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Nature Art

by Helio Cristovao

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 8, 2010232 views20 comments
Here is something different...

Image made in August in the Southwest Vincentine Coast Natural Park, Algarve, Portugal. This is a wild bay known as the "Ouriçais", scientifically remarkable coastline due to different geological eras rocks formations. It´s the western coast before the headland of Cape St. Vincent.

In this intimate rendition you won´t have the perception of the cliffs nearby, but they´re very high and steep. My only access was with the aid of huge ropes the fishermen left there along the years. I had to climb through the cliffs at dozens of meters above the ground. Thats the tough part, and I had the aid of an experienced fisherman from a town nearby, that in the first place detected where the ropes were located! I couldn´t believe when I got down there on the sea level, it´s beyond words for me. This bay has the most incredible shore, grottoes formations, exquisite colors, seastacks, it´s another world within St. Vincent cape surroundings. I got down there I came back alive. I´m very grateful for being in that ground, I believe few people have touched. And I want to come back though.

For this sot I used Nikon D300, tripod, polarizer and a 12-24 Nikkor lens. Processing made on Capture NX2 and web release on Photoshop.

I´ve included a larger, 800pixel version
Thanks for all feedback.

Comments

20 comments
Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on October 8, 2010 at 9:55 AM
From the thumbnail, I thought this just couldn't work, but up close with the black border it is really good. The contrasting lighter veins pop so much more on the black and the delicate magenta and green colors come through better. A pleasant surprise Helio.

Mel-
Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments
Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 8, 2010 at 11:03 AM
I can do nothing but repeat what Mel already said, a very pleasant surprise! :toast:
Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 8, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Oh, this is lovely Helio! I love everything about it - shapes, lines, muted colors, everything! Great eye to see this and compose it so successfully.
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Kent Mearig on October 8, 2010 at 11:32 AM
There's an interesting mix of colors that are each not particularly attractive in their own right, but they come together harmoniously. The composition works, but I think it would be improved without the horizontal(ish) stripe in the top left of the image. The limpets are great for adding a sense of place.
Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on October 8, 2010 at 12:03 PM
That is awesome. Really striking shot.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 8, 2010 at 12:28 PM
This is excellent, Hélio. Very 3D look to this with the "veins" popping right off the page.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on October 8, 2010 at 1:10 PM
Masterfully done and you show great devotion for the art of photography. Congrats for that and for the image!
Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments
Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on October 8, 2010 at 1:53 PM
thank you all for comments thus far.
Dorin: really appreciate your words, I kind of feel that devotion also... :wink:
Regards
Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 8, 2010 at 2:01 PM
One of the more interesting abstracts i have seen recently! :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 8, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Well seen and captured.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 8, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Very cool Helio.
The veins almost look like vines from a tree. It has a very intimate feel and I think you succeeded in your approach.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Pederson on October 8, 2010 at 6:39 PM
Excellent!!
Registered on August 12, 2010, 29 Posts, 108 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Pelzmann on October 8, 2010 at 8:35 PM
A very interesting set of filled fractures. You captured them well.
I agree with Kent's crop suggestion.

Did you experiment with other compositions where the main fracture sets were on a diagonal?
Registered on January 26, 2005, 27 Posts, 265 Comments
Comment posted by Eric Good on October 8, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Nice patterns and colors. It has an almost industrial like quality to it with that color palette. Well seen and captured!
Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 8, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Gorgeous pattern and textures Helio. The contrasts providing a 3D look are really remarkable. Superb work.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce King on October 9, 2010 at 1:12 AM
Good eye Helio. Very interesting patterns, lines, textures and tones. It's all there and I will revisit later to find the subtle details I missed the first time. Excellent!
Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on October 9, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Well seen and really nicely composed. The subtle colors are really pleasing
Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on October 9, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Fantastic abstract! It almost looks like some monsters skin - the texture is phenomenal.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 10, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Absolutely amazing Hélio! One of the best images of this kind I have seen. Lines and colors are excellent.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on October 11, 2010 at 6:23 AM
Thanks for the input folks, I´m glad for the positive feedback regarding this work.
Kent and Bill, about the crop suggestion, I gave a look at it, but I´m not convinced, great part of information on the upper portion below the horizontal line would be lost, though I found that top "vein" an important part of the comp. Anyway, suggestions are always welcome :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments