Embrace of Light

Another very old image I made of the coast during my stay on the isle Elba in Italy. I wish I could make more shots of the sea but he he he … unfortunately I’m living in a country without such areas ;-) But nevertheless I hope you like it!

The view over Volterraio and Portoferraio

An very old image I made on the Isle Elba in Italy some years ago. The Volterraio is the hill in the foreground and the location Portoferraio is located in the distance on the left. I would love to see this area some day in my life again and I hope you enjoy this view here as well ;-)

Stormy Golden Eye

This shot here was made last year in summer when I was on the island Elba in Italy. I remember exactly how desperate I was during that period, looking all the time to a wonderful blue but boring sky. And how lucky I was to experience of only one or two days a thunderstorm over the entire area. Like a fool I ran to the beach looking for a cool foreground and finally to capture this vision here! I hope you like it!

Morning mood at the sea

This picture was taken on a beautiful and sunny morning on the island of Elba. I got up very early in the morning to reach this area on the cliffs before sunrise. For my taste still too few clouds, but this is what I had every day. But nevertheless it was a wonderful atmosphere and to be alone at the beach was a great feeling before the army of tourists throng to the beach.

Into the sun

I don’t do it too often to shoot right into the sun! But this morning the light was so adorable and the reflections of light in the water simply amazing. I rarely see such a light and such a sun by the sea. So why not shooting directly into the sun? Of course I hoped that the images will look more or less good, because where I live I have no sea and therefore to repeat this try would mean to travel and to spend a lot of money he he he ;-) But the best was to have the entire beach for me alone without a single soul at this time in the morning in sight. Simply magic this feeling :-)

Sunset over the Volterraio and Portoferraio

What you see here is a view over the Volterraio Castle on the top of the hill in the foreground and the location of Portoferraio in the distance on the left. The Castle is the most ancient fortification on the Island of Elba. Well, to find this place was not really easy and everything began some couple of days before I made this shot here! We were shopping and while I was waiting that my wife choose a dress, I was looking some nice postcards from the island! And then I saw one amazing shot … a sunset shot from the location above! I said to me … wow, this is amazing … I must find this place during my vacation here!!! In big letters there was also the name „Volterraio“! The next couples of hours I was saying to me all the time „Volterraio, Volterraio, Volterraio…“ till to the next restaurant where I said to the waiter of a restaurant „We want to have a Coke, water, lemonade and for me a beer … and … oh boy, what was the name of that location??? Cuchinaio, Abatraio … something with Aio … DAMN!!! The next few days I was asking everyone I met about an amazing location with a hill and a castle and the sea at sunset … well, all the stuff on the picture! And finally one evening in a restaurant … we wanted to have some pizzas … I found again this name „Volterraio“. The waiter wanted to know what we would like to have for dinner. I told him: „Good evening … well, good that you are here … I have a problem … I’m looking for a place with a hill, and an old castle and in the background there is a city by the sea and everything in a golden light at sunset … and you know … bla bla bla … and please, ask also in the kitchen if anyone knows this place and … bla bla bla … and … ohhhhh, by the way, we would like to have 2 small pizzas Margherita, 1 pizza Salame Piccante, 2 pizzas Prosciutto Crudo, 2 bottles of water and …“. My wife and my sister were watching only to the ground, because they were ashamed of my behavior he he he :-) But hey, the chef came out of the kitchen and told me: „My friend, you are very popular in this region with your questions! What you are looking for is Volterraio!“. And he laughed! I was so happy :-) I had again the name! One day later I was in the tourist information office. Well, I got a map with the location market I was looking for. I must tell you that normally in Switzerland where I live I use military maps when I’m on a hike, but here on Elba and without any internet access and no time I had to find this place with a tourist map. You know, this sort of maps like the one of Disneyland, with a big Mickey Mouse on the top left and every famous showplace was market with a big picture on the map! My god, look at which point I have sunk to hike with a Mickey Mouse map!!!!! But I found it he he he :-) The hike to this point was also a bit an adventure, but I think I will tell you the story in my next photo of this place! In the meanwhile I hope you like this picture here.

Thunderstorm over Elba

What can I say? Despite the excellent weather without clouds (for most of the time) we had during 2 days the chance to see a huge thunderstorm over the island! Ha ha ha … how cool it was for me to make some shots ;-) It was evening and very hot and I was sitting in front of our tent … and I could observe how all the people were collecting everything lying around in a nervous manner. I looked to the distance and saw how a storm front was approaching the island. IEEE’S! I took my backpack with my photography equipment and made my way to the beach. It was really funny to see how everyone on the beach was leaving very quickly the area … except of me he he he :-) And everyone I met on my way was saying to me to leave the place and that I was on the wrong way! To give always the same answer was a bit annoying … so I began to change my answers: „Yes, I know … but I want to make some shots and therefore …“, „Yes, thank you so much, but you know … it’s … bla bla bla …“, „Thank you, very kind of you, for sure I will go away from here, just one photo and then …“, „Oh boy, I already know about the storm, but thank you“, „My god, you too … OK, I got it!“, „ Yes, thank you, but I forgot something!“, „Really? Thank you … smile!“, „Dangerous? Not for me!“, „A storm? Unbelievable, isn’t it he he he!“, „I’m a meteorologist! This is my job!“, „Don’t worry, I’m living on the beach!“, „Ha! No panic! I’m strong like a lion!“, „I want to say good night to my wife, she’s a mermaid!“, „Look behind you, there is a sand troll.“, „It’s because I want to die.“, „No worry, I’m the weather god!“ … my god, it was like in a circus, but very funny he he he :-) And finally on the rocks of the beach I could make this photo before the thunderstorm reached the area!

Stones and sand in Elba

I was camping for two weeks with the family on the island Elba in Italy. It was not the first time I saw this beautiful island, and I must say I love this former exile of Napoleon. But I think that the summer is not exactly the best time for photography there … rarely I have seen so few clouds during two weeks! But hey, it was a lot of fun for the kids playing all the day in the water … well, and for me too he he he. When I did this photo that evening, my children were playing with the sand on the beach, while I was desperately searching some clouds. And when I found some, I was looking for a good foreground. My kids had formed with a few stones a sort of tower and it was clear that I used it for this photo. I heard only such choruses of lamentations but the tower was mine for a few minutes ha ha ha! Well, what happened then to the tower? The lifetime of this building was short! Right after my photo it was destroyed by the hand of my children. The stones were then used as markers for beach tennis goals. Warm weather, beach, sand, sea, playing tennis with my kids in the dark … oh boy, it was really a lot of fun :-)