Thursday, December 19, 2013

brand new court

Remember one of my very first posts, where I included photo of Patra's court building from September 2010? Full of slogans and red paint... Check out the brand new, freshly renovated facade!


Photo: Nikon D90 + Sigma 17-50 + tripod, f/8, 1.3s, ISO-200, -2/3EV, f=17mm (28mm for FX), Lr5

Monday, December 16, 2013

solomou - sosipatrou

Last from the series of long exposures from the balcony of my new place. Corner of Solomou and Sosipatrou with Samyang's fisheye.


Photo: Nikon D90 + Samyang 8mm, f/5.6, 30s, -2/3EV, ISO-200, Lr5

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Monday, December 2, 2013

brand new dome

Agios Andreas church, one of the biggest greek orthodox churches, just got his central dome renovated. For many months, the dome was covered with scaffoldings and therefore any photos were almost impossible. But exactly couple of days after renovation was finished and all dome was nicely vissible, I got a chance to visit my friend who has a view to the church from 6th floor! Great view! And all this on saturday night when full lights are on! Anyway, here is the final efect:


Photo: Nikon D90 +  Sigma 17-50/2.8, f/8, 13s, -2/3EV, ISO-200, 17mm (25mm for FX), Lr5

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

in the grass


Faros of Patras hidden in the grass.


Photo: Nikon D70s + Nikkor 35mm/1.8, 1/8000s, f/2.8, ISO-200, -2/3EV, Lr5

Friday, November 22, 2013

moonlight in the city

Long exposure from my balcony with only moonlight and of course some city lights in the buildings.


Photo: Nikon D90 + Sigma 17-50, f/7.1, 55s, ISO200, -1/3EV, 17mm (25mm for FX), Lr5

Friday, November 15, 2013

sunset ride

Last days living in Ag Vassileios, I couldn't miss a chance of sunset photos with the brigde view. This one also with evening bike rider and it's reflection in huge pad of water after heavy rain the previous days.


Photo: Olympus XZ-2, f/1.8, 1/13s, f=6mm (27mm for 35mm), ISO-200, Lr5 software

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

speeding through the city

Korynthou str at night.


Photo: Nikon D90 + Sigma 17-50mm, f/9, 1.3s, -1/3EV, f=17mm (26mm for FX), Lr5

Thursday, October 31, 2013

ΛΟΥΞurious view

This is a view to the Patras bay from a local road Rio - Ano Kastritsi. I've stopped to take a panoramic photo and only later realized that there was a bottle of LUX soda (local Patras brand) in the small reliquary by the road.



Photo: Olympus XZ-2, f/5, 1/800s, f=10mm (46mm for 35mm), ISO-100, Lr5 software

Friday, October 18, 2013

from the top

Today some landscape photos taken "from the top". First one is my village, Agios Vassileios, seen from the top of the nearby hill, close to the church of Ag Giorgios of Drepano. I took it during mtb ride around hills of Rion - my favorite bike destination.


The second one is Platani, just above Agios Vassileios, taken during the very same ride.
I will be moving soon to the city and these photos will be my souvenirs :-D


Both taken with my new "compact" pockatable camera, Olympus XZ-2, bought exactly for this purpose, a bicycle ride or hiking trip.

Photo1: Olympus XZ-2, f/5, 1/640s, f=16mm (75mm for 35mm), ISO-100, Lr5 software
Photo2: Olympus XZ-2, f/5.6, 1/640s, f=24mm (112mm for 35mm), ISO-100, Lr5 software

Friday, September 13, 2013

men at work

Recently I have purchased a new compact camera mostly for 'vacation' purposes. But of course, as it usually is when big boys get a new toy, I went to test it. Pretty obvious choice was Rio-Antirio bridge. When there, I noticed some workers cleaning bottom of the bridge, so today quite unusual 'bridge' frame.






Photo: Olympus XZ-2, f/3.5, 1/400s, f=24mm (112mm for 35mm), ISO-100, Lr5 software

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

on the leash

Cargo ship docked just outside cement factory 'La Farge' (previously "Irakleio') in Aktaio.


Photo: Nikon D90 + Sigma 10-20mm lenses, f/7.1, 1/1000s, -1/3EV, f=10mm (15mm for FX), Gimp swr

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

passion for electronics

Patras is full of tiny stores for fixing electronics, bicycles, furniture, etc. I love all of them as every each has it's own climate, it's own mess that makes them absolutely unique. One of such stores is on the corner of Maizonos and Korai. I passed next to it many times always thinking of taking a photo and finally I took one. Here it is:


On space less than 20 m2, You can find: old hi-fi players, cassette players, traditional TVs, VHS video players, 20y old copy machines and all kind of 'insides' of PCs... a history of electronics in 'miniature'. The narrow path in the middle is the only way in and out to the clerk's desk in the corner. Isn't it great?!

Photo: Nikon D90 + Sigma 10-20mm lenses, f/6.3, 1/100s, ISO1600, EV=-1/3, f=10mm (15mm for FX)

Monday, April 29, 2013

interrupted

I was taking a typical sunset from my village, with a bridge and some trees in the frame - nothing really fancy or original. Since I wanted some longer exposure times and didnt have my tripod with me, I used the tree as a temp sollution but...



...I got interrupted by small quake that moved the camera. To my surprize, the final effect was quite interesting :-D

Photo: Nikon D90 + kit lenses, f/20, 3s, -1/3EV, f=18mm (27mm for FX), Gimp swr

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

busy new port

New south port in Patras is now fully operational and quite busy. Here all four docks taken by huge ferries from Italy.


Photo: Nikon D90 + kit lenses, f/8, 1/800s, -1/3EV, f=50mm (75mm for FX), Gimp swr

Thursday, April 18, 2013

baywatch

This is life guard box just next to 'Tam Toom' beach bar in Aktaio. A little bit on a side and a little bit forgotten, but in the evening sun still looks like scene from 'Baywatch' series from beaches of California :-P


Believe it or not, but it's January!

Photo: Nikon D70s, f/11, 1/60s, f=20mm (30mm for FX), Gimp swr

Friday, April 12, 2013

nine years later

It will be 9y this summer since 2004's Olympic Games in Athens. The majestic sports center got a bit old and lost some of it's glamour, but it is still very popular place for citizens for any kid of sports activities or family walks.



It is a quite recognizable 'tunnel' at the entrance of the center, desgined by Santiago Calatrava, with small water area just behind it. In far right, You can see some of construction of olympic stadium.

Photo: Nikon D90 + kit lenses, AP, f/9, 1/400s, f=30mm (45mm for FX), Gimp swr

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

terraces of green

Snow is almost gone, even in higher parts of Greece, and now only the mountain peaks are still white. During the long weekend I have gone with my bike to Zarouchla in gorge Peristeriona. The gorge is really amazing, with some panoramic views to the Aroania and Kyllini mountains, mountain springs and lakes and even gulf of Korynthos.


This is Kato Potamia, village half way through the gorge, with great view to the river and peaks and some really green fields!

Photo: Panasonic DMC-FX150, f/4.1, 1/250s, f=60mm (for FX), GIMP swr

Friday, March 22, 2013

seasonal lakes of achaea

A bit west from Patras, between airport of Araxos and beaches of Kalogria, are two seasonal lakes: Strofilia and Lamia. In winter and early spring they are both full of water. This one taken during bicycle ride Patras-Kalogria in february this year.

Photo: Nikon D90, AP, f/8, 1/400s, f=63mm (for 35mm), GIMP software

Thursday, March 14, 2013

greek alps

Erymanthia is very often called 'the switzerland of greece'. White peaks in the background and green fields in foreground easily can give this impression. This one taken in first days of March, close to village Stavrodromi, just 40km south from Patra.



Photo: Nikon D90, AP, f/7.1, 1/125s, f=45mm (for FX), GIMP software

Thursday, February 14, 2013

end of road

Winter is only half way through but strong winds, high waves and low temperatures already did their damage to the roads going by the coast. This one is from Ag Vassileios, but there are many places like this all along the coast line: in Aikteo, Rio and Plaz.


Photo: Nikon D90, AP, f/8, 1/100s, -0.7EV, f=27mm (for 35mm), GIMP software

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

ghosts of mpozaitika

In winter, You can meet only ghosts in the beach...


Photo: Nikon D90, AP, f 1/18, 3s, -0.7EV, f=33mm (for 35mm), GIMP software

Friday, February 1, 2013

testing

I have recently bought lots of new photo equipment. First, in the beginning of December last year, was the tripod, that I managed to test a bit during some night walks in Patra and the bridge. Later I decided to try long exposure photography and purchased a variable ND2-400 filter. And just recently I have finally decided to upgrade the camera itself to Nikon D90 :-D Nothing really fancy, but even this already 4.5 year old Nikon is a hell of a boost from 10+ year old D70s!

Today a test of all new items: sunset photo from tripod of course, with ND filter on, with some long exposures. First one from D70s, second from my brand new D90.



It is very easy to notice quite disturbing noise on the photo from D70s. Even though in this case the shutter time was 13s (half of what was set in second photo with D90). The main problem with this camera is the sensor itself, as it is old technology CCD sensor that gets warm very fast during long exposures, and was well known for any disadvantages degarding noise.


Second photo is muuuuch better :-D Shutter time 25s! I am very happy with the result! And now, there is much more to crop from as the sensor is not only new technology CMOS, but also twice the size of D70s, with 12MP.

Just in case You haven't recognized, it's sunset from Mpozaitika.

Photo1: Nikon D70s, AP, f 1/18, 13s, -0.7EV, f=27mm (for 35mm), GIMP software
Photo2: Nikon D90, AP, f 1/18, 25s, f=37mm (for 35mm), GIMP software

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

scary bridge

Having bought the tripod and later on brand new adjustable nd filter, I had no other choice but to try my new gear on the bridge. I wanted to test mainly the filter, to check out the long exposures it offers even during day light. Since middle of the day has still too much light, early evening was the perfect time.


That evening was pretty cloudy and gave to the photo a really dramatic look. Scary dark blue clouds made all the mood... Believe it or not it was quarter to six exactly (there is a time displayed on the entrance to the bridge). I might have enhanced a bit the drama effect but still nature had helped :-P



Photo: Nikon D70s, AP, f 1/16, 25s, f=36mm (for 35mm) + ND2-400 filter, GIMP software