Ag Theodora Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

My dear friends, after a long break, I've returned.
Many things have happened in my life since the last few months, but I think everything is under control now.
One of the bad things is that I've a lost a huge collection of post processed photos which is the one of the reasons I haven't post for a while, plus my EF-S 18-55 lens got out of order.
Thankfully I bought a couple of new Lenses and restored my computer where I'll continue my work and shares.
Thank you all for your Messages and support!

***

Ag Theodora is one of the living miracles in Greece.
I'll describe why.

This little church was build somewhere between the 11th and the 12th century.
This church has 17 trees on the roof, each tree weight over a ton.
The ground isn't solid enough for those trees to be placed.
Another unexplained phenomenon is the underground water which flows from the church and beyond.

But the part I can describe with my own eyes, is that nowhere you'll find a root from the trees inside the church.

Many research has been made, even with X rays to find wherever the roots are inside the walls of the church, but its not.
I forgot to mention that the trees height are almost 30 meters!

Now imagine a tiny church not more than 3x2 meters having 17 trees on the roof of each weights 1 ton (or maybe more if you calculate also the weight of the leaves for each season, and weather conditions such wind and stormes), 30 meters height, since 12th century, without any physical explanation or damage.

Thats gotta be a miracle!!

According to the myth, Theodora was a young girl who joined the army disguised as a man, since she had no brothers and her father was too old to join in.
Apparently another young girl fell in love with Theodora (thought she was a man) and told their commander that she was pregnant from Theodora.
Then the commander offer to Theodora two choices:
Marry the young woman, or sacrifice herself.
Obviously Theodora couldn't marry the other girl.
Her faith in God was huge, so before her death, she spoke to the god and said...

"Let my body become a church
My blood a river
My hair the forest"

more info about Ag Theodora you will find in WikiPedia
and here

About the shot:
===============
I have many shots of this church, but I chose a night version which atmosphere is stronger.
Not many words to say. Typical settings AP program used, tripod set, and let the speed running.

Post processing Notes:
======================
- Major white balance adjustment (since the ambient light from lamp was red)
- Some Contrast and Saturation adjustments also
- JPEG 200kb optimization.

CatherineD, danyy, lilimih33, Dyerco, jorgi, miumiu, danos, azaf1, stelli, kdialyna, ifanik, Cretense, Paul65, angela926, bostankorkulugu, portmanndominic, Rosa, jusninasirun, dip has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danyy (67958) 2008-03-01 15:05

Bonjour Stelios,
superbes lumières ici, et des couleurs naturelles malgré ces éclairages très particuliers. La photo est agréablement cadrée.
Regards.
daniel.

CatherineD (4827) 2008-03-01 15:05

What a nice surprise to see a photo of you, Stelio file mou!
I'm happy you are back and that everthing in your life in "under control". We missed so much you clever eye and your beautiful photos.
And you come back with a real amazing photo of this magic place. 17 trees in the roof: incredible ! This night shot add some mystery to the place, with the shadows and the beautiful bell.
I wish you the best,
Filika,
Katerina

lilimih33 (9870) 2008-03-01 15:16

Hello Stelilos!
Lovely night picture!
I'm so pleased you are back!!!!!! ;)
Beautiful composition, like always!
Best regards!
Lili

Dyerco (8854) 2008-03-01 17:27

Hi Stelios
What a unique little church. Thanks for the write up. These stories are always fascinating. Can you post a daylight shot to show the trees more clearly.
Phil

lousat (14984) 2008-03-01 17:58

Hi Stelios, like a lot this kind of night pics,your is perfect under all corners of view,my best compliments,Luciano

jorgi (3798) 2008-03-01 23:29

Hi Stelios,

I'm glad to see a new photo in your gallery! It has been a while but far from forgotten. Your "comeback" is of most high level with masterly controled light which creates moody ambient of intensive colours and strong shadows. Peacefull yet quite dramatic effect. Again, nice to see you here again and hopefully all the best from now one.

Kindest regards and pleasant Sunday,
Jeri

Vames (4356) 2008-03-02 0:43

καλημέρα Στέλιο ,έχω δει πολλές φορές και έχω ακούσει για την Αγ.Θεοδώρα.έκανες μια υπέροχη λήψη !

azaf1 (15541) 2008-03-02 1:00

Geia sou Stelio
Se xasame toso kairo kai xairomai idiatera pou se ksanapolamvanoume me afti tin apithani foto me ta dika sou xromata kai diathesi kai to apithano kadrarisma
filika
Argiris
Tha epaneltho

miumiu (3866) 2008-03-02 2:48

Hello Stelios!!!!
Nice to see you again in TE!!! How are you??
Very beautiful photo and calm atmosphere!
l like it!!
Best wishes
Agnes

Bruno40 (6440) 2008-03-02 3:07

Hi friend
I am sorry to hear the bad news about the lost of photos. I hope you had kept the original files somewhere else.
Glad to see you back here, I ahve been out too.. too busy.
Incredible place you bring to us today.. I learned something new.
Well done
Jorge

stelli (2939) 2008-03-02 11:06

Very good composition and excellent use of light! It looks peaceful! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

kdialyna (3068) 2008-03-02 12:12

Καταρχάς Στέλιο καλώς όρισες.
Τα νέα σου είναι λίγο δυσάρεστα όσον αφορά τις φωτογραφίες που έχασες φαντάζομαι λόγω "κτυπήματος" του σκληρού.
Εύχομαι να είναι μόνο αυτές οι στεναχώριες σου...
Ευχάριστη η επιστροφή σου με αυτή την όμορφη νυκτερινή φωτογραφία απο την Αγία Θεοδώρα.
Ελπίζω η επιστροφή σου να καλύψει ποσοτικά το φωτογραφικό κενό που άφησες λόγω της απουσίας σου.
Χαιρετώ
Κώστας

ifanik (20462) 2008-03-03 1:00

Epiteloys mia foto apo esena
Elpizw na einai ola kala twra
Poly omorfh kai kalotrabhgmenh ws synhthos file moy
Den eixa dei foto me thn Agia Theodora brady
Bravo kai eyxomai olopsyxa kalh synexeia
Xairetw
Nikos

danos (31652) 2008-03-03 2:02

Στέλιο καλησπέρα,
καλώς όρισες στην παρέα μας με αυτή την εξαιρετική νυκτερινή φωτογραφία από την Αγία Θεοδώρα που για πρώτη φορά βλέπω σε νυκτερινή version.Λυπήθηκα για το ότι έχασες ένα μεγάλο μέρος από τις επεξεργασμένες φωτογραφίες σου και το ότι τα 'έπαιξε' ο φακός σου,δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω πως.Εκτός αν σου έπεσε μέσα σε νερό ή έπαισε με δύναμη κάτω.
Έχω και εγώ τραβήξει πολλές ημερήσιες φωτό και καλά έκανες και ανέβασες αυτήν την βραδυνή λήψη, λουσμένη από τους προβολείς.

Εύχομαι καλή εβδομάδα,Δάνος

Cretense (54794) 2008-03-03 10:43

Γεια σου Στέλιο!

Επιτέλους μια καινούρια φωτογραφία από εσένα! Μας έλειψες φίλε, ελπίζω να επανέλθεις σε κανονικούς ρυθμούς! Καταπληκτική λήψη (αυτό δεν είναι νέο!) από ένα καταπληκτικό μέρος! Εχω ακούσει πολλά γι΄ αυτη την εκκλησία, την οποία ελπίζω να δω κάποτε από κοντά, με τη βοήθεια και την ξενάγηση σου! Συγχαρητήρια για αυτή τη δύσκολη, αλλά απολύτως επιτυχημένη λήψη!

Ηρακλής

angela926 (1882) 2008-03-04 7:40

Hello Stelios,
Very nice shot, lovely colors and nice light, good sharpness and depth of field,nice textures and fantastic composition.
Angela

evanrizo (456) 2008-03-04 8:57

Γειάσου Μάστορα Στέλιο,
με την εκπληκτική εικό9να σου, ειδικά σε φωτιστικό έλεγχο και αποτέλεσμα.
Τα χρώματά της και οι λεπτομέρειές της πάρα πολύ καλά.
Καλώς επέστρεψες.
Βαγγέλης

TopGeo (21393) 2008-03-04 9:30

Γειά σου Στέλιο!
Στην Σκόπελο λένε: έμαθα πώς ήλθες? ήλθες?
Προ έτους πέρασα από το σημείο αυτό και λόγω ομίχλης χάθηκα και βγήκα αλλού. Σε ευχαριστώ που τώρα την βλέπω! Η δυσκολία αποτύπωσης πρέπει να είναι ήταν γεγονός, αλλά τα κατάφερες να παρουσιάσεις μια νυχτερινή ενδιαφέρουσα στιγμή!
χαιρετώ
Γεώργιος

bostankorkulugu (33334) 2008-03-04 22:25

heeey, look who is back?:D... i hope this means everything is going well with you file mou;)... interesting story about the chapel... and a good shot with superb light management... the place looks theatrical... cant wait to see your forthcoming shots stelio... best wishes fom milan...

korkut

portmanndominic (2388) 2008-03-05 10:29

Stelio a second kalispera

i look at your picture after my answer to you message , good to see that everything is under control and best wishes for the future
good story about a nice shot , you are one of the masters of the night lights congratulations
TFS
and many pictures soon you can TE need then

Filika

Dominikos ;-)

jusninasirun (10074) 2008-03-07 21:12

Hello Stelios. This is another clever play of light and shadow. Nice composition showing all the desired details here. Regards. Jusni

Rosa (4581) 2008-03-08 1:21

Bonsoir Stelios,
Superbes lumières et des couleurs sont si naturelles malgré l'éclairage particulier de tres jolis details sur cette belle photo.
Un cadrage superbe, felicitation,
Amitiés,
Rosa
je reviens

toto (18547) 2008-03-08 1:26

Belle photo de cet endroit et comme dans la suivante et bien d' autre, gande maitrise de cette superbe lumière.
Bien saisi le calme et la quiétude de cet endroit bien beau a visionnez.

Amitiés Thomas
Je reviens

dip (12408) 2008-03-09 16:27

Geia sou Stelio,
epitelous epestrepses kai pali sto TE:)
polu krima pou xathike tosi douleia kai sigoura polu kali douleia,afou oles oi foto sou einai pragmati monadikes,
fantastiki kai auti i nuxterini lipsi apo tin Ag. Theodora,
entuposiakos fotismos,par'olo pou einai nuxta kataferes na min exeis oute ena simeio pou na einai teleios skoteino,
polu kali douleia! Dimitris.

NMaverick (0) 2008-03-26 11:59

Δεν μου αρέσει καθόλου η βραδινή version και αυτό γιατί την τραβάς πέρα από τα μικρά όρια της ψηφιακής απεικόνισης. Έχεις πάρα πολλές την ημέρα, γιατί δεν φτιάχνεις καποια από αυτές; Θυμάμαι ήταν σε JPG μήπως όμως έχεις και RAW δεν ξέρω. Δες αυτή (http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=475694) έστω και καμένη, για να δεις τι χρωματισμοί υπάρχουν τη μέρα, έστω και με ίσκιο στο μέρος.
Νίκος

Juntas (3049) 2008-04-21 17:04

Hey Stelios. Great nightshot. Nice details, wonderful light and an amazing story. Love the bell. All the best. Paulo.