
Fascinating process and wonderful photo. Your slow SS has given the shot a dynamic touch and shows well the power of the water. Good handling of light and colours. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

ellelloo (5045) 2009-11-04 1:00

Hello Hercules,
An interesting end excellent TE contribution with a good note and a well presented photo of this ecological washing machine. Good framing, flawless control of light, excellent clarity of details and pleasant colours. TFS!
Greetings from chilly Finland,
Lasse