Uzungol in blue, a photo from Trabzon, Black Sea

Photographer's Note

Just came back from a 6-day trip to Trabzon, in the beautiful Black Sea ("Karadeniz" in turkish) region, on the northeast side of Turkey, a region known to Greeks as "Πόντος" ("Pontos" or "Pontus"). Fantastic landscapes, very dense vegetation, imposing mountains, beautiful alpine sceneries, picturesque valleys, dozens of rivers and lakes in this beautiful corner of Turkey.

The weather was bad, too cloudy, sometimes foggy, too wet, very low visibility, even in the heart of summer, but on the other hand that gave the opportunity for some atmospheric shots. This one was taken in Uzun lake (Uzungol, old greek name, "Σεράχο"=(Seraho"), about 48 km from Of town (old greek name "Οφις"="Ofis", means "snake") and around 100 km from Trabzon (old greek name, "Τραπεζούντα"="Trapezounta").

There were many Orthodox/Greeks living for centuries in the whole region of the Black Sea, that where sent to Greece in 1923-24, being part of the exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece, according to the Treaty of Laussane. There are still people living in the region, that speak greek (the Pontic dialect) in some of the valleys, including the one from Of to Uzungol and the villages on both sides of the valley.

In this particular region (Trabzon Prefecture) a visitor should not miss the magnificent Sumela Monastery, dedicated to Virgin Mary (known to the locals as Meryemana*,Meryem:Mary Ana:Mother Meryem Ana:Mother Mary)which is the greatest pilgrimage for all Pontic-Greeks (you' ll see some photos in the near future).

Every summer, thousands of Pontic Greeks organize excursions from Greece to the Black Sea region, just to see Sumela Monastery and the villages of their ancestors. This summer they are expected to be even more, because there will be a Christian Orthodox Mass, celebrated under his Holiness, the Orthodox Patriarch, Vartholomaios, in the monastery, for the first time in the last 90 years. This will take place on the 15th of August, the most important summer Orthodox feast, The Dormition of Virgin Mary, also know as "The Summer Easter".

*Many thanks to Korkut and Selman for the correction about "Meryemana"!

Copyright © 2010 – Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved

ahmetgedikli, dip, ymrk, erhan1958, yeln, yedirenk, carlosmarin, lucasgalodoido, adores, ktanska, JCG, dkmurphys, mkamionka, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

npecanhuk (79329) 2010-07-28 3:26

Hi Hercules!
Magnificent blue hour picture!
The location seems to be very interesting and beautiful and your picture has truly enhanced that inherent beauty!
I love the colors and the articifial lights all over!
High pov, horizontal format and composition are all excellent too!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2010-07-28 3:45

Merhaba Hercules,
Welcome to my hometown of Trabzon.... Perfect colors, excellent light managment and very nice view...
Very well done!
Have a nice day.
ahmetgedikli

atif_ge (771) 2010-07-28 3:54

Hello Hercules,
What a beautiful landscape you have captured. Beautiful colors, great lighting and superb composition. Thanks for sharing, Atif

CPD66 (960) 2010-07-28 4:21

Hi Hercules,
great colours made all the better from the long exposure shot. great POV and DOF. i might have been tempted to crop the top a touch to concentrate colours a bit more, but thats just my personal view.
well done chris

resat1972 (7586) 2010-07-28 4:23

Hi Hercules,

from Uzungцl great work. you can do a complete work.
blue looks great. Blue was a very good time to wait.
A very nice atmosphere. The photo was a nice presentation.
Great .. Congratulations

Reşat.

tober (8797) 2010-07-28 5:07

Merhaba Giritli, that looks like Black Sea version of 1001 Nights Tales. It's the first time I see such an amazing blue hour photo of Uzungцl district. Congratulations, Tolga

Sergiom (117241) 2010-07-28 5:26

Bonjour Hercles

Le temps d'exposition est parfait. La Mosquйe prise de cette hauteur est spectaculaire et ses reflets dans l'eau bleue sont superbes.

Bravo

Serge

bema (26591) 2010-07-28 5:32

Jassu Hercules,

as usual on your trips through the landscapes, you show us an icredible blue-hour-shot.. so as here to be seen..
mystic atmosphere with that fog in the background, and also some great blue colors and lights in the foreground..

Filika Bernd

sabermonajati (11537) 2010-07-28 5:39

hi
very nice colore and light you captured.
regard
saber

jasmis (58653) 2010-07-28 5:45

Night shots master strikes again! Marvellous presentation.
Regards my dear friend.

halilguven (417) 2010-07-28 6:01

Uzungцl serisine eklenecek зok gьzel bir kare daha.
Tebrikler.

tusharkmandal (3173) 2010-07-28 6:08

Hi Hercules,

A master of blue hour. Thats what would like to call you. :) A great picture. Everything is perfect, serene and smooth. The exposure is great and the colors are marvelous.

Kind Regards
Tushar

alin-m (3716) 2010-07-28 6:55

Great nightshot.Congratulations.
Like others pictures made by you,this one is also perfect.
Friendly greetings.Alin.

dip (21408) 2010-07-28 7:03

Geia sou Irakli,
an eleipe to tzami me tous minaredes,tha mporouse na itan kapou stin Austria i tin Elvetia,
yperoxi lipsi sti mple ora,poli kalo POV,
se xaireto,
Dimitris.

ymrk (15099) 2010-07-28 7:36

i'll be bound,Hercules!Because i'd gone the this place at first time.And i've been happy a lot...How did you come?A plane or highway?If you come again,you stop by Ankara please :)
Fantastic blue hour time of Uzungol..I've never seen this style of Uzungol to be honest.Well angle of vision of our well known and most famuous Place!
Ta leme!

Yağmur

erhan1958 (15961) 2010-07-28 8:11

kalimera herkьl
I'll go and shoot almost at the same time
I envy
exceptionally good work
congratulations
Erhan

yedirenk (11244) 2010-07-28 9:56

Hi,
welcome to Turkey again,dear Hercules!
what a wonderful blue hour shot of the Uzungцl.very charming atmosphere..colours,lights and reflections are amazing..superb timing and excellent presentation with great sharpness.very good view angle.thanks for this wonderful sharing..greetings

Cevdet

dta (98848) 2010-07-28 9:56

Hello hercules ,
A fantastic view ! With the choice of the light capture , at the blue hour , it looks like a picture from a fairy tale .
Very well done

JFS (32459) 2010-07-28 10:22

Hola amigo,

Mбgnifica captura en la blue hour. Solo verla supe que era tuya. Por cierto, no nos dejes tanto tiempo sin tus fotos!

Un abrazo,
Juan

carlosmarin (11954) 2010-07-28 12:27

Hola Hercules,
bellнsima foto en hora azul.
Magnнfico POV. Buena gestiуn de la luz y el color.
Buen trabajo, como nos tienes acostumbrados.
TFS
Un abrazo,
Carlos

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2010-07-28 13:46

Hi Hercules,
impressive the beautiful of this capture in the blue hour, and I like of the city lights too. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

muunal (792) 2010-07-28 14:00

Perfect timing and POV for Uzungol. Excellent shot from this unique place...

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2010-07-28 15:49

Irakli mou, i think it is Meryem Ana, not Meryem Mana...
(Meryem:Mary Ana:Mother Meryem Ana:Mother Mary)
In Turkish we tend to call her Meryem Ana (Mother Mary) rather than Bakire Meryem (Virgin Mary)...

...ggrreeaattt shot anyway!...

hugs bro mou...

Leconte (5795) 2010-07-28 16:04

hello Hercules,

Incredible POV for a panoramic view, fantastic atmosphere with these low clouds, beautiful colors just perfect for your fabulous time, and lovely star of light, and beautiful effect of 15 seconds giving an atmosphere of rest, wonderful composition,

Best regards,
Valerie.

adores (46979) 2010-07-28 16:47

Hi Hercules!
Very good shot in the blue hour! The pov and the exposure are excellent. Good colours also!

Graal (103040) 2010-07-29 0:05

Kalimera Hercules,
very nice view. Good night shot. Amazing lights and colours. Well done photo. I like it a lot.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

brandstaetter (15915) 2010-07-29 0:43

Hi Hercules,
the two extremly thin towers of the mosque are the eyecatchers here and very well placed.
Good one,
Christian

ktanska (45056) 2010-07-29 2:54

Hi Hercules,
Beautiful late blue hour with rainy looking clouds. Special combination of mountain village landscape and the minarets. Lit areas make a nice pattern.
Kari

svefay (810) 2010-07-29 3:05

hello Hercules,
another perfect night shot!...
Thank you for sharing it us...

(note for the description of Meryemana. Actually it should be Meryem Ana, means Mother Mary (Mary or Miriam for Meryem and Ana for Mother)

JCG (35153) 2010-07-29 6:02

Hello Hercules,

Superb twilight photograph with a perfect management of the light. The selected point of view is splendid and I like much these low clouds in background on the mountain which create an atmosphere with the landscape. Still a beautiful photographic work, thank you Hercules and cheer.

With all my friendships and an excellent afternoon,

Jean-Charles

ciakgiak (30) 2010-07-29 7:23

Ciao Hercules,
favolosa interpretazione di un posto incantevole.
L'ora blu, le luci ed i riflessi ti hanno regalato, si fa per dire :-)), uno scenario indimenticabile.
La tua bravura ha fatto il resto.
Un caro abbraccio.
Giorgio

Bruno40 (6662) 2010-07-29 7:52

azul, azul, azul, que te quiero azul!!
Grande Hercules!

Cricri (176) 2010-07-29 9:55

Hi Hercules
Trиs joli paysage a l'heure bleu,avec une belle ambiance que donne les йclairages, la vue sur la mosquйe et ces reflets, vraiment une belle composition
Amitiйs
cricri

dkmurphys (79209) 2010-07-29 12:03

Hi Hercules,
This is an incredible shot with great light management and a splendid panoramic view. You sure have captured the essence of that wonderful place. Good work.

LOOOK13 (19046) 2010-07-29 12:57

Salut Hercules.
Πολύ όμορφη εικόνα, όπως το d' συνήθεια η εργασία είναι θαυμάσια, μια μπλε ώρα ελεγχόμενη στην τελειότητα με ένα μαγικό σημείο της όψης. Μια πολύ όμορφη ανακάλυψη.
Μπράβο.

batalay (41261) 2010-07-30 3:52

Hello Dear Hercules,

You were in Turkey, or most likely you are still there. I'm sorry it is not during my visit in early September. This is a spectacular example of light management in creation of this expansive view, a veritable painting. We will be on the cruise of the Crystal Serenity from August 24, where we board in Venice and disembark on September 5 in Istanbul. In going through the Mediterranean and Aegean, we will visit Katakolon and Navplion on Aug. 27 and 28, respectively. It certainly would be wonderful if you were somewhere in the vicinity. Did you get a chance to meet any of our mutual Turkish friends while in Turkey?

Warm regards, Hercules,

Bulent

ersoyyilmaz (2489) 2010-07-30 8:44

After many many boring pictures from this lake&village, a surprising landscape..Congratulations!

mkamionka (75137) 2010-07-31 2:06

Hi Hercules,
I know this place from various guidebooks to Turkey. It is one of the most photogenic places in this region. Yet I have never seen a blue hour photo from there. It is a master performance. You have chosen to be at the perfect spot in the best possible timing. Excellent work, no words to give it a justice.
The exposition is perfect with everything in a great balance. I like especially the silhouette of the mosque so wonderfully set in the surrounding. The fog decreases a bit the visibility yet it introduces a lot of atmosphere here.
Extraordinary work, congratulations!
M

timecapturer (49288) 2010-07-31 5:24

Hi Hercules

magnificent capture! such clarity under difficult lighting conditions. Reflections have come out so well especially for such a long exposure.

Brian D.

giorgimer (35017) 2010-07-31 5:38

Hi Hercules,

nice capture, you always well know how to manage exposure to obtain stunning results

tfs

G

Rafer (0) 2010-07-31 14:59

Bellisima imagen con un sorprendente color y tratamiento...saludos Hercules

azizbilgili (2111) 2010-08-02 0:48

Hi Hercules,
Perfect colors, excellent light managment and very nice view...

TFS

xramm (1831) 2010-08-19 5:23

γειά σου Hercules,
You visited Turkey, and took this nice blue hour shot, great details and timing.
Extraordinary view from north sea.
Regards,
Hakki

ikeharel (114605) 2010-09-01 10:17

Kalispera Hercules,
That is a great blue hour image on the wonderful place in Turkey.
Excelent 15sec. exposure , well collected - lucky not much movements of vehicles or a bug flys during the process...
Fantastic !
Ike

hemantbuch (1649) 2010-09-01 10:36

Hi Hercules,

Superb shot of the blue hour. I'm a great admirer of your work and this is another fine example of it...great pov and colours.

Regards,

Hemant

TopGeo (38220) 2010-09-01 11:35

Γειά σου Ηρακλή! Καλώς επέστρεψες! και καλό φθινόπωρο!
Παρακολούθησα την εργασία σου από την επίσκεψή σου στην Τραπεζούντα! διέκρινα αρκετά καλά στοιχεία! Επέλεξα αυτή για να σε επαινέσω για την ξενάγησή σου στην κοιτίδα του Πόντιακού Ελληνισμού!! Ευχαριστώ σε για την διανομή!Εδώ η θέση, τα χρώματα η ομίχλη και το τοπίο έδωσαν στην νύχτα, κάτι από όνειρο!..
χαιρετώ σε
Γεώργιος