Rossio Square empty !, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

Hi TE friends

I made this picture at 4:30 am. In the Rossio Square there was only one person with me

I hope you like it !

The D. Pedro IV Square, usually known by its ancient and popular name: “Rossio” (literally meaning “large square“) delimits to north the area of the Baixa Pombalina (downtown) and has been, for six centuries, the heart of Lisboa.
The most diverse initiatives and events took place in this plaza, since bullfights, to festivals, military events, political assemblies and even religious trials in the epoch of the Inquisition.
Reborn from the debris left by the big earthquake of 1755 that devastated the Country, the Rossio with its cosmopolitan buildings, a sunny welcoming space got some animation with hotels (the majority no longer exist) that were filled with travellers, stores, tobacconists and, of course, a large number of Cafés (coffee shops) - a very Portuguese institution that still nowadays are used as forums for talk, conspiracy, politics and the arts.
Right in the centre of this Square, since 1870, in a column with 28meters high, rises the statue of kind D. Pedro the 4th, the first emperor of an independent Brazil. In the pedestal there are four female figures, allegories to the Justice, to the Wisdom, to the Force and to the Moderation, qualities attributed to D. Pedro. In 1889 two monumental fountains were increased, one on each side of the column, nowadays colored by the flowers sold by traditional Rossio’s florists.
The floor of the Plaza was covered with the traditional Portuguese cobbling, with black and white undulating motives, on the 19th century.
In North side of the Square is located the National Theatre D. Maria II, that received the name of the daughter of D. Pedro.
On the South side there is a graceful arch, from the end of the 18th century that establishes the connection with the Sapateiros Street.
Despite the numerous changes in the lifestyle along the six centuries of existence of this Square, many traditions are still maintained nowadays , and a stop in the Café Nicola (western side) or in the Pastelaria Suiça (oriental side) continues to be the typical everyday life of any Lisboa resident!

patdeph, Amaz, jjcordier, Budapestman, sandpiper, siamesa, jlynx, danos, lucasgalodoido, Tukan-T5, yeln, PaulVDV has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mkamionka (24455) 2010-03-14 12:46

Dear Aires,
this is fantastic! I like very much how you used the pattern in the pavement for the foreground it makes an excellent introduction to the buildings on the square. I admire the great quality with a perfect DOF here.
Very attractive work, congratulations!
M

patdeph (35738) 2010-03-14 12:53

hello Aires
this strange pavement with its waves gives an incredile depth to the picture,leading the eyes to this beautiful blue monument!I like the light on the walls and in the trees,making this picture very nice to look at!
Regards
Pascale

golden (2287) 2010-03-14 12:58

Fantastic shot Aires!
Beautiful night colors,but the most beautiful thing about this photo is the pavement,therefore your great framing!

Regards,
Chrysoula.

gilou530 (34) 2010-03-14 13:37

salut aires
une superbe profondeur de cette photo ou les paves sont d'une netteté incroyable ou l'on voit tous les détails du relief en fond en bleu sous fond noir le batiment fait merveille et attire bien l'oeil
amitiés
gilbert

francio64 (38188) 2010-03-14 14:14

Ciao Aires,
eccellente gestione della luce e grande resa cromatica per questa immagine dal grande DOF.
Bellissimo l'effetto grafico creato sulla pavimentazione.

TFS!
Francesco

Jeppo (17623) 2010-03-14 15:08

Ciao Aires,

Rossio Square...pasteleria Suica...

It's so funny and untypical to see the (normally crowded) square empty...

I like the POV on the pavement pattern that looks like waves...

tfs
silvio

sabermonajati (7567) 2010-03-14 22:41

hi aires
ground is amazing and have nice architecture.nice composition you shot.
best regard
saber

jjcordier (62280) 2010-03-14 23:53

Aires
Tu as privilégié la vue au ras du sol pour exploiter ce superbe pavement...et c'est un bon choix. Très bonne photo nocturne avec une composition verticale originale.
Amicalement
JJ

John_F_Kennedy (41368) 2010-03-15 0:27

Hello Aires,
Wonderful work. Nice great colours and the lines are creating a fantastic artful picture
have a nice day,
Achim

emka (57992) 2010-03-15 0:43

Hi Aires, No wonder it was empty, Who would be so crazy to go there at 4.30 am? I suppose you went there specially so early to have this magnificent pavement to yourself. I have seen the place alsready on many photos but it is always pleasure to see it again.

Warm regards, have a nice week

Malgorzata

Juzo (4240) 2010-03-15 3:35

Ola Aires,
A rare sight to see this square empty and such a great opportunity to capture the beauty of the square, the lovelt tiling in the gorund and the architecture it compliments.
Great light and clarity in this night shot, beautiful composition. I will have to try these settings as I am on a quest to take a decent night shot.
Have a great day
Justin

dta (51280) 2010-03-15 3:38

Hello Aires ,
A splendid night shot . But what i like most here , is the effect of the lines on the pavement : it seems to undulate like waves .
Well done

atilgone (0) 2010-03-15 4:05

hello aires
I like your composition very much. It has a very good persfective. Very good DOF.
b.r.

Budapestman (82620) 2010-03-15 5:09

Hi Aires,
a very beautiful nocturnal photo with spectacular composition and perspective, the colours and lights are splendid, beautiful architectural details, Tfs! Have a nice week! Kellemes hetet kívánok!
George (György)

sandpiper (5995) 2010-03-15 5:13

Hi Aires

You are very keen to be up at 4.30am. A great composition and stunning light, the foreground pattern is amazing.

Chris

siamesa (27449) 2010-03-15 5:40

Olá Aires

Imagino o som do silêncio na praça. Bela composição desse piso ondulado e do prédio azul lá atrás.
Excelente foto.
Abraços
Maria

jlynx (12569) 2010-03-15 6:41

Good morning Aires.
Picture is completely different from the previous one. Here is dominated by the shapes, details and high contrasts of light and shadow. This highly dynamic staff of all these forms of media. The proposed perspective is very good. Leads the eyes into the depths of the frame. Beautifully arranged on a light ankle gutter. This picture has its own mood. Great POV, excellent sharpness and color.
Have a nice day,
Jurek

danos (73896) 2010-03-15 6:41

Ola Aires,
nice the perspective and the POV of the Rossio Square without people in it,this hour of the day,with the texture of the pavement,to creates depth in the scene. The use of the tripod,have captured a fine image with the sharpness and the clarity to be perfect.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

lucasgalodoido (21030) 2010-03-15 9:07

Olá Aires,
só nesses horário mesmo pra encontrar a praça assim tão deserta. Melhor para as fotos. Aqui no Brasil costumam desligar a iluminação desses monumentos a noite... Bonita essa foto.
Parabéns e Abraço

nszeretlek (1199) 2010-03-15 9:25

And you at 4.30 am ...what a romantic guy !!! How are you doing my friend ? ...Yess that square is magic and has an interesting life during the daylight ...Annette loved the paved ground as a airsicking drunk waves that push you to the ginga bar ! ...In 5 days we´re travelling again to Tangier and you told me you have gotten to know well that city ...We hope to come back with tones of pictures and nice memories ...I will keep telling you ...In this latest trip to Lisboa i have also known that the city has anotherparallel heart to the Alfama , and this other one is Baixa in this street and the other opposite (Figueira)

Take care my friend and hope to see you soon by here next time

diomed (13926) 2010-03-15 11:17

Hi Aires,
amazing nocturne capture, perfect light management, fantastic texture of the pavement, great sharpeness and depth, lovely colours. TFS
NIce week
Antonio

barrufeto_77 (28876) 2010-03-15 14:15

Hola Aires.

Buffffffffff...demasiado pronto para mi hahahahaha. A esas hora uno está durmiendo. Eso si, no quita que me guste...y mucho. Bonito efecto este del suelo

Un saludo!
PD: Cuando vengas a Barcelona dímelo con tiempo a ver si estoy y nos vemos por lo menos!

npecanhuk (53829) 2010-03-16 11:40

Oi Aires!
Essa noturna também ficou ótima... uma beleza!!!
Formato vertical, ponto de vista baixo, exposição, cores, profundidade, nitidez e composição estão excelentes!
O teatro e o monumento ao fundo são obras arquitetônicas maravilhosas, mas o que mais chama a minha atenção é o calçamento do Rossio, que é tão comum aqui no Brasil também e que deu um efeito todo especial à imagem!
Parabéns, abraços e até logo!
Neyvan

Bluejeans (64211) 2010-03-17 12:50

Oi amigo ,
Lindo destaque dado ao chão , os desenhos são magnificos das ondas , bonito ponto de visão ,ficou fantástica a praça vazia , o que andavas a fazer ai a essa hora , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Docarmo (9639) 2010-03-19 7:13

Olá Aires,
Gosto desta visão do pavimento no primeiro plano, com um grafismo bonito que leva nossos olhos até o fundo, como se houvesse movimento real. Belo jogo de luzes e uma excelente composição.
Parabéns!
Docarmo

sukalyanc (86) 2010-03-19 10:45

Hello Aires

It's a pleasure to see your work. The B&W texture of the path is making a kind of illusion. The depth of field is also very good.

Regards
Sukalyan
My Photoblog

Tukan-T5 (4317) 2010-03-20 0:40

Hello Aires,
beautiful night picture with a wonderful climate.
I like the prospect of these geometric sinusoids on the pavement and the blue building at the end of perspective.
Best regards Tomas

macjake (39207) 2010-03-21 18:27

Hello Aires
wow...0430 in the morning! now thats dedication!
i love doing that aswell.
the curves in the stonework are lovely, and add a graphic nature to the formal architecture in the background.
excellent work
cheers
craig

yeln (11502) 2010-04-11 1:12

hi Aires

google
You are the lucky one that captures the moment without people in the market.
view is great, color and sharpness are also nice
I like the combination of colors on the floor.
Good shot! Congratulations!
Regards
Vojko
Thanks for the criticism of Kenya

PaulVDV (15017) 2010-08-28 4:07

Olá Aires,
I love how much the Portuguese pay attention to their pavements. The black and white waves in the cobblestones don't only make a perfect foreground on this picture of Rossio Square. They have become themselves an important subject for photographers.
The graphical effect on this beautiful nightpicture is absolutely wonderful.
Best regards, Paul