More than 11000km separates Iceland from South Africa, so Volcanic Craters and Glaciers are very much outside our World, and being amidst them on a trip earlier this year made it so much more apparent. More images of this memorable trip are featured on my Instagram feed – 4otomo.
Out of This World
Built in 1886 the Dom Luis I bridge, spanning approx. 400 metres across the Duoro river in Porto, conveying light rail, general traffic and pedestrians over two levels appears to be way ahead of it’s time. Both decks are suspended by a central arch of 173m in diameter. Originally used as a toll bridge, which changed in 1944, when the bridge was incorporated into the City infrastructure.
……..the journey continues………….
As the Golden Hour approaches, clouds start taking on a distinctive red orange colour, which intensifies as sun sets below the horizon, and almost as quickly as this orange glow permeates the clouds, so it recedes and starts surrendering to the darkness of the night.
…….the journey continues…………
Kalk Bay is a fishing village on the False Bay Coastline near Cape Town. The Harbour founded in the early 1900’s is one of the few remaining working fishing harbours in the Cape Peninsula. Colourful Fishing boats and calmer water in the Harbour provided the perfect palette for images of reflections.
……. the journey continues …………..
Iceland is often referred to as the Land of Fire and Ice, add to that Geysirs, Waterfalls, Geothermal Lakes, Black Sand Beaches, Northern Lights, Breathtaking Landscapes etc, enough to fulfil any Wanderlust that may be lurking within you :-). I’ve often read about Photographers saying, that travelling around Iceland takes a long time, because you have to stop all the time, there’s a picture around every corner ……… how true that is. On a visit to this incredible Country earlier this year, I had the opportunity to shoot some of these images, but will definitely have to go back to fetch a whole lot of others that I left behind :-):-).
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Covering an area 1700 hectares and encompassing 27 centuries of history within it, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Naples, is also one of the largest Historic Centres of Europe. Reputed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World, as well as the 9th most populous Urban areas in Europe. When viewed from the elevated position of Castel Sant”Elmo above the City, one gets an a better idea of just how dense this Historic Centre is.
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The glass dome built at the top of the rebuilt Reichstag building in Berlin, designed by Sir Norman Foster, to symbolise the reunification of Germany. The glass dome offers 360 degree views of the Berlin skyline, from the viewing deck at the base of the dome as well as two spiralling ramps that takes visitors to the top. A well frequented tourist destination in Berlin. The dome is positioned above the Debating Chamber of the Bundestag, the German Parliament. A central cone with mirrors reflects natural light, through a glazed ceiling into the Chamber. Atop is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of the Reichstag dome are my response to the prompt..
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The Festive Season turned out to be a very busy time in Prague. So, all attempts to get some “people free” pictures of the infamous Charles Bridge were not very fruitful, or particularly scenic. 😦 I tried visiting the bridge at different times of the day, sunrise, midday, late afternoon, evening, there just seemed to be a constant stream of people traversing the bridge. So, on my last evening in Prague, I decide to venture off the bridge, and walk along the river, beside the bridge. To my surprise, there was nobody there, it was the right thing to do, I managed to get some nice side views of the bridge and its arches, with lovely reflections of the environment on the river. There was even a tourist boat that drifted by adding some movement to one of the images. The road taken is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of Prague’s infamous Charles bridge are my response to the prompt.
…………the journey continues………….
Table Mountain was lit up in Blue Light on Wednesday 15th February to commemorate International Childhood Cancer Day. I was out there last year to take some shots of the occasion, so when I heard the mountain would once again be lit up in Blue this year, I was keen to go again. Last year, I shot some images of the blue mountain from the approach road, with red light streaks of cars leading into the shot. This time I wanted to do something very similar, yet different. Only problem was, a large component of my plan was out of my control.
The plan was to try and get the light trails to be higher up in the image than last years image, this would require something larger than a car, not exactly easy to organise after 9pm on a weekday, along Table Mountain Road, which is mostly deserted other than the few people coming off the last cable car down the Mountain. I set up my camera on the tripod, worked out the angle I wanted, and waited for something large enough to arrive. Due to bright lights from oncoming traffic, shutter actuation had to be carefully timed, to prevent overexposure. The odds of getting everything sequenced, large vehicle driving past slow enough, with high level lights illuminated, no oncoming traffic, releasing shutter on time, shutter open duration, waiting for all pedestrians to pass etc was proving to be an extremely tall order. After numerous attempts that I was not happy with, I decided to call it a day. Shortly before I packed up, I heard something that sounded like it was larger than a car, so I figured perhaps just one more exposure! With fingers crossed 🙂 I pressed the shutter shortly before the bus entered the scene I’d set up for, there were no pedestrians or oncoming cars, high level lights and interior lights were on, and the bus was travelling at a decently slow speed. The shutter closed, I glanced at the rear screen, and there it was :-):-). Against the Odds is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of the Blue lit Mountain, together with my Final shot are my response to the prompt.
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I’ve been away, so have not had an opportunity to wish one and all a Happy and Peaceful New Year, fingers crossed 🙂 its going to be a wonderful year for all of us. Thank you to all followers, commenters, readers, and all others who visit my blog from time to time, without you, this blog would have no purpose……….
I had an opportunity to observe the Northern Lights on a visit to Sweden and Norway a few years ago, it was an overwhelmingly amazing experience, which I hoped to repeat in future. Well, I was hoping another opportunity would arise on my recent trip to Iceland, and lo and behold after a few days of cloudy skies, the lights came out to play :-). Ambience is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of the Northern Lights in Berunes, Iceland are my response to the prompt…….
……the journey continues…………
4otomo 