Anissaras – Crete

Anissaras between rocky outcrops and sea

In front of Anissaras, small rocks rise out of the water, which respond to the protruding coast in the wide views. In the countryside, built-up areas alternate with open spaces. In the steeper shots you can particularly clearly see where the water changes color over flat ground.

Rocks in shallow water

With Anissaras, the color of the water changes at the ledges. For an image description, the visible color boundary is more precise than a guess about the depth at this point.

From land the first thing you notice is the open water. In an aerial view, the process can be reversed and the coast can be seen from the sea. Wherever it changes direction, small protected spaces are created. Other sections extend almost straight to the edge of the picture. When selecting a motif, it is worth comparing these transitions with each other. A single, striking rocky outcrop can identify a location more clearly than a much larger expanse of water with only light and waves visible.

The shape of the rock in the light

Rock surfaces are often harder to read in an aerial photograph than their sharp outline suggests. A dark area can be a deep crevice or just in shadow. The connection of several visible edges provides information. Where they converge and cover a surface, a spatial jump is understandable. A location with clear rock contours is suitable for publication with smaller images. In a larger format, the eye can wander more over the finer differences in the surface.

Light and surface of the water

On water, colors and brightness change with the direction of the light. A bright spot can be a reflection, a darker stripe can be caused by the shadow on the bank. The easiest way to describe such differences is to use a solid bank edge or an object in the water as a comparison. Two different distances are attractive for a sequence of images. The closer view shows small surface structures, while the overview makes their location in the entire water surface understandable.

The distribution of blue tones

Among the 8 photos in the gallery, shot 8 and shot 3 provide a good starting point for the comparison. In the first excerpt, shades of blue play a smaller role. In the second shot, blue areas take up more space. Blue can extend over a large contiguous area or only appear in individual parts. What also counts for the effect is whether these areas extend to the edge of the picture or surround the main subject.

The camera captured October 7, 2020 for shot 1 and shot 8. The time interval between these two views is approximately 5 minutes. The exposure time was 1/800 second for the first of the images mentioned and 1/500 second for the second.

A moving view is also available. The clip “Anissaras on Crete from the air” can be found under Aerial videos. The linked preview leads to inclusion in the aerial photographer's portfolio on Adobe Stock.

Select the coastal view for a photo series

When telling a story about a coast, the order of the images counts. A further look first explains the course of the bank. A closer view can then show the transition from land to water. If an image series begins with a narrow section, readers usually need an additional location reference. The planned size is also important for the aerial photographer. A small indentation can be a clear reference point on a double page spread and almost disappear completely in a narrow column. The caption should match the actual section used.

More aerial photos for comparison

Two further articles invite comparison. In the first, Plakas – Crete, a different detail is in the foreground. At Plakas there is only a narrow populated strip between the barren slope and the water. Then Crete is a good option. The Crete series ranges from an almost vertical view of rocky slopes to the vast coastline under clouds.