Skoumbarda III- a ruined gun base, a photo from Dodekanisos, South Aegean

Photographer's Note

Another view from Mount Skoumbarda, to the south of Leros, towards the great natural harbor of Lakki and a large part of the island northwards.

On the foreground a ruined gun base. During the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese Leros was heavily fortified to become a very important naval base. The Italians built the town of Lakki on flat land according to the architectural style of Rationalism. They also created the island’s infrastructure and numerous tunnels and buildings for military and social purposes. Then came World War II.

After the loss of Rhodes, Churchill insisted that Samos and Leros should be defended against the forces of Hitler (who wanted the islands for his own reasons) and be kept by the allies. The Americans didn’t want to get into battle in the Aegean and planned radical action elsewhere, aiming at finishing the war as soon as possible. So Churchill proceeded to defend the islands, a decision that caused much concern in Britain because of the great number of forces needed and especially after the Battle of Leros and the island was lost. There‘s a fascinating book “Churchill’s Folly, Leros and the Aegean” by Anthony Rogers, that relates the facts and includes several interesting photos.

On Mount Skoumbarda was the naval base San Giorgio with three 152/L50mm and one 102mm guns and battery 262 with six 76mm/L40 guns. After the Italian Armistice on September 8 1943, the British arrived on Leros and took over the command of the island. During the German attacks, starting with bombings from September 26 and until end of the Battle of Leros (November 12-16), the British forces controlled the batteries, the fortifications and infrastructure they found on the island, while they assigned purely defensive duties to the Italian soldiers who remained here.

I read a lot in order to write this note and little by little this tragic and fascinating history becomes clearer to me, all the bits of information that were randomly taken in at different times have started settling in drawing the large picture. However, I have no idea about guns and can’t say what gun was installed here overlooking the harbour.

I have to say a big thank you to Yannis Paraponiaris who brought me here and is patiently showing me locations of great historical interest and natural beauty. Since childhood he is a collector of WWII relics and items, has a private museum and frequently collaborates with writers and journalists or soldiers’ relatives who wish to trace the facts. His collection is superb. His website is: http://www.paraponiaris-leros.gr

I agree that the presence of cables even here is irritating and disturbing. A few metres away, there stands a very tall tower which is a tv antenna. I don’t know if it serves other purposes as well, this spot is also called “the radar” by the local people.

Thank you for visiting

ikeharel, ciakgiak, bema, tyro, Miguel82, saxo042, baddori, Graal, Silvio1953, delpeoples, Didi, bayno, aliabazari, annjackman, abmdsudi, adores, nikkitta, Cricri trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ciakgiak (30) 2012-07-24 1:49

Ciao Ourania,
splendida veduta aerea, con le rovine in primo piano, molto interessanti e a fare da apripista ad un panorama da mozzare il fiato.
La foto e la composizione sono tecnicamente ineccepibili, con una bella luce e bei colori.
Un caro saluto
Giorgio

ikeharel (114777) 2012-07-24 1:49

Kalimera Ourania,
Through the fascinating note you had written, I learent yet another untold story from some 60+ years ago, when WW2 was in full swing, and someone had to stop the evil forces somewhere.
Great story told, and the picture is a living memory to this.
Never mind the cables, that a part of the scenery, and part of modern life. Good depth onto the harbour in the bay.
Interesting and well shown.
Ike

bema (26591) 2012-07-24 1:55

Kalimera Ourania,

a very informating note and a lot of historics, too.. great place there up on the mountain, and a pretty good location for an oputlook down and around that fascinating landscape.. maybe there should have beeen better builings have grown up than those who have been installed in former times..

so thanks for sharing, have a nice week, see you soon

Jassu Bernd

tyro (30513) 2012-07-24 2:18

Kalimera Ourania,

What I appreciate most about your note is that you have very clearly spent some considerable time in composing it and you have not just copied it (as many others do) from Wikipedia. It is very informative indeed and again lets us realise just how much the Greeks suffered during World War II. In fact, I vividly remember visiting Moni Preveli in Crete and being very impressed with its terrible history of conflict during and after the German invasion in May, 1941. I took this picture (not a very good picture - more just a "record" shot) - and later did quite a bit of reading about that Australian soldier, Geoff Edwards, who had been helped by the monks and the local Cretans to escape: he was so grateful that when he eventually returned to Australia, he founded a tiny village in Western Australia and called it "Prevelly". He also built a small chapel there modelled on a part of the old monastery. I thought that was wonderful.

Anyway, to your picture! It is a picture of wonderful contrasts - the beautiful distant mountains and sky, the village and harbour nestling by the sea in the mid-ground - but in the foreground a horrible blemish to the landscape which was once an artillery emplacement.

The contrasts in colours is excellent too: the foreground reds and yellows and the distant blues and purples. And all incredibly detailed and sharp with amazing depth of field.

A wonderful photograph and, together with your comprehensive note, this is what TE is all about!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

Miguel82 (47110) 2012-07-24 2:27

Ourania,
This is an important historical and patrimonial place
We have a superb view of the bay from there
Explicative note and good pov
Good sharpness and fine colors
Regards

kathryn_weir (2056) 2012-07-24 2:28

Hello Ourania,
A very interesting photograph and your notes are informative and greatly enhance the photo presentation. The sharpness and foreground detail with is warm colours beautifully contrast the cooler background. Tfs
Kathryn

Sergiom (117241) 2012-07-24 5:27

Bonjour Ourania

Si on considère le paysage autour, les canonniers avaient la meilleure vue en ville. Aucune embarcation pouvait passer sans être vue.

Amicalement

Serge

mauro61 (53429) 2012-07-24 5:29

ciao Ourania,
foto su due campi ben realizzata con il grande cerchio in pietra in FG e il mare sullo sfondo.
Ben dosata la luce e i colori.
Un punto di vista privileggiato sulla costa,
buona serata
maurizio

lousat (140082) 2012-07-24 8:15

Hi Ourania,spectacular view,very interesting on the ruins and whit a magnificent panorama in background,i like the lot of colors and the great details too.Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

saxo042 (38078) 2012-07-24 12:40

Hi Ourania,
A very fine contrast between the blue background and the brownish foreground. The circular base of the old artillery serves well in this composition!
Kind regards
Gunnar

ifege (49653) 2012-07-24 14:35

Hi Ourania
A very interesting photo and even more interesting and informative note. I was fully aware of the Churchill's WWI blunder with Gallipoli but wasn't aware of this one.
You've managed good depth of field to give a good view of the town as well as the gun placement - well done.
cheers
Ian

carlo62 (81265) 2012-07-24 15:33

Ciao Ourania
bella composizione, con il primo piano nettissimo ed uno splendido panorama nel triangolo superiore creato dalla diagonale delle rocce.
Bei colori e luce ben gestita.
Saluti
Carlo

mohammad_H (10178) 2012-07-24 15:33

Hello
Very comprehensive notes. And the realities of war
A place with attractive prospects
Beautiful landscape
Good clarity and good light
Good night

wolf38 (30) 2012-07-24 21:18

Hi Ourania. Truly a stunning unspoilt scenery. Front it looks like on Mars. But behind a familiar landscape with water, hills, houses, etc. The combination of the two halves of the picture is well done. Worth seeing. Informative text. Rgds, Wolfgang.

baddori (20341) 2012-07-24 23:16

Ourania
Baia bellissima e contesto storico.
Quando vedevo a Cagliari, le vecchie navi da guerra greche (ex americane) e le nuove Turche mai assieme in esercitazioni Nato.
La chiave di lettura è Churchill, i Dardanelli, il petrolio arabo e Suez e Gibilterra.
La guerra civile dal 1943 al 1947 contro gli inglesi e le mire di Tito sulla Macedonia.
La bellezza naturale, e gli imperi capitalistici.
A due chilometri da casa mia vi è la bandiera della nave ammiraglia ottomana sconfitta a Lepanto e l'eroismo di 500 armigeri sardi sulla nave di Giovanni d'Austria.
Con orgoglio sardo e affetto per la tua bella isola e foto della enorme e coloratissima baia che fa "contraltare a Santorini.
GF

Graal (103040) 2012-07-25 0:14

Kalimera Ourania,
another interesting old historic ruins. Good presentation and photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Silvio1953 (223141) 2012-07-25 3:13

Ciao Ourania, gran bel POV sulle interessanti rovine, nota molto ben esplicativa, fare una foto senza elementi di disturbo è ormai diventata una pia speranza, ma qui poco toglie allabellezza di un panorama mozzafiato, splemndida luce e magnifici colori, brava, ciao Silvio

delpeoples (60342) 2012-07-25 3:49

Ciao cara Ourania

Un'altra veduta strepitosa, che ancora ha detto della storia della tua terra. I colori e le tessiture sono ben resi e l'immagine e ben composto. Avrei - forse - clonato le linee elettriche sopra, ma questa non e' sempre facile, ed anche una questione di gusto personale. Grazie per la bella foto e la nota molto interessante.

Un caro saluto
Lisa

sacimar (38173) 2012-07-25 4:31

Hello Ourania,

this is an interesting view, it's a different one, the gun base is well shown here, you chose a good point of view, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

Didi (61591) 2012-07-25 9:46

Bonjour Ourania
Un site intéressant et bon point de vue.
Il est possible de masquer les câbles en utilisant une technique de masquage, mais il faut être très patient avec le tampon de clônage
Amitiés

marcan44 (6315) 2012-07-25 11:15

Ciao Ourania,
particolare molto dettagliato della postazione di batteria dell'ultima guerra, ma l'immagine si fa apprezzare anche per la splendida vista sul porto di Lakki e per lo scenario bellissimo della natura che queste isole del Dodecanneso mostrano.
Ottimo lavoro
TFS
Buona serata
Mario

bayno (18348) 2012-07-25 13:19

Ciao Ourania,
una nota di grande interesse aperta a discussioni lunghissime...l'italia era alleata con i tedeschi ma dopo l'armistizio ci fù un massacro degli italiani da parte dei nazisti, ho visto un film stupendo a proposito "Cefalonia" che spiega molto bene la storia. La foto è comunque molto bella, con un bel contrasto tra la terra ocra e il resto delle tonalità, i fili non sono un gran problema rispetto all'alto contenuto storico ed emotivo...gran bel lavoro...
Valter

aliabazari (23429) 2012-07-25 20:09

Γεια σας
Ο σωστός φωτισμός είναι πολύ καλά καταγράφεται με ένα όμορφο φόντο και το κείμενο που είναι πολύ όμορφη.
Χάρη και αφορά

danyy (0) 2012-07-26 3:41

Bonjour Ourania,
le choix du POV bien en hauteur mais pas trop, permet de bien voir le site mais aussi les détails. L'arrière plan fournit eau, terre et air avec beaucoup de profondeur.
J'aime beaucoup.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

annjackman (23019) 2012-07-26 4:33

Hello Ourania,
A lovely flow to this picture with the gun base and the landscape forming sweeping curves. The colours and exposure are super - very well done. An interesting contribution to TE.
Kind Regards, Ann

abmdsudi (95869) 2012-07-26 8:41

Hi Ourania
The much emphasize grain-textures on ruined gun base gives a warm feeling and the earthly texture of the elements suits well the scene. The sights are well captured, besides the framing is perfectly chosen with the view in the pristine distance at the same time it helps focusing the eye on the fg main interest. Excellent shot! The mood of feeling in this is very strong, as is the sense of calmness. Good lighting and colour and I also like the slight softness to the background, which makes the main subject stand out even more by the sharpness. Nice work and always an interesting narratives. Well done
Warm regards

adores (46979) 2012-07-26 18:01

Hi Ourania!
You're showing a very curious place! And from here the view must be magnificent!
Good pov and dof!
I like this gun base in the foreground and its colours! Good note also!

maria-v1981 (10966) 2012-07-31 1:06

Καλημέρα Ουρανία,
Πολύ ενδιαφέρουσες σημειώσεις που μας ενημερώνουν για την Λέρο. Ατελείωτη και απέραντη θέα που μαγνητίζει το μάτι. Πολύ όμορφη σύνθεση και δυστυχώς τα καλώδια είναι το μόνιμο πρόβλημα στην εικόνες ιδιαιτέρα στην Ελλάδα και εγώ αντιμετώπισα πολλές το ίδιο. Συνέχισε την καλή δουλεία.
Χαιρετισμούς,
Μαρία

nikkitta (17070) 2012-09-28 6:17

Hola Ourania

You read and composed a very informative note to introduce this excellent capture with a great POV
Like the way you managed to show at the BG some blue sea to contrast with the yellow-golden of the mountain
The cables..if they are, I prefer to keep them rather than erase ( PS work) them
Thanks for sharing, have a great week end
Maria

s_lush (16602) 2013-02-15 23:58

Hello Ourania,
Your shot is a very good illustrative material, which along with the comprehensive note gives a lot of information about the island and its history. Excellent point of view, well-chosen composition, good light, lovely colors, interesting natural details and perfect quality of the picture!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Cricri (176) 2015-03-07 11:51

Hi Ourania
Une vue spectaculaire, de ces ruines, teintes chaudes, une belle vue au loin du paysage, une image bien presenter et realiser
Belle soiree
cricri