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Calcada Portuguesa


Calcada Portuguesa
Photo Information
Copyright: Joao Paulo Rosa Salas (mcenteesalas) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 33 N: 388] (1570)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Sony Alpha DSLR A100
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-01 12:47
Viewed: 452
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is Portuguese pavement or as known in Portugal, Calçada Portuguesa, the modern version was first started in 1842 when a commander of the Portuguese army (Cacadores 5) Eusebio Pinheiro Furtado noticed that his soldiers were so bored that he made them lay the whole barrack`s parade with the local black and white smooths square stones in different patons hence giving birth to the modern Calcada.

It is the traditional paving used today in most pedestrian areas in Portugal and old Portuguese colonies such as Brazil, Angola, Macau etc. Being usually used in sidewalks, although it is also widely used in certain main roads, plazas and hotel atriums where it shows its deepest expression, please don`t think that the pavement on this shot reflects the quality of pavements in the wider area of the country, I took this shot in a small village just to ilustrate my text.

One of the most distinctive uses of Portuguese paving technique is that of the Copacabana beach sidewalk in Rio de Janeiro, designed as a black and white waves pattern although this is also true in Portugal where you will find the most amazing designs made with two types of colour stone which is usually black and white.

Paving as a craft is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia, where rocky materials were used in the inside and outside of constructions, being later brought to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the Romans used to pave the vias connecting the empire using materials to be found in the surroundings. Some of the techniques introduced then are still applied on the Portuguese Calçada, most noticeably the use of a foundation and a surfacing.

Upon a well compacted trench of argillaceous materials, craftsmen lay a bedding of gravel, which will accommodate the stones, acting as a cement, very few workers (calceteiros) will admit to enjoying this arduous labour, where long hours are spent painstakingly laying the stones in a prostrated position, once an activity performed by hundreds of craftsmen in Portuguese cities and villages, traditional paving is increasingly becoming restricted to conservation works or important architectural projects.

I hope you enjoyed this lecture and thank you all for your support,
isabela_sor, emjleclercq, johnfreeman, ribeiroantonio, josepmarin, ALIRIZA, kermit350, Jeppo, lilimih33, pelin, Merline, Bluejeans, ekinokswest, ruisc_pt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

The details of the pavement are super
The perspective is also very good,but here missing some life : a cat walking,or a human presence :)
Anyway its a greaaaat picture
Hugs

olá, um belo exemplo da calçada portuguesa, pena é não ter os desenhos também típicos. abraço
pedro

Simple, but a beautifull view on this complicated pavement, with great sharpness and perfect alignement.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Very unusual and beautiful image. Great blend of textures and colors. Nice POV choice and sharpness. Well done.

Hi Joao Paulo,
I thought of you a couple of days ago when I visited the Tate Modern. There’s always so much to see there but I was slightly disappointed to find that the famous crack by Doris Salcedo has been filled in!
I like the strong sense of perspective and the slightly surreal colours and composition in this picture with the high almost bare pink walls leading to that low boat-like building at the end. But what really makes it are the fascinating textures and colours of the paving. In Italy they have a similar kind of traditional paving called Sampietrini but it has a very regular pattern generally based on intersecting circular segments.
Anyway very nice shot!
John

Olá João. Bonita foto, boa perspectiva e composição. Belo detalhe da calçada. Parabéns.Paulo

Hi Joao,

great pic, good details and colours, beautiful composition, well done,

regards

Sergio

Certamente que faz parte da calçada portuguesa mas, não é a mais típica. Aquilo que dizes na nota, não é mostrado na imagem, o que é pena pois quem não conhece a calçada portuguesa ficará um pouco confuso.
Quanto à foto, está interessante com a viela a dirigir o olhar para a casa do fundo, essa sim, em cores tipicamente portuguesas e algarvias.
António

Olá Joao Paulo,
tu encuadre es muy bueno y nos permite ver la gran pendiente de esta callejuela y los detalles de su magnífico pavimento de piedra. La perspectiva que has conseguido es magnífica, las líneas se van hacia el fondo de la imagen, donde se encuentran con una bonita fachada de la arquitectura tradicional y el cielo limpio y sereno, todo con unos tonos blancos y azules que contrastan con los marrones de la piedra en la Calçada Portuguesa.
Muy buena foto.
Un abrazo,
Josep

Hi Joao Paulo,
An excellent perspective and great POV. The colours and the details are beautiful. Well done...
Friendly regards...
Ali Rıza

Bom-dia Joao Paulo, carrelage português, que proviesse de Mesopotamia, ou um quadrado preto e um branco como à Rio de Janeiro de Janeiro, considerou muito fora de fronteira, excelente enquadramento sobre esta pista ladrilhada da qual a textura de estes faz à eles única já toda a beleza de l`image, distingue-se de picado também que permite apreciar toda a arquitectura numa grande profundidade de vista, bem cordialmente................Bonjour Joao Paulo, le carrelage portugais, qu’il provienne de Mesopotamia, ou un carreau noir et un blanc comme à Rio de Janeiro, est très réputé hors frontière, excellent cadrage sur cette ruelle carrelée dont la texture de ceux-ci en font à eux seul déjà toute la beauté de l‘image, excellent piqué aussi qui permet d’apprécier toute l'architecture dans une grande profondeur de vue, bien amicalement

  • Great 
  • Jeppo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 576 W: 2 N: 483] (4397)
  • [2008-05-02 4:21]

Hola JOao,

I like the details and perspective of this shot.
the atmosphere is nice and pleasant...I can just wonder walking on this street across this small town.
thanks for the interesting note

ciao
Silvio

Ciao Joao Paulo.
Ho sfogliato le tue foto e sono tutte bellissime. Complimenti per l'esecuzione e la composizione.
Ciao Renzo

  • Great 
  • lucski Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 10 N: 224] (3433)
  • [2008-05-02 11:35]

Hi Joao Paulo,
very good composition and nice perspective on this npicture,
colours and details are perfect
well done
regards lukasz

Hello Joao Paolo!
Wonderful colours, detail, clarity and great perspective in your picture!
Excellent composition!
Best regards!
Lili

  • Great 
  • pelin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 154 W: 127 N: 343] (1778)
  • [2008-05-03 9:38]

o wow,why i havent seen this shot in TE gallery? It is 'simply' the best! Simple but unique view. Fascinating. I like it!
Thanks~pelin

Hi Joao,
great perspective and depth with excellent framing.superb light and texture.very well done.Thanks for sharing.
Best Regards

Cevdet

  • Great 
  • emka Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 378 W: 17 N: 903] (6585)
  • [2008-05-03 13:38]

Hi,

Nice picture from Algarve, with typical pavement. Splendid perspective. Regards
Malgorzata

Hi Joao Paulo
Very nice photo.Details are great
Cihan

Oi João ,
Muito bonita esta tua foto de calçada Portuguesa gostei muito da textura das pedras encaixadas umas nas outras nesta rua apertada com a casa algarvia de fundo , boas cores, parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Hi Joao,
these are splendid textures you have captured with a very zen-like (in my feeling) surroundings and pov. So minimalistic and somehow elegant. I love the soft colors, the touch of blue, all so neat and crisp too. The cherry on the cake would have been somebody passing by, but already like this the mood is quiet and beautiful.

Michèle

Olá João,
Então vieste passar uns dias a Portugal ou já cá estás?
Se existe sítios no Algarve que pessoalmente gosto é sem dúvida esta pequena localidade Cacela, onde se petisca umas belas ostras :)
Gosto do POV , cores e textura. Como já referiram outros esta não é a verdadeira calçada portuguesa, nem é feita com esta pedra, embora o trabalhar desta calçada seja tipicamente portuguesa.
Um abraço,
Filipe

  • Great 
  • euryan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1100 W: 121 N: 1731] (7544)
  • [2008-05-05 11:49]

I saw this photo the other day but didn't have time to comment. The composition is really interesting and I think you capture the essence of these rural Portuguese towns very well. The cobble stone street leading to a whitewashed house with blue trim; I like it a lot.
Regards,
Ryan

I dont know if this is typical street construction style in Portugal but it surely gives an idea about how municipalities or the government authorities approach to construction. the photo looks balanced and very symmetric which is the best part if we look at the end corners of the street

Hello Joao,

I love this pavement! I would have removed the wires and cable just as the TV antennas... Just to get a picture just as clean as possible to concentrate on the subject! Lovely composition!

Have a great day!

Hey Joao,
An excellent shot taken from a perfect POV. You captured the details of the pavement perfectly. Great colors & contrast as well. Congratulations!!!
Greetings,
Natasha

Interessante perspectiva João paulo.
I like yellow tone and the great use of the WA aperture
Rgds
R

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