When taking this shot my attention was ineviatbly drawn to the naked tree at the top of the waterfall, overlooking the scenery.

That tree plays a leading role in this image. Hence its title....

This shot was taken at Poço da Broca in Portugal. This spot is located in Serra do Açor, a mountainous area in the center of Portugal.

The waterfall (in fact a series of waterfalls), is fed by the waters of Ribeira de Alvouco.

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Poço da Broca, Barriosa, Portugal

© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Tags:   Serra do Açor Serra Açor Mountain Portugal Waterfall Ribeira Alvouco Landscape Poço da Broca Barriosa

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An alien was right there! I've made a very strange discovery when post-processing my photo. During the whole time I’ve been in this spot (a couple of hours) I was being attentively followed and observed by "something". You can see its eyes and profile if you augment the image and observe the ground in between the trees (about 8-10 meters from where I was standing). Most certainly the “alien” was a fox or some other small animal… Anyway, it’s weird! Being observed from so close (and being unaware of it) from something totally unknown…
This is the first star trail I’ve ever made. Star trails are done when shots include, on purpose, the stars movement. This one is the result of stitching 50 long exposure shots in post, to create that beautiful effect (100 shots or more would be even better but that became impossible, when morning light came up into play to disturb my plan…).
It was taken last year at 4.30am on a new moon night at Alqueva (Alentejo region, Portugal). Alqueva is Europe’s certified biggest (and best) dark sky reserve. The flooded area resulting from the construction of the Alqueva dam originated the largest artificial lake in Europe and the inexistence of sizable cities or even small villages in its surroundings, created ideal conditions for astrophotography. It is considered to be the darkest area in Europe.
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Alqueva, Alentejo, Portugal

© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Tags:   Alqueva Alentejo Portugal Star Trail Startrail Night Nightscape Sky Newmoon Astrophotography

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Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau is a waterfall near Fajã Grande on the Azores island of Flores, Portugal. The waterfall is fed from the mountains in the centre of the island. The water falls from a height of about 90 metres (300 ft). As it falls, it tears and chisels the stone. On its base a beautiful natural lagoon was formed, that calls for a dive.

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Flores Island, Azores, Portugal

© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

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Just back from a one week spent at the Dolomites. What a wonderful time! First time there. I just came back and already thinking on returning…

This photo was taken on a foggy morning. I was already bewitched by all the beauty my eyes were seeing, but when the geese entered the composition I was completely entranced. And to top it off, of the four geese, one of them was black! What an amazing view.

Hope you like it, dear friends. Have a wonderful weekend!

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Dolomites, Italy.

© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Tags:   Dolomites Italy Mountain Fog Foggy Geese Goose Lake Dream Dreamy Magic mood Atmosphere Atmospheric elitegalleryaoi bestcapturesaoi aoi

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Press L for a better viewing experience

Jökulsárlón sits south of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Huge blocks of ice calve from the glacier and those icebergs float into a lagoon ("Glacier Lagoon"). From there they keep floating towards the Atlantic Ocean, where some of them get washed ashore and sparkle on the black beach like diamonds, after having been polished by the waves. Thus, the beach designation: Diamond Beach.

This photo was taken at sunrise, on a glorious day, with beautiful weather. When I've arrived to the beach a couple of hours before sunrise, seals were easily seen in the water, looking for their morning's meal... And when the sun rose in the sky, well, the least we can say is that it was monumental! This place is utterly beautiful and will remain always in my memories as being the most extraordinary spot I've been in a marvellous trip to Iceland.

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Diamond Beach, Iceland


© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Tags:   Diamond Beach Jokusarlon Iceland Iceberg Seal Black Sunrise Golden hour Landscape Seascape Glacier Lagoon Atlantic Ocean bestcapturesaoi elitegalleryaoi aoi

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