Kapok, a photo from Madeira, Islands

Photographer's Note

Santa Catarina Park

The Santa Catarina Park is one of the most pleasant places in Funchal, from where one has astonishing panoramas over the Funchal’s bay.
Situated in the area of an ancient cemetery, the Santa Catarina Park was inaugurated in 1966, occupying nowadays an area of about 6 000m2, perfect for the most diversified activities and artistic and cultural manifestations.
The Park presents many pedestrian walks, an immense variety of flora species from all over the world, and also a rich fauna, with ducks, swans, fishes and many birds. The Park also presents an area for children, and even an ancient Chapel of Santa Catarina dated from 1425, which construction was ordered by D. Constança, the wife of João Golçalves Zarco, one of the official discoverers of this “Atlantic Pearl”.
The Park is also artistically decorated with several sculpture works, signed by many renowned artistis, representing some of the important personalities such as Henry the Navigator, Cristóvão Columbus, Gago Coutinho, Sacadura Cabral, among many others.

http://www.guiadacidade.pt

I think the name of this tree is a Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae (previously separated in the family Bombacaceae), native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and (as the variety C. pentandra var. guineensis) to tropical west Africa. The word is also used for the fibre obtained from its seed pods. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, Silk cotton or ceiba. It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology.
The tree grows to 60-70 m (200-230 ft) tall and has a very substantial trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter with buttresses. The trunk and many of the larger branches are often (but not always) crowded with very large, robust simple thorns. The leaves are compound of 5 to 9 leaflets, each up to 20 cm (8 in) and palm like. Adult trees produce several hundred 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fibre that is a mix of lignin and cellulose.

Nikon D40X
2010/04/09 10:01:10.1
Compressed RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 G
Focal Length: 10mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
1/100 sec - F/10
Exposure Comp.: +0.3 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Preset
AF Mode: AF-C
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: More Contrast
Hue Adjustment: +3°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high

Reserved copyrights: The present photograph is intellectual workmanship protected by law 9610/98 being forbidden to the reproduction for any way without the previous authorization in writing it author. Please contact Gonçalo Lopes

cargus, subhendu_bagchi, siamesa, siolaw, lucasgalodoido, pajaran, patdeph, riclopes, pablominto, Charo, ikeharel trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

cargus (13954) 2010-06-10 9:31 [Comment]

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luciola (3030) 2010-06-10 10:04

Hello,
Nice, bright colors, good composition, interesting trees.
regards
Lucja

manudautriche (4348) 2010-06-10 10:32

Olà Goncalo,

Le vert et le bleu qui domine la photo se marient superbement bien et l'angle ainsi que le POV sont
extra et donne une belle impression de grandeur,bravo.
Bye
Manu

adores (46979) 2010-06-10 11:20

Olá Gonçalo!
Essa árvore faz um óptimo contraste com o céu azul!Bem conseguida, a luz e as cores estão óptimas!

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2010-06-10 11:42

Namaste Goncalo,
interesting capture, interesting tree. Great composition with the way and nice greeneries. Like the depth and sharpness as well. Very well done. Tfs for this peculiar tree. Very well done. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

Silvio1953 (221751) 2010-06-10 12:31

Ciao Goncalo, fascinating composition with fantastic great tree, splendid light and colors, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

PixelTerror (0) 2010-06-10 13:19

Ola Goncalo
Nice image with strong summer feeling from the strong green tones, the spotless blue sky over it contributes also to the luminous impression
Have a nice day JY

tober (8797) 2010-06-10 13:45

Hi Gonçalo, it's the first time I see such an interesting tree the name of which I don't know. But I name it cotton tree:) Seems to be a very beautiful park with different exotic plants in it. Best regards, Tolga

Clementi (52514) 2010-06-10 14:21

Ciao Goncalo,
splendido parco e splendidi colori primaverili, cielo fantastico.
Giorgio

jmdias (115280) 2010-06-10 17:33

gonçalo

se é um kapok eu nãos ei, mas que deve ser parente próximo das nossas paineiras, isso ela é, a forma, as painas brancas, tudo me leva a crer nisto. bonita vista do jardim com a árvore e suas plumas contra o azulão do céu e o verde do jardim adiante. linda foto, excelente luz, cores e nitidez

abraços

jorge

Cricri (176) 2010-06-10 22:44

Ola Goncalo
Toute belle présentation du parc avec l'arbre exotique, la fraîcheur du vert en bon contraste avec le bleu, un chemin qui invite a la découverte de ce lieu plein de charme, très belle image
Good day
cricri

Urs (14082) 2010-06-10 22:46

Ola Goncalo

That is a surprise you have kapok in Portugal, I did not expect it at all. Kapok is very common in this part of the world and is used for pillows and similar. Very vibrant color hue shot with high sharpness as well as very pleasing contrasts in particular green and blue. well done. Thanks for your critique of my hot air balloon shot

Best regards
urs

danyy (0) 2010-06-11 0:12

Bonjour Goncalo,
une photo aux couleurs éclatantes, et bien cadrée, un post processing qui se voit peut-être un peu fort.
J'aime beaucoup les lumières.
Regards.
daniel.

Nicou (193806) 2010-06-11 2:08

Hello,

sueprbe image et compo, avec cet arbe et les drôle de fleur, un ciel pur et limpid une très belle perspective, mangigique ensemble et compo.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

jemaflor (147248) 2010-06-11 9:38

Hi Goncalo,
Well composed and beautiful color and light for this landscape, the path gives a good depth at the view, well done.

siolaw (38294) 2010-06-11 10:05

Hi Goncalo
Nice weather and favourable light gave you warm and naturally saturated colours. Simple view, but well composed with blossoming tree well off centered.
Greetings
Laurent

TopGeo (38220) 2010-06-11 10:49

Hi Goncalo!
A very beautiful moment the colours! the frame! the composition and the subject splendidly! I like the background
regards
Georgios

peppe59 (14555) 2010-06-11 10:55

Ciao Goncalo,
bellissimi colori con grande contrasto tra il cielo ed il verde, ottima composizione.
Buon fine settimana
peppe

ciakgiak (30) 2010-06-11 13:16

Ciao Goncalo,
sebbene diverso dal precedente, anche questo è un bellissimo paesaggio, perfettamente composto, con un magnifico contrasto tra il verde e l'azzurro del cielo.
In questo contesto spicca alla grande l'albero sulla destra. Un caro abbraccio.
Giorgio

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2010-06-11 14:38

Olá Gonçalo,
realmente uma bonita imagem desse parque, com cores fabulosas na captura. Belo trabalho, amigo.
Parabéns e Abraço,
Lucas

npecanhuk (79329) 2010-06-11 17:59

Olá Gonçalo!
Parece-me um lugar bem agradável e belo!
Destaque para essa árvore à direita, com flores brancas!
O céu está um espetáculo!
Parabéns, abraços e até logo!
Neyvan

gunbud (34066) 2010-06-11 19:37

Ola Goncalo,
Splendid spring time scene with the old tree once agains blossoning.
The sky is beautiful and contrast brilliantly with the lush green grass and trees below
Regards, Tom

jafadabret (56501) 2010-06-11 22:33

Bonjour Gonçalo,
La lumière est excellente et transforme le paysage qui devient ainsi sublime. Ta photo est bien composée avec l'arbre en fleur, le chemin et ce ciel, une merveille !
Amicalement
Jacques

Waylim (25436) 2010-06-11 23:48

Ola Goncalo,
Beautiful spring time landscape so cheerful, full of liveliness and fresh green and flower. Beautiful wheather and great light, the blue of the sky has a bit too much cyan tone and a touch too much saturation, the clouds are also blue. But a wonderful composition.
Way

Graal (103040) 2010-06-12 0:00

Hi Goncalo,
very nice spring image, pleasant green and view of blossom trees. Great sky. Well done photo.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

pajaran (116011) 2010-06-12 0:31

Dobar dan, kod nas opet vrucina i jako sunce.
Mnogo lep park, uzivanje je ovo gledati, lepo za odmor.
Staza nas vodi u lepsi deo sa vise zelenog drveca, na nebu stidljivo mali oblaci prolaze, dobar rad, mnogo lepa fotografija.
Prijatan vikend sa lepim vremenom, Paja.

Google.

Bom dia, o calor é novo e sol forte.
Um monte de belos parques, apreciar este aspecto, é bom para descansar.
O caminho leva a parte mais agradável, com mais verde das árvores, o céu pouco tímido nuvens passam, trabalho duro, muitas belas fotografias.
Tenha um bom fim de semana com tempo bonito, Paja.

Good day, we again heat and strong sun.
A lot of beautiful parks, enjoy this look, it's nice to rest.
The path leads to nicer part with more green tree, the sky Clouds pass little shy, good work, a lot of beautiful photos.
Have a nice weekend with beautiful weather, Paja.

patdeph (35750) 2010-06-12 3:29

hello Goncalo
as usual,the colors are wonderful,and I like the POV with the big tree and its white flowers standing out the blue sky!Very well done!
Regards
Pascale

ilDottore (5252) 2010-06-12 11:23

Olá Gonçalo,
Wonderful composition, absolutely outstanding colours...
That's the summer, I like. :)

AiresSantos (56155) 2010-06-12 23:38

Ola Goncalo
Uma foto muito bem composta com cores muito bonitas
Gosto do enquadramento com a arvore a encher o lado direito e aquelas estranhas mas belas nuvens à esquerda
Um abraço e bom Domingo
Aires

riclopes (35577) 2010-06-13 2:53

Olá Gonçalo, que título tão engraçado. A árvore está lindíssima com as flores brancas, fantástico aqueles farrapos de nuvens a fazerem contraponto no lado oposto. As cores estão espectaculares. Parece um belo jardim, vejo ali uns jogos de água a chamar lá atrás...
Um abraço e bom resto de fim de semana,
ric

pablominto (53746) 2010-06-13 23:35

Hello Gonçalo,

This is a pretty spring scene, with the green fields and the old tree in blossom!
An attractive and eye-pleasing composition, well balanced with a strong lead-in...
The fine light renders fine vivid colours!

Greetings,
Pablo -

bartekp (4746) 2010-06-14 14:45

Hello Goncalo,

Nice park, superb colors, big thanks for sun (On my place it stil rainy from a week)

Have a nice evening

Bartek

plimrn (21344) 2010-06-15 12:21

Ola' Goncalo,
Love your profile photo, three is such a darling age!! Nice the way you framed this so the cloud puff echo the kapk puffs. Your note is fascinating, i learned a lot about kapok!!
SAA, Pat

Charo (51290) 2010-06-15 17:06

Hola Gonçalo,
Muy bella la perspectiva de estos jardines y ese singular árbol de flores blancas. Magnífica luz y contraste de colores. Una imagen muy atractiva.
Un abrazo,
Charo

pierrefonds (114556) 2010-06-17 17:17

Hi Goncalo,

The path is leading my eyes toward the trees which is giving depth to the composition. The trees are framing well the path. There is a good contrast between the colors of the sky and the colors of the lawn. have a nice day.

Pierre

ikeharel (113453) 2010-06-19 7:58

Hello Goncalo ,
Fine colors of the urban park - A green "lung" in city scape.
Good colors and contrast as spring brings beautiful flowers on tree's.
An interesting note as well.
Enjoy your weekend.
Ike