The mount Fuji sunrise

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An early morning at the lake Shoji, Japan.

A story behind: 4.45 in the morning. Temperature: - 2ºC.
Mount Fuji, 3,770 meters, the highest mountain in Japan. Almost a perfect volcanic cone. A large part of the mountain is still buried under the snow ( April 2014). According to recent data, the pressure in the main lava camber of the volcano recently overpassed the limit of 1.6 megapascals. Professor Masaki Kimura believes that until 2015 we will see a significant increase in the activity of the volcano with the possible eruption of a small degree.

Location:  Lake Shoji, Japan.

 

Gear: Nikon D 610, Nikkor 16-33 mm.

Aperture: f/14

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

Date: 1st of April, 2014. 4.45 a.m.

 
Maciek.

Hanami or cherry blossom time in Japan

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A late evening photo of the Hanami festival in Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan.

A story behind: Hanami is an important Japanese custom and is held all over Japan in spring. When we booked our trip to Japan we were hoping to see cherry tree blossom. Every year it happens at a slightly different time. Usually it begins in late March or early April and depending on the weather conditions it can last from a couple of days to three weeks. Hanami literally means viewing flowers, but it generally indicates cherry blossom viewing. It's said that the origin of hanami dates back to more than one thousand years ago when aristocrats enjoyed looking at beautiful cherry blossoms and wrote poems.
Nowadays, especially young people in Japan have fun viewing cherry blossoms, drinking and eating. It is like a picnic under the trees.

Location:  Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan.

 

Gear: Nikon D 610, Nikkor 70-300 mm.

Aperture: f/5,6

Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 100mm

Date: 1st of April, 2014.

 
Maciek.

Shibuya at night

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A normal night at the famous Shibuya Crossing.

A story behind: Shibuya is a sakariba (party town) for the Japanese youth.

This is a huge and loud intersection decorated by a sea of neons.
When the lights turn red and traffic stops completely, pedestrians from all sides surge into the crossing. This is a moment of incredible chaos when everybody moves into a different direction but after a minute when the traffic lights change again all this madness and scramble stops.

Location:  Tokyo, Japan.

 

Gear: Nikon D610, Nikkor 16-32 mm.

Aperture: f/8

 ISO: 3200Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 16mm

Date: 1st of April, 2014.

 
Maciek.

Cherry blossom time!

 

Resende, a small city located on the bank of the Douro river, is a center of the cherry growing industry.

As we were driving along the curvy roads near Resende, we were passing thousands of white cherry blossom trees.
 

Maciek

Date: 21st of March, 2014.

Long exposure

 

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A story behind: This modern art monument called "The triumph Arch" was created in 2003. I used a 10x photo stop filter to get 72 seconds long expose.  The spotted clouds were moving very fast and there were recorded as long white streaks.

Remember that the longer exposition, the most "creamy" sky you get.
 

Location:  City of Maia, Portugal.
 

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-32 mm,

Aperture: f/22


Shutter: 73 sec.
 
Exposure bias: +0,3 EV

Focal Length: 29 mm

ISO: 50

Date: Monday, 23rd of February 2014, 09.08 a.m.

Maciek.

A rainy weekend in Lisbon

 

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The last moments of the day. Vasco da Gama bridge on the Tagus river. Lisbon. Portugal.

A story behind: Last days of January 2014. A rainy end of the day at the bank of the Tagus river with a view over the Vasco da Gama bridge.

Location:  Lisbon, Portugal.
 

Gear: Nikon D610, Nikkor 16-32 mm, umbrella.

Aperture: f/22


Shutter: 13 sec.
 
Exposure bias: +0,3 EV

Focal Length: 24 mm

ISO: 50

Date: Sunday, 31st of January 2014, 17.38 p.m.

Maciek.

Madeira Island seascapes

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A strange shape of the lava formation near the coast of the Madeira island, Portugal.

A story behind: End of January 2014. A couple of days spent with friends on the Madeira Island, Portugal.
This is a piece of the rocky Northern Coast of the Island.
My very first experiences with a shiny new Nikon D610.

Location:  Madeira, Portugal.
 

Gear: Nikon D610, Nikkor 16-32 mm.

Aperture: f/22


Shutter: 26 sec.
 
Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 316mm

ISO: 50

Date: Monday, 27th of January 2014.

Maciek.

In the net

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A story behind: Tuesday morning. The huge, 42 meters wide multilayer net floats over the Cidade Salvador Plaza close to the beach  of the city of Matosinhos. This is a great example of modern architecture. Created by the famous architect Janet Echelman. Ranked no1 in Oprah´s magazine Wow).
The net is made of the red material that invoke the memory of the site’s history as a fishing center is made of entirely soft and flexible set of membranes moving fluidly in wind. 

Location:  Matosinhos, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 16-32 mm.

Aperture: f/7,1


Shutter: 1/250 sec.
 
Exposure bias: -0,3 EV

Focal Length: 32 mm

ISO: 800

Date: Tuesday, 31st of December 2013.

Maciek.

The winter storm

The pier of Foz do Douro, Portugal. Click on the image for a full size.

A story behind: Wednesday morning.

Location:  Porto, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-300 mm, handheld.

ISO: 640

Date: 25rd of December 2013.

Maciek.

High waves hammering the Porto coastline.

The pier of Foz do Douro, Portugal. Click on the image for a full size.

A story behind: Monday evening. Large waves have been hammering the Porto pier for the last week. Coastline officials are warning all to stay out of the dangerous zone. But some curious tourists unfortunately put their life at risk.

Location:  Porto, Portugal.

Gear: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-300 mm, handheld.

Aperture: f/5.6


Shutter: 1/100 sec.
 
Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 125 mm

ISO: 800

Date: Monday, 23rd of December 2013.

Maciek.