Friday 13 July 2012

Capture the Colour

I am thrilled to have been invited by Lisa from Renovating Italy to participate in the Capture The Colour photographic competition run by TravelSupermarket.

This is right up my alley as I just cannot live without colour. It lifts my spirits, feeds my soul, strengthens me when I am feeling 'off' and brightens my days like nothing else can.

Colour has always been an essential and very important part of my life, right back to my early childhood days in East Africa being home-schooled by my mother. I can still recall drawing ants, leaves and flowers for my Botany classes - using the brightest coloured crayons I could find.

Today instead, I use my camera to capture colour in all its glorious guises. Being peripatetic by nature I have travelled extensively, and it never ceases to amaze me how light, 'colours' colour.

I find that in the UK, light softens colours; in Australia colours are heightened; in the USA colours are somehow cleaner and in Greece - oh the light in Greece does something to colours that defies description!  For me, Greek light is like a drug! It's so pure and almost spiritual in the way it defines lines; intensifies shapes; heightens clarity and fortifies colours beyond the palette! Light and colour go hand-in-hand, and for me this is best seen in Greece.

BLUE
"That Greek blue" - Iconic!
There's something about that Greek blue which is different to any other blue in the world. Mention 'blue' and Greece in the same sentence and you think of that glimmering, exotic colour which outshines the sky, the blue shadows on whitewashed houses, and the Aegean Sea.  It's possibly the most photographed colour in the world, and yet it never ceases to amaze, astound and mesmerise, especially in Oia, Santorini.
 
GREEN
The bright emerald green plumage of the Electus Parrot, (more commonly known as the Great-Billed Green Parrot) is so luminous it almost defies nature! Found in Bali, Indonesia, it is native to South East Asia and Australia. This little chap, (I knew he was a he, because only the males have green feathers!) was exceptionally friendly, happy to pose and walk up and down my arm. 
Now this is indeed a handsome coat of few colours!

YELLOW

  Early morning around the fishing port of Elounda in Eastern Crete is an assault on the senses. The smell of Greek coffee, Assos cigarettes and fresh fish pervades the air; the sound of komboloi (worry beads) click in harmony with the cicadas in the bushes nearby; and the colours of the caïques (Greek fishing boats) come to life as they reflect in sea green waters. All along the footpath, miles and miles of yellow fishing nets dry in the warm sun, ready for another outing at the end of the day.

WHITE 
"White on white on white"
How else could I describe this scene as I turned the corner along a narrow cobblestone path in Oia, Santorini? It had been a long, hot, sun-bleached day and now at dusk, the colours had softened and relaxed. The scene was surreal - a blurred line between art and reality.

RED
 Wondering around the Flea Market in Athens I could smell these strawberries for a good ten minutes before I actually found the vendor and his cart at the entrance to the Monistiraki Metro Station. The morning sun had warmed them to perfection and for once, they tasted as good as they looked and, as good as they smelt!
 
 
Anyone can participate in this photographic competition. Just head to the Capture the Colour Photoblogging contest page, read the rules and then publish your own five travel photos which best represent blue, green, yellow, white and red.

I would like to now nominate the following fabulous travel bloggers to participate:

Have fun and happy blogging!

31 comments:

  1. Francesca,
    I'm so flattered to be invited to join. I hoped you would feature some of your fabulous Greek photographs and you certainly have. I can't imagine finding anything in my cache to even hold a candle but I will certainly look.
    Bises,
    V

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    1. Thank you V - I am so pleased you like my choices - I must say that place sings to me! I am sure you will have no problems finding some amazing photos. Have fun and looking forward to your entry. F x

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  2. Francesca...just love your photos...your passion for Greece sings in these photos. I look forward to digging into my photos for this competition, thank you for thinking of me!
    Jeanne xx

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    1. Thank you and have fun. Can't wait to see your post. Fx

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  3. I like your yellow :)

    My entry is here
    http://www.shorttraveltips.com/capture-the-colour/

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    1. Hi Vi - thank you and good luck to you too. Love you selection. F

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  4. Well I just love them all but especially the green as I had so much trouble finding something. It's so fantastic to see all the amazing images coming through this competition! x

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    1. Thank you Lisa for the nomination - I had so much fun with this. good luck Ciao Bella F xx

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  5. Francesca, Oia is one of the most stunning places I have ever been and I just could not stop "clicking." There must be hundreds of shots of the sunset sinking into the caldera, but how could I delete even one? My trip to Crete was too brief and there were many treasures not discovered.

    Your photos are stunning and of course "white" and "blue" would be on Santorini. I look forward to seeing more of your collection of Greece.

    Bises,
    Genie

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    1. Thank you Genie - Crete is a must - but you need time and a car - so much to see on this little island. Have a lovely day Fx

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  6. Hello Francesca

    Your photographs are so full of happiness. You clearly love colour and it reflects in your creative work. I found you thought Jeanne, Collage of Life and followed you over.
    As your new follower I look forward to knowing your work and to your visit and comments

    Helen xx

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    1. Hello Helen and so good to meet you - thank you for your comments and for coming along. Looking forward to checking out your blog. Fx

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  7. Mine will go up on the 15th. We have to celebrate 14 juillet tomorrow~ :)
    V

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  8. Loved the fisher-boat much.

    Please have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Than you Robert - I cannot pass a boat without taking a photo of it! F

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  9. Beautiful!
    Wish you all the very best!

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  10. Fran, I never know quiet what I'll find but I just LOVE every minute of the journey you take me on with your photography and word smithing. Your entry in this competition is fabulous.... xo

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  11. Fran they are beautiful. Wonderful choices and the photos are so lovely

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    1. Thank you Deb - have a wonderful week. Fx

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  12. All your photographs are just fantastic, Francesca - from light-filled Greece to autumn leaves to Bali sunsets. It's always a feast for the eyes coming here.

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    1. Karen thank you so much for your wonderful comments. I love that you enjoy visiting me a much as I enjoy visiting you. F x

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  13. Magnificent white ! I so want to discover Oia....Francesca thank you so much for inviting me to join....i'll definitely try to participate...yes !!
    besitos
    Lala

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    1. Wonderful LaLa - good luck - it is good fun. F xx

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  14. Francesca, I LOVE your photos :-) They are so beautiful, my favourites are the blue, white and red (I'm a big strawberry fan). Best wishes from windy, grey England ;-)

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    1. Thank you Cathy - and greetings from a warm, sunny winter's day in Sydney. Fx

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  15. Stunning photography Francesca! Good luck! My favourite is the Blue one! Makes me wish I was right there :)

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    1. Thank you Johanna - me too - how I wish I could be there now! Fx

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  16. Great colors. I like vivid pictures. I like seeing life in the same hues :)

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I love reading your comments - so please feel free to add something. Thank you! F x

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