24th of June 2010, Douro River

The 2010 Rebelo boat racing on the Douro river, Porto, Portugal.

How did it look in 2009 ? ( find here ).

Maciek.

The Portuguese interior: Beira

Last Tuesday I was poking around the Beira ( Beira is an semi-deserted and rustic interior province of Portugal being the frontier with Spain ) when I stumbled upon a small white chapel dazzling in mid-day sun. I stopped the car in the heart of "nowhere-Portugal", close to the tiny village of Aldeia Velha ( eng: Old Village ). I was intrigued how this chapel got stuck to the big black granite rock behind it.

As I was taking photos two old women from the village approached. We started talking. This is what Portugal is all about: friendliness of its people. They told me the history of the chapel. A long time ago someone draw the picture of Jesus Christ on the rock. Then people from the village erected a chapel which is since then known from its many miracles.

From the left: the castle in Trancoso ( Beira, Portugal ), two women I met in the village posing in front of the chapel.

June 22th, 2009, 12:06

Maciek.

Ocreza lake sunset

A story behind: Last Tuesday I traveled to Ocreza Lake, central Portugal, not far from the Spanish border.
The sunset was absolutely fabulous. On the far horizon one can see the peaks of Muradal mountains.
Enjoy as I did.


Location: Castelo Branco, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10/20 mm

Aperture: f/18

Shutter speed: 3 sec

Focal Length: 12 mm

ISO: 300

Date Taken: June 22th, 2009, 21:15

Maciek.

Saint John Festival: picturesque sailing crafts known as barcelos rebelos.

A story behind: Sailing craft, known as barcelos rebelos, run at 24th of June 2009 Saint John festival as photographed from our home.

Saint John at Porto, Portugal, is one of Europe's liveliest street festivals. For one night every year, the city of Porto goes absolutely wild.

Only 2 days are left for this year´s party. I´m so anxious ....
We start on mid-day 23th of June eating farturas and churros and pork sandwiches called bifanas. However, these are all second to fish Sardines—grilled and salted. Then we drink beer ( lots of beer ), pump up the hot-air baloons ( and thousands of them will be flying that night over the city ), watch the huge midnight fireworks and end up a night at the beach.


Location: Porto, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Nikkor 70-300 mm

Aperture: f/3.5

Shutter speed: 1/200

Focal Length: 15 mm

ISO: 300

Date Taken: June 24th, 2009, 12:35

Maciek.

Ria de Costa Nova

A story behind: Saturday night I traveled south of city of Aveiro to explore the area I have never been before: Ria de Costa Nova.


Location: Ria de Costa Nova, Portugese central coast, just after the sunset.

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, NDG hard 0.6, NDG soft 0.3

Aperture: f/18

Shutter speed: 6 sec

Focal Length: 15 mm

ISO: 300

Date Taken: June 19th, 2010, 21:10

Maciek.

Dark apocaliptic future

A story behind: A photo to prove the dark and apocalyptic sewage-and-pollution scenario of the future ? Bazinga ! ( as Dr. Sheldon Cooper would say ).

The picture was taken a couple of days ago at the Leça de Palmeira beach at the low tide. Although with a Leça refinery in sight the beach has clear waters and a blue EU clear waters flag.
The B&W version of the beach can be a good example of the media bias - a conscious attempt to distort the facts.

Location: Leça de Palmeira, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, NDG hard 0.9, NDG soft 0.6

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 2 sec

Focal Length: 11 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: June 10th, 2010, 20:42


Maciek.

An evening on the island

A story behind: I spend this weekend on the Azores Island ( San Miguel to be percise ). It was a kind of an unexpected trip. On Saturday evening I climbed the EN 502 road that leads from Ponta Delgada town to the top of the Lagoa do Fogo volcanic crater. At the top of the mountain the temperature changed rapidly from 20º to just 9º C.
I stopped the car and put my gear and shoot this picture of the dying sun and the panoramic image of the central part of the island.
Enjoy the moment as I did.

Location: Lagoa do Fogo, Azores Islands, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma DC 17-70 mm, NDG hard 0.9, NDG soft 0.6

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 1/10 sec

Focal Length: 50 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: June 12th, 2010, 20:22


Maciek.

Porto Botanical Gardens

A story behind: Last Thursday after lunch we went to see Porto Botanical Gardens, located not very far from our home.
The Gardens were set up by Passos Manuel in 1837 on the ground of the extinct Carmelite Convent.
That Thursday the weather was fine and while walking I spotted this colorful butterfly on the Lavender field. To tell you the truth, this is my first ever butterfly photo.

Location: Porto, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma DC 17-17 mm.

Aperture: f/4.5

Shutter speed: 1/100 sec

Focal Length: 50 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: June 10th, 2010, 14:22


Maciek.

Urban Farming: First Hungarian Wax Pepper

Our first Hungarian Wax Pepper, still not yellow but growing just fine and making us very happy.

Photographed in the morning, Thursday, 10th June, 2010.

Maciek

Saint Catherine chapel

The Saint Catherine chapel located not far from our house.


Location: Porto, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, F/22.0, ISO 100, Fl/10 mm.

Post-processing: Raw to Jpg, white balance, sharp, crop.

Date Taken: June 5th, 2010. 20.45.

Maciek.

My first photography exhibition

My three photos ( Sea Stairs at Granja beach, Valencia Art Center and Lord of the Stone Chapel ) on the display at the photography exhibition at Ordem dos Médicos conference centre.

When a couple of month ago my friend Paulo told me to put some of my photos on the annual photography exhibition at Ordem dos Médicos conference centre, I thought: "Why the hell not ?"


And yesterday three of my photos went on display at my first ever photography exhibition that was opened here in Porto.
Never felt more anxious and satisfied at the same time.


Maciek.


June 01st, 2010.