The Greek Gibraltar Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a photo of the rock of Monemvasia, taken from New Monemvasia or Gefyra. On the back of this rock you can and should visit the best preserved byzantine town-in-a-castle in Greece, the most romantic place all over Greec, in my humble opinion. The name Monemvasia cames from the greek words "moni emvasi", that mean one, sole entrance and indeed there is only one way in and out to the outstanding medieval town, and that's a stone bridge, small part of which you can see on the left part of the picture.

In the next few days i will upload some photos from the town, but meanwhile i chose to focus on the rock, that's often called "The Greek Gibraltar".

***ABOUT THE PHOTO: I set manually the ISO to 50, used a pretty small aperture (f/22), used a warm WB setting, and then I put the camera on my tripod and left the shutter open for 22 seconds, in order to have the silky effect on the water, and everything else as sharp as possible from the big rock in the background to the small rock in the foreground. Hope you like it!

coco, steliosk, dareco, dip, ortak, prashant29, lilimih33, asajernigan, meltemi, Felip, TopGeo, delkoo, molla, edytungkal, zeca, kpav, pasternak, evanrizo, ChrisJ, stelli, Glint, ifanik, Leilani, rigoletto, doubay has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

eyusuf (0) 2008-03-24 7:38

this is stunning. the object is simple but the colors are very powerful.

tolis68 (1990) 2008-03-24 7:46

Γεια σου Ηρακλη.Η απλοτητα του τοπιου ανεδειξε τα χρωματα τα οποια απο μονα τους δημιουργουν συνθεση.Εξαιρετικη ληψη,δεν χρειαζονται περισσοτερα σχολια απο μενα,η φωτο μιλαει μονη της.

steliosk (4784) 2008-03-24 8:52

Pote katebhkes lakwnia?
Mou ksypnhse anamnhseis me auth th fwtografia ka8ws to 2003 eixa paei ekdromh ekei me mia 4 mpixel compact kai mhdamhna photographic skills.

H lhpsh einai panemorfh, tyxeros pou epiases tetoia mera.
ebales san prwto 8ema tous braxous, na odhgoun ston megalo braxo :)
omorfh syn8esh.
pisteuw na postareis kai fwtografies apo to eswteriko tou braxou.

Xairetw arxhge
Stelios

gneufeld (14989) 2008-03-24 8:53

Hi Hercules,
I like this image alot - great details very well composed with stunning light and colors. The slow shutter speed did a nice number on the water surface. Well seen and TFS. Gerald

dareco (17024) 2008-03-24 8:55

This is really beautiful! I love all the colors! The water looks very clear. Very pretty! TFS

dip (12406) 2008-03-24 9:01

Geia sou Irakli,
yperoxi lipsi ap'tin Monemvasia,
vathos ,kadrarisma kai xromata einai katapliktika!
Dimitris.

ortak (57) 2008-03-24 9:06

Well Hercules
Again a striking photo. You are indeed a great photographer and looking through your gallery everyone can see your talent and your skills.
Ayshe

coco (27560) 2008-03-24 9:15

Kalispera Hercules.

Veo que le estás sacando partido a tu "juguete". Aunque sea para el trabajo.

Me gusta la foto. Técnicamente esta foto es una obra de arte donde el lugar, Monemvasia, juega un papel muy importante.
Pero claro, decir eso no es descubrir nada nuevo.

Ta leme, file.

(ayer cuando nos acercábamos a Atenas estuve unos minutos en cockpit y pude ver todo el Peloponeso por la noche con todas las luces de sus pueblos y ciudades y todo el litoral... la verdad vale la pena)

azaldivarjr (16) 2008-03-24 9:15

Very colorful and the perspective is really good.
Good Job Hercules!
Albert

Prometheus (820) 2008-03-24 9:48

hi
great details and very well POV
good work
tfs
regards
levent

trekks (14260) 2008-03-24 9:57

hi Hercules

Very well composed shot with superb colors and saturation. Really nice view of the rock in warm light.

TFS, bill

prashant29 (108) 2008-03-24 10:09

Hello Hercules !
An absolutely 'stunning' composition. The colors, the way water has been captured, the frame positioning.....so beautifully done !
rgds/Prashant

lilimih33 (9870) 2008-03-24 10:12

Hello Hercules!
Great composition and lovely soft colours!
Fantastic mood!
Best regards!
Lili

TGULUMSER (12406) 2008-03-24 10:43

Hello Hercules,
A dreamy view, details and colors are magnificant. An interesting and beautiful place,
Best regards,
Tulay

miumiu (3866) 2008-03-24 10:55

Hello Hercules!!
Amazing photo and seascape with superb composition! Very special! l like it!
Agnes

masquerade (0) 2008-03-24 11:04

Speechless...I think it is one of your best...
Take care,m

asajernigan (13865) 2008-03-24 11:43

Hercules,
This is an outstanding photo! The long exposure was perfect for this shot bringing out the color in the sky in the low light while creating fantastic DOF. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. The rock formation in the foreground adds great depth and detail to the shot.
TFS,
Asa

meltemi (9744) 2008-03-24 11:44

Geia Sou Hercules,
the rocks give a wonderful lead in to your excellent composition. I particularly like the exposure, with almost every kind of colour and the very effective silky view of the water, great colour in the sky too. Very well done.
Kind Regards.
Stella

Felip (3905) 2008-03-24 12:10

Que hay Hercules?
De vuelta nuevamente tras mis breves vacaciones, y me encuentro con esta maravilla. Una composición perfecta, con una definición de la profundidad de campo perfecta. La larga exposición ha sido un gran acierto.
Felicidades.

Felip

TopGeo (21357) 2008-03-24 12:29

Γειά σου Ηρακλή!
Ο βράχος πυρακτωμένος και η ατμόσφαιρα ροδοκόκκινη, και κάτω η λεπτότατη απιφάνεια της θάλασσας που μπροστά γίνετε διάφανη ισορροπόντας την σύνθεση με τα ορατά του πυθμένα βράχια και με τα έξω. Μου άρεσε η ιδέα του 22 μου θύμισε το άφιλτρο.
Χαιρετώ
Γεώργιος

scalerman (25607) 2008-03-24 13:22

H: an absolute stunning composition. I'll add my two points of green here, though it may even be superfluous. Fine upload. best, c

delkoo (33894) 2008-03-24 13:48

hi hercules
Truly beautiful ,great contrast between the water Slightly blurred and the very sharp rocks and island as well as the beautiful colors that you have captured.
great moment

very well done
Katapliktiki fotografia!
ta leme
didier

CatherineD (4827) 2008-03-24 13:57

Geia sou Hraklh,
Very impressive composition, with unusual colours. I like very well the effect created by the long exposure.
Well done!
Katerina

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-03-24 14:02

Hola Hercules

Esta toma tiene una calidad impresionante. Me agradan los efectos pocos usuales que se presentan en el ambiente y en el firmamento, con las tonalidades tornasoladas.

Nos lleva la vista de arriba a abajo y visceversa, dentro de un formato vertical que guarda un gran equilibrio. Felicitaciones, como siempre amigo.

John

edytungkal (4513) 2008-03-24 20:49

This one is excellent shot Hercules, strong colours and the slow shutter is work well here. A very good presented....tfs

daniel

zeca (20024) 2008-03-24 21:12

Hi Hercules!
Very good work specially on the way you´ve framing the scenery. The elements on the foreground had created excellent depth.
Regards,
Zeca

kpav (5131) 2008-03-25 3:40

Γεια σου Ηρακλή, υπέροχα ατμοσφαιρική με καταπληκτικά χρώματα και τον βράχο της Μονεμβασιάς τοποθετημένο ιδανικά στο κάδρο. Η υφή του νερού έχει γράψει καταπληκτικά όπως και ο μεγάλος υποθαλάσσιος κιτρινοπός βράχος στο μπροστά σκηνικό. Και μια απορία: η απόχρωση του ουρανού είναι η φυσική ή προέκυψε από την επιλογή του WB ή τον μεγάλο χρόνο έκθεσης σε συνδυασμό με τον φωτισμο της ώρας λήψης; Σε χαιρετώ,
Κώστας.

AiresSantos (41220) 2008-03-25 3:48

Hi Hercules
Amazing colurs in this very beautiful composition. I like how you framed it and the great DOF.
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

pasternak (12934) 2008-03-25 3:49

Really well framed vertical landscape shot, depth is well conveyed and water looks like silk because of the long exposure...

Cheers
Alexander

maliotto (210) 2008-03-25 3:57

kalimera sas kyrie
ti na po ti na po!
katapliktika xromata,apithani lipsi

sixaritiria

haliotakis

evanrizo (456) 2008-03-25 4:24

Γειάσου Ηρακλή,
το φανταστικό αυτό μέρος το απόλαυσα το καλοκαίρι του 1990 με ιδιαίτερη συγκίνηση.
Διαβάζοντας το σημείωμα βρίσκω ότι η έξυπνη κίνηση-δουλειά σε αντάμειψε με ένα εξαιρετικό αποτέλεσμα.
Ειδικά σε φως και χρώματα που μαζί με το πάρα πολύ καλό σημείο λήψης την κάνουν υπέροχη.
Χαιρετώ
Βαγγέλης

ChrisJ (69430) 2008-03-25 4:28

Hi Hercules

I like the motion blur of the water & the superb warm vs cold cold contrasts. Tfs!

giorgimer (20610) 2008-03-25 5:16

Hi Hercules,

WOW, magic mood, excellent quality, great DOF and interesting note.

Very well done!

Gio

kiks (5967) 2008-03-25 5:25

Hi Hercules, i see the similiraty with Gibraltar! Love the soft colors and textures on this photo.
Best regards
KIks

crckt (6963) 2008-03-25 5:28

Hi Hercules,
WOW! Great colors! What a fascinating place this is. I'll add this to my themes. Brilliant work.
Regards,
Shaeri

Chris3 (511) 2008-03-25 5:34

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Εκπληκτικά τα χρώματα της φωτογραφίας και ιδιαίτερα αυτά του ουρανού.Το καλό είναι ότι δεν δημιουργείται θόρυβος και το μάτι δεν κουράζεται.Πολύ καλή γωνία λήψης και σωστός ο φωτισμός των βράχων.
Χαιρετώ,
Χρήστος

molla (6871) 2008-03-25 5:56

Hej Hercules ,
I never been to this wonderful rockpenisula but i'v been to Gibraltar ( came by sea) so I found the similarity striking in shape.
of cause a stunning photo in the color and comp.
Anders

stelli (2939) 2008-03-25 8:39

Simply amazing! POV, reflections, colors, framing are excellent! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

Greg1949 (8499) 2008-03-25 9:30

Hercules, super effect with the procedure you used to capture this image. Well worth the effort I would say. Color and detail are really grand.

Greg

dbar (582) 2008-03-25 12:34

Eξαιρετικά χρώματα, εξαιρετική και η αποτύπωση της θάλασσας. Έδωσες με δικό σου ιδιαίτερο τρόπο ένα πολυφωτογραφημένο θέμα.

Μπράβο!
Δημήτρης

Glint (2997) 2008-03-25 12:57

hello hercules,
marvellous composition and technically brilliant too.Love the silkiness and lvely light.
regards
Bev

marietom (31766) 2008-03-26 0:44

Hello Hercules,

Quel paysage somptueux, quelles couleurs, du grand art !
J'aime beaucoup !
Marie

batalay (20658) 2008-03-26 4:28

Hello Hercules,

A very effective photograph, with the surrealistic quality you sought. The settings you specify (ISO 50, f/22, 22 second exposure) worked wonders. The lava rocks in the foreground show their texture and porosity, and yet the 'Rock of Greece' is in very fine focus.
Warm regards,

Bulent

ifanik (20462) 2008-03-26 6:59

Poly kalh kai ayth me wraia xrwmata kai entiposiakh texnikh
Kai pali soy bgazw to kapelo
Xairetw
Nikos

Truja (4948) 2008-03-26 10:48

Amigo mio... un encanto de foto!

Le has encontrado el punto de profundidad con una exposición tan larga, los colores y contraste entre ellos maravillosos. Un excelente trabajo.

Un abrazo, Jordi

rigoletto (25934) 2008-03-27 7:47

WoW,
Why do i always feel like wowing when i see your photos Hercules?
ISO 50, f22 and 22 sec.s! This is really a powerful tripod issue, and you create magic which cannot be created by those like me who are too lazy to carry a tripod :(
The rocky cake is beautiful. Sharpness of the cake, blurriness of the sea, and again the sharp segment of the rocks at the bottom...
This trio is already original and creative to a great extent. You show here how a landscape photo can be creative.
Cheers,
Deniz

Leilani (1371) 2008-03-28 8:40

Hello Hercules - beautiful colours here with a classic composition. The sky is quite surreal.. Rgds, Leilani

doubay (5023) 2008-04-06 3:38

Gia su Irakli!
Katapliktiki sinthesi, poli exipni i epilogi tis optikis gonias ke i diamorfosi tu kadru. I topothetisi tu ipothalassiu vrachu sto kato tmima tis fotografias kani aftin tin fotografia na xechorizi.
I fotografies su apo tin Monemvasia parepiptondos ine oles exeretikes. Epidi me echi kiriefsi omos mia genikoteri aprothimia na grafo kritikes sto TE, den tha tis scholiaso omos oles.
Chereto
Andreas