Dangerous Bay, a photo from Boa Vista, Barlavento

Photographer's Note

The bay of Santa Maria, in Boavista, Cape Verde, is very windy and dangerous for the ships. A wreck lays on the beach, in a desert landscape and is a well known touristic symbol of this place.
I have seen pictures taken in a sun calm day, but approaching the wreck along the beach in a misty and windy day, I have to admit that I felt a bit uneasy as I got closer and closer to the rusty wreck. There was a strange and unpleasant atmosphere.

The picture is a scan from Velvia 100, and it was taken with a Nikon F70 + Nikkor 28-70.

sevy, chiaretta, johnfreeman, grigand, parbo, euryan, krug100, xuaxo, cobbydale, Cretense, rajhema has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

wolf38 (30) 2008-03-06 0:53

Hello stefano. An impressing photo. The title says everything. Well composes as panorama. Informative text. Very beautifully. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Paolo (41254) 2008-03-06 0:57

La scansione ha rovinato un pò la foto, come sempre purtroppo, perchè è veramente bella sia per costruzione dell'immagine che per i colori pastello del deserto e del mare verde smeraldo.
nonostante tutto è ancora molto bella!
ciao

sevy (58) 2008-03-06 1:02

Ciao Stefano,

I like a lot this shot. The composition is very good in the panoramic frame. 1/3 for wavy green sea, 1/3 for sandy dunes and 1/3 for a sky loaded with dust.
The wreck is providing the focusing point in the frame and fits well with the wild weather atmosphere.
Your note well describes the scene.

Yves.

chiaretta (2414) 2008-03-06 1:41

Ciao Stefano,
Veramente una bella composizione: per le linee ed i colori così particolari, anche le onde aumentano l'effetto grafico!
Ti dirò, a me la grana non dispiace, gli dà quel che di fascino in più.
Chiara

johnfreeman (2274) 2008-03-06 4:23

Hi Stefano,
Compositionally this works very well with three horizontal strips of equal height and the wreck to provide a focal point. Including some of the beach to make four strips might have been interesting too.
As you say, the atmosphere is very strange with the rough sea, the rusty wreck and the eerie pastel colours. I guess the sky's a bit grainy but here it's actually quite effective and creates the impression of sand blown in the wind, further enhancing the sensation of menace.
John

stefanocer (10642) 2008-03-06 7:26

Bellissima stefano , veramente un'atmosfera spetrale ma molto molto interessante , ottimi colori specialmente il mare e grande composizione , complimenti.
Stefano.

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-03-06 7:44

Ciao Stefano,
una foto molto forte, come la natura che mostra. Naturalmente mi piace il vento fortissimo, offshore.
Ciao Christian

grigand (20272) 2008-03-06 10:03

Ciao Stefano,
Accidenti vedere il mare così fà propio impressione, il vento deve esser stato forte da non star in piedi ! Bella e spettacolare, bravo.
ciao
andrea

trabuio (1881) 2008-03-06 14:35

Ciao Stefano,

anche a me un filo di grana piace (me la contestano spesso nei miei scatti su pellicola) perchè la pone un po' fuori dal tempo.

Complimenti, mi piace molto.

Paolo

parbo (11092) 2008-03-06 18:56

Hello Stefano,

Its scan add great value as its photographic value too. I like your shot while adding power of waves and wrecked ship at front of gorgeously colored and textured land. A great capture, congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

euryan (8440) 2008-03-06 22:27

I remember the other photo you posted of this shipwreck. Both are good. I like how this one shows more of the ocean waves. It does look very treacherous with the choppy water and the wind. I'd love to be able to visit this place someday.

P.S. I was just reading your thoughts about PP in your intro and I totally agree. There is no way digital could ever look like a velvia slide without PP, and even then its hard to make digital look as colorful or as saturated and as contrasty as Velvia.

krug100 (397) 2008-03-07 1:12

Hi Stefano,

I think your attempt was well paid back. This photo of rough sea and abandoned shore delivers unpleasant feeling perfectly.

Regards,
Dmitri

xuaxo (6854) 2008-03-07 7:12

Hi Stefano,
Your photo has a wonderful mood. And it shows very well how windy this place can be.
It seems like some views of the Namibia desert coast. It also seems like some maritime paintings.
Ciao,
F

cobbydale (1958) 2008-03-09 3:07

Excellent shot Stefano, the minimalist composition works well to really capture the mood of a stormy sea. TFS.
cheers
Leon

Cretense (68709) 2008-03-09 7:16

Hi Stefano!

Excellent photo, the feeling of danger closing in and the fierce wind captured brilliantly! Great framing and composition, great light managment! Congratulations!

Ciao, Hercules

sumo (82) 2008-05-15 5:52

I like this photo, there is a real sense of action in it and the colours work well. The positioning of the ship makes it.
John

rajhema (1873) 2009-02-15 7:03

You delivered the message very well through this picture Stafano. It is looking dangerous and I love the panoramic view of this landscape.

TFS
Rajesh

jimmj63 (5021) 2011-06-10 1:39

ciao stefano

ogni tanto mi piace rivisitare posti attraverso TE, sono stato a sal, non a boavista, ma mi piacerebbe visitarla, quell'atmosfera di selvaggio abbandono mi manca

ciao, giacomo