Sublime

Title: Sublime
Date: 2006/02/05
Location: Somewhere at the forest near the village of Outeiro, Viseu (Portugal)
Camera: Olympus c-3030 zoom
Aperture: F/4,5
Shutter speed: 1/500 s
ISO speed: 100

Since I was a little boy, every year I spent some time at my grandfather’s homeland, a little village called Outeiro, located at the center of Portugal, near the city of Viseu. I guess it was there, where I would go for walks with my father, that I’ve learn to love and respect the nature and all its beauty and power.

I still go to Outeiro in the summer, and I still go for walks, or for strolls on the bicycle. I rarely leave my camera at home, so when I see something worth take a picture, I won’t miss that chance.

This summer, on one of these strolls, I’ve encountered a small bare place in the forest full of huge butterflies. They all looked the same, some bigger than others. They were all flying from flower to flower, from plant to plant. There were a large number of butterflies, but catching them on a photo wasn’t easy…

Approaching without scare them and make them flew away was difficult. I spend many, many minutes trying the best approach. Very slow movements were the trick. When I learnt that I got really close to them and make some fine shots. This one of them. And it’s this kind of contact that makes me realize one of these sublime and wonderful aspects of nature.

In flames

Title: In flames
Date: 2006/09/01
Location: Outeiro (Viseu), Portugal
Camera: Olympus c-3030 zoom
Aperture: F/2,8
Shutter speed: 1/25 s
ISO speed: 200
Edits: crop

Get together with some friends and make a barbecue.

Even better: have some friends and family and make a barbecue.

Even better: get some friends and family and make a barbecue in a summer’s hot night.

This was a night to remember. I’ve invited some friends to come to my grandfather’s house in a little village. My parents helped my with the barbecue. Thank you!
This is my father taking care of the fire. It looks like he was set on fire!Lol!

In the backseat

Title: In the backseat
Date: 2006/08/26
Location: somewhere between Cuenca and Toledo (Spain)
Camera: Olympus c-3030 zoom
Aperture: F/2,8
Shutter speed: 1/50 s
ISO speed: 100
Edits: crop

We were heading from Cuenca to Toledo, where I and my family were staying on holidays. It was late afternoon and the sun was already setting down. It was right in the middle of Castilla-la-Mancha, which is known for its endless plains, sprinkled with mills, the typical landscape described by Cervantes at his master-work “Don Quixote”.

The sky turned like fire. The colors were amazing! It was one of the most spectacular views, I’ve ever seen in last years. We were heading towards the west, to the sun. We couldn’t take our eyes from the horizon. It was a dream scene.

My father was driving, my mother was next to him, and I and my sister were in the backseat. I can’t express this moment in words. It was unique. I daydream every time I remember that afternoon.

If there is a music that can put out some of those feelings, it is a song from Arcade Fire called “In the Backseat”. I thought a lot about this song when I’m traveling on the backseat, but now I thought about that day when I hear this song. I hope you enjoy…

In The Backseat - Arcade Fire

I like the peace
in the backseat,
I don't have to drive,
I don't have to speak,
I can watch the country side,
and I can fall asleep.

My family tree's
losing all its leaves,
crashing towards the driver's seat,
the lightning bolt made enough heat
to melt the street beneath your feet.

Alice died
in the night,
I've been learning to drive.
My whole life,
I've been learning.

I like the peace
in the backseat,
I don't have to drive,
I don't have to speak,
I can watch the country side

Alice died
in the night,
I've been learning to drive.
My whole life,
I've been learn----Oh....