Before I left for Greece, I mentioned that I wanted to photograph white, white buildings with blue, blue sea. I think maybe I was wrong, I wanted to photograph white, white buildings with blue, blue windows and doors and domes. These colors are everywhere in on Santorini and I loved them! The residents must spend a lot of time painting, judging from the perfect conditions of many buildings as well as the number of paint stores along the road. In the mile (1.6km) between where we stayed in Finikia and the small community of Ia (also spelled Oia) on the tip of the island, there were at least three paint stores alone.
As always, I love to wander the back streets (back stairways in the case of Ia) and make a place my own through my photographs. A photograph is a of a place, but it has me in it too. How I saw it and chose to capture it, my mood on that day, the light I found - all play in to the final image I end up sharing with you here.
While navigating the maze-like stairways to get out to a certain point I saw in the distance, I came around a corner and saw this scene below:
This is the scene found in quite a few postcards. Just imagine it with a slightly wider angle to get in more sea on the left and some beautiful sunset light. I obviously didn't have those same conditions for my image, but it's always fun to recognize these "postcard shots" as I wander around. I like to figure out where and how the photographers captured them when I can, it's a fun way to learn more about creating beautiful images.
I waited for the sun to come out for a while, it was coming and going all day. I sat on the steps gazing on this scene and listened to the sounds of people talking and clinking dishes in the distant restaurants. The sun never peeked out this time. Instead I continued on down the steps and kept studying the church with my camera as I approached. Trying angles and compositions, deciding what it was I really wanted to show. Finally, changing it from the generic postcard shot and making it my own.
My little piece of Ia, shared with you today.
Beautiful Miss K!
ReplyDeleteI love the moodiness of the sea and the sky in contrast to the bright whites - makes the picture. I think I like this contrast more than if everything was in sunlight.
ReplyDeleteWhat an unusual structure and the choice of colors for the domes is unique to say the least.
ReplyDeleteLove this. I like how you made your way to a different vantage point to take a second shot. :)
Fantastic photos! Very lovely!
ReplyDeleteYour statement "A photograph is a of a place, but it has me in it too. How I saw it and chose to capture it, my mood on that day, the light I found - all play in to the final image I end up sharing with you here." ...this really resonates with me today. This adds to the recent discussion of "style" in Picture Inspiration. Love the photos here and the fabulous colors, but I think your words impact me even more!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kat. I'm trying not to be envious, alas....
ReplyDeleteI agree with Clare-wonderful contrasts here. I need to learn to sit and "be" with a place. Sometimes I can feel the excitement-knowing it's a great place to shoot-I think sometimes I let the excitement drive me too fast and I miss little details or subtleties. Thanks for the insight on what you were doing/thinking.
So beautiful. I like your picture even if it's not postcard perfect. This reminds me of yesterday which was a postcard perfect day. So I stopped by the beach to take pictures of people and took a whole bunch of this little girl who was all dressed up in a long dress and frolicking in the waves. She was part of a wedding party taking pictures there. Anyway, my setting was set on manual and overexposed, so by the time I discovered it, the moment was gone. Arrrgh! When do these screw ups stop happening? :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kat.
ReplyDeleteI can't get past these lines: "A photograph is a of a place, but it has me in it too. How I saw it and chose to capture it, my mood on that day, the light I found - all play in to the final image I end up sharing with you here."
ReplyDeleteSo profound and such a beautiful reminder.
This is a wonderful post, Kat! And those spiky roofs are amazing!
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from Shuttersisters... Your photos of Santorini are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! And,like Clare, I think the bright white buidings contrast beautifully with the overcast sky and sea. Santorini looks very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKat, I like your original vision in the first shot. The bold, contemporary design appeals to me and the color - delicious!
ReplyDeletewhat amazing shots, it must be so beautiful there. those blue and white buildings are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI love the white and blue Kat, especially the second one here. Just wonderful!
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