Guadalupe

Photographer's Note

Hi dear TE friends,

Another historic place in this picture, from the century IV Before Christ !

In the beginning, I had thought to post a photo including someone, but I decided to put that one in the Workshop. Then, looking at this stormy sky and considering this is really a mystic place, I thought it would probably be better only like this. Anyway, I can tell you these stones are generally higher than 2 metres.

This is the Almendres Cromlech (circle of menhirs). It's situated in the countryside, near a village called Guadalup, less than 1250m the southwest of the Mount of the Almendres, 12 Km west of Evora city.

In the WORKSHOP you can see pictures of the Cromech drawing and people in the place

It dates from the 4000 - 3000 B.C. but it has been discovered only in the 20th century (1964), by archaeologist Henrique Leonor Pina.

It’s considered the biggest one in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most important in Europe. It's formed by around 95 monoliths, forming a wide irregular circle. It seems that this has been a sacred place all through the history.

****

The Almendres Cromlech megalithic complex, located near Évora, Portugal, is one of the earliest public monuments. It is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe.
This megalithic monument originally consisted of more than one hundred monoliths, some of which have been taken away for other uses. A recent dig showed that the complex had undergone several building phases during the neolithic period (5000 - 4000 b.c.).
92 menhirs of different sizes currently form two grounds that were built oriented to different equinox directions. About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings, four of which exhibit only small circular holes. It is believed that the monument had religious purposes and functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.

******

Cromeleque dos Almendres

O Cromeleque dos Almendres situa-se próximo de uma encosta suave, voltada a nascente, com 413m de altitude, a 1250m a sudoeste do Monte dos Almendres, e a cerca de 12 Km a poente de Évora.
Este monumento megalítico no seu início constituido por mais de uma centena de monólitos é na sua forma actual, o resultado de uma longa evolução funcional e construtiva processada a partir de finais do VI milénio, principios do V milénio, e que se desenrolou até ao começo do III milénio a.C., reflectindo as transformações económicas, sociais e ideológicas então ocorridas. A descoberta deste monumento ocorreu em 1964, por intermédio de Henrique Leonor Pina, aquando dos trabalhos de campo da Carta Geológica de Portugal. Aquele arqueólogo efectuou sondagens onde foram recolhidos fragmentos de cerâmicas e um machado de pedra polida, ainda não publicados. Publicados foram a planta do recinto, bem como fotografias do mesmo e um menir decorado com representações solares e descoberto em 96, bem como outro que ostentava covinhas. Três campanhas de escavação levaram à definição das várias fases de construção do monumento ao longo da sua vida útil. Podemos considerar em termos evolutivos, o Cromeleque dos Almendres como dividido em três fases: a primeira do Neolítico Antigo Médio, a segunda do Neolítico Médio e a terceira do Neolítico Final.

rigoletto, Budapestman, ChrisJ, ktanska, salvator, mikeo, siolaw, cunejo200, atus, lucasgalodoido, bakes888, jhm, axiotea, danos, pattyis, elmec, Graal, Standa, alvaraalto, riclopes, Henryk_Bilor, Docarmo, carper, Charo, Gerrit, Wanda1, zeca, Didi, robertosalguero, Vato_Law, Truja, arimateia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PixelTerror (0) 2007-11-08 0:21

Ola Aires,
nice luminous view of these cromlechs looks like Obelix s work place !!!
;-)
Regards JY

jurek1951 (35765) 2007-11-08 0:32

Hi Aires,
excellent composition with these amazing colored rocks, good light and colours,
Georg

barrufeto_77 (28876) 2007-11-08 0:35

Hola Aires.

Unos contrastes buenísimos! Si señor!

un saludo, Oscar

rigoletto (30478) 2007-11-08 0:38

Ola Aires,
The colors and the distribution of moniliths make this one an interesting share. A good, informative note as well. And don't worry, we can estimate the sizes of rocks, thanks to the hidden lady behind the central rock >:D
Cheers,
Deniz

gildasjan (38218) 2007-11-08 0:44

Bonjour Aires
Très beau clichés de ces pierres,cela ressemble aux "menhirs de Carnac" Alignements de Carnac
Bonne journée
Amicalement
Gildas

stefanocer (10640) 2007-11-08 0:50

Nice stones and composition under a great cloudly sky Aires , well done.
Stefano.

Budapestman (82620) 2007-11-08 0:57

Hi Aires,
Fascinating place, indeed. The composition is very attractive, colours and lights are beautiful. Note is very good, splendid shot, Well done! Have a nice day
George

jasmis (57596) 2007-11-08 1:34

Really pre-historical place. I like such megalits. Didactic note, as well.
Regards.

paura (47166) 2007-11-08 1:51

Aires,
Interessante como a humanidade caminha, não? Não faz tanto tempo assim a história da sua foto. E hoje vamos à lua, cruzamos a mach3, vamos ao fundo dos oceanos...

A foto está linda e muito ilustrativa.

Um abraço

Paulo

ChrisJ (86862) 2007-11-08 2:27

Ola Aires

I like the repetition of the rounded boulders or megaliths, whic on closer inspection do indeed appear to have been anthropogenically positioned. Good sharpness & colour. The sole person adds scale. Tfs!

Paolo (41216) 2007-11-08 2:29

Hi Aires, beautiful view, with the megalithic stones well captured from a brilliant POV and under a beautiful sky.
good quality and exposure too. and great note.
thanks, ciao

lestans (16770) 2007-11-08 2:47

Ciao Aires amico mio!
I see very stange impressive big stones here! a very interesting historic place, well described in a great light. There is also some other turist I notice, hidden there!
Good colors. Bravo!

Livia

ktanska (21513) 2007-11-08 3:01

Hi Aires,
Remains of forgotten cultures are always interesting. Those boulders are big and impressive in round forms. Beautiful light and sky. One person is the good to show the scale of the stones. A bit pity she is placed against one stone.
Kari

salvator (19102) 2007-11-08 3:37

Hi Aires,
Superbly composed with great light and wonderful colors. The low pov, the splendid blue and cloudy sky are absolutely superb.
Best regards. Salvator.

mikeo (12129) 2007-11-08 5:35

Hola dear Aires,

Its amazing! Is it really in Portugal:)?
Great place, superb shown and the sky + clouds - masterpiece!

Ggreat job Aires!
Greetings
Aga

siolaw (37568) 2007-11-08 7:04

Ola Aires
A good view of the round menhirs... Obelix maybe is jealous! Nice light and colors in this picture... good sharpness too.
Interesting note and workshops as well.
Cheers
Laurent

vincz (19099) 2007-11-08 7:10

Fantastic sky for these beautiful megaliths. Remembers me of Carnac in Brittany. A beautiful one.

jackart (6682) 2007-11-08 10:52

Hello Aires!

Maybe it will be suprprise for You, but we have similar megalithic objects in Poland in Wesiory, Odry, Lesno and many more. I'm big fan of this prehistolical places. Thank You for this photo and very interesting note about it.

Very good shot.

Regards
Jacek

PS
Take a look in WS. You'll find magalithic stones from Poland (Wesiory)

[workshop] [compare] +

cunejo200 (7281) 2007-11-08 11:24

Hello Aires,

Those massive rocks are very striking and full of details and texture. Gorgeous sky in this photo. Greetings! Danilo

silvia_zenova (1332) 2007-11-08 12:20

Hello Aires,
another interesting place you've captured. This neolitic stones are really intersting and seems like Stonehenge!
Regards, Silvia

atus (15808) 2007-11-08 14:10

Hello Aires,
nicely captured interesting shot of a good perspective. The pov chosen is very good and makes the rocks impressive and well seen. Good light handling and well saturated colours, too.
Well done, my friend!
Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

lucasgalodoido (21030) 2007-11-08 14:45

Olá Aires!
Acho esse local bem interessante, a Ana (adores) postou umas fotos também. As cores e a nitidez ficaram boas!
Parabéns e Abraço!

bakes888 (18499) 2007-11-08 23:40

Hi Aires. Nicely constructed image. I like the way the stones lead the eye through the scene. Great sky also. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

pablominto (53744) 2007-11-08 23:45

Hello Aires,
I like the composition with the fine rocks!
Good textures and fine details, well framed view with a fine feeling of depth...
Greetings,
Pablo -

marianita (3455) 2007-11-09 1:06

Aires
i was surprised during my trip to protugal with these round, obelix rocks everywhere... even on the mountains!
nice composition. i agree, the woman in the back helps us see teh size of the rocks
well taken
marianna

UnTrained (0) 2007-11-09 2:00

Olá Aires,
only a hidden person in such a crowded place. Well taken chance to avoid the people. Excellent textures on the stones and great light play in that ascending view. Completed by a a good note and pleasant workshop additions. Good job.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

delkoo (68) 2007-11-09 2:08

hi aires
You captured fantastic light in a really good composition of this stone's graveyard.

nicely done
didier

aralda (1240) 2007-11-09 3:15

Hi Aires,
Didn't know about the Almendres Cromlech. Your photo shows part of the circle -- nice!
Good light and image quality,
Raluca

jhm (122444) 2007-11-09 3:51

Hello Aires,

Exactly great mushrooms out of the period before Christ, these big stones.
Very nice presentation with the wonderful clouds to the sky.
Nice composition and pleasant colours.
Thanks for sharing.

I wish you a nice weekend,
John.

Dragonheart (8414) 2007-11-09 4:26

Hello Aires,
Excellent exposure and POV. I feel some 3D feeling in this shot.
Well done
Thanks for sharing
Best regards
Vivek

Clementi (52511) 2007-11-09 12:20

Ciao Aires ,
fantastic shot for this old area . nuce colors great pov .
i like the fantastisc sky .
good job
Giorgio

berek (31921) 2007-11-09 12:49

Ola my friend,
so interesting historical place. I like your point of view and beautiful sky. thanks for super note. take care. have a nice weekend.
Burak Erek

ribeiroantonio (22618) 2007-11-09 14:21

Já estive aqui e tenho algumas fotos em papel. Talvez faça um scan e coloque uma no TE.
É um lugar impressionate e muito místico. Só é pena é estar pouco divulgado em Portugal.
A foto está muito boa, com um bom POV e cores bonitas.
António

axiotea (21647) 2007-11-09 19:04

Bonjour Aires
Excellent view over this historical place showing nicely the Cromechs under a beautiful sky with great light, colors and framing. Thanks for the note and pictures in WS.
Cheers
Marilyn

isabela_sor (47265) 2007-11-10 0:30

Yes ...this time there are strange rocks formation :)
Good light and nice natural colors
Have a nice weekend

toto (0) 2007-11-10 1:41

Belle photo de ces rochers bien travaillé, un peut comme des menhirs mais en plus arrondit, belle prise, bonne netteté et jolies couleurs,jolie vue d'ensemble.Ce ciel avec ces nuages de plusieurs gris donne tout son effet.
Amitiés Thomas

Rosa (0) 2007-11-10 6:06

Bonjours Aire
Bonne prise de ces rochers de toutes formes arrondies, tu a bien su capter l' admosphère étrange de ce lieu. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Amitiés
Rosa

danos (73974) 2007-11-10 6:57

Ola Aires,
very interesting the place that i see and read in your note.
This megalithic complex of stones, with combination with the fabulous saturated colours of the sky, make this shot unique.We can say, that is a park of the geological building phases of the earth.The WS are so complimentary about the understanding of this region.Well done mt friend.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

pattyis (1317) 2007-11-10 8:44

Hi Aires,
very nice place! I like the different colors of the sky, and the menhir are imposing!
I like pov and the scenery!
Very good!
nice and interesting the workshop attached
Bye
Patrizia

elmec (12210) 2007-11-11 0:08

Hello Aires!
Very interesting place!
I like this compo of mysteries stones, almost without today's civilisation!
Best regards!

Graal (88886) 2007-11-11 0:31

Hi Aires,
unusual place, an interesting note, fine composition with stones in image. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

sabyasachi1212 (19739) 2007-11-11 9:24

Hi Aires,
A place with a fascinating history. Thanks for all those invaluable informations and the WS version as well. Yes the clouds does add to the drama.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

anducina (8407) 2007-11-11 12:04

Impressive brown textures and sky with those clouds. Excellent light-shadows play.

TFS,

Andreea

Standa (1877) 2007-11-11 12:17

Hi Aires,
nicely composed photo with well hidden woman :)
I like your realy informative note too.
Regards,
Stanislav

alvaraalto (5473) 2007-11-11 13:02

Hi Aires,

This historic place reminds me of Carnac in Bretagne. There is also a place with huge “menhir”-stones. Just behind the stone in the middle I see a figure. So these is someone on the picture for the human measure.

Groet Rob

maduixeta (1795) 2007-11-11 14:38

Hola Aires,
preciosos los colores de esta foto. Gran contraste y magnífica luz.
Buen trabajo,
Saludos,
Sònia.

riclopes (35567) 2007-11-11 23:08

Ahhh, mas eu vejo uma pessoa sentada ali atrás, Aires! Estou a brincar :) Concordo contigo e acho bem teres posto as outras para complementar a questão da escala. Esta foto está muito boa e ver aqui pessoas iria tirar-lhe a força que tem. Em questão de detalhes, tentaria retirar aquelas folhitas do canto. É mais um sítio que gostaria de visitar numa próxima oportunidade, se bem que já devo ter vindo aqui com os meus pais quando era míudo.
Um abraço,
ricardo

Henryk_Bilor (20797) 2007-11-12 2:01

Hi Aires
I`m always impressed by such old megalithes. I feel the power of the history. I try to imagine how it was thousands years ago. Good capture, great light.
Have a nice day.

tober (8748) 2007-11-12 3:34

Hi Aires,

I have never been there. When I find an opportunity to visit Evora again, I will go for it.

Thanks for sharing and enlightening us about the less-known wonders of Portugfal.

Docarmo (9639) 2007-11-12 8:30

Olá Aires,
Lugar fascinante! A composição está muito atrativa, com bonitas cores e excelente DOF. A nota está ótima, esplêndido trabalho!
MC

carper (96) 2007-11-12 8:35

a very special one Aires,
the rocks are nice the composition is good I like the blue sky and the contrast in the shot, good photojob, Have a nice day.
gr. jaap

markstaples (15670) 2007-11-12 10:50

Hi Aires
I think that you have composed this well ... the eye wanders from rock to rock and you have left a little pathway to lead us. Nice and sharp, good natural colours, nice work.
Best wishes
Mark

Bluejeans (64231) 2007-11-12 12:46

Oi amigo ,
Bonita composição com este monumento megalítico, parecem ovos a sair do chão , o ceu ficou fantastico faz um bonito contraste com o resto da foto , parabens!!!Gostei muito das fotos do Ws
Um abraço Gonçalo

Charo (51174) 2007-11-12 13:03

Hola Aires,
Estupenda toma de estos monumentos megalíticos con muy buena luz y colores.
Pienso que en estos lugares debe de haber algo de magia.
Buen trabajo
Cordialmente
Charo

gurselerdener (972) 2007-11-12 15:41

Hola Aires
Visual beauty, colours and sunlight are very excellent
Congratulations
Best wishes from Ankara
Gursel

Merline (0) 2007-11-13 3:36

Hi Aires,
I love this kind of places, some impressive ones in Brittany that I visited, there is always a special mood about it, they certainly knew how to choose their spots...
Wonderful sky here as a great background to the stones, I like the composition and the half hidden tourist:-) very much, makes me feel I am there...
May I suggest that it would have been nice to take away that bit of vegetation on the top left side ?:-)

My best regards
Michèle

Gerrit (43743) 2007-11-13 13:54

Hi Aires,
surprising and superb suite. Good picture in great colours.
Groeten Gerrit

Wanda1 (13950) 2007-11-13 21:03

Hi Aires,
This looks like an amazing and interesting place. Nice composition with one of the big rocks in the very foreground. Clouded blue sky makes for a good background too.
Regards
Wanda

Didi (48926) 2007-11-15 9:57

Olà Aires
We have in France a similar site; it's the Carnac Megalithic area in Brittany.
Your point of view is very interesting.
However you should close your shutter more at f/8 with a lower speed to give a larger DOF.
I appreciate the good luminosity.
Obrigado.

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-11-16 6:49

Hola Aires, i like the typical big stones here..
interesting note too
ciao!
Valeria

danbachmann (1744) 2007-11-17 12:50

Good vibrant colors. I think I would have cropped off some of the left and some of the sky to keep the focus between the stones. Good exposure and glad you posted the non-edited picture as the original. I try to be fairly strict and dusting out people I keep for TrekLens

robertosalguero (196) 2007-11-18 19:54

Olá Aires,

Interesting place you show us here. The rock indeed look huge and it seem that someone is hiding behind the rock in the middle. Good historic shot with good light and colours. The workshop images give us a better idea of what this place look like. Thanks.

Roberto

zeca (19762) 2007-11-19 6:27

Olá Aires!
Bela iluminação, com sombras bonitas aqui e alí. Consequentemente, as cores estão realçadas e fazem desta uma boa composição.
Abraços,
Zeca

Vato_Law (12718) 2007-12-01 9:52

Olá Aires.
Interessante esta foto e nota, como diz o Jean Yves só falta vero o Obelix passar com uma 'pedrinha' destas às costas.
Gosto muito da luz desta foto muito limpa, e pondo em evidencia os detalhes nos menires.
O contraste de cores ente o céu e a parte inferior da foto resulta muito bem.
Um abraço.
Paulo

Truja (4953) 2007-12-06 14:51

Bona nit Aires,
fantastic composition with a light of great quality and exceptional colors. That sky is precious. Great historical and architectonic sample. Fabulous image.

Salut, Jordi

marietom (34603) 2007-12-09 3:16

Bonjour Aires,

très bel endroit, bien photographié, avec ce beau ciel bleu et ces pierres presque orange pour certaines.
Marie

COSTANTINO (42746) 2008-09-09 12:16

Ola Aires,
I like visiting your photos and I found this one very interesting..thanks for your useful
notes,thanks for all..
Nice photo with nice view of those rocks
of megalithic century..
regards
Costantino