Belem Tower Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Belém Tower was built in the Age of the Discoveries (when defending the city was of paramont importance) in tribute to the patron saint of the city, Saint Vicente.

In order to enhance Lisbon’s defence, King João II drew up a plan that consisted of forming a three-fortress-defence on the Tagus’s estuary. It formed a triangle and on each angle, a fortress was constructed: Cascais's fortress on the right bank, S. Sebastião da Caparica on the left bank and Belém Tower in the water.

The tower is replete with Manueline decoration, symbols of the King’s power: cables encircling the building and terminating in elegant knots, armillary spheres, crosses of the Military Order of Christ and naturalistic elements such as the rhinoceros, the first such representation in stone known in Europe.

In time, with the construction of new, more modern and more effective defences, the Tower of Belém lost its role as defender of the entrance of the River Tagus.
As centuries passed, new functions were given to the tower. It was a customs control point, a telegraph station and even a lighthouse.
It also served as a political prison, its storerooms transformed into dungeons, since the time when Philip II of Spain became king of Portugal (1580) and during periods of political unrest. Finally, in 1983 UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site.

Shooting Data
Nikon D40
2009/11/07 16:02:19.7
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3008 x 2000)
Color
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/15 sec - F/18
Exposure Comp.: +0.7 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-A
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: More Contrast
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: High
VR Control: Off

Bluejeans, s_lush, Amaz, xuaxo, Gerrit, celmaleite, toto, paura, AiresSantos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cyborg83 (3744) 2009-11-09 2:55

Hi Paulo,
I like your photo a lot,
you created a great composition with interesting architecture and unusual weather conditions,
the colors are very delicate and the light is soft,
I like it !!
TFS
Seweryn

FreewheelerBee (211) 2009-11-09 3:02

Hi Paulo!
Beautiful POV with this ray of light in the background. Boats seems to want to go in that way.
Structure and proportions are well used here and the natural colours give authenticity to the scenery.
Well done.
Regards,
Clemence

hardyuno (1942) 2009-11-09 3:40

Hola Paulo,
this is a very good POV with a beautiful light management, great exposure. Fine work, TFS
regards
Hartmut

Bluejeans (31865) 2009-11-09 5:22

Oi Paulo ,
Uma visão bem diferente da Torre de Belém , gostei muito do primeiro plano ficou com belos detalhes, ficaram fantásticos os raios de luz no horizonte , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

s_lush (1982) 2009-11-09 5:50

Hello Paulo,
Despite the bad weather your shot looks bright due to the sun rays in the background and beautiful architecture in the foreground. Very well composed and captured!
Best regards,
Sergiy

sacavem (8203) 2009-11-09 12:57

Olá,

Ora aqui está um bela fotografia não da Torre de Belém não no seu todo, mas aproveitando o seu interior e a partir deste fazer uma boa composição com pormenores da mesma Torre para um pov contrario ao da Cidade de Lisboa.Uma composição tensa com um céu forte a ilustrar as forças do "Adamastor" :) quando as naus partiam para mais uma descoberta pelo mundo fora.
Filipe

Amaz (6622) 2009-11-09 13:45

Que beleza de foto, amigo Paulo!!
Lindas cores e ótima perspectiva!!
Boa a nota sua, também!!

Meus parabéns,

Um abraço forte,

xuaxo (5671) 2009-11-10 9:01

Olá Paulo,
Gosto muito desta vista. Os 'postais' em que se vê a torre toda já estão muito gastos.
Aqui parece que estamos dentro de um navio (por fora, de certos ângulos, a torre também parece um navio).
Aqueles raios de sol sobre a Trafaria e a barra do Tejo ficaram muito bem.
Cumprimentos,
Francisco

Gerrit (35545) 2009-11-10 10:28

Hi Paulo.
great efffect of those sunrays on the watersurface and a good composition.
regards, Gerrit

celmaleite (2603) 2009-11-10 14:51

Olá, Paulo!
A Torre de Belém que não cumprimenta ninguém. Lindíssima, encantadora a torre. Se voltar em Lisboa 10 vezes, com certeza 10 vezes visitarei essa maravilha. Gostei do ângulo escolhido e do horizonte. Parabéns, lindo trabalho!

rodgerg (23493) 2009-11-11 4:00

Olà Paulo,

A very nice view with a very plesant play of light in the BG. The POV very well selcetd and the good use of the elements of Belem's tower in the FG give agreta depht of the image. Very good and orginal photowork.
Amazides,
Roger

toto (18613) 2009-11-11 4:06

Bojour,
belle photo de cette tour de Belem, jolies couleurs et magnifique effet de cet éventail de lumière, de rayons qui troue ces beaux nuages.
Bonne profondeur de champ et superbe vue générale.

Amitiés Thomas

paura (38066) 2009-11-11 15:39

Paulo,
Lindíssima, amigo. Em todos os detalhes uma lindíssima fotografia.

Abraço

Paulo

AiresSantos (41668) 2009-11-12 14:03

Ola Paulo
A perspectiva e os raios de luz estao magnificos
Gosto muito do angulo escolhido
Um grande abraco
Aires

jmdias (18961) 2009-11-20 15:43

paulo

linda vista usando a luz e as silhuetas das guaritas da torre. muito bonitos os raios de sol trespassando as nuvens ao fundo, belo registro do momento que passa. foto bem construída. parabéns

abraços

jorge