The Sentinel Photo

Photographer’s Note

Farol do Cabo da Roca

"Where the land ends and the sea begins" - Camões

The Cape Roca Lighthouse is located at the cape with the same name in Colares, Sintra. It is the most western lighthouse of mainland Portugal and mainland Europe. Its construction began in February 1758 and was operational 14 years later, in 1772. It was also the first lighthouse built from scratch in Portugal.

The tower is 22 meters high and the light is located 165m above mean sea level. Its flashing light can be seen aproximately 48 km offshore. Today, the lighthouse is fully automatic and power by photovoltaic energy.

The nearby Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca) was known to the Romans as 'Promontorium Magnum' and during the Age of Sail as the Rock of Lisbon. The Portuguese poet Luis de Camões (16th century) defined Cabo da Roca as the place "where the land ends and the sea begins".

In WS you can see a picture of the rocks at “Praia da Ursa”.

ISO: 100

InasiaJones, Matthew-Watt, mikolaj_kawa, gary91, Jardim, belido, wgreis, lucasgalodoido, xuaxo, stego, John_F_Kennedy, Photo65Net, Vato_Law, cfreire, Pascale, JPlumb, robertosalguero, Charo, riclopes, plimrn, paura, vinicio, manatee, brevbrev14 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

InasiaJones (20397) 2008-03-01 19:01

Hello Antonio.

I love lighthouse and this one makes no exception. Its location over the cape is fabulous and I appreciate that you've presented the view from there, in your workshop. Thank you also to offer a link to Luis beachscape scenes. I found it VERY INTERESTING to see the relation between the upper cape and the ocean level, so I can really understand how this part of coastal Portugal looks like. It's like I'm having a better sense of being there and it's not the way I pictured it at all.

From Luis Afonso photos, I thought it was a landscape comparable to some beaches in California, then from this point of view, it looks more like here in Quebec, Canadian Maritimes or Irish coast. But then again, its still very unique and now, I wish more than ever to visit Portugal very soon.

So I really like your choice of angle, showing the top of the lighthouse on a line of third, in both horizontal and vertical axes. The building offers a counterpart to the ocean and create a strong dynamic of contrasts, with the white structure against a dark part of the sky, than the dark sea on a pale part of the sky. The result is a strong visual balance.

The sky is very awesome, with vapourous sky.

I don't know if the lighthouse is totally white, otherwise, it might be a little bit overexposed.

Excellent note with links that have provided a good overview and an educative virtual visit.

Have a nive week-end!

André

[2]

tcht (7298) 2008-03-01 21:38

Hi Antonio
beautiful BW scene with great depth and framing...love the dark sky and the lightign too. amazing pic!
Cheers
CH

Matthew-Watt (4465) 2008-03-01 23:51

Hi Antonio,

Funny, as soon as I saw this I thought, Oh wow the Cape Byron Lighthouse, but I was wrong. The similarities are quite evident, except there might not be so much more building around the base of it. The tonal range across the sky is wonderful; I like how it is broken by swathes of cloud. The hint of the ocean is good, it hints at the position and outlook. Well done with capturing the fence, it adds to the FG composition and breaks up the uniform field of grass well. Perhaps a lower perspective would have resulted in the fence covering more grass but this may have looked cluttered, it is hard to determine. A very wise choice to convert to black and white, I am pleased that there are many of these in your series as they seem to add creativity and attractiveness. TFS!

Matt

muzaffer_ (793) 2008-03-02 0:34

Hello Antonio,

Beautifull photo congratulation
Muzaffer

mikolaj_kawa (30337) 2008-03-02 0:46

Ola Antonio! I love "Os Lusiadas" by Luis Vaz de Camoes! Amazing place. Mysterious place. Wonderful POV and capture. Very good composition. Good luck. Saude!

siamesa (12960) 2008-03-02 0:58

Oi Antonio,
Bela definição do Cabo da Roca feita pelo grande Camões.Sua foto está dramaticamente linda nesse P&B.O destaque do farol em um belo contraste é uma maravilha.Obrigada por partilhar.
Abraços
Maria

gary91 (15321) 2008-03-02 1:01

Hello Antonio,
This is an outstanding picture.
I love this b&w conversion and the dark sky over this magnificent site. The composition is very well seen and you used this barrier very cleverly to guide the eyes to the lighthouse.
The point of view allows to see and judge of the house position overhanging the sea.
Have a nice sunday.
Best regards, Christian

Jardim (3197) 2008-03-02 1:27

Olá António,

O enquadramento está bom e o céu está interessante.O farol parece-me estar está com muita luz.

Júlio Jardim

belido (16603) 2008-03-02 2:50

Olá António,

engraçado que estava olhando suas duas últimas composições e apesar da penúltima estar com um colorido muito bonito, algo me forçou a clicar nessa aqui. Gosto do dramatismo que o p&b insere na imagem. O céu está bem saturado e convertido, fica bem interessante. Talvez a cosntrução estaja um pouco sobre-exposta, mas na conversão em p&b, isso não chega a ser um problema. Bom trabalho!
Abraço,
Carlos

wgreis (6060) 2008-03-02 3:26

Oi Antonio,
um ótimo POV com a cerca em uma posição até exótica. A opção pelo preto e branco foi boa e as nuvens estão oferecendo um toque especial ao tema.
Parabéns,
Wagner.

lucasgalodoido (16605) 2008-03-02 10:33

Olá Antônio,
um bonito PDV desse farol e acertada também a opção pelo P&B, embora acredito que a versão a cores tenha ficado ótima também. Acho apenas que não devia ter cortado esse mourão embaixo, ia focar mais interessante ele inteiro, mas é apenas um detalhe também.
Parabéns e Abraço!

vincz (19043) 2008-03-02 13:16

The sky is fabulous here, the compsotion excellent with the fence in the foreground with the triangular shape opening towards the lighthouse. Great one.

xuaxo (5759) 2008-03-02 14:01

Olá António,
Num local tão fotografado não é fácil apresentar fotos "diferentes". Mas acho que conseguistes, nomeadamente com a inclusão da cerca e a sorte de estar esse céu com bonitas nuvens.
O farol está um pouco sobre-exposto, mas conjugado com as nuvens até nem é assim tão grave.
Um abraço,
F

stego (22360) 2008-03-02 15:00

Olá António,
Como o Francisco disse, é admirável que tenhas conseguido um POV tão original de um local tão fotografado. Mas isso nem é o mais importante... É uma compo genial, muito vigorosa graficamente e, claro, muito bela. A cerca, o triângulo minúsculo do mar, as nuvens pitorescas, 'felizmente' ao lado do farol (senão prejudicavam o contraste), além do próprio farol compõem uma imagem fabulosa.
Só duas coisas estão menos bem: a nitidez (parece que o farol está fora do DOF) e a sobre-exp. no farol.
Um abraço, José.

maltese (21535) 2008-03-02 22:57

Hello Antonio
Un joli contraste entre le ciel et ce bâtiment blanc. Une belle composition en se servant de la barrière pour guider notre regard, et au final une belle ambiance "dramatique"
Très bien vu!!
Amicalement
hervé

John_F_Kennedy (31511) 2008-03-02 23:44

This is an impressive place and an impressive picture of this place. This lightning is beautiful.
Best wishes,
Achim

ahmetgedikli (21928) 2008-03-03 2:20

Hi Antonio,
Good black-white composition. Nice light, sharpness and good contrast.
Have a nice week.
Ahmet

Photo65Net (43096) 2008-03-03 2:58

Antonio,
A nice use of BW, as contrats are strong here.
I like too how you composed the image, with great use of the hill curve and great place for the lighthouse.
Regards,
JB.

Clementi (44327) 2008-03-03 15:00

Ciao Antonio ,
remember this fantastic place. I have various past time to watch the ocean thinking that it was the point more near of Europe to the America.
fantastic photo .
compliments
Giorgio

Vato_Law (11680) 2008-03-03 15:56

Olá Antonio,
Vejo que andas numa onde de P&B nestes ultimos tempos, e deixa-me dizer que nesta o mesmo assenta que nem uma luva, pois enfatiza muito bem a atmosfera de rudeza e normalmente ventos fortes que caracterizam esta zona.
A cerca de madeira cria um bom padrão na frente da foto e acentua a profundidade de mesma, ao mesmo tempo que serve de guia aos olhos para irem ter com o farol no topo da colina.
Este céu escuro e dramatico em conjunto com as nuvens bem esticadinhas pelo tempo de exposição são um topo ideal para a cena.
Agora o senão, um pouco de sobreexposição na superficie brance do farol, um problema de não trabalhar em RAW, talvez? ou então aquele dilema de não querer que a imagem fique demasiado escura...
A foto do WS fez-me perceber que não é nada facil a vida daqueles que querem aceder aquelas gloriosas fotos que o Luis nos apresenta pois a descida parece ser bem complicada e a subida bem penosa, pelo menos do ponto de vista que nos mostras.
Um abraço.
Paulo

cfreire (11647) 2008-03-03 17:51

Oi, Antônio,
Olha, me deu uma curiosidade incrível que é: ver esta foto em cores, e tenho certeza de que vc a fará. Pois fotografia é isto, é a gente perseguir a meta. Bonito trabalho, um abraço, Consuelo

Pascale (10184) 2008-03-03 21:34

Bonjour Antonio
Une excellente composition ,j'aime beaucoup la façon dont vous avez utilisé la barrière .Un superbe N&B qui rend encore plus dramatique ce superbe ciel au- dessus sur ce phare .
Amitiés

JPlumb (3153) 2008-03-03 23:24

Hi Antonio, this composition with these great textures work well in this black and white. The sky is awesome for this kind of shot, with great clouds, but the transition too works very well. It's dark at the top, but then by the time it hits the water, it has lightened up enough to contrast here too. The lighthouse itself is perfectly positioned on the hill, and stands out with its light colour. The ground are nicely framed naturally by the fence. It all works. Your notes are great, and I liked the little tour you took us on with the workshop and links. Great area and very nice presentation.

Thanks, John

saigon (5505) 2008-03-04 6:18

hola ANTONIO.
vue impressionnante de cette tour!
avec en fond l'atlantique..
amitiés....aldo.

Bluejeans (32473) 2008-03-04 12:05

Oi António ,
Acho que nunca vi uma foto a preto e branco deste lugar a tua deve ser a primeira aqui no Te , o céu ficou fantástico com aquelas nuvens , boa escolha pelo preto e branco , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

robertosalguero (110) 2008-03-04 22:54

Hello Antonio,

The dual colours work very nicely in this image. The soft texture of the clouds also enhances the view of the sky. excellent placement of the lighthouse. I think this image is beautiful because is well balanced. Thanks.

Roberto

Charo (31671) 2008-03-05 12:35

Hola Antonio,
Bella composición enmarcada por la valla como si estuviera protegiendo al faro. El B/N le da dramatismo a la imagen y mucho contraste. Buen trabajo.
Cordialmente
Charo

riclopes (33007) 2008-03-07 3:24

Olá António, esta está espectacular. E a sobreexposição do farol não chateia nada, pois a composição está muitíssimo bem conseguida. Ás nuvens estão fantásticas em redor do farol e adoro a vedação de madeira a enrolar a imagem. Excelente preto e branco. Quanto ao bonito WS, é sempre agradável recordar este local lindíssimo.
Ricardo
p.s.- continuo a fazer férias... ;-)

jjcordier (24752) 2008-03-11 4:27

Antonio
Un très beau cadrage et un bon choix du noir et blanc pour dramatiser la scène. Les bâtiments me semblent peut-être un peu surexposés (réglage de mon écran?)mais c'est une très belle photo.
Amicalement
JJ

pboehringer (770) 2008-03-11 10:29

Antonio,
it is interesting when a portuguese is doing a travelogue of its own country. You certainly know Portugal much better than any usual tourist and yet by not living there you have the distance to filter what you see compared to those that life there every single day.
The composition here is perfect. Extremely good what you did with the placement of the lighthouse, the fence, the slope, the sea and the clouds. Terrific composition! The B&W enhances this feeling a lot.
Not quite sure what happenend with the lighthouse itself. Is it the bright, almost overexposed reflected light form the white walls that makes it soft, or is the DOF shallow?
Peter

marietom (32016) 2008-03-20 1:06

Hello Antonio,

Belle image en noir et blanc, avec de beaux contrastes. Bravo
Marie

plimrn (19682) 2008-03-22 14:31

Ola Antonio,
I like this well-thought out composition; the fence angling up the hillside gives a lot of depth. The unique tower stands out well against the sky. The swirl of clouds is spectracular. The note is very interesting.
SAA, Pat

paura (38540) 2008-03-25 16:23

António,
Os elementos estão muito bem apanhados em sua bem ajustada fotografia. Bonita a opção pelo preto e branco.

Abraço

Paulo

vinicio (22414) 2008-04-02 14:13

Dramatic B&W with beautiful place and lighthouse, the composition is excellent as your conversion in B&W, well done Antonio, compliments.
Ciao
Vinicio

Manamo (3474) 2008-04-03 17:46

Hello Antonio,
the textured sky brought me in to see this one! The position of the lighthouse if very nice because it's on a cape!At first I thought that the lighthouse was way overexposed, but finally, I like the artistic, graphic qualities it brings to the picture.
The bottom of the composition seems a bit unfinished...but I have no alternate proposition to do...
the ws is nice too! thx for bringing this part of Portugal to my knowledge.
see you!
Marc

jimmj63 (781) 2008-04-13 23:31

this shot wake me many remember

very good shot.

ciao, giacomo

waminda2020 (409) 2008-04-24 1:51

I love this photo! Wonderful in B&W! Interesting composition. Congrats!

manatee (4291) 2008-05-12 0:08

Beautiful pictrure Antonio, I like the orientation you give to the picture, the coor are perfect the Ligth house is very notorious and nostalgic, the plus are the fence and the clouds.

Wonderful

Have a nice week

Elias

brevbrev14 (372) 2008-08-12 17:00

Beautiful image of this wonderful place Antonio!
i like a lot the choice of BW here
really well composed

"Where the land ends and the sea begins" these words by - Camões are wonderful and perfect to describe such a wonderful place
A magic place for my taste, the light here amazing and the sky and the sea are a same thing...
i hope to come soon!
ciao!
Valeria

ruipedroc (31) 2008-08-29 5:38

Oi António,
o céu nesta foto tira a respiração!
Adoro o contraste.
Parabéns!
Rui