Contemplation Photo

Photographer’s Note

A visitor contemplates the limestone scenery of El Torcal Natural Park, 13km South of Antequera, one of the most geologically arresting of Spain's natural parks. A massive high plateau of glaciated limestone tempered by a lush growth of hawthorn, ivy and wild rose, it can be painlessly explored using the 3 walking routes that radiate from the centre of the park.
I was doing the one of those routes, when suddenly found this visitor that seemed to be in transe, sat on that rock. I took pictures, admired the view just like him and when I moved on he stayed there, in the same meditating pose.
WS1 - view from behind him.
WS2 - Another complementar view.

black & white?

Henryk_Bilor, ChrisJ, siolaw, ribeiroantonio, lucasgalodoido, Floydian, Photo65Net, bostankorkulugu, stego, zeynepe, paura, kevinos, Gerrit, JCG, Cricri, alvaraalto, xuaxo, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2008-09-15 1:28

Hi Ricardo
As I`m the first, I`ll first write, next see the WS :D. Great composition with the lonely man against all these rocks. Fascinating formations, good light too.
Have a nice day.

ChrisJ (70485) 2008-09-15 1:30

Ola Ricardo

The solitary human observer at left adds a lot to this shot. Good sharpness & a magnificent view. Tfs!

siolaw (25882) 2008-09-15 1:36

Ola Ricardo,
Excellent POV to have the guy and rocks on a neutral sky background, and a well managed difficult light... very clear and sharp... and a splendid view too!
Abraco
Laurent

jasmis (51283) 2008-09-15 1:54

Fine composition with a man opposite the wall of rocks.
Regards.

hatti52 (12654) 2008-09-15 1:57

Ola Ricardo
lonely man against the rocks
very nice composition
well balanced and framed
regards

Tobias__Ortmann (2591) 2008-09-15 2:52

Hi ricardo,
very good idea to take this sitting person in your image
The composition is good and the depth and the pov too
maybe a bit overexposured maybe because the sun was shining abit into your camera but...nevertheless a very good shot
best regards Toba

ribeiroantonio (22056) 2008-09-15 4:12

Eu também era capaz de fazer o mesmo e ficar algum tempo a admirar a paisagem. Certamente que é lindíssima e vale bem o tempo.
As fotos são as três muito boas mas eu realmente prefiro a do WS2 que nos mostra bem o quão pequenos nós somos em relação à natureza. É uma imagem fantástica em todos os aspectos.
António

Rafer (4642) 2008-09-15 4:54

Ganas ya tengo de ir al Torcal,viendo ésta imagen mucho más..

lucasgalodoido (16929) 2008-09-15 5:11

Olá Ricardo,
ótima essa foto, assim como as dos WSs, gostei do contraste dessa.
Parabéns e Abraço

sunamoon (5061) 2008-09-15 5:50

Hola Ricardo:

El parque del Torcal, es espectacular como se forman esas piedras, ademas yo fui un dia de niebla y parecia que estaba en una pelicula con esas piedras y la niebla, LÁSTIMA!, que no tenga ninguna foto!, felicidades por la tuya!.

Un saludo,
Elena

jmdias (20165) 2008-09-15 7:53

ricardo

gosto da posição do personagem, da textura e forma das rochas e do enquadramento mas penso que as cores não saõ muito bonitas, ficaria legal uma versão em P&B, daria mais elegância à compo. de qualquer maneira um belo trabalho

abraços

jorge

Floydian (30970) 2008-09-15 8:32

Hi Ricardo,
I know that you don't have a so called fancy sophistaced camera and because of that i can only admire what comes out of such a little compact devil.
Great view, great position of the elements in a very natural way....very nice work.
Regards, Henk

carper (66108) 2008-09-15 9:39

It looks me a very nice place, Ricardo,
into nature... very nice point of view, fine but nor easy light, good composition, well done my friend, have a nice evening.
regard jaap

Photo65Net (43106) 2008-09-15 10:24

Hello Ricardo,
Superb landscape, great compo !
I like a lot the human presence.
Beautiful one,
Have a nice day,
JB.

Waylim (11321) 2008-09-15 10:46

What a fantastic place to be meditation and comtemplating. The rock looks like at giant chair, look so cozy, though maybe not that comfortable. Really great POV, the person does give some perspective to the scale of this grand landscape. The light is fairly strong, but you did great with getting the details. Excellent work as always. Thanks Ricardo.
Way

dta (6540) 2008-09-15 12:58

Hola Ricardo .
A very nice place to visit . The composition is excellent , with the man who admires the beautiful rocky formations .
Thanks for the share .
Denis

chris04stop (2585) 2008-09-15 14:20

A great pic, Ricardo. It remembers me a lot a things. For example a wonderful place: Mesa Verde, Colorado: the ancient, but very ancient (the first one) place of Indian (american indians) people when they were no nomadics peoples, but they lived there. All. And they are not a lot of groups (tribu). Well, this is a beutiful pic, Ricardo. I love mountains, you know that.
And...oh...oh.. did you see the face of the big rock behind the man? He is a very good giant. Look at him, please: he has two eyes and so a sweet smile! He is a beneficent one. A powerful one. Oh... MY fancy!!!
Ciao, Ricardo...
Anna Paola

berek (29111) 2008-09-15 21:58

Ola Ricardo,
he is looking around from eagle house. impressive nature . Taka care my friend,
Burak

bostankorkulugu (34168) 2008-09-15 22:46

sitting at the right spot watching the stunning view... i am not sure if i would do the same or not, looks dangerous to me... the spot you were standing looks more safe ric, clever you ;)...

best...

korkut

Graal (59090) 2008-09-15 23:26

Hi Ricardo,
nice scene, fine presentation nature from Andalucia. Good composition and WS also. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

bantonbuju (48844) 2008-09-15 23:44

andalucia, beginning of august - it must have been really hot!...
ricardo going soft on photography? looks like... do not test me too heavily...:-)))
best, j.

delkoo (35014) 2008-09-16 0:27

hi ricardo
A fine composition making good use of the placement of the man looking at the mountain, nice place for contemplation.

best regards
didier

stego (22500) 2008-09-16 10:25

Olá Ricardo,
Mais um excelente exemplo do estilo riclopes - paisagem e humanos dentro dela. Sinto-me tentado a fazer um WS apagando o homem, só para confirmar que, se por um lado continuaria a ser uma foto de paisagem muito interessante, por outro perdia muito do seu encanto e apelo à imaginação. De qq. forma, não tenho aqui nada neste PC que dê para o fazer.
Tecnicamente deixa um bocado a desejar na nitidez/definição e aquele céu muito branco chateia um bocado, mas são apenas detalhes e de qq. forma o sol forte não ajuda nada e poderia ter sido muito pior.
Um abraço, José.

zeynepe (9390) 2008-09-16 22:33

I just want to sit there instead of the man and sing a song loudly ... Which song , hmmm ...
I love the shape of the rocks. Looks awesome , like man face ... And the position of your model is superb. Maybe I just prefer more vivid colors-polarized dark blue sky as a color lover...
Thank you sharing this splendid view with us , it gives serenity and the wind blowing softly in my face.
Congrats Ric.
Zeynep

Angshu (34219) 2008-09-17 2:58

Ola Ricardo
So that was not you ;-) Well framed with the man off-centre looking into the frame. The light is strong & even then you've managed a good exposure. Alone is such a setting, this sure sets the mood for contemplation. Good work my friend!
Best Regards
Angshu

gilou530 (35972) 2008-09-17 8:20

salut ricardo
admiration, contemplation, un paysage qui le mérite, un POV et un cadrage sérieux pour une photo bien réalisée
amitiés
gilbert

paura (39608) 2008-09-17 17:57

Ricardo,
O título está bem apropriado à imagem. A fotografia está bem composta e com eficientes ajustes. Muito boa.

Abraço

Paulo

kevinos (6927) 2008-09-17 23:48

You seem to have a love of remote places and rugged rocks, Ricardo,and this on in nice, with the grandeur of the rocky terrain presented well. The solitary figure adds interest and a focus of interest. Regards Kevin

Gerrit (36529) 2008-09-18 1:28

Hi Ricardo,
great wild west landscape. The view from behind is even better.
Regards, Gerrit

kiks (6169) 2008-09-18 4:11

Hi Ricardo, what a beautiful peacful moment you catch. It is a pitty that the light was so hard creating a bit of burning at the sky. Didn't you have a polarier with you?
Best regards
KIKs

manatee (4299) 2008-09-18 22:59

Ola amigo:

Que interesnate es esta foto, me gusta la postura de esta persona, estuve viendo los demas worshops y me gusto el de B&P. La meditacion es una de las exelentes escusa para poder visitar este lugar.
Exelente Ric

Stepan (27175) 2008-09-18 23:11

All is in the title... Contemplation, you're right...
And you composed that sensation well, making us feel like being there, being that man...
Simply cool.
Stéphane

JCG (25863) 2008-09-19 9:48

Hi Ricardo,

A superb place for contemplation and the reflexion. I will like to be in the place of this man, me which likes silence and nature. Pretty framing on this splendid landscape and with interesting geology. Beautiful work and thank you for the other sights on the site.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

Cricri (44068) 2008-09-20 8:18

Hola Ricardo
En effet une vue magnifique bien choisie de ce monsieur, qui a l'air d'être assis sur un fauteuil avec le gros rocher derriére lui un peu comme un dossier, belle image aussi et intéressante en WS
Have a nice Weekend for you
cricri

jonathan_hart (22737) 2008-09-21 2:21

la composition est impeccable, tout est placé comme il faut pour un bon sens de lecture, well done
amicalement
jo

alvaraalto (5305) 2008-09-21 12:04

Hi Ricardo,

This really is a place to philosophize. These nature makes a man humble. Good observation of you.
This region seems to me a great place to walk.

Groet Rob

xuaxo (5909) 2008-09-22 8:01

Olá!
Bem apanhado, mas o céu está não está grande coisa e não se vê bem a imponência e forma das rochas. Digo isto porque vi os WS. O WS1 acho que ficaria melhor sem o rapaz. Entre todas prefiro talvez o WS2, pelas cores, luz, POV.
Um abraço
F.

colibriav (1568) 2008-09-25 0:27

Hola:
Que gran tranquilidad inspira la fotografía, la persona que contempla el paisaje constata la maravilla del paisaje.
Un saludo:
Pablo

bakes888 (18353) 2008-09-26 3:16

Hi Ric. Great photo series. No. 2 is my pick. I feel more a part of the scene seeing what he sees. Fantastic landscape. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

Bluejeans (33391) 2008-09-26 10:50

Oi amigo ,
Que lindo momento como se diz no lugar certo a hora certa :) o homem ficou fantástico a observar a natureza rochosa , bom enquadramento ,parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

pablominto (41676) 2008-10-07 23:22

Hello Ricardo,

Limestone always make some interesting natural sculptures, that stand out in the surroundings!
This is a balanced composition, the point of view is effective and the details are sharp...
Fine light & good colours!

Greetings,
Pablo -