Happy New Year 2011

From Spanish city of Bilbao ( with a photo of the Guggenheim museum ) I wish you all happy new year !

Maciek.

Arrábida bridge

Arrábida 500 meters long bridge, constructed in 1963, is still a proof of perfect human engineering and a piece of modern art. It is the youngest, longest, and westernmost of the three spectacular bridges that span across the Douro river in the heart of city of Porto. 2000 meters further west the river meets the Atlantic ocean. In fact the bridge has become a part of our life being our everyday window neighbour. Photographed on the cold December evening from our house. Date: December 26th, 2010. Maciek.

Water: wild but somehow so well organized

This is the photo I took a couple of days ago close to the old lighthouse at the mouth of the Douro river, Porto, Portugal. That day the water waves were high, ferocious and ready to kill anyone that dare to enter it. The water was wild hitting the lighthouse strong that day. To the naked human eye it was perceived as the state of absolute chaos. But on a 2 second long exposition photograph long parallel water lines appeared. This phenomenon is due to the physical structure of the H2O molecule which has charged ( positive and negative ) parts. These opposite charges are attracted to each other that holds water molecules together. Date: December 23rd , 2010. Maciek.

One day to Christmas: Garden Flowers

Our garden December flowers: the wine color bracts with tiny flowers of Bougainvillea and large and conspicuous, up to 12 cm in diameter Camellia pink flowers. Photographed at noon at our garden. December 23rd, 2010. Maciek.

Two days to Christmas. A violet night.

My afternoon trip to Torrão do Lameiro, 40 kilometers south of Porto, Portugal. The lake and sky flooded with violet light.

Location: Torrão do Lameiro, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/20 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 160

Date Taken: Wednesday, December 22th, 2010, 18:04

Maciek.

A conversation

Two people taking over the beach stairs at Granja, Portugal Atlantic coast. Winter weather and wild sea below. Photographed on Monday early afternoon.

Location: Granja, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/22 Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Monday, December 20th, 2010, 16:27

Maciek.

The lone red light

A lonely red light lighthouse standing starkly against winter sea and sky. Photographed at the small fishermen´s port of Agueda, Portugal Atlantic coast. Sunday night.

Location: Agueda, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80, ND soft 0.6, a tripod standing in the water.

Aperture: f/25 Exposure bias: - 1/3 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 200

Date Taken: Sunday, Dezember 19th, 2010, 18:19

Maciek.

One day in Covilhã with cirrus duplicatus

Sheets of cirrus duplicatus clouds at different layers of the atmosphere, Covilhã, central Portugal.

The story behind: Standing in the center of old part of the small mountainous town of Covilhã and being surprised by these delicate net of high level clouds I took my camera and shoot a photo. Low temperatures, crystal clear views , snow covered mountain peaks and orange trees ready for harvest always make me feel happy here. This is my place - I thought.

Location: Covilhã, central Portugal. Serra Estrela mountains.

Gear: Nikon D80.

Aperture: f/9 Exposure bias: 0

Focal Length: 12 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Friday, December 17th, 2010, 13:50

Maciek.

One more afternoon with my boats

Location: Murtosa, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm

Aperture: f/22 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 10 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Thursday, December 09th, 2010, 16:15

Maciek.

My weekend flight to Azores Islands.

The sudden small rainbow appeared before my eyes close to Arrifes village, Portugal.

The story behind: Last Friday I took a flight from Porto to Ponta Delgada to the main Azorean Island of São Miguel. I had little expectation as far as taking photos was concerned because winter weather struck the islands very hard. How harsh can winters be on the islands ? - you may ask. Oh yes, they can be pretty harsh - I would reply.

A couple of days ago the Westernmost island of the archipelago, the small island of Corvo, was cut off from the exterior world for 18 days ! No flight or boat could reach the island and its population of 500 people. Gusty winds and 1o meters high waves struck the island really hard.

As I landed in Ponta Delgada the sky was covered with heavy clouds and it was raining. No photos this time, I murmured. Until Sunday the weather was practically the same. In the early afternoon as I was driving and approaching a small settlement of Arrifes, suddenly the sky opened up and I got this view in front of my eyes. Thank you Lord - I thought.

Location: Arrifes, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D80.

Aperture: f/8 Exposure bias: 0

Focal Length: 14 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Sunday, December 12th, 2010, 12:47

Maciek.

Friday night: a delicate sunset

A couple on the pier and the old lighthouse that guards the mouth of the Douro river. It was a very quite sunset with a delicate sky tonight. Porto, Portugal.

Location: Porto, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D80, ND soft 0.3, ND 0.6 hard, tripod, rubber boots.

Aperture: f/22 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 11 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Friday, December 3rd, 2010, 17:54

Maciek.

Wednesday evening

Atlantic coast during low tide. On the horizon distant lights of the Espinho coast city can be seen.

A late afternoon stroll on the beach somewhere between Granja and Espinho ( Portuguese Atlantic coast ). The low tide reveals strange rocky formation. The low tide-high tide amplitude can reach as much as 4 meters. Although we have been living by the cost and seeing tides for more than 11 years, predicting the exact time of low and high tide can be tricky. It depends on ever varying Earth–Sun and Earth–Moon distances, coastal line, sea depth ect. Location: Granja, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80, ND soft 0.6, ND 0.3 hard, tripod

Aperture: f/25 Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: December 1st, 2010, 18:07

Maciek.