The Arlecchino's Wall Photo

Photographer’s Note

Portovenere is a small village in the Poets' Gulf in the Eastern Liguria; it is part with the Cinque Terre of the Unesco World Heritage Found.
It was settled probably around the 50 b.C. and became an important small city only after the Genovese domination, from the year 1113. Portovenere became the first bastion against the great enemy of Genova in that centuries: Pisa, that occupied all the coastline just to Lerici, exactly in front of Portovenere on the other side of the Poets' Gulf.

The harbour is dominated by the castle, on the top of the hill, and by the Tower-Houses: a long front of vertical buildings one close to the others, to compose a big defensive wall against pirates or other enemies.

That image was took by a small ferry that leave from Lerici, stop in Portovenere and then in all the 5 Cinque Terre villages.
It's one of the most beautiful boat travel that a man can imagine!
(obviously not in the summer season!!!)

Guenther, serenadanesi, aloyho, Boo-Boo, Gix, PixelTerror, capthaddock, sylvie has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luan (15935) 2005-05-11 4:07

Beautiful picture Paolo, very colorful, i like your framing and all this blue color.
Excellent.
Luan

rbcy1974 (20746) 2005-05-11 4:14

Bongiorno Paolo,
Nice landscape, I love the colourful houses. The light is a bit harsh, maybe you can play a bit with the levels.
Regards
Daniel

dolin (15647) 2005-05-11 4:19

Hi.
Nice point of view and good subject. I like these long house with some colors and the castle in the back.
Great shot with a good light and nice proportions.
Fred

Guenther (6891) 2005-05-11 4:27

Che posto meraviglioso, Paolo! Purtroppo non ci sono ancora stato ... Una bellissima inquadratura d'insieme con il fronte delle case colorate e il mare scintillante. Pur non avendo una luce ideale sei riuscito benissimo a rendere la bellezza del posto, thanks for sharing!

AmiBe (6042) 2005-05-11 4:42

Ciao Paolo,
nice place, I like these narrow colorful houses.
Nice castle, too.
I made a WS with warmer colors, for fun.

[workshop] [compare] +

gaby (19793) 2005-05-11 6:06

Hi Paolo,
I like this colorfull shot with the houses of various colors - it's very nice -
I love Italy (my best friend in France is Abrussezano from Capistrello - close l'Aquila) - I play sete e mezzo and other italians card games -
Thanks
Gaby

maxman (62) 2005-05-11 6:24

Ci sono stato anch'io, e mi è piaciuto ancora più delle cinque terre. Con una luce così forte non è certo facile controllare l'esposizione. Ben fatto!

emanuela (1257) 2005-05-11 6:29

che posto ! pieno sole ! bellissima foto, per composizione, soggetto e colori....mi piace quel pò di brezza che si legge a mare.... da velista sento una fresca brezza, bellissima
Emanuela

Zanni (5893) 2005-05-11 7:41

Questa al tramonto con i colori più caldi sarebbe stata una foto "cult" non solo su TE. Avresti avuto il sole alle spalle che avrebbe dato più risalto alle case. Comunque prima che arrivi l'estate puoi sempre riprovare. Sono stato a Portovenere (circa 15 anni fa) ed avrei intenzione di ritornarci magari prenotando alla locanda Lorena sull'isola Palmaria. Pregusto sole, mare, cibo e foto. A proposito: hai immagini della chiesa che c'è sul promontorio di Portovenere?

serenadanesi (926) 2005-05-11 7:42

Foto stupenda Paolo! I colori sono magnifici, peccato che le case si trovassero in ombra.

toddadams (566) 2005-05-11 8:01

Such a beautiful little town that generally gets overlooked by the more popular towns of the Cinque Terre and Portofino. The houses look just a bit too dark to me. A little added brightness and contrast would give this photo some real pop.

I agree with AmiBe that this is a bit 'cool' in its color tone. I like the WS version better and think it is more representative of what you see at Portovenere in person.

aloyho (6109) 2005-05-11 8:52

Hi Paolo,
A very interesting place and the combination of a fortress and houses is just great. I love the beautiful colours and the rhythm created by the different height of the buildings and the colours. Great visual effect! Wonderful! Regards.

naxius (16679) 2005-05-11 10:23

Hi Paolo,
Wow, superb colors about this nice italian village.
I like this atmosphere, this is very colorful.
Nice POV and DOF.
Alex

Gix (3559) 2005-05-11 10:57

Eh ma non vale, allora proprio insisti con le 5terre!
Devi inaugurare il tema!
Oltre che dal ferry, sei anche andato a piedi su per la passeggiata ?
Complimenti anche per l'orizzonte diritto, io se sto su una barca... già mi sento male all'idea, a meno che non sia una tavola da surf!! ;D))
Il posto è bellissimo e la giornata splendida... e l'hai reso benissimo. Fra tanto complimenti, provo a lanciare un sassolino: e se toglievi un po' di spazio al cielo, bilanciandolo col mare, il taglio più allungato ti sarebbe piaciuto ?
ciao, Giorgio

robiuk (10763) 2005-05-11 17:52

Ciao Paolo!
I think I have seen a photo of Portovenere some time ago somewhere on TE (not quite sure about it).
Here I find it amazing how you managed to capture so many details with good colours and contrast despite a harsh sunlight!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful place with us,
Robi

Intruder (3075) 2005-05-11 18:03

beautiful shot Paolo, the colors and architecture of the buildings is excellent. i also like the sun reflections on the sea surface and the cyan sky, very nice work!

PixelTerror (87215) 2005-05-13 4:22

Ciao Paolo,
Beautiful place and sunny view, I like the array of pastel colors offerend by all these houses, and their heighgt compared with their width. The castle and the upgoing wall complete very well this nice composition.
Have a nice day,
jean-Yves

capthaddock (28640) 2005-05-13 9:53

Hi Paolo - very nice pastel colours on the houses, and the fort adds interest on top. I must go there next time, it also reminds me of Camogli.

RegisMinot (1317) 2005-05-13 18:28

Between sky and sea, this wall of houses is etremely original, a kind of ancient sky-scrappers. They are creating a colourful patchwork which is very pleasant to the eye. And what a sea, what a sky !

jinju (14265) 2005-05-21 4:41

I love these kinds of climates Paolo. Ive always dreamed about escaping the world and settling down in a small town like this, on the sea. I could drink nice wine, eat fresh seafood, and enjoy the great climate. I like the warmth that your photo captures, the glow of the sun, reflection off the sea, the warm colors of the buildings. Its a great photo that makes me want to realize my dream, pack my bags and get my wife and escape to Italy:) Thanks.

sylvie (1183) 2005-05-22 5:24

Very good compo Paolo, I particlary like the houses with those nice colours, they look like they are very thin. Nice to see this castle on the hill and magnific blue sky and water complet this very good shoot.
Sylvie

Amandine (1026) 2005-06-07 8:42

This a very nice picure. The architecture here is the main subject, houses are fascinating by the colors and by the courb along the sea which give movement to the picture