Rio de Janeiro, a photo from Rio de Janeiro, Southeast

Photographer's Note

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro was discovered on January 1, 1502, by European explorers who mistook the huge Guanabara Bay for the mouth of a river (rio) and called the site “River of January,” giving the city its name. The city’s colonial past is evident in downtown Rio, with buildings dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries including the imposing Paco (mansion) Imperial and the Palacio Tiradentes.

In 1763, the city became the capital of Brazil’s Vice-Royalty and in 1808, the Portuguese royal family and court abandoned Lisbon and moved to Rio making it the capital of both Brazil and the Portuguese Empire. It remained the home of the Brazilian monarchy until 1889 when Brasilia was named capital.

Today Rio is a spectacular international tropical resort. Its setting is unique with dramatic mountains and beaches setting it apart from other great cities of the world. It has several iconic sights including the enormous statue of Christ looking protectively over the city form the top of Corcovado Mountain. Sugarloaf Mountain is easily recognizable at one end of Urca Bay. The famous stadium, Estadio, Maracana, opened for the 1950 World Cup and has hosted crowds up to 200,000 people. In addition Rio’s flamboyant Carnaval (occurring immediately before Lent each year), the samba, and bossa nova along with the delicious foods including the beef and seafood barbecue make an incredible mix of beauty and enjoyment.

Thanks to Maria Ramalho (Lay) for this additional information:

"322 years later after Rio was discovered, "Don Pedro IV of Portugal", son of the King "Don João VI", King of Potugal, proclaimed Brasil independent, when His father was already in Lisbon, in the year 1822.
Since then Don Pedro IV of Portugal became "Don Pedro I, Imperor of Brasil", of which independence was recognized by His father, Don João VI, King of Portugal in 13-1-1825 thee years later."

batalay, aimiliospet, jurgen, robjol, belido, jaywalker, paololg, jmdias, Vasa, axiotea, gracious, Philippe, Atousa, ChrisJ, bakes888, skippy007, asajernigan, Lay, paura, Jakab, gunbud, lucasgalodoido, scroller, subhendu_bagchi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

serp2000 (47055) 2009-02-08 7:51

Privet, Betty,
Fine view and interesting note. Good landscape, excellent colours. Well done. I have often remember your intro, words about camera.
Greetings from Ural,
Serghei

sacavem (18620) 2009-02-08 8:21

Olá Betty,

Very beautiful landscape with lovely colours. Amazing tones, very good sharpness and very well framed.
Best regards and a good sunday,
Filipe

jurgen (2074) 2009-02-08 9:36

Hello Betty:
I like to see how Rio has not changed much comparing your picture with mine of some 7,5 years ago. Of course, at those days digital cameras were not the norm, so my picture is not as sharp as yours.
A very good picture, and a very nice beach.
Regards,
Jürgen

robjol (2399) 2009-02-08 11:16

Hello Betty,
You present a lovely image of Rio de Janeio, the green carpet on the mountains.
Nice composition with time taken on your notes, appreciated
Regards
Robert

Hunkar (7440) 2009-02-08 11:49

A great panorama of Rio de Janeiro..
Good POV with good details..

batalay (41261) 2009-02-08 15:14

Hello Betty,

The expansive image reveals so much about the topography of this amazing site. If it were not for all the buildings, one would expect such a wondrous landscape to exist in another geological period, maybe in the Triasic or Jurasic. Your note is interesting and informative. I learned a great deal from it. When I was in my teens, and played soccer in high school and college, I used to hear about Brazil's soccer stadium that held 200,000 people; a moat and chain link fence, however, were required to keep the throngs off the field. Bodily damage to opposing players, assassination of referees were not unheard of in this area, where "futbol" was more than a game, more than a religion. Please, don't worry about critiquing it, but take a look at this 30-year old photo of Brazil's Greatest Export. Pele played for Santos in San Paulo.

Warm regard,

Bulent

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belido (19934) 2009-02-09 3:41

Hi Betty,

this is classic, a gorgeous view indeed! Top quality composition: superb definition and very natural colors. Lighting is also pleasant. Just great!
Regards,
Carlos

jaywalker (16105) 2009-02-09 6:21

Hi Betty, The POV is really superb it captured the bay & beaches perfectly, the building add great scale & you can see how densely populated it is, the soft light is very good & it offers a lovely clear view, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

paololg (31448) 2009-02-09 12:48

Yes, dear Betty, you have really done an exceptional composition. Unbelievable the quality of the sharpness and the depth as far as the horizon. Photo captured by a pleasant POV, compliment!
Ciao, have a nice day!
Paolo

jmdias (81925) 2009-02-09 15:24

betty

I liekd this pov, isn't so usual and show some areas not so frequently shown together. I liked the framing and the soft light. Your note is right but I guess it would be better explained if you had mentioned that Rio was the republican capital of Brazil from 1889 to 1960, when the capital was moved to Brasília city.

hugs

jorge

Vasa (515) 2009-02-09 16:13

Hi Betty, dear friend,

your last two pictures like two sisters. So nice views and formidable spectacle. Your point of view is optimal for so good realization.

many thanks,

Branko

mafegan (8626) 2009-02-09 18:42

Hello Betty
A brilliant photo with so much detail - in fact the buildings almost seem to be jumping out of the photo - great depth of field. Excellent. Tfs, Marlene

axiotea (21651) 2009-02-09 23:24

Hello Betty
Quite an impressive high pov allowing to have a good idea of this famous place! The graphism provided by the curved beach and the shaped mounts is very nice! The buildings seem to be miniature...
Cheers
Marilyn

gracious (20025) 2009-02-10 2:24

Hello Betty,
Thank you so much for this excellent view of the great city of Brazil! you had the best pov with good focal point in total sharpness, good natural colour and superb details in the shot!
thanks for the useful notes as well
take good care and sincere regards
tony

Philippe (11836) 2009-02-10 13:29

Hi, Betty. You've chosen an excellent viewpoint which shows us how Rio is built around hills that separate different parts of the city. We can also see how close to the beaches the city is and can appreciate the different landmarks that have made it famous. There is a good contrast between the green of the vegetation on the hills and the other colours in the picture. Good idea to include the foot of the hill on the right to give depth to the image.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

Atousa (7131) 2009-02-11 0:13

Salam Betty,

You captured this stunning coastline very well..very interesting to see all those buildings made between the green rocks ..very beautiful shot..thank you.
Best regards, A

sacimar (35127) 2009-02-11 12:14

Hi Betty,

beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro, good picture, good sharpness and colours, thanks for the note. well done!

Regards

Sergio

hay_kes (31439) 2009-02-14 0:20

Hi Betty,
What a superb cityscape vith great POV, colours and perspective..TFS.
Regards

hAyAti

ChrisJ (140731) 2009-02-17 3:52

Hi Betty

Wow! That's quite a view. I've seen it before, but I never get tired of it. Wonderful color, sharpness & saturation. You were lucky with the weather. Tfs!

bakes888 (18499) 2009-02-17 23:02

Hi Betty. Quite surprising to see how the city has used all the available flat ground! Wonderful view and well captured. Good sharpness and detail. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

Uhu (8609) 2009-02-19 1:41

Wonderful landscape, even these standard-looking highrises don't spoil it at all.
Great work!

skippy007 (12510) 2009-02-19 21:55

Hello Betty, A fantastic view captured from an excellent POV. What makes this view so good is the clarity & colour, they look so natural, the haze I think also adds some atmosphere, as Bulent said this kind of landscape could belong to another age. A beautiful image, interesting & informative note, thank you
Regards
Santo

asajernigan (21427) 2009-02-20 2:34

Betty,
This is a well composed shot with the mountains framing the beach and bay nicely. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. This is a fantastic landscape and you have presented it well.
TFS,
Asa

Disabled_A (0) 2009-02-23 13:18

Hello Betty,
this is a very beautiful landscape view of the city! It looks very attractive - the Nature's beauty which is touched by the human presence (the buildings!). I like this almost 3D paniramic image, with the clear FG and distant faint BG.
Excellent composition. Where did you stand to take this - almost aerial - photo?
Best regards,
Elena

Lay (26) 2009-02-26 18:01

Hi Betty!
Very nice Fhoto, very well taken and I agree with You, Rio de Janeiro is a very nice city.
And also agree, when You said that Rio was discovered by PORTUGUESE explores on January the 1st in the year 1502.
322 years later, "Don Pedro IV of Portugal", son of the King "Don João VI", King of Potugal, proclaimed the Brasil independence, when His fater was already in Lisbon, in the year 1822. Since than Don Pedro IV of Portugal became "Don Pedro I, Imperor of Brasil", of which independence was recognised by His father, Don João VI, King of Portugal in 13-1-1825 thee years later. I just added a little bit more to Your note, which is very good. Thanks for sharing so nice fhotos with us. Regards Maria.

paura (25320) 2009-02-28 4:59

Betty,
A beautiful photo here, with efficient photometry and nice exposure settings. Beautiful photographic work.

I must thank you for the kind words about my city. The people of the Rio de Janeiro thanks you and keeps you into city's heart.

Warm regards

Paulo

[2] +

Jakab (3867) 2009-03-08 15:16

Hello Betty,
I think the main value of your picture is the depth: it is almost three-dimensional. I like the colours with many tints of blue and green as well.
Best whishes
Laszlo

gunbud (34066) 2009-03-15 19:54

Hi Betty,
Lovely view of the stunningly beautiful harbor of vivid blues and contrasting lush greens.
Love how the beautiful city is tucked in between the wonderful tropical hills that surround the harbor.
The sky here is quite special with its light blue colors and fine wispy clouds.
Regards, Tom

ElAprendiz (30) 2009-04-08 9:31

Hello Betty:

Beautiful a panoramic one of this important city.

From your angle of shot, you have managed to conjugate diverse geographic elements, which establishes a gradiosa composition.

Perfect frame, excellent depth of field, huge work.

John

lucasgalodoido (25806) 2009-04-29 15:07

Hi Betty,
beautiful photo of Rio from the Sugar Loaf. The detauilling and colors are perfect. Great shot, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

foozi (7101) 2009-05-26 23:13

Hi Betty,
amazing shot of this landscape. The popint of view is really hard to get. You have given us a total bird view of this mountains, sea and greens.
What a lovely scenery.
Thanks for sharing this outstanding place.

Rwegards,
Foozi

scroller (3445) 2009-06-19 1:48

Hej Betty,
An astonishing photo from mabye one of the most beautiful cities in the World, and you have captured it very wll.
Best Regards
/Stefan

alin-m (3716) 2009-08-06 5:17

This is one of the beautiest immages seen of me.Wonderfull place,good picture and colours.Bravo! Friendly regards.Alin.

fabianoleite (13037) 2010-02-16 12:18

Great view from the bay and beaches. The gifted geography was well captured, showing the great mountain lines. Excellent sense of distance. Beautiful photo, congratulations!

giorgimer (35017) 2010-08-06 0:38

Hi Betty,

it's one of the places I most wish to visit. Your POV is simply superb, excellent details

TFS

G

danyy (0) 2010-08-18 23:03

bonjour betty,
POV très élevé pour cette vue très étendue et nette de Rio de Janeiro. Un endroit bien choisi, beaucoup de profondeur et aussi des contrastes dans les lumières.
My best regards.
Daniel.

samson (2250) 2010-11-12 0:19

Hello Betty

Spectacular (3X)

Loved this picture

Regards

Sam

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2011-02-19 1:11

Namaste Betty,
love the beautiful scenery of this place. Great to see the beach at far with the water and land at FG, excellent framing. Great depth and perfect light. Excellent presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes.
Subhendu