Methoni Castle by Night, a photo from Messinia, Peloponnesus

Photographer's Note

1 year Trekearth, Thanks to my friend Korkut, who have reminded me this :)

So what should I write in these lines...hmm.. Last year I joined in this great community as an amateur, and I gotta say I didn't expect to find so many interesting people, making me feel a part of the team, helping me on my first steps and sharing their opinion about my work so realistic and fair.

I'm very happy about it, I've made new friends in this community from all over the world, people who share a sensitive part of their selves kindly, without borders or boundaries, serving the creative side of life through photography. I'd like to call those people artists, either amateurs or professionals it doesn't matter. The big picture is that we all share the same passion. I guess if the rest of the world could think "artistic" and be so creative as we are, there wouldn't be such things as problems, but only points of views.

Once again a big thanks to you all, I'm glad to be here to support you like you did.

Today I'm sharing one of my finest works ever. This photograph means a lot to me. It means that photography has no such things as boundaries, but its all about shaping morphing and giving life to it in the appropriate time(Inspiration/Imagination). In other words: CREATING! and if you meet luck around like I did in this scene, then you'll be extra happy, knowing you've took a successful shot, and it doesn't matter if people like it or not. Like I said before there are point of views and each coin has 2 sides, I accept both sides the same.

If you'd like to hear some info about this post, the picture was taken in Methoni/Messinia region/Greece at almost 1:00am despite the surrounded fog, the moonlight eclipse, and the difficulties that dark light provide.

Don't be fooled, the eyes could hardly see around this place. I had to walk lets say 3 stadium fields in the dark, to cross on the other side to take this shot.
Alright I'm stubborn, you'll probably know that already, In fact the whole scene was ideal, I completely ignored all the dangers night offers such snakes where the castle is full of it, or other dangers I don't even want to think about. No light inside this huge castle and I hadn't a flashlight (arghhhhh!) but I'm not afraid of the dark anyway.
There was only one thing in my mind. "GET IT" at all costs!

FINALLY, after my endless walking:
Tripod set, camera set, POV set. It was so dark that my 30 seconds wasn't enough to capture that light up.
Not only I had to use a wide aperture f/4, but I had to boost my ISO to 400, to get a descend shot. Full manual settings and Live view to focus a bit in the brightest area and calculate manually the range since AF was a disaster here. I was surrounded by fog so there was no way to focus automatically.
The sweet sound of the shutter, the excitement, the 30 seconds of patience, and finally the confirmation, I'm happy! Don't forget, PP can make miracles and fill in the blanks.

I' stayed for at least an hour inside the castle taking pictures of the most interesting angles of it. Perhaps I'll present them in the near future after my journey to Western Greece and my posts from there.

Dedicated to you my friends. Love you all!

ls7902, lc4giala, azaf1, bostankorkulugu, stelli, v_vicky, labro33, elendim, Longroute, feather, zmey, josepmarin, Cretense, kpav, danos, Juntas, nikosrio, chrkont, Vames, kdialyna, Hellas, jorgi, vasilpro, dip, mikeo, paromitadey ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

ls7902 (7380) 2008-10-04 21:26

Hello Stelios,
Magical & atmospheric ... a result of your patience and determination. It would be ideal for me if the right side could be made slightly darker ... still a great photo. Happy one year anniversary on TE. Regards. Latiff.

lc4giala (2190) 2008-10-04 23:58

Kalimera Stelio
exairetiki douleia ap'oles tis apopseis,ta therma mou sygharhthria!
..pithanon na einai h pio syntomi kritiki mou pistevontas oti perissotera bla,bla einai perita!
George

azaf1 (15931) 2008-10-04 23:59

Geia sou Stelio
Oneiriko topio me katapliktiko POV. Mou aresoun ta xromata kai to fuzzy look. Ta leme...
Argiris

TopGeo (38220) 2008-10-05 0:49

Καλημέρα Στέλιο!
Ενα έτος καλής παρουσία σου στο ΤΕ! Πόσο γρήγορα περνάει ο καιρός! Ανέτρεξα στην πρώτη σου εικόνα 3/10/'07 την είδαν 768, μία αγαπημένη, 30 πόντους,μυνήματα 18..διέκρινα το πάθος σου από την πρώτη είσοδό σου (εγώ σε'μαθα αργότερα)
Εδώ βλέπω μία ωρίμανση αισθητή!Μην με πιέζεις να επιλέξω? το κρατώ για μένα. Καλή συνέχεια και ευχές για τελειώτατα!
Χαιρετώ σε
Γεώργιος

nasokoun (0) 2008-10-05 0:51

Στέλιο γειά
(θα μπορούσε να ήταν εισαγωγή σε ταινία τρόμου ή σε ιπποτική...),
αγγίζει ένα άλλο επίπεδο,που με χαρά μου βλέπω σε αυτό το χώρο,
πάρα μα πάρα πολύ καλή δουλειά,ένα υπέροχο αποτέλεσμα
και από τις πολύ λίγες φορές που διαβάζω χρήσιμα σχόλια
μπράβο σου
χαιρετώ
Νάσος

athanvas (2369) 2008-10-05 1:37

Apistefta omorfh h foto sou Stelio!katapliktiki douleia exeis kanei edw.
Sygxaritiria!!!BASILIS

greek (7594) 2008-10-05 3:03

kalispera

oneiriki atmosfaira, poly kali synthesi ,γαλαντής

drago (4832) 2008-10-05 3:24

Στελάρα καλησπέρα,πραγματικά χαίρομαι που παρουσιάζεις ένα απ τα αγαπημένα μου κάστρα με τέτοιο μοναδικό τρόπο!Απίστευτη νυχτερινή με απόκοσμο εντυπωσιακό φωτισμό που αν και αρχικά το φως δεξιά χτύπαγε λίγο περίεργα όσο την κοιτάω ξανά τόσο πιο πολύ με καθηλώνει,η πύλη σ άλλη διάσταση άνοιξε..!Και από περιέργεια,είναι φωτισμένο το βράδι τώρα τον Χειμώνα?Καταπληκτική δουλειά ,άξια θαυμασμού!
Παναγιώτης

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-10-05 3:26

this is like a scene from a historical movie... the part that the leading actress having a dream... she meets the prince or the knight she is in love with in this castle to spend hours of passion... she doesnt want to wake up of course...

stelli (3009) 2008-10-05 3:38

WOW!!! It looks like a picture from the Lord of the Rings!!!! Well done! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

kyrneucciu (1390) 2008-10-05 5:04

HI Stelios, Superb!!! which atmosphere, congratulations. JO

v_vicky (1037) 2008-10-05 5:34

Hello Stelio,
ti mageia einai auti?? den mou thimizei katholous ellada auto to topio..perissotero Mesi Gi (LOTR) :)
Nomizo ekeini tin nixta i omixli kai i panselinos gia sena douleuan oste na vgaleis auto to aristourgima!!
Polla sigxaritiria kai sou efxomai polles dimiourgikes xronies/stigmes sto TE.

Filia
Vicky

labro33 (2807) 2008-10-05 5:37

File Stelio,
Ti na po gia afti sou ti lipsi????Ilikrina dyskoli gemati ebnefsi kai armonia apo ton dimiourgo tis....
Agaphmenh ke afth...
Se chereto,
Giorgos

elendim (69) 2008-10-05 9:06

Stelio pragmatika einai mia yperoxh fwtografia!Exeis kanei kataplhktikh doyleia!
Bravo!

Elena!

delkoo (68) 2008-10-05 10:38

hi stelios
If we disregard the watermark the photo is dreamlike with lovely soft tones, something different on TE, artistic and original.
a good presentation for the milestone.

didier

ifanik (21679) 2008-10-05 11:52

Moy thymizei kati thriler h fotografia soy Stelio
Perimenw se ligo na emfanistei o brykolakas pisw apo to kastro
Ekplhktiko skhniko kai aksize to perpathma
Xairetw kai eyxaristw gia allh mia fora gia thn ''epithesh'' stiw fotografies moy
Xairetw
Nikos

Longroute (19600) 2008-10-06 3:04

Hello Stelios!

it looks like the castle of Amlet in Denmark! Surely not Greece...
Jokes apart, you have made a great work. It has a dreamy atmosphere so fashinating. I have no idea how you could manage to obtain such a result with so difficult conditions. I enjoyed also reading your note so interesting and amusing.
One question: what is that circle of white light to the right?
My best compliments,
Donato

stamatis (2565) 2008-10-06 6:27

geia sou File Stelio

magikh atmosfera
poly kallitexnikh fwtografia
.
eimai pathiasmenos me ta enetika kastra ths xwras mas
kai exw na sou pw oti mou aresei para poly o tropos pou apodideis thn sygkekrimh fwto
filika Stamatis

feather (51130) 2008-10-06 6:45

I'm still up to the eyes in PP from my trip, but am glad I popped in to wish you Happy Anniversary. I love reading your notes; they are always so entertaining.
This is a very ethereal image and it makes an excellent anniversary subject. I somehow have never associated Greece with mist so that is a surprise. It almost looks as if it is under water. Excellent result from a difficult photo-session.
Kath

zmey (7335) 2008-10-06 7:24

kalispera stelios!
heh, what a poster here... love the light and what seems almost like northern lights in the background. great mood and fine reward for your risky night trip.

and, of course, GRATULATIOSN on your year here, friend!

regards,
kristaps

Cretense (68709) 2008-10-06 8:30

Geia sou Stelio kai TExronia polla! Elpizo na synexiseis gia polla xronia na mas xarizeis tis exairetikes dimiourgies sou!

Me aftin edo, pragmatika xeperases ton eafto sou! Afto den einai fotografia einai dorean taxidi sto xora ton thrylon kai tou paramythiou!!! I dimiourgikotita sou se syndiasmo me tin texniki sou artiotita, alla kai tin epimoni sou xtypisan "kokkino"! Ta therma mou sygxaritiria!

Iraklis

danos (110407) 2008-10-06 23:14

Στέλιο καλημέρα,
εύχομαι και εγώ όπως τόσοι άλλοι happy anniversary για τον πρώτο χρόνο σου στο ΤΕ,με αυτή την ονειρώδη φωτό που θα την ζήλευαν επαγγελματίες φωτογράφοι,σαν και αυτοί που βγάζουν την σειρά 'Οι άγνωστοι θησαυροί της Ελλάδας',τρομάρα τους.Ατμοσφαιρικό σκηνικό από τα λίγα που βλέπομε στην Νότια Ελλάδα.Έξοχη διαχείρηση του φωτός και φυσικά ξεζούμισμα των δυνατοτήτων της μηχανής σου.Μπράβο.

Σε χαιρετώ,Δάνος

kpav (5031) 2008-10-07 4:53

Γεια σου Στέλιο και συγχαρητήρια για την εξαιρετική παρουσία σου αυτόν τον έναν χρόνο στο ΤΕ. Απίθανη η δουλειά σου εδώ το αποτέλεσμα είναι μαγικό, ονειρικό θα έλεγα. Πολύ ατμοσφαιρική εικόνα σε ταξιδεύει σε άλλες διαστάσεις. Χαιρετώ φίλε,
Κώστας.

Juntas (7960) 2008-10-07 10:00

Hi Stelios. Very nice, it looks out of a fairy tail; the atmosphere is beautiful and colors are vrey nice too. Congratulations on your first anniversary. Paulo

theofanis (750) 2008-10-07 13:59

Καλησπέρα Στέλιο,
Καταπληκτική,επαγγελματική δουλειά!
Λες και έχει βγει από παραμύθι!
Τα πολλά λόγια εδώ περισσεύουν!
hteofanis

sacavem (18620) 2008-10-07 14:29

Olá my friend Stelios,

Congratulations on your first year in TE.Superb compo, POV and misty atmosphere. Very nice photo and great job.
With My compliments,
Filipe

nikosrio (1158) 2008-10-08 11:16

Γεια σου Στέλιο,
απίστευτη δουλειά, δεν χρειάζεται να πώ τίποτα άλλο....
Νίκος.

chrkont (4005) 2008-10-08 15:56

Γεια σου Στέλιο
Στην μικρογραφία δεν δείχνει και τόσο καλή, εδώ όμως βγάζει μια φοβερή ατμόσφαιρα. Πραγματικά, ότι έπρεπε για εορτασμό επετείου. Σου εύχομαι να διατηρήσεις (και να αυξήσεις αν αυτό είναι δυνατό) το πάθος σου και την δημιουργικότητά σου. Όλοι μας απολαμβάνουμε τις φωτογραφίες σου και προσωπικά αρκετές φορές με ξαφνιάζεις (ευχάριστα) με τις πρωτότυπες απόπειρές σου.
Καλή συνέχεια και πάντα επιτυχίες.
Χρήστος

Vames (4356) 2008-10-10 9:21

γεια σου φίλε Στέλιο,μαγική εικόνα μέσα από ένα παραμύθι βγαλμένη !

sothy81 (9646) 2008-10-10 9:35

What's up my friend? Long time no talk with you. I was really busy with school work and teaching. Man, cannot believe that i am away from TE that long.
Now back, and determined to be back ;-)

This one is a great photo. I like the foggy kind of picture. It makes picture romantic, plus mystirious. the architecture is also very nice. Well done.

Sothy

miumiu (6117) 2008-10-10 12:51

Fantastic!!

kdialyna (3148) 2008-10-10 13:25

...και κάπου στο βάθος ο καλός ιππότης με το άγιο φως να τον λούζει, έρχεται να σώσει το κάστρο από του κακούς.
Μια πραγματικά εμπνευσμένη φωτογραφία φίλε Στέλιο, πού το παιχνίδι με το φως την κάνει μοναδική.
Εξαιρετικά, όπως πάντα προσεγμένο "καντράρισμα", δίνει εκτός των άλλων και μια τρισδιάστατη αίσθηση πού σε κάνει να αισθάνεσαι σαν να είσαι μέσα στο τοπίο.
Συγχαρητήρια.
Κώστας
ΥΓ. Είχαμε την συζήτηση σου με την Catherine (CatherineD ) που πέρασε μερικές ημέρες στον Πόρο.

zeynepe (0) 2008-10-11 1:39

Kalimera Stelios,
The combination of the photo and your note makes an unforgettable masterpiece.The castle looks different from each side with your amazing POV.
and the light is really soft and warm..
Congrats and have a nice weekend,
zeynep

dim (3968) 2008-10-11 2:46 [Comment]

Show Comment +

Hellas (7123) 2008-10-12 13:46

Ονειρικό σκηνικό! Η ομίχλη σε συνδυασμό με τα φώτα της πόλης δεξιά και το φως του φεγγαριού δημιούργησαν εξαιρετικές συνθήκες για φωτογράφηση. Ο χειρισμός του φωτός καλός καθώς επίσης και το σημείο λήψης πριν το γεφυράκι, που οδηγεί το μάτι ελεύθερα στις επάλξεις του κάστρου.
Η θέα που δημιουργείται από το ίδιο το κάστρο σε πάει σε άλλη εποχή και σίγουρα δεν φτάνει μια επίσκεψη για να σε γεμίσει.
Ξέρω πόσο χάρηκες που κατάφερες αυτό που ήθελες.
Χάρηκα κι εγώ μαζί σου!

jorgi (3810) 2008-10-14 1:34

Hi Stelios,

it seems that I successfully managed to ignore yours 1 year TE anniversary... Well hopefully you still except congratulations :)
You being away for a while..me being away for a while...I'm still working on paying constant attention to my favourite members galleries...and usually fail to do so. Well seeing you jumping in conversation I had with Nick remind it me to have a peek here. :) I must say that this image is totally different from all others. Firstly I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at, it was clear to me only after reading your note. And this is good actually. Photo that makes you think, photo that rises questions. To me it feels like walking in a sleep...dreaming...dreaming light I'm moving toward. Very strong light...not warm...just strong. Definitely very special photo with very fresh approach and technically flawless for me.

Warm regards,
Jeri

testmaniac (13508) 2008-10-15 23:31

Hello Stelios, really great castle and and great shot! Excellent colors and composition. Superb mystic mood and lights. Great job my friend!

TFS and regards,

Phil

vasilpro (41801) 2008-11-01 11:06

Γεια σου Στέλιο
Καταπληκτική νυχτερινή φωτογραφία και ατμόσφαιρα.
Ωραία συλλογή έχεις.
Φιλικά Βασίλης.

dip (21408) 2008-11-06 3:39

Geia sou Stelio,
fantastiki nuxterini lipsi pou sumpiptei me to kleisimo tou protou xronou sou sto TE,
sigoura mia apo tis fotografies pou ksexorizei apo tin plithora ton pollon metrion foto pou vlepoume sunithos edo mesa,
sou eyxomai oti to kalitero gia to mellon file,
xaireto,
Dimitris.

MayaG (2415) 2008-11-10 1:22

Hi Stelio, how are you?

You are right, this is certainly one of your finest works! The foggy scene is fantastic, you handle difficult light conditions very nicely, I bet many of us would just end up frustrated. A belated happy anniversary!

all the best
Maja

mikeo (12129) 2008-11-14 5:28

Hello Stelios,

Sorry for soooo big delay ...but CONGRATULATIONS:)
You are really a master in creation of your shots...and I really love they way you make notes, always so many useful things may be found there...

And this shot - it's superb!!! Really perfect choice for your anniversary. It's romantic, a little bit scary, mysterious in one...

What else? It's perfect...
Greetings,
Mikeo

paromitadey (623) 2011-01-18 20:32

Hi Stelios,

What a magnificient photo, seems right from the children's fantasy world, as if the Prince will just come out to rescue some Princess lost in the mist and cloud. Lovely misty ambience with beautiful blending of light and shade to create a mystery filled atmosphere. This goes straight to my list of Favs.
Very inspiring photo.
TFS.

Regards,
Paromita

HFASSOURAKIS (4) 2011-02-17 15:32

NO COMMENTS
YOU JUST TRANSFER US TO THAT AGE
BRAVO
THANKS HERCULES