Golden Square, a photo from Salamanca, Castilla y Leon

Photographer's Note

Today I cannot give many explanations about this photo, which I took the first night of my stay in Salamanca. The night atmosphere of that Sunday in the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) was fantastic, the terraces of the restaurants were full of people who are supping, or taking a glass, and the temperature was a bit more soft than during the day, in which the heat was really asphyxiating.

I liked this atmosphere, and took several photos. This one is one of them, taken from one corner of the square, without tripod. I hope that you like.

Copyright © - This photograph is an intellectual property of its author, and is protected by the Law. The use or reproduction by any way without previous written authorization of the photographer is strictly prohibited.
Please contact: josepmarin@ono.com

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Hoy no puedo dar muchas explicaciones sobre esta foto, que tomé la primera noche de mi estancia en Salamanca. El ambiente nocturno de aquel domingo en la Plaza Mayor era fantástico, las terrazas de los restaurantes estaban llenas de gente cenando o tomando una copa, y la temperatura era un poco más agradable que durante el día, en el que el calor fue realmente asfixiante.

Me gustó esta atmósfera, y tomé varias fotos. Ésta es una de ellas, tomada desde una esquina de la Plaza, sin trípode. Espero que os guste.

Copyright © - Esta fotografía es propiedad intelectual de su autor, y está protegida por la Ley. Su uso o reproducción por cualquier medio sin previa autorización por escrito del fotógrafo está estrictamente prohibido.
Por favor contactar: josepmarin@ono.com

Make : NIKON CORPORATION
Model : NIKON D7000
Software : Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Copyright : JOSEP MARIN
ExposureTime : 1/20Sec
FNumber : F4,0
ExposureProgram : Manual
ISOSpeedRatings : 1600
DateTimeOriginal : 2011:06:26 22:38:42
CompressedBitsPerPixel : 4/1 (bit/pixel)
MeteringMode : Division
LightSource : Cloudy
Flash : Not fired(Compulsory)
FocalLength : 18,00(mm)
ExposureMode : Manual
WhiteBalance : Manual
DigitalZoomRatio : 1/1
FocalLength(35mm) : 27(mm)
SceneCaptureType : Standard
GainControl : High gain up
Contrast : Normal
Saturation : Normal
Sharpness : Normal

ktanska, nikkitta, worldcitizen, abmdsudi, danos, Kofman, macjake, macjake, papagolf21, jhm, Cricri, subhendu_bagchi, Angshu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bema (25936) 2011-09-19 12:39

Hello Josep,

for sure i like this one.., it´s really an amazing night capture, perfect management of light without a tripod, but with a Nikon what´s possible.. lol..
good angle and a real charming atmosphere on the plaza..

have a great evening, see yo soon, cheers Bernd

ktanska (21499) 2011-09-19 12:45

Hi Josep,
Golden tones make this look magnificient plaza look even greater. And interesting to see so much happening there, a truly Spanish night. You managed to get reasonably short exposure to stop motion. Wide angle works well.
Kari

BennyV (12747) 2011-09-19 13:16

Ola Josep,

Great gold/black/red combination of colours result in a shot with a great atmosphere to it. Good choice of format too. Who needs tripods!?

Cheers.

Benny

tatadalou (3247) 2011-09-19 13:30

Hola Josep,
Une photo aussi nette sans trépied et avec ce temps de pose, là je dis "chapeau"! Cette plaza mayor est déjà élégante en elle-même, mais avec les lumières dorées de la nuit, c'est tout simplement somptueux ! Merci du partage.
Delphine

fanni (13868) 2011-09-19 13:44

Hi Josep,
the dark -almost black - sky only emphasizes the golden-reddish colours of the place:) It's nice also to see one brightly lit street lamp: it helps to add more balance to the composition.
I think that the warm atmosphere of the place was captured perfectly! :)

best regards,
Elena

nikkitta (5850) 2011-09-19 19:38

Hola Josep,

Por supuesto que todos los que comentaron y yo ahora estamos maravillados por la belleza de la foto, los colores dorados de la iluminacion y el elegante encuadre
Te felicito por saber transmitir el ambiente tan español de esta noche de Salamanca

Un gran saludo
Maria

worldcitizen (4850) 2011-09-19 19:43

Hola Josep,
La arquitectura de esta plaza es muy impresionante y bella. Me gusta tu presentación de tres lados. El color de oro, con el cielo negro de la noche, es lindísimo, y hay mucha acción con toda la gente. Es una escena que me gusta mucho. :-)

abmdsudi (26151) 2011-09-19 22:09

Hi Josep
A spectacular sight, you have captured the mood of evening perfectly in a classy and atmospheric with the warm glow of the night shimmering thru. Excellent exposure for the natural and mix light conditions and the presence of the audience is effective while keeping the main interest, the prominent structuture well in focus. Good viewpoint, sharp, enough clarity and contrast to dark night sky is brilliant with hints of motion effect to add dynamism. A splendid record shot and nicely presented with excellent notes. Well done, congrats
Best regards

danos (73946) 2011-09-19 23:05

Hola Josep,
great the night view of the Plaza Mayour with this superb gold colour to makes the image so fascinating.I like the quality of the image as the shot that with the lot of people to enjoy carefree all this spectacular night sight of the place.Well done my friend.

Have a good day,Danos

macjake (39207) 2011-09-20 1:00

Hi Josep
I commend you on this photo, especially as it was taken without the aid of a tripod.
surprisingly, the people look very sharp, and don't have any haze to them despite the 1/20 shutter speed.
Also surprisingly, i don't mind the cutting off of the people in the lower foreground...as i probably would have thought that would be 'wrong' if i were setting up the composition myself - but it turned out very well.
the ambiance of the yellow illumination is a welcome contrast to the black.
great shot!
cheers
craig

papagolf21 (76495) 2011-09-20 1:00

Bonjour, mon cher ami Josep,
Excellente prise de vue nocturne. J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance reproduite à travers cette composition. Nous avons l'impression d'être sur place à une table d'un café.
J'admire la beauté de l'ensemble.
Un véritable plaisir.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (122366) 2011-09-20 2:32

Hello Josep,

These picture do my think to the old paintings with almost the same color.
Wonderful atmosphere picture, pleasant light against the black contrast of the sky.
Splendid old buildings, nice photograph.
Very well done, TFS.

Regards,
John.

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-09-20 4:21

Hello Josep,

What an amazing night shot with so many lights, looks like a golden palace. I like the way people are going around giving lots of life to the square. A very cheerful atmosphere.

Lakshmi

sacimar (25957) 2011-09-20 8:49

Hola Josep,

no se puede decir mucho sobre esta impresionante plaza... solo disfrutar de ella y con fotos como esta es facil, me gustan mucho los tonos y el manejo de la luz, el ambiente con la gente es sensacional, buen trabajo amigo,

Un abrazo,

Sergio

DRamos (492) 2011-09-20 9:58

Bones Josep,

Molt ben captat l'ambient de la plaça amb la gentada, i els colors grocs, vermells i daurats de les llums han estat molt ben escollits. Molt ben controlada la poca llum del que disposava el lloc.

Ens veiem
David

Bluejeans (64221) 2011-09-20 10:36

Ola Josep ,
Sem duvida uma praça de Ouro com esta iluminação , me lembro muito bem desta praça mas quando a visitei Salamanca chovia muito , bons detalhes de arquitectura , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

mkamionka (24477) 2011-09-20 10:46

Hola Josep,
Beautiful place, very impressive. And a jaw dropping photograph. I normally avoid people but here they give a feeling of life. There is so much going on here, there are waiters, a guy talking over a phone. Half naked tourists (it must have been really hot that night).
And the crowds of people do not disturb the major view of the square and the splendid architecture surrounding it.
I like the short exposure time here which has frozen the movement of people capturing them so sharply in funny poses.
Excellent capture! Congratulations!!
M

Cricri (86347) 2011-09-20 11:21

Ola mon ami Josep
Une belle ambiance nocturne, j'aime l'éclairage du batiment qui semble réchauffer la place, bravo pour la netteté, la prise des lumières et tout cela sans trépied, bon format et très jolie réalisation
Une très belle soirée a tout les deux
bisous de nous trois
cricri

yquem46 (32229) 2011-09-20 11:27

ola josep
D'ordinaire je ne suis pas un grand fan des photos de nuit car cette dernière écrase et gomme les détails à mon sens, ne permettant que difficilement de faire la différence entre une bonne photo et une moins bonne
Celle-ci par sa grande qualité échappe à cette remarque car tout est bien propre, net et clair et l'on distingue parfaitement tous les contours des bâtiments et des personnages
Beaucoup de classe et d'élégance dans cette image
Bravo
Patrick

cornejo (17990) 2011-09-20 12:23

Hola Josep, que bona i bonica foto d'aquesta encantadora plaça amb aquest esplèndid ambient i meravellosa llum, una presa encantadora i un excel lent treball, les meves felicitacions amic meu. Bona nit i feliç setmana.

Una cordial abraçada.

Angel.

subhendu_bagchi (16590) 2011-09-21 6:51

wow, the square is really golden. You captured this night shot really well with sharp details and nice clarity. The architecture is beautiful. Excellent work. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

Angshu (51174) 2011-09-22 6:43

Hola my friend Josep
Good shot indeed without a tripod! The contrast of the lit up square with the pitch black sky is excellent. A lot of activity going on in the square. The exposure, not easy under these circumstances has been well achieved. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

marcan44 (6223) 2011-09-22 13:27

Ciao Josep,
da questa foto si vede, come hai scritto nel tuo profilo, che sei un amante della architettura.
Questa foto rende omaggio a questa bellissima Plaza Mayor di Salamanca.
La calda tonalità ottenuta è spettacolare, anche la gente con il suo calore riscalda questa piazza.
Un lavoro eccellente.
Mario

mauro61 (52527) 2011-09-27 1:00

ciao Josep,
ampia visione della piazza presentata con un notturno di ottima qualità.
Piazza affollata di turisti con tanta gente ai tavoli sotto le luci della sera,
buona giornata
maurizio

adramad (27548) 2011-10-05 8:12

Hola Josep.
Esta plaza tiene tal encanto, que a cualquier hora y con cualquier luz tiene algo de especial, por la noche su encanto es especial y la bonita captura que nos muestras aqui es prueba de ello, la presencia de tanta gente da una gran vitalidad a la imagen, precioso el contraste entre el dorado de la iluminacion con el intenso negro de la noche.
Un trabajo magnifico, para haber sido realizado sin tripode, aun asi su nitidez es notable.
Le queda muy bien este marco solo en la parte superior e inferior. Precioso souvenirs de Salamanca.
Un fuete abrazo a ambos.
Luis.

sacavem (18572) 2011-10-06 7:28

Olá Josep,

Boa exposição para mostrar uma praça tão bonita. Os edifícios iluminados em contraste com o escuro do céu estão óptimos e a nitidez também está boa. Gosto de ver as pessoas na praça em grande movimento e animação. No verão a animação é uma constante nesta Parça Maior em Salamanca.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe