Castle of Barco de Avila I, a photo from Avila, Castilla y Leon

Photographer's Note

I wonder why nobody posted anything of this little town of El Barco de Ávila before me, as much as I could see of it on my quick passage, it has potential for a handful of interesting photos. This castle is the most obvious, as it stands on a hill overlooking the Tormes river and Gredos mountains, the highest mountain range in Central Iberia.

According to es.wikipedia.org, the castle was originally built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th century, but in the place there was a Celtic castro (hill fort) that was torn down by the Romans.

The image is a stitch of two vertical shots. As a matter of fact, I did the two shots aiming only at evaluating the results of stitching two shots taken with very low focal length (10 mm in this case), but I end up liking more the stitch than the equivalent image I obtained with just one shot, which I posted as WS.

Exif data:
Camera: Olympus E-300
Lenses: Sigma EX-DC 10-20mm
Date taken: 25-Jul-2008 16:12
F-Number: F8.0
Exposure time [s]: 1/125
Exposure bias [EV]: -0.70
Focal length [mm]: 10
ISO value: 100

Location (latitude, longitude): 40.3588,-5.52578

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Update 21-Sep-2008: I posted another view of this castle.

Docarmo, gracious, dareco, Atousa, isabela_sor, shevchenko, Hellas, feather, asajernigan, Charo, paura, riclopes, danos, Sne011, AiresSantos, Tue, adores, ribeiroantonio, cherryripe, sarahnatalie, COSTANTINO, edytungkal, cfreire, Didi, axiotea, Emile, jean11-3, josepmarin, xuaxo, JCG, maloutim, vasilpro, serp2000, Felip trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

vmukherjee (614) 2008-08-17 18:23

Wonderful shot. Great pov to show the three dimensiona nature of the castle, and the clouds in the sky also form leading lines towards the castle. Good colours and composition. Thanks for sharing.

denisn72 (8314) 2008-08-17 18:25

Hello Jose
With a point of view like that, I feel that the castle touches the clouds above. Details are very very very stunning as the exposure and colours. Congratulations and cheers! NIce work!
Best regards
Denis!|

Docarmo (9767) 2008-08-17 18:40

Olá José,
POV impressionante, deu uma imponência majestosa a este castelo. As nuvens parecem irradiar-se a partir do castelo, a composição ficou especial. Gosto mais da principal, talvez em virtude do formato vertical usado, deu mais elegância.
¡Estupendo!
MCV

ElAprendiz (30) 2008-08-17 18:56

Hola de nuevo mi amigo:

Los castillos nunca dejarán de ser fascinantes, y en este caso, no es la excepción.

El punto de vista es extraordinario, porque has creado un efecto gráfico y geométrico de abajo hacia arriba, perfectamente lineal.

La nitidez nos permite apreciar cada detalle de la fachada, con un cielo y unas nubes como telón de fondo, que contrastan muy bien.

Felicitaciones, John

gracious (20025) 2008-08-17 19:50

Ola Jose,
Great photojob on stitching to have this beautiful castle well composed!
the pov is awesome with those beautiful clouds formation above it!
the image is real sharp with well balanced colour contrast and details
well done my dear friend!
take care and regards
Tony

lucasgalodoido (26918) 2008-08-17 19:56

Olá José,
bem interessante essa foto, parece que todas as nuvens saem dessa torre maior. A lente deu uma perspectiva curiosa pra contrução também.
Parabéns e Abraço

[2]

dareco (17136) 2008-08-17 20:30

Fantastic!!! WOW!! A gorgeous castle and a beautiful picture. Awesome colors and detail and a perfect pov. TFS and have a happy day!

Atousa (7131) 2008-08-17 20:34

Salam Jose,
A beautiful clean shot ..it really looks magnificent with this chosen pov ..the colours n quality are also great..form of the clouds are very interesting n has added to the beauty of this image..thank you
Best wishes, Atousa

Morac (27725) 2008-08-17 21:50

Bonjour Jose,

C'est un superbe ciel que tu nous offres ici.
Très belle composition.
Bonne journee
Marc

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-08-17 21:57 [Comment]

Show Comment

aadilj (18102) 2008-08-17 22:47

I love the framing and pov of this one which brings out the size and beauty of the place so well. The colours and the etxtures are superb and well handled

shevchenko (20560) 2008-08-17 22:50

Hi Jose,
Good pov to obtained perspective effects on this simply subject only a castle and sky with white clouds, nice color and good sharpness, thanks for sharing the first photo from El Barco de Avila.
Ally

jasmis (58631) 2008-08-17 23:09

Fine castle. Amazing panoramic view.
Superb sky.
Regards.

Disabled_A (0) 2008-08-17 23:32

Hi Jose,
it's a perfect POV for an excellent original photo. The clouds seem to be rushing across the sky and create a special dynamism. Very good composition and balanced colours.
Regards,
Elena

Hellas (7113) 2008-08-17 23:59

Hi José,
you posted an amazing image! Thanks to the low PoV and stitching the two shots (better than the single) I think that you got the best result!
Terrific, sharp details of texture, pattern and structure of the castle! Looks to be in a good state of preservation.
Very clear and sharp image! The sky is stunning, too.

Regards,
Athanasios.

fkokol (1636) 2008-08-18 2:38

This is great composition with beautiful colours and sharpness. Wonderful POV. great work stitching. I'm still practising on it :)

greetings,

figen

feather (51130) 2008-08-18 3:43

I like them both Jose but I agree the stitch is the better result as it is not so tightly framed. The wide angle with low POV has given wonderful prominence to the central tower, and the symmetry of the double perspective left and right is excellent. You were also fortunate to have a very attractive sky. Well done
Kath

asajernigan (21427) 2008-08-18 4:20

Jose,
Great shot of this fine castle! Your composition and POV are great showing the castle from a low perspective emphasizing the height of the scene. The angle of the shot gives the scene excellent depth and detail. The lighting and colors are great with nice sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

Charo (51290) 2008-08-18 4:35

Olá Jose,
Eu adoro o ponto de vista do castelo, destacando a torre mais bela e além disso torna-o mais impressionante. O nublado céu azul intenso e você tem sido fantástica. Bom trabalho.
Abraços,
Charo

UnTrained (0) 2008-08-18 4:39

Olá José,
I think it is the space for the sky, which makes this more attracting, but the difference is small in my eyes. Both well done (good stitch this one) with good detailed textures and fine sharpness. The dynamic impression by the POV adds a lot of interest.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-08-18 5:13

Olá José!
Uma excelente foto! Uma bela imagem!
O ponto de vista baixo foi a melhor escolha, enaltecendo a construção! A nitidez está muito boa, permitindo-me ver detalhes das paredes, por exemplo! Cores muito boas! E que céu bonito!!!!!
Parabéns e um grande abraço!
Neyvan

paura (25802) 2008-08-18 6:01

Ilustre amigo,
Uma beleza de trabalho, muito bem detalhado e produzido. Os detalhes são incríveis e estão muito bem mostrados. Muito boa.

Abraço

Paulo

riclopes (35577) 2008-08-18 6:13

Wow, espectacular, José. Vejo que também andaste por terras de Espanha e é sempre de salutar ver lugar novos no TE. Assim de repente, parece-me que não arranjo nada tão bom como esta das minhas férias. Aquela corôa de ameias mesmo ao centro neste céu fantástico faz um efeito visual explosivo. O WS seria o máximo que eu conseguiria, mas esta colagem está muito melhor. Gosto muito.
Um abraço,
ricardo

danos (110407) 2008-08-18 6:25

Ola Jose,
what a nice and impressive shot is this? Great the results of the perspective of the lens 10-20,as the clearness and sharpness of the castle.Excellent your glance to take the shot with that way.Bravo.

Have a nice evening,Danos

Sne011 (3084) 2008-08-18 6:36

Ola Jose
Your both photos are excellent. I like this low POV, you chose very good angle to capture this interesting castle. Perfect colors and sharpness, congratulations, it's an amazing photo!
Have a nice day
Sneza

sacavem (18620) 2008-08-18 6:41

José esta tomada está magnifica,grande tiro, um PDV fantástico, as cores e sharp muito boas, grande céu existe dias assim. Parabéns.

Um abraço,
Filipe

mirarer (4751) 2008-08-18 9:41

Hola José,
Llego tarde para poder añadir algo original. Muy buen trabajo.
Saludos,
Mirari

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-08-18 10:50

Oi amigo ,
Já estive aqui em Ávila alguns anos atrás é um lugar magnifico de muita história , tal como a tua foto ficou fantástica ficou imponente o castelo com este maravilhoso céu , gostei muito dos tons das paredes , belo ponto de visão , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-08-18 11:35

Ola Amigo Jose
Uma vista magnifica do Castelo Barco de Avila. POV estupendo, cores e luminosidade excelentes. O ceu com as nuvens completa esta bela foto
Um grande abraço
Aires

Tue (82146) 2008-08-18 12:28

Hi José,
Really good stitching job, I like the POV a lot, it makes this castle look very impressive and the tower in the foreground in particular. The sky is a wonderful background too and the walls stand out really well against it! Very good photo work!
Regards,
Lars

adores (46979) 2008-08-18 15:45

Olá José!
Foste para uma zona óptima para fotos! Este castelo é espectacular, por acaso também não conheço mas conseguiste uma foto muito boa,especialmente com aquele céu e este pov. A torre está muito bem colocada e a colagem está perfeita. Bom trabalho!

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-08-19 0:08

Na realidade, gosto mais deste PdV afastado e com um primeiro plano maior que quebra bem a simetria do castelo. As nuvens estão fabulosas e vê-se bem que olhaste para o céu antes de carregar no botão!.
Muito bonita.
António

zeynepe (0) 2008-08-19 1:06

The castle looks fantastic from the front . What I like the most is the circular corners with a perfect POV.
Have a nice week Jose,
Zeynep

cherryripe (21033) 2008-08-19 4:08

Hi Jose
Your note has just given me an idea given that we plan to visit the region next Easter. The effect of the wide angle combined with the stitching is fantastic and the clouds look as though they're coming out of the castle. You had such a lovely light and blue sky. I just love Castilla & Leon.
Regards
Nikki

sarahnatalie (697) 2008-08-19 19:51

Hi Jose,
The perspective of this shot makes for an incredible composition. I love the way the sky is almost an inverted V shape merging into the castle and giving it great focus within the image. I actually think I like the workshop (single shot version) better though. This one seems slightly over-sharpened. Nevertheless, it's very very nice!
Sarah

devimeuxbe (58557) 2008-08-20 15:31

Bonsoir José
La perspective sur cette tour est magnifique et le ciel nuageux accentue le relief. Netteté parfaite aussi.
Excellent
Bertrand

COSTANTINO (104051) 2008-08-21 11:00

OLA jOSE
a very sharp and smooth image with excellent
view that looks really nice with this
fantasting castle..
Beautiful capture,lovely light I like a lot..
A well composed action picture..
And those clouds...in the sky create
a sensational atmosphere
THANKS FOR sharing
Costantino

edytungkal (4551) 2008-08-22 0:10

A perfect composition showing this historic castle with beautiful sky as bg, colours and clarity are very well. I like this shot Jose, thanks for share it and have a nice WE :-)

daniel

salvator (19110) 2008-08-22 3:20

Hi Jose,
Nice pov and nice sharp details on the castle. The blue and cloudy sky also looks very nice.
Best regards. Salvator.

cfreire (11741) 2008-08-22 7:15

Oi, José
Uma foto totalmente diferente aqui no TE. Simplesmente, achei brilhante este "smart" POV que nos passa a sensação que as nuvens estão sendo liberadas de dentro da torre do castelo. Cores, contraste e enquadramento, excelentes. Bela mostra. Abraço, Consuelo

leo61 (0) 2008-08-22 21:18

Hi Jose!
A reat architectureshot,taken from the perfect angle.
Nice perspective and wow!!!! what a sky.
Colors and sharpness are good too.
Regards,Leo

Didi (61589) 2008-08-23 0:29

Salut José
Bien sûr le stitch de deux images diminue un peu le défaut de perspective.
Mais en 4 images avec une focale un peu plus grande, par exemple 30 mm, l'édifice sera un peu plus droit.
Néanmoins l'image ainsi est très intéressante avec un cadrage symétrique.
Je remarque aussi des projecteurs au sol et j'espère que tu feras un jour une nocturne.
Amitiés.

delkoo (68) 2008-08-23 1:15

bonjour josé,
le superbe ciel apporte beaucoup a la presentation de ce château, le grand angle permet d'avoir la totalité de la construction et augmente ainsi la puissance du château.

amities
didier

ruisc_pt (11544) 2008-08-23 1:55

OLá José Pires.
A colagem está perfeita, nunca fiz nenhuma. Também concordo contigo é de facto mais apelativa a escala do castelo na versão montada uma vez que ocupa muito menos o "frame".
O ocre das pedras e o azul +polarizado também são uma das minhas "paixões".
Ab
Rui

Stepan (27210) 2008-08-23 9:22

The lens, the pov, the clouds... Everything makes it powerful, with a strong, really strong visual impact. That's well seen, that's well done.
Stéphane

axiotea (21651) 2008-08-24 10:31

Olà José
on a plus de recul en regardant cette version à 2 stitch dans laquelle la perspective est mieux redressée que l'image unique et donc je la préfère!j'aime beaucoup les différentes teintes de couleur des vielles pierres et l'impression de mouvement des nuages.
Cheers
Marilyn

Emile (20352) 2008-08-25 11:05

Hola Jose.
Una de tus mejores fotos. Es realmente impresionante como has captado el castillo en todo su esplendor, muy buenos colores, definición, POV y marco. El cielo también es muy bueno y ayuda a realzar la imagen del castillo. Buen trabajo.
Abrazos.

batalay (41261) 2008-08-26 13:40

Hello José,

I cannot imagine a better way to display this castle — a symmetric point of view with one the circular towers at a corner as the focal point. it represents an ideal demonstration of two-point perspective, where the parallel lines from the sides converge at a pair of vanishing points on the horizon line. The colors, resolution, textures are all first rate.

What a wonderful meeting it was in Barcelona. Short, but quality counts more than quantity.

Warm regards to you framily,

Bulent

jmcl (14535) 2008-08-26 21:38

Hi Jose,

Hope you and yours are well .. stunning image .. wonderful perspective .. great dimension .. the way the diagonals of the clouds is inverted in the castle is incredibly effective .. great sense of power with the point of view combined with the sky. Tremendous. take care, John

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-08-27 12:12

Hello Jose, a superb POV of this castle.
I like the crenellation against the beautiful blue sky, it is very eye catching.
All the details are sharp, lovely work.
Tfs, regards Jean.

josepmarin (59385) 2008-08-29 4:02

Olá José,
preciosas fotos de tu visita por España.
Ésta es fantástica, has hecho un encuadre muy elegante y has conseguido una gran perspectiva del castillo y sus torres hacia un bello cielo que por sí mismo ya merece una foto.
Es dinámica y con una gran calidad de imagen y de colores.
El ensamblaje de dos fotos hechas con un gran angular de 10mm es perfecto, y tiene quizá un mayor efecto visual que la versión de una sola toma que presentas en WS.
Pero todo es un gran trabajo.
Un abrazo,
Josep

kiks (12805) 2008-08-29 14:45

The perspective created by your POV choice is excelent. The clouds realy help even more to enticise it. Master work!
Best reagrds
KIks

xuaxo (6854) 2008-09-01 1:00

Olá José
Esta é daquelas que não dá para acrescentar grandes comentários originais, depois de tantas críticas bem merecidas.
Com este PdV até parece realmente um barco visto de proa.
Eu não poria nenhum defeito na foto em WS, mas esta realmente está mais agradável.
De facto no TE falta uma porção de locais que têm potencial para belas fotos. Mas mesmo com fotos menos boas acho muito bom irmos preenchendo o mapa, pois é frustrante os visitantes procurarem por aqui uma imagem dum sítio e não encontrarem nada.
Um abraço,
F.

luighi (5303) 2008-09-01 1:39

Esta foto es impresionante Jose ,me encanta ,asi que va a ser la primera que añado a mis favoritos.

felicidades y saludos.Luis

JCG (35153) 2008-09-03 11:18

Bonsoir José,

J'ai du retard à rattrapper dans le visionnage des photos, c'est le problème des vacances !!! Je m'arrête sur celle-ci car je trouve la perspective superbe j'aime beaucoup la dimension que cette image donne à ce château. Le contraste avec ce ciel magnifique est suprenant et donne un relief très appréciable. Belle qualité de l'image, merci pour cette intéressante photo et ton commentaire.

Avec toutes mes amitiés et une très bonne soirée,

Jean-Charles

eversmile (11636) 2008-09-09 16:41

I take advantage to visit your gallery a little further and discover this picture, which is a true marvel. The low POV is excellent, with a dramatic effect, with the movement of the clouds... The colors are just perfect and it's sharp. I don't know how you stitched it but it works very well. Congratulations,
Marine

maloutim (13617) 2008-09-15 19:36

Bonjour José!
J'aime bien les 2 photos, mais comme toi, je préfère l'assemblage!
Le point devue est excellent ainsi que la netteté de ces vieilles pierres sur un ciel de toute beauté! Bravo!
Amicalement.
Marie Louise.

vasilpro (41801) 2008-10-31 14:54

Great photo Jose.
Vasilis

serp2000 (47063) 2008-11-09 3:37

Privet, Jose,
Superb shot! I like your work! Great composition, excellent colours! Ideal POV! Very impressive sky with this clouds! TFS!
Serghei

Greg1949 (9011) 2008-11-13 6:54

Jose, in searching shots of Avila I came across this masterpiece, what a beauty. To have some perfect shots in your gallery is wonderful and this is certainly one of them.

Greg

Felip (3907) 2008-11-15 10:00

Creo haber visto antes este castillo en alguna foto de Charo, quien al parecer se mueve bastante por esta zona. Desde este POV tan bajo, este picado hace parecer al edificio mucho mayor. Muy buena definición, y espléndidos colores, especialmente los de ese magnífico cielo.
Un saludo

Felip

cam (9043) 2009-01-22 17:03

Impressive Jose.
I have the feeling of seing a boat, a very big one at that, moving the ground before it.
The feeling is enhanced by the clouds cover.Warm colors everywhere.
i preder this view to the other you posted later, more dramatic.
Good work
Charles

Silversnow (2319) 2009-08-07 12:52

I really love the angle and POV of this one, the perspective is inspiring and the colors strongly emphasive the massive citadel wall :)

IchabodCrane (79) 2012-10-12 12:33

Exceptional gallery, I like it. Respect!

Karlo