CLAUSTROPHOBIC EXPERIENCE Photo

Photographer’s Note

NO PLACE FOR THE CLAUSTROPHOBIC

The scene is a beach in Yalta, the gem in the crown of the Crimean Peninsula. I had been giving lectures on the “Serenity,” a cruise ship belonging to the Crystal Cruise Line, when the ship visited the port of Yalta for the day. In seeing the sheer density of humanity that was sharing the postage-stamp size rocky beach, I was both fascinated and sympathetic to the bathers, everyone trying to cool off on that hot and muggy day in August. I imagine the claustrophobic experience would be similar to bathing in the sacred Ganges River during high holidays, where the expression “elbow room” has to be taken not figuratively, but literally.

The individuals strolling in the foreground are important compositional elements for the photograph, as is the “reverse – Z” created by the diagonal of the boardwalk.

Later the same day I traveled by bus on the Yalta-Sevastopol road for a view of the Swallow’s Nest Castle. Finally, it behooves me to point out the most important site in Yalta is the Livadia Palace, where in February of 1945, the Yalta Conference took place. The summit meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin took place, led to the map of Eastern Europe being redrawn. The history of Livadia Palace can be seen at the link, Crimea.

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Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (56044) 2009-05-14 2:32

Bonjour, mon ami Bulent,
En effet, celui qui aime la solitude, les grands espaces exempts de toute civilisation, ne peut que souffrir en regardant cette très bonne prise de vue de notre monde !
Bel exemple du reflet de notre société.
Chacun est libre de choisir ses moments de repos.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Uhu (7340) 2009-05-14 2:33

Horrible, horrible, horrible! I don't want to visit Yalta and Krimea in general after seeing this! :)
Well, I heard a lot of stories, you know, about the facilities and infrastructure there, from reliable sources, may I add.
As about photo - it's very good, and showing quite a strange situation.

snunney (34186) 2009-05-14 2:39

Hello Bulent,
Certainly not a place for those who wish to practice sun bathing in private :-) A good daily life shot well composed with some splashes of colour offered by the parasols and the lady in the red dress in the foreground. A question of taking your leisure when and where you can!

ingvar (546) 2009-05-14 2:41

Yes, dear Bulent, I think you will agree with me that for
many of these vacationers the lectures on serenity, after a visit to such a holida, would have been useful! :o)

Warm regards and hope to see you soon!

I.

delic (6735) 2009-05-14 2:51

That looks worse than a Dutch city on a Saturday afternoon, or the Italian beaches in July-August. How have you been doing? Sevgiler, Hakan

xuaxo (5649) 2009-05-14 2:52

Hi Bulent,
If this is "the gem in the crown of the Crimean Peninsula", let me go somewhere else :-)
Very interesting shot to show the place and situation.
Greetings,
Francisco

trekks (14262) 2009-05-14 3:13

hi Bulent

I can safely bet and say this is one scenery which no one can ever hunt and get in South East Asia, India or China, Korea, Japan or anywhere in the Orient. It is not the least tradition or culture of the East. Not so many bikinis or a large crowd.

Maybe possible in some resort islands off Thailand.

Very interesting to see this in Ukraine. I suppose the good sun and the lure of a good tan must pull some magic.

Or the heat wave must be so unbearable.

A nice matrix of life society.

tfs, bill

azaf1 (15541) 2009-05-14 3:21

Merhaba Bulent

Being a fan of Mordillo cartoons for a long time, your capture really reminded me of his drawings. Excellent framing and careful stylistics from your creative sight.

Have a good day and TFS
Argiris

Buin (36988) 2009-05-14 4:02

Hallo Bulent!
Yes, this is deterrent! Oh no, what a crowd! Nearly only standing room available ;-)! Man is a "gregarious animal" as one can see here. Concerning recreation here - negative report.
Nearly an a bit funny contribution - and a tiny bit even tragic!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

BWJ (1771) 2009-05-14 4:58

Hello Bulent,
This photo is an excellent daily life scene and a symbol of the summer holiday! Even though the beach is crowded, people are enjoying the hot August day. The composition has outstanding structure and balance created by 'reverse - z' as mentioned in your note. The colorful clothing and umbrellas and careful placement of the people strolling in the foreground fill the frame perfectly. I also like the variety of details in the busy scene. Your work is outstanding!
Kind regards,
Betty

smarcell (14105) 2009-05-14 6:11

Hello Bulent, that's very funny !
The beach in the corner is really overcrowded !
You know, I imagined some ET watching this spot from far away, and thinking that the inhabitants of this planet certainly have some problem...
Regards Stefano

Bruno40 (6440) 2009-05-14 6:14

Hi Bulent,
Great photo of an ugly place. I can enjoy almost empty white-sand beaches all year around... lucky me! :-)
tfs
Jorge

Tue (25608) 2009-05-14 7:45

Hi Bulent,
I thought the Dutch beaches were crowded during the summer, but this is even worse! Unbelievable how many people can visit one small beach. You captured it very well in a good composition, making good use of the diagonal. The sunlight and colours are nice too.
Regards,
Lars

Wandering_Dan (3191) 2009-05-14 10:46

Merhaba, Bulent -

Why should they feel claustrophobic? I'm sure I spotted a bit of sand somewhere - plenty of space! :-)

Definitely a neat human interest shot. The reverse "Z" is OK, but the splashes of color are what make it work, to my mind.

Best,
Dan

dareco (17024) 2009-05-14 14:53

WOW! Such alot of people. I prefer abit quieter places :) Nice composition and excellent detail. TFS

ribeiroantonio (21753) 2009-05-14 18:04

It is an amazing shot. We can NOT see a single cm2 of ground. And the background is also packed with boats! Well done.
Antonio

cak (3777) 2009-05-14 19:23

devasa Karadeniz de bu tıkış tıkış samimiyet nedendirki?

Dyerco (8908) 2009-05-14 23:19

Hi Bulent
The composition was well handled and the POV is excellent as it seemd to condense the crowds even more.
Phil

BurhanettinMasa (641) 2009-05-15 4:28

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Tahminen bu haftasonu 30 derece sıcaklıkta Caddebostan halk plajı'da bu durumda olacaktır :)
Renkler ve bakış açınız süper, ellerinize sağlık ...

İstanbul'dan selamlar,
Burhan

jhm (81817) 2009-05-15 4:33

Hello Dear Bulent,

I would here not are very happy between the a lot people, gives me but my bike and the wide nature.
A nice point view about the part of the beach, excellent for a nice composition.
Depth and perspective are superb.
Pleasant for look at, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

AROBN54 (10705) 2009-05-15 5:58

Warm greetings, Bulent,
oh my word. I thought South Carolina beaches were busy places, but this is mind boggling. Splendid light and brilliant clear color and a stunning array of nice detail. Not a place I'd want to spend my time off trying to relax. Very well captured! Many thanks and kindest wishes,
Shelly

archimatica (13190) 2009-05-15 10:01

Hello Bulent,
This photo is an excellent scene of daily life. I do not understand why people are so determined to live so badly the sea... but we are made in so many ways.
Best,
Renzo

Emile (19811) 2009-05-16 9:03

Hola Bulent.
I think we have to take what one has and in this case it seems that there are not many beaches in Yalta, your very nice picture shows us that we enjoy what we have. Crowded or not they are having a great time.
TFS.
Best regards and wish you a nice weekend.

emka (21143) 2009-05-16 13:38

Hi Bulent,
Indeed, not much place for lying on the sand or swimming. very funny and very colourful photo. Looks a bit like the Ultimate Judgement by Brueghel. Fine composition with reversed Z, I like all colours and the view of the people and their dresses. I suppose that the beaches in Portofino and Cinque Terre must look very similar. They are also tiny and a lot of tourist come there in the high season. When I was in the beginneng of April they were empty. Palace in Livadia and the Conference... I remember from my childhood the view of the three gentlemen sitting.I saw this image so often....

Warm regards

Malgorzata

mesutilgim (36337) 2009-05-16 13:50

Selam sevgili Bülent,
Modern apartmanlara ben "insan silosu" diyorum, buraya ne demeli ?
Bu da geçen yaz'ın karelerinden.
Çok şeyler anlatan bir çalışma. Verdiğin açıklamalarla da ciddi bir "paper" niteliğinde TE katkısı olmuş.
Tebrikler
Selam ve sevgiler
MESUT ILGIM

Charo (31651) 2009-05-17 8:09

Hello Bulent,
Tremendous amount of people who are in this small beach is not one grain of sand, I could not be there, I am used to large (or small) beaches of Galicia, where people are just not the case everywhere, but there are a lot of them are like little paradise.
Wonderful framing and details.
Best wishes,
Charo

tober (3902) 2009-05-18 4:04

Merhaba Sayın Hocam, bu coğrafyayı hiç görmedim. Acaba denize girmeye müsait başka kumsal olmadığı için mi insanlar buraya akın etmişler? Şimdiye kadarki gördüklerimden, metrekareye en fazla insan düşen plajın burası olabileceğini düşünüyorum. Notunuzda Ganj'dan da bahsetmişsiniz ki, burası da herhalde Ganj'la başa güreşir. Çok ilginç bir fotoğraf. Elinize sağlık, saygılar...

gracious (20017) 2009-05-18 11:31

Merhaba Prof.Bulent,
Selamlar!!
Never seen such a crowd in small area to cool themselves off under the hot sun! may be too jammed to enjoy the cool sea water as well!
thank you for the notes always and the image that shared
my warmest regards to you and family in US
a hug from Tony

paololg (13258) 2009-05-18 13:13

Ciao dear Bulent,
that very crowed place! I am not claustrophobic, but surely I don't like to be among all this people. This interesting photo is a testimony of the demand to escape from the monotony of a life that doesn't offer so many alternatives. It's a signal that something is also changed in these people, and it can also be seen in our beaches of east Italy, where once were the Germans, the Austrians, the Dutch, now there are the Russian, the Hungarians, the Polish, the Slovaks. The world changes, people also change... Excellent photo, dear friend, your works are always an interesting reportage. Compliments!
Ciao!
Paolo

ymrk (8383) 2009-05-18 23:27

Çok hoş bir günlük yaşam karesi hocam.Yazın o bunaltıcı sıcağına karşın,insanlar kendini böyle yerlere bırakmış.Cıvıl cıvıl,rengarenk bir kare.
Bu sene de,en az bu kadar güzel karelere sahip olun.
Selamlar,

Yağmur

Silvio1953 (40933) 2009-05-19 14:11

Ciao Bulent, how much people!
Great composition with interesting scene and lovely walking persons, very well done, ciao Silvio

bostankorkulugu (33372) 2009-05-19 21:19

bizde olsa herkesin burun kıvıracağı bir sahil parçasında bu kadar insanı üst üste görmek şaşırtıcı gerçekten... kültür farkı dedikleri bu olsa gerek... paylaşım için teşekkürler profesör... selamlar... korkut

robertosalguero (2759) 2009-05-19 22:48

Hi Bulent,

definitely not a secluded beach! Interesting image showing the way people live and enjoy life in some parts of the world. Details are good and colours also make for a pleasant composition. Thanks Bulent :-)

Roberto

danyy (68088) 2009-05-19 23:05

Bonjour Bulent,
il faut aimer la promiscuité, ce n'est pas mon cas. Mais cela donne en revanche, un festival de couleurs impressionnant.
Un cadrage et un POV bien choisi pour illustrer le sujet.
Regards.
Daniel.

anokutan (7357) 2009-05-20 6:26

Bülent bey merhaba,
Bakış açınız ve renkler nefis.Selam ve saygı.

ChrisJ (69618) 2009-05-20 7:22

Hi Bulent

Having endured 2 winters in Korea (not that far from Vladivostok), I can well appreciate the enthusiam of Russians to cherish each & every moment of comparitive warmth. Good repetition of the people, with excellent sharpness & colour. Tfs!

gunbud (27585) 2009-05-20 19:11

Hi Bulent,
Wonderfully busy scene with a nice explosion of summer colors.
They do look like sardines packed tightly into a can. My wife refers to this type of beach as a "sheep beach" preferring a bit more space.
Regards, Tom

MLINES (10842) 2009-05-20 23:04

Hi Bulent, A interesting busy composition showing a lifestyle far from home. Good clarity of the faces and the colours make an interesting splash of visual delight. Interesting notes, as always. TFS. Murray.

AiresSantos (41468) 2009-05-21 12:48

Hi dear friend Bulent
Wonderful cach of this crowded beach !
I don't imagine how it's difficult to move there
Great colours and details
Greetings
Aires

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-05-21 13:35

Hi, Bulent.
I can't much understand the fun of it, yet scenes like this are common practice on lots of European beaches. Try Italy and Spain in August... Having said that, I like the "reverse - Z" idea around which the whole composition is built. No place for the claustrophobic indeed, but colorful and extremely well balanced. TFS! Have a good day, my friend. I'll be seeing you around.
Fulvio.

shevchenko (9760) 2009-05-22 0:19

Hi Bulent,
It is so amazing the crowd and the atmosphere on the little space between the port and sea, good pov to show it, thanks for sharing a lively shoot.
Ally

Philippe (11687) 2009-05-22 8:12

Hi, Bulent. Your picture is carefully composed with the triangle encompassing the bathers on the small beach and separating them from the ships in the background and the tourists breathing and walking freely in the foreground. The packed beach is quite colourful with all the open parasols. Not the kind of place where I'd like to spend my holidays ;o).
Have a nice weekend,
Philippe

bona (2099) 2009-05-23 13:49

Love this photo. It is really funny se so much people in a so small place to take a sun bath. Great capture. It rememeber me the kid book "Where is Wally?".

Thanks
Andre

jaywalker (12186) 2009-05-23 22:51

Hi Bulent, A nice simple daily life scene with such a natural feel to it, there is very good light & a nice portrail of holiday, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

Vasa (4976) 2009-05-24 15:26

Your report could be understood seriously dear friend Bulent, but I agree to be there in this claustrophobic place. The possibilities for greats pictures are big inside...if you don't take the bath. I like your model in pink for example. So glad to meet you again and to follow your excellent work.

Friendly your

Branko

judesta (992) 2009-05-24 17:07

Hi Bulent
When I have miles and miles of beautiful sandy beach at my beck and call, this is such a funny scene to see. I cannot comprehend why anyone would even bother to try and fit into such a small area. It is obviously a very popular place to be seen. The people in the foreground look out of place in full clothing compared to everyone else. I have enjoyed studying this picture and the people you have captured.
Cheers
Jude

jwmunro (6561) 2009-05-25 21:28

Hello Bulent -

I can not image being on this beach - I really hate crowds and this reminds me of the 4th of July on the National Mall. Elbow to elbow and being jostled every time someone passes. Yuck! This is a nice image and tells a story. Well seen and presented.

Thank you for sharing.

John

JCG (24899) 2009-05-27 11:29

Hello Bülent,

Me which detests promiscuity, I will be very unhappy on this over-populated beach !!! An interesting photograph and curiously not much of people in water. A situation photographed well and full with colors. Well seen Bülent.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

Cricri (42894) 2009-05-28 13:26

Bonsoir Bulent
Belle note d'accompagnement, et que vous représenter très bien ici, sur qu'il faut aimer être dans la folle même si l'eau est attirante, je préfére les grand espace plus calme...
Friendship
cricri

daddo (11283) 2009-05-29 1:22

Merhaba Bulent Bey. Having just recently taken a swim on Damai beach in Sarawak where I was the only swimmer there, I find this experience unpalatable. Still, one grabs what one can. There must be a wilder, more remote beach elsewhere around Yalta. The photo is colourful and animated. i wonder where's Wally. Regards. Klaudio.

kdialyna (3068) 2009-05-30 11:19

Full of life and energy your photo Bullent, makes me to feel...squeeze.
I don't think a bath like that is enjoyable even if the temperature is high and the people look for something to cool down.
I wish you nice week end
kostas

meltemi (9746) 2009-06-02 4:37

Hello Bulent,
I agree with you this is a crowdy place, with a lot of action. It's hard to comprehend how so many people could pack themselves so tightly together here. Great colours contrasts and the sharpness is excellent. Very interesting note, as always.

All the best.
Stella

Didi (35782) 2009-06-02 17:50

Hi Dear Friend
I speak about Agoraphoby experience, crowd in open air.
That's why I take my holidays in september.
But You gave a very interesting description of the place.
Warm regards.

avene (10894) 2009-06-06 22:08

hello Bulent,
claustrophobic sardine can, that's for sure, wouldn't want to find myself in such a place, especially after our latest misadventures involving crowds of tourists.
it is actually quite challenging to find a good composition in such situation, easy to end up with just a chaos in the frame. I like your shot a lot, the fairly tight framing that leaves out the sky works well to emphasise how crowded the place is. brrrr... not for me :)

best,
Kristine

stego (22340) 2009-06-08 12:08

Hello Bülent,
Very curious take, with a touch of good humour. I have seen many crowded beaches, but this ones beats everything. I even can't understand if there is any sand or just rocks on that tiny triangle.
Like you pointed, the "Z" and the people walking in the FG give much "structure" to the image, remarkably avoiding chaos and making it an attractive image that has more than "just" the pattern of people.
Warm regards to you and Carol Jean,
José

rikko77 (5638) 2009-06-10 8:07

Hi Bulent...must be a terrible experience, ehe...come to Rome in August or in the last weeks of July and you'll experience something like this in the surrounding beaches.
Anyway, here I like the contrast between all the people on the beach and those ones walking as they were somewhere else, somewhere like the city centre for shopping, for example. Curious shot.
Have a nice day!
Rikk

isabela_sor (41919) 2009-06-21 12:07 [Comment]

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Bluejeans (31663) 2009-06-30 9:44

Oi Bulent,
Nossa nunca tinha visto tanta gente junta na viva por m2 , confusão completa também não é lugar para mim , bons detalhes capturados ,parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

mafegan (3961) 2009-07-14 3:28

Hello Bulent
For you and I this would indeed be a claustrophobic experience - infact why would you bother other than to stroll along the foreground area and appreciate our very different lifestyles. This photo truly shows how different people have different expectations in life. I can see many conversations taking place and other people just cooling off in the water. These people are obviously relaxed and are enjoying themselves - an obvious escape from the monotony of their daily lives. A very worthwhile contribution to TE. Tfs, Marlene

leonorkuhn (13513) 2009-09-24 10:05

Hi my friend Bülent,

I agree with you, this small rocky area full of bathers is not a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the sunny day. The picture is very well captured and shows with good details this unpleasant situation in which are bathers.

Warm Regards
Leonor

adores (15315) 2009-10-08 16:37

Hi Bulent!
What an experience, I think being there must be much worse than going to work. An excellent capture! I like these people walking in foreground and especially that overcrowded "small beach".