As a photographer, you are always looking out for that perfect shot – capturing places and moments and immortalising them in a way that resonates and resounds. It’s hard not to naturally frame compositions even when you’re ‘off duty’. And, you can often guarantee something special will happen as soon as you leave your camera at home. That’s why it was so magical that, during my trip to Santorini, one of the most breath-taking views on the whole island could be enjoyed from my very own hotel bedroom. Visible straight from my window, Santorini’s Mount Profitis Ilias (translated as Prophet Elias or Elijah) rose uninterrupted on the horizon, making for the perfect subject for the lens from the most convenient spot imaginable!
During my time on the island, the weather had yielded almost continuously clear-sky and bright-sun conditions – perfect for the quintessential blue and white-themed island shots. However, on the one cloudy day that did present itself, the elements combined in a way that produced this really dramatic effect over the mount – the highest point and the centre of the island. I wanted to capture this drama with my camera, capitalising on the light from the early morning sunshine breaking through a thick band of dark clouds. The light and dark of the sky is complemented by the shadows and highlights washed over the landscape below, with warm sunlight streaking the atmospheric mountain face and its nooks and striations. Interestingly, while the name Elias is linked to a Christian saint, the word ‘Ilias’ is also believed by some to connect to the Greek word for sun, ‘Helios’, after the ancient Greek god of sun. This seems very apt for this image, with the golden Greek sun pouring over the top of the mount.
As a photographer, you are always looking out for that perfect shot – capturing places and moments and immortalising them in a way that resonates and resounds. It’s hard not to naturally frame compositions even when you’re ‘off duty’. And, you can often guarantee something special will happen as soon as you leave your camera at home. That’s why it was so magical that, during my trip to Santorini, one of the most breath-taking views on the whole island could be enjoyed from my very own hotel bedroom. Visible straight from my window, Santorini’s Mount Profitis Ilias (translated as Prophet Elias or Elijah) rose uninterrupted on the horizon, making for the perfect subject for the lens from the most convenient spot imaginable!
During my time on the island, the weather had yielded almost continuously clear-sky and bright-sun conditions – perfect for the quintessential blue and white-themed island shots. However, on the one cloudy day that did present itself, the elements combined in a way that produced this really dramatic effect over the mount – the highest point and the centre of the island. I wanted to capture this drama with my camera, capitalising on the light from the early morning sunshine breaking through a thick band of dark clouds. The light and dark of the sky is complemented by the shadows and highlights washed over the landscape below, with warm sunlight streaking the atmospheric mountain face and its nooks and striations. Interestingly, while the name Elias is linked to a Christian saint, the word ‘Ilias’ is also believed by some to connect to the Greek word for sun, ‘Helios’, after the ancient Greek god of sun. This seems very apt for this image, with the golden Greek sun pouring over the top of the mount.
