The wind-beaten olive tree

A story behind: Many parts of Beira Interior region in central Portugal are flooded now. The water covered many deserted areas of this sparsely populated land.
During my late afternoon walk near the Lardosa village I spotted a small wind-beaten olive tree that resembled so much a famous Van Gogh painting.
Enjoy !

Location: Lardosa, Beira Interior, Portugal ( google map )

Gear: Nikon D80, lens: Sigma 10-20 mm f/2.8-3.5, tripod, remote control, rubber boots.

Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Aperture: f/22
Shutter speed: 0.5 sec.
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Feb 09, 2010, 18:47


Maciek.

Just another Atlantic sunset

A story behind: Just another Atlantic sunset ? No, it is not. Every time I have a pleasure to watch the sunsets over the Atlantic ocean I am being thankful to God for these miracles.
Click on the image to get full 1250px × 768px resolution.

Location: Madalena beach, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, lens: Nikkor 18-70 mm f/3.5-4.5, tripod, remote control, rubber boots, camera case.

Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Aperture: f/11
Shutter speed: 6 sec.
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO: 250

Date Taken: Feb 02, 2010, 19:17


Maciek.

Black and white

A story behind: Black and white photography doesn’t attract with its play of colors. Here close attention to composition, lighting, perspective and the context are important. I am not a very black-and-white photography maker. I cherish beautiful B&Ws that belong to the upper league of THE BIG photography.
This is my first one. My new resolution: do better B&W photos.
For larger dimensions: click here ( full page 1244px × 800px, 220.96 kB ).

Location: Azores Islands, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Tamron 28-75 mm, tripod, remote control, rubber boots, camera case.
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp, desaturate, channel mixer.
Aperture: f/18
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 27, 2010, 18:45


Maciek.

The first night

A story behind: Well, this was the first night I spent on the islands. Although I have been at that beach many times before, the sunsets always stun me there.

Location: Azores Islands, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, tripod, remote control, rubber boots, camera case.
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Aperture: f/25
Focal Length: 13 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 27, 2010, 19:35


Maciek.

A sea of grass

A story behind: I took my bag and begun a slow walk up and down the rolling grassy surroundings. The grass was lush with long, wide and strong blades that imitated a thick carpet. I walked with pleasure. At the top of the next hill I stopped, prepared my gear and took a few photos.



Location: Azores Islands, Portugal



Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, small tripod, remote control
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/20
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 29, 2010, 09:15

A lonely cow house

A story behind: On the early Friday morning I drove to the heart of the island and to one of my favorite places I personally call "a little Tuscany". The green countryside somehow resembles the most famous Italian rolling hills. The grass is however greener and the sky not always as clear as in Italy. I stopped the car at the outskirts of the small village Salga stunned by the view of a small abandoned cow house at the top of the tiny hill.

Location: Azores Islands, Portugal

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, tripod, remote control, NDG 0.8
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Shutter Speed: 1/3 sec
Aperture: f/18
Focal Length: 14 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 29, 2010, 08:10


Maciek.

A week of crystal clear sunsets

A story behind: This week a Nordic high pressure system stays over Portugal. All days the sunsets stay crystal clear and the air is very crispy and highly transparent.
Then it is a time just before sunset, when the sun is low, the light is golden and hazy, the time I call a ‘golden hour’.
That day I went to the beach and quickly snap a few photos and this one is one of my favorite. I know it was a waste trip – high contrast and hard light but this is what I ended up with. A peaceful scene from the foreground stays in sharp contrast with the windy and vast ocean in the background.
I am heading now for a 5 days trip to the islands so I hope to bring back some really decent shots.
Stay tuned.

Location: Vila Nova Gaia beach, Portugal ( google map )

Gear: Nikon D80, Tamron 28-75 mm, tripod, remote control
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO: 100



Maciek.

It seems we are in for a nice spring

A strange path through the muddy banks of the river.

A story behind: Sunday morning started with bright sun and nice mid-teens temperatures. "If the weather continues this way we are in for a nice spring !" I thought. In the afternoon I grabbed my gear and headed to the delta of Vouga river.
Near Murtosa village I parked the car and put on my rubber boots. I followed a strange path through the muddy banks of the river. The sunset and clear sky created a point-source hard light. It didn´t "wrap" around objects but instead sourced unpleasant crisp shadows and accentuated textures and details in the water. I shot a photo but I didn´t like it.

Location: Delta of the Vouga river, Portugal ( google map )

Gear: Nikon D80, Tamron 2.8 28-75 mm, tripod, remote control, NDG 0.8
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Shutter Speed: 1/3 sec
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO: 150

Date Taken: Jan 24, 2010, 17:10


Maciek.

A home of a mussels catcher

A story behind: Monday´s afternoon started with dark cloud cover. I drove to Murtosa village and left my car where the road ended. After weeks and weeks of rain the whole delta of Vouga river was pretty much flooded. I wandered along the canals of the braided delta quite some time looking for a nice spot. The fishermen were coming back from the sea. I waited. They say that hope is a mother of fools. Maybe it´s true but that day the things worked for me very well. I spotted a wooden shag that belonged to one of the mussels catchers. The wind stopped blowing allowing clear mirror-like reflections in the water.

Location: Delta of the Vouga river, Portugal ( google map )

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, tripod, remote control
Post-processing: RAW to Tiff, white balance, sharp.
Shutter Speed: 1/2 sec
Aperture: f/18
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 18, 2010, 16:19


Maciek.

Sunset over the Aguda Beach

A story behind: So the surfers went away. I moved a little bit to the left to photograph a rock that started to appear from the water. As the low tide began the water went slowly down. The sky opened for a couple of minutes. I put two "grads" filters and shot a picture. Almost forgot: the waves hit me hard and soaked my legs.

Location: Aguda beach, Portugal ( google map )

Gear: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20 mm, NDG 0.6 and 0.3
Shutter Speed: 2 sec
Aperture: f/28
Focal Length: 15 mm
ISO: 100

Date Taken: Jan 17, 2010, 17:10


Maciek.