July 2008
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The story behind it
01/07/2008
Splassshhhhhh...srsrsrsr...Splass shhh...srsrsrs... Island of Sal, Cape Verde. This was the end of a journey that unexpectedly had started on a merchant's ship, at 1 am, from this island to Mindelo. But that's another story, for another cover.Warm waters. Magnificent colours. We are full with the peace and happiness of the days, the people, the food and the music of Cape Verde, in S. Vicente and Santo Antão. Before the plane, we have time for a swim and many photographs. This famous, though crumbling, pier must have an enourmous ego. It is in many photographs of many tourists. I am just another one.
Comment
Technical issues
01/07/2008
This photograph has been taken with an analog camera, Kodak VS100 professional slide film. It is known for high saturation (especially the reds) and contrast. At the time, the sun was high and very strong. No need for any tripod. In fact, travel photography demands for very careful use of a tripod, mainly in the case of photographing people. A simple and even unnoticed presence of the photographer is a must, not to affect the social environment. The use of the polariser has helped in bringing the blue and turquoise tints out, also avoiding reflections on the water. These are true colours!Critial review
01/07/2008
This is nearly a traditional photograph on beach and journeys. The blue, as in many postcards, is very commonly seen (on those well taken!) and on travel books and guides. It nearly seems unreal, but it is very much real. Even the rivers in inland Portugal have colours like these! The presence of the person on the pier is important to provide scale and enhance the danger of the falling pier. The rule of thirds is clear, with a diagonal line from the bottom left corner, created by the wave. This wave provides dinamics. The crystal water texture, with the yellow, blue and turquoise colours, transmits freshness!Where you should place it
01/07/2008
Ok, ok! You immediately imagine this photograph on the wall of a travel agent's. Maybe on a house at the beach, where it is always Summer! Where you hear the kids playing and shouting at the beach. The people around you walk in flip-flops, surely!I do think it is a photograph that saturates the eye, easily. It may seem against my own work ethics, but it is not: I do think that it is best for places like that, about beaches and journeys. Another possibility is to change the photograph and decoration depending on the time of year. It is just an opinion!
