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| Cover of KEFALONIA COLLECTION on G+ |
A microblog?
A photo album?
A forum where the image tells the story?
All of the above!
Plus, a place to see and follow links to Kefalonia related posts on my other blogs.
Experiencing Kefalonia: Scenes Uncut and Unedited (a PhotoBlog by Eleni Dimitratou)
Showing posts with label ISLAND LIFE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ISLAND LIFE. Show all posts
Kefalonia Photo Collection: All Shades of Blue
A microblog?
A photo album?
A forum where the image tells the story?
All of the above!
Plus, a place to see and follow links to Kefalonia related posts on my other blogs.
Kefalonia World Random Memories: 15+1 from 150
Just how random are the posts chosen?
I'm not sure...
Were they objectively chosen?
Surely not!
I didn't even try.
A lot has changed over the past five years, especially in posting frequency.
But Kefalonia World remains the project closest to my heart; this review has been a catalytic reminder of that.
15+1 memories out of 150, spread over five years.
This is the rewind, and a nudge for the next five forward.
Thank you for staying tuned.
Click here for FULL SCREEN VIEW
Click on each slide TITLE to view each post
Impish September
Bring on September!
If there was such a scale, Kefalonia's September would score high on the unpredictability index.
On an island that could serve as a fitting definition of contrast and unpredictable disposition, this seems almost redundant. On second thought, Kefalonia itself is redundant—too much blue, too much green, too many beaches, too many cliffs, too much sky, way too many images to process.
Speaking of images, if I were to dump all the images I’ve gathered over the years—an immense task, I assure you—into an unlabeled folder, I would not be able to pick out those taken in September. And that is just the images captured by the camera. The images engraved in my mind would have to wait for that digital measurement that will replace the terabyte.
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| September sailing (Limenia, Kefalonia) |
A collage of seasons in a single month
September can assume the bright colors of April, the dewy beauty of May, the awesomeness of June, the heat of July and August, the rain and thunderstorms of October, or the laid back indulgence of November.
And it does have them all - in a daily change of mood that is often hard to keep up with.
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| Sailing the Kefalonia-Ithaca Strait on a windy September day |
Above all, September is impish, mischievous, a real rascal
Just when you thought you would enjoy the beach—free of the August crowds—the sound of rolling thunder reminds you that, even in this corner of the world, the calendar demands respect. But don’t be quick to pack away your flip-flops and beach towel. More likely than not, tomorrow will be a gorgeous day for the beach. So ease back and wait for the rascal’s temper tantrum to pass. Like most rascals, September really does have a heart of gold once you get to know him.
Easing back does not, by any means, imply that you must stay indoors until the storm is over. I always alleviated my “pain” by taking a drive to the Lighthouse and focusing, digitally and mentally, on the rain that washes away the lingering sins of naughty August.
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| Argostoli Lighthouse on a rainy September day |
But that is not all. September adds a “bonus track” in an effort to make up for its momentary wickedness. Aside from March, this is the best time of year to photograph Kefalonia’s stunning landscape as the rain also washes away the dust and heat of hardcore summer and renders all colors to their natural, basic hues.
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| Lourdas Bay eases into autumn in brilliant color |
The season's slanted sun rays highlight the turquoise among other blues, whitecaps to emphasize the predominance of the northwestern winds, and long shadows to mark the shift of the sun’s position in the horizon.
Skies in layered gray and seas in light strips of turquoise is all any lens ever needs to be happy!
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| Trapezaki Beach in September mode |
And then, there is always September the Imitator!
Trying to pass as April or June and being really good at it.
Like this:
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| Shades of September blue (Makris Gialos Beach) |
Of course, there are those who have no interest in photographing the whims of the island or the month. They know that Kefalonia’s soft summer has just begun and prefer diving in to get the inside story instead of collecting digital accounts.
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| Koroni Beach |
Kefalonia's Holy Land
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| St. Gerasimos Church at Omala Valley, Kefalonia |
Kefalonia's significant holiday
October 20th is the most significant religious holiday for Kefalonia as the island honors its patron saint. The commemoration festivities for Saint Gerasimos are held over two days. Then, the Valley of Omala comes alive with the devout, the curious, and the last tourists before the season officially shuts down. Some seek a cure or a miracle; others use the occasion as a family outing to enjoy the festivities.
A matter of identity, beyond faith
Most Kefalonians have a peculiar relationship with their patron saint, sometimes contradictory to their everyday religious beliefs. It is a relationship that borders on familiarity and possession!
And tradition, of course.
And identity.
Besides, it is hard to find a family in Kefalonia without a member named Gerasimos.
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| St. Gerasimos Church, Kefalonia |
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| The Litany at Omala Valley, Kefalonia |
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| Marching bands head the procession at St. Gerasimos Litany (Omala, Kefalonia) |
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| Marching bands head the procession at St. Gerasimos Litany (Omala, Kefalonia) |
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| Marching bands head the procession at St. Gerasimos Litany (Omala, Kefalonia) |
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| The Convent grounds at St. Gerasimos, Kefalonia |
Reeling Them in Against the Tide
Against the tide, against all odds!
It was a rough week for this island because it has been an extremely rough week for this country.
I've captured many colors, shapes and textures this past week—aided by the moody weather, wind, and clouds. But none as symbolic as the scenes of the lone fisherman matching wits with the fish swimming against the tide.
Don't ask which is which in the symbolism. Suffice it to say that, despite the outcome, both will have had their moment of triumph under the caressing sun rays, which serve to deceitfully compensate for the rough seas and turbulent times.
It is a game of patience, perseverance, and the will to survive. Time will tell.
It may even turn out that the tide is cathartic for both man and fish.
It was a rough week for this island because it has been an extremely rough week for this country.
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| Avythos Beach, Kefalonia |
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| Winter's catch (Avythos) |
It is a game of patience, perseverance, and the will to survive. Time will tell.
It may even turn out that the tide is cathartic for both man and fish.
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| Lourdas Beach, Kefalonia |
In the Company of Perfect Strangers
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| Makris Gialos Beach, Kefalonia (in late October) |
A fisherman, a woman walking her dog, a couple waiting for the sunset, a jogger, an amateur photographer—each with their own agenda. Once in a while, after some familiarity is established, the nods and gestures are accompanied by a few substantial words and suggestions:
"...over those rocks you'll get a better view of the seagulls"
"if you really want to capture some big waves, you should come in the morning"
or the inevitable question:
"....do you ever publish these photos, is anyone interested in seeing winter images?"
I have learned so much from my "comrades in solitude." A fisherman gave me a condensed course in understanding weather so I can choose the right place and time for perfect clouds and colorful seas. An English couple tipped me off as to the purple skies of dusk that I might miss at Ammes Beach if I leave right after sundown. A jogger at Makris Gialos made a slight detour to leave some footprints so that my photo (above) would turn out less bland. Without a word, just a bow and a smile before he returned to his original path.
Thinking about this the other day, I found myself humming some lyrics from an old tune. One I haven't even heard in years, but so appropriate for the situation; it really describes what all us strangers do when smiling, nodding, and gesturing to each other in places of solitude...
Yes,indeed,
❝ We fill out the missing colors(from Jackson Browne's The Pretender, paraphrased a tiny bit)
In each other's paint-by-number dreams...❞
Seagoing Felines
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| Yes, I'm a member of their fan club. Would they pose for me otherwise? |
Avythos Beach is more than place, it's a state of being. Strangely enough, it is not my favorite beach for swimming though it is absolutely gorgeous in the summer. The swimmer in me seems to have bonded over the years with the pebbles of Skala.
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| Avythos Beach, Kefalonia |
Now, that is a strange word to use in describing a place that is different every time, but let me explain.
It is dependable in that it will never disappoint you: be it with crashing or gentle waves; in sunshine or storm; with flawless sand or the occasional pebbles; with a spotless ceiling or overcast skies.
And, of course, on days when the northwestern wind rules, Avythos becomes a huge canvas for the "god among winds" to have a field day painting it in all shades of blue.
Blue in tiers and strips, in blotches and swirls.
And offshore, Dias Islet serves as a pivot point around which colors and shapes are formed.
But the most dependable and adorable given on Avythos are the cats that actually live there year-round. They are well-fed by beach regulars and are true extroverts.
They'll nudge and cajole, in the most imaginative ways, till they turn you into a regular meal provider.
I know because I've become a subscriber to their charm!
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| Avythos beauty, in the landscape and on four legs! |
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| The cats of Avythos Beach, Kefalonia |
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| Cats rule... any objections? |
Foregrounds and Backgrounds in Winter
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| The chapel over Trapezaki Beach, Kefalonia |
A modest bell tower without the impressive architectural elements embellishing so many bell towers on the island.
And to top all this modesty, a snow covered mountain-protagonist as backdrop.
Does the foreground stand a chance?
On a clear and crisp January day anything is possible.
If you ask me, I think the rusting bells—aided by the blue sky—are giving Mt. Aenos a run for the money!
Anticipated Blue With a Yellow Twist
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| View of Mt. Aenos Lourdas Bay |
No game plan, no itinerary to adhere to, no planned routes.
With abrupt stops at crossroads and impulsive decisions as to which road to take.
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| The winter colors of Lourdas and Trapezaki |
That is, until I decided to explore on foot the ravine behind the beach at Trapezaki.
And there she was, standing out amidst all that green and blue. I'm not a bird expert, I can barely tell apart a chicken from a vulture. But she left no doubt as to her genus—a bird with this strut of the tail can only be a Yellow Wagtail!
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| Yellow Wagtail at Trapezaki, Kefalonia |
📷 Note: unfortunately, the 2nd camera with a long lens attached, was without memory card, so I had to capture her with a short zoom lens, lest she decide to fly away while I was trying to change cards.
Archived Kefalonia Moments and Memories
From time to time I run into some long forgotten photos, in a mislabeled file folder of my hard disk, that bring a big smile to my face. Not because they are good images but because they are associated with extraordinary moments, people, or situations.
Such as the two photos below. I'll explain...  | ||
| Preparing the nets @Spartia, Kefalonia |
The image above was snapped with a pocket digital camera in January 2006.
An extraordinary period for Kefalonia, by any definition. We had a severe and unprecedented snowstorm that knocked out power lines, causing a 3-day total blackout!
There was not much to do in the house without electricity, running water, telephone, or internet service. The only battery still working was that of the car and the pocket Canon. So, I found myself wandering to the village of Spartia where I could at least bask in the crisp, bright sunshine. The fishermen on the small quay of Klimatsias Beach were going about their business—so I went on with mine!
(A couple of years later, this photo was used by the former Municipality of Livatho as a poster, breaking ground since it was the first time that a winter photo of the island was used in official promotional material.)
It isn't what you think!(A couple of years later, this photo was used by the former Municipality of Livatho as a poster, breaking ground since it was the first time that a winter photo of the island was used in official promotional material.)
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| Claiming the day's meal @Paliouras Bay, Kefalonia |
I followed this fishing boat from Antisamos Beach to the smaller bay of Paliouras, on the outskirts of Sami. Walking along the edge of the road above the bay, I was snapping away. My viewfinder was aimed at the seagulls that circled the boat trying to convince the fishermen to part with a portion of their catch and dedicate it to a good cause!
As the huge mast to the left came into view, I almost tripped over the edge in a futile effort to see the vessel it belonged to. I will never forget how silly I felt a year later when, while crossing this bay by boat, I discovered that the mast is actually part of the architecture of a villa overlooking the beach!
Improving the Effectiveness of Adjectives
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| Cloudy sky @Poros, Kefalonia |
What do I mean?
Take, for example, the adjective in the phrase "a cloudy sky." It is efficient in qualifying the sky as having clouds. But, how effective is that qualification in actually visualizing the sky? Would you go out of your way to view a cloudy sky? Would you enjoy it if you did? Well, it all depends...
Take a chance.
After all, it may even help your syntax as you'll learn to use more effective, double-adjective sentences.
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| A storm gathering over Poros, Kefalonia |
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| After the storm @Poros, Kefalonia |
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| Poros, Kefalonia |
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| Vessels of varying sizes but equal significance at Poros, Kefalonia |
No Mountain is High Enough
to keep me away from...
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| Winter landscape (Platis Gialos, Kefalonia) |
Those bonding snowflakes were a delightful reprise.
But, one must eventually return "home."
Back to the place where zillions of sand grains bond with a purpose. Sometimes their aim is to withstand the battering of the angry sea, other times to provide the canvas for lazy waves to turn into shapes and whispers...
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| Vardiani Islet viewed from Platis Gialos, Kefalonia |
'Twas the Day Before Christmas and the Wind Blew from the North
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| View from Kefalonia to the Peloponnese |
Neighboring islands, conveniently blurred by the seasonal mist, come out of hiding. On days like these, part of mainland Peloponnese pops up and is easily mistaken as the northern part of Zakynthos (Zante), our island neighbor to the south.
Quick changing cloud formations provide interesting backgrounds for otherwise depressing, bare trees. The sun's rays peek and pierce grey clouds to reach the sea surface as bright strobe lights.
Yes, all looks picture perfect, but is it?
Yes, there is a catch to this scenario.
The same northern winds that paint the sky and sea so creatively do not arrive without baggage. Their load is white, fluffy, and cold.
If you turn around and look at the backbone of Kefalonia, Mt. Aenos, you can see it "unpacking" with mischievous intent.
Then you know that this is going to be a white Christmas.
(And, it was!)
(to be continued)
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| One of Kefalonia's crisp winter days |
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| It's snowing on Mt. Aenos, Kefalonia |
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| Mt. Aenos, Kefalonia |
Lagging Winter
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| Winter Scenes, Kefalonia |
I never lose an opportunity to state that I'm partial to spring and summer as opposed to autumn and winter. In color palette jargon, I'd be a "blue-white-green person," as opposed to an "orange-gold-grey person."
However, the last few years have been messing up with my color-scheme seasonality.
Summer lingers on for a while longer, making me more tolerant and forgiving of the season at hand. Autumn seems to have totally lost its sense of timing, lingering into the holidays, making me a bit more indulgent to the calendar's indication.
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| The colors of autumn spilling into winter @Kefalonia |
These long transitions are absolutely fabulous. The gray and rainy days—inadvertently interposed between the fabulous sunshine and unusually warm temperatures—become bearable.
Under these conditions, I can venture as far as enjoying a cloudy day or two, or even appreciate the orange,yellow and gold hues around me.
As long as this game of seasons does not spill into spring!
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| Moody Mt. Aenos, Kefalonia |
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| Fruit's on, leaves off! |
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| Pomegranate tree at Kambitsata, Kefalonia |
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| Perky daisies growing among fallen leaves |
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| Diospyrus Lotus tree (persimmon) @Kambitsata, Kefalonia |
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| Colorful contrasts on a dull grey day |
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| The last of the olives waiting to be picked |
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