A morning view Photo

Photographer’s Note

A daily panorama of the beautiful town of Kastoria reflected on the calm waters of Lake Orestiada.

***YOU CAN CHECK THE LARGE VERSION***

***A NIGHT PANORAMA***

Some info about Kastoria from Wikipedia:

"Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria Prefecture, located at 40°31′00″N, 21°16′00″E. The town's population is estimated as some 20,660 people (1991 census). It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains.

There are many theories regarding the name Kastoria (in Greek: Καστοριά IPA: [ˌkasto̞ɾˈja]). It has been claimed that the name derives from the Greek word κάστορας/kástoras (beaver), who may have lived in the nearby lake (Lake Orestida). Other theories propose that the name derives from the Greek word κάστρο/kástro (castle; from the Latin word castrum) or from the mythical hero Κάστωρ/Kástor, who may have been honoured in the area. The name for the city in Slavic is Kostur/Костур (meaning skeleton, from kost, 'bone'), the Aromanian name is Kastoria and the Turkish name is Kesriye.

History

Ancient History
Kastoria is believed to have had ancient origins; it has been identified with the ancient town of Celetrum, which the Romans captured in 200 BC. The Byzantine historian Procopius records that it was later renamed Justinianopolis. The town's strategic position led to it being contested between the Byzantine Empire and the Despotate of Epirus during the 13th century; it was held by the Serbian Empire between 1331 and 1380.

Ottoman Era
Around 1385, the Ottoman Empire conquered Kastoria. During the First Balkan War (1912), Greece took Kastoria. The 1913 treaties of London and Bucharest confirmed Kastoria under Greek territory.

WWII Era

Vies of Kastoria from Lake Orestiada.During both World War II and the Greek Civil War, the town was repeatedly fought over and heavily damaged in the process. It was nearly captured by the Communist ELAS movement in 1948, and the final battles of the civil war took place on the nearby Mount Grammos.

Jewish Community
In 1943 the Jewish population in Kastoria numbered over 980,[citation needed] composed predominantly of Ladino language speaking Sephardic Jews. Many family names were of Italian origin as a result of emigrations (originally from Spain) via Italy in 17th and 18th centuries.

In 1944, under Nazi German occupation during World War II, the Jewish community was devastated as part of a program of deliberate extermination of Jews during the Holocaust. Kastoria was liberated by Allied troops less than 4 months after the Jewish citizens were forced out. By the end of the war in 1945, 38 of the original population survived -the vast majority of the community killed in concentration camps.

kdialyna, portmanndominic, bigtim, maltese, kpav, pasternak, Budapestman, chrkont, Truja, Didi, Tue, steliosk, parbo, jhm, COSTANTINO, clio, stelli, ocskaymarci, delkoo, dareco, Henryk_Bilor, Angelillo, Vato_Law, edytungkal, Felip, dip, rigoletto, leo61, enedimd has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

barrufeto_77 (26141) 2008-03-14 6:44

Hola fiera.

Desde leugo, la vista es ESPECTACULAR. Buen POV, buenos reflejos...impresionante. Si señor.

La nota, además, es de agradecer.

Un saludo, Oscar

kdialyna (3126) 2008-03-14 6:45

Τι να πει κανείς για αυτή την...πανοραμικά τελειότητα;
Πραγματικά τίποτα. Η εικόνα μιλάει από μόνη της.
ΦΟΒΕΡΗ!!!
Χαιρετώ
Κώστας

jalab_temen (2008) 2008-03-14 6:49

Dear Hercules, it has a superb reflection. perfect compo, magic sharpness, cool breath of morning, clear colours. Thanks, thanks, thanks,
Jalab

avallaunius (978) 2008-03-14 6:49

kala, apisteuth antanaklash sto nero me telies leptomeries kai xrwmata
to kladi sto nero aparaitith leptomeria gia na mhn einai bareth h sun8esh
polu kalh foto
Nikos

portmanndominic (2390) 2008-03-14 6:59

hercule geai sou II

belle vue d'une belle cité , grande impression de calme , de belles couleurs
merci de ce partage
bonne fin de semaine
Filika
Dominic

tolis68 (2008) 2008-03-14 8:00

Ηρακλη εκθαμβωτικη και απο αποψη γωνιας ληψης χρωματων και καθαροτητας.Συγχαρητηρια.

bigtim (3487) 2008-03-14 8:01

Salut Hercules, cette photo est impressionante est merite bien "the large version" pour prendre conscience de tout les details!
Bien vue!
tiM

maltese (21615) 2008-03-14 8:22

Hello Hercules
Une très belle réalisation pour cette photo et la version large est de toute beauté.
Des couleurs douces et de très beaux reflets.
Du beau travail!!
Amicalement
Hervé

drago (4826) 2008-03-14 8:34

Ελα Ηρακλάρα,πολύ καλό και το "ημερήσιο" πανόραμα,τα κλαδιά που αναδύονται προσθεσαν πολύ στην όλη σύνθεση,Συγχαίρω!
Παναγιώτης

Paolo (40818) 2008-03-14 8:51

hHi Hercules, fantastic one, with a great composition, a wonderful mirror view on the lake, and excellent quality!
great pano!
ciao

ifanik (20816) 2008-03-14 9:25

Apisteyta telia file moy
Poly kalh olh h doyleia apo thn Kastoria
Xairetw
Nikos

kpav (5027) 2008-03-14 9:41

Γεια σου Ηρακλή, καταπληκτική δουλειά και εδώ, με ένα πανέμορφο πανόραμα από την υπέροχη αυτή πόλη. Η όλη εικόνα αποπνέει ένα αίσθημα συμμετρίας και ηρεμίας και τα κλαδιά στο κάτω αριστερό άκρο την κάνουν ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρουσα. Τι άλλο, απλά φανταστική. Σε χαιρετώ,
Κώστας.

maliotto (210) 2008-03-14 10:36

file irakli fantastiki i photo soy alla kai i mixani soy prepi na einai ekpliktiki..

filia
manolakis

TGULUMSER (12528) 2008-03-14 10:40

Hello Hercules,
This panoramic view is magnificant with the reflections and colors,
Best regards,
Tulay

veronika (6038) 2008-03-14 10:46

Hi Hercules,
splendid view! And the large version is even more beautiful, so smooth and clean, the colours are awesome.
Had to be great to see this view on the start of new day :)
Nice weekend!
Vero

pasternak (14191) 2008-03-14 11:23

really great panorama, Hercules, there is a certain charm in the 800px version as in this resolution the town's houses blend into one entity, like a big lizard that lies on the beach... with its reflection of course! Very well included this piece of wood in the water...

Cheers
Alexander

Budapestman (44737) 2008-03-14 12:26

Hi Hercules,
Picturesque and very spectacular view with impressive panoramic composition, colours and lights are beautiful. Fabled atmosphere, Very well done my friend! Have a nice evening
George

CatherineD (4860) 2008-03-14 13:00

Geia sou Hraklh,
I like very well the colours of your photo, specially the nice tones of the lake and its purity. Excellent composition too. I suppose it is a swich with several shots...
Have a nice weekend,
Katerina

brandstaetter (15034) 2008-03-14 13:20

Hi Hercules,
your camera is a perfect tool, I can see it in the quality of the large version. Great photowork, marvellous place, sad note.
Compliments, Chris

chrkont (3733) 2008-03-14 13:36

Γεια σου Ηρακλή
Για μια ακόμη φορά συγχαρητήρια. Με εντυπωσιάζουν οι ευκρίνεια (ξεχωρίζω τα σπίτια ακόμα και στην ανάλυση των 800), και διαύγεια της εικόνας. Ευχαριστούμε για την προσφορά σου.
Χαιρετώ
Χρήστος

Truja (4953) 2008-03-14 14:37

Bona nit Hercules,
felicitarte por esta vista maravillosa!! los reflejos están perfectos creando una realidad duplicada gracias al lago Orestiada trasnformado en espejo.
Impresionante calidad de imagen!!

Un abrazo, nos vemos, Jordi

Didi (37199) 2008-03-14 14:51

Hello Hercules
The mountains, the town and the reflections made a music sound track, a very nice panorama especially whe i click to the large Post.
Well done.
Cheers

gilou530 (36769) 2008-03-14 15:00

salut hercules
un pano en version large qui est nettement plus lisible sur le fond pour les maisons du village, des reflets dans l'eau au top, belle maitrise de la lumiére
amitiés
gilbert

Tue (25770) 2008-03-14 16:14

Hi Hercules,
I'm glas you posted a large version too, so we can see the view over the lake towards the city in all its splendour, even twice, since the calm water allows us to see the gorgeous reflections too. The town looks great too with a nice repetitive element of all the houses. Good inclusion of the branches in the foreground too, it somehow enhances the overall peaceful mood. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

steliosk (4784) 2008-03-14 17:38

ekplhktiko hmerhsio panorama, h hremia einai anatrixiastikh.
De mporw na apofasisw an ta kladakia mesa sto nero me enoxloun h oxi giati en merh leitourgoun sto kadro sou ws 1o 8ema, ba8os ktlp ktlp.

Eftiaksa ena workshop xwris auta etsi na yparxei.
Isws einai ligo kenh bebaia xwris auta, alla mou aresei kai h ekdoxh na mhn yphrxan ka8olou kai na mh mou diakoptoun thn hremia pou bgazei h synolikh eikona me to apisteuto nero

Filika
Stelios

[workshop] [compare]

parbo (11080) 2008-03-14 17:52

Hello Hercules,

Morning lights are spectacular and you captured them excellently. I admire Aegean city textures with their white facades and terracotta roof tiles that creates splendid harmony every time. You are showing a very good example here. Reflection, little waves wonderful and seems you are still enjoying your new tools. A great one, congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

bakes888 (18353) 2008-03-14 22:55

Hi Hercules. You have a nice symmetry in this shot, not just up and down but side to side also. Good colour and fine detail. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

gracious (20017) 2008-03-14 22:59

Hello my friend from Greece!
Awesome panorama view of the city with a great pov and a good reflection!
a truly beautiful image well composed with good quality!
many thanks for sharing
Tony

jhm (85052) 2008-03-15 1:43

Hello Hercules,

Thank you very much to your interesting note about WORLD WAR II, one passion for my!
I saw two wonderful pictures of you, also a splendid LV, with one word beautiful!
Great composition and nice presentation, my compliments.
Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Greg1949 (8641) 2008-03-15 6:31

Awesome Hercules, not a lot to add beyond that. The comp is fantastic as are the colors and the details, great capture.

Greg

ag1993 (634) 2008-03-15 8:51

Hey,
AMAMAZING shot. Brilliant Reflection and colours.
Regards
Andrea Gatt

clio (24037) 2008-03-15 11:21

Geia sou Hrakli,
I ask a question. Does it arrive that the landscape is ugly in Kastoria?
I believe that you really fell in love with this city and maybe that I too, without knowing it really, only by looking at photos.
The large version is really magnificent with these fantastic colors.
Fortunately, the city found the peace after very difficult moments in the black years of the fascism and then the civil war.
Have a nice WE
Artemis

stelli (2991) 2008-03-15 11:32

Absolutely beautiful reflections and colors! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

ocskaymarci (2520) 2008-03-15 12:37

Hello Hercules,
How can you take a photo with such increadibly greatr quality?! Oh, yes, I can see... You have the equipment for that! I envy you! :)))
The clearness is fantastic even with that distance, the buildings and the mountains are sharp, the colours are beautiful! I also like the branch in the foreground that breaks the total mirror-effect!
TFS! Beautiful!
Take care,
Marci

delkoo (35642) 2008-03-15 13:02

hi hercules
Here, you have handled it wisely and beautifully,
the light is simply splendid and generous i like the reflection on the lake and the branchs on the foreground as well as the night version.

great job
ta leme
didier

Henryk_Bilor (20377) 2008-03-16 0:20

Hi Hercules
Nice panorama. Great place, good light and reflections in the water.
Have a nice day.

P.S. How to communicate with you, if you don`t receive e-mails from TE?:)

dareco (17104) 2008-03-16 0:40

Very pretty! The water looks so clear! A very beautiful view of this city. Nice pov. TFS

Graal (60312) 2008-03-16 0:48

Hi Hercules,
fantastic panoramic view, great work and beautiful reflections of town in water. Excellent quality. Good note. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

COSTANTINO (24048) 2008-03-16 1:19

Geia sou Hrakli,
katapliktikh h panoramikh tou foto me megalh eureinia kai katharothta,omorfa xrwmata,kai spoudaio POV,enhmerwtiko to shmeiwma sou,
Bravo,
kalosabatokuriako,
Costantino

Angelillo (9067) 2008-03-16 12:43

Hola Hercules,

Impresionante calidad y suma de detalles que hacen de la versión grande un lujo para la mirada. El lugar es magnífico y la composición excelente. Además de la nota, me llaman especialmente la atención los troncos oscuros y sus reflejos, le dan un toque abstracto, y contribuyen a dar variedad a la parte más monótona de la imagen. Muy equilibrado todo. Gracias.

Un saludo,
Angel.

edytungkal (4521) 2008-03-16 19:05

A calm and peaceful feeling to see this morning view and i can it more detail on large version, good clarity and nice soft colours. Great shot Hercules...
tfs

daniel

Felip (3905) 2008-03-17 1:24

Que hay Hercules?

Otro paisaje idílico a los que nos tienes acostumbrados. El POV es tremendo, en pocas palabras...Genial! Tengo que ir a tu país...a ver si el año que viene !

Saludos

Felip

sacavem (9007) 2008-03-17 3:46

Hi Hercules,

Very good photographic moment.
Excellent colours and very beautiful composition with colorful houses and quiet sea.
Regards,
Filipe

Vato_Law (11828) 2008-03-17 6:46

Hello Hercules,
One of the most perfect panoramas I've seen on TE lately. The little houses over the hill are perfectly defined and sharp and look like a work of handcraft made during centuries and centuries.
The reflections on the lake's calm waters are just fantastic. I also like the space on foreground only broke by the tiny, thin branchs.
The soft tones and the mountains seeming to vanish bahind the city complete this dreamy scenery fantasticaly.
Cheers.
Paulo

masquerade (0) 2008-03-17 7:52

Hi Hrakli,
Large version is amazingly impressive!
There are no words I guess, I have difficulty in finding new things to say about your photos anyway...
Superb job in general!
Take care,m

dip (13068) 2008-03-17 9:52

Geia sou Irakli,
fantastiki panoramiki lipsi tis Kastorias,
katapliktikes antanaklaseis,teleio kadrarisma kai summetria,
Se xaireto,
Dimitris.

rigoletto (27404) 2008-03-17 23:56

Hi Hercules,
Lovely Kastoria view again, as sharp and as wide as it can be.
Timing for that soothing light was great. And the woods add more to the poetry. How nice it would be to be there right now...
TFS,
Deniz

kiks (6246) 2008-03-18 2:15

Hi Hercules, lovely panorama of Kastoria. The low POV works very well. I like your choice to include the reflecting wood at the fg. It gives more depth.
Have a nice day and TFS
KIKS

leo61 (44300) 2008-03-23 8:08

Hi hercules!
Great largepost!
Wonderful reflections and excellent composition with these branches in the calm water.A great shot!!!
Regards,Leo

enedimd (1528) 2008-04-23 13:21

Hi dear Hercules,
Wonderful panoramic shot with awesome colors, reflections, light, atmosphere and power of piece of woods. Superb POV. Congrats,
This shot so good like night panorama.
Congrats and TFS.
Emir Nedim

coco (28701) 2008-06-15 7:25

Kalispera Hercules.

Se me había pasado por alto ésta (y la verdad no sé porqué).
Lo voy a reconocer sin tapujos: lo peor que tiene la foto es la envidia que me provoca por no ser capaz de hacer cosas así.

Ta leme, file mou.

(¿se entiende que la foto me gusta?)