Watching Through Lens

Tuesday, 29 August 2017

Shot no. 20

Shot no. 20 (Canon EOS M10)

Photos taken at Bray Head, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland in August 2017.

Have been back to Dublin for nearly a month, working a lot, not much time to go out for shots. Sad, very sad! Anyway, I want to keep this blog alive and Ireland has beautiful spots to help me with that mission!

August, still summer in most of the Northern hemisphere but I'm not sure about that in Ireland! One of those days I decided it was a day for a "photomission". Drove to Bray and did the De Buitléar Way, a hike through a hill between rocks and trees that leads you to Bray Head's cross. The climb is quite easy seeing as I walked by many families with children up and down the hill, however, I advise to wear comfortable clothes with sneakers. You can try to do it with jeans and heels but it won't be a pleasant experience.

The view over Bray and the Irish Sea is worth every single drop of sweat! It was a cloudy day (not suprising at all), it was extremly hot for Ireland (an impressive 22ºC!!!), the humidity was high and eventually it started to rain, all these conditions made my photomission very complicated! It was a great challenge! Hope you enjoy it!

PT

Fotos tiradas em Bray Head, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Irlanda em Agosto de 2017.
Voltei a Dublin há quase um mês, trabalhando muito por isso não há muito tempo para sair para fotos. Triste, muito triste! Enfim, eu quero manter este blog vivo e a Irlanda tem locais belos para me ajudar com essa missão!
É Agosto, ainda Verão na maioria do hemisfério norte, mas não tenho certeza sobre isso na Irlanda! Um destes dias, eu decidi que era um dia para uma "fotomissão". Fui atá Bray e fiz o Caminho De Buitléar, uma caminhada através de uma colina entre pedras e árvores que conduz à cruz de Bray Head. A escalada é bastante fácil, até se vê muitas famílias com crianças subindo e descendo a colina, no entanto, eu aconselho a usar roupas confortáveis e ténis. Sempre pode tentar fazê-lo com jeans e saltos altos, mas não será uma experiência agradável.
A vista sobre Bray e o Mar da Irlanda faz valer a pena cada gota de suor! Era um dia nublado (não surpreendente), era extremamente quente para a Irlanda (impressionante 22ºC !!!), a humidade era alta e, eventualmente, começou a chover. Todas essas condições tornaram minha fotomissão muito complicada! Foi um grande desafio! Espero que goste!

Info:

Bray Head Walk: http://www.bray.ie/bray-head-walk/

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Shot no. 19

Shot no. 19 (Canon EOS M10)

EN

Photos taken at Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Alcobaça, Leiria District, Portugal in July 2017

OK, I know it is clickbait. I'm really sorry but I just thought it would be my only chance to call your attention to a monochromatic post. There is a reason behind this (of course there is!). The photo at the top is actually one of the last ones from that day.

I went to visit Mosteiro de Alcobaça, a very ancient and important monastery in Portuguese history. It was a grey day, for a while I thought I was in Ireland but then I realised that that couldn't be possible because it wasn't that cold! Took a few photos outside the monastery but the light was so bad that I just gave up (please understand, I don't know anything about photography, I just like to share my shots with you). But when I went into the monument, it looked so cold, so dark that it just made me imagine that I was back to medieval times and I imagined that place in black and white, so I took my camera, put it on monochromatic mode and started shooting during the guided visit.

Spent around 4h there. The first 2h, I just enjoyed the monument and spotted some places for photos and after lunch went back and took photos the whole time! Most of the time was spent inside the monastery but when I went outside to see the cloisters, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. I couldn't help it, I had to take a few photos with colour but then returned to my black and white mission.

Hope you enjoy this black and white experience!

PT (este texto não está escrito com o novo acordo ortográfico)

Fotos tiradas no Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Alcobaça, Distrito de Leiria, Portugal em Julho de 2017
Ok, eu sei que vocês foram enganados. Sinto muito, mas pensei que seria a minha única chance de chamar a sua atenção para uma publicação monocromática. Há uma razão por trás disso (claro que existe!). A foto no topo foi na verdade uma das últimas a serem tiradas nesse dia.
Fui visitar Mosteiro de Alcobaça, um mosteiro muito antigo e importante na história portuguesa. Era um dia cinzento, por instantes eu pensei que estava na Irlanda, mas percebi que isso não poderia ser possível porque não estava tanto frio! Tirei algumas fotos fora do mosteiro, mas a luz era tão ruim que acabei de desistir (não se esqueça, eu não sei nada sobre fotografia, eu só gosto de compartilhar minhas fotos com você). Mas quando entrei no monumento, parecia tão frio, tão escuro que só me fazia imaginar que tinha voltado à época medieval e imaginei aquele lugar em preto e branco, então peguei minha câmera, coloquei as definições no modo monocromático e comecei a fotografar durante a visita guiada.
Estive lá cerca de 4h. As primeiras 2h, eu apenas desfrutei da visita ao monumento e fui estudando alguns lugares para fotos. Depois do almoço voltei e tirei fotos o tempo todo! A maior parte do tempo foi gasto dentro do mosteiro, mas quando eu fui ver os claustros, o céu era azul e o sol estava brilhando. Não pude evitar, tive que tirar algumas fotos com cores, mas depois voltei para minha missão em preto e branco.

Espero que você aproveite esta experiência em preto e branco!

Info:

Alcobaça and Mosteiro de Alcobaça:

Wednesday, 9 August 2017

Shot no. 18

Shot no. 18 (Fujifilm Finepix SP8200, Canon EOS M10, Huawei Mate 9)

Photos taken at Lisbon City, Lisbon District, Portugal in August 2017.

Lisbon, the city that I love to visit but I keep saying that I would hate to live in. The traffic kills me and driving is one of the things that gives me most pleasure.

For me, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, perfect for photographers. At each corner, one good shot between a modern city, old fashioned buildings and medieval buildings.

Normally my visits are always very quick, just a layover between Dublin and my hometown in Portugal but every now and again I'll spend the night in Lisbon and walk around the city.

This time I stayed for a day and a half, part of that day was spent on the beach (of course, my vital environment!!!). Still managed to walk around downtown (Baixa, Praça do Comércio and Rossio) and Parque das Nações for some photos, didn't have much time but got a few good shots. Visited the Arco da Rua Augusta (3rd photo from the top) and took some nice photos from the top. Also, wanted to visit Elevador de Santa Justa but about 11am on Saturday morning the queue was too big. It's an excellent spot to watch the city from a higher perspective but if you want to visit it go as early as you can... like everything else in Lisbon.

My suggestion for staying is Ibis Hotel Parque das Nações. A modern three star hotel with continental breakfast very well located, close to airport, train, metro, shopping centre and many places to eat!

Probably will never live in Lisbon but I will always return for a visit!

Info:

About Lisbon:

Parque das Nações: https://www.visitlisboa.com/lisbon/lisbon-region/parque-das-nacoes
About Arco da Rua Augusta:

Elevador de Santa Justa: http://lisbon-portugal-guide.com/Baixa-Lisbon/Elevador-Santa-Justa-Lisbon-elevator-lift-guide.html
Hotel Ibis Parque da Nações: https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8501-ibis-lisboa-parque-das-nacoes/index.shtml

Saturday, 5 August 2017

Shot no. 17

Shot no. 17 (Huawei Mate 9: ISO: 200, f/2.2, S: 15s)

Photo taken at Parque das Nações, Lisbon, Portugal in August 2017.

Nearly time to go back to Ireland, will fly from Lisbon on Sunday morning. After 1 month in Portugal I have too much stuff to bring over with me so decided to spend 2 days in Lisbon to see some family and to enjoy the capital.

Arrived this afternoon and went to meet my cousin, then some shopping, then blá blá blá I'm sure you have no interest in what I've done.

It was very hot last night but a little breeze was flowing by the riverside so decided to go for a late walk. That zone of Tejo (Tagus) river is very pretty and with the lights of the night is specially pretty! I had to take a picture, it was time for photomission! Didn't have any camera with me, only my phone and a tripod. I set it up with the super night mode and walked around to find a spot. The best place was after some barrier fences to protect people from falling into the river. The tide was low so I was able to cross the fence and access some steps that normally are covered by the water. Hanging in there, afraid of having a wash before I was planned, I managed to take this beautiful picture. The funny part of this story is that a little girl, maybe 4 years old, was shouting at me saying that what I was doing was wrong, I must confess that I got very ashamed because her whole family and another bunch of people were looking at me like I commited a huge crime anyway, it was worth it!

Info:

Parque das Nações: https://www.visitlisboa.com/lisbon/lisbon-region/parque-das-nacoes

Wednesday, 2 August 2017

Shot no.16

Shot no. 16 (Canon EOS M10, Fujifilm Finepix Sp8200, Huawei Mate 9)

Photos taken at Nazaré, Leiria District, Portugal in July 2017.

After a day in Sítio (Shot no. 15) went back to Nazaré in the Funicular rail way/cable car. It's a great option to travel between Nazaré and Sítio and has been in use since 1889 of course with modernization of the service.

Nazaré is very well known for its fishing traditions, for its sandy beach and more recently as a big wave surf spot. My main interest was of course the beach and to get back my normal colour and wash away my pale Irish colour. It was impossible to not get amazed by its tiny little streets full of life, the handcraft shops, the old ladies with the traditional skirts offering apartments or rooms to rent, the pathway by the shore, the view of that imponent cliff over the beach and listening to so many different languages!

Like the streets, the beach was crowded but still big enough for everybody. The issue was mine because I wanted to be as close as possible to the water and like me, everybody else! The water was quite cold but I can't really complain seeing as I had swam in the Irish Sea!

Nazaré is a good spot for someone that is looking to just rest and for a beach. Small town with a huge beach, close enough to historic towns like Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar and close to the Mountains of Mira de Aire e Candeeiros where you can visit it's underground caves. I will have to visit those places in the future.

For this mini holiday I was only looking for beach and that is what I got, I'm back to my normal colour also! Although couldn't resist to hit the road and visit the monastery of Alcobaça, will do another post about that.

So, when I wasn't on the beach, I was eating. That place is like heaven for those who like fish and seafood but I'm not that person so, the challenge was to find somewhere with good food other than fish. I found some places with nice pork but nothing really impressive until one day walking on the little roads around the hotel, I found this little restaurant called Mooo Hamburgueria. Damn! Sorry for my language but I have no words to describe how delicious those hamburguers were! For sure they have the best hamburguers I ever tasted and they are not small! Strongly recommend a visit, well worth it! I visited them twice and only because I found them at the end of my holiday! For desert my suggestion is an ice cream at Gelatomania, they are big, they are huge, they are delicious and they are expensive but who cares? I was on holidays and one a day is allowed!

Info:

Hamburgueria Mooo:

Gelatomania:

Monday, 31 July 2017

Shot no.15

Shot no.15 (Fujifilm Finepix SP8200, Canon EOS M10, Huawei Mate 9)

EN

Photos taken at Sítio da Nazaré, Nazaré, Leiria District, Portugal in July 2017.

Summer time in Portugal, I went to Nazaré for 4 days. First day went to visit Sítio, a little town located in the top of a promontory that ends over the Atlantic Ocean. This place has very strong religious traditions because the history of this town goes back nearly a thousand years and started with a miracle that saved D. Fuas Roupinho from falling into the abyss and now a days there is a little chapel called Ermida da Memória (Chapel of Memory) to remind you about it. The town has a beautiful sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Nazaré, located in one of the sides of a square which is surrounded by restaurants and little craftwork shops.

Sítio is very famous for it's fortress called Forte de S. Miguel Arcanjo and was very important through Portuguese history as a strategical army point. In our days the fortress is still very important as a lighthouse but also for site seeing for the biggest surfed waves in the world caused by the Nazaré Canyon. On November 1st 2011, the 44 year old Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a 23,77 metre wave in Praia do Norte beach, just on the north side of the promontory. Three years later the French surfer Benjamin Sachis broke the record surfing a 33 metre wave. Now every year surfers from all over the world come over looking to surf the biggest wave ever and at the fortress there is a little museum dedicated to those surfing events and to Nazaré Canyon.

After a whole morning of hiking and taking photos, went for lunch in a very nice tapas restaurant made of portuguese food called Sitiados. If you go to visit Sítio in Nazaré, you must go for food in Sitiados!

PT (este texto não está escrito segundo o novo acordo ortográfico)

Fotos tiradas no Sítio da Nazaré, Nazaré, Distrito de Leiria, Portugal em Julho de 2017.

Verão em Portugal, fui para Nazaré por 4 dias. No primeiro dia fui visitar o Sítio, uma pequena localidade no topo de um promontório que termina no Oceano Atlântico. Este lugar tem tradições religiosas muito fortes pois a história deste local remonta à quase mil anos e começou com um milagre que salvou D. Fuas Roupinho de cair no abismo. Hoje em dia há uma pequena capela chamada Ermida da Memória (Capela de Memória) para que se recorde esse acontecimento. A cidade tem também um belo santuário dedicado a Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, localizado em um dos lados de uma praça que está rodeada por restaurantes e pequenas lojas de artesanato.

O Sítio é muito famoso pela sua fortaleza chamada Forte de S. Miguel Arcanjo e foi muito importante ao longo da história portuguesa como ponto estratégico militar. Nos dias de hoje, a fortaleza ainda é muito importante como farol, mas também para ver as maiores ondas de surf do mundo causadas pelo Canhão da Nazaré. Em 1 de novembro de 2011, o surfista havaiano de 44 anos, Garret McNamara, surfou uma onda de 23,77 metros na Praia do Norte, no lado norte do promontório. Três anos depois, o surfista francês Benjamin Sachis quebrou o recorde ao surfar uma onda de 33 metros. Agora, todos os anos, surfistas de todo o mundo vêm para navegar na maior onda de sempre e na fortaleza há um pequeno museu dedicado aos feitos do surf na Nazaréo e ao Canhão da Nazaré.

Depois de uma manhã cheia de caminhadas e a tirar fotos, fui almoçar a um restaurante de tapas muito agradável, feito de comida portuguesa chamada Sitiados. Se você for visitar o Sítio na Nazaré, você tem de ir provar as iguarias do Sitiado!

Info:

Legend of Our Lady of Nazaré: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_Nazar%C3%A9
Santuary of Our Lady of Nazaré: http://www.portugaltravel.org/nossa-senhora-da-nazare-sanctuary
S. Miguel Arcanjo Fortress: http://www.portugaltravel.org/sao-miguel-arcanjo-fort-nazare
S. Miguel Arcanjo Fortress 360º: http://www.cm-nazare.pt/pt/forte-sao-miguel-arcanjo-360
About the Nazaré Canyon and Nazaré's big waves: http://www.centerofportugal.com/the-wave-of-nazare/
Sitiado restaurant

Saturday, 29 July 2017

Shot. no.14

Shot no. 14 (Fujifilm Finepix SP8200)

Photos taken at Praia da Barra and Aveiro city, Aveiro District, Portugal in July 2017.

Oh Aveiro! Forever "my" city! Studied there for four years in the college and spent some of the best days of my life in that city! It's where I stepped up from a teenager to an adult, the academic life full of traditions and now I live with nostalgia.

I know Aveiro quite well but never watched it as a tourist, so the visit of two Irsih friends was the perfect excuse to watch my city with new eyes!

It was great to walk again in the little roads around places like Praça do Peixe, Alboi, Rossio, Teatro Aveirense, Fórum Shopping Centre... Crossed bridges over the canals from Ria de Aveiro and I imagined that I was back to my college times. Ria de Aveiro, the one that makes many people to call Aveiro the Portuguese Venice but in my opinion, Venice is the Italian Aveiro! It might be smaller in dimension but our people make it bigger and a warmer place! The experience of a little cruise of 45 minutes in the canal might open your appetite for a bigger cruise where you can taste some wine and Ovos Moles (tradional sweet made from egg) or try a bigger cruise of 2h where you can visit the salines where they produce salt and now there is a spa to relax and enjoy benefits of salty water.

So many pictures taken at Parque Infante D. Pedro, probably there they understood that I'm not the best city guide once that I constantly stopped to take pictures but that park is just too beautiful! At least they could sit down by the lake side and enjoy the peace and view of that place.

Another very important point is the food! In the last few years, the gastronomic options in Aveiro have been increasing in numbers but also in quality! There is a huge range of good restaurants to try, most of them with good fish but all of them with meat options and most with vegetarian options also. I tried few of them but there is three that you must try: Porta 35, Porta 36, and À Portuguesa, their offers is all about portuguese gastronomy, a bit expensive but worth it! Also you must try the most famous Aveiro's hamburguer in Ramona.

If you want to have a break on your site seeing, you can go to the beach. The closest one is Praia da Barra, my favourite one for swimming and where you can watch ships getting into the Aveiro port. Another one is Praia da Costa Nova where you can see the colorful striped wooden houses. For both of them you can use a bus or a taxi of course.

Aveiro is a small city and offers a free public bicycle for people to travel in the city, they are called Buga.

It was great to have a chance to show "my" city to my friends, tell them stories that I lived in every single corner of Aveiro. They promised me to come back and they will bring more people with them. I'm waiting for that!

Info: