Greece: Marvel of nature and man Photo

Photographer’s Note

"Copyright © – Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

The word Meteora means literally "hovering in the air" and brings to mind the word meteor. What created this rare geological phenomenon is one of the mysteries of nature and there are many theories though they remain theories and none have been proven. But as amazing a marvel of nature as these giant rocks are the buildings on the top of these are a marvel of man and seem just as miraculous.

Monasteries of Meteora

The area was originally settled by monks who lived in caves within the rocks during the 11th Century. But as the times became more unsure, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the inaccessable peaks where they were able to build by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets and build the first monasteries.
There are still examples of these baskets which are used for bringing up provisions.
Now the monasteries are all connected by a series of pathworks and is possible to visit them in one day.
Today only six of the monasteries are active.

Roussanou Monastery

This Monastery was founded in 1545 by Joasaph and Maximos, two brothers from Epirus who built it on the ruins of an even older church. To get to this monastery you cross a small bridge from another peak. The church contains outstanding wall paintings, wood iconstasis, panel icons and icon stands.

***scanned from print***

wishlist, Cricri, isabela_sor, PixelTerror, Bruno40, grandklaus, pasternak, TGULUMSER, andante, Wirraway, gabrielpat, cunejo200, Budapestman, syd1946, riclopes, lucasgalodoido, snowfalken, Jakab, stego, bostankorkulugu, Emile, edytungkal, rigoletto, elmec, delic, lilimih33, danos, albertopiubello, Tue, AiresSantos, manada, axiotea, Angshu, John_F_Kennedy, ocskaymarci, paura, Didi, smash2707, turkamerikali, josepmarin, Henryk_Bilor, saylan-cb, gurselerdener, jaywalker, banyanman ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Bruno40 (6440) 2007-12-09 4:04

Excellent POV and compo Attila!!
Also a very ood scan!
TFS
Jorge

PixelTerror (86358) 2007-12-09 4:04

Szia Attila,
A less known monastery than the "James Bond" one, but equally spectacular to me, nice scan where I like a lot the foreground snaking road, better would it be if it were not cut a bit on the left but apart from that you have found a great PoV.
Have a nice sunday JY

pasternak (13448) 2007-12-09 4:11

Nice view, Attila, with the curved road as an excellent lead-in element, and the monastery buildings framed very well by these cliffs. A superb place for photography.

Cheers
Alexander

vincz (19043) 2007-12-09 4:11

Very spectaculer with excellent light and textures. I love how the construction melt with the rocks in a way. very well done.

TGULUMSER (12514) 2007-12-09 4:12

Hello Atilla,
This place is really marvelous. Your composition is great,
Thanks for sharing with us,
Beat regards,
Tulay

Gustaw (21670) 2007-12-09 4:19

Hi, my friend!
It is very beautiful view. I like your composition. Some years ago I was in Meteory. It is fantastic place. Good colours. Well done.
Marek

Wirraway (1985) 2007-12-09 5:05

What facinating scenery Attila,well balanced composition and 1st class exposure, thank you for the informative note, excellent work.

Regards Ian
Nth Queensland

gabrielpat (6551) 2007-12-09 5:19

just splendid!a nice vertical shot.

cunejo200 (7193) 2007-12-09 5:36

Hi Attila,
I am always fascinated by structures built atop mountains and/or rocks. What an engineering feat. THis is superbly captured. The road curve is graceful and is balanced bt the texture of the rocks. Best regards, Danilo

Budapestman (42328) 2007-12-09 6:05

Szia Attila,
Fantasztikus kép erről a festői helyről, a kompozíció nagyon látványos. 1992-ben jártam itt és az egyik legnagyobb élményem ma is, emlékszem micsoda kaland volt megmászni ezeket a vadregényes monostorokat. A részletek gyönyörűek, a fények ugyancsak. Gratulálok, és szép vasárnap délutánt kívánok!
Gyuri

jonathan_hart (22580) 2007-12-09 6:56

hi Attila
nice architecture, at the foot of the cliff, very good looking place, the light is good, the curve of the road is a very good bonus
vertical framing is just perfect, like the POV :))
all the photos from this place are so impressive, one day i will decide to see it by my own eyes, it's worth to be seen, it's sure !
TFS/regards
jo

Scharan (13955) 2007-12-09 7:15

Olá Attila

Fantástica foto na vertical em uma composição belíssima tomando a estrada em primeiro plano para nos levar até as engenhosas construções lá no alto. Amei este trabalho, meus parabéns!
GA
Vera

syd1946 (17931) 2007-12-09 7:31

Hello Attila,
Meteora is a very famous and impressive place in my country.I like very much the way you composed the image using the road in front to help the perspective and lead the eye.The rocks to back stand great and still makes an impression even to me,who I visited many times this place.Informative note also!

Greetings,
Thomas

riclopes (33043) 2007-12-09 8:24

Olá Attila, great POV over this amazing place and superb composition with the very atractive winding road in foreground leading us as if we were in a roling coaster. And suddenly, we bump on that misterious set of Nature. Excellent shot.
Best wishes,
ricardo

lucasgalodoido (16605) 2007-12-09 10:12

Hi Attila!
Very ibnteresting this house above of the rocks! The POV is excelent too! Good job.
Congratulations and Hug!

snowfalken (1108) 2007-12-09 10:44

Hello Attila,

A very good composition where you used the road as a guideline to lead the eyes through the picture! Good exposure to preserve details in both highlights and shadows! I wish I could visit this place again! Thank you for sharing!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

Jakab (3472) 2007-12-09 12:28

Szia Attila!
Tetszik mindenek előtt a kép harmonikus színvilága - mintha a régiek ügyesebbek lettek volna abban, hogyan helyezzék el az építményeiket a tájban. Aztán, bár ezek a házak nem a csúcsokon ülnek, a sziklás környezet így is lélegzetállító.
Üdv
Laci

stego (22376) 2007-12-09 12:55

Hi Attila,
An impressive view, that allowed you a great compo. The winding road eases nicely the compression of perspective induced by the long focal length, which suits well the BG anyway, by enhancing a sense of distant dreamy vision. The shadow on the cliff helps the monastery standing up. The quality is superb, specially for a scan. The signs of time that are noticeable in the less vibrant colours make part of the charm and only the green really suffers.
Regards, José.

gilou530 (35422) 2007-12-09 13:27

salut attila
un endroit fabuleux ce monastére est magnifique la route nous guide bien cadrage parfait
amitiés
gilbert

bostankorkulugu (33714) 2007-12-09 16:46

the colours are a bit pale but the composition is very good and the vertical format works well in this shot attila... the wonders of meteora are always breathtaking, arent they?...

all the best

korkut

Emile (20017) 2007-12-09 21:51

Hola Attila.
Superb shot of the monastery, very well captured with a good point of view, the delicate natural colors are very good and the sharpness of your shot is magnificent. Great composition and good work with a scanned picture.
Well done. TFS. Have a nice week.
Best regards.

edytungkal (4519) 2007-12-09 22:00

Fantastic pov...
I can feel the best spot where you have captured this gorgeous panorama, the snake road just make it more special.
The quality is excellent despite just from scanned picture, I like this shot alot, thank you my friend :-)

daniel

rigoletto (26424) 2007-12-09 23:58

Hi Attila,
This is a place on earth where mysticism in Europe makes top!
Incredible places on incredible land shapes, and this skyless photo with real colors of sharp light makes this one an important share form there.
Cheers,
Deniz

Didier38 (710) 2007-12-10 4:44

Bonjour Attila,

Beau point de vue, bon cadrage.
Un superbe coin à découvrir.

Didier

Hellas (5139) 2007-12-10 5:13

Hi Attila,
I am very happy looking at this post. The whole composition is great as well as the fine details. The scanning is excellent!
Although I don't like the roads into my photos, here this works well.
Thank you very, very much for sharing.
Have a nice week,
Athanasios.

Cricri (43304) 2007-12-10 8:40

Hi Attila,
Incroyable et merveilleuse constructions des bâtiments dans le rochers, joli le format qui inclus les courbes de la route, belle lumiére et couleurs, trés belle image scanner, compliment
Good evening for you
cricri

wishlist (4133) 2007-12-10 11:48

Ciao Attila,
bellissima questa! composizione perfetta e bilanciata con la strada a partire dall'angolo basso e che poi guida l'occhio al resto della foto. Direi piu' che azzeccato il taglio verticale ed eccezzionale la qualita' generale; dall'esposizione al dettaglio tutto sembra davvero bello!
Complimenti e buona serata
Igor

elmec (12194) 2007-12-10 13:58

Hello Attila!
Next perfect and very interesting shot in Yours gallery!
I liek compo with rocks of nature and human buidings together.
Oerfect composed and framed!
Congratulations!
Best regard!S

delic (6735) 2007-12-10 16:07

Terrific clarity and contrast, Attila. The compressed view is very nice and I particularly like the winding road. Good work. Regards,
Hakan

lilimih33 (9874) 2007-12-10 16:42

Hello Attila!
Meteora is a wonnderful place and your picture is very good with nice colours and good point of view!
Great clarity!
Best regards!
Lili

Giorgio (8730) 2007-12-10 23:36

- Wonderful and impressive picture for this monastery like mount Athos, your PoV is superb, excellent scanning, well done!
giorgio

Graal (58267) 2007-12-11 0:05

Jó napot Attila,
very nice view and reportage from Meteora. You have rich archive. Good vertical composition, interesting informations. I like it. Well done and quality of scan.
Gr., Aleksander

danos (32812) 2007-12-11 4:16

Hello Attila,
i'm glad that you came in from your bimonthly absence.This is a fabulous shot of Meteora much betters than mine, that uploaded months ago.The road create a great perspective and we can see here so clear the Roussanou Monastery.Excellent quality from a scanned print.Informative your note too.

Regards,Danos

isabela_sor (42215) 2007-12-11 11:18

A must-see place!I love it too and I hope to spend more time next year there
Good POV and well captured the churches
A nice Sunday

japiey (9493) 2007-12-11 12:39

Hello Atilla,

Good shot, yes, its a marvellous place...
A poetic blend of man and nature...
EXCELLENT !!

Namasthe.

jean paul

albertopiubello (2591) 2007-12-11 12:45

Ciao Attila, ecco qualcosa che volevo vedere a tutti i costi durante l'ultimo mio viaggio in Grecia e non sono riuscito...
Bellissimo l'angolo da cui l'hai presa.
E' un peccato la strada asfaltata... se ci fosse un sentiero sterrato sarebbe davvero un salto indietro nel tempo.
Alberto

Tue (25608) 2007-12-11 13:29

Hej Attila,
A very good photo of this monastery from a good POV. The light is fine and I really like the diagonals in the surrounding rocks. I like that there is no sky visible. Well done!
Regards,
Lars

UnTrained (0) 2007-12-11 22:43

Szia Attila,
I like the high POV showing the buildings in and on the rocks enwinded by the curves of the road. The good textures of the walls and the rocks are pleasant and enhanced by the light.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

AiresSantos (42440) 2007-12-11 23:51

Hi Attila
Wonderful place wery well captured !
Excellent quality if we take in consideration, you scanned it.
In fact the man can do great and beautiful things.
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

manada (6237) 2007-12-12 4:42

Grandissimo Pov, Attila.
E' davvero un posto in cui ci si interroga sulla natura e su chi ha creato tanta meraviglia.
Un carissimo saluto, Freddy

p.s.
Dammi una mano a tradurre la poesia della mia ultima foto, ti prego!

Silvio1953 (42237) 2007-12-12 5:54

Ciao Attila ce le dai con il contagocce, ma quando arrivano sono sempre spelndide, titolo azzeccato, grnde vista di questa meraviglia della natura e dell'uomo, bravo, ciao Silvio

dip (12690) 2007-12-12 11:30

Wonderful image Attila,great POV and clarity,
very good quality for a scanned photo!
Greetings,
Dimitris.

axiotea (16171) 2007-12-12 22:55

Hello Atus
I wish I could go one day to this fantastic and spectacular place. This scene fits perfectly in the vertical format and the curvy road is a good starting point leading the eye to the houses perched on the rocks.
Ciao
Marilyn

Angshu (33877) 2007-12-14 0:37

Hello Attila
Had seen some pictures of this place recently, posted by Philip (testmaniac)...but they were from a different POV. The snake like road provides a perfect lead-in & the monastery is well framed by the steep cliffs, with deep striations. A fine shot my friend.
Regards
Angshu

John_F_Kennedy (31671) 2007-12-14 3:45

Very attractive shot. A wonderful landscape with lovely curved road. Great composition.
Best wishes,
Achim

ocskaymarci (2508) 2007-12-14 8:51

Szia Attila!
Szóval a dunántúli sorozat után tovább festegeted a térképedet!! :D
Húúú, nagggyon impozáns! Hát tényleg nem semmi: a hely is meg a fotód is!
Nagyszerű kontraszt és kompozíció, kiváló élesség!
A színek egy kicsit fakóak az én ízlésemnek és itt is hiányolom a megszokott keretet! :)
Üdv,
Marci

[workshop] [compare] +

paura (38742) 2007-12-14 17:42

Attila,
Incrível esse lugar. Sua foto ficou excelente para nos mostrar toda essa maravilha. Realmente boa.

Abraço

Paulo

smash2707 (2516) 2007-12-14 19:06

Great point of view of this impressive place. I like the way you included the winding road. Regards, Yvonne

sothy81 (8536) 2007-12-14 19:36

Havent been to your gallery for such a long time. Here you got a really nice one with this great architecture. Well done. Sothy

Didi (36266) 2007-12-15 1:10

Hi Attila
Very good point of view on this rocky architecture.
Very good quality of scan.
Greetings.

turkamerikali (4772) 2007-12-15 9:59

Hello Attila,
3D looking photo from Meteora my friend.
Great pov,dof,colors,focus,sharpness,note and framing.Well Done.TFS
Tolga

josepmarin (33861) 2007-12-15 11:00

Hi Attila,
Beautiful image of these monasteries between Meteora's fantastic rocks, perfectly integrated to the landscape.
Good setting and good vertical format, which gives more depth to the image.
The scanned one of the original photo has remained perfect, with a great quality of image.
Great work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

anes_lc (14768) 2007-12-15 11:01

i visit the place...and i must confess i felt in love with :)
great composition,a beautiful frame
best regards,anes

pablominto (40958) 2007-12-16 0:32

Hello Attila,
It is always fascinating when people pick the worst possible places to build their houses... But the result is often impressive!
Monasteries and castles, around the globe, seems like they all are attracted to places like this, probably for defence reasons...
This si a fine composition, attractive colours and sharp fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Henryk_Bilor (20367) 2007-12-16 5:27

Hi Attila
Amazing monastery excellently built on the rocks. Also very good photo with great light and composition.
Regards

saylan-cb (12726) 2007-12-16 10:33

Hi Attila
İt is fantastic shot!A very good composition and great colours.
Nice POV here,excellent work.
TFS/Regards

gurselerdener (972) 2007-12-20 12:30

Hello Attila
Meteora, wonderfull and very nice place.
Composition, contrast, colours and sunlight are excellent in this photo.
Congratulations
Best wishes from Ankara
Gursel

Buin (37952) 2007-12-21 9:35

Hallo Attila!
The others have said all - but your photo truly deserves another two points - here they are! ;-)
An incredible and most interesting view shown in a not everyday's photo!
I wish you a Merry Christmas and some calm and a bit contemplative days!
Frank

vinicio (22416) 2007-12-23 14:49

Una compenetrazione veramente bella e piacevole, viste come questa sono un piacere a vedersi, bravo Attila complimenti.
Ancora auguri di buone feste.
Ciao
Vinicio

Gerrit (35937) 2007-12-24 3:47

Hi Attila,
great view on this fantastic situated complex. The inclusion of the winding road nakes the difference,
Merry Christmas,
Gerrit

devimeuxbe (56012) 2007-12-24 4:13

Hi Attila
beautifull picture on this famous place. The vertical frame is excellent. I like the light and colors.
Well done
Bertrand

rbcy1974 (20744) 2008-01-16 23:27

Hello Attila:
Very great capture,
the textures are very nicely shown and the road provides a nice point of reference for the eye,
Well done
Regards
Daniel

jaywalker (12204) 2008-01-22 13:12

Hi Attila, A superbly composed photo, I love the snaking road as it weaves through the shot, the light is wonderful & emphasizes the texture in the rocks brilliantly, soft colours &, simple but unusual architecture, kind regards Wilson.

knowdebu (958) 2008-01-23 9:18

Attila,
Spectacular! Makes me feel very tiny.
regards
Debabrata

banyanman (7716) 2008-01-28 15:18

An amazing place, Attila, which you have turned into an excellent composition from a well chosen POV. I like how the windong road leads the eye up to the buildings. The image is lacking a little punch in technical quality, but then I note that this is a scan. Cheers . . . David

mbasil (2117) 2008-11-24 18:55

Nicely composed. The long lens brings just the right feel to this.
Mike