Positano Bites Deep, a photo from Salerno, Campania

Photographer's Note

"Positano Bites Deep", I have taken the title of my photo from an article written about Positano by John Steinbeck in 1953. He wrote, "It is a dream place that isn;t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone". Such are my sentiments.

This photo is taken from sea level looking up, whereas my previous posting was taken from high up in the Lattari Mountains down to Positano.

Legend has it that Positano was founded by Poseidon the God of the Sea for a nymph he loved called Pasitea. Regardless of whether you believe the mythology, to say that Positano has an amazing cultural mix would be an understatement, having been inhabited variously by the Piseni, the Oscans, the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Spanish, Saracens, and the Turks. It was populated as a town in about the 9th Century and the 20th Century has seen more than half the population migrate to my country, Australia.

The town itself is pedestrian only, you can park your cars in parking stations further up the hill. The walk down takes you through narrow alleyways and bazaars that are so quaint and full of shops selling lace, linen, ceramics, jewellery etc. The catherdral of St Maria Assunta dominates the landscape with a spectacular majolica tiled dome. And finally you are on the Marina Grande where there are beautiful beaches, caffes, restaurants and 3 fortified castles that date from medieval times.

The town was featured in the film "Under The Tuscan Sun" and Mick Jagger wrote "Midnight Rambler" in one of Positano's many caffes.

ISO: 200
Focal length: 24mm
Aperture: f/11
Shutter: 1/125 sec
Canon 5D (Manual Mode)

sevy, snunney, pauloog, avene, dta, PaulVDV, asajernigan, burraburra, BelCan75, Clementi, daddo, Sne011, Fellini, hispic, JCG, kiks, paololg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

apucci (1020) 2009-08-06 5:27

Hi Lisa,
really nice POV, probalby a little bit out of focus.
I like it!
Andrea

Jeppo (17645) 2009-08-06 5:28

ciao Lisa,

nice POV from below to show the majesty of this gem....

well done
silvio

macondo (20449) 2009-08-06 5:28

Hi Lisa.
We're almost neighbours in the gallery tonight!
What a different kind of shot from the previous one of Positano. Incredible sunshine and great cloud formation over this amazing town. This one really does make me want to go there. I love the bright yellow on the boats and the matching umbrellas. I don't recall seeing the film, but your notes will do for now. I doubt cars could use the tiny streets meandering up that hill. Great shot and note.
Regards,
Andrew

smarcell (19965) 2009-08-06 5:33

Costiera Amalfitana is always a great subject for photograpy.
I like the wide angle view here and the nice pattern of clouds in the sky, which makes the sky wider.
Ciao Stefano

BeBeHooker (0) 2009-08-06 5:47

Hi Lisa!
Wonderful cityscape. Amazing boats. Nice colors.
Cheers!

aadilj (18102) 2009-08-06 5:47

Hi Lisa, another vivid and very well composed shot with such dramatic skies and those precious clouds

dta (98848) 2009-08-06 5:55

Hello Lisa ,
What a great effect ! This place is superb , of course , but your low POV , the cloudy sky , enhance its beauty .
Good work .
Regards

sevy (58) 2009-08-06 6:09

Hello Lisa,

Nice shot evidencing very well the verticality of the coast and the town. The yellow boats are providing a nice entry in the picture and the clouds pattern is nicely filling the sky.

Yves.

hardyuno (4652) 2009-08-06 6:32

Really good chosen POV and well composed. I like it.
Regards
Hartmut

nszeretlek (1199) 2009-08-06 6:40

A great wuaohh that makes one feel airsicked for a moment with the impressive POV and the extremely wide and wrapping angle .
The picture is really beautiful

Have a good day Lisa ,

M.

pauloog (11751) 2009-08-06 6:43

Hello Lisa,
An impressive, well composed with the low horizon, including only the boats as a foreground and then up, up, up...
Well done.
regards,
Paul

snunney (130967) 2009-08-06 6:46

Hello Lisa,
A wonderful capture of this lovely town. I like very much the point of view with the boats in the foreground, which put everything into perspective. Colours and detail are superb and all are topped by that beautiful sky. I have never been to Australia but have been to Italy several times over the years - you inspire me to go back again with this lovely composition. Have an excellent weekend!

avene (12675) 2009-08-06 7:15

hi Lisa,
the amazing sky is what makes the photo s fascinating for me, it feels so high and so big, while the cloud formation creates an effect that it has been placed there specifically for this photo :) the low point of view works really well, and I love the yellow accents. great shot, my compliments.

best,
Kristine

juliettecorvett (1193) 2009-08-06 7:24

nice perspective, makes the scenery with all the houses up the hill appear kind of impressive. i also like the small white clouds in the sky.

regards, juliette

ciakgiak (30) 2009-08-06 8:41

Ciao Lisa,
è tutto molto bello in questo scatto.
Le barce gialle in primo piano, la splendida vista di Positano molto nitida e luminosa, per finire sullo splendido cielo.
Una foto davvero bella, complimenti.
Un caro abbraccio.
Giorgio

PixelTerror (0) 2009-08-06 11:18

Ciao Lisa
So we now see where you've been, a long way up there from Oz, nice sunny view, I see nothing to fault in your picture parameters but it seems you've had a problem when resizing as the sharpness and level of details are below your usual average
Have a nice day JY

PaulVDV (62886) 2009-08-06 12:06

Hello Lisa,
Positano is a fantastic beautiful place. I like your POV which makes that the town is shown in all his beauty and majestic built on the slopes of the hill.
The many small white clouds in the blue sky add to the beauty of this photo.
Best regards, Paul

asajernigan (21427) 2009-08-06 12:38

Lisa,
This is a great shot of this seaside town. At first I thought this was from Cinque Terre but it is Positano. Your POV is fine looking upward from the sea level to the top of the mountain. The houses lead the eye up the mountain nicely. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

francio64 (39888) 2009-08-06 13:09

Ciao Lisa,
quando mi dedicherai una bella foto dell'Italia? :))

Spettacolare, davvero spettacolare, sia il posto, sia la tua foto, valorizzata dal punto di vista compositivo, dal quel fantastico cielo con le bianche nuvole a pecorella.

Una bellissima vista d'insieme in uno dei luoghi che io reputo, più belli d'Italia.

A giorni dovrei andare a Roma con la moto, se tutto questo sarà possibile, mi fermerò anche qui. Mi viene di passaggio.

Voglio vedere con i miei occhi e sentire con il mio naso l'odore del mare.

Vir O Mare quant'è bello, spira tanto sentimento! :)

Brava Lisa! Complimenti!
Ciccio

burraburra (1219) 2009-08-06 15:18

Hi Lisa,
Like Macondo, I also love the yellow boats and splashes of yellow in the umbrellas. The oveall photo is fabulous. Great framing. Wonderful sky and clouds. Very informative note :))
Cheers,
Graham.

lousat (139236) 2009-08-06 16:54

Ciao Lisa,un punto di scatto molto basso per una prospettiva vertiginosa e di grandissimo effetto.Si vede la tua firma e la tua classe in questo lavoro! Bellissima davvero.Complimenti e buona giornata,Luciano

BelCan75 (2201) 2009-08-06 20:50

Hello Lisa,

Amazing shot with such a cool view. The sky gives me a feeling like it's moving and that makes the photo very special. I love all the houses/buildings on the hill in all those different colours. Great POV and so beautifully captured! Great work!

Greetings,
Ann

Clementi (52514) 2009-08-06 22:19

Ciao Lisa,
impressionate questo pov, che esalta la bellezza di Positano il cielo sullo sfondo e' meraviglioso.mi sembra solo leggermente fuori fuoco
ben fatto
Giorgio

daddo (28748) 2009-08-06 22:22

Ciao cara Lisa, LDCR(a new one for you). What a POV!Where are the humble family houses or did everyone build houses that look like hotels? The people inside must have the sun in their interiors most of the day- my kind of place, especially with the Melbourne weather, where you are either scorched on a hellish summer's day or more likely covered by a damp, grey blanket stretched across the sky.P.. miseria, how inviting this place is. Lovely slice of life, some of which you were lucky to taste. Ciao. Klaudio.

Haymotion (2761) 2009-08-07 1:53

Good composition !
Incroyable ce village perché sur la falaise..
Incredible POV...
J'aime beaucoup ce ciel qui apporte de la profondeur a la photo
Bien vue
Vince

alftrek (3270) 2009-08-07 8:50

Hello Lisa,
The sky and landform are equally amazing, and I can see your rationale for a balanced composition comprising both, making good use of the CPL with the sun behind you to come out with a saturated colour tones. Those bright yellow colour on the boats make a wonderful FG feature and a real eye catcher.

TFS
Alfred

sandpiper (6788) 2009-08-07 16:32

Hi Lisa

Amazing POV, well captured, lots to look at and vibrant colours, great sky. Well composed.

Chris

Sne011 (3084) 2009-08-08 15:31

Ciao Lisa,
This place is magical! I remember I've heard of it for the first time in that movie you've mentioned and than I searched for the photos of it on the net :) There are not many here on TE, thanks for your contribution!
Have a nice weekend!
Sne

ManuMay (36447) 2009-08-09 2:13

Hi Lisa!!

This is really amazing!!!

Very very good!!

Absolute definition and great colour, more than this ...you have composed a great one thanks to your POV and the inclusion of coloured boats on first plane...Even if it was not enought a great capture...you added a great note...It is a pleasure to find such kind of captures well accompanied by interesting notes!!!! Thanks!!!

Have a very nice sunday...

Best regards

Manuel

Fellini (6407) 2009-08-09 23:36

Hi Lisa...
wonderful low POV in wide angle...
I like perspective and the distorsion, the sky is veru nice "cielo a pecorelle".
I have take same shot in this plase in the night...without tripod, i place the camera on the boat!
Ciao
Alex

kschanna (6) 2009-08-10 4:18

Lisa,

This PoV is very interesting, feels like one would be facing the sea and would look to the right over one's shoulder...This is what one'd see.

Great sky coupled with good sharpness and a well composed frame.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran
T

hispic (9658) 2009-08-12 20:21

Hi Lisa,
Beautiful sky with formation clouds, luminous houses hugging hill deep, and attractive boats on the beach. Very well composed with amazing contrast like positive film. I like this image a lot. Thanks so much!
Best wishes, Hisashi

JCG (35153) 2009-09-09 6:59

Hello Lisa,

Superb effect of the wide-angle lens on this luminous and coloured photograph. The impression height is extraordinary. A very beautiful seaside where the sight on the ocean of one of these houses must be splendid. Very pleasant estival photograph, thank you Lisa.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

kiks (12805) 2009-10-01 14:29

Hi Lisa, you choose just the perfect pov and create a very interesting perspective of this wonderful village. Maybe the focus is not 100% perfect but i still like the end result.
Best regards
KIKs

paololg (31448) 2010-06-15 14:52

Ciao cara Lisa,
questa è una delle più belle foto di Positano che io abbia visto! Il merito è di questo bellissimo cielo, ma soprattutto della tua bravura che ti ha permesso di gestire la luce e la nitidezza in modo fantastico. Bravissima!
Ciao, buon mercoledì!
Paolo