The beauty of the night, a photo from Ragusa, Sicily

Photographer's Note

‘Ragusa Ibla - The beauty of the night’

Despite the fact that my camera isn’t really suitable for it and that my shooting skills are very limited, I have always loved evening and night photography. I should mention here that I’ve also always enjoyed to be a tourist until long after sunset.

To compensate this, you won’t find that many sunrises in my gallery (if you already would find one) :)

Honestly, I find certain cities especially beautiful at night. I’ve even visited some places that looked much prettier at night than at daytime … but obviously this isn’t the intention of travelling.

What I also find very special is arriving at night in a country that I haven’t visited before. For practical reasons I try to avoid this and by aging, the practical reasons seem to take over … But sometimes you have little choice regarding flight times.

In the past I have arrived a few times in a new country after sunset and I remember that those unfamiliar places looked like a fairy tale with the artificial light and the moonlight. But perhaps it was just the excitement of a new journey that had begun :)

So I also had to post a night shot (rather an evening shot) of Ragusa Ibla.
You see here the Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio (Church of the Holy Souls of the Purgatory).
I don’t think there’s one church in my country with that name. From where our lack of imagination?

You will find the same church in the workshop on another photo taken at daytime.
For the enthusiasts among you, I think I may place that one under the title ‘daily life-picture’. Although perhaps the category is rather 'once in a lifetime’.

lousat, holmertz, jean113, papagolf21, ikeharel, alvaraalto, jhm, gervaso, ChrisJ, ktanska, adramad, Cricri, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, adores heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (0) 2016-06-14 12:47

Hello Paul, my neighbour !
Very nice nocturnal capture from Ragusa taken with perfect light management.
Very good sharpness allthough been taken under hadr light condistions.
Nice framing and many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and best regars
MESUT ILGIM

holmertz (103710) 2016-06-14 12:58

Hello Paul,
This is a very good photo. It's a slightly different night-time shot because it's beyond the famous blue hour and the view is not reduced to dark silhouettes between very dominant small sources of light. Most details are clearly seen but the darkness makes it more exciting to take a close look at the buildings and the small stretches of streets that are seen. The diagonal composition may be an inevitable result of the place you found but it does make the view more attractive. The WS is a nice photo too but a lot more conventional. I recognize your fascination at arriving late at night in a new country. Just stepping out of the plane and feel the usually much warmer air and the different smells in the darkness is fantastic.
Kind regards,
Gert

jean113 (28325) 2016-06-14 13:36

Hello Paul, the high point of view works so well for this shot; looking down on such a variety of buildings with the street lights highlighting certain parts.
The dark surroundings are very effective, plus the dark frame, in emphasising that it is night-time.
Very good depth of field even with the limited light.
Regards Jean.

carlo62 (81265) 2016-06-14 13:47

Ciao Paul
altre belle foto dall'antica Ragusa, questa ha l'atmosfera accattivante, simpatica la foto con il matrimonio e molto bello il particolare delle facciate.
Un ottimo lavoro complessivo.
Saluti
Carlo

GyurMaster (25055) 2016-06-14 13:47

Dear Paul,

I wouldn't recognize the weakness of your gear, mainly at this size. What I want to say with this is that even you don't have an expensive gear you managed to create a beautiful image. This type of photo doesn't necessarily needs expensive camera, a stable tripod is more important. Even compact cameras can produce nice images if you use them on the lowest iso setting. The most important factor is the skill of the photographer, however, and you don't have to be shy! :)

Thanks for sharing this!
Best Wishes,
Gy.

papagolf21 (152607) 2016-06-14 14:26

Bonsoir, cher Paul,
Photographier de plein jour n'est déjà pas chose aisée, mais là, cette photo nocturne est de toute beauté.
L'ambiance est superbe.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jemaflor (148334) 2016-06-14 23:18

Salut Paul,
C'est superbe cette vue avec en point fort cette façade d'église et le bel effetde ces lumières. Il y avait encore suffisemment de lumière du jour pour bien voir les constructions et les teintes des murs, très réussi.

ikeharel (114715) 2016-06-15 0:59

Exquisite photo at dusk, Paul, and very good view through the labyrinth built town.
Houses and narrow alleys shown magnificently, part of those are already lit, while other's white walls shine in the shaded parts.
Excellent outcome, depending more of the photographer - not the camera (well, most times...).
Have a nice new day,
Ike

alvaraalto (42868) 2016-06-15 1:12

Dag Paul,
Ik deel je liefde voor de nachtfoto en ben ook zelden tevreden met het resultaat. Moderne camera’s kunnen veel, maar je moet voor een echt super resultaat toch ook een driepoot meenemen en veel geduld.
Maar op deze prachtige foto mag je zeker trots zijn.
Groet Rob

jhm (211738) 2016-06-15 3:44

Dag Paul,

Ik heb u een email gezonden aangaande de foto van Brussel van mij, ik hoop dat u deze heeft ontvangen.
Uw tweede foto met het huwelijk voor de kerk ingang is voor mij de mooiste, maar dit is subjectief.
De hoofd foto is zeker ook mooi en laat de zelfde kerk zien maar dan als nacht foto.
Ik lees van uw fototoestel, pas op Paul, dit zijn heel goede toestellen, want u kan daar verbazing mooi werk mee maken, ik heb er een gehad, maar moeten terug geven aan Canon.
Ik hou van uw werk want het is de moeite om te kijken.
Bedankt.

Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John.

gervaso (28437) 2016-06-15 4:20

Hello, Paul!

Very nice panoramic view of this city captured in a great night shot, with perfect light management! Excellent sharpness too! Wonderful composition! Very well done!

Sergiom (117241) 2016-06-15 5:34

Bonjour Paul,

Elle est magnifique cette photo de nuit. Juste assez d'illumination pour faire ressortir les maisons dans la noirceur. Quelque chose de doux. Magnifique point de vue.

Amicalement

Serge

fabianoleite (13575) 2016-06-15 11:09

Wonderful night view, with sharpness in the elements and a good light management. And a wonderful piece of land. Very good work, congratulations!

Tue (93556) 2016-06-15 11:24

Hallo Paul,
De sfeer rond zo'n avondschemering is natuurlijk ook prachtig, ik kan daar 's zomers ook enorm van genieten, zeker wanneer langzaam maar zeker steeds meer lichtjes aan gaan in een stad, zoals hier ook te zien is. De lichtere delen van het stadje steken ook mooi af tegen de donkere achtergrond.
Lars

Silvio1953 (223069) 2016-06-15 12:24

Ciao Paul, fascinating nocturne shoot, great POV, excellent exposure and magic atmposphere, very well dine, my friend, ciao Silvii

federico (6109) 2016-06-15 16:17

hello Paul great catch here, perfect time exposicion and POV
regards
Fred

mkamionka (75217) 2016-06-16 12:01

Hi Paul,
you have achieved quite an extraordinary effect here. I would be able to tell if it is late or early, night or blue hour? The surrounding area seems quite dark which makes the group of buildings to stand out of the picture.
Thanks to a great clarity and sharpness we can appreciate the details of the architecture in particular one attractive church, with quite an unusual name indeed.
The picture has an amazing mood!
Beautiful work!!
M

ChrisJ (172440) 2016-06-17 2:18

Hello Paul,

A superb high pov overlooking these tightly clustered Sicilian houses. Good sharpness and excellent colour and saturation. There is just enough light to give good shadow details. Tfs!

ktanska (45116) 2016-06-18 1:32

Hi Paul,
Good balance between disappearing daylight and those few lamps providing orange toned illumination. Good high viewpoint to the old town that must be a maze of narrow alleys.
Kari

Nicou (193814) 2016-06-18 8:41

Hello

Encore une superbe vue nocturne quelle image quel village et compo grandiose compo et vue superbe image et captage avec ces douce lumière et ce rendu sur la pierre des maisons.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

adramad (73496) 2016-06-18 9:32

Hello Paul.
Wonderful POV, with the highest part of the city, and at night, the electric lighting of the city, allows us to see the cathedral and buildings uptown a photo that has as a touch of mystery.
Very effective colorful, highlighting the details of the image.
Good management of both the brightness and sharpness.
Very well done. I like it.
Enjoy the weekend.
My best wishes for you.
Luis.

Cricri (176) 2016-06-18 10:40

Bonjour Paul
Belle nocturne des plus réussie tant dans le cadrage serré, la netteté , le POV, tout simplement magnifique
belle soirée
cricri

mcmtanyel (69348) 2016-06-18 18:48

Hello Paul,
I like the high POV looking down on the illuminated buildings in town. The front of the church and its steeple are particularly pretty.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (117908) 2016-06-25 1:00

Hello dear Paul Vdv and have a nice time
and a happy new day a nocturne photo is
very difficult indeed and this one
is a real dream beyond our eyes
nice pov nice inspiration
regards
Costantino

jmdias (116601) 2016-10-30 0:50

paul

yes, night time has another special touch. anyway I ever avoid to go away from my hotel while abroad, for safety reasons and because I am very, very tired after walking a lot in the places.
fantastic this nocturn view from a high point. I liked the quality of the image. TFS.

hugs
jorge

adores (46979) 2016-12-27 16:08

Hi Paul!
This is really beautiful, the city and the moment. I like the atmosphere a lot, the moment of the day and the fantastic pov. Great capture!