Queen of the Cyclades Photo

Photographer’s Note

‘Syros: Ermoupolis - Queen of the Cyclades’

Approaching Ermoupolis, the capital of the Cyclades (also called the ‘Queen of the Cyclades’, the ‘Duchess of the Aegean’ and the ‘Noble Lady of the Aegean’), most people are surprised by the spectacular sight on the houses cascading down to the harbour.

The town stands on a naturally amphitheatrical site. All the houses are built on two steep mountain slopes, situated side by side, like twins.

There are many neo-classical buildings, old mansions in pastel shades and white houses.

From http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/syros/syros-villages/syros-ermoupolis.htm:

Eleftherios Venizelos said that ‘Greece was reborn in Ermoupolis’, and everyone who has the chance to visit this marvel will agree with this statement.

To build this marvellous town, many European architects came from various countries like Germany, Italy and Greece, and joined their talents in a glorification of artistic and architectural beauty.

The magnificent Miaouli square is one of the most beautiful squares in Greece. It is known for its tall palm trees that shadows small coffee shops and restaurants, creating an attractive scene and relaxing atmosphere.
The square is surrounded by the superb building of the Town Hall which was designed by the famous Bavarian architect Ziller and finished in 1898. It is the most magnificent neoclassical building in Greece and the most grandiose mansion of the island.

Nelu_Goia, chrkont, paololg, phwall, trekks, parbo, belido, Charo, riclopes, gracious, Emile, danos, dtsarpalis, AiresSantos, jhm, Sne011, jaywalker has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Nelu_Goia (2742) 2009-01-26 23:54

Hello Paul,
Wow!That town looks like it`s made of candies,in the kids`s world!
Superb colors,definition and layering,showing us that sunny paradise.
I simply love it!
Cheers:)
Nelu

aadilj (17950) 2009-01-27 1:30

Hi Paul, this is so well and beautifully composed with a wide view, beautiful colours and a lovely freshness. I like your capture and composition

bema (9062) 2009-01-27 3:53

Hi Paul,

really a magnificent capture of this beautiful city, perfect sharpness and depth..
good photo-job.

have a fine day, regards Bernd

chrkont (3669) 2009-01-27 4:08

Hi Paul
Wonderful capture with vivid colors on buildings and very good light.
This colorful composition is what all photographers dream.
Maybe you should crop 2cm sea from the bottom to give a more panoramic feeling.
TFS - Regards
Christos

Greg1949 (8519) 2009-01-27 4:47

Paul, this is a fine shot and I love the saturated colors. I think clouds in he sky would have helped the overall feel of it but of course that is something that is beyond your control. Superb post.

Greg

lousat (16052) 2009-01-27 11:42

Hi Paul,no better point of view,excellents details and colors,beuatiful pic,have a nice day,Luciano

Fis2 (46365) 2009-01-27 14:17

Czesc Paul!
Wonderful place, very interesting architecture.
Good frame and super colors.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

paololg (14227) 2009-01-27 15:24

Ciao Paul,
unbelievable the excellent technical quality of this photo. The perfect sharpness and the good management of the color, give us the feeling of the threedimensionality, allowing us to appreciate the details of this suggestive sea village. Compliments!
Ciao, buona notte!
Paolo

diomed (4595) 2009-01-28 2:49

Hi Paul,
very nice this post card of Ermoupolis : amazing light, soft and nice colours, good POV.
Nice day
Antonio

Waylim (11153) 2009-01-28 16:06

Paul,
This is such a beautiful image of the city by the sea, such a beautiful colors of the all the houses on the hills. There is a bit of noise, but the good sharpness and clarity. Very pleasant and great POV from the sea. Thanks Sorry, I just ran out of point to give. I'll make it up later.
Way

skippy007 (7327) 2009-01-28 18:18

Hello Paul, A very beautiful scene & well captured, the detail, colours & light are perfect. I like the contrast between the pastel colours of the houses & deep blue sea. The ship is also an interesting element. A truly lovely E picturesque scene.
Bravo.
Ciao
Santo

phwall (5701) 2009-01-28 20:20

Hello Paul,
Lovely shot, the town is so jam packed with all sorts of colours and buildings you wonder where one starts and the other ends.
Superbly composed with an excellent POV.
I like the water in the foreground, it serves well to show how concentrated the town is to the waters edge.
Wonderful sharps and depth.
Very good work.
Regards
Peter

trekks (14334) 2009-01-28 21:00

hi Paul

Very interesting to see the cluster of buildings on a slope and facing the sea, and there are not many places of the world that can attract tourists like Greece. Very good view of the landscape and well captured POV. Day time version and wonder how the evening version will look like.

tfs, bill

cobra112 (11914) 2009-01-29 5:18

Hi Paul. Good POV for right space management to give depht. Some problem in BG.

Roberto

giorgimer (21478) 2009-01-30 0:16

Hi paul,

very nice image. I like a lot this view with the moltitude of faceades and colors. The ship adds interest.

Well done!

Gio

parbo (11006) 2009-01-30 10:59

Hello Paul,

The city textures is very attractive since your well taken photo's thumbnail. I like this splendid texture created by traditional Greek architecture styles while laying all over hills with their fantastic "human" size scales and colorful facades. Your photo also shows a common problem in Aegean shores even any famous place some where all over world that the constructions are finishes green textures everywhere. The blue of Aegean water is splendid, congratulations. Have a nice weekend.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

belido (16813) 2009-01-31 4:44

Bonjour Paul,

Greece is definitely a wonderful country! Here you present a very nice and colorful coastal town. The inclusion of the ship was a clever idea, it's a good focal point in the photo. Lighting is really pleasant. Very good work!
Regards,
Carlos

lightsensor (733) 2009-01-31 7:17

hi, Paul,
thanks to share this "postcard" to us. it really show the best part of Greece. the buildings and houses on the hill and next to the sea. feels like lots tourists in this busy area. nice catch!

J-P,

Charo (31779) 2009-01-31 18:27

Hello Paul,
This beautiful view of the city with its beautiful colors house over the hill. Excellent composition with great details.
Best regards,
Charo

riclopes (33131) 2009-02-01 0:06

Olá Paul, I think the phrase in the note "spectacular sight on the houses cascading down to the harbour" says it all. This POV is great showing that cascading effect and the red ship is a nice bonus of contrast that makes the stripe of sea more alive. Good placement of the hill on the left in the empty space of the ondulating mountains in the background.
best regards,
ricardo

bernardec (2235) 2009-02-01 3:31

Hello Paul,

je trouve cette photo superbe.
Une invitation aux cyclades, avec une mer d'un bleu profondet de magnifiques maisons aux nuances de blanc.
Very good sharpness too and colors!
Bernard

darek1978 (11491) 2009-02-01 10:58

Hello Paul,
This is really great shot with amazing colour of the water and wonderful, very interesting architecture. Beautiful place well composed. Congratulations!
Regards,
Darek

gracious (20017) 2009-02-01 11:21

Bonjour Paul,
Yes, the sight of the houses cascading down to the harbour really makes a unique and beautiful scenery alright!!
you had captured with the beautiful sunlights comes upon the harbour!
thanks for this wonderful shot of yours
merci
tony

Emile (20117) 2009-02-01 13:43

Hola Paul.
Superb shot of this beautiful town, captured from a good POV at sea, the combination of colors of all this lovely houses creates a wonderful composition. The inclusion of the ship was a good idea. Very well captured with great sharpness and frame. Wish a nice week ahead.
TFS.
Best regards.

bracasha75 (22367) 2009-02-02 14:29

Helo Paul
Well this is nice ,very nice look on this place Syros in Greece and impresion is big
Very good work Paul
TFS
Cheers,Braca

rodgerg (24937) 2009-02-03 3:33

Dag Paul,

Zeer, zeer mooie. Een zeer goed utilisatie van het licht and mooie kleuren. Een photo rijk in kleuren gioed verzameld.Mooi evenwicht in de samenstelling. Een mooi en goed photowerk.
Vriendschappen,
Roger

hdl (6737) 2009-02-03 4:18

Dag Paul. Je hebt gelijk; het is werkelijk mooi hoe de huizen tegen elkaar de heuvel als het ware opklimmen. Een mooie compositie die doet denken aan de zomer (die ooit wel weer zal komen; voor het ogenblik niet naar buiten kijken!).

danos (33240) 2009-02-03 9:19

Hello Paul,
really Syros has a spectacular sight but especially Ermoupolis the capital of island is worth these titles as you mention in your note.Excellent panoramic shot of the amphitheatrical placement of the houses on the hills.Well done.

Have a nice evening,Danos

mauro61 (16268) 2009-02-03 10:41

ciao Paul,
l'azzurro del mare è la prima cosa che mi colpisce del tuo scatto.
Ottima poi la composizione con belle tonalità pastello delle case e ottima definizione.
buona serata
maurizio

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2009-02-04 4:13

really a queen of city. This is an amazing city picture with beautiful natural colours and light. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

AiresSantos (42844) 2009-02-04 23:22

Hi Paul
Amazing View from Syros. Great POV, details and colours. I like how you framed it with the red boat on left side.
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

jhm (83298) 2009-02-05 3:16

Dag Paul,

U plaatste de boot mooi links in beeld, zodat de stad in de achtergond de volle aandacht krijgt.
Kleur van het blauwe water samen met de dicht bevolkte stadmaaktditbedemoe duk.
Goed gedaan, bedankt.

Groeten
John.

Sne011 (3103) 2009-02-05 14:10

Wow, outstanding beauty! This place is really wonderful and you managed to make a perfect shot! I like very much your point of view with all the details, the ship, the church on one hill, fortress on the other hill..and the great deal of those beautiful crowded houses. Excellent work Paul!
Best regards,
Sneza

jaywalker (12302) 2009-02-05 15:49

Hi Paul, The liner makes the building behind look like toy houses, a really beautiful photograph with great detail & amazing light, the colours are sharp & excellent composition, kind regards Wilson.

npecanhuk (14652) 2009-03-07 4:26

Hi Paul!
Excellent low pov to compose this photograph! Then we have beautiful colors, pretty adequate sharpness and correct exposure! Result: a very attractive and wonderful picture, that really pleases me!
TFS - Congratulations!
Warmest regards,
Neyvan

zumoduvas (1974) 2009-04-16 7:44

Hello Paul.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.