Flores Island. The interior.

Near Caldeira Seca, Flores Island, Portugal.

A story behind:  This is how the interior of the Flores island looks like: a huge caldera that hosts 7 lagoons. Averaging 500 meters above the ocean level, the plateau is bounded by the rim of the not-so-old volcano walls. The volcanic island is relatively young. It appeared only 20 000 years ago. That is why it has a landscape filled with deep valleys and high peaks, lagoons bordered by steep cliffs carved by grottoes.  
Flores (Flowers) takes is names due to a great profusion of wild flowers.
In 2009, Flores was included on UNESCO's list of World Network of Biosphere Reserves at the Man and the Biosphere.

Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Handheld.

Aperture: f/8

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

Exposure bias:-0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO:500

Place taken:  Island of Flores, Portugal.
 

Date taken: Monday, March 4th, 2013, 13:15

Maciek.

Walking early in the morning. The westernmost part of Europe.

  Walking early in the morning. Near Cerdos, Flores Island, Portugal.

A story behind:  Another perfect morning. The first rays of sunlight after heavy night raining. Looking north toward the small village of Cerdos with the Corvo island on the horizon.
Flores island is the westernmost part of Europe.
Walking gives you instant energy and relaxes your mind. You feel a physical and spiritual upliftment with the morning walk. The chirping of birds, fresh air and a calm environment changes your perception and you reach from the everyday conscious mind to your highest level of mind. 
Even with the little light the full frame D700 with a 1250 iso speed produces a perfect image with no grain.

Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Handheld.

Aperture: f/5,6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 20 mm

ISO:1250

Place taken:  Near Cerdos, Island of Flores, Portugal.
 

Date taken: Sunday, March 3rd, 2013, 07:33

Maciek.

Rise like a morning sun

Selfportrait on the rocky beach of Povoaçao, Portugal.

A story behind:  It is always dificult to get up early in the morning. Sometimes you get a nice photo but most frequently you don´t. But the real reward is the unique oportunity to observe the nature with such a tranquility that no other part of the day can deliver. Researchers from the University of Bradford using funcional MRI recently discovered that people who experience tranquility have much greater effective brain connectivity.

That Thursday morning cold clouds were illuminated by the rising pink sun over the beach of Povoaçao - southern coast if the São Miguel island. Agua Retorta high cliffs can be seen on the left.


Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Tripod.

Aperture: f/9

Shutter speed: 1 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Povoação, Portugal.
 

Date taken: Thursday, December 6th 2012, 08:02

Maciek.

Mosteiros Beach

Sunset on the Mosteiros beach, Portugal.

A story behind:  Some people say that all over the world there is 90% of average landscape ( uninteresting to the human eye ) and there is as little as 10% of miracles. I strongly disagree. Take this Mosteiro beach. When arriving most people see only unpleasant wind and dark sky. But the truth is that even this kind of landscape shines here and there and the experienced eye is being seduced all the time. Eyes stop and wide open and the admiring requires much more that the optical system. Many times you need to train your eyes to see. 

The name Mosteiros beach comes from the old legend. Back in XVth century when the first European explorers spotted this strange rock formations they thought this was a monastery ( port: Mosteiro ) building. 



Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. ND reverse 3 stop. Tripod. Rubber boots. Bashed by heavy, November waves.

Aperture: f/18

Shutter speed: 1,6 sec

Exposure bias: +0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Mosteiros beach, Portugal.
 

Date taken: Thursday, November 21th, 2012. 18:36.

Maciek.

A pink sunrise over the little port of Ponta de Arnel

The first light over the little fisherman´s port of Ponta de Arnel, São Miguel island.

A story behind:  I revisit this place almost every time I stay on São Miguel island, and many times I feel I can pull out an image that is different from what I already have. Ponta de Arnel is always a beautiful spot.
"Bad" weather is often very good for photographing. In fact I love “bad” weather. When clouds form and rain, these are the times when truly unique images are made. It takes a lot of time and patience, but in between storms there is often a clearing that will offer some truly magical cloud/light patterns.

Gear: Nikon D700. Polarizer, Tripod.

Aperture: f/5,6

Shutter speed: 1/10 sec

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Easternmost point of the Sao Moguel island, Portugal.

Date taken: Thursday, October, 25th, 2012, 06:49

Maciek.

The light is everything

 

Village of Capelas, Northern coast of  São Miguel island.

A story behind:  Tropical Storm Nadine spun around near the Caribbean and US East Coast 4 weeks ago, though the storm ended up circling back east toward the Azores Islands. Last Thursday it hit the archipelago bringing some rain, high winds, quite high temperatures and an amazing 99% of humidity in the air. 
Three factors influence how natural light renders a subject: time of day, camera direction and weather condition. 
That night a combination of high air temperature and moisture, acting like a massive filter,  ended up in wonderfully soft and multicolored lighting that gives a calm, peaceful mood to all subjects. This kind of light I have seen twice in my life ( first time was shortly before the tropical  storm in Key West, Florida: link ).
Moisture is a natural soft box: it scatters light sources so that their light originates from a much broader area. Humid air is also much more reflective to light, which often tricks your camera´s light meter into thinking that it needs to decrease the exposure. 

Gear: Nikon D700. ND 0,3 soft, ND 0,6 hard. Tripod. Rubber boots. Umbrella.

Aperture: f/11

Shutter speed: 1/30 sec

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 100

Place taken: Capelas, Portugal.

Date taken: Thursday, September 20th, 2012, 19:25

Maciek.

The Furnas Crater Lake

Shortly after the sunrise. A small boat at the Furnas Crater Lake, Furnas, Portugal.

A story behind: I got up quite early. The sunrise was at 6.58 a.m. Took me almost half an hour to walk to that spot, put up my gear and start shooting. The rain was mild.
Furnas Lake link.



Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. 

Aperture: f/16

Shutter speed: 264 sec

Exposure bias: +0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Furnas, Portugal.
 

Date Taken: Friday, August 16th, 2012, 08: 32

Maciek.

It is getting dark at the Ribeirinha

A story behind:  Sometimes when I shoot seascapes I choose the shutter speed of about half a second or faster to freeze the motion of the waves. Such split-second exposures can give the surf the appearance of a fast moving, powerful force that draws the eye into the image and conveys a sense of explosive tension. 

But that night at the old and abandoned fishing port of Ribeirinha  I preferred to go for the opposite effect by using exposure that went up to 70 seconds. I used my 10-stop filter to produce a very long exposure that dramatically enhance the mood of the image. Long speed shutter times render ocean landscapes with the timeless calm. 

Gear: Nikon D700. 10-stop filter.


Focal Length: 16 mm


ISO: 50

Date: July 19th, 2012. 20:58 p.m.


Maciek.

A sunny day on the Sao Miguel island

A mid-day light over the northern coast of the São Miguel island, Azores Islands, Portugal.

A story behind: It was Friday mid-day. I was sight-seeing the northern coast of São Miguel, the major island in the Azores archipelago. As I drove past the small village of Capelas, I came upon the nice view over the bay the roofs of the church of Capelas in the foreground. On the horizon, covered with clouds, the Lagos do Fogo volano appeared. 



Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 70-300 mm. Polarizer. 

Aperture: f/11

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 300 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: somewhere close to the village of Capelas, Portugal.
 

Date Taken: Friday, June15th, 2012, 12: 32

Maciek.


PS. I invite you to buy my ebook guide of Azores islands.

The lake houses

Two houses by the lake Furnas, Portugal.

A story behind: This is another example of over 30 seconds long exposure.
It transforms the small pier overlooking Furnas Lake into the quite serene scenic photo. 
The Furnas Lake is amazing. I try to visit the area every time I am on the island. When a solid shooting technique is mixed together with an emotional impact the result can be even more awarding.
Square format of the image mathematically adds harmony.
Please enjoy !


Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Polarizer. 10 ND-Stop.

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 35 sec

Exposure bias: +0,7 EV

Focal Length: 17 mm

ISO: 50

Place taken: Furnas, Portugal.
 

Maciek.

Just sit and enjoy ( the pleasure of traveling )

Early morning on the abandoned Santa Barbara beach, Portugal.

A story behind: The Santa Barbara beach faces the north. It is usually very windy and rainy and it never lacks impressive moments.
On Friday´s morning the beach was empty so I could enjoy the view all by myself and had enough time to prepare my camera to photograph fast moving clouds and an empty white chair that I decided to place in the left down corner of the image.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-35 mm, ND Full Stop. Tripod.

Aperture: f/16

Shutter speed: 35 sec

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 50

Date Taken: Friday, March 24th, 2012, 10: 10

Maciek.

The storytelling landscape

The very end of Mosteiros peninsula. A view to the Eastern cliffs of Sete Cidades mountain, Portugal.

A story behind: The entire route along the Western coast of the São Miguel island is considered a visual treat for the eye, but my personal preference is the northwestern-most point around the small village of Mosteiros. This is where I concentrate the majority of my photography and walks. Recently I felt a little bored with the Mosteiros beach so I looked for the new spot for shooting photos.
That night the landscape was playing the big show and the only person standing at the audience was me. The sky was covered with quickly moving dark clouds with some light patches from the dying sun. The massive cliffs of the Eastern side of the Sete Cidades volcano were bravely standing against the Middle Atlantic waves. And in the foreground lava-formed stones and small waterfalls with amazing parallel wave lines emerging only on the long shutter images.


Technique: Rapidly changing water and weather conditions with suddenly appearing/disappearing big bright water areas in the foreground were really a big challenge to set up a right white balance. Tripod, cable remote and 3-stop reversed ND Grad filter.

Location: Outside the village of Mosteiros, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-35 mm AF-S ED. Tripod. RAW to Tiff.

Aperture: f/10

Shutter speed: 2 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Maciek.

The night when I lost my shoe

Sunset over the beach of Mosteiros, São Miguel, Portugal.

A story behind: I arrived at the beach quite early. Had time to buy an ice cream, watch some surfers breaking the waves. There were a few German tourist on the beach and we had a little chat. Then I started to put up my gear and prepare for the sunset. Usually I put on the rubber boots to protect me from the cold water but it was summer-time so I enthusiastically took off my shoes and went bare foot into the water.
Some dogs were playing on the beach. Suddenly one of them grabbed my shoe and ran away. For a second I considered to chase the dog but sacrifice your own personal comfort, or miss the shot. But who needs comfort when you get light like this, right? Believe me, getting back later to the hotel on one shoe was not pleasant.

Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm.

Aperture: f/18

Shutter speed: 1 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 18 mm

ISO: 200

Date Taken: September 2nd, 2011, 21: 11

Maciek.

A stromy weather

A story behind: Black volcanic wet stones glittering in dimmed late afternoon light just before the storm. The photo shot at the Santana beach, Portugal.

Location: Santana, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-35 mm AF-S ED, tripod. RAW to Tiff.

Aperture: f/22

Exposure bias: 0,0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 250

Date Taken: Thursday, May 19th, 2011, 19: 33

Maciek.

My solitary mornings

A story behind: A photo shot very early in the morning while waiting for the sunrise at lake Furnas, Portugal.

Location: Furnas Lake, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-35 mm AF-S ED, ND 0.6, tripod. RAW to Tiff.

Aperture: f/22

Exposure bias: +0,7 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Thursday, May 19th, 2011, 06: 33

Maciek.

The 2010 winner

Sunset at the Mosterios beach. São Miguel island, Azores.

A story behind: Saturday night. The Mosteiros beach at the westernmost tip of the São Miguel island is one of my favorite spots for photography. Every time I come there the beach is different. The sandy and rocky parts of the beach are always in a different place due to the kinetic force of the ocean. Even big rocks at the furthermost part of the beach seem to "move somehow". That night the dark clouds above the rocky islets intensified the glow illuminating the water in a very interesting way. No wonder why in 2010 the archipelago of Azores was the winner of the "Portugal´s Seven Natural Wonders" contest. Location: Mosteiros, Açores Islands.

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm. ND 0.3 and ND 0.6. Nef to Tiff conversion. Saved in Jpg file.

ISO: 100

Aperture: 18

Date Taken: Saturday, February 26th, 2011, 20:20

Maciek.

Green and blue - two Azorean spirits

A small green grass covered volcano hill against the Atlantic dramatic blue sky in the middle of the São Miguel island, Azores.

A story behind: Saturday. Early afternoon. I ride my car along the narrow roads of the São Miguel island lost somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic ocean under a big blue sky. These very mountainous seascapes offer outstanding opportunities for landscape photography. The polarizing filter added the blue tones in the sky to contrast with the very green bottom of the picture. Painted in two colors: green and blue, the island is flooded with superb luminosity attracting tourists and photographers.

Location: Faja de Cima, Açores Islands.

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm. Polarizing filter. Nef to Tiff conversion. Saved in Jpg file.

ISO: 100

Aperture: 5,6

Date Taken: Saturday, February 26th, 2011, 14:37

Maciek.

The light-searching

A wave-like cold rain is about to hit the Northern shore of São Miguel island in Azores Islands. The Pau do Pico volcano with a small lake in the left down corner.

A story behind: The landscape photography is all about light and a light-searching can be a tough job. So many times I wait hours in vain. Well, not completely in vain: I appreciate these precious long periods of being with nature. Even when I wait and it is raining cats and dogs I still have my Kindle with me. But sometimes I get lucky. I try to avoid harsh shadows and blow outs on a sunny day. I make sure light is not peeking through the clouds and hitting the subject in spots with intense reflections. Even the RAW image format I usually shot my pictures with will not help you with super harsh shadows and major blown out areas. Then there is rain and wind that can spoil your long exposures.

The image above was born on the Friday´s morning while light-searching from the Paul viewpoint on the São Miguel Island. Date: Friday, January 28th, 2011. 10.30 h. Maciek.

An honorable mention

I am so happy to inform you that my photo of the spring floods of the volcano crater on the São Miguel island ( displayed above ) received an honorable mention in the AFAA ( Associação de Fotógrafos Amadores dos Açores ) competition and will be published in the album edition of the best Açores photos of the 2010. 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.