Hog Island's makeover, a photo from New Providence, North

Photographer's Note

Did you know that Paradise Island in the Bahamas – home to the famed Atlantis resort – was once known as Hog Island? That was its name in 1959 when the island was bought by Huntington Hartford, the A&P supermarket heir, to develop into a resort island. I guess he thought that ‘Hog Island’ wouldn’t sound so good in the TV commercials, so changed the name to Paradise Island.

Paradise Island is on the northern side of New Providence, connected to Nassau by two bridges over the harbour. Whether it is your idea of ‘paradise’ is a matter of personal taste. For me it is the last place on earth I’d want to take a vacation. It is a sort of Las Vegas-by-the-sea with its high rise hotels (the Royal Towers block in this picture is only one of them), condominiums, designer shops, casinos (the Royal Towers houses the largest casino in the Caribbean), fake Mayan temple, stretch limos and thousands of day-trippers that pour into the resort off the cruise ships that call into Nassau each day.

Of course, if you like crowded beaches, smoky casinos, queuing up for mass produced buffet meals and screaming kids, then this is just the place for you.

This photograph was taken last Sunday morning from the top of the road bridge over Nassau harbour. I had to wait for nearly an hour to get this shot because the weather was overcast and showery, and there was only the occasional break in the clouds to throw some sunlight onto the resort buildings. I wanted also to get a boat passing through the harbour to provide some foreground interest, but each time a break in the clouds occurred, there was no boat. I was getting damp from the passing showers, and nearly gave up, but eventually my perseverance paid off and there was a break in the clouds, giving me a reasonable amount of light on the buildings, just as a boat was passing.

Paul65, Tue, aloyho, vincz, cyrrhus, riclopes, AiresSantos, danos, capthaddock, plimrn heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Polonaise (5802) 2008-01-27 11:48

A great post (as usual) - before you go to bed - dreaming !!!

Yes, dear David...
That sort of stories are of great interest for everyone (I guess?)
Even if only to just make sure that you have enough of petty money to book yourself into that suite… (:-))))
(You said: Five years waiting list? Piece of cake…! I’ll wait !)
Your photo?
Definitively a longer telephoto would be of a great use in that situation…
Those close ups.. The details… The flavor of ‘the closer to the paradise – the better!
In any case – there is ALWAYS a reason for which you post your babies, and today’s no difference.
And for that alone – my enthusiastic “Thank you, pal! “

Have a great ’08, David !

George
…………………

A bit weird is my comment to your post, David – isn’t it?
For, you see… It’s a revenge (:-)))))

I stayed late night (few days ago) to scribe (very tired already) something with sense, and when I finished – your photo was gone (????)

That’s not what the friends do to each other – is it ?

(:-)))))))))
So, without any changes… My comment to the photo and to your previous note

BTW: It was a good one – as well!

........................

jaywalker (16105) 2008-01-27 12:12

Hi David, A great photo, the composition with the boat nicely positioned in the bottom left is very good, superb colours &, the light is clear & crisp, interesting architecture in the background, overall a super shot, kind regards Wilson.

Tue (92370) 2008-01-27 12:39

Hi David,
A very nice view over the water to the colourful city. I love the blue and greenish tones of the water and the light is enhancing. Excellent inclusion of the boat. Well done!
Regards,
Lars

aloyho (6798) 2008-01-27 18:25

Hi David,
There is a beautiful blend of colours and architecture and together they projected such a lovely sight, not forgetting the well chosen vantage point too. I also like your timing for the crowded cruise ship to be placed just where it should be. The visual impact is brilliant. Great shot!!

Regards and a nice day.

vincz (19113) 2008-01-28 0:47

Very interesting note for this really interesting picture showing what men can do of what was likely once a paradise... Is Las Vegas style vacations what we all need?? Well... Great catch of these incredible constructions, a good documentary shot.

hispic (9658) 2008-01-28 3:03

Interesting contrast between the big hotel and pastel-coloured houses, curious scene.
Intriguing journalistic contribution.
Regards, Hisashi

cyrrhus (2878) 2008-01-28 6:10

Hello DAvid,
Damned... what were you doing there ? This is not the kind of place we are used to see from your side! ... but from the note, I readily understand that we have a common feeling about this. It's good to see that there are such overcrowded places... this leaves us more freedom to discover less trendy places :-)
Though classical and suffering from low light, the global view is not bad at all with the ship in the forefront and a nice group of coloured houses
Regards Eric /.

riclopes (35577) 2008-01-28 7:54

1 hour?!?! You really are a patient photographer, David. Unfortunately, I would never wait more than 10 min. I'm glad you did it, because according to the weather conditions described in the note, this is a very good result and the boat full of tourists is fo sure a nice inclusion. Strange artificial and very expensive place. I would never go there, but I like to know about such freakish places on earth. The small colorful houses are actually nice seen from this distance, but I'm sure my opinion would change if I would get closer.
Cheers,
ricardo

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-01-28 23:44

Hi David
Wonderful view of the Paradise Island in the Bahamas
It's a great place very well captured. Excellent colours and definition.
TFS and greetings
Aires

yso (4146) 2008-01-30 11:31

Hi DAvid,
Very nice compo with the boat ! High color contrast and very sharp. I admire your patience to wait 1h !
REgards,
Yves

danos (110407) 2008-01-31 13:08

Hello David,
nice synthesis with great depth of field.Really this shot is impressive and everyone can see the richness and the extravagance..The razor sharp focus is excellent and i like your composition and choice of POV,as the facade of the Royal Towers block has been captured superbly, wonderful light and brilliant colours, a very well crafted shot.Informative
your note too.

Regards,Danos

capthaddock (28790) 2008-01-31 18:50

I thought Las Vegas was the epitome of kitsch David, but this proves it wrong, I cannot imagine anything more clashing with its surroundings than this structure(s), it does make a mega-interesting photo-op, especially under this light and with the presence of the overloaded excursion boat. No wonder I've never been there. That place is NOT for me.

placombe (7715) 2008-02-08 18:23

Hi David
Great POV, colors and sharpness. The moving boat adds perspective and dynamism to the scene.
Regards from Canada
Pierre Lacombe

PJE (20758) 2008-02-11 5:45

Hello David. Thanks for your insightful comments on Hog/Paradise Island. I would have to agree with you that this is the very last place I would like to spend my holidays too. I prefer nature and wilderness trails instead. At any rate the perseverance you endured certainly paid off. When people look at nice photos they tend to think that this setting is how it always looks. But just let them try to capture a photo like this for themselves. As usual the results will be poor and excuses made. But the determination you showed here paid off and I am glad you mentioned these details. I also was a little disappointed yesterday on Mt Washington because the quality of snow for photography was lacking.

Have a good day David.