SERENITY ON STAGE Photo

Photographer’s Note

SERENITY ON STAGE 7/7/2007

Eleven months ago I posted an image Volcano on Stage, photographed two years earlier. In that photo Mt. Etna had served as a majestic backdrop to the 6th century BC Greek Theater, and the occasion for the photograph had been the visit by the Crystal Serenity to Taormina on July 7, 2004. Exactly three years later on July 7, 2007 I was again sailing on the Serenity, when the ship visited Taormina, and again I visited the amphitheater. This time I photographed the Serenity, framing it within one of the portals of the ancient amphitheater. In 1996 the amphitheater had served as the site for the filming of the Woody Allen film, 'Mighty Aphrodite.'

Archimedes (287-212 BC) lived in nearby Syracusa, and was killed during the Second Punic War between the Romans and the Carthaginians. (He was slain by a Roman soldier who had not received word that the life of the great scientist-mathematician was to be spared.) Three centuries earlier, in the 6th century BC, the natural philosopher Empedocles from Agrigento jumped into the crater of Mt. Etna during one of the volcano’s eruptions — driven by the misbegotten notion that he would become immortal by doing so. Now, perhaps Empedocles knows whether it worked.

Nikon D70, 24-200 mm zoom lens, extended to 200 mm, UV-filter; and a tripod.

sayan, siolaw, Wirraway, feather, danos, dokadak, ALIRIZA, ahmetgedikli, Docarmo, Wandering_Dan, jmdaoudal, leo61, ChrisJ, bostankorkulugu, isabela_sor, evanrizo, AROBN54, Tezic, saylan-cb, jurgen, Tue, jhm, meltemi, Henryk_Bilor, papagolf21, adores, singuanti, PixelTerror, stego, gunbud, Angshu, pboehringer, Cricri, jaywalker, MLINES, darrasin, happypoppeye, axiotea, JCG, angeliki has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sayan (2609) 2007-09-21 22:36

Hello Prof. Atalay,

This is a very nice composition and probably you are the most prolific note writer I have ever come across in TE. Your notes are always full of so much information that one learns many things along with a beautiful photo. This one is also very beautiful photo. The framing of the deep blue sea through one of the ancient amphitheatre portal is very nice. The clarity and depth are very good too.

regards

Sayan

erel (11542) 2007-09-21 22:46

MERHABA
Tarihi dokusu ışığı,netliği , kadrajı, ve deniziyle hoş bir mekan .tebriklşer EREL

siolaw (25890) 2007-09-21 23:05

Hi Bulent,
A good vertical and natural arch framing of the scene with cruise ship (yours?)and sea. Original side POV to the window and inclusion of the column adds interest .
Nice architectural details
Greetings
Laurent

Miks (1707) 2007-09-21 23:12

Clever use of the arch which serves a twofold compositional purpose here. It both provides the frame and a horizontal division down the middle. Well seen. Nice strong perspective and well exposed. Most of the detail is preserved in the darker parts.

Motivewise, the modern-ancient theme makes the pic a bit more than a mere postcard.

Best,
Mikkel

Valerka (8159) 2007-09-21 23:16

Hello, Master Bulent,
A really well shown contrast of forms and colours.The caught tourist liner in the arch is a good tip.
I see, one day Italy is to be visited and shot by me as well.:)
TFS
Nice photoWE
Valerka:)

mehr (1358) 2007-09-21 23:17

Hi Bulent,
very interesting capture with great composition and POV.
The sharpnes, light and colors are excellent.
TFS
Bahram

Wirraway (1985) 2007-09-22 0:02

Very nicely done composition Bulent,the framing really makes the image, good informative note as well, keep up the good work.

Regards Ian
Nth Queensland

Silvio1953 (43412) 2007-09-22 2:52

Hi Bulent, wonderful composition with splendid sea, great view well framend by wonderful old arch, good colors, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

feather (50560) 2007-09-22 3:10

I love the use of framing devices in an image and this works very well with the gorgeous blue sea framed by the ancient stones. I don't see the exposure details but your DoF and focus are well chosen for maximum sharpness. Your note about Empedocles made me smile.
Good work
Kath

UnTrained (0) 2007-09-22 4:44

Hi Bulent,
I think the story of Archimedes was the first of an ancient person I ever read and his invitations and researches were (are!) amazing (the book from István Száva). To my knowledge the closest estimation of Pi for a long time (and the idea of Pi also) and a lot more.
Good framing, the column is balancing the gate, the bricks are marvelous. I think in comparison to the foreground is the ship and the bay a bit pale.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

danos (33730) 2007-09-22 5:50

Hello Bulent,
nice this frame from the portal of the ancient amphitheater that created as a frame of the Serenity.Informative your note about Archimedes,a world-wide well known scientist.The colours and the light are well managed specially on the facade of the portal.Excellent the sharpness and the clarity.Well done Bulant.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

setenay (7604) 2007-09-22 7:10

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Yeniden görmek istediğim pek çok yer var siz bu konuda bizlerden çok şanslısınız,Sicilya da progamıma aldığım bir gezi bakalım kısmet ne zaman.
Sütun,sütun başları duvarların dokusunun doğallığı,netlik,dik kadrajla çekim,Antik kapıdan limanın manzarası mükemmel.Elinize sağlık.İyi haftasonu dileklerimle.
setenay

dokadak (11492) 2007-09-22 10:40

Sevgili Hocam,

Fotograflarinizdaki kalite ve sunum notlar ile birlesince seyre doyum olmayan esere donusuyor... netlik, isik ve kompozisyon super... tebrikler

selamlar
hasan

ALIRIZA (16197) 2007-09-22 11:08

Merhaba Bülent Abi,
Liman ve modern bir gemiye antik kemerden güzel bir çerçeve. Güzel bir düşünce ve kompozisyon. Ellerinize sağlık...
Selam ve saygılarımla...
Ali Rıza

jasmis (51313) 2007-09-22 12:14

Smart composition. Old and modern in one set.
Really well done.
Regards.

delic (6735) 2007-09-22 13:54

Merhaba,
Nice framing of the cruise ship with the ancient walls and the column. The ship provides interesting contrast, and serves as a focus of attention. Regards,
Hakan

hattori (2) 2007-09-22 14:13

muhterem hocam,
adeta zaman tünelinden bugüne bir bakış...
netliği ve renkleri ile çok güzel bir kompozisyon
elinize sağlık tebrikler
saygılarımla
nezih

ahmetgedikli (22245) 2007-09-22 16:10

Merhaba Hocam,
Yine tarihi bir pencereden hoş bir bakış...
Netlik, renkler, kontrast ve not şahane...
Elinize sağlık, iyi bir hafta sonu dilerim.
Ahmet

Docarmo (8862) 2007-09-22 19:49

Hi Bulent,
Very effective framing! The colours are very beautiful. A shot with a good visual impact!
Thanks for your note.
Maria do Carmo

jmdaoudal (82) 2007-09-22 23:01

The boat is a nice secondary element, just to promote the trip :-))
I like these old stones and even ruined they have interesting arhitectural and sculptural details.
From this POV it is very well balanced and the thickness of the wall is impressive.
I like it
Jean Michel
Thanks for the note, I also remember Archimede is this one who played in his bathroom with soap and discovered some nice principles ! :-))

leo61 (44112) 2007-09-22 23:46

HI Bulent!
Good idea for this shot and perfect realisation.I like the view through this arch at the bay and the big ship.
REgards,Leo

ChrisJ (70521) 2007-09-23 0:20

Hi Bulent

Good use of the fg arch as a framing device for the bg cruise ship. Superb colour & sharpness withe the vertical format suiting perfectly. Well done!

carper (66132) 2007-09-23 0:38

well Bulent, I must say it is a fantastic looking through,
can you tell me your settings? iso, F-shot, speed,
You used here a tripod, so I believe the F could be higher and the dof could be sharper, tell me whe you not agree with me. Farther it's a very well seen composition, with a good painters eyes, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

bostankorkulugu (34198) 2007-09-23 2:19

serenity'nin en hoş fotoğraflarından biri olsa gerek bu... binlerce yıllık tarihin arasında zarif bir kuğu gibi limanda... yoksa moby dick mi demeli? >:D... bakış açınız ve tiyatronun kemer ve sütunuyla oluşturduğunuz çerçeve göz alıcı bülent bey... tebrikler... sevgi ve saygılar

korkut

anesugur (17114) 2007-09-23 7:49

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Antik ve modern çağın kontrastını sergileyen güzel bir manzara.
Bakış açınız çok iyi.
Selam ve saygılar. Uğur

evanrizo (456) 2007-09-23 8:20

Hi Bulent.
What an excellent view clever framed, through the old "world" to the new one!
The details are very very good to see with very good light control.
Best wishes.
Evan

AROBN54 (10799) 2007-09-23 8:46

Warm, greetings, Bulent!!
What an amazing capture. I love that view through the arch and it is perfectly framed. The light coming in from the side is just right and the details are so sharp you can see all the bricks in the wall. This is wonderful!! Have a great week!!
Shelly

Tezic (16927) 2007-09-23 11:03

merhaba,
mükemmel zamanlama ve harika bir kadraj ile nefis kompozisyon olmuş... tebrikler...

leonorkuhn (14379) 2007-09-23 14:19

Hi Bulent,

It's a perfect capture to me, a cruise ship framed by this old arch! Excellent composition, great light, nice colors and good details.

Well done!
Have a nice week
Leonor

Bluejeans (33423) 2007-09-23 15:19

Ola Bulent,
Que bonita composição com este porta romana de tijolo vermelho com o navio de passageiros de fundo , gostei muito deste primeiro plano , bom uso da foto na vertical , bonitas cores , parabens!!!
Um abraço amigo

Cormac (26461) 2007-09-23 19:07

Great shot! This combines two different elements very well. The arch of the ruin is shown in great detail, making it seem like we are really there. Then when we look through we see the distant water and the cruise ship, giving this a modern twist. Excellent!

Graal (59126) 2007-09-23 23:35

Hi Bulent,
very nice composition, fine natural frame and view in BG. I like it a lot. Good work. Beautiful place and POV.
Gr., Aleksander

saylan-cb (12726) 2007-09-24 0:36

Mimari dokudan açılan çok güzel bir pencere..Denize açılmış
gemi ile tamamlanmış mükemmel bir kare.
Ellerinize sağlık
Selamlar

isabela_sor (42757) 2007-09-24 9:14

Looking the new thru the old arch :)So perfectly seen this scene.Nice juxtaposition,my dear friend
Hugs
A nice Sunday

jurgen (2000) 2007-09-24 10:58

An excellent blend of modern and old. The framing of the ship is almost perfect --if it not where for the bushes to the right. I like the bright view of this picture (I can infer it was like midday because of the shades), but I wonder if a picture by sunset or dusk could also do a nice photo of this same combination of old and modern.
Regards.

bucanas (2209) 2007-09-24 11:41

Hi Bulent,
Good aidea,nice photo.
Regards.
Ralf

Tue (25608) 2007-09-24 13:37

Hej Bulent,
A very good photo with an excellent composition. The arch is great to create this nice looking-through effect and the cruise ship is well placed in the middle of it. The inclusion of the column at the left hand side is great too. The light is very enhancing. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

jhm (83786) 2007-09-25 3:11

Hello friend Bulent,

I like always of a good through look certainly through a gate with a lovely big ship in background, also the contrast are superb, dark brickwork against a lovely blue sky in depth give a nice composition. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

meltemi (9746) 2007-09-25 3:47

Hello Bulent,
I was there too, in 1974 and I remember this view very well. Your picture has an exquisite taste: the colors in conjunction with that very special point of view - and you have this image that will stay in memory. Amazing picture and excellent note as always.
Warm Regards.
Stella

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2007-09-25 10:03

Hi Bulent
I like the framing made from the ancient arch. Lovely light and interesting view at the boat in the background.
Regards

sothy81 (8540) 2007-09-25 12:21

Hi Bulent,

This is such a great capture. I like your perspective of framing this shot by letting our eyes follow your main subject which is the beautiful beach. Very nice to see how you use the ancient architecture as the foreground which is giving us a feeling of ancient vs. modern. You did a great job.

Sothy

toto (18783) 2007-09-26 1:05

Belle photo de ce paquebot pris au travers de ce porche ancien avec cette collonne a coté, cela donne un bel effet. Bonne netteté sur la profondeur de la photo,jolies couleurs et bel ensemble bien pris. Amitiés Thomas
je reviens

papagolf21 (57015) 2007-09-26 2:38

Bonjour, mon ami Bulent,
Ah ! si ces vieilles pierres pouvaient parler, elles ont traversé les siècles et pourraient nous raconter de magnifiques ou de terribles histoires.
Une photographie parfaitement construite avec ce don d'originalité.
Amitiés.
Philippe

adores (15841) 2007-09-26 15:18

Hi Bulent!
Very good composition. The column on the left side is just perfect there and you framed the ship very well. The note is just great!

jrj (34779) 2007-09-27 2:23

Interesting use of this gate in the vertical setting Bulent. The ship is in just the right position to be 'caught' in the line of view. Seems to be an interesting and beatiful place

singuanti (15240) 2007-09-27 20:16

Hello Bulent. That's impressive how balanced you kept your exposure in this tough to meter accurately scene. It's an eye catcher having the boat centered in your archway. Scenes like this are where the use of fill flash can make your life so much easier. Beautiful work Bulent!

rigoletto (27082) 2007-09-27 23:52

Hello Dear Professor,
The Serenity is excellently framed with this Greek arch and column. And i like the beatiful landscape in the background, almost lost in "sfumato". TFS,
Deniz

stego (22500) 2007-09-28 13:14

Hello Bülent,
Very interesting POV to accompany the little History lesson. It's a pity that blue haze, but the rich detail of the fg compensates it largely, making it a wonderful photo. Visiting such historic places is certainly a great experience on its own, but visiting them with your company must be even greater.
Regards, José.

gunbud (28295) 2007-09-28 19:31

Hi Bulent,
Wonderful contrast between the old stone arch and the modern cruise ship. The old brown bricks make a lovely color contrast with the deep blue sea on the other side of the arch. The photo has fine sharpness and clear colors with a very informative note to go along with it.
Regards, Tom

PixelTerror (87195) 2007-09-29 2:20

Hi Bulent,
Nice framing, the big cruise ship just fits in the opening, on such a view the main point is too have all plans sharp which supposes a small aperture considering the low focusing distance to the first plan, you probably did this and also increased your chances being on tripod. You could add the last stengthening touch in selecting the area within the arch and sharpening gently this selection only.
Have a nice week end,
Jean-Yves

pboehringer (770) 2007-09-29 8:24

Bulent,
an interesting composition with the contrast between modernity and ancient history that attains intersting aspects taking into considerations the historic details that you mention in your note. Poor Empedocles, he really became immortal with his jump into the crater, but certainly in a different way that he was expecting.
Regards, Peter

Angshu (34243) 2007-09-30 0:35

Hello Professor "A"
A very good photo & an excellent informative note as always. Well framed with the arch & the columns & the bricks with their red provides a strong contrast with the blue sky & water. I also like the inclusion of the column in the FG. I have to say that with the deep colours of the bricks, the BG of the sea & the ship actually looks pale.
With Warmest Regards
Angshuman "B"

Cricri (44115) 2007-09-30 3:27

Hi Bulent,
Un cadrage bien choisi qui montre un joli paysage, jolies couleurs et détails des vielles pierres par une bonne lumiére
Have a nice sunday for you
cricri

jaywalker (12415) 2007-09-30 3:43

Hi Bulent, Another well composed photo, the choice of POV is excellent, looking through the arch to the ship beyond is superb, the light is wonderful & TFS, kind regards Wilson.

MLINES (11064) 2007-10-02 1:21

Hi Bulent. Another excellent photo with a most interesting note. Good to ocapture this ultra-mosern looking ship through an ancient arch. Fine juxstaposition. TFS. Murray.

mesutilgim (37583) 2007-10-03 8:40

Sevgili Bülent,
Muhteşem bir kare. Ben nasılsa atlamışım. Çok güzel bir kadraj ve mükemmel bir kompozisyon. Ellerine sağlık.
Bu arada sana küçük bir not. Ben hala Şiledeki yazlığımdayım. Bu arada geçtiğimiz hafta sonu komşumuz, matematik hocası bir hanımın elindeki kitap : Math and the Mona Lisa !
Görüyormusun dünya ne kadar küçük.
Selam ve sevgilerle
MESUT ILGIM

darrasin (2860) 2007-10-04 23:23

Greetings Bulent! Thanks for sharing the wonderful view through this ancient doorway. The juxtaposition of the old world details and modern cruise ship is an intriguing combination. Colors and sharpness are quite good.

TFS
Doug

P.S. Thanks for the congratulations on my son.

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-10-08 18:49

Good composition Bulent. Good eye to compose this also. The Serenity is perfectly framed by the arch of the ampitheater. Nice touch including the pillar to the left and sharpness in the foreground fading off with the ship just a bit out of focus but not enough to hurt the photo. I like how the land in the background reaches all the way up to about 75% of the frame. A nice looking shot with good color and a good "double" subject.

Great work
John

axiotea (16359) 2007-10-09 7:40

Hello Bulent
An excellent natural framing through the arch giving a good sense of depth to the picture. You handled well the strong light as the textures and colors are nicely rendered.
Cheers
Marilyn

mumek (17530) 2007-10-11 3:25

Good morning Bulent!
Excellent quality of the photo, very well taken and composed scenery from Sicily. Great sharp details of the arch, superb view at the cruise ship.The note is very interesting and informative.Thanks for sharing
best regards
ziggy

JCG (25875) 2007-10-15 11:30

Hi Bülent,

Attractive look here, the choice of this opening on the ferry is sensible as far as the chosen frame is the most interesting on the architectural plan. Beautiful management of the focus and the natural colors are beautiful and pleasant. Beautiful work and thank you for the always relevant note.

With all my friendships,

Jean-Charles

gervaso (5788) 2007-10-18 5:10

The border you used is great, and the background even better, with perfect colors and sharpness! It's interesting how the sea seems to be merging into the sky, with those blue clouds! Well done!

mineelci (1510) 2007-10-19 3:10

Çok güzel bir detay. geçenlerde serenity istanbuldaydı. görünce gülümsedim kendi kendime. seneye görüşmek üzere

angeliki (211) 2007-11-05 13:27