O Caçimbo Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Just before the storm, I shot this view from the Luanda bay. The scene is quite appealing and the place is quite attractive. It is also called the "Marginal".

Still after 25 years of Civil War, the place has few scarces. One can see few buildings in the background but the more striking to me was the foreground with its shanty towns everywhere.

Luanda was quite remote from the very fights of this Civil war apart from few days in 1992. But everywhere one can see the result of a depressed economy totally dedicated to the War. No means, no infrastructures, a city built for 400,000 by the portuguese but there are about 4 million inhabitants today, mostly refugees.

Maybe the sky was reproaching all this waste that night ? This low sky was typical of the Caçimbo, the Summer season. I mean the colder season in the south-part of our earth from June up to October.

Technically, I played with the sky quite a lot to add this nightmare mood to this town I loved. I'm so sad of this poverty everywhere, but was so happy to meet so many friends, so many people from Luanda.

SO taken with my first Sony (1600 x 1200), no polarizer. I ajusted saturation of colors trough the "adjustment layer curves" tool in PS then applied a default noise removal in Neatimage.

roconnell, Emile, Facsi, igorw, andreineamtu, rajhema, MiguelP, Germaine, pitai, MON, Vasylis, yogi32, ajujot trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

JorgeJacinto (1029) 2004-01-15 17:58

Muito interessante esta imagem de Angola, um pouco escura (filtro polarizador ?) densa, e com pouca definição, nada que não possa ser emendado !

Didi (36390) 2004-01-15 18:16

Un rai de lumière filtre au travers des nuages sur ce paysage désolé à un endroit bien précis pour montrer la pauvreté dans cette ville.
La composition est parfaite, on remarque le contraste entre les buildings et le bidonville.

Guzman (577) 2004-01-15 18:33

Great light you have got in this moment of time , also interesting to see images of one of the unusual places in the African continent after all their wars your notes are a reminder to the forgotten story and plight of this country, thanks for sharing

fotofreak (1677) 2004-01-15 18:39

What an emotional story, and a perfect photo to go along with it. The lighting is incredeble, and creates the perfect mood.

I've done a workshop. Have a look...

[workshop] [compare]

Erik (673) 2004-01-15 18:57

What the....???
Ups sorry...

I feld allmost of my chair when i saw this picture! Whooo! Amazing shoot! Thank you for your sharing.

richtersl (3544) 2004-01-15 20:00

What an ominous sky. Those storm clouds were well captured. This city looks like it was once a beautiful place.

guyben (1097) 2004-01-15 20:06

Awesome shot !
Very very dramatic lighting - I just love those clouds. Good composition too.
Well done Steven.

marioDS (0) 2004-01-16 8:02

Impressive shot with a lot of impact !

Eagle78 (1925) 2004-01-16 9:18

Wow! The sky will fall over the city buildings...looks like the world will end in Luanda! Amazing colors and great composition.

jrj (34779) 2004-01-18 7:05

Excellent shot Steven. All the details captured in the very good colour balance, the light on the beach in a strange contrast to the very dark clouds. Indeed a fine picture.

joseelias (367) 2004-01-19 9:30

Excelent atmosphere and sky. The details are great and colors very nice.

The Neat Image work is seen but it's very positive as it creates some smothness in the photo which in some cases contrast with what we're seing. Good note also.

volunteer123 (244) 2004-03-07 8:40

great foto fury blue sky is fantastic
thanks
maybe i would cut a little from the bottom to be closer to the gold beach
but, maybe not?? :)
thanks and greetings

Signal-Womb (11755) 2004-04-14 14:24

I love this photo. That sky looks so full of energy.

llamas (0) 2004-05-04 19:02

I love the effect in the picture

roconnell (327) 2004-05-31 1:57

The tones a rich and the sky daunting. There is much to take in and absorb, but the road keeps the viewer moving through the frame nicely. Well done.

spis (314) 2004-10-09 20:21

Cores Impressionantes que transmitem o verdadeiro e real ambiente.

Fantástica foto.

andreineamtu (466) 2004-11-08 16:19

I like the beach. What's with the dried tree in the right side ? Looks a bit unnatural. Also maybe because of the light line which is passing right thru.

jofjof27 (399) 2005-01-17 7:36

F A N T A S T I Q U E !!!!!! certainement une des plus belles photos que j'ai vu sur trekheart!!! génial franchement

philip_coggan (11) 2005-01-17 7:59

Very successful PS work!

hajle (1087) 2005-01-23 17:09

wow! i'm totally shocked ;-)!great!

klyee75 (774) 2005-08-12 1:28

what a scary shot...but turn out to be very interesting shot. Thumb up

YEE

Facsi (212) 2005-08-25 8:22

That's what I call photo. No words - professional.

rajhema (1867) 2005-09-06 12:53

Clear and gloomy picture Seven. Landscape is quite clearly visible. Beautiful capture

krakowiak (4704) 2005-09-10 3:56

The contrast between dark blue clouds and yellow sand is just amazing.
Great shot!

Regards
Pawel

MiguelP (14336) 2005-10-08 13:10

This photo could be perfect to ilustrate a book of polish journalist Kapuczinky about the civil war there. The clima os this landscape is wonderful but frightening at the same time. Sometimes I love to dive in the portfolio of the TE members instead of follow the new´s at the gallery and when I discover photos like this one I feel very very happy, like Indiana Jones discovering the arc.

gnfreire (26) 2005-10-10 9:37

Great photo ! Where did you took the shot ? Didn't you get caught by "ninjas" ?

MON (135) 2006-03-07 8:39

I like a lot colours, and the sky shows clearly the storm is very near. You got a very good shot.
Well done!.

clarita (654) 2006-05-15 17:11

wow!
i can't believe you captured this shot through your lens.
what glorious teal colours and natural lighting over the city.
you framed this well.
thx for posting!

garrbus (207) 2006-05-15 17:44

Great colours - it make extraordinary climat. Congratulations.

teutza (10568) 2006-07-20 11:49

Hello Steven,
this is a really great picture!it looks very unreal:)it sounds like the end of the world:))
amasing catch:)
TFS
teo

seelivetigers (76) 2006-09-09 9:41 [Comment]

Show Comment

dmmd (22) 2006-09-17 14:55

Good job!!!

beerlao75 (71) 2006-09-21 0:40

Great shot and even better timing. Amazing play on light and dark.
Thanks for posting. We need more shots from Africa, Angola especially.

borovets1 (97) 2006-09-28 15:43

tebrikler guzel bır fotograf olmus elınıze saglık.bulutlar kareye ayrı bır hava katmıs

Vasylis (1408) 2006-10-10 14:27

unbelievable ...
I’m speechless
TFS
Vasylis

ruisc_pt (6207) 2007-02-13 13:31

Hi Steven
Nice shot again
em português cacimbo é como o rvalho tropical que resulta da elevada humidade que condensa com o arrefecimento noturno mesmo que pequeno.
um abraço

Albrecht (11189) 2007-02-13 13:35

Hi Steven
Impressive sky; almost uneal as in a movie. Beautiful shot.
greetings from Holland
Albrecht

natc (315) 2007-03-07 14:33

hello steven,
thanks for your shot and for the really interesting comment. we don't hear much about angola, the comment from someone loving this country made me feel like knowing more.
and congratulations for the colours you obtained, the 1st thing ithat catched my attention.
bye,
nat.

banyanman (7737) 2007-03-11 10:49

Fabulous light, Steven, and great composition all round. It reminds me a bit of Mozambique where so many of the palm trees along the beachfront have been cut down to make wood carvings - like Angola, people are so poor they will lay their hands on anything that is free for the taking (although not always legal of course). Cheers . . . David

rogerrabbit (77) 2007-03-17 8:09 [Comment]

Show Comment

pally3100 (3073) 2007-04-17 3:46

hello Steven
you have a very strong picture picture, the image "expressive" a good p o v and D O F with a gray bleu sky "super " in this darkness the shape of the bay is very pretty to ,a good result, without polarizer filter to your satured color is perfect your Sony is 100/100 ok it a good one . good day to you.Congratulations.( sorry good but my game is "over"i cannot give no more points this day but you have 2 points in my mind friendly )
ok it s now go on ....i am happy
* Henri Belgique francophone.*

aroralt (0) 2007-08-12 18:43

it seems this is the place where the sky meets the ocean. seems rather filmy.

NikoFantom (163) 2007-09-08 11:40 [Comment]

Show Comment

panteliz (278) 2008-01-17 11:29

i like the tragic contrast between frontside area with old small houses with elenit and backside area with big multihouses.. you spot the defference.
much detail, good deep field and fixed hard colours.
i like your picture
regards

ajujot (91) 2008-01-17 12:11

Goosebumps all over my body after seeing this, excellent !