Cascais contrasts, a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

Another shot from Cascais beach – this one taken a few minutes after the one I posted a couple of days ago, and from a POV to the right of from where I took the other photograph, and looking directly across to the marina. (In my other photograph you can see the start of the marina in the top left hand corner).

The wooden poles stuck in the sand are for the sun shades that the beach workers were just starting to erect when I got there at 8.00 am. What attracted me to this composition was the way in which the masts of the yachts seemed to complement the poles in the sand (or vice versa).

Ricardo Lopes (riclopes) mentioned in his critique to my other photograph that this beach will be so crowded with sunbathers within a few hours, that you will hardly be able to see the sand for people. I think this image has more impact without the people, and anyway later in the day the light would not have been as good as this. I did no post-processing to this photograph apart from sharpening – the deep blue colour and contrast is due to the polarising filter.

As I was shooting this from the top of the beach, and the sand falls away at a sharper angle just in front of the sun loungers, you can’t actually see the shoreline from this POV – hence the sharply defined line between the sand and the ocean.

The small port of Cascais is home to both luxury yachts and working fishing boats, and the wealthy yachtsmen and local fisherman “live there in harmony” (or so I was told). I could see where the yachtsmen were living (multi-million dollar beachfront mansions and apartments) but I couldn’t see where the fishermen were living. Maybe the yachtsmen rent out rooms in their mansions to the fishermen?

I shot a few versions of this – some with a narrow DOF focusing on either the marina or the wooden poles in the foreground, and some with a deep DOF, and some in between. I liked this one the best with the deepest DOF from using a very narrow aperture (f22). This meant I had to use a slow shutter speed (1/30th) and it was handheld, but I think I have managed to maintain reasonable sharpness.

elmec, Voltri, AiresSantos, riclopes, macondo heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

elmec (12210) 2006-07-12 15:02

Hello David!
I like peacefull atmosphete in this place at this time. A few hours later there will be so noise ...
Veru good composed details on the beach and the arbour in the back.
Best regards!

Voltri (1777) 2006-07-12 15:58

David, great shot!
It's intersting that you found a theme for a photo here, at this marina.
While visiting Cascais two weeks ago, I spend most of the time in a narroy bay, with a palace and a lighthouse around (if you walk from the military fortress in direction to the ocean).
Your tests with different aperture were useful - the photo looks very deep, with a nice contrast between the front and the background.

chanjits (4460) 2006-07-14 11:06

marvelous picture with great depth of field marvelous combination of golden sand and dark blue water protuding poles gives it splendid look

AiresSantos (56155) 2006-07-20 3:29

Hi David,
Great photo with an excellent contrast between the woods and the boats' mast. Very good pov and colors.
Thanks for sharing and greetings,
Aires

riclopes (35577) 2006-07-22 3:50

Olá David,
As usual a big interesting note, very well written. Thanks for mentioning me there. I agree with you: the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the image, was the interplay bettween the vertical lines in FG with the others in BG. The graphic result is quite interesting. This is the best hour for photographing and the lighting and shades on the sand is very beautiful. Besides, as you said, the absence of the crowd is much better, although it could be interesting to cacth a beach worker...The composition is very good and the colors of the sea are attractive. Good work.
Have a nice weekend,
Ricardo
p.s.- I think I have something from this beach as well and may be I'll check if there's anything that worse a post.

siolaw (38294) 2006-07-23 5:57

Hi David,
Nice compo with poles and masts matching... strong colors and nice sharpness
Well done
Laurent

macondo (20449) 2006-08-04 2:10

Hi David. Just the sort of shot I like to take myself - lots of masts and a jetty. Heavily polarised shot that is very effective in its lighting. I like the patterns of poles and beach furniture on the beach, as well as the tracks and footprints in the sand. Perhaps I would have got down a fraction lower to take the shot, pushing the poles up a little into the area of the masts. Interesting notes, thanks!
Regards,
Andrew

oochappan (4880) 2006-08-06 19:05

Hi David
well seen this repetition of the wooden sticks in the foreground to the masts of the boats. Strong filter contrast of the sand to the blue sea and sky, well done.
Henk

dHitman (0) 2008-08-27 17:54

Hi David,
Love the composition and the way the vertical lines in the foreground matches the background. Beautiful colors and contrast and the f22 certainly bring everything into sharp focus. TFS!