Chestnut woods, a photo from Tivat, South

Photographer's Note

Misty chestnut woods near Gornji Stoliv. Donji Stoliv (Lower Stoliv) is a pleasant seaside village with a huddle of stone houses on the shores of Boka Kotorska. It’s worth stopping here to take the idyllic but steep half-hour’s walk through the olive and chestnut trees to the upper village, Gornji Stoliv, located on the slopes of Mount Velji Vrh. A narrow path leads uphill from the graveyard and you continue by an old, rough pebble path that zigzags up to this peaceful hamlet. This photograph was taken towards the top of the path in beautiful chestnut woods on a misty day when we were walking up into the clouds. Luckily the mist cleared and gave us a fantastic view over the entire Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor): at 250m, the views over the bay to Perast are sublime: see the Workshop image. Most houses are abandoned, but the village has succeeded in keeping its original form and authenticity. The families who lived here for centuries have now left, with only a few houses remaining in use and the rest in varying states of picturesque ruin. A church dedicated to the prophet Elijah (Crkva Sv Ilije) dating from 1553 keeps a lonely vigil (see a previous posting). Goats roam around the church perched on the top of the hill above the village. Of course, donkeys – and Shank’s Pony - are the only means of transportation here.

Click here for the larger Beta TrekEarth version.

macjake, daddo, snunney, holmertz, jhm, GyurMaster, adores, AnimeshRay, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

macjake (93105) 2015-09-01 1:57

Hi Will
you put a good twist on this shot...haha...pardon the pun!

reading your note, it sounds like a wonderful place to go for a walk - but perhaps not along in the dark!
and anytime you can include a Graveyard in there too, it can only enhance the experience.

obviously the misty mood and atmosphere are the key elements here, and the contrast between the dark tree trunks and lighter colored areas of the scene.

beauty!
cheers
Craig

daddo (28720) 2015-09-01 2:08

Hi Will. I wasn't aware that you had been to Montenegro in 2013. Are you leaning perilously to the right or is it the trees? Just joking! Great B&W filled with lovely nuances of grey- like a sublime pencil sketch. I liked Kotor a lot and it was the first port of call for my Albanian forefathers who fled their home above Bar during the Ottoman rule and with more than a hundred families settled in northern Dalmatia. Regards. Klaudio.

snunney (130965) 2015-09-01 2:43

Hello Will,
The quirky framing makes for a much stronger composition. I like the choice of black and white which brings a timeless feel to the scene and is very apt to the subject. Pleasing soft lights and a fine range of tones.

holmertz (84271) 2015-09-01 2:56

Hello Will,
You created fine diagonals which give some dynamism to the misty and fairytale looking forest. The dark trees add nice accents to the greyscale of the forest. I have gone by bus along the Kotor Bay a few times but I didn't know that the interior was so deserted.
Best regards,
Gert

jhm (192603) 2015-09-01 4:16

Hello Will,

A nice misty atmosphere picture, do me think to the first winterdays in November.
Pleasant picture with a lovely scene.
An excellent depth and perspective.
Composition and presentation is wonderful.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Sergiom (116302) 2015-09-01 6:05

Bonjour Will,

J'aime beaucoup l'atmosphère que dégage cette photo. Une très belle utilisation de cette brume douce. J'aime le noir et blanc très lumineux et diffus.

Amicalement

Serge

dta (95886) 2015-09-01 6:43

Hello Will !
What a mysterious atmosphere ! Superb use of the B&W . At first glance , i thought that there was a tilt , but that is the effect of the leaned trees .
Regards

rbassin (27408) 2015-09-01 8:33

hello Will
une belle atmosphère entoure ces châtaignés, et bon rendu en N&B.
Amicalement
Roland.

GyurMaster (17074) 2015-09-01 14:11

Dear Will,

You perfectly displayed the misty atmosphere of the wood. Am I right that the path was not horizontal? Adjusting everything else to increase the uncertain feeling caused by the mist.
The finishing touch is given by the fine BW conversion.

Best Regards,
Gy.

Matyas (0) 2015-09-02 10:02

Hello Will! Sophisticated picture. very good composition. Ideal exposure and capture, fine cut and frame. Gorgeous job. Well done!

lousat (122005) 2015-09-04 9:00

Hi Will,i been there in summer some year ago,and it's nice to see some pics from there taken in autumn.I like a lot this atmosphere,with the fog and a great sensation of peace,quiet and silence.The main post is truly beautiful,and very nice too is the large view in the WS.Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Silvio1953 (192735) 2015-09-04 10:03

Ciao Will, fascinating composition with fantastic forest, splendid light, magic atmosphere, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

adores (46979) 2015-09-13 15:41

Hi Will!
This looks like a very mysterious place! I like the mist and the atmosphere - you have chosen a great moment to take this one and b&w is just perfect!

mayjayne (7380) 2015-09-19 2:05

Hello Will,

This is simply lovely.

I love the way the misty atmosphere has lent a soft feeling to the branches and leaves, making them as light as a charcoal sketch.
TFS,
May

dekanski (6557) 2015-09-30 12:38

Hi Will,
I thank for these two photographs from Stoliv. Long ago I have not been there, and never experienced such scenes!

The scene seems incredible, trees grow at an angle, although path shows that you were not "distorted" camera!

Great!

Saša

AnimeshRay (9089) 2015-10-03 22:15

Excellent photo. Nice contrast and tonality. The slight tilt of the slope in the frame positions the receding road very nicely in a third, enhancing depth and attracting attention to the misty trees in the distance. Very well done.

delpeoples (60326) 2015-10-07 3:53

Gidday Will

They say we shouldn't take photos on an angle like this, but I say phooey to that. Your photo is really beautiful and very evocative, beautifully capturing the mist and the impressive textures of this spooky old forest. It's always interesting to note the difference in the trees to your own country, and here the difference could not be greater. Excellent light management too, a very artistic photo.

Best wishes
Lisa