pavement swiming, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

Portuguese pavement is a traditional style pavement used for many pedestrian areas in Portugal, while it can also be found in Olivença (a disputed territory administered by Spain) and throughout old Portuguese colonies such as Brazil and Macau. Portuguese workers are also hired for this skill to create these pavements in places such as Gibraltar. Being usually used in sidewalks, it is in plazas and atriums this art finds its deepest expression.

One of the most distinctive uses of this paving technique is the image of the Saint Queen Elizabeth of Portugal, in Coimbra, designed with black and white stones of basalt and limestone.

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 calçada, most noticeably the use of a foundation and a surfacing.
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source: wikipedia

dta, dip, timecapturer, rbassin, annjackman, krzychu30, maria-v1981 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kasianowak (2255) 2013-01-16 3:05

Hi Daniel
Very clever image with brilliant, perfect timing. It's incredible that you just photographed random pedestrians and came up with this sort of composition!
This photo truly shows your talent for urban photography.
Best wishes
Kasia

dta (51454) 2013-01-16 3:07

Hello Daniel ,
These portuguese pavements are splendid . This plunging view makes your POV much more attractive than mine in a recent post . Excellent placement of teh two people , for a superb graphical effect .
Well done .

dip (21919) 2013-01-16 3:13

Hello Daniel,
A wonderful shot with amazing graphic effect,
I also like the chosen vertical view angle !
Regards,
Dimitris.

timecapturer (30334) 2013-01-16 3:37

Hi Daniel
love the title, it is so apt for this striking shot. Your POV and the placement of the humans are perfect at conveying the message here and the symmetry is mesmerising. Well conceived and presented. Excellent!

Regards - Brian.

serp2000 (29206) 2013-01-16 4:56

Hi, Daniel,
My congratulations! Attractive composition, amazing graphic, perfect sharpness. Just a creative artwork! Thanks!
Serghei

lpi (4424) 2013-01-16 5:30

Salut Daniel,
excellente composition avec un superbe graphisme!
Joli travail!
Amicalement,
LPi

Sergiom (39259) 2013-01-16 5:39

Bonjour Daniel,

J'aime ce point de vue qui semble écraser les personnes sur le Padrao. Une œuvre très graphique ou la lumière crue est bien contrôlée.

Amicalement

Serge

Bluejeans (64239) 2013-01-16 5:40

Ola Daniel ,
Bela visão esta da calcada do Padrão dos Descobrimentos , gostei do ponto de visão alto , bom momento com as pessoas a passar , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

wolf38 (28190) 2013-01-16 6:08

Hello Daniel. Patterns, textures, lines, shapes. In addition, two people and their shadows. Since I can only say: a great shot at the right moment.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

baclama (15579) 2013-01-16 7:14

bonjour,
ce graphisme des sols portugais sont vraiment superbes...le POV d'en haut avec les petites silouettes sont du plus bel effet...
bravo
vero

chrisvek (5483) 2013-01-16 7:51

Hello Daniel

Very nice composition and so clever look.I like very much your perfect title.So unique.Great panoramic POV too.Well done.

All the Best
Chris

holmertz (26958) 2013-01-16 11:06

Hello Daniel,
Same idea as recently, and it works very well this time too. I am always very happy when I find this kind of view myself. The two persons are very well placed and their shadows become important parts of the composition. I wonder how old this paving is, whether it was made before cameras became common. It certainly seems like the designer had people with cameras in mind ;-).
Kind regards,
Gert

Bartleby (12741) 2013-01-16 11:48

Hi Daniel,
love the elevated POV to maximize the graphic impact of those 'waves'. I also like the addition of the human presence though I think i would crop the one in the top right-hand corner. I feel it's a bit stuck in the corner...but well, just a thought...Excellent shot anyhow.

Philippe

lousat (57674) 2013-01-16 11:58

Hi Daniel,fantastic capture from the best point of view,the details and the sharpness are really fantastics,i like the man inside to give the exact dimensions of the ground.Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Waylim (22357) 2013-01-16 12:10

Hi Daniel,

REally cool shot focusing on the pattern of the tiles from high POV. It gives strong graphic impact and the modern abstract quality. the Presence of the people provide sense of scale and takes us back to realism, and they are nicely space at a distance that enhances your composition.

Good shot and thanks.

Way

rbassin (11129) 2013-01-16 12:26

hello Daniel
Magnifique vue sur la place au design intéressant.
Un beau résultat graphique, l'incurtion des personnages donne l'échelle et crée de la vie à la place publique.
J'admire le travail de ceux qui ont posé les pavés.
Bonne soirée
Roland

carlo62 (12610) 2013-01-16 13:56

Ciao Daniel
una foto magnifica, eccellente pov per mostrarci questo grafismo punteggiato dalle due figure e dalle loro ombre ed entrambe posizionate negli spazi bianchi.
Complimenti
Carlo

Nicou (97727) 2013-01-16 19:57

Hello

Fantastique vagues de dessin sur cette place quelle iamge plongeante et captage superbe vue avec ces personnage une merveille.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

ifege (9440) 2013-01-16 21:49

Well spotted Daniel and well executed. Great patterns and good use of the couple of people.
cheers
Ian

jjcordier (62344) 2013-01-16 22:33

Daniel
Ces fameux pavement qui semblent onduler sont très photogéniques. Tu les as juste "animés" comme il fallait avec les deux personnages et leur ombre.
Amicalement
JJ

CLODO (24726) 2013-01-17 4:38

hello Daniel

amazing waves on the pavement and the 2 lonely persons seem to surf on them.
Good framing!
Cheers
CLODO

sacavem (18576) 2013-01-17 7:24

Olá Daniel,

Great POV for this beautiful composition.A very graphical shot of this amazing pavement.Spectacular waves pattern.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

amaryllis (30149) 2013-01-17 9:15

Bonjour
un beau graphisme de ces pavés faisant comme des vagues et une belle vue en plongée avec deux silhouettes et leurs ombres
excellent
Juliette

annjackman (13219) 2013-01-17 23:57

Hello Daniel,
The two figures give scale and extra interest to this very graphic shot. An excellent viewpoint - makes me feel quite dizzy!
Best wishes, Ann

krzychu30 (8879) 2013-01-18 0:14

Hello Daniel,
I´ve seen this motive before,but I think you´ll agree it´s so eye-catching and beautiful one can not stop to take photos while seeing such scene.The cobblestone pavements in Lisbon are almost as iconic as the old trams.Your capture is really superb.Just the beautiful pavement and two people on it.Great POV(let me guess you took it from Padrão dos Descobrimentos terrace view?)

Have a nice day
Krzysztof

mesutilgim (67982) 2013-01-18 2:09

Hello Daniel,
I didn't have the chance to visit your gallery recently; this one is reaşşy amazing.
The graphism is perfect but more than this, it has really a psychodelic effect !
TFS and happy weekend
MESUT ILGIM

SWEETFREEDOM (18417) 2013-01-18 23:39

Hi Daniel,
good composition, very nice details and p.o.v.
regards
Alessandro

abmdsudi (26281) 2013-01-19 23:22

Hi Daniel
Such an impressive high vantage viewpoint and a fascinating image in its own right for the colors, patterns and the abstract created by the strong bold curves and the wavy illusion that make it so appealing distortion as well. The human interaction is just at the right spot to make it happening. Great effort and vision, Congrats
Best regards

claudeD (24173) 2013-01-21 6:11

Hello Daniel,

wonderful picture with a very good graphical composition and fine sharpness. Very well seen and done.Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

sevy (13273) 2013-01-22 1:20

Hello Daniel,

I often saw shots of this place, mainly in B&W, and each time I enjoy because it is a wonderful subject photo. It is giving a strong graphism and with an above point of view and the very good placement of the walkers we got the scale and the shadows and silhouettes of the people well drawn.

Yves

maria-v1981 (10403) 2013-01-22 2:31

Hello Daniel,
Very creative and beautiful image. Wonderful blend of textures and colors. Excellent POV choice and sharpness. Well done.
Have a nice evening,
Regards,
Maria

i9l2y1m8a8t3 (4435) 2013-03-05 5:57

Hi Daniel!

I see lots of SSSSSS. Superb shot! Great POV! Where was this taken? Did you correct the perspective of this one? I really loved Lisbon, my favorite European city, there's so much to see and do. Love the idea, the creative shot, and the simplicity of this one. Well captured!

best regards,
Matt