Preveza Nights, a photo from Preveza, Epirus

Photographer's Note

Preveza has among the Greeks the reputation of a melancholic town. "Responsible" for that, is Greek poet, named Kostas Karyotakis, know for its pesimism. When Karyotakis, was transfered to work as an employee to Preveza, in June 1928, he had already many personal problems, and some serious health problems among others. The atmosphere of a small countryside town, that was just recently liberated by the Ottoman Empire, made his depresion even worse. On the 1st of July of 1928 wrote a letter to a cousin of his, including a poem, entitled "Preveza", where his tragic psycological condition, was more than obvious. If you want to read the poem (in greek, only), ***CHECK HERE***. 20 days later, Kostas Karyotakis commited suicide.

Despite the "melancholic" reputation, Preveza is a lively town with a rather festive atmosphere and "cosmopolitan" air. Some info about Preveza from WIKIPEDIA:

"Preveza (Greek: Πρέβεζα) is a town in northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of Preveza Prefecture, which is part of the periphery of Epirus. An undersea tunnel, which runs between Preveza and Aktio of Acarnania (see Actium), connects the town to western Aetolia in Aetolia-Acarnania. The ruins of the ancient city of Nicopolis lie 5 km north of the city.

Preveza was founded in 290 BC as Berenikia by Pyrrhus, King of Epirus.[2] It is site of the Battle of Actium, in which Augustus' forces defeated those of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Nicopolis ("victory city") was built nearby to commemorate Augustus' victory. It continued under Roman and later Byzantine rule, experiencing brief periods of Bulgarian rule in the 10th century (920-922, 977-983, 996-997). After 1204, it came under the Despotate of Epirus (1204-1230, 1241-1338, 1356-1358), the Second Bulgarian Empire (1230-1241), the Serbian Empire (1348-1356), and the Despotate of Arta (1358-1401). It then came under Venetian rule until captured by the Ottomans in 1499.

Under the Ottomans, it was known as Preveze, and was the capital of the Karlı İli sanjak (derived from Carlo II Tocco, Despot of Epirus) which comprised Aetolia-Acarnania), initially as part of the vilayet of Rumelia (1499-1670) and afterwards of the vilayet of Yanya (Ioannina). The Battle of Preveza was fought off its shore in 1538, where the Ottoman fleet of Hayreddin Barbarossa defeated a united Christian fleet under Andrea Doria. Ottoman rule was interrupted twice by periods of Venetian control, during the Morean War (1684-1699) and from 1717 to 1797. At the Treaty of Campo Formio, it was ceded to France, but was abandoned to the forces of the local Ottoman governor, Ali Pasha, in 1798. It remained under Ottoman control until captured by the Greek Army on 3 November 1912, during the First Balkan War. Along with the rest of Greece, it was occupied by Italy (1941-1943) and Germany (1943-1944) during World War II. "

***MORE PHOTOS FROM PREVEZA***

Copyright © 2009 – 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.

vasilpro, lucasgalodoido, Buin, ciakgiak, syd1946, Dashab, antua, JCG, josepmarin, Hellas, muunal, AiresSantos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mauro61 (53411) 2009-09-26 7:56

ciao Hercules,
bellissima esplosione di colori in questo scatto...
una perfetta definizione con la continuità interrotta dagli alberi delle imbarcazioni.
Molto bella
buona serata
maurizio

vasilpro (41801) 2009-09-26 8:30

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Πολύ όμορφη φωτογραφία με άψογο φωτισμό και αντανακλάσεις και υπέροχη μπλε ανταύγεια.
Καλό Σαββατοκύριακο, Βασίλης.

gilou530 (34) 2009-09-26 8:32

salut hercules
une vue super agréable avec ces couleurs sur les facades au milieu de cette heure bleue et pour compléter le bas des reflets top, magnifique
amitiés
gilbert

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2009-09-26 8:40

Hi Hercules,
impressive your capture on the Blue Hour, and the harbor and buildings lightning are beautiful too. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

Buin (42580) 2009-09-26 8:40

Good evening Hercules!
A scenery, a sky, a photo to marvel at! These colours create a wonderful symphony here. A really worth-seeing picture in an amazing quality!
Greetings from still warm and sunny Germany!
Frank

ciakgiak (30) 2009-09-26 9:00

Hello Hercules,
since the thumbnail you can say that it's a Cretense's image. Really splendid, fantastic colours and reflections, marvellous blue sky, excellent POV and sharpness, perfect exposure. What a great shot!
Congratulations and TFS, have a nice WE.
Giorgio

coco (30439) 2009-09-26 9:12

Kalispera Hercules.

Qué foto.
La composición y en especial la exposición y la luz son geniales.
Es un muy buen trabajo y... desde hace una hora estoy de vacaciones (al fin).

Ta leme, file mou.

ymrk (15099) 2009-09-26 9:30

I remember at here in a place as if...Perfect capture and wonderful long exposure done...If Blue hour had added a plus to that work!
Ta leme!

Yağmur

syd1946 (1167) 2009-09-26 9:30

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Μια ακομη εξαιρετικη νυχτερινη φωτογραφία!Το σχεδον μπλε του ουρανου ερχεται σε πολυ ωραια αντιθεση με τα πλουσια χρωματα της θαλασσας και της πολης.Συγχαρητηρια!

Θωμάς

cherryripe (21033) 2009-09-26 9:36

Hi Hercules
Lovely saturated colours of the buildings, blue hour sky and long reflections. The whole scene is so attractive.
Regards
Nikki

magalik (6103) 2009-09-26 10:50

Hello Hercules,

Nice shot with a perfect exposure. Reflections are beautiful but the blue sky also.
A photo with a very good quality (thanks tripod) very pleasant to look at.
Very good work.
TFS.
Best regards,
Magali

francio64 (39888) 2009-09-26 12:24

Ciao Hercules,
night shot o blue hour?
Qualunque cosa sia, resta di fatto che è una splendida fotografia, con una notevole gestione delle luci e dai bellissimi riflessi nell'acqua.

Well done!
Francesco

bema (26591) 2009-09-26 13:03

Kalispera Hercules,

just a marvelous picture, no need to talk about that..

like that place behind the harbour-shore, have had a great dish there at day-time several years ago.. also a great place inside the pedestrian-area behind there..

Kalo vrady, Bernd

Dashab (2564) 2009-09-26 13:06

Good evening, Hercules,
Another marvellous night shot with wonderful reflections. Thanks for the poem, too. Kind of like listening to Leonard Cohen, isn't it? Dark, and yet, has its beauty. Greetings, Dasha

antua (16) 2009-09-26 15:20

Καλησπέρα Ηρακλή,

τώρα καταλαβαίνω γιατί η μπλε ώρα είναι η πιο κατάλληλη για τέτοιου έιδους λήψεις! Το αποτέλεσμα είναι πραγματικά μαγευτικό με τις αντανακλάσεις στο νερό να είναι υπέροχες και με την διαχείρηση του φωτισμού εξαιρετική! Και αυτο το χρώμα του ουρανού λίγο πριν νυχτώσει είναι φανταστικό! Συγχαρητήρια!

Καλό βράδυ,
Αντώνης

pal_claudia (458) 2009-09-26 17:11

HI Hercules :)

Oauuu again !!! :)
How can you do such splendor of photos?
Always I wonder ...if I ever get in life this performance ... Your pictures always amaze me!!!
Great photo,impeccable clarity, amazing colors, amazing contrast! Wonderful!
Congratulations to 1000 time :)
Clau, from Romania

TopGeo (38220) 2009-09-27 0:38

Καλημέρα Ηρακλή!
Εκπληκτικές πυνελιές! Σε μία νυχτερινή σου περιπολία στην Πρέβεζα! Το ανέβασες το ISO/F Πέτυχε κάτι??
Seperb moment!
filika
Georgios

mkamionka (74291) 2009-09-27 2:37

Hi Hercules,
amazing blue hour view. The sky is fantastic: you can see some fine patterns on it. Really nice. Houses well illuminated. Boats add a lot of charm. Reflections make it very romantic as well.
Great work, TFS
M

Dyerco (10185) 2009-09-27 3:40

Hi Hercules
Nicely exposed to bring out the deep blue of the sky and the lights of the town.
Phil

stelli (3009) 2009-09-27 4:53

Well, there is not much left to say for your breathtaking blue hours! Wonderful work!!! Thank you once more for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

JCG (35153) 2009-09-27 6:33

Hello Hercules,

By seeing this marvellous night sight at the blue hour of this pretty seaside, we cannot speak any more about melancholy… Still a very beautiful management of all these lights multicoloured which illuminate water surface magnificiently, I like much these reflections which resemble of the blows of brushes. Hercules cheer and thank you for the interesting note.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

josepmarin (59385) 2009-09-27 10:39

Hola Hercules,
como siempre, otra de tus espléndidas tomas a la hora azul en la que los tonos, la iluminación, y los reflejos juegan un gran papel estético en la composición.
Bella y elegante, te felicito.
Un abrazo, amigo,
Josep

Hellas (7123) 2009-09-27 11:06

Αξιόπιστη καταγραφή, λαμπερή ομορφιά!
Η Πρέβεζα ντύθηκε και στολίστηκε για να συνοδεύσει τους επισκέπτες της!
Τυχερός ο φακός που πήρε την άδειά σου να την καμαρώσει για 30 ολόκληρα δεύτερα! Δεν είχες το περιθώριο για περισσότερα, καταλαβαίνω ότι θα του έδινες κι άλλα αν πέρναγε από το χέρι σου!

Η γνωριμία ενός τόπου μέσω φωτογραφιών είναι σημαντική. Τα γεγονότα όπως επίσης και οι πληροφορίες που αφορούν τον ρόλο που έπαιξαν προσωπικότητες στην διαμόρφωση του κλίματος γύρω από το όνομα ενός τόπου είναι χωρίς αμφιβολία πολύτιμα για όσους επιζητούν την ακριβή αλήθεια!

amstel (2388) 2009-09-28 1:46

Hi Hercules,

A very good control of exposure. Great idea to shoot at twilight - the deep blue sky looks gorgeous.

Cheers,

Kris

AiresSantos (56155) 2009-09-28 1:54

Amazing colours and reflections in this wonderful night picture, dear Hercules !
Lovely vivid colours in the blue hour, good light management
TFS and have a nice week
Aires

lightsensor (757) 2009-09-28 4:46

hi, Hercules,
good long exposure shot! i like these neon lights lit up these buildings. reflection from the water also support this wonderful and romantic night.

J-P,

anesugur (18789) 2009-09-28 13:22

Hi Hercules,
This is truly lovely!
The colors and light are amazing and the composition is perfect.
Congratulations. Uğur

spyros60 (158) 2009-09-28 13:43

Just beautiful!!
This pic is the best exists from the port of Preveza, A really nice view… congrats Hercules

adramad (72932) 2009-10-02 10:19

Hola Hercules.
Una gran composicion que en la hora azul adquiere una enorme fuerza cromatica por la belleza de sus colores, un gran manejo de la luz, los reflejos crean un efecto de gran magnetismo. un bello trabajo, felicidades.
Saludos y buen fin de semana.
Luis.

sacavem (18620) 2009-10-08 6:52

Olá Hercules,

I believe that has success the blue hour a lot fullstop! Impresses the composition with the reflections and the symmetry a very good idea.
Best Regards,
Filipe