Picture Story
I had finished a hard day of walking along some of the coastal trails of the Rota Vicentina in Southwest Portugal, during which I visited and photographed several nice beaches and viewpoints. There are so many interesting locations along this coast between Odeceixe and Sagres villages, that a complete list is quite extensive. Some of the highlights are the beaches of Arrifana, Odeceixe, and Cordoama. The recommended trail season lasts between September and March, when the weather is colder, thus avoiding the heat of Summer.
On this particular day in late February, I drove at the end of the day to Telheiro beach, near Cape Sao Vicente. My plan was to walk around for a little while, getting acquainted with the place. I had a general idea in my mind for a photo, namely to include the lighthouse on top of its headland against a backdrop composed of the tall cliffs, the heavy seas, and the sky. After trying out several locations and possibilities, I settled on this composition. I proceeded to set up the tripod, camera and lens, and fired a few test shots. I decided to use my telephoto zoom lens, which is invaluable to me for this type of scene, thanks to the flexibility it provides. Choosing an aperture of f/8 and base ISO on the camera, I waited until the light came on in the building.
I was lucky that all the elements I had envisaged combined to result in the image I wanted. The cliffs, the crashing waves, the soft warm colors of the sunset, and the small beacon light as a warning to passing ships. Many centuries ago, during the Age of Discoveries, it is said that Henry the Navigator established his naval school in these lands. This is where the land ended and the endless ocean started, on the way to Africa, Brazil, and India. One can almost imagine Henry strolling through his quarters and admiring many sunsets like this.
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Dimitri Vasileiou • Editor