The Cotton District Photo

Photographer’s Note

Marciana Marina is one of the many villages of the Elba Island, in front of the Tuscanian coastline.
The village is composed by 2 different old parts, in the picture there is the western side called Borgo Cotone (Cotton District), some dozens of building built in the XII° Century by the Pisa Lords, that in that years controlled the island.
The name Cotone didn't came from the Cotton, but from the old Italian Cote, that in the Pisa dialect means Big Rock.
At 700 meters there is the first Marciana, that was completely built on a mountain.
This is an old tradition of all Italian Regions. There are hundreds of villages built on the hills or in mountains at many km from the sea, and a twin city, with the same name + Marina (that means "on the sea"). All that for the pirates attacks, that for many centuries destroyed hundreds of villages along all the Italian coast. Only in the late Middle Age the Venetian and Genova fleets destroyed completely the pirates headquarters, located in the North Africa

jrj, bantonbuju, ChrisJ, feather, gaby, igorw, sarabarbara has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bantonbuju (48630) 2005-09-09 4:18

ciao paolo, i think i must say it is one of your best ones, i mean - the most inspiring or the most toutching an anstraction - the bit of the enlightened land sneaking into a complete darkness; it makes a feeling as if the land (good) was fighting with the darkness (evil);
piece of symbolism?
salut, jerzy

jrj (34779) 2005-09-09 4:19

To be true paolo I am not fully convinced of this one. The details of the village is presented well, but the overall setting is too much just black. Guess a shooting an hour before hade both given more details and the deep blue sky.
Beside that interesting place: Elba

Zepi (22848) 2005-09-09 4:23

Hello Paolo,
Très belle image nocturne !
J’aime bien les reflets de la ville sur l’eau !
J’aurais peut être aimé un ciel plus claire, style tombé du jour…
Belle image en tous cas
J’aime !
Merci pour le partage
Amicalement,
Sébastien

jinju (14265) 2005-09-09 5:43

Hey Paolo,

I think like jrj a bit, thet the pic has too much black. I like how the village contrasts against the night sky, its very strong..I just wish there was more village and less dark. No hard feelings though, right?

dharbott (1892) 2005-09-09 6:32

Hi Paolo,

Great 'night-time' shot - with lovely rich golden colours.
Frame is also good.

I hope to try some night shots later this year.

Regards,

ChrisJ (70271) 2005-09-09 6:55

Bonjourno Paolo

I like the well managed time exposure & lighting. Excellent reflections & good sharpness. Maybe I'd crop some of the left & top.

Graal (57995) 2005-09-09 9:00

Hi Paolo,
interesting view, black & dark yellow. Good composition, nice frame. I like it. Well done.
Rgs, Aleksander

feather (49860) 2005-09-09 9:24

I love the capture of the buildings and the reflections in the water. The contrast between the black and orange is superb. Maybe I would crop some from the left, but a fine shot nonetheless.
Kath

Gix (3559) 2005-09-09 10:13

ciao Paolo,
all'Elba sono stato qualche volta, ma tanto tempo fa e sempre dall'altra parte dell'isola.
I riflessi sono bellissimi, ma se devo essere sincero, sul mio monitor tutto il resto è nero profondo: una tua scelta ?
In questo caso direi che forse il nero è un po' troppo per un'immagine così piccola (800 pix.)
Sicuramente l'effetto su una stampa 30x40 cm sarebbe tutt'altro!
Giorgio

Fis2 (45849) 2005-09-09 14:38

Hi Paolo!
Good night photo.
I like the composition and colours.
Regards
Krzysztof

gaby (19793) 2005-09-09 16:11

Paolo bonsoir - j'admire toujours tes photos car tu contrôles magnifiquement la lumière et celle là ne faillit pas à la règle - j'adore le contraste entre le côté gauche tout noir et le village qui ressort dans la la nuit et se reflète sur l'eau -
c'est très beau
Merci et bon week end
Gaby

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-09-10 9:36

great work, a little blurry, but I love the idea, well shot

lestans (15456) 2005-09-10 13:52

Bravissimo Paolo! Bella foto notturna, magnifici riflessi sul mare. Ottima nota: non sapevo nemmeno io questa cosa del Cotone! Grazie
Livia

AQeeL (0) 2005-09-10 19:21 [Comment]

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designsoul (21394) 2005-09-12 12:16

Absolutely enchanting, Paolo...
the island of Elba... I only saw it from the train going from Roma to Toscana. What a place... the beauty of beauties...
very nice composition, lights and darks...
Magical
sarolta

dolin (15647) 2005-09-13 8:27

Hi Paolo.
An interesting night shot with a good choice of framing...but I find too much black.
The exposure is perfect. Good light manged.
The reflects give a good effect.
Good compo
Fred

b4man (15) 2005-09-13 9:41

I like the black. It makes me curious.