Photographer's Note
"The Monument to the Discoveries was inaugurated in 1960 during celebrations of the 500 year anniversary of the death of the Infant D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator). It evoques the maritime expansion and is designed in the shape of a caravel, showing Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small caravel, as well as many relevant heroes of Portuguese history (Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral - discoverer of Brazil - Fernão Magalhães - who crossed the Pacific in1520 -, the writer Camões and many others).
Seen from the huge mariners compass this monument fascinates visitors with its impressiveness and its 50 metres height. It is visited by millions of people each year. Cut into the paving stone, the compass (see panel above) was a present from the Republic of South Africa in 1960 and it's best seen from the top of the Monument to the Discoveries, that you can access by elevator located inside the building. The central map, depicting galleons and mermaids, shows the routes of the discoverers in the 15th and 16th centuries.
It is located in Belém, on the bank of the River Tagus, in an unique monumental area and looks particularly dramatic in the light of the late afternoon sun."
(Text from "http://www.strawberryworld-lisbon.com/lisbon/places/discoveries.html")
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So, tourists continously arrive by bus or walking, and then they all want to take their photos of this monument. That was what I wanted to show you with my today's photo!
SylFondacci, sarieyyupoglu, Aegean, odemira ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile
Critiques | Translate
SylFondacci
(4087) 2004-11-06 16:18
Paulo, I like your shot, this monument is one of my favourites in Lisboa. It a great occasion for photo.
I would prefer the view without the tourists even if I undesrtand you chose to show that a lot of people are coming there. Anyway, parabens and obrigada !
I have one shot in my gallery about o Padrao, if you wish to look at it and I created too a group theme about it, if you want to add yours, please do.
Sylvie
sarieyyupoglu
(324) 2004-11-06 16:49
good composition. this photo has two topic. one of them is above of the photo. it explains an event in the past. the other of them is below of the photo. people look to learn their past. each other make the photo pretty.
technogran
(1339) 2004-11-07 0:07
The Portuguese are certainly a sea-faring adventurous nation. Your note is very interesting. This monument is very impressive and you have made a good composition. These tourist photographers are a nuisance aren't they? ;-) I always try to remember that I am one of them, when I begin to complain. Actually I like the people in the photograph but I think it would have been nicer if the 3 men at the forefront were not there, leaving the ones in the distance - they actually give impression of the size of the monument. Still, you can't help it when all those people crowd around. Anyway, great capture.
Aegean
(2571) 2004-11-07 6:52
A great shot of the very famous Lisboa monument Paulo! What i like here is the angle of taking and the different than usual perspective with the people in the foreground leading the eye to the monument! Very well seen and captured!
isa
(1986) 2004-11-10 18:56
Olá Paulo!
Excelente pormenor, a descoberta do monumento feita pelos visitantes, gostei muito!. Bom enquadramento e excelente nitidez. Bom trabalho, como sempre!
Photo Information
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Copyright: Paulo Azevedo (apazevedo)
(5469)
- Genre: Luoghi
- Medium: Colore
- Date Taken: 2004-09-25
- Categories: Vita quotidiana
- Camera: Fuji Finepix S5000
- Esposizione: f/6.3, 1/680 secondi
- Versione Foto: Versione Originale
- Tema(i): Monument des Découvertes à Lisbonne [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2004-11-06 15:42
Discussions
- To SylFondacci: Monument to the Discoveries (1)
by apazevedo, last updated 2004-11-06 07:12