View allAll Photos Tagged exploremore
Gliding by the water. The tracks reward us with reflections and postcards of wild nature at every turn.
Azenhas do Mar is a small coastal village in Sintra, known for its white houses cascading down the cliffside and its natural ocean pool that fills with the tide, but which is currently completely covered in sand. The dramatic meeting of the Atlantic’s power with traditional architecture creates a landscape that feels straight out of a postcard.
The village is about 40-45 Km from Lisbon, which usually takes 40 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic
Tried to catch it with a simple mobile phone
Kanchenjunga mountain range , is the third highest mountain in the world. The range is often referred to as the "Sleeping Buddha" due to its appearance when viewed from certain locations in the Darjeeling and Sikkim region
I think that each of us makes our own line in the sand. There are those for whom anything goes, while others are content to bend things very slightly. While many want their image to tell the world what they saw, others want to share how they felt. "Photograph what you feel, not what you see," I read somewhere recently. Of course there are also people who refuse to use the editing suite, or filters. Personally I'm in favour of whatever it is that makes you happy. We each get to decide where our boundaries are. I was reminded just yesterday that Mads Peter Iversen, a landscape photographer I much admire and respect isn't averse to adding a completely alien sky to an image - he has an aurora that he quite happily adds over whatever sub-arctic landscape he's set his viewfinder on. His prerogative of course, and in his honesty he makes no apology on the subject and knows it will divide opinions; it's not something I've ever been tempted to do. Perhaps you have - nobody's judging who's right and who's wrong. It's all about choice after all.
I think I probably fall into the category of wanting to share how a view I took a picture of (or some pictures of) made me feel. So while for me personally, a sky that wasn't there is going to remain in the "Add Unicorns Menu," I'm no stranger to the practice of combining a few images taken within a short space of time to pull together the elements I wanted. Living in an area where the sea is the obvious and ever changing subject, I'm quite relaxed about taking the greatest hits from a series of incoming waves and blending them into a single frame. Ironically Mads taught me this through his Photoshop editing course, the first few chapters of which very quickly reminded me how little I knew, having always resorted to its easier to use cousin in Lightroom. I still do, but Photoshop grabs a lot more of the action than in the days when I knew what the spot removal tool was for, but the rest of the screen was just a magical hinterland of unexplained buttons. In fact most of the rest of the screen remains a strange and mysterious place to me, but gradually I'm making use of the bits I've begun to make sense of.
In this example, I'd recently happened across a sea stack at Gwithian I'd never noticed before, largely because I'm usually somewhere on that headland across the water waiting for the sky to change. But on this occasion I'd decided I needed brighter light to catch the flight of the gulls without resorting to an ISO setting of about two hundred gazillion, even though the courses they plotted were slowed by a strong cold northerly that was making the day a challenge for us all. I was glad I had a warm van with a gas stove, a kettle and a diesel heater waiting for me just a couple of hundred yards away. Two days earlier I'd stood here on the dunes above a receding tide and taken another composite, before deciding that what I really wanted was an incoming surge wrapped around the base of the stack. A tempestuous sky would have been more to my taste, so I'll probably end up going again when the conditions combine in my favour - preferably with a bit of side light to illuminate the gulls against a big black cloud. I'd better have my waterproofs handy that day.
What I'd also decided I needed was the sea to be moving at the right speed, and in my world there are only three of them; "forever," "just enough to blur the motion" and "really very fast." "Forever," is my go to setting when the sea can't be bothered to do very much, while "really very fast" only comes into play when it's ferocious - something I never seem to get quite right - I usually just come home with six hundred nondescript grainy white splodges on the memory card and end up deleting the lot. "Just enough to blur" entails the happy deployment of the six stop and a shutter speed usually somewhere between half a second and two seconds, and that's where I wanted to be for the sea itself. The gulls arrived within quick succession of one another - very good of them to be so obliging as that cloud was shifting towards us all at quite a pace and the blend might otherwise have been a lot more tricky to deliver. Have you spotted the fourth gull yet? Neat eh? I had to wait for it to be in that exact spot for it to have any chance of joining the party. The overall result isn't the sharpest picture I've ever delivered - I'm going to blame the wind and the fact that my tripod needs to acquire some spikes. Bad workman, tools, you know the rest of the proverb. Still, the picture does carry me back to that windy afternoon on the clifftop in the dunes, watching the gulls forever flying eastward - exactly what it's supposed to do.
So there's my confession, although you'd have worked it out for yourself anyway. I do composites from time to time, but only when I haven't travelled too far from reality. After all, those gulls had probably arranged themselves in far more interesting attitudes together across this scene at different times throughout the day. Obviously they'd have got a lot further in 1.3 seconds than the lie I've tried to sell here suggests, even against that last icy blast of winter, but the textures in the water wouldn't have been quite so much fun. And that line in the sand I drew for myself - it's hidden there somewhere under all that water, probably moving all the time.
And whether you're a purist or a fantasist, or somewhere in between like most of us, I hope you've got a plentiful supply of chocolate to get you through the weekend. Have a good one.
0 to 9 Faves (Post 1, Comment AND Fave 2) (READ THE RULES!)
10+ Favorites
10+ Faves (10-24): P1, aw & fav 2 on the 1 newest pages
10 to 24 Faves (Post 1, Comment AND Fave 2) [FOLLOW GROUP RULES!
25 to 49 Faves (Post 1, Comment and Fave 2)
AATV L01 - The Wonderful 1000s (P1 C3 Sweeper Active)
AATV L02 - The Terrific 2000s (P1 C3 Sweeper Active)
AATV L03 - The Tremendous 3000s (P1 C3 Sweeper Active)
AATV L04 - The Fabulous 4000s (P1 C3 Sweeper Active)
AATV L05 - The Fantastic 5000s (P1 C3 Sweeper Active)
A Journey Throughout Europe : Austria
A Journey Throughout Europe : Belgium
A Journey Throughout Europe : Bulgaria
A Journey Throughout Europe : Croatia
A Journey Throughout Europe : Cyprus
A Journey Throughout Europe : Czech Republic
A Journey Throughout Europe : Denmark
A Journey Throughout Europe : Estonia
A Journey Throughout Europe : Finland
A Journey Throughout Europe : France
A Journey Throughout Europe : Germany
A Journey Throughout Europe : Greece
A Journey Throughout Europe : Hungary
A Journey Throughout Europe : Ireland
A Journey Throughout Europe : Italy
A Journey Throughout Europe : Latvia
A Journey Throughout Europe : Lithuania
A Journey Throughout Europe : Luxembourg
A Journey Throughout Europe : Malta
A Journey Throughout Europe : Poland
Gallery One Fave Builder 1-2-3 Post Your Best Photography
LOOK for a better group - level 1 RED
LOOK for a better group - level 2 YELLOW
LOOK for a better group - level 3 ORANGE
LOOK for a better group - level 4 PURPLE
LOOK for a better group - level 5 GREEN
LOOK for a better group - level 6 BLUE
LOOK for a better group - level 7 WHITE
'Mind Unleashed L1 (P1-C5)
'Mind Unleashed L2 (P1-C5)
*Music To My Eyes*~L1 w/7 Levels ~Active Sweeper ! ~ P1 A5 ~
*Artist of the Year*~L2 ~ P1/-A5 ~ Invite Only
*Artist of the Year*~L3 Platinum Hall of Fame ~Invite Only
*Artist of the Year*~L4 Double Platinum~P1/A5
*Artist of the Year*~L5 The Diamond Award ~Invite Only
*Artist of the Year*~L6 Double Diamond ~Invite Only
*Artist of the Year*~L7 The Greatest Hits!! ~Invite Only
Nice As It Gets~Level 1* Post 1 Awd 5 (no group limit)
Nice As It Gets~Level 2 (Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 3 (Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 4 (Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 5 (Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 6 ( Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 7 (Post 1 Award 5
Nice As It Gets~Level 8 All Stars (Post 1 Award 5
Olympe 01 (No Group Limit)
Olympe 02 (No Group Limit)
Olympe 03 (No Group Limit)
Olympe 04 (No Group Limit)
'Photo Quest L1 (P1-C5)
'Photo Quest L2 (P1-C5)
'Photo Quest L3 (P1-C5)
'Photo Quest L4 (P1-C5)
'Photo Quest L5 (P1-C5)
Photo Kingdom Level 1+ Post 1 Awd 3 (no group limit)
Photo Kingdom Level 2
Photo Kingdom Level 3
Photo Kingdom Level 4
Photo Kingdom Level 5
*Photos Loisirs* Level 1 (No Group Limit)
*Photos Loisirs* Level 2 (No Group Limit)
*Photos Loisirs* Level 3 (No Group Limit)
*Photos Loisirs* Level 4 (No Group Limit)
*Photos Loisirs*Level 5 HALL OF FAME (No Group Limit)
Photozone Level 1 + Post 1 Awd 5 (no group limit)
PhotoZone Level 2
PhotoZone Level 3
PhotoZone Level 4
PhotoZone Level 5
PhotoZone Level 6
PhotoZone Level 7
PhotoZone Level 8
'Picture Paradise L1 (P1-A5)
'Picture Paradise L2
'Picture Paradise L3
'Picture Paradise L4
'Picture Paradise L5
Rainbow of Nature Level 1 : RED (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 2 : ORANGE (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 3 : YELLOW (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 4 : GREEN (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 5 : BLUE (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 6 : PINK (P1-A4)
Rainbow of Nature Level 7 : PURPLE (P1-A4)
RED - Level No. 1. (Post 1, Award 4)
YELLOW - Level No. 2. (Post 1, Award 4)
GREEN - Level No. 3. (Post 1, Award 4)
BLUE - Level No. 4. (Post 1, Award 4)
WHITE - Level No. 5 (Post 1, Award 4)
BLACK - Level No. 6 (Post 1, Award 4)
'Slices of Time L1 - BRONZE (P1-A5)
'Slices of Time L2 - SILVER
'Slices of Time L3 - GOLD- FINAL Level
Super~Six Bronze ☆ Stage #1 ☆ Post 1, Award 5.
Super~Six ☆ Stage #2 ☆ Silver. Post 1, Award 5. Invite Only
Super~Six ☆ Stage #3 ☆ Gold. Post 1, Award 5. Invite Only
Super~Six ☆ Stage #4 ☆ Art. Invite Only (P1/A5)
Super~Six ☆ Stage #5 ☆ Elite. Invite Only (P1/A5)
Super~Six ☆ Stage #6 ☆ Andromeda "50." Invite Only (P1/A5)
THE LOOK level 1 RED
THE LOOK level 2 YELLOW
THE LOOK level 3 ORANGE
THE LOOK level 4 PURPLE
THE LOOK level 5 GREEN
THE LOOK level 6 BLUE
THE LOOK level 7 WHITE
Timeless Moments Level 1/ Post 1 Award 5
Timeless Moments Level 2/ Post 1 Award 5
Timeless Moments Level 3/ Post 1 Award 5
Timeless Moments Level 4/ Post 1 Award 5
Timeless Moments Level 5/ Post 1 Award 5
Timeless Moments Level 6/ Post 1 Award 5
The Best Of Timeless Moments
Titanium 1 (No Group Limit)
Titanium 2 (No Group Limit)
Titanium 3 (No Group Limit)
Titanium 4 (No Group Limit)
Titanium 5 (No Group Limit)
Titanium - Gallery of Honor (No Group Limit)
'Wonderful World L1 (P1-A5)
'Wonderful World L2
'Wonderful World L3
'Wonderful World L4
'Wonderful World L5
'World in Focus L1 (P1-A3)
'World in Focus L2
Dave had a very clear plan. He’d looked closely at the map, done a bit of research on some stock images, and picked his spot before we’d set off. On arrival he planted his tripod at the cliff edge, halfway along the beach far below and stayed there until after sunset. Later he told us he’d only taken one shot that was worth the effort of putting through the editing suite. The others were all very slightly blurred. While Lee and I are both now disciples of the rather wonderful magnetic Kase filters, Dave continues to use big square pieces of glass. Similarly effective of course, albeit with the exception that they do tend to act like sails if there’s anything more than the merest of zephyrs beating across the air. Not that it mattered though. Dave’s inimitable editing style delivered a very satisfactory entry into the Explore page the day afterwards. I say inimitable because I’ve tried without success to replicate it more than once, before remembering that it would be better to continue to work on my own process and forget about his degree in Fine Art. Imitation is the sincerest form of irritation after all.
I also had a very clear plan. Ever since the steps were closed off to the general public, my philosophy on the place we should henceforth really just refer to as “Bedruthan” has remained consistent. For a start, only shoot here on a high tide when there’s water around the base of the stacks and all of the rocky debris distractions on the beach are concealed. Once that initial qualification has been fulfilled I either perch on a clifftop at the south end of the beach, or I hover over the edge of the one on the northern side. The latter offers what I think is usually a more pleasing view, the big stacks lining up like three enormous anvils, with the smaller rocks that I’ve come to think of as “the witch’s hat” and “the shoemaker’s last” in the foreground. On a windy midwinter afternoon on a high tide with the low sun just about dropping into the frame, it’s quite a magnificent scene to behold, as long as you’re very careful around the crumbling clifftops that led to those steps being closed three years ago. In the middle of summer the sun sets far enough across the beach to feature in shots taken from the southern side, once famously throwing a vivid pink sky at us seemingly out of nowhere. I hadn’t yet imposed the high tide rule upon myself at that stage. In that shot the sky was one of the best under which I’ve taken pictures. It’s just a shame that the beach was a shambles.
So while Dave decisively planted his tripod at position A, and Lee waited for the arguing couple to finish their takeaway pizza and depart position B so that he could concentrate on the view that had grabbed his attention, I hurried over the coastal path to position C in the north, before scratching my head and moving on to position D, even further north, where almost immediately I engaged full on headless chicken mode. Position E in the south was a total non-starter, and while position F to the faintly south east had the best of the light behind it, the rhomboid of a stack that featured there wasn’t really riveting enough to warrant much effort. As I trotted back along the path and looked again at Dave’s viewpoint I declared I didn’t like the shape of the stack from this angle. By now, Pizza Couple had decided to continue their dispute in position Z at the newly appeared campsite behind us, so I joined Lee at position B for all of 15 seconds before moving yet again. Back at position C I tinkered about and decided that I still didn’t like the light from here. In fact I’d just missed the sun briefly appearing and throwing a bit of tasty side light onto the anvils. I didn’t even bother with position D again.
So finally, here I was, with most of my daily step count requirement having been registered in the last hour or so, back at position A, facing west and out to sea, where Lee had now joined Dave, his tripod frighteningly close to a cliff edge that makes a lump of Wensleydale Cheese look stable. I stared doubtfully at the view from here again, thinking how strange it was that the angle one views a big chunk of rock from alters its appearance so dramatically. A hundred yards along the path I’d noticed for the first time ever that the anvil has a hole in its middle. From here it looked like a wandering giant had lost his boot on the beach. Look, you can even see the toes being tickled by the tide. By now the sun had disappeared, a patch of soft peachy glow just about painting the horizon. At least the light was now in the frame, and a gang of gulls littered the base of the boot, settling down for the night. A series of exposures of varying lengths followed, the calm summer ocean offering a flat glassy surface at thirty seconds of shutter time. Finally the high cloud delivered an element of texture to the sky and the deal with position A was secured. Dave had been right all along. Flipping fine art graduates.
And there lies the rub with Bedruthan. The two opposite ends of the beach can bring rewarding results behind the camera, but with the best of the light far out to sea in the middle of August, shooting straight across the beach from north to south or vice versa becomes a challenge. At least here was a subject that offered a minimalist view, with the light we so often look for on show. The stack, with its new appearance from the unfamiliar angle had gradually grown on me, offering an alternative composition above the beach that may forever be out of bounds. An alternative composition for now at least; who knows how long for when each winter’s sequence of storms and gales brings cliffsides crashing down onto beaches around here. Good job one of us had done his homework in any case.
Every step through these ancient walls feels like stepping back in time, with stories whispered in every stone. Who else loves exploring hidden gems like this? ️♂️👣
📍 Monte Sant’Angelo, Italy
Tag your travel buddy who needs to see this!
#MonteSantAngelo #CastleVibes #HistoricPlaces #TravelBackInTime #HiddenTreasures #ItalyTrip #ExploreMore #StoneWallsTellStories
When sunrise is so good you hit three different spots because you're greedy;-)
We started up in magnolia to catch the early burn. After seeing that Rainier was fully out we rushed over to Kerry park to collect a quick burn and say "Hi" to the other hopefuls. After the burn started to fade from the East, we decided to head East and shoot West looking towards the olympics.
Let's just say we bowled a turkey that day;-)
Seattle, WA
In 1904, a devastating fire left Ålesund in ruins, destroying almost the entire town. But out of the disaster came a masterpiece! Thanks to an inspiring reconstruction effort - and the support of the German Emperor William II - Ålesund was reborn in glorious Art Nouveau style, becoming the architectural jewel that dazzles visitors today.
Today, amidst imposing fjords and sculptured facades, this town is proof that beauty can emerge even from the greatest adversity.
This photograph captures the powerful, multi-tiered Ritson Force waterfall cascading into a rocky pool. Unlike the "silky" look of long-exposure shots, this image uses a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion of the water, highlighting the chaotic spray and individual droplets as they crash against the rocks.
A large, fallen branch leans diagonally across the main flow, adding a sense of wild, untamed nature. The scene is framed by lush, deep-green foliage and moss-covered boulders in the foreground, creating a sense of depth. The lighting is soft and even, typical of an overcast day or a sheltered woodland, which allows the vibrant greens and the bright white of the churning water to pop without harsh highlights.
#WaterfallHunting #NaturePhotography #WildAndFree #Waterfall #NaturePhotography #ForestFinds #Cascades #WildWater #Greenery #LandscapeLovers #OutdoorAdventure #Nature_Perfection #WaterAndStone #ExploreMore #WoodlandWanderer