Belem Tower and Palms Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hi TE friends

Again Belem Tower but from a different POV. This time I included the Palms and people.

I hope you like it !

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.

Nikon D40X
2009/10/03 18:58:33.8
RAW (12-bit)
Lens: 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 24mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/100 sec - F/6.3
Exposure Comp.: +2.0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Vivid
White Balance: Auto -3
AF Mode: AF-S
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Normal
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high

papagolf21, TopGeo, ChrisJ, danos, jjcordier, pablominto, avene has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

eversmile (6017) 2009-11-13 1:32

Hi Aires

This is an excellent work with a superb light. With this point of view, the tower is really majestic! the trees can try to invite themselves in the competition but without a chance to win the attention! Excellent contrast with the blue sky. A sharpened, fairy tale view. Congratulations!
Regards
Marine

sacavem (8225) 2009-11-13 2:02

Olá Aires,

Torre de Belém bem iluminada pela bela luz de Lisboa ao fim do dia. Bonito postcard.TFS
Filipe

papagolf21 (56233) 2009-11-13 2:11

Bonjour, cher Aires,
La lumière est superbe et donne à cet édifice une élégance toute particulière. L'architecture est magnifiée par ses décorations.
Je remarque deux jeunes filles tranquillement installées sous des palmiers (elles participent à la beauté du décor).
Amitiés.
Philippe

hardyuno (2111) 2009-11-13 4:10

Hello Aires,
the soft and warm colours of the deep standing sun are fabolous. Pretty good POV, it was a good idea to including the trees and people. Very fine photo work
Have a nice weekend
Hartmut

rodgerg (23793) 2009-11-13 4:27

Olà Aires,

A superb presentation of this famous and beautiful tower: good balance in the composition with the tower well located on the left, prospect open on the right with the palmtrees and a greta depht, very good managment of light, beautiful warm colors, details well collected... An excellent photowork.
Have a nice WE,
Roger

TopGeo (21711) 2009-11-13 5:18

Hello Aires! It is a famous tower henceforth! My more friends from Greece have visited him apart from! Important management of lighting gives your composition and the atmosphere of sky and trees harmoniously! I greet you! Regards
Georgios

gilou530 (35066) 2009-11-13 5:26

salut aires
une lumiére qui illumine cette tour avec un ciel qui fait merveille, tu as choisi le meilleur moment pour mettre en valeur cette tour
amitiés
gilbert

npecanhuk (13679) 2009-11-13 6:04

Olá Aires!
A Torre de Belém é sempre linda e nessa sua foto está maravilhosa, com essa luminosidade especial e uma composição acertadamente bela!
Parabéns, abraços e até logo!
Neyvan

ChrisJ (70099) 2009-11-13 8:01

Hi Aires

I like the angled pov on the tower. Superb sharpness, with striking warm cold colour contrasts between the yellow ochre stone tower & the blue sky. Parabens!

danos (32250) 2009-11-13 8:02

Hi Aires,
nice presentation of the landmark of Lisbon.I like the pale afternoon light falling on the building and making this even more graphical.The existence of the clump of palm trees balance the scene perfect.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

Cricri (43030) 2009-11-13 8:47

Hola Aires
Très belle lumière et excellent POV, un moment que semble apprécier les personnes sous les palmiers, très belle composition
Friendship
cricri

Gerrit (35595) 2009-11-13 13:57

Hi Aires,
great place and composition.
Beutiful warm light.
regards. GErrit

Bluejeans (32053) 2009-11-13 14:26

Oi amigo ,
Fico um belo cartão postal , achei linda a luz em dourada sobre a Torre , bom ponto de visão com o casal e as palmeiras , bom contraste de cores, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom fim de semana

Urs (2756) 2009-11-13 16:26

Hi Aires

The monument is a beautiful as your composition, in particular I like the sunlight on the walls of the tower, like a golden hue. The sky has gotten a similar golden hue, very pleasing shot.Also your note is very informative. Thanks for sharing. Well done

Best regards
Urs

delpeoples (5858) 2009-11-13 17:40

Ola Aires, could a photographer ask for light any better than this? Your photo of sweet Belem is absolutely beautiful and of course made even more beautiful by that amazing sky and the low POV. Fantastic detail and your Note is interesting. What a fascinating place, thank you for sharing it with us, Lisa

jjcordier (24510) 2009-11-13 22:29

Aires
Une lumière comme ça, on en rêve tous!il faut dire que cette magnifique architecture méritait amplement ce coup de projecteur céleste. Superbe photo!
Amicalement
JJ

berek (28865) 2009-11-13 22:48

dear Aires,
I am so happy for your back to university note. its great ,idea for you. good sun light and balanced framing my friend. take care.

pajaran (2956) 2009-11-14 0:39

Dobar dan, posle dugih kisa poceo je lep suncan dan.
Pravi trenutak i svetlo koji su naglasili lepotu ove arhitekture. Mnogo dobar rad.
Puno zdravljha i lep dan, Paja.

Amaz (6622) 2009-11-16 1:12

Ótima composição, amigo Aires!!
Belas cores e perfeito enquadramento!!

Bonito travalho!!

Meus parabéns,

Um abraço,

pablominto (40488) 2009-11-17 5:15

Hello Aires,

The fine late afternoon light is what capture my eyes!
The warmth from the setting sun adds a fine mood to the tower, the details are outstanding and the subject stands out so well on the deep blue sky...
A pleasant and well balanced composition!

Greetings,
Pablo -

avene (10944) 2009-11-19 7:54

hello Aires,
the beautiful golden light is what makes this photo great as far as I am concerned. I also like the way you have composed the image, the L-shape of elements works very well to lead the eye through the shot. nice :)

best,
Kristine

Photo Information

Copyright: Aires dos Santos (AiresSantos) (41920)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-03
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Architecture
Camera: Nikon D40X, AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 GII ED, 52mm Hama Cicular Polarizer
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Killer Clouds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-11-13 1:24