Gone to See Portugal. Day 8: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on TAP (Air Portugal) Lisbon to Newark.
I checked out of the Bessa Hotel and took a taxi to the airport. Check-in, Security, Customs & Immigration were quick. I didn’t need to remove my shoes, computers, or cameras — but did need to remove my belt with the heavy copper Philmont buckle. I spent some time at the lounge, but was warned when checking in to get to the gate early. At the gate we needed to go through a 2nd security check for carry-on luggage (only if your name was on a list for extra screening) which resulted in some confusion and long lines. They also checked the size and weight of carry-on luggage. If it was too large, it was gate checked. I was waved through. One group of tourists in front of me had small carry-0n luggage when they checked in but then loaded up with tax-free goods (many bottles of Portuguese Port and cigars) that put them way over the limits. They were not Americans, there is another country that has taken over the ugly & rude tourist award. For the international flights, we needed to take a bus out to the jet which also took more time. I ended up with a great seat with a window and extra space for my computer. The meals on TAP are excellent. I will definitely fly TAP again.
Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 7: Lisbon, Portugal.
Following a final review of our “best images” the group walked to the Time Out Market for lunch. My foot didn’t hurt, and I found myself walking faster than everyone for the first time all week. One person made a comment that the hurting foot was all an act — it wasn’t. The Time Out Market was much busier than when I was there on Saturday, but the adjoining fish, meat, vegetable, and fruit markets were all closed. The restaurant area was so crowded we couldn’t find a place to sit down together. At that point the group said our final goodbye and split up. Many of the restaurants had available seating on the corridor surrounding the main area which was much less crowded. I sat down at CAFÉ DE SÃO BENTO and had a Portuguese steak with a fried egg on top. I then walked back to the Bessa Hotel stopping at several places to get high-resolution 360 degree images with the Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens.
Street Photographers or Paparazzi?
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout (Part 1). Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Individual images from the slideshows can be viewed here.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout (Part 2). Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 6: Lisbon, Portugal.
We had free time in the morning to go out and shoot on our own. After a quick breakfast, I headed down to the river to catch the sun rising over the Tagus river. I made it just in time. Police blocked access to the; main square for more movie filming. This time for real, not practice and rehearsal. I managed to catch a bit of the motorcycle action from a block away before being chased off. The new Fuji X-T3 camera stayed focused on the motorcycles even though the security guy with the orange vest kept waking toward me. I spent the rest of the morning getting high-resolution images using the Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens for high-resolution 360 degree panorama, little-planet view, and tunnel view; images. I only had time (and the computing horsepower) to process a few of these while in Portugal. The locations included areas I passed on the long walk from the subway station on Wednesday. I also found a large indoor farmers market in the Time Out building. After lunch we reviewed yesterday’s images, then attended a dinner with Fado performance. I nearly fell down the narrow stairs at the restaurant but was saved when Sean grabbed my shoulder. There were several signs in the restaurant forbidding photos and videos. I didn’t record the dinner or Fado performance. Funny thing, at least six other folks at other tables did record the Fado performance with their smartphones.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 5: Lisbon, Portugal.
Miguel took us out for our morning walkabout so Steve could sleep in and allow the antibiotics to work their magic. I took my small Leica CL camera with the 23 mm f/2 lens and the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. We went through an area with many bars with lots of empty bottles and plastic cups from the night before. The only activities were a few locals on their way to work, and the some city workers picking up the bottles and cleaning the streets. I wandered off on a side street and came upon a film crew with motorcycles and police cars doing practice runs. I got a picture of the movie director viewing the activity. We then walked back to the hotel for lunch and our afternoon image review session. Just before getting to the hotel, a woman with a bright orange dress walked by a street beggar in blue.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
For our afternoon session, we rode a couple of taxis to the LX Factory. I took the Nikon D850 camera with an 8-15 mm fisheye lens. The LX Factory is a tourist attraction with many arts and craft shops and restaurants. “Kiss the Cook” a Portuguese cooking class that I attended during the 2014 Semester at Sea voyage is located in the LX Factory.. A commercial photographer didn’t want we to take any images of his model. In addition to the street photography, I also took a series of images for a high-resolution composite 360 degree panorama and little planet view. I wish we stayed at the LX factory for dinner, and not return to the hotel. The 2nd taxi took a long time to return, so four of us went to a local Italian restaurant for dinner.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon LX Factory Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of Dinner. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 4: Sintra, Pena Palace, and Cascais, Portugal.
Miguel, our local photography guide hired a van for a road trip to Sintra, Pena Palace, and Cascais. We departed a little after 07:30. I was a bit late because I wanted to take a different camera kit for the day trip. We still arrived in Sintra at 08:30 before the big tour buses. A rainbow helped guide the way to Sintra. By arriving early we had time to wander around the town to see the locals at work before being overrun by tourists. I used a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens while in Sintra. Afterwards, the van took us to the park entrance to Pena Palace. Just after leaving Sintra, I notices a photographer taking images of a model on the side of the road. We hiked the trail to Pena Palace. From a previous visit, I knew there was a bus that would drive folks up to the Palace for those that couldn’t make the walk — but it wasn’t running yet. I did the walk slowly since my left foot big toe still hurt. I also remembered to start the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. Since I visited Pena Palace twice before while on Semester at Sea trips, my main focus was the Triton guarding the entrance to the Palace. For this I used a Nikon D850 camera and 19 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (Images for another post). Low clouds/fog covered the Fairy Tail castle as we arrived. I really liked the subdued lighting for the series of images I took of the Triton. Rather than tour the Palace, I sat in one place and enjoyed the view. I collected several images of other folks taking pictures of the Triton. After walking back to the van, we went to Cascias — a fishing and tourist village on the Atlantic ocean. We had a great lunch then walked down to the small harbor. Steve was able to find a doctor and pharmacy for his respiratory infection. I switched to my Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm lens in Cascias. A great camera for working at a distance, and catching images of people in motion (and in focus) with its high-speed burst ability.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the hike up to the Pena Palace. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the the Pena Palace Entrance. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the hike down from the Pena Palace. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Fish Lunch in Cascias. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout in Cascias. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.