The Crystal Ship, a photo from Kotor, South

Photographer's Note

Not really a crystal ship (thank you Jim Morrison) at all, or a ghost ship - surprise, surprise - but the "Royal Clipper" in Boka Kotorska, Montenegro.

The "Royal Clipper" is a modern sailing cruise ship. Here is some information about her taken from the Star Clipper website:
In 1902, the largest, fastest sailing ship the world had ever seen was launched. The legendary "Preussen" dominated the seas, only to be gone in a few short years. Neither before nor since had the world seen such a magnificent sailing ship. Until today�

Inspired by the tall ship "Preussen", the "Royal Clipper" has the proud distinction of being the largest and only five-masted full-rigged sailing ship built since her predecessor was launched at the beginning of the last century. With her complement of 42 sails, "Royal Clipper" is a splendid sight to behold.

Boka Kotorska, or Kotor Bay, is a large branching inlet, often referred to as a fjord, but in fact a ria, on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. The bay is about 28 km long from the open sea to the city of Kotor. It is surrounded by the mountains of Orjen on the west and Lovćen on the east. The narrowest section, Verige strait, is only 300 m wide. As of 2013, it can be crossed by a car-ferry, but Montenegro is planning to build a bridge to span the strait, the so-called Verige Bridge.

The bay has been inhabited since antiquity. Its well preserved medieval towns of Kotor, Risan, Tivat, Perast, Prčanj and Herceg Novi, along with their natural surroundings, are major tourist attractions. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor has been a World Heritage Site since 1979.

This was the view from our balcony, early one morning.

KristinsCamera, Kielia, tyro, Didi, ktanska, Royaldevon, Romano46, Highmountains, abmdsudi, jhm, timecapturer, SnapRJW, dekanski, CLODO, mkamionka, delpeoples, PaulVDV, ourania, adores, jugnutoor, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

KristinsCamera (2384) 2013-11-27 7:33

This photograph could be the opening shot in a film. It could also inspire a book.
You have captured the soft colors and gentle reflections perfectly ~
I can only imagine your delight when you looked out from your balcony and saw this.
Beautiful, evocative and a little mysterious ~ what's not to like?! :)
Lovely shot, thank you ~
kristin

holmertz (102636) 2013-11-27 7:46

Hello Will,
This is a tremendous view, really something to wish for from a hotel room. The clouds and weak light have created a fine atmosphere that suits the elegant ship very well. I have travelled along the Kotor Bay a few times and enjoyed the fine views very much. It's a really beautiful area.
Kind regards,
Gert

Kielia (24077) 2013-11-27 7:52

Hi Will,
you are presenting a fascinating impression of this well known sailing ship. You were really very lucky with the weather! The clouds create a fantastic mood and the ship almost looks like the flying dutchman. A great capture!
Warm regards
Harriet

dta (98848) 2013-11-27 8:05

Hello Will ,
a fantastic and almost magical atsphere for this beautiful tall ship mooring in front of the cloudy mountains .
Regards

tyro (30513) 2013-11-27 8:10

Hi Will,

A most interesting picture and note, especially as I also shot a picture of this fine vessel in the Ionian Sea from our balcony in Corfu a few years ago!

But your picture is far, far better than mine. The weather conditions here might not be the very best for sailing a ship like this but they are perfect for photographers! The light here is just wonderful and the "Royal Clipper" stands out stunningly and sharply against the soft mist which swathes the distant mountain. The reflections on the water are divine and the whole picture breathes peace and tranquillity. Or, at least, it should because I seem to recall that she's fitted with quite substantial diesel engines which, interestingly, have their exhausts passing up through a hollow mizzen mast!

Gorgeous light and soft colours, fine composition, perfect exposure and exquisite details and sharpness.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. Did you get my email about adding a "group"?

Didi (61589) 2013-11-27 8:20

Hi Will
Beautifull view with good particular light ambiance and interesting presence of clouds and mist
Well done
Best regards

No_One (4) 2013-11-27 8:26

Hi Will,

This is a beautiful image. It reminds of the movie Ghost Ship, except here you didn稚 need special effects to get this stunning ghostly vision. How cool it must have been to see this sight in front of your eyes from your balcony. The ship sailing through the clouds alone makes an exceptional image, but the sky, its colors and their reflection is just the icing on the cake. Really a beautiful image.
Thanks for sharing, I love your title too
All the best
Noel

rigoletto (34279) 2013-11-27 9:50

hello william. despite your highly realistic note and purist image, i cannot help associating surreal feelings with this photo. i think of ghosts, pirates, flying dutchman and other cheesy things related to the history of seafaring, and even you cannot stop it :)

ktanska (44738) 2013-11-27 11:19

Hi Will,
Yes, those five giant masts really catch attention. And this landscape is truely beautiful in itself. Just great to see these combined. Special low hanging clouds add special feeling to the scene.
Kari

oss (425) 2013-11-27 11:25

Hello Will
i remeber your yew tunnel and your italian beauty. Once again a great shot. Fantastic seascape with the ship adding to it.
Congatulations.
Tony

siudzi (34141) 2013-11-27 11:29

Hi Will,
It looks really amazing! Like from the movie scene... Excellent artistic shot taken with superb composition and quality. Bravo!

Best,
Gosia

Royaldevon (85862) 2013-11-27 11:30

Hello Will,

This is a magnificent ship!
Her five masts tower high and hint at her sailing power.
The setting of low clouds, straddling dark hills, backed by further swirling clouds, creates a most ghostly impression. Your reference to 'Ghost Ship' does seem apt in this circumstance. Just the peach highlights, in the f/g, offer any sense of warmth, though they could hint at something sinister closing in!!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

mesutilgim (0) 2013-11-27 11:58

Hello Will,
What an amazing capture ! The foggy atmosphere creates a perfect background to Royal Clipper .
Many interesting notes makes your entry a perfect TE entry.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Romano46 (18472) 2013-11-27 12:16

Ciao Will
una foto che apprezzo moltissimoper la perfetta composizione, i colori assai delicati e la perfetta riproduzione di un luogo che conosco molto bene per averlo visitato molti anni fa.
Hai colto a perfezione l'atmosfera di questo paese dalla natura incontaminata e dagli incredibili paesaggi. Molto bello sia il paesaggio che la composizione.
Una bella cattura che fa rinascere in me in desiderio di tornare in questo incredibile paese.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

macjake (98408) 2013-11-27 12:30

Hi Will
what a fantastic subject.
I've never had the pleasure of photographing a tall ship like this one, but perhaps my day will come soon enough :)

its such an atmospheric type of photo, the clouds seem to be rolling in and around in a very beautiful manner, it adds so much to the overall look of the scene.

love the blue/grey tones too.
cheers
craig

chawax (20764) 2013-11-27 13:15

Hi Will,
A beautiful sailboat and a great atmosphere with the little mist and the sun over the mountain.
Regards,
Olivier

adidas5nb (5743) 2013-11-27 19:13

stunner.the clouds and the sea and the mountains make for a real mystic frame.like the framing with the ship. reminds me of pirates of the carribean..
regards
dwaipayan

Highmountains (2674) 2013-11-28 0:05

The sharpness and clarity of the ship - particularly the five masts with its shimmering reflection in the calm waters stand out against the soft, misty, hazy environment. The grey clouds and the hills shuts out the direct light; the reddish tinge on the right and again its reflection on the waters have been wonderfully captured. Perhaps such colours wouldn't have been there if you had a clear sky.
Thanks for sharing this well composed photograph, Will.

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-11-28 2:09

Hi Will
A quite therapeutic atmosphere really like this Will - The isolation and solitude and that air of mystery really come through here! A very peaceful coastal scape showing the real unsaturated beauty of the early misty morning, soft lighting and all the hues of grey with stunning mountain in the backdrop. Touch of warm light on the calm water gives the image depth and contrast so the foreground stands out from the mist and of course the boat is nicely placed. This really well captured- Lovely memorable image. tfs
Best regards

Nicou (193806) 2013-11-28 4:37

Hello

Avec le reflet sur le plan d'eau quel ancien voilier dans un d馗or de r黐e une mervielle fantastique vue et la brume ces nuage sur la colline c'est superbe
Bravo et amiti�
Nciou

jhm (211736) 2013-11-28 4:57

Hello Will,

A splendid picture with these Royal Clipper in quiet moment, also nice reflections
Also your panoramic view cares for a very pleasant image.
Excellent composition, lovely soft presentation
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

timecapturer (49288) 2013-11-28 5:06

Hello Will
now this is special. A glorious moment in time captured so beautifully. A sensual atmosphere and a romantic motive who could resist this? A stunning place and a real sense of its magic in this perfectly presented image. Love it!

Regards - B.

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-11-28 10:18

Hello Will - It's the mood that works so well here. The soft warm light of morning just penetrates the clouds and reflects attractively on the sea and the ship although lovely is for me only one part a the beautiful whole. On a small technical note, on the beta page there is a white halo around the mountain where the mountain and sky meet, the image doesn't look over-sharpened at all but I wold be inclined to try and get rid of it as this is a beautiful shot. Warm regards Rosemary

dekanski (9361) 2013-11-28 12:29

Hi Will,
Predecessors have already said everything. I can only to agree!

This beautiful ship can be seen along the entire Adriatic coast.

Regards
Sa啾

CLODO (45116) 2013-11-29 0:26

Hi Will

it seems it's a ghost ship coming out from the mist in the mountainy area, many grey hues are enlighten by the pale pink reflection on ythe still water. Are you sure you are awaken?
Greetings
CLODO

Mics (1020) 2013-11-29 2:19

Hi Will,
Nice enigmatic shot! I thought it was a 'deja vu' to have seen this photo in one of the children's book about sea pirates. With the mist just behind the boat gives an intriguing ambiance and special feeling on the image.
Thanks for sharing! :-)
Michelle

mkamionka (74329) 2013-11-29 3:31

Hi Will,
that is a truly magnificent view from the window! Although the weather is far from what one could wish for a holiday -it appeared to add some photogenic touch here. Mix of fog and clouds creates an amazing mood as if from a pirates movie indeed. And this huge boat was a great catch to have in this surrounding. It also serves well as a scale marker for the mountain behind. I like also the reflection of the boat.
It is spectacular view,
M

wolf38 (30) 2013-11-30 1:20

Hi Will. A grandiose landscape with an impressive sailboat. Everything looks aesthetically and transfigured. Very well seen and presented.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

delpeoples (60342) 2013-12-01 4:48

Hi Will

Ooh yeah it certainly looks a little spooky with all that mist and grey tones. I try to imagine the image without that stunning shot of gold on the water to the right, and the photo would be okay. But with it, it's a mini-masterpiece. Well done!

Cheers
Lisa

PaulVDV (62846) 2013-12-01 9:33

Hello Will,
A very long time ago (on a journey through Yugoslavia) I've visited Boka Kotorska. It was summertime then. This is a totally different view than what I have in my memories and here Boka Kotorska looks more like a Norwegian fjord.
Under the lowest hanging clouds we can see the houses built on the dark slopes while that beautiful ship sails closer to the camera and in front of those clouds.
I'm not sure if I would really appreciate this weather on a holiday :) but it certainly contributes to an attractive and mysterious mood on the picture.
Nice reflection of the five masts in the water.
Best regards, Paul

ooMarieoo (75) 2013-12-01 14:54

Hello Will,

What a lovely picture, it makes me think off a fantasy novel. Everything is perfect : the low mist, mountains in the background and the blue and pinkish tones, simply wonderful...

Regards,
Marie

Silvio1953 (221493) 2013-12-02 5:51

Ciao Will, fascinating misty composition with fantastic ship, dreaming atmosphere, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ourania (51103) 2013-12-04 11:11

Hello Will,
this is a mesmerising view you were lucky to behold and very skillful to capture so that we may enjoy it too. The beautiful ship is gliding through a dream-like scenery, the subtle light is revealing and the fog is hiding parts of the background in a very intriguing play. There's stunning sharpness on the ship that's set off by its foggy backdrop. I like very much the harmony of the grey/silvery hues and the warm touch of the mild reflection. A marvellous sight, congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great evening,
Ourania

batalay (41261) 2013-12-09 20:49

Hello Will,

Just last year in September we saw Montenegro and were awe struck by its rugged beauty. With the low lying fog, there is special quality in your shot, especially with the color highlight in the lower right. Your wonderfully informative note sheds a good deal of light on the story of the 5-masted Royal Clipper. In January 2010 we saw the picturesque ship off the coast of Santa Lucia in the Caribbean. It had its sails fully deployed:
� Royal Clipper I.
� Royal Clipper II.

Best wishes for Happy Holiday Season.

Bulent

m (0) 2013-12-14 12:52

Hi Will,
I'd say this one is magical too... hard to tell the mist from the clouds... silvery tones, a splash of pinkish light on the water and milky sky. Oh, and that ghost ship... ok, you say it's not ghost...
I was there some years ago admiring the beauty of the bay but frankly I didn't recognize it in your photo. That's because I cruised it in perfect sunshine but the mist changes things completely and in a stunning way.
One of your bests in my humble opinion.
Have a great Sunday!

adores (46979) 2013-12-15 17:12

Hi Will!
We don't see many photos of this country here! The ship is very beautiful and the mountains and clouds add a perfect atmosphere - you got a very good shot and it seems you had a great view from your balcony.

jugnutoor (1017) 2013-12-26 6:39

Hi Will, Beautiful shot of this very beautiful scene, amazing environment. Good work, TFS.

regards Jugnu