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During the two week holiday that my wife Liz and I enjoyed on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Crete one of the places we kept on driving around was the northern end of Mirabello Bay,.
Specifically, the stretch of coast between the towns of Elounda and Plaka, with the island of Spinalonga just offshore.
Spinalonga is a fascinating place, with a rich and diverse history culminating in its use as a leper colony up until 1957.
Liz had a special interest in Spinalonga, having read the book 'The Island', which was based here, so Spinaonga was on our list of 'must visit' places during our stay on Crete.
I was also keen on a visit, having viewed Spinalonga from afar and noted the rather imposing fortifications, a relic from Venetian rule in the middle ages, which looked highly photogenic if you're into dereliction like me!
There's a path that you can follow that takes you right around the circumference of the island at sea level, passing a number of those imposing fortifications in various states of dilapidation.
This was one such building whose rather brutalist nature was softened somewhat by a large tree that had grown up next to the walls, seemingly out of solid rock.
A nice juxtaposition of nature's delicacy and beauty set against mans' rigidity and attempts at permanence.
Filename - crete spinalonga 05.jpg
Camera - Canon 6D
Lens - 24-105mm zoom @ 32mm
Exposure - 1/250sec @ f8, ISO400
Filters - Polarising filter used to reduce glare and enhance colours.
Location - Spinalonga, Crete
This image - 800x533px JPEG
Conversion - Adobe Lightroom
Comments - Handheld exposure with lens stabilisation.
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