Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/05/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dear LUG, A few weeks ago my wife and I went to Lanzarote on holidays. It was the first time since we have kids (our oldest daughter is 8 since march) that we went away without them for longer than a weekend or so. And it was fun and something I'd warmly recommend. I planned to really concentrate on photography during this week and for this purpose I took my M4-2 with a VC 35 Color Skopar (which was on the camera at hyperfocal for 90% of the time), a 50 Cron, and a Minolta Rokkor 90/4. I could have used a Summi- or Noctilux as you will see in some shots. I also took a Ricoh GR1s with a fixed 28/2.8 that I acquired just before our departure and I fell in love with it during our stay. Great little and pocketable tool with a killing lens and spot on metering most of the time. Most of the B&W was shot with the M4-2. I used Kodak BW400CN. Most of the color was shot with the Ricoh. I used Fuji Superia 100. Lanzarote is the most northern and smallest of the Canary Islands. It's about 60 to 20 km, is covered with volcanic ashes and debris for about 2/3 and this gives it a unique look and atmosphere. It's almost always very windy, but meanwhile the sun is shining vigorously. A dangerous combination for sunburn. Because of the volcanic origin, the wind and the temperatures, lots of European triathletes come and prepare here for the Iron Man at Hawaii. Not further away than 10 miles to Lanzarote lies Fuertaventura, a totally different island. You can see it from most of Lanzarote: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Fuertaventura.html Sometimes ships lose their way between both islands: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Stranded.html On Lanzarote itself, there are many roadsigns warning for the possible crossing of a certain animal. But I've never seen one during our stay, I swear: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Roadsign.html The 2 most interesting things on Lanzarote are the National Volcanic Parc, Timanfaya, and the works of C?sar Manrique, an artist that upgraded the island all by himself. There are 3 protected sites that were designed by this genious artist/architect, and we visited all 3. What makes Manrique so special is f.i. that he incorporated his art and architecture into the Lanzarote landscape, thus preserving it. Manrique died in the mid 90'ies, but his heritage is luckily well guarded. Google will tell you more about him if this made you curious. First, we visited his own home. Most people that enter are simply overwhelmed by the beauty of it: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/CesarManrique_1.htm l http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/CesarManrique_2.htm l It links volcanic caves with on surface buildings and wherever you look, the landscape is prominently present: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/CesarManrique_4.htm l Secondly, we went to Jameo Del Agua, a volcanic grotto next to the coast that Manrique designed to be a conference and leisure centre. It's huge, even more overwhelming than his own home, and turns into a dance club 3 times a week: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/JameoDelAgua_1.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/JameoDelAgua_2.html There even is a swimming pool: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/JameoDelAgua_5.html And everywhere are peepholes that corporate the landscape: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/JameoDelAgua_3.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/JameoDelAgua_4.html Finally, we visited Manrique's Mirador Del Rio, an eagle's nest on the top of the east cape of the island, offering a stunning view at Isla Graciosa, a deserted isle. Not everybody is positive about the view though: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/MiradorDelRio_1.htm l But most just stand there and let the beauty of what they see come over them. If they are not blown away by the wind: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/MiradorDelRio_2.htm l http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/MiradorDelRio_3.htm l http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/MiradorDelRio_4.htm l http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/MiradorDelRio_5.htm l So far for Manrique, onto Timanfaya Park now. You have to drop your car at a certain point, and from then on it's either by foot, by bus, by guide or by camel: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_1.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_6.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_7.html The volcanic park is still active, as the guides demonstrate pooring water in some holes in the ground: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_2.html And also in the kitchen they use the heat that nature offers them: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_3.html We took the bus to see the eintire park. A (after a while) friendly driver welcomed us: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_4.html In the park are nine craters, of which this one is the 2nd largest: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Timanfaya_5.html Driving through it is af if you're on the moon, or on Mars. Didn't they shoot Capricorn One here? A bit further away, close by the sea, is another crater showing all the possible shades of black and brown. It reminded me of Artist's Palette in Death Valley. The crater lake has green water due to algae: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/ElGolfo_1.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/ElGolfo_2.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/ElGolfo_3.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/ElGolfo_5.html Everywhere you stop, the local stores offer beatiful artefacts. For those that love plain kitsj, that is: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Elly_1.html All this untamed natural beauty gives one something to think about (the only time I used the 90, BTW): http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Elly_2.html These were of the few children we saw on the entire island. Not their season yet, I guess: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/ElGolfo_4.html In the centre of the island is a small town called Teguise. Once a week there is a typical market. We missed it... So we visited its church Upon our arrival a little inhabitant welcomed us and pointed out the way : http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Teguise_1.html Luckily everything is well indicated on the island. This does not necesserally mean well translated, though: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Teguise_2.html Finally, the churck itself :-) http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Teguise_3.html 'Just' a snapshot in Teguise: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Teguise_4.html And yes, there IS color on Lanzarote: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Teguise_5.html Something very special and typical is the way they grow vines on Lanzarote: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Vineyards_1.html http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Vineyards_2.html But this not has to mean that the wine produced of it is good, too. ;-) On our last day, in the airport, I informed my wife that next to her sat a strange woman: something grew out of her head: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/Lanzarote/slides/Elly_4.html And then we returned to Belgium and started to scan all this. I hope you enjoyed it. Comments and suggestions always welcome. Thanks for looking, Philippe P.S.: I'm aware of the artificial grain (noise) in some of the B&W. It seems that JAlbum is not making it any better when compressing to websize jpegs. And it of course also proves that I'm not always spot on with the meter, neither ;-) Or that sometimes I could use a Noct or a Lux...