Saffron Cove Photo

Photographer’s Note

What you can see here is Cala Zafferano (Saffron cove in Italian), near Capo Teulada, few minutes before sunset, one of the best anchorages in the area. As I said previously the place is strictly forbidden for anchoring and landing being used for target practices and military drills. But in summertime even the soldiers go on holidays and the drills are suspended. So even if the prohibition is still there they tolerate the presence of the boats. The coast guard – on the contrary – has a different idea and once in a while raids the place and slaps heavy fines to all the boats found there.
That day there were a dozen boats including us, distributed along the wide beach, who had decided to spend the night in this very evoking scenery. After sunset the moon raised and made the already lovely cove a dreaming place.

ITALIANO

Questa che si vede è Cala Zafferano nei pressi di Capo Teulada, poco prima del tramonto, uno dei migliori ancoraggi di tutta la zona. Come ho già detto precedentemente l’area è rigorosamente off-limits essendo zona riservata alle esercitazioni militari. In estate anche i soldati vanno in vacanza e le esercitazioni sono sospese. Per restando in tutta la zona il divieto di ancoraggio e di sbarco, in realtà c’è nel mese di luglio e agosto una tolleranza tacita da parte dei militari che chiudono un occhio se le barche si ancorano. Ma la capitaneria di porto è di diverso avviso e ogni tanto compie delle incursioni di sorpresa e mette multe salate a chi trova lì. Quel giorno eravamo una diecina di barche, distribuite nell’arco della lunga spiaggia, che avevano deciso di passare la notte in questo scenario molto suggestivo. Dopo il tramonto è sorta la luna e ha reso la già bella baia un posto da sogno.

AROBN54, bobocortis, paololg, Kielia, jlbrthnn, vasilpro, magalik, Cricri, subhendu_bagchi, Muse, ChrisJ, danos, jhm, feather, Fellini, ellelloo, skippy007, adasindia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AROBN54 (10799) 2009-10-11 10:40

Ciao, Donato,
what an awfully pretty place to use as target practice. That warm golden light is lovely and I like the peaceful feeling of the whole scene and the shadows on the hills. Very good use of thirds and excellent depth. Glad you enjoyed such a wonderful evening. Many thanks and warmest wishes,
Shelly

bobocortis (14146) 2009-10-11 11:12

Ciao Donato.
Oggi ti seguo a ruota nella pagina di TE.
Si vede che siamo nella parte della Sardegna - il sud-ovest - piu' vicina all'Africa. Sembra di percepire la calura di agosto. I colori della terra e del mare sono bene accoppiati con l'inserto - nel punto di confine - del bianco delle barche.
Ciao.
Bobo.

Silvio1953 (43458) 2009-10-11 11:28

Ciao Donato, bella vista di mare arricchita dalla sfilata di barche, magnifici colori e fantastica luce, bravo, ciao Silvio

UlfE (9268) 2009-10-11 11:48

Hi Donato,

Another wonderful sailing picture. What you say about anchoring is quite interesting and I realise that we have a much better situation in Scandinavia where you how much more freedom to anchor where you like. On the other hand it is not as much pepople as in southern Europe. TFS and have a nice Sunday evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

COSTANTINO (23487) 2009-10-11 12:05

Hello
A nice shot with a great contrast the blue colour of
the sea,the brown mountains in the backgound and the the three boats...I love the boats,it is the favour
subject of mine,the atmosphere is calm
Nic lightness and sharpness
regards and compliments
Costantino

emka (22841) 2009-10-11 14:25

Ciao Donato, Wonderful place in this warm light. I suppose that something forbidden has its attractive power. Big boats. Nice composition.
And now , is the sailing season over?

Ciao,

Malgorzata

paololg (14573) 2009-10-11 15:31

Ciao caro Donato,
leggendo le tue note, aumenta la suggestione per questa bella immagine, ed anche un pò l'invidia per chi, come te, ha goduto di questi scenari indimenticabili. Stupenda la calda luce bassa.
Ciao, passa una buona settimana!
Paolo

rodgerg (25575) 2009-10-12 0:50

Ciao Caro Donato,

Gradisco molto la simplictà di questa composizione. Le tre barche bianco ripitendosi danno del ritmo alla composzione e sorgono molto ben nel color clado del fondo. Il grande primo plano dà una buona profundita all'immagine. Ottimo fotolavoro.
Buona settimana,
Roger

Kielia (8811) 2009-10-12 6:26

Hi Donato,
the colors create a very melancholic mood! Very fascinating impression accompanied by an interesting note. The light is very beautiful. As we say in Germany: "Seefahrt tut not" = "all but sailing is vain!" TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

jlbrthnn (39533) 2009-10-12 6:59

Buongiorno Donato,
Bravo, l'illusione è perfetta di queste barche che sembrano ancorate vicino alla costa namibiana. La luce ed i colori sono bellissimi. La composizione è un piacere da vedere. Congratulazioni.
Passa un buono giorno.
Amicalement
Joël

vasilpro (9823) 2009-10-12 9:31

Hello Donato,
Very nice seascape composition, a very good POV, beautiful atmosphere with excellent light.
Have a nice evening, Vasilis.

magalik (1488) 2009-10-12 11:07

Ciao Donato,

C'est impressionnant l'atmosphère de calme que dégage ta photo. Je me sens en vacances quand je la regarde. Elle est tellement reposante. "Un posto da sogno" sont tout à fait les termes qui lui conviennent.
Certains seraient peut-être tentés de te reprocher que la part donnée à la mer est trop importante mais pas moi. C'est cette étendue de mer et les magnifiques couleurs du soleil couchant qui font toute l'atmosphère. Je pourrais passer des heures à regarder ta photo. C'est une photo thérapeutique.
Sincères compliments.
Merci beaucoup pour m'avoir fait découvrir cet havre de paix.

Buona sera.
Magali

rikko77 (6776) 2009-10-12 13:28

sembra un paradosso...ci vogliono i militari coi loro poligoni di tiro e le loro esercitazioni, i loro segreti, per preservare certe meraviglie territoriali...succede anche nel Lazio e in tanti altri posti e mi pare proprio incredibile.
La tua foto, caro Donato, rende giustizia al posto con una composizione armonica che lascia giustamente spazio anche al mare così bello e blu.
Un saluto a te
Rikk

Cricri (44153) 2009-10-12 23:05

Ciao Donato
En regardant cette image on prend un très bon bol air et un vrai plaisir pour le regard, tout dans un calme profond que l'on ressent a travers cette jolie composition
Belle journée
cricri

subhendu_bagchi (3804) 2009-10-13 0:43

Namaste Donato,
in aspect of photography it is a brilliant take. Nice last lights of day on the background mountains. Good colours results. The boats in water and the colour of water is beautiful. According to rule of 3, here you keep the water in lower part, while the mountains in middle and the sky in upper. I may crop some of water and provide a little extra space in sky. Anyway the depth and light is great. Very well done. TFS.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

Muse (31131) 2009-10-13 3:16

Ciao Donato,
Une vue paisible de ces jolis voiliers.
Très jolies couleurs et le relief de la côte est bien cadré.
Best regards
denise

TopGeo (22509) 2009-10-13 6:05

Hi Donato! I love this picture It has all these ships that resemble as what I learned as student to handle! acquiring him first degree of assistant skipper! Good the frame with background the island and in the first level always sea!
ciao
Georgios

ChrisJ (70569) 2009-10-13 7:13

Ciao Donato

Good warm cold color contrasts between the yellow ochre headland in the bg & the blue fg sea. The yachts make fine focal points. Good sharpness & framing. Tfs!

Nicou (46257) 2009-10-13 8:20

Hello,

mangigiqeu vue, ce beua bleu qui bruisse à sa surface, le bâteau blanc, avec ces colline brune, elle sont merveilleux et coupent les plans, superbe.

bravoe t amitié

Nicou

danos (33766) 2009-10-13 8:30

Ciao Donato,
really this a nice place for anchoring but as you said is strictly forbidden from the military authorities especially from the coast guard.I like the warm afternoon light,the existence of the sailing boats,as the shadows that fall on the Mts.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

lousat (16492) 2009-10-13 14:31

Ciao Donato,quella luce che colora le colline trasforma lo spettacolo,sembra di essere sul Mar Rosso con il deserto a contatto col mare,magnifica prospettiva con altissima qualita' di tutte le componenti,ottimo lavoro,buona serata,Luciano.

lamentforicarus (387) 2009-10-13 15:50

Another fine picture, Donato!

Saffron Cove looks very inviting, especially in the warm afternoon light when you have captured it - great timing! The White sailboats add lovely points of interest against the blue waters and the brown earth. Yet, the amount of water you have captured serves to distance the viewer from the subject and emphasize the openness of the sea at the same time. Well done! Thanks for sharing.

Brian

snunney (35880) 2009-10-14 2:39

Hello Donato,
A very attractive composition of these boats moored up for the night. The evening light is superb across the background hills and the tops of the little waves. The image has a lovely peaceful atmosphere to it. Thanks for sharing.

carper (66148) 2009-10-14 2:44

good one Donato,
fine composition, good balance, very nice is the light and shadow in dof, good photo job here, have a nice day.
regard jaap

Greg1949 (8551) 2009-10-14 3:16

Donato, I don't think this is your best shot but that said it is certainly one of an area where real relaxation can occur. The colors are nice and warm and the land scape is as I remember it. Details and colors are superb, fine work.

Greg

jhm (83802) 2009-10-14 3:22

Hello Donato,

I love three part in these nice picture.
The foreground with the small waves this gives good moving and colour.
In background the panorama of the moutains.
Also the three sailboats in quiet position care for a nice presentation.
Nice compostion and real colours. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John

delpeoples (7016) 2009-10-14 6:03

Ciao Donato, la luce in dietro sulle colline e superbe. Mi piace anche la simmetria delle barche sul questo mare tranquille e bellissimo. Un posto senza gente come qui e un vero paradiso. Mia cugina era in Sardegna in vacanza nel meso di Luglio. La prossima volta andro al'Italia, andro a Sicilia e Sardegna per sicouro. Grazie per il condivisione e ti auguro una bella settimana, Lisa.

feather (50588) 2009-10-14 7:01

More recently I have done just this; turned my back on the setting sun while others are photographing into the light. When the sun is setting behind you the light on the landscape is magical. I love the shadows in the lines of the hills and the golden tones. Personally I would have cropped the large expanse of sea to make a letter-box format, but having said that the texture of the rippled surface is well captured.
Kath

cobra112 (12076) 2009-10-14 9:19

Ciao Donato. Oltre che sulla luce, immensa, che inonda le cloline di sfondo mi soffermo sulla gestione dello spazio in orizzontale altamente efficace.

Roberto

jafadabret (40717) 2009-10-15 12:30

Bonjour Donato.
Ce paysage au coucher du soleil est d'une grande quiétude. J'aime la présence de ces beaux bateaux blancs devant ce relief aride et sauvage. C'est un très beau spectacle !
Amical salut !
Jacques

jemaflor (39895) 2009-10-16 10:00

Hi D,
Nice landscape and light on the hills, well framed with this fg and the blue sea.

giorgimer (21710) 2009-10-17 15:50

Ciao Donato,

mi piacerebbe moltissimo avere una barca e godere di questi piaceri unici, ti ringrazio moltissimo di condividerli con noi

Complimenti!

G

darek1978 (11699) 2009-10-17 19:41

Hi Donato,
An another, wonderful place and excellent picture. The depth is superb and the colours too. Also management of the light is very well realized. Congratulations!
Best regards,
Darek

Fellini (4988) 2009-10-19 1:43

Lo scatto abbinato al racconto di un attimo di vita, mette insieme un momento intimo che hai vissuto e qui condiviso...
L'ampio spazio che hai riservato al mare, la quiete delle barche in rada e i colori del giorno che sfuma sulla costa sono del resto un aspetto centrale che caratterizza il senso del tuo animo e il tuo modo di sentire la libertà del vivere...Certo, divago un po', ma ovviamente è normale che la sensibilità dell'occhio del fotografò sia necessariamente legata all'intrinseco mondo creativo e alla sensibilità interiore.
Bei ricordi...
Buona settimana
Aless

ellelloo (5045) 2009-10-20 0:41

Ciao Donato,
A beautiful photo, where the white boats, the blue sea and the golden colour of the background create pleasant contrasts. The warm low light is beautiful and you have caught the atmosphere of a moment before sunset in truly great way. The ripples on the water and the play of shadows and light on the hills are fine details.

I can see from the map view, that this cove really is a good anchorage, protected from all winds except directly from south-east. Thanks for the interesting note too. I take that the coast guard was also just relaxing that night. :-)

Warmest greetings from rainy and chilly Espoo,
Lasse

skippy007 (7451) 2009-10-22 17:11

Ciao Donato, A very beautiful tranquil scene & worth the risk of a heavy fine, not sure about the friendly fire though. The colours are special here, in particular those golden hills & the light is magnificent, I like the white boats they add interest & contrast, they form a nice line separating the sea & land. Lovely scene.
Saluti
Santo

fabianoleite (1924) 2009-12-02 12:28

Great landscape, the composition with the boats was excellent, and good colors of the mounts. As to your worshop, it was excellent, I don't know how you did it, but yes, it's really a scan. I just wanted to color the map of the United Kingdom. I did the same to Ireland and France, for when I went there, there was no digital camera yet. I hope when I go to Italy I take good photos, ma ho che imparare italiano, perché il mio no è buono.

adasindia (600) 2009-12-28 22:50

Beautiful!. Amazing place Donato..
The light is so beautiful. Splendid composition. The golden Vs blue contrast really works well. Very well done.

BR,
Abhijit