<< Previous Next >>

Before the Storm


Before the Storm
Photo Information
Copyright: Ulla Kruys (uleko) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2378 W: 164 N: 7139] (22556)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-12
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Canon PowerShot S2IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Landscapes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-05 11:37
Viewed: 748
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
On Cyprus the AKAMAS range of hills in the west reaches about 670 metres in height. The geology of the area is very varied, with limestone in large parts. The vegetation consists mainly of shrub forest, pine trees, juniper and cistus. In the very dry looking terrain there are also a number of orchids and other flowers to be found, like the Gladiolus I posted previously.

After a wonderful sunny day up in these hills clouds began to darken the sky and we decided to start our return journey. As we reached Polis on the north coast about 4 pm the huge black cloud suddenly turned day into night. A dramatic hail storm erupted with hails of almost golf ball size drumming on the car. They quickly melted in the warmth of the day and soon the roads were completely flooded which made it impossible to drive. We sat in the car in the darkness and just waited. About an hour later it eased a bit and we decided to go on. After 20 minutes' drive we were out of the storm and the roads were completely dry. We both felt relieved as we’d never experienced anything like it before! (Perhaps this was another sign of the changing climate!)

"This shot features an ALEPPO PINE which is a small to medium-size tree, reaching 15-25 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm, and in exceptional cases even up to 1 m. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, and thin and flaky in the upper crown. The leaves, or "needles", are very slender - mostly 6-10 cm long, distinctly yellowish green and almost always come in pairs. The cones are narrow conic, 5-10 cm long and 2-3 cm broad at the base when closed, green at first, ripening glossy red-brown when 24 months old. They open slowly over the next few years, a process which is quickened when they are exposed to heat such as the case is in forest fires. The cones open 5-8 cm wide to allow the seeds, which are stored in them, come out and plant themselves. The seeds themselves are 5-6 mm long, with a 20 mm wing, and are wind-dispersed." (Wikipedia)
ramthakur, Evelynn, ridvan, Silvio2006, jcoowanitwong, JORAPAVI, cedryk has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ramthakur: Before the Stormuleko 1 05-05 13:18
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 507 W: 8 N: 1073] (3964)
  • [2007-05-05 11:48]

Hello Ulla, thanks for showing us a little bit of the beauty of Cyprus..well done..

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 1 N: 3970] (13358)
  • [2007-05-05 12:45]

Hello Ulla,
Great landscape and note, I hope there wasn't to much damage to the car. Your image is well composed and shows the rough landscape very well.
Rick

Is that some kind of a pine tree, Ulla? The "leaves" and cones on it suggest that possibility. If it is, then it is so very different from the pines we have in India, which are generally straight and tall, especially in the lower Himalayas, as you must have observed during your visit to India.

The impending storm looms large on the horizon in this unusual shot from Cyprus.
TFS.

Golly! That was quite an experience. I bet golf ball sized hail didn't do your car any good! The noise must have been deafening. I really like your image. The composition is excellent and the light, color and sharpness are all very good too.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 1137] (5130)
  • [2007-05-05 13:43]

hi ulla; very good landscape, excellent copm splendid colours,very nice POV TFS
all the best
ridvan

Hello Ulla,
This is wonderful pov and very well composed picture. Great sharpness and color contrast. The sky at the right of this picture a bit dark. May be the sign of hail storm. Very well done and tfs.
JC

Hi dear Ulla ,
nice shot with great conposition.
light and colours are great.
well done
thanks for sharing
best wishes
Saeed

Hi Ulla splendid composition with great tree, brava, ciao Silvio

Hola Ulla,
Bonita imagen, de agradable composición y bello punnto vista. Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • Dan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 112 W: 0 N: 343] (1687)
  • [2007-05-06 12:55]

Hi Ulla, beautiful image with excellent details and colors. The contrast between the sky and the land is the wonderful but the tree is the "charm" of this photo.
TFS, Dan

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 954 W: 57 N: 1604] (4949)
  • [2007-05-08 18:03]

Hello Ulla,
I like very much storm shots. You made a nice use of the darkening sky, that created a heavy atmosphere of the shot. Also it is a nice presentation of the Aleppo pine.
Best greetings and TFS!
Michal

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF