Looking out to distant shores, a photo from North Yorkshire, England

Photographer's Note

In order to discover new lands,
one must be willing to lose sight
of the shore for a very long time.

I suppose this phrase was very true for Captain James Cook...

There are four plaques at the base of this monument of Captain James Cook, each one is different.
They well illustrate his life and achievements, they read:

This plaque was presented by the people of Australia to the Whitby Urban District Council to commemorate the bi-centenary of the discovery of the east coast of Australia by Lieutenant James Cook, R.N. From this discovery emerged a nation.

This plaque was presented by the people of New Zealand. In tribute to the great navigator Captain James Cook R.N. FRS and the men who sailed with him on his voyage of discovery.
"in every situation he stood unrivalled and alone; on him all eyes were turned"

The third plaque was presented by Canada, but I can稚 remember who has funded the fourth plaque. I have to check it next time...

These are fragments from wikipedia痴 article on the early life of James Cook in the North East England. Links in the text take you to corresponding photos taken by me or emka:
James Cook was born on 27 October 1728 in the village of Marton in Yorkshire and baptised on 3 November in the local church of S. Cuthbert, where his name can be seen in the church register. He was the second of eight children of James Cook, a Scottish farm labourer from Ednam in Roxburghshire. In 1736, his family moved to Great Ayton, where his father's employer paid for him to attend the local school. In 1741, after five years schooling, he began work for his father, who had by now been promoted to farm manager. For leisure, he would climb a nearby hill, Roseberry Topping, enjoying the opportunity for solitude. Cooks' Cottage, his parents' last home, which he is likely to have visited, is now in Melbourne, having been moved from England and reassembled, brick by brick, in 1934.
In 1745, when he was 16, Cook moved 20 miles (32km) to the fishing village of Staithes, to be apprenticed as a shop boy to grocer and haberdasher William Sanderson. Historians have speculated that this is where Cook first felt the lure of the sea while gazing out of the shop window.
After 18 months, not proving suitable for shop work, Cook travelled to the nearby port town of Whitby to be introduced to friends of Sanderson's, John and Henry Walker. The Walkers were prominent local ship-owners and Quakers, and were in the coal trade. Their house is now the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Cook was taken on as a merchant navy apprentice in their small fleet of vessels, plying coal along the English coast.
His three-year apprenticeship completed, Cook began working on trading ships in the Baltic Sea. After passing his examinations in 1752, he soon progressed through the merchant navy ranks, starting with his promotion in that year to mate aboard the collier brig Friendship. In 1755, within a month of being offered command of this vessel, he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy, when Britain was re-arming for what was to become the Seven Years' War. Despite the need to start back at the bottom of the naval hierarchy, Cook realised his career would advance more quickly in military service and entered the Navy at Wapping on 17 June 1755.

jean113, danos, ikeharel, alvaraalto, tyro, jhm, PaulVDV, rychem, ChrisJ, Royaldevon, adramad, Cricri, lucasgalodoido, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

No_One (4) 2016-05-02 6:54

Hi Mariusz
That's a fine sculpture and with a brilliant blue sky. The weather looks calm but I guess that many of Cooks experiences would have been much harder weather than this. Great composition and I love how he gazes out to sea. Perfect TE post.
Cheers
Noel

Tue (93328) 2016-05-02 7:36

Hello Mariusz,
Perfect composition here, that leaves enough space for the view over the endless sea that James Cook has got from his pedestal. Lovely blue sky too.
Lars

jean113 (28249) 2016-05-02 8:06

Hello Mariusz,an excellent use of the space in front of the statue to make your point, and relate it to your title.Plus the points of the compass pointing south towards where Captain Cooke eventually sailed.
A beautiful blue sky is the perfect bg to this interesting shot of the famous explorer.
Excellent notes.
Regards Jean.

lousat (139914) 2016-05-02 8:42

Hi Mariusz,absolutely perfect the choice of the place and of the statue position to dedicare something to Cook,his eyes watching to the endless water carpet,and this is in effect what he done in his life,great capture,minimalistic composition and impressive sharpness too.have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Silvio1953 (222779) 2016-05-02 9:27

Ciao Mariusz, lovely composition with beautiful statue, fantastic sky, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

danos (110407) 2016-05-02 10:58

Witaj Mariusz,
well the placement of the statue of Captain James Cook in the frame with the endless seascape view to complete perfect the whole scenery.The place with the benches and the surrounding area is a good place for strolling.Informative your note as well.

Regards,Danos

mesutilgim (0) 2016-05-02 12:18

Hello Mariusz,
Another topclass capture in your gallery taken with perfect pov and layout.
Perfect TE entry enriched with many interesting and usefull notes.
A good dedication to this famous man !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-05-02 21:22

Hi Mariusz
Excellent shooting point this was taken from highlighting a very well defined statue of the famous maritime man with its commanding look providing a more pleasing far away look and his relationship with the ocean - his playground. There's a nice contrast to deep blue sea and sky with excellent feel of scale afforded by the benches while focus is straight on to the patina! unobtrusive. A remarkable work and so pleasing on the eyes and the treatment works superbly - hats off. Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes

ikeharel (114477) 2016-05-02 21:23

Good morning Mariusz,
Those who placed the number of benches had chosen a beautiful spot at the foot of the impressive Captain statue.
Well posted with the monument off-center to allow good view out to sea.
Have a nice new day,
Ike

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-05-03 1:54

Hello Mariusz,
Sometimes coincidences gives surprising combinations. Just before I clicked on your picture I looks at my mobile phone and looked at teletext and read a message about�.. James Cook.
The Endevour is possibly found at the bottom of the harbor of Newport at the east coast of the USA. The archeologists think the ship was used in 1778 to transport British soldiers and could be one of the 13 ships that sunk by Rhode Island.
Groet Rob

tyro (30513) 2016-05-03 4:05

Hello Mariusz,

As soon as I saw this lovely photograph and read your wonderful and extensive notes, I just couldn't resist trying to do some research here! As far as I can gather, the first plaque was presented in 1968 by Australia and New Zealand together to commemorate, not James Cook, but the Whitby ship workers who built Captain Cook's several ships. Then, in 1970, Australia presented a plaque to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Cook's landing in Australia. Canada presented a plaque in 1978 and finally New Zealand presented the final one in 1984.

Anyway, this is a delightful photograph, so simply and so beautifully composed, the tall statue on its plinth perfectly placed in the frame against a clear blue sky with the distant sea stretching out to the horizon.

Gorgeous light and colours, perfect exposure and, as always, stunning details and sharpness.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

jhm (211738) 2016-05-03 4:17

Hello Mariusz,

You place the statue of Captain James Cook excellent on the picture.
Also the nature and the sea makes your picture very attractive.
Your picture is beautiful, you choose a very well angle.
Colours and sharpness are perfect taken.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Nicou (193814) 2016-05-03 6:16

Hlelo

quelle vue de cette statue et compo quel captage sur son socle sueprbe et ce ciel en fond fantastique compo et image ce rendu en 騁oile sur ele pavage grandiose image.
Bravo et amiti�
Nicou

Fis2 (171823) 2016-05-03 6:32

Witaj Mariusz!
Ladny pomnik kapitana Cooka.
Ciekawa sprawa z tablicami.
Udana kompozycja kadru.
Super kolory.
Milego popoludnia.
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (63440) 2016-05-03 12:32

Hello Mariusz,
From the benches on the higher ground people can gaze very far over the North Sea which seemed to be very calm at that time. But the statue of James Cook can still see much further over the heads of the possible visitors.
Very beautiful light and pretty natural colours.
Excellent note!
Best regards, Paul

carlo62 (81265) 2016-05-03 15:42

Ciao Mariusz
eccellente cattura, la qualit� � ottima, il cielo � attraente e la composizione � giocata bene con la statua decentrata che guarda lontano, mentre la stella sul pavimento sottolinea la direzione.
Saluti
Carlo

emka (158680) 2016-05-03 16:19

cześć Mariusz,

Stracic widok brzegu na dlugi czas - nie, to nie dla mnie. Na wilczyce morska ja sie nie nadaje. Pamiętam oczywiscie ten pomnik, ale nie pamiętam tych rnych tablic. Ciekawe jak by wygladał świat, gdyby nie kapitan james Cook. Czy byłby lepszy dla rdzennych Australijczyk? Ładsne zdjęcie, linia horyzontu jak brzytwa ostra.
Przyjemnego pobytu w Polsce
Pozdrawiam Malgorzata

rychem (72187) 2016-05-03 20:55

Nie tylko bardzo dobrze skomponowane zdjecie, ale i sama postac Jamesa Cooka jest ciekawa, podoba mi sie, ze zadni turysci nie wdrapywali Ci sie na pomnik, choc niektorzy fotografowie lubia "element ludzki" na kazdym zdjeciu, ale tu glowny temat to pomnik Cooka
pozdrawiam Ryszard

ChrisJ (172378) 2016-05-04 3:50

Hi Mariusz

It seems the pigeons or seagulls have had a field day using this statue as a perch! Good sharpness and a wonderful blue sky devoid of clouds. I saw in the news today that the wreck of the Endeavour was located off Rhode Island where it was sunk during the US war of independence. Tfs!

Royaldevon (86364) 2016-05-04 13:16

Hello Mariusz,

This is quite a minimalistic shot with just the statue and the sea, well connected; but that doesn't lessen its impact for it is a very strong composition. The singularly strong figure, elevated on high, gazing proudly out to sea, is a force to be reckoned with!
For those unfamiliar with the exploits and achievements of this celebrated man, your notes are more than adequate.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)
With regard to Northumberland, it won't be too far from your home, will it?

adramad (73410) 2016-05-05 4:25

Hello Mariusz.
Certainly a very appropriate placement of this statue of Captain Cook, on the edge of the sea, which seems to be looking, banks are well placed for relaxing enjoying the beautiful horizon, a beautiful day that highlights all.
Excellent POV, with very good lighting, color and sharpness to enjoy the details.
Enjoy a nice day.
Best wishes.
Luis.

Cricri (176) 2016-05-09 22:47

Hi Mariusz
Bonne position de monument, la statue regardent la mer , d騁ails du sol, nettet� et couleurs excellente, bonne note info
belle journ馥
cricri

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2016-05-10 5:37

Ol� Mariusz,
bonita imagem dessa est疸ua, e o cen疵io ao fundo ficou igualmente bom. Destaque para a tonalidade mais azulada. Belo trabalho.
Parab駭s e Abra輟,
Lucas

fabianoleite (13575) 2016-05-13 6:47

Good photo showing the lookout place of the statue, and the view it is having at the time. Well arranged and framed with simplicity and efficiency. Congratulations, good work!

COSTANTINO (117672) 2016-05-23 8:33

Hello dear Mariusz and have a nice time
I love this amazing blue sky changing my
mood tonight excellent use of the space tonight
it is almost perfect you did your best
I liked the phrase which was very true
thanks for sharing it with us
regards
Costantino