Greek Wedding Chapel Lindos Rhodes

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It was still very dark as I arrived at Lindos and as I drove slowly down a dimly lit steep hill towards the bay two black goats frightened the life out of me as they poked their heads up out of a bin they were stood up against !...yep, I was now fully awake!

St Pauls bay is located at the beautiful village of Lindos and It sits below the natural citadel and Acropolis of Lindos. Located in the picturesque bay is the Greek Orthodox Wedding Chapel  of St Pauls located on the water's edge. This beautiful chapel and stunning location attracts weddings here from all over the world.

I decided I wanted to capture the chapel and the idyllic location and set out at 4 am to get to Lindos before sunrise.

It was still very dark as I arrived at Lindos and as I drove slowly down a dimly lit steep hill towards the bay two black goats frightened the life out of me as they poked their heads up out of a bin they were stood up against !...yep, I was now fully awake!

I arrived at the bottom of the bay and at the chapel gates, it was every bit as beautiful as I anticipated which isn't always the case with places I research.

The gates were locked as I expected but I hadn't given any thought to the wall being as high as it was. It was important for me to find an angle so I could capture the chapel, bay and acropolis with some of the dawn sky.

Luckily there was a small bank and wall next to the gate.

Not being the most agile I carefully climbed the wall while checking no demonic looking goats were waiting in the bushes to pounce!

By poking my lens through the metalwork on top of the wall I eventually had a good angle but not the perfect one I wanted but more on that issue and the solution in a moment.

Eventually, the dawn sky increased in its cool hue and luminosity allowing separation between it and the cliffs above.

Once I had enough light on the acropolis balanced with the sky and the sea in the bay I started my exposures.

This was not a single image it was created from approx 48 separate exposures.I won't bore you with all the reasons for this but my slightly awkward camera angle was one factor. It meant I could clearly include everything I wanted by shooting the scene frame by frame a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.

It was a lot of work requiring me to concentrate on shooting and so had little time to pause and enjoy the dawn unfold but the final image was worth it.

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Morning Chorus Lindos Rhodes

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Lindos came alive with the sunrise, I could hear the Donkey’s braying which creates such a wonderful echo off the surrounding 
cliffs that I can only explain this as feeling Biblical. 
As I stood there with the warm glow of the sun increasing in intensity I could also hear a small trike navigating the village streets below no doubt
making early morning deliveries before the onslaught of day trippers invaded.


Uplift your mornings and enhance your room into a stunning visual haven.

I have captured Lindos village and it’s ancient acropolis many times but I constantly get drawn back here. Lindos is your typical iconic white washed Greek village with winding small streets only navigable by walking, motor scooter or donkey.

In this image I wanted to show a grande vista of the location and make it available as an extra-large fine art print for my gallery. The composition needed extra thought and planning to show all the fine details like the moored boats, temple, distant mountains, and of course the village.

I decided to photograph the scene on a longer lens to enable the mountains and smaller details to show more clearly. To do this I shot the scene in 12 separate parts and later combined them into one single image to enable the final art print shown here..

Knowing the area a little I knew this location was probably the best viewpoint to show what I wanted. I set off from my hotel in the dark to drive the 40 minutes along the coast to reach Lindos careful to avoid any goats that always seem to like to use the roads during off-peak times!

I reached my designated vantage point and started to set up my camera equipment in the semi-darkness.

I hate rushing so I’d rather sit and wait 30 minutes and enjoy the changing light and be in the moment. I’m not just after the best image I also want to experience the magic and that's exactly what I got.

Lindos came alive with the sunrise, I could hear the Donkey’s braying (not the first time I've heard it) which creates such a wonderful echo off the surrounding cliffs. I can only explain this as feeling like something Biblical. 

As I stood there with the warm glow of the sun increasing in intensity I could also hear a small trike navigating the village streets below no doubt making early morning deliveries before the onslaught of day trippers invaded.

I captured the scene ensuring I had all the elements I wanted clearly in view in my composition.

The light was warm over the open landscape and distant mountains picking up some wonderful rugged textures. The village took on a slightly cooler shade in the shadow of the acropolis and the temple itself was gloriously backlit giving a slightly ethereal glow fit for a god!

The very slight chill I had experienced before sunrise was truly forgotten as the sun had now started to create a fine beading of sweat on my shiny bald head. I decided it was time for some air con and my morning coffee and packed the gear away knowing that Rhodes had once again delivered to me a wonderful dawn experience.

You of course have the sun and whitewashed greek village, the crystal blue clear sea and the boats moored in the natural bay.
In the distance the incredible mountains that hug the coast and of course last but not least the historic temple high above the horizon.

This for me this is Greece summed up all in one image.

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Welcoming A New Day St Pauls Gate Rhodes Town

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This cat was also in a moment that looked like it could be appreciation and that made perfect sense to me.


Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Thomas Merton

Cats Cats Cats my pre-dawn photography excursions would not be complete without a cat appearing to assist me during my shoot.

Ive documented how I’m often followed around by some very nosy greek cats in a few of my blog posts and other fine art print stories.

On one of my many trips to Rhodes old town I photographed St Pauls Gate close to Mandraki Harbour to add to my Rhodes art gallery print collection.

This beautiful historic location is located in the north-eastern corner of the Medieval City and I wanted to capture it before the sun rose.

It was a pretty convenient location with a small car park a 30 second walk away from my shooting spot.. not that I’m lazy at all !

I went through my normal routine of working out the best composition and dialing everything into the camera.

The shoot went smoothly and the dawn transitioned beautifully into sunrise as it always seems to here in Rhodes.

As I contemplated moving to my next location within the city walls a cat appeared on the wall and sat down.

I watched at it made itself comfortable facing into the warm sunrise which was heating up the morning air.

The light was beautifully golden and backlighting (Contre-jour) the cat as it welcomed the new morning.

I grabbed my camera and captured a few frames expecting the cat to suddenly move but it was perfectly content.

As I think about I’m no different, I also take time just to be present in the moment once I’m happy I have captured the images I want.

This cat was also in a moment that looked like it could be appreciation and that made perfect sense to me.

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It seemed although the local golfers were not happy having people walking over one of their fairways it was indeed a public right of way.

Walkway Through The Reeds

I had heard stories about this path that lead you across a busy golf course through a reed bed, sand dunes and finally onto the beach at Burnham On Sea In Somerset England.

I was filled with a vision of how it looked and how I’d like to photograph it… I needed to visit it with my camera.

The trouble was I didn’t exactly know the precise location of where to access the path and whether there was public access across a busy golf course or if I’d be trespassing.

There was also a concern of being hit by a golf ball which I had came close to experiencing as a child and it had shook me up!

After checking the weather I decided I simply had to head out to the approximate area and go for it worst case is if I couldn’t find the path I’d find someone to ask.

After a short period of frustration and concerns over losing the evening light I eventually found the path.

It seemed although the local golfers were not happy having people walking over one of their fairways it was indeed a public right of way.

I cautiously proceeded over the fairways and eventually reached a bed of water and reeds and found the Wooden Walkway leading towards the sand dunes onto the beach.

By the time I set up the camera, the skies had turned a little cloudy providing a soft diffusion to the setting sun which complimented the pale wooden bridge and reeds creating an anagalous colour scheme that was perfect for the scene.

The image has got me shortlisted for Landscape Photographer of the year and continues to be one of my best-selling fine art prints in my gallery.

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Experience a moment of stillness, a moment of reflection, and a moment of gratitude.
The sight of the boat moored in the water, its sails furled and its decks empty, is both beautiful and peaceful.
It serves as a reminder that life is a journey, and that moments like this are precious and to be cherished.

Moored For The Night Gumbet Turkey

There is nothing more therapeutic to me than to set up the camera at sunset and to watch & wait for the light to almost disappear into what I call the edge of darkness.

This period of the day (or is it night !) is magical to me and fits in perfectly with my photographic vision of capturing aspirational quiet moments.

I had a family holiday villa in Turkey for around 12 years and travelled there many times.

During my many visits I fell in love with the stunning Turkish Gulets boats and photographed many over the years.

One balmy spring evening I set out along the beach in Gumbet bay near Bodrum.

I had no real plan to shoot anything particular I just felt the urge to get out and explore knowing the wonderful

 light would produce opportunities.

As I walked along the beach front amongst the restaurants and bustling bars I noticed this day bed in shallow water.

Next to it was a gracefully floating Gulet moored for the evening and I knew I had to captured the tranquil scene.

The only issue was there was a lot of seating on the beach and no clear viewpoint no matter how hard I tried to find

a clear composition.

Not one to lose a great image I noticed a restaurant on a rooftop behind me which would provide me with a perfect uncluttered viewpoint.

The great thing about Turkey is that the people are very friendly and pretty laid back for the most part.

I decided to turn on my charm and ask the guy on the desk if he would allow me access for 5 minutes to capture a picture.

To my relief he said no problem and off up the steps I went to hastily set up my tripod.

The sun had already set a good 10 minutes or so by the time I was set up my composition and it was perfect.

The gentle sound of the waves and the sight of the increasing saturated sky casting a cool glow over the water perfectly created

a sense of peace and tranquility which it was.

The sight of the boat moored in the water, its sails furled and its decks empty, was both beautiful and peaceful.

It served as a reminder that life is a journey, and that moments like this are precious and to be cherished.

This was a moment of stillness, a moment of reflection, and a moment of gratitude.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to be here, surrounded by natural beauty, 

and experiencing the peace and quiet of this moment.

I love this image it brings back all the memories of that balmy tranquil evening and the sounds of the restaurant and the sea slowly caressing the beach.

History

Turkish Gulet boats have a rich history that spans several centuries. These traditional wooden sailing vessels have their roots in the southwestern coast of Turkey, where they have been used for various purposes, including fishing, trade, and transportation. Over time, Turkish Gulets evolved into the comfortable and luxurious vessels we know today, designed specifically for sailing vacations and chartered trips.

The exact origins of Turkish Gulets are not known, but it is believed that they evolved from traditional wooden boats used in the region. These boats were initially simple in design, but gradually became more sophisticated over time, as sailors and boat builders added new features and amenities to improve their functionality and comfort.

The demand for Turkish Gulets as a means of travel and leisure increased. Over the years, boat builders continued to refine and improve the design of Turkish Gulets, incorporating new technologies and materials to create even more comfortable and stylish vessels.

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