Postcard from Funchal, a photo from Madeira, Islands

Photographer's Note

I usually neglect blue hour photos on family holidays because going for a blue hour session during holidays means leaving family behind and loosing precious time together. But my daughter is getting older now and also since we had quite a bad weather on Madeira, I was pushed to reconsider whether I could at least take some more blue hour photos.
As you already know I am a big fan of postcards. Before I visit a place I look for optimal postcard places. I didn't research blue hour locations in Funchal that much in advance and using maps on the phone or tables is not the same as on the computer. There are several viewpoints over Funchal which offer stunning views over the town but they are quite distant and have nothing characteristic to catch the eye, just a sea of lights. One postcard from Funchal I have seen in many variations: a relatively modern white church set against the town panorama. I managed to identify that church as Igreja de São Gonçalo. I found also a nice viewpoint nearby, Miradouro das Neves, very popular among tourists. But after researching it more I knew it will be too far from the church and the view will appear relatively boring on a photo. I decided to go there first and either walk from that point or drive around looking for a better spot. Indeed, Miradouro das Neves was quite disappointing. The view was breath taking but it was just a sea of lights next to the sea, nothing characteristic to catch the eye. In addition to it, there were a lot of wires and cables which were quite terribly obstructing the view. I walked around a lot but I could not find a clean spot. Then I smiled because I noticed a guy with a tripod arriving with his girlfriend. He said he tries to find a nice POV for the second night in a row and he cannot. I recognized a heavy German accent. And I remembered when I was young and my wife followed me to blue hour sessions as well. In fact two evenings before, my family went with me to another blue hour spot but going to a second one was too much to ask. The blue hour was there and the German guy decided to stay and take photos with the wires, I decided to drive around a bit more. The satnav took me through very narrow and very steep roads, which reminded me San Francisco but felt more scary being that narrow and dark. I stopped in few places along smaller roads. The area felt quite dodgy. Even though a taxi driver told me that the famous footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born in Funchal, has bought two houses in this area. Wherever I stopped there was a party and drunk people making noise. This didn't seem very safe. Eventually, I arrived in the spot, which you see in this photo. Sadly, I drove too much down so the panorama of Funchal is only partially visible here. The blue hour was largely gone, the sky was too dark for my taste. Nevertheless, here you are: a postcard from Funchal, from a POV I have never seen before. In the workshop I will upload a wider view with more sea visible. I was not entirely sure how to cut it.
By the way, I see TrekEarth reaches a new low level of activity. Maybe people just left for holidays?

32.649604, -16.878989

PaulVDV, ikeharel, Fis2, dedee, ChrisJ, lucasgalodoido, macjake, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, ktanska, Royaldevon, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (62846) 2021-06-17 2:16

Hello Mariusz,
Both offer very fine panoramas with an attractive evening atmosphere.
I have a little preference for the photo in the WS. It shows a larger part of the ocean. But actually it is the white church and the hill to the right behind it with its many white buildings on the slope that attract the attention.
Beautiful pink band in between the blue clouds and different lights in star shape.
I don't think I've already seen pictures taken on this point of view.
Do you know when the height of low level of activity on this site will be reached? When you only see your own newly uploaded photos appear day after day and no one is commenting anymore :) A nightmare for the TE fan!
Best regards, Paul

[2]

ikeharel (113241) 2021-06-17 2:21

Hello Mariusz,
This is what you call a bad weather? it was a magnificent moment with the clouds above the illuminated town built on slopes, made the combined sea and sky, houses with lights so beautiful picture.
Your fingerprint theme, cheers,
Ike

Fis2 (170639) 2021-06-17 2:26

Witaj Mariusz!
Wspanialy widok noca.
Kolorystyka i swiatla robia wrazenie.
Podoba mi sie kosciol.
Pocztowka z klimatem.
Dobra robota.
Milego dnia.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (221463) 2021-06-17 2:46

Ciao Mariusz, fascinating nocturne shoot, excellent exposure, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

dedee (3029) 2021-06-17 3:13

Hi Mariusz
The colours of the sky are quite lovely.I like the way you captured the cross of the church in the pale part of the sky. Buildings of the city well illuminated and lit.
David

vjmite (6586) 2021-06-17 4:04

Hi Mariusz,

All your driving around paid off with this wonderful photo. The golden colour of the town matches the golden sky between the clouds, and contrasts with the blue of the sea. The church makes a nice focus to anchor the composition. Excellent work.

Vince

ChrisJ (171794) 2021-06-17 4:14

Hello Mariusz,

A terrific sunset from Madeira with a spectacular elevated vantage point. Good sharpness and wonderful warm cold colour contrasts. Tfs!

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2021-06-17 4:46

HI Mariusz,
nice view of funchal, with good light colors and sky fomrations. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

Tue (92302) 2021-06-17 11:33

Hello Mariusz,
An amazing view of the city near the water and on the hills. The many lights look great with many fine golden tones. Also the church tower, which its more silvery colours stands out well. The sky is attractive with clouds and some warm, pastel tones.
Lars

kasianowak (17676) 2021-06-17 14:23

Czesc Mariusz
Moze to nie blue hour, ale kolory sa bardzo ladne i niebo wcale nie za ciemne. Nawet pasuje odcieniem do oswietlonych budykow, a kosciol, z ta zielonkawa poswiata, wyraznie odcina sie od calosci. Dobrze, ze nie zrezygnowales, tylko wytrwale szukales idealnego widoku.
Niestety, im wiecej ludzi odchodzi, tym bardziej pozostali nudza sie TrekEarth. :-(
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

macjake (98402) 2021-06-17 15:19

Hi Mariusz
man...your last 2 posts are just fantastic examples of photography. Love it. the WS is great too, and I get your delima as to which to post. wonderful story to go along with this post, your hard work has certainly paid off big time. lovely blue and orange tones, lovely light and clarity...beautiful. as for TE, well...it's going away like the dinosaurs i guess. But some of us will remain. cheers
Craig

pajaran (115779) 2021-06-17 18:24

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep deo grada i arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perpsktivom i uhvacenim trenutakom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Lepa fotografija panorama u radionici.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

COSTANTINO (116377) 2021-06-17 22:01

hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy week end
excellent golden capture!!!!
this is a difficult phototaken during the
blue hour almost perfectly...
I like your thoughts as following...
I usually neglect blue hour photos
on family holidays...
you did your best
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147018) 2021-06-17 23:22

Hi Mariusz,
So lovely night shot perfectly managed, great photo result, composition well balanced, good light capture, I like the white church as focal point of view and the horizon with this pink tone for the sky, bravo !

jmdias (115046) 2021-06-18 9:49

mariusz

if I am not wrong our hotel is hidden by the tower of the church, the hotel has a new owner I can't find it. I remember the structure that is visible in the sea. excellent image with the blues of the sky and the golden light and details of the architecture.

take care

jorge

ktanska (44714) 2021-06-18 11:40

Hi Mariusz,
This has just fantastic mix of colours. Pink and purple in the sky. Green and yellow tones of different kinds of illumination. And perfectly chosen viewpoint showing the city with all the lights but without crowds.
Kari

Royaldevon (85862) 2021-06-21 6:15

Hello Mariusz,

Both shots are very pleasing images of the town but, I think this is slightly sharper, as well as for the reasons that you note.
From the colours, the atmosphere is so warm, almost like you would see in a Disney film!
I like how the white church is so well placed and stands out as a strong focal point.
The sky is amazing! Who would think of making a sky that colour!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

lousat (139170) 2021-06-22 13:22

Hi Mariusz,direct in my favorites,this is a wonderful show from Funchal, what a moment, what a view and what a quality,very very well done!!!!!!!!! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

mcmtanyel (68383) 2021-07-10 19:31

Hello Mariusz,
This is a lovely postcard, a beautiful blue hour (or should we call it the magenta hour?) photo. Good light management, vivid colors.
Regards,
MT