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The ghost of Adamastor


The ghost of Adamastor
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-29
Categories: Seascape
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EFS 18-55mm, Digital ISO 100, Hoya UV - 58mm
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-03 7:01
Viewed: 2395
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cape Point
Western Cape, South Africa

Bartholomeu Dias, the Portuguese seafarer, was the first to sail around the Cape. This was in 1488. On his return voyage Dias stopped at the south-western tip of Africa, and named it Cabo Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms. King John of Portugal later gave it the name Cabo da Boa Esperança, or Cape of Good Hope.

Another Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, rounded the Cape on 22 November 1497 on his way to India. The journeys of these explorers led to the establishment of the Cape sea route. This meant more regular sailings around the tip. It also indirectly to led to a number of casualties along these unpredictable shores. Today, shipwrecks (26 of them) and stone crosses bear testimony to the treacherous and challenging historic sea route.

The story of the mythical Adamastor, the grisly spirit of the Cape of Storms, is told by the Portuguese poet Camoens in the 1500s:

“As Vasco da Gama and his fleet approached the Cape, a dark, ominous cloud appeared overhead. It took on the shape of a monstrous human figure who reproached the voyagers for venturing into the seas. This was Adamastor. He prophesised that disaster would befall anyone who dared round the Cape of Storms. In classical myth, Adamastor had sought to overthrow the gods. However, he was punished by the gods who metamorphosed the monster into a mountain and set it at Cape Point to guard over the southern seas.”

This view was taken from across the False Bay (between Gordons Bay and Rooiels) looking at Cape Point. I will post a photo of the actual spot later. Hope you like it.
carper, radz, mogens-j, JeanMichel, dew77, red45, wallhalla15, pompey, Janice, Toni, chiliu, ellis49, coasties, deud, scottevers7, Luc, Signal-Womb, henrye, hehekamone has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-03 7:03]

This is outstanding Gerhard! Into my favourites with this picture. :) Colors are great and well ... what can I write. It's perfect!

Regards,
Pieter

Ps-Will e-mail you soon!

Prachtig gerhard,
wat een kleuren pracht.Hele schitterende view, goede compositie, goed uitgeballanceerde foto, goed werk,
gr. jaap

Beautiful sea scape and a good story to go with it.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-10-03 8:12]

Awesome sunset shot!!!Lolvely colours&dof are spot on.

Gerhardt, this is an excellent sunset/sunrise. Fantastic lines/figures in the clouds enhanced by the dark areas. The colours are so much different from the red sunsets we are used to see here on TN and that makes it more interesting too. I really like the blue and orange - they work great here. Finally the low horizon is perfect for a picture like this - well done.

Wonderful colors here, Gerhard, and as Mogens writes, very different from the classical sunset/sunrise colors. I appreciate the shades of sky and sea blue separated by this strong orange line. Spacial distribution between sea and sky is perfect. I see a ghost :-) at one third above the left island: two slanting eyes, two ears vanishing in the sky and a long body going horizontally on the right side...

can't spot the ghost (yet), but fantastic sunset over water/islands and the clouds really make the picture.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-10-03 9:55]

Hello Gerhard!
Magnificent capture.Well seen and composed.Colors,POV,DOF and framing are wonderful.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-10-03 14:10]

Great story Gerhard! Very calm picture. Lovely sun and sky. Shapes of clouds, silhouettes of mountains and ocean - all looks great. TFS this beauty.

Excellent landscape Gerhard, great sharpness, details and clarity, great POV too! Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
  • [2005-10-03 15:18]

Brilliant landscape/seascape Gerhard, very moody, great colours and excellent note.
Thanks for sharing.
Michael.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-10-03 15:49]

Gerhard, this is stunning, it looks very similar to the view of the Hauraki Gulf here from home. But what a history! The colours of the sky and their relections on the waters are superb. My only nit is that the horizon is uneven, the water will run out on the left. But it is a beautiful scene. well done.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-10-03 16:04]

Hi Gerhard
This really is a spectacular sunset with the sweeping clouds and the little silhouettes of the mountains. Very pretty colours.
Regards Toni

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-10-03 21:09]

Hi Gerhard,
This is a beautiful photo!
Very nice colour, perfect exposure, excellent composition.
Well done!

Great view, Gerhard.
The colours are amazing and the exposure are spot on.
I like the POV and composition too. The small reflections of the sun are very nice and are a great bonus.
Excellent work, my friend.

Hi Gerhard

Lovely colours. I like the wind swept clouds and the different coloursmin the sky. Nice POV too. Perfect shot! TFS.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-10-04 7:26]

Un ciel fantastique avec de superbes couleurs et bien exposé. La netteté et la prise de vue sont excellentes.


Félicitations !

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2005-10-04 7:54]

fantastic sunset. outstanding colors. great perspective. excellent shot. tfs

Hi Gerhardt,
A very beautiful seascape shot. The colors are so soft and pleasing. Great clouds to give such a dramatic sky. Very well done!
Scott

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-10-13 9:53]

Looking at your Intro I see that your recent lifting made on the Coast is successfull ;-)

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Power of evocation in me: great.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: great story.
Thank you Gerhard.

Great sky scape Gerhard with wonderful windswept formations in the clouds to keep the eye busy. 6/10 Very nice work.

So amper of ek het hierdie een gemis!

Fantastic shot! It is one of the best views in the world, and you captured it perfectly! The colors are amazing, and the composition you chose (placing the horizon and the sun on thirds) is perfect.

Ek kannie vir jou verduidelik hoe baie ek jou fotos geniet nie. Uitstekend!

Hello Gerhard, wonderful sunset. i think it's a great story that one about Adamastor. only a thing, in portuguese we say "cabo das tormentas" instead "cabo tormentoso", but that's ok, it means the same :) ... about Adamastro, thera was in that rip a portuguese poet who's name was Luís de Camões, who wrote a book called "Os Lusíadas" which he tells a story about that trip... it's a romance. well i hope i helped you with this little extra information :) ... thank you for post this photo, it has avery nice and soft colours, very nice to watch.

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