Light Dualities, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

This picture was taken in one of my favourite places to photograph: Sintra.

It has marvelous landscapes, thanks to the rocky beaches and to the misty woods.

This photo may look almost surreal, but I can assure you it has no digital manipulation. It was taken 15 min after sunset, with almost no light. The orange light on the left comes from a restaurant and played well with the fading light of the Sun. The 30 sec exposure created the water "mist" and the wet rocks reflect the blue from the sky above.

If you visit Portugal someday, you can eat a nice fish plate in that restaurant and watch spectacular sunsets, while the fisherman work on the beach.

jwmunro, greg64g, arnabchat, JesusV, quino, puister, Kolyamour, yekjohn, krystian, pirulesco, hugolef, Vicky, Albrecht, ChristianS, jbweasle, Isaperez, epdrun1, fmg, errorist, Wirraway, Paolo, gren4, Izobretenik, Telo, alekpet, rajhema, joeydrops, Jribeirosantos, SampraS, jmdias, firelord, del7im, Emiel_Skyfreak has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Maru (0) 2005-02-10 9:11

Your long exposure really made a very interesting composition, indeed.
I like specially the light over the rocks and those two spots of orange in the horizon. Great atmopshere.

jwmunro (286) 2005-02-10 9:12

Joel -

Excellent image!! Well done with the long exposure and especially like the light peaking out from around the corner of the coast line.

Thanks for sharing

greg64g (11193) 2005-02-10 9:12

Hello Joel,

This is the perfect light and color

thanks
greg

JesusV (924) 2005-02-10 9:19

Beautiful scene, grat low speed shot. I love the light and colours. Thanks for sharing. Jesus

quino (693) 2005-02-10 9:21

Absolutely amazing. Interesting composition. The long exposure was really right, and created this mist inthe water..., well done.

Kolyamour (1760) 2005-02-10 9:34

Beautiful picture! This light from restourant is very misterious. I couldn't understand the source of it befor reading the note. Colours and texture are superb.
Thank for share.
Nikolay

Arven (256) 2005-02-10 9:36

Ol� Joel!..your pic look like not real..like a painting..or..like a place withc cant exist in the real World...the long expo time made the water look like fogg,and the colors are so mistical..interesting..

yekjohn (1890) 2005-02-10 9:41

Stunning shot! Perfect exposure control and great composition. I find the sky reflection off the rocks amazing. Great capture. Congrats.

maurazos (0) 2005-02-10 9:51

It's a kind of picture I dream of doing one day. I'm collecting this kind of silky sea images. Congratulations for this impressive image! Regards.

softflower (0) 2005-02-10 9:57

Superbe photo Joel, tr鋊 belles couleurs et temps d'exposition bien maitris�.
Felicitations !
Nico.

Zanni (6108) 2005-02-10 10:24

Another superb image and useful notes. I appreciate there aren't digital manipulations. Happyness is to take this kind of photos. Great exposure and sharpness.

errorist (668) 2005-02-10 10:57

pure science fiction. Well done!

Isaperez (355) 2005-02-10 11:20

Excelente t嶰nica ,enquadramento e cores.
Linda,parab幯s!!!

capa (743) 2005-02-10 12:00

Excelente foto.
Esta foto demonstra (na minha opini緌)o conhecimento e excelente dominio de tecnica que o Joel possui.5*
Parabens \o/

capthaddock (28790) 2005-02-10 12:49

You've created a wonderful image. The restaurant light makes it look like a planet with two suns.

Vicky (1446) 2005-02-10 12:51

Your long exposure has produced a beautiful, restful, surreal image. That rock looks like it's on fire as if it's come from a volcano. The orange glow on the right from the sunset balances it nicely. It's an excellent effect that adds a welcome warm feeling to the picture. The light on the rocks and the misty water finish off a wonderful composition. Thanks Joel.

faletiz (10113) 2005-02-10 13:26

In effects the photo is so beautiful and particular to make to think to a manipulation... is beautifulst, compliments! and lucky person you that you have been able to see all this. Thanks
Ciao
Letizia

Albrecht (11283) 2005-02-10 14:01

Simply perfect surrealistic picture. Well idea that long exposure with this beautiful effect. Well done and thanks.

ChristianS (2997) 2005-02-10 14:26

Excellent photo, superg light and colours. Very well done!

jbweasle (9393) 2005-02-10 14:56

A stunning, magical picture. The lighting and exposure is superb.

alainh (33209) 2005-02-10 15:31

hello Joel.
splendid work ! perfect exposure.
congrats
alain

epdrun1 (344) 2005-02-10 16:02

Wonderful exposure and lighting on so many different aspects of the photo. The sunset, the rock with the restuarant reflection and the rocks up close. Thanks for sharing.

kabe (2011) 2005-02-10 16:31

Hi, Joel,
Beautiful photo!
Great capture, colors, light and composition.
Well done

didcreole (962) 2005-02-10 16:59

Incredible shot Joel. The effet of the long exposure is marvelous in the water and in the sky. The f/22 gave you vary sharp details on the rocks. Very well done and welcome on TE.

vapours (8264) 2005-02-10 19:37

Great shot, really looks like something that has been produced by a computer. The colouring and textures are just fantastic.

fmg (4) 2005-02-10 20:05

Uma grande qualidade artistica com ferramentas adequadas. Acho que outro g幯ero de coment嫫io que fa蓷 � redundante...Parab幯s e obrigado pela exposi誽o.

hispic (9658) 2005-02-11 0:16

Very fantastic scene by the long exposure!
It might be better, if it is darker just a little.
Superb image at the twilight sunset.
Thanks for sharing.

keribar (43841) 2005-02-11 0:33

Hi Joel,

I am glad I found this picture, because it appeals very much to me.. It was a good idea to make a 30 second exposure OK, but there is a quasi irreal light all over, as if nature was shot in a studio, which makes the result so amazing.

hugolef (4913) 2005-02-11 3:43

Bom dia Joel
i love Sintra, it's a very beautiful and quiet (when no tourist) place.
I like the frame, the exposure, it gives an unreal aspect.
great capture

regards

joseelias (0) 2005-02-11 8:52

Uma excelente foto em que pouco h� dizer sen緌 louvores. O efeito criado pela longa exposi誽o � soberbo, mas as cores e a composi誽o s緌 o principal. As rochas no primeiro plano criam a sensa誽o de estarmos presentes neste local, e a coloca誽o do rochedo maior numa zona forte da composi誽o (refor蓷da pela luz laranja) fixa com facilidade o nosso olhar.

Gosto tamb幦 de como subtilmente duas linhas (a do horizonte, e uma imagin嫫ia criada pelas rochas no primeiro plano) criam um v廨tice 弌pontando� para a luz laranja e refor蓷ndo a sua import滱cia. Enfim, uma foto muito bem concebida em todos os aspectos.

Amandine (1072) 2005-02-13 8:22

Very beautifull shot,quite magic because of the foggy sea and the warm light, it's very well conposed an dvery well done.

Coyotyto (1305) 2005-02-13 19:24

Wow !

Very interesting ! The long exposure really gives a particular and mystical atmoshpere, almost surrealistic. Great one, thanks for sharing it !

danielswalsh (13597) 2005-02-15 18:39

Another great shot Joel!

I've always been a fan of long exposure water shots. This one is one of the best yet!
Cheers!
- Dan

deud (1920) 2005-02-17 10:11

amazing! you are the master of light!

Wirraway (1985) 2005-02-18 4:20

One of the best images I have seen on this site Joel, your image is simply superb and
is an inspiration for seascape photographers,
congratulations.

Regards Ian

AmericaUnida (27) 2005-02-21 15:16

I have seen few images as powerful as this one - it is as if you took us back, Joel, to a time before the continents split! Felicitacoes!

Aymeric (553) 2005-02-23 4:28

Again a very beautiful shot !
I've just discovered your photos and find them all very nice. Your added to my favorites :-)

Paolo (41258) 2005-02-24 7:53

also that, as all other your pics, is fatastic!
ciao.

Yannick31 (917) 2005-03-21 3:06

Extraordinaire rien � dire sur les beaut廥 de tes clich廥 !!!
Un grand bravo pour un non moins grand photographe !
Amiti廥,
Yannick

gren4 (603) 2005-03-27 12:55

amazing photo.So out of this world yet al completely natural.The light from yhe restaurant certainly worked well

Izobretenik (1268) 2005-06-20 3:34 [Comment]

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peayq (8) 2005-06-20 4:07 [Comment]

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Ina (2687) 2005-07-15 15:11

Beautiful colors and light here...Composition is fantastic too...I love it so much...TFS...Ina...

matikrimerman (930) 2005-07-15 15:27

wowwwww!!!!

Telo (307) 2005-07-18 8:13 [Comment]

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scorfel (4294) 2005-07-18 14:47

Superbe!
Un cot� surr嶪l vraiment exellent.
Bravo.

Alex

alekpet (4663) 2005-07-20 8:21

Such a good photo.
WHat I like about your images is that they look like paintings, with strong colors, but at the same time are very sharp.

marcinz1980 (131) 2005-07-22 11:29 [Comment]

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Chitrakalpa (29) 2005-07-27 8:28

hi joel..this is a wonderful wonderful picture. the long exposure really worked magic here. the clarity iss excellent too....id love to clicck such a photo someday.

joeydrops (2659) 2005-08-11 4:51

Hi Joel,
Very well exposed indeed! The misty look to the water is great and the effect of the lighting is excellent. The composition is really good with the rocks on the left facing out to the sea. Great detail and colours.
Claudia

shal (944) 2006-03-16 23:27

Hey Joel,
gr8 post man,
lovely expo and warm lighting,
perfect balance,
Cheers TFS,
Vishal Sabharwal

Jribeirosantos (1924) 2006-03-21 7:16

Verdadeiramente Sublime!

aralda (1240) 2006-03-27 5:55

Hi Joel,
The blue and orange work well in this compo, and so do the rocks.
Nice job,
Raluca

brianreisinger (107) 2006-05-15 16:17

Gorgeous shot... Great light and colors... Nice work.

dbp (2) 2006-05-20 8:58

Joel.
Very good picture and very good work with the exposure.
simlly - beautiful.

patriik (1935) 2006-05-20 15:21

Wow
spectacular view!
outstanding shot! wonderful colours, compo and good exposure.
well done!

teutza (10590) 2006-05-20 18:41

waw this photo is almost sf:)!great work!

dockie (132) 2006-06-15 8:35

fantastic shot. you are indeed the master of landscapes!

sverzi (124) 2006-07-14 10:29

gorgeous picture...

This is the perfect "Golden Hour" example.
Good job.

michalpok (257) 2006-07-14 10:41

Very good photo,beautiful place.colors and POV are exelent.weel done.regards

rajhema (1873) 2006-07-14 10:42

Marvelous capture Joel. Memorable 30seconds.

jmdias (116601) 2006-07-19 18:47

joel

Esta foto � magn璗ica. E voc� sabe disto..

Jorge

snowfalken (1116) 2006-07-25 15:51

Hi Joel,

Excellent picture of a beautiful landscape! Nice effect with the long exposure! The composition is great and the colors are brilliant and natural! The picture is very sharp and has lots of depth. Great use of perspective! You've captured a very nice scene! Excellent work! TFS!

Regards,
Eddie

catmountain (1111) 2006-08-18 16:13

Salut Joel
Volcanique ta photo et totalement irr嶪lle...
J'adore. Bravo

Michel

gramma (3519) 2006-08-20 5:05

Superbe image ! Tr鋊 bon travail.

Christophe

andreineamtu (466) 2006-09-03 21:14

beautiful image, great light, good technicity, congratulations

ronners (10) 2007-07-10 15:01

Great work Joel. The best thing about work like this is that it's 99% visualization. You just don't 'see' this shot when you take it since you are effectively shooting in the dark. In fact, it's almost impossible to plan the outcome and I guess you have a large number of similar images that you aren't quite as happy with as this one ;) Anyway, this for me is inspirational work, and I feel a trip to the Pacific Coast coming on...

Ron.

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evarol (196) 2007-07-10 15:02

This photo is extraterrestrial!

Great Job,

-Erdem

Emiel_Skyfreak (3002) 2007-07-10 23:20

This photo on the frontpage..I saw the thumbnail..I knew : Gradual ND filter.
By seeing this, I'm so glad I've ordered a Cokin P holder and P121L. I should have 'em shortly, I hope to experiment with such equipment soon. I think it's useful, this photo proofs it. Excellent tones and lovely effect on the water..sippling (is that the word?) between the rocks on the foreground. Clever composition with great detail, contrast, a fine dynamic range and lovely light! Well exposed with both the long exposure and the ND Grad!
Fine work, congrats!

tasga (42) 2007-09-01 22:39

great pic but i dont believe its without manipulations man.what kind of lights that rest hads and lights up the rock like that?they must spent a fortune in light bulbs.lets get real.its a great photoshop product.

coco (30439) 2009-02-17 4:28

Hi Joel.

It's obvious: I have to go to Sintra.
I love this photo and you made a great work.

Regards.