210- Cotton Castle, a photo from Denizli, Aegean

Photographer's Note

MAIN NOTE
Pamukkale "Cotton Castle" in Turkish, is situated in the south-west of Turkey, province of Denizli.
The terraces are made of "travertine", this calcareous rock elaborated by the hot springs coming from inside the mountain, saturated with minerals.
Of course, it has become very popular with tourists, too popular. Indeed, some hotels down below have diverted some of the 17 springs, in order to fill their swimming-pools. Consequently, some of the terraces have dried out and been spoilt.
Also, some springs dried up because of earthquakes, but new ones arose in the neighbourhood.

However, it is still very spectacular.

I dedicate this post to Murat, mcmtanjel and his parents who won't be able to visit the place any longer.

ADDITIONAL INFO
Hereunder, please read Angshu's very interesting explanations about the state of the travertines.
"Actually there are two reasons why the tavertines were damaged..one of course because of people and secondly the excess calcium because of the constant mineral rich water flow which allowed algae & moss to grow and hence became dirty as they were exposed to the air.
Now the authorities have created artificial pools for people to walk and swim on.
As for the real tavertines, thermal water is now released within a certain schedule and therefore now only a portion of the natural tavertines are filled with the water, while others are intentionally kept dry!"
WS 13 12 11 10 9 8 show different views of the place.

Then for those who are interested I made a picture dossier showing 13 similar fascinating sites around the world.
WS19 US-Yellowstone-Palette Spring
WS18 Thailand- Huay-mae-khamin
WS17 France-River Huveaune-Gard
WS16 Mexico-Las cascadas de agua azul-Chiapas
WS15 Mexico-Oaxaca-Hierve el agua (Boiling water)
WS14 Mexico-Oaxaca-Hierve el agua
WS7 Hungary-Ergersalok
WS6 Iran Bab e Surt
WS5 China-Baishuitai-Yunnan
WS4 China-Huanglong-Sichuai
WS3 China-Huanglon-Sichuai
WS2 US-Yellowstone-Mammoth Spring
WS1 Guatemala-Semuc Champey

daddo, Kofman, Romano46, mcmtanyel, leonorkuhn, Gigidusud, abmdsudi, gildasjan, ikeharel, PaulVDV, danos, jacquest, pajaran, jhm, clic, worldcitizen, Robert1969, siolaw, Didi, macjake, kordinator, josepmarin, adores, Cricri, Kielia, Angshu, KristinsCamera, manatee, fritzi007, cornejo, COSTANTINO ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

npecanhuk (79329) 2013-04-28 18:50

Hello Marie!
Wonderful and unique place!
Attractive and inviting picture!
Exposure, colors, chosen pov and composition really pleased me!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

daddo (28728) 2013-04-28 21:59

Hi MarieLouise. I remember during my visit in 2006 seeing a large group of large tourists wallowing in the pools and clambering all over the place- as if they owned the place. Such a natural wonder should be protected and cherished much more than it is. A policy of Look but don't Touch wouldn't be bad. Great shot, much better than any I took. lovely light and soft colours. Excellent exposure. Amicalement. Klaudio.

Romano46 (18472) 2013-04-29 3:58

Ciao Marie Louise
ti faccio i miei complimenti per come hai saputo rendere a perfezione l'atmosfera megica delle vasche che si distendono sulla collina di Pamukkale.
Conosco il luogo e questo mi fa dire, senza teme di essere smentito, che hai saputo riprenderlo molto meglio di tanti altri, soprattutto per il bianco abbagliante che domina e fa spettacolo.
Eccellente anche la nitidezza che contribuisce ulteriormente alla bellezza della foto e si unisce ad una composizione impeccabile.
Bravissima!
Ciao e buona giornata
Romano

dkmurphys (78000) 2013-04-29 5:46

Hi Mariel,
Spectacular frozen scene. I like the shapes that nature has giving to us in this wonderful image. Well taken, enjoy a fine week.

Daniel

mcmtanyel (58830) 2013-04-29 11:33

Hi Marie Louise,
Thank you, I feel honored. Out of respect for your kind gesture, I am going to refrain from assigning points to this excellent photograph.
Wonderful composition, light & color management, just exquisite!
I am also happy to see that the travertines are coming back. For a while, they were diverting much of the water to swimming pools and the poor travertines were turning yellow.
Thank you, thank you!
Cheers,
MT

[2] +

lousat (130033) 2013-04-29 14:55

Salut Marie Louise,un lieu de reve que j'ai visite' moi aussi,il y a une lumiere magique dans ta photo,qui fai la difference si bien exposee',un tres joli souvenir avec la meilleure qualite'.Je te remercie aussi pour tes comments aux miennes photos,je suis content quand quelqu'une regarde ma galerie des annees passees.Merci encore et belle journee',Luciano

hidibyendu (929) 2013-04-30 1:41

Hello,
This is simply a magnificent capture.
This looks really really beautiful.
Composition, color, sharpness everything is good.
I liked the POV.
TFS
Dibyendu

arnie (1817) 2013-04-30 3:02

Hi Marie,
Very nice capture, good depth and good POV,
I was last there in 2006, i believe they have demolished a lot of the hotels to preserve the travertines and built concrete ones for tourists to paddle in.
Regards Arnie.

SWEETFREEDOM (24623) 2013-04-30 4:24

Hi MarieLouise,
an amazing place, great colors and contrast, i have seen a similar one in Yellowstone.
regards
Alessandro

leonorkuhn (16237) 2013-04-30 7:12

Hello MarieLouise,

Very interesting this calcareous formation. I had no idea this place existed. I like the framing with the steps in the foreground, highlighting the blue among the white stones. Beautiful colors, great light.

Greetings
Leonor

ACL1978 (7511) 2013-04-30 8:02

A clever name for this amazing spot, Marie Louise. The terraces are well seen from this excellent POV. Thanks!

Andrew

Gigidusud (21679) 2013-05-01 14:44

Ciao Marie-Louise,
Fantastica foto di questo famoso posto che mi piacebbe vedere un giorno. Eccellente POV e ottima gestione della luce difficile sulla parte Bianca. Mi piace il contraste di colori e la tessiture. Un capolavoro,brava!
Un caro saluto.
Gigi

carlo62 (81265) 2013-05-01 15:13

Ciao MarieLouise
ottimo il pov per presentarci queste vasche imbiancate.
Avevo visto altre foto di questo paesaggio particolare ed orignale, ma la luce che c'è in questo scatto, la rende molto bello.
Saluti
Carlo

abmdsudi (88597) 2013-05-02 23:52

Hi MarieLouise
Interesting land formation and the minerals that have been captured splendidly and standout in the settings. Fabulous view, I like the perspective and the sweeping views enhancing the depth so nicely with good fb interest. Colour and lighting are subtle with the whitish-blue spring water puddles are enough to give us the glimpse of this fabulous location ot nature wonder. This is a fine effort exquisitely taken and thks for sharing. Well done, congrats
Best regards

holmertz (92898) 2013-05-03 11:29

Hello Marie-Louise,
I have been nearly all over Turkey, but not actually here. It's a well known place but this picture still looks fresh and new, possibly because of how you have captured the blue tones of the nearest terraces. Your note makes me furious with the shortsighted local politicians and hotel owners who are putting the future of this marvellous place at risk in order to make a quick profit from the herds of tourists.
Kind regards,
Gert

ktanska (40125) 2013-05-04 8:05

Hi MarieLouise,
One of those naturally beautiful places, I'd love to visit some day. Round forms of those white rocks and light blue water pools are amazing. And they spread on a surprisinglly wide area. On your shot background sky fits perfectly with those blue tones.
Kari

gildasjan (43826) 2013-05-08 9:59

Bonsoir MarieLouise
la teinte du bleu au second plan est délicieuse.Le contraste est bien rendu avec les éléments sur la ligne d'horizon et le blanc est parfaitement rendu.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
gildas

ikeharel (105953) 2013-05-09 1:59

Magnificent view of the famous Pamukkale hot-springs, MarieLouise.
It's an amazing earth phenomenon, unique and beautiful in sight.
Well conveyed the place in picture, great light-blue tone of hot water's.
Au revoir,
Ike

PaulVDV (54909) 2013-05-10 2:04

Hello Marie-Louise,
From this POV the Cotton Castle seems very vast.
I like the strong contrast of the dark row of trees with the white rocks and the light blue water in the terraces.
Impressive presentation!
Best regards, Paul

danos (110407) 2013-05-11 22:36

Hello Marie Louise,
extremely beautiful the place of Pamukkale and especially the 'Cotton Castle'.The place really is spectacular,with the ponds to are the eye catching of the image.The place that is in my program to visit it some day.

Have a good Sunday,danos

jacquest (19251) 2013-05-12 4:40

Bonjour Marie-Louise,

Merci pour la visite sur ma photo ainsi que la bio de G.W. Osborne. Ici, c'est une très belle présentation de ce phénomène naturel et inusité sous une luminosité favorisant des couleurs douces et des détails clairs.

Meilleures salutations

Jacques

fabbs99 (17179) 2013-05-13 22:06

Hi Marie Louise,

Just love this shot showing Travertines from the hot springs.Looks like frozen snow.The light, the colors, the neatness, the depth are exceptional.Superb light management and clarity of the shot.Very well done.

Best Regards
Farhat

pajaran (102720) 2013-05-14 23:43

Dobar dan.
Dobar tekst sa datim podacima o mestu ...
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
Lepa priroda.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good afternoon.
Good text with the given data information ...
Good work with beautiful photographs of the workshop.
Beautiful nature.
Have a great day, all the best.
Paja.

Sergiom (117241) 2013-05-16 5:30

Bonjour Marie Louise

Très spectaculaire comme phénomène naturel. On peut se fier sur l'homme pour dénaturer les plus belles choses. Ici, la neige et la glace sont du plus bel effet sous cette lumière en diagonale.

Amicalement

Serge

jhm (203085) 2013-05-17 5:08

Hello Marie-Louise,

Again a photo book in your workshop collection, this almost a hour work to all these pictures to find.
Your picture is very spectacular and perfect made
Composition and presentation be superb .
Very well done, TFS.

Have a terrific Pentecostal weekend
John.

Nicou (193806) 2013-05-17 7:09

Hello

De très bons vieux souvenir me reviennent quand je vois cette merveille de Pamoukal, fantastique ces divers bassins et ce bleu clair et ce rendu blanc c'est grandiose.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

clic (23804) 2013-05-19 9:46

Bonjour Marie Louise
Il est intértessant de constater que les émanations du sol aient pu créer ces merveilleuses terrasses pastel paradoxales à leur toxicité!
Du grand art de la nature et du grand art photo!
Amicalement.
Robert

worldcitizen (14308) 2013-05-22 19:12

Hello Marie-Louise,
Your post is very interesting. I had never heard about this place before. The main photo is beautiful, with lovely color and patterns in the terraces. It is sad to know that tourists have ruined part of this site. The WS photos help to understand what is taking place, and to get a complete view of this area. It is a great post for TE. :-)

Robert1969 (7160) 2013-05-28 23:50

Hello Marie Louise,

Like what you wrote: a spectacular view,
almost impossible to describe. The layers
in the picture creates a beautiful depth.
Point of view, light management and the
composition are great.

Friendly regards,
Robert

siolaw (38294) 2013-05-29 0:19

Bonjour Marie Louise
Cet endroit est vraiment extraordinaire et ta photo nous le présente parfaitement bien avec ces bleus pastel et ces formes incroyables.
Joli
Laurent

mesutilgim (0) 2013-05-29 12:13

Hello Marie Louise,
Amazing capture from my home country. Allthoug had some very bad times (with water pollution etc) still a real natural wonder in West Turkey.
TFS and have a nice evening.
MESUT ILGIM

Didi (61589) 2013-06-09 1:15

Bonjour Marie Louise
Une image insolite On dirait un paysage de neige.
Joli point de vue
Bien cordialement

m (0) 2013-06-11 13:34

Hi Marie-Louise,
this is nature's artwork for sure! The dried-out springs look completely frozen in time. And the soft color of the water is so special! Awesome place and a lovely picture to present it.
My best wishes!

macjake (96157) 2013-06-12 5:06

Hi Marie
reading your note, its a shame that human activity has ruined parts of this truely magical natural wonder, when will we learn!
its a splendid progression of steps and flows, and contrasting textures.
lovely shot of this unique subject
cheers
craig

kordinator (8738) 2013-06-18 12:25

Hello Marie Louise
This is simply a magnificent capture.
An amazing place, great colors and contrast.
Good work with beautiful photographs of the workshop.
Really amazing composition.
Kind regards
Saša

josepmarin (59385) 2013-06-25 3:24

Bonjour Marie-Louise,
ce spectacle géologique naturel est bien connu dans tout le monde, et nous l'avons vu au moyen de plusieurs photos, mais on ne se lasse jamais de voir telle beauté.
J'aime comme tu as gérée la difficile lumière pour atteindre une haute qualité d'image et de couleurs, avec un grand contraste chromatique des tons bleus et blancs.
La composition est très belle.
Bien amicalement,
Josep

adores (46979) 2013-07-06 15:42

Hi Marie Louise!
This is indeed a wonderful place! I've been there around 17 years ago, but I guess it still keeps its beauty. But it's a pity that tourism is starting to destroy it. Good pov, nice soft light and beautiful colours. The textures are great!

Cricri (176) 2013-07-07 10:27

Hi Marie Louise
Merveilleuse tant dans sa composition et ces couleurs, belle note information, magnifique
Belle soirée
cricri

mkamionka (61306) 2013-07-09 2:06

Hi Marie Louise,
I have in my TE gallery almost an identical picture to this one! Great POV. I like the trees on the horizon and subtly luminescent pools.
Beautiful!
M

Kielia (24077) 2013-07-14 2:25

Bonjour Marie Louise,
a fantastic and exciting place that you have captured excellently. Your POV works very well and the management of the difficult light is outstanding. I also enjoyed reading the note. This photo is a wonderful lesson in geography!
Warm regards
Harriet

Angshu (56760) 2013-07-19 23:50

Hello Marie-Louise
This picture brings in memories of our visit in May this year! Actually there are two reasons why the tavertines were damaged..one of course because of people and secondly the excess calcium because of the constant mineral rich water flow allowed algae & moss to grow and hence became dirty as they were exposed to the air.
Now the authorities have created artificial pools for people to walk and swim on.
As for the real tavertines, thermal water is now released in certain schedule and therefore now only a portion of the natural tavertines are filled with the water, while are others are intentionally kept dry!
Best Regards
Angshu

PS : Thanks for the wonderful Ws especially from other countries...I learnt a lot from these WS posts

cornejo (61504) 2013-07-20 11:26

Hello MarieLouise, lovely view of this beautiful place, very well captured with a great pov, in this great and beautiful fotogrqafía. Wonderful image with very good sharpness, depth and quality. An excellent and beautiful work well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

Waylim (25436) 2013-07-30 17:33

Hello Again,

I see you have been travelling! I love to have been here with you. I have not yet a chance to see Turkey, one day soon :) I have seen images of this place, usually with lots of people. I love how you avoid all the people, giving this place a peaceful mood without all the toursits. I love it. Beuatiful colors of the terraces.

Way

KristinsCamera (2384) 2013-08-05 22:00

A beautiful and surreal water/landscape, Marie-Louise ~
I would love to experience this in person myself.

The colors are very appealing, as is that dark accent line of the trees. How fascinating nature is...

I don't know if you have read the book, but it brings to mind the witch's winter palace in the land of Narnia (by C S Lewis.)
I don't think a set designer could top this :)

Kind regards,
Kristin

Corry (4508) 2013-09-11 5:37

Très belle photo de la falaise de Pamukkale avec ses cascades. Le point de vue est excellent ainsi que les couleurs et la netteté. Bien fait.

Yvon

manatee (4668) 2014-01-20 1:31

En México tenemos un lugar así, voy a subir unas fotos para que las puedas ver, se llama Hierve el agua esta en el estado de Oaxaca al sur del país.

Esta foto es hermosa, los colores son realmente nítidos y muy mucha luz, yo cortaría un poco el cielo, para poder acercar mas al espectador a donde quiero que miren que es a el agua.
Gracias por llevarnos a este lugar se mira increíble.

Elias

[workshop] [compare] +

fritzi007 (14698) 2017-05-06 14:01

Hello Marie Louise,
interessante Reportage über Pamukkules Sinterterassen, gut gemacht!

Viele Grüße
Wolfgang

LuisGustavoLima (5184) 2017-08-16 8:15

Olá, Marie-Louise!

Forma interessante dessas rochas, assim como o processo pelo qual elas são criadas. Infelizmente, o dinheiro destruiu boa parte delas, como você disse em sua nota. Cores e contrastes muito bons.
Bom trabalho!

gervaso (28177) 2018-05-08 3:58

Hola, Marie-Louise!

Qué lugar maravilloso, y me gustan los colores más fríos de la composición! La vegetación al fondo crea un muy bonito contraste, además de dar buena profundidad a la imagen! Excelente trabajo!

COSTANTINO (104245) 2019-05-25 14:14

hello dear friend and have a nice time
and a happy new day
original version
I have never visited Pamukkale
but I would like to do so!!!
thanks for your useful notes
about the cOTTON cASTSLE IN tURKISH
welldone
regards
Costantino