Postcard from Coimbra, a photo from Coimbra, North

Photographer's Note

Our third day in Portugal: Coimbra.
I thought I will manage to walk throughout the whole old town in few hours. I didn’t. It took us several hours just to appreciate the oldest university in Portugal. The first Portuguese university was actually founded in Lisbon by King Dinis in 1290, however in 1537 it was transferred to Coimbra and located in what used to be King Alfonso’s palace.
As you can imagine for the blue hour I headed straight to the riverside. Here you see a view across river Mondego and Ponte de Santa Clara to the old town. The tower which you see on the top of Alcacova hill is the university’s bell tower (1733).
Fortunately the blue hour was so early that we still managed to be in time for a Coimbra Fado concert.

npecanhuk, asajernigan, Urs, Cretense, denisn72, gnuri, jhm, jjanczyk, Amaz, AiresSantos, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

npecanhuk (53919) 2009-09-17 3:13

Hello Mariusz!
Classical view of COIMBRA!
Outstanding night picture! Sharpness, exposure, dof and colors are excellent! The classical viewpoint was pretty well chosen and the composition is effective with attractive visual results!
I specially like the golden reflections of the lights on the water surface and how sharp the buildings are, allowing me to see all their details!
TFS - congratulations!
My warmest regards,
Neyvan

asajernigan (19669) 2009-09-17 3:33

Mariusz,
This is a fantastic blue hour shot! The low angle lighting gives the scene nice warm colors. The reflection adds color and texture to the shot. The blending of natural and artificial lighting is excellent here bringing our nice details and good color. Your composition is fine with the bridge creating diagonal through the shot.
TFS,
Asa

hardyuno (4646) 2009-09-17 3:35

Hi Mariusz,
again a wonderful blue hour photo from Portugal. It is very well composed and exposed. Great work, TFS
Have a nice day
Hartmut

lightsensor (753) 2009-09-17 3:51

hi, Mariusz,
very nice long exposure shot! nothing wash out at all. composition is prefect too. well done!

J-P,

jurek1951 (35765) 2009-09-17 5:00

Witaj Mariusz,
piekne swiatlo i refleksy na wodzie,ladna kolorystyka,pieknie pokazana architektura miasta,pozdrawiam
Jurek

celmaleite (4968) 2009-09-17 6:51

Coimbra dos doutores, Coimbra dos amores...Famosa por suas faculdades e também pela sua beleza. Gosto das luzes, das cores. Ótimo enquadramento. Parabéns!

Jeppo (17623) 2009-09-17 9:27

czesc Mariusz,

I think you add a great time in Portugal. I am also planning the possibility to go there for Xmas vacations....and I think Coimbra will be a place to visit.

I love the golden effect of the electric lights on the river you were able to capture.
(I am still working on night settings to capture images in this wonderful quality)

tfs
Silvio

Urs (11872) 2009-09-17 10:20

Dear Mariusz

Fado, I like to listen to it a lot, We have some Audio CDs here in Bangkok, however we have never been to Portugal, only to Spain a few times. Your night shot looks almost not real, but it must be real. I do not think that you used a filter, which could be possible. Cokin has a good selection, I know, I have used them some decades ago. Thanks to the tripod your sharpness is excellent. Also the light management has produced vibrant colors. Well done

Best regards
Urs

Cretense (68663) 2009-09-17 11:34

Hello Mariusz!

If I saw such a postcard in a shop, I would surely buy it!!! Great composition and framing, excellent light managment, fantastic colours! Beautiful atmosphere! Congratulations!

Hercules

denisn72 (8300) 2009-09-17 14:37

Hello Mariusz,
The settings are perfect. Amazing colours and reflection on the water. The point of view is very good showing the bridge as an interesting diagonal. This city is nice and well presented. This makes a great postcard indeed!
Best regards
Denis!

Fis2 (73146) 2009-09-17 15:10

Czesc Mariusz!
Faktycznie ciekawa pocztowka.
Zadziwiajaca kolorystyka.
Ale wrazenie robi pozytywne.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

Graal (88982) 2009-09-17 23:54

Czesc,
bardzo fajna ta pocztowka. Dobra pora na taka fotografie, gdy zapalily sie swiatla a niebo jeszcze jasne. Swietna prezentacja miasta w interesujacym kadrze, sporo w nim zmiesciles. Podoba mi sie.
Pozdr. Al.

gnuri (51) 2009-09-18 0:47

Hi Mariusz,
Another great shot with evening lights.
Good sharpness and colours.
Ste

jhm (122490) 2009-09-18 2:17

Witaj Mariusz,

I specially like the golden reflections of the lights on the water surface and how sharp the buildings are
The point of view is very good showing the bridge as an interesting diagonal.
Splendid city picture, pleasant for look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice wwekend,
John.

xuaxo (6830) 2009-09-18 4:26

Hello Mariusz!
A typical view of Coimbra, but with the bonus of the golden lights at twilight.
Greetings,
Francisco

jjanczyk (2579) 2009-09-18 9:24

Witaj Mariusz,
Wooow!!! Rewelacja!
Fantastyczna kolorystyka, bajeczne refleksy w lustrze wody, doskonaly POV i DOF.
Pozdrawiam

Amaz (11475) 2009-09-19 14:45

It is really a great capture, here!!
Great composition and extremely amazing colors!!

Superb work, Mariusz!!

Very well taken!!

My congrats!!!

macjake (39235) 2009-09-20 18:41

Hello Mariusz

Blue hour photography is my favorite. You have captured it well.
Beautiful reflections on the water, and superb clarity and depth of field.
excellent photo
Craig

AiresSantos (56155) 2009-09-21 0:14

Hi Mariusz
Amazing details in this golden picture from Coimbra.
Very well chosen the POV and handled the light
Yes, It's a postacard
Regards my dear friend
Aires

JanD (0) 2009-09-21 5:17

Czolem Mariusz!
Swietne kolory, piekny widok na miasto na wzgorzu. Dobra ostrosc.
Pozdrawiam.

photoray (4926) 2009-09-22 12:13

Hello Mariusz,
As with everyone else an excellent art image, I really enjoy the golden lighting on the detailed buildings, stacked up the hillside during the blue light period.

Good job,
Ray

When you visit Utah in November be prepared for cool weather and probable snow at higher elevations like Bryce which is above 6,000 feet. Zion is also magical this time of year and at a lower sea level. anyway , Enjoy and have fun....

Pablo25 (3184) 2009-09-25 13:16

witaj Mariusz,
no wreszcie jestem u ciebie w galerii Panie kolego i musze przyznac ze dobrze trafilem bo bardzo mi sie tu podoba. Ja ostatnio troche bylem zaganiany w kraju i niestety nic nowego z Polski nie przywiozlem ale za to ty masz swietne fotki z wakacji. Bardzo ladna pocztowka, az nie moge oczu oderwac! O stronie technicznej sie juz nie wypowiadam, pozwol tylko ze ja sobie zabiore:)
pozdrawiam
Pawel

Bluejeans (64239) 2009-09-28 5:32

Ola Mariusz,
Beleza de foto de Coimbra , uma luz fantástica em tons de dourado, o céu na Blue Hour , bonitos detalhes de arquitectura ,bonito ponto de visão , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

quillo (11840) 2009-12-19 1:45

♥

Hola Mariusz ------------->

Marvellous image of the city of Coimbra,
the light and the reflexes are excellent,
I like much the framing with
the protagonist's bridge in the composition.

Congratulations friend.

Un saludo.

♥

yeln (11502) 2010-08-22 23:25 [Comment]

Show Comment

Tukan-T5 (4317) 2010-09-06 20:26

Cześć Mariusz,
piękne,złoto-świetliste zdjęcie, o tej wiadomej,jedynej godzinie.
Znakomicie pokazuje niezaprzeczalny urok tego miejsca.
Rzeczywiście wspaniała pocztówka.
Pozdrowienia serdeczne Tomek

mikolaj_kawa (0) 2010-12-31 1:30

Ola Mariusz!
Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra. Ciagle slysze piosenke Amalii Rodrigues "Coimbra".
Piekne zdjecie.
Trzymaj sie w Starym i w Nowym!!!
Saudacoes!

delpeoples (45018) 2011-02-23 21:47

Hi dear Mariusz

This photo blows me away. You must be so proud of it, I wish I had this in my Gallery. It is perfectly lit, with beautiful natural colours and impressive sharpness. The reflections on the water and perspective of the bridge are just cherries on an already flawless cake.

TFS and I wish you a lovely day in cold Dublin
Lisa