Traffic light system, a photo from Madeira, Islands

Photographer's Note

This is my first photo from holidays on Madeira. I have a lot to talk about. At my first photo, I actually wanted to talk not about Madeira but about the Covid-related international travel restriction system in Great Britain. We have currently a so-called traffic light system. Countries are sorted into colours: green, amber and red. British government caused a lot of confusion in the way they introduced it and even now the rules they use are not very clear. Bottom line is on the green list there were originally 12 countries or territories where Brits were allowed to go for holidays. Frankly only one of them really counted, Portugal. Hence, I went for a week of school break to Madeira. Interestingly, towards the end of my stay there, British government changed their mind and Portugal was moved to the list of amber countries, meaning we practically cannot go for holidays from the UK anymore. I managed to return to the country just before the new decision came into force without a need to shorten my holidays. To be honest I felt quite bad going to Portugal in the first place because I really wanted to visit my parents in Poland. Unfortunately, Poland is on the amber list. Even worse, going to Poland I would need to quarantine both on my way there and on the return, in addition to three Covid tests. Going to Portugal I just needed to take altogether three Covid tests without a need to quarantine there or here. For a while yet I decided to postpone my visit to family.

This photo was taken along the harbour promenade in Funchal, the main town of Madeira.

32.645866, -16.902470

PaulVDV, Fis2, macjake, ikeharel, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, ktanska, jean113, adramad, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139170) 2021-06-08 13:18

Ciao Mariusz,you are the first vacationer to return this year, you have opened the doors for a new era after these terrible months. Really disconcerting to read the decisions of the British government that change so quickly, luckily you are back in time, I hope you can also hug your parents as soon as possible. I leave on Saturday but I stay in Italy to avoid problems. Congratulations for the fantastic photo, your blue hours are always winning! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

PaulVDV (62846) 2021-06-08 13:25

Hello Mariusz,

Splendid photo taken during the blue hour.
It shows well how far Funchal stretches over the hills near the ocean.
The lights are beautifully reflected in the water.

I remember not that long ago we were talking about the fact that Portugal in the colour system used in Belgium was not green but orange (you call it amber) while for British travellers Portugal was green.
How could that be so different? The classification in colours is nevertheless based on the contamination figures in the countries concerned.
I heard in the news that very recently the UK has changed the colour of Portugal. I doubt if the first assignment was done correctly. The contamination figures of a certain country cannot be interpreted differently in the UK than in Belgium ...
There are several European countries on that map who have regions that are presented with the green colour while other parts of those countries are orange or even red.
But if I'm not mistaken, there is only one European country that is completely green and that is Iceland (not exactly the most budget-friendly country).
Personally, I think it is still too early to travel abroad for the time being. But the situation is improving in many European countries.
On the other hand, I fear that travelling in the summer months will increase the spread of all kinds of COVID variants again.

I understand that you would like to visit your parents in Poland, but I think it is best to wait and see how the situation evolves.
Going into quarantine twice becomes impossible, I think. Especially for people who work or study.
Even I, who's retired, don't think that's realistic.
Let alone the risk of being infected abroad.

For the time being, it is looking forward that vaccinations will progress smoothly in all countries. In Belgium this is currently going quite well.

Best regards, Paul

Tue (92302) 2021-06-08 13:37

Hello Mariusz,
There was quite some confusion about these traffic light decisions, but I am glad you managed to finish your holiday. Hopefully, I'll be able to go abroad as well again soon. A beautiful photo of the city against the hills. The many small lights look great and are reflected wonderfully. Great contrast between the golden and blue tones.
Lars

Fis2 (170639) 2021-06-08 14:01

Czesc Mariusz!
A jednak Cie ponioslo nie mozesz usiedziec na d..ie ;)
Fajny balagan przezyles z tymi przepisami.
Ale coz na to nie masz wplywu.
A co do zdjecia t jest bardzo fajne.
Super widok, kolorki i swiatlo.
Jest klimacik.
Mysle, ze wypad sie udal?
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

macjake (98402) 2021-06-08 21:35

Hi Mariusz
I agree with Paul, I still would be very hesitant to travel, even though I really want to. I have both of my vaccinations, my wife has 1 of hers. And where to travel? I don't know, that's another issue. But i'm glad you were able to get out and explore, too bad you were unable to visit family however.
smart use of the concrete in the fg, it creates a surprising subject that is very cool. love all the lights in the bg. the depth here is amazing. what were the camera settings?
cheers
Craig

Silvio1953 (221463) 2021-06-08 21:46

Ciao Mariusz, fascinating blue hour with fantastic reflections, superb exposure, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ikeharel (113241) 2021-06-08 22:41

Now I know where you had "dissapperaed" for few days, Mariusz, must say an attractive destination chosen for a holiday.
Blue hour par-excellence photojob, you favorit subject, so no wonder you elected this picture as forst post from Funcjal.
Fabulous outcome, cheers,
Ike

COSTANTINO (116377) 2021-06-08 22:52

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy evening
wow!!!!what a beautiful photo
with thousand of fantastic
lights shining during the blue hour
like diamonds with a great value...
greetings for this presentation
regards
Costantino

ifege (47957) 2021-06-08 22:56

Hi Mariusz
At least you can go to a few places - our only international destination allowed is New Zealand.
Yet another great blue hour photo with good wide lines of colour across the water.
cheers
Ian

pajaran (115779) 2021-06-09 3:07

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep deo grada u noci, dobro pokazan sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Lep refleks na vodi i opasni oblaci koji dolaze i najavljuju promenu vremena.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.

Zewlim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

ChrisJ (171794) 2021-06-09 3:09

Hello Mariusz,

Portugal must be doing something right if they are on the UK green list. A spectacular blue hour shot with fantastic reflections & good sharpness. Good warm cold colour contrasts. Tfs!

kasianowak (17676) 2021-06-09 3:09

Czesc Mariusz
Zdjecie przepiekne. Juz sam widok miasta o zmierzchu jest cudowny, ale do tego jeszcze odbicia w wodzie i ten pierwszy plan, ktory wyglada jakby odzwierciedlal kolor nieba.
Jakbys sie jednak zdecydowal na Polske - z kwarantanny zwalnia test zrobiony na lotnisku, ktory kosztuje 200 zlotych, a na wyniki czeka sie 15 minut. Gorzej po powrocie tutaj. Kwarantanne ulatwia mi praca z domu i ogrodek, a ceny testow po powrocie spadly o £50 (wciaz jednak sa bardzo wysokie).
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

GyurMaster (24818) 2021-06-09 5:16

Hello Mariusz,

Its some terrific nocturne with magnificent lights and colours.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

Royaldevon (85862) 2021-06-09 7:19

Hello Mariusz,

This is a really beautiful photograph from your holiday. I love how you have used the rocky cylinders in the f/g for such a strong, dramatic effect, before we see the stretched, light reflections across the water, and lastly, the polka dot, light colours scattered across the hillside.
It's really beautiful.

With regard to Covid, for me, it is still a little early to risk international travel. Conditions change rapidly and I would hate to think how easily we could spread the virus. Our daughter had planned to visit Spain but, it never happened and in some ways she is resigned to the situation. She has booked a holiday in the U.K., as has our son; one has booked Cornwall, the other, Northumberland. They are both visiting places to which they have never been before, so will be learning about lovely places in their own country. Maybe they will be surprised!

Take care,
Bev :-)

jmdias (115046) 2021-06-09 9:10

mariusz

nice you choose to know madeira island. it is one of the most beautiful places I know, and I knew many. excellent this nocturne shot with the blues and the golden urban lights. very beautiful colors here.
I knew about the chaos in portuguese airports after the UK decision. to prevent such things I want to travel inside brazil in my next holidays. I was vaccinated today.

take care

jorge

ktanska (44714) 2021-06-09 10:01

Hi Mariuz,
Light is just magical here. Lights of the city look so good on water reflections. And clouds give nice variation to blue hour sky. Those breakwater blocks bring ice to my mind.
Kari

jean113 (27819) 2021-06-11 9:13

Hello Mariusz, a beautiful 'blue hour' picture.
I like the composition with the concrete blocks in the foreground. Everything is in sharp focus.
The reflected light on the water is quite special.
I was curious about the title; an interesting note.
Kind regards, Jean.

adramad (72934) 2021-06-15 11:54

Hi Mariusz.
Magnificent this night view of Funchal, beautiful reflections of the lights in the water, the city extends climbing the hills towards the peaks, the streets become a puzzle of incredible slopes, which make driving enormously difficult for tourists who do not know the way. town.
Very good color that makes the composition more attractive.
Well managed brightness and sharpness, to enjoy the details.
Well seen and done. I like.
Have a nice day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

worldcitizen (16048) 2021-06-15 13:24

Hello Mariusz,
What a beautiful night shot! The foreground is a bit gritty, and then the view of the city across the harbor is wonderful. All the twinkling lights really catch my eye, and I like the reflections in the silky water, too. The clouds created very interesting textures in the sky, and the blue color is very pretty. Take care!

mcmtanyel (68383) 2021-07-04 21:34

Hello Mariusz,
This is a beautiful nocturnal photo - good light management.
I am not sure what the travel restriction categories of the US are. I just looked it up: 1) Exercise normal precautions, 2) Exercise increased caution, 3) Reconsider travel 4) Do not travel. I am pretty sure Turkey was level 4 when we traveled there, it has now been upgraded to level 3. But when we were departing, nobody tried to stop us from flying to Turkey and for arrival, everyone had to get COVID tests, anyway. So I don't see what those categories mean, I guess they are just suggestions.
Regards,
MT