Varlaam monastery from the Great Meteoro Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is one of the most important monasteries of Meteora the Varlaam Monastery, as it looks from the stairway that goes to the Megalo (Great) Meteoro.

Two more photos from Meteora HERE and HERE.

Some info about these two impressive monasteries that I found in WIKIPEDIA :

"The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron – This is the largest of the monasteries located at Metéora. It was erected in the mid-14th century AD and was the subject of restoration and embellishment projects in 1483 and 1552. The building serves as the main museum for tourists. The church Katholikon, honoured to the Transfiguration of Jesus was erected in the middle of 14th c. and 1387/88 and decorated in 1483 and 1552. [9]

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam – The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in the Metéora complex. It was built in 1541 and embellished in 1548. A church, dedicated to the Three Bishops, is in the Athonite type (cross-in-square with dome and choirs), with spacious esonarthex (lite) is surrounted by a dome. It was built in 1541/42 and decorated in 1548, while the esonarthex was decorated in 1566. The old refectory is used as a museum while North of the Church we can see the parekklesion of the Three Bishops built in 1627 and decorated in 1637."

doubay, aimiliospet, bostankorkulugu, clio, xavshot, patdeph, LamCam, steliosk, dareco, macondo, Muse, portmanndominic, azaf1, Truja, isabela_sor, PixelTerror, kdialyna, Budapestman, delkoo, ifanik, ChrisJ, danos, stelli, leo61, elifpetan, bakes888, Emile, enedimd has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Truja (4948) 2007-11-27 4:14

Hola Hércules,
esta foto es de vértigo!!!! acabo de caerme al suelo siguiendo la vista del monasterio a través del acantilado. Fantástica composición, excelente como siempre.
Menuda envidia sana (por supuesto) que me da el lugar, con este paisaje tan extraordinario.
Las otras dos imágenes complementarias también son excelentes.
Muy buen trabajo!!!

Salut, Jordi

leonorkuhn (9832) 2007-11-27 4:47

Hola Hercules,

Un panorama magnífico con los grandes peñascos que rodean el monasterio. Excelente encuadre, hermosos colores muy bien contrastados en un ambiente emocionante.
BRAVO!

Abrazos
Leonor

portmanndominic (2199) 2007-11-27 4:54

Hercules Gia sou

waouhhhhh , great perspective very good POV , nice colors and as usual useful note
thanks for sharing

Dominic

Muse (29028) 2007-11-27 5:06

Hi Hercules,
Une situation impressionnante et un magnifique panorama.
Superbes couleurs et un tout bon pov et cadrage.
On imagine combien cela a du être difficile de construire en pareil endroit.
Best regards
Denise

Paolo (40445) 2007-11-27 5:18

Hi Hercules, fantastic one! the POV was the great one to have a so beautiful view on the Meteores district!
excellent quality too and wonderful tones.
thnaks, ciao

macondo (11881) 2007-11-27 5:32

Fantastic photo, Hercules.
What an astounding sight this is. Your incredible pov makes me dizzy from here. The colours and light are great for this marvellous composition. First class.
Regards,
Andrew

dareco (15738) 2007-11-27 6:44

WOW! This is unbelievably gorgeous!!!! The colors are fantastic!! WHAT A VIEW!!! Breathtaking! TFS

steliosk (4780) 2007-11-27 7:01

Poly kalh kai auth, alla protimw th 1h pou anafereis sto note.

Aksioshmeiwtes einai oi kampyloparamorfwseis sta katw meros ths eikonas opou se kanei na noiw8eis oti blepeis to meros apo panw pros ta katw, enw ta spitakia sto ba8os einai isia kai apenanti, sxedon or8h gwnia.

Ta skalia de kserw pou odhgoun kai 8a h8ela na ma8w, alla trabages to idio kadro pros ta katw me ligotero ourano 8a ebazes kati akoma sth syn8esh sou kai 8a xalage h gewmetria kai h 8esh pou einai ta spitakia sto ba8os. Eimai sigouros giauto.

Filika
Stelios

LamCam (3603) 2007-11-27 7:08

Hello Hercules
This is simply terrific!!
Great POV, rich colours and wonderful clarity.
I think November must be a good time to visit Meteora. I could not take a similar POV of this in June 2002 - it was so crowded with visitors.
Even if I had succeeded it would certainly not have been as brilliant a shot as this.
You have shown the all the drama and beauty of this fantastic place in a single frame.
Very best wishes Maggie

brandstaetter (12911) 2007-11-27 7:44

Hi Hercules,

it´s an ingenious idea to set up the wide angle lense... and also to show the stair...so we have even a better impression how to get there and what effort was made to build these wonderful site !
With this pic you make me go down to my cellar and look for the slides I made 10 years ago of this place, but I´m sure I haven´t one with the quality of yours !
Compliments, chris

patdeph (15236) 2007-11-27 8:19

hello Herules
this is a very impressive place,and your great POV enhance the vertigo effect!The colours and the light are superb!The texture of the rocks with the lines of green moss adds beauty to the shot.Very well done!
Have a nice evening.
Pascale

xavshot (58383) 2007-11-27 11:28

Bonsoir Hercules
encore une photo qui m'impressionne ! le paysage est superbe et le relief est vraiment bien rendu dans ce point de vue. Bravo, très joli travail.
amicalement
Xavier

gilou530 (31861) 2007-11-27 13:13

salut hercules
un paysage grandiose, du relief du contraste dans cette photo, et surtout un POV fabuleux qui donne une sacré vision
amitiés
gilbert

miumiu (3866) 2007-11-27 13:13

Hello Hercules!
Wonderful composition and colours!
Very special photo, view is breathtaking!
I like it!!
Greetings
Agnes

coco (25650) 2007-11-27 13:47

Kalispera Hercules.

Impresionante la vista y el lugar de por sí.
Además, tu manejo de la luz es increíble.

Fantástico trabajo.

Ta leme, file mou (estoy mirando fechas para ir en diciembre a Atenas... y sino en vacaciones)

clio (20103) 2007-11-27 14:46

Kalispera Hrakli,
Fantastic recording of the monastery of Varlaam with these rocks full of foam and this relief which you emphasized in a vertiginous way. Beautiful light in spite of cloudy weather.
Filika
Artémis

bostankorkulugu (31273) 2007-11-27 16:14

created by mother nature and man power meteora is like a magnet for me... and you present this beauty in the very best way giritli mou...

barrufeto_77 (24439) 2007-11-27 22:47

Hola fiera.

Cachis la mar, por qué Meteora está tan lejos de Atenas? La próxima vez allá hay que ir y ver eso. Como sea.

Estupendo POV que, como Jordi dice, da miedo.

Un saludo, Oscar

stefanocer (9801) 2007-11-28 1:00

It looks like a fantastic place Hercules , great pov and composition , fine colours and depht , compliments .
Stefano.
_Smiles Later_

hatti52 (12652) 2007-11-28 1:02

Hi Hercules,
Amazing scene
great POV,light and colours
excellent quality
compliments

azaf1 (15365) 2007-11-28 1:07

Panemorfes kampiles pou sximatizontai apo tin skala kai tis kirtotites ton braxon pou odigoun to mati sto kirio them
Ta xromata vevai kai to kadrarisma feroun tin gnosti ipografi tou expert
Cum Laude
Argiris

Budapestman (36662) 2007-11-28 1:22

Hi Hercules,
Magnificent image and the POV is marvellous. Colours and lights are beautiful, clarity is superb. This is a really romantic and fascinating place, I like it very much. Congratulations my friend
George

delkoo (31658) 2007-11-28 2:25

hi hercules
I love the framing of your picture... very unusual and very successful. The light is superb... Great picture!
and it has your very personal stamp.

ta leme
didier

ifanik (20212) 2007-11-28 3:48

Yperoxh opws panta file moy
Shmera epese sta xeria moy to afierwma toy periodikoy soy sth n Eyrytania
se ena grafeio taksidiwn poy hmoyn kai prepei na soy pw ta sygxarthria moy
Yperoxo afierwma me yperoxes fwtografies oti dhladh aksizei se ayton ton yperoxo topo (kaneis poly kalh doyleia giati kalo to mhxanilikh alla ta
taksidia kai h fwtografia einai oneiro SE ZHLEYW)
Xairetw
Nikos

danos (27886) 2007-11-28 5:41

Ηρακλή καλησπέρα,
η γωνία λήψης σου είναι εξαιρετική με αποτέλεσμα να βλέπομε τη Μονή Βαρλαάμ,και τον περιβάλλοντα χώρο σε μεγάλο βάθος.Η βαθιά χαράδρωση,και τα δένδρα που την σκεπάζουν δημιουργούν ένα ονειρώδη σκηνικό.Πολύ καλά τα χρώματα και το φως,αν και βλεπω δεν πέτυχες ότι καλύτερο από καιρό.Εξαιρετικό και το σημείωμά σου Μπράβο.

Σε χαιρετώ,Δάνος

stelli (2838) 2007-11-28 9:53

What a view! It's one of those that you can call breathtaking! I have been there and your photograph depicts reality in an absolute way! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

leo61 (40904) 2007-11-28 13:10

Hi Hercules!
This is the first time I see this monatery from this great POV.A geat shot which shows very well how nice it is situated.Good light and nice natural colors.
Regards,Leo

maduixeta (1793) 2007-11-28 13:50

Hola Hercules,
una imagen espectacular! excelente la profundidad y la sensación de vértigo que consigues transmitir. Unos colores preciosos a pesar del dia nublado.
Buen trabajo,
Saludos,
Sònia.

isabela_sor (39766) 2007-11-28 14:24

I think this is the best image of Meteora ever seen on TE !!!!The POV,details and the colors well saturated ...all excellent
Have a nice day

Greg1949 (7685) 2007-11-28 16:45

Hercules, ok, now you are in with Sevy, you guys on the edge looking over, makes me crazy. Great capture, love the moist feeling of all the green.

Greg

ChrisJ (65367) 2007-11-29 1:01

Hi Hercules

One for the vertigo files! A marvellous pov looking downwards over these intriguing rocky crags. Good sharpness, colour & fighting. Tfs!

elifpetan (1190) 2007-11-29 2:31

If i go to Greece one day i would like to see Meteora very much. Very nice picture Hercules.
Best wishes
Elif

batalay (19188) 2007-11-29 10:33

Hello Dear Hercules,

A spectacular photograph of a spectacular site. Your perspective and composition are exquisite and your exposure and resolution masterfully accomplished. With the highly informative note this is another fabulous package and gift for Trekearth. I have very good memories of my visit there, but visiting on a bus, and having to adhere to limited schedules makes it impossible to see the place in all its glory.

Warm regards,

Bulent

AROBN54 (10150) 2007-11-29 14:30

Hello, Hercules,
what an astonishing view!! I opened it and nearly had vertigo. :)) Wonderful POV, fabulous colors. I have never seen anything like that and the depth is just awesome. I love the way that incredible chasm starts in the front corner and leads the eye on in. This is a magnificent shot! Many thanks and warm regards,
Shelly

daddo (10427) 2007-11-30 0:21

Hi Hercules. You seem to have been perched like an eagle to get this incredible Pov.The rock faces seem to twist and turn, playing with our vision, while the monastery stands "rock solid".Beautiful work Hercules and a homage to those individuals who defied gravity and exhaustion in order to build such a remote retreat for the believers. Regards. Klaudio.

kdialyna (2986) 2007-11-30 2:53

Εντυπωσιακή η λήψη σου φίλε Ηρακλή.
Το τοπίο βέβαια ειναι φοβερό απο μόνο του, αλλά η γωνία που διάλεξες για την φωτογράφηση αναδεικνύει όλη την μοναδική ομορφιά του.
Χαιρετώ
Κώστας

PixelTerror (81500) 2007-12-01 2:06

Hi Hercules,
The place became famous outside Greece thanks to a James Bond movie... Nice comprehensive vertical framing to get an idea of the deep gorge, rendering of the colors, especially greens is very good considering the overcast weather.
Have a nice day JY

doubay (5035) 2007-12-03 8:36

Gia su Irakli!
Theoro aftin edo tin fotografia idietera epitichimeni os pros tin optiki gonia ke to kadrarisma. Ta Meteora omos, gia na ime ilikrinis, ta vrisko pleon os thema tragika vareta.
Chereto
Andreas

bakes888 (16582) 2007-12-04 0:10

Hi Hercules. Great photo. Excellent wide angle capture. I love the colours and patterns you have captured in this shot. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

Emile (19038) 2007-12-05 9:15

Hola Hercules.
La verdad que cuando miras la profundidad del precipicio uno se marea, parece que tu POV esta localizado en el aire mirando hacia la escalera.
Precioso lugar y sobre todo muy interesante con los monasterios en el tope de las montañas rocosas. Excelente fotografia.
Abrazos.

enedimd (1482) 2007-12-08 12:28

Hi Hercules,
Wonderful shot with great POV, perspective, saturated colors, contrast and composition. Impressive and breathtaking shot.
TFS,
Warm regards,
Emir Nedim