TALKING PICTURES
EVERY PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. THE PEOPLE BEHIND THESE SHOTS TELL US WHAT HAPPENED…TO MAKE THEM GO, ‘CLICK’.
TEXT WENDY SAUNT
ACIGOL, TURKEY
PHOTOGRAPHER: Cuneyt Oguztuzun
“I came across these farmers ploughing while out on an assignment in central Turkey. I was following a dirt road, passing over a hill and there they were. At first I felt sorry for them; they were so poor and working so hard, pulling and yelling at the horses who were also working hard. Then I realised that the farmers were ploughing in a way that has been done for thousands years, and they had been doing this for years.
Spring was all around. You could see and smell it in the blossoming trees, in the soil, wild flowers and in the changing colour of the plough lines. It was primitive and beautiful.”
DESTINATION TIP: To get a taste of Turkey, explore the ‘Turkish Riviera’, also known as the Turquoise Coast – incorporating Marmaris, Icmeler and Frethiye – and strewn with a variety of natural and archeological places of interest.
TENERIFE
PHOTOGRAPHER: Fabio Cremasco
“I was on holiday in Playa de Las Americas for a week but, as usual, I had my camera on me, scouting for shots. I love architecture and my style is pretty urban, so this building really caught my eye. The way the sun catches the contours and the way the pattern, framed like this, is abstracted is brilliant. I loved it as it was, but then I saw the girl.
Moments like that are rare and don’t last long. I could see she was going to move, so I had to set the camera and frame the picture quickly. I love it – it’s all about this huge, impenetrable building, then you look down and there’s a human element to it. It’s moments like this that make me glad that I carry my camera everywhere. It’s important to capture those one-off moments that happen in the blink of an eye, then disappear again forever.”
DESTINATION TIP: If you want to see more of Tenerife’s architecture, take yourself on a day trip to the capital, Santa Cruz. For information on tours visit www.Jet2holidays.com .
VILLAJOYOSA, COSTA BLANCA
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ron Curtis
“My day job is working in a nuclear power plant where everything is closely controlled because of the safety implications. But when I come to Villajoyosa all that tension just melts away. I know it like the back of my hand: the unspoilt sandy beaches, friendly local people, beautiful old buildings dating back to the invasion of the Moors and amazing local chocolate.
Here, I was out with friends and it was the end of a beautiful day. I looked up and saw the last of the sunshine peeking through the cabin of the trawler. The photo captures the essence of Villajoyosa and whenever I see the photo it transports me back to how good I felt at the time.”
DESTINATION TIP: Known as ‘the chocolate town’, Villajoyosa’s choc delicacies and traditional nougat turrón come highly recommended. Visit the chocolate museum (www.valor.es), or better still get your hands on the real thing at one of the town’s many specialist chocolaterias.
SAN ANTONIO, IBIZA
PHOTOGRAPHER: Helen Cathcart
“This was shot last summer at Eden. It was the superclub’s opening night and a huge deal because the Wonderland night was being hosted in San Antonio, which doesn’t have a great reputation. Showgirls were performing on podiums and suspended from oversized disco balls, and Groove Armada and Pete Tong were playing.
The photo captures the moment that the club was going off. It was around 2am, Groove Armada’s signature trumpets were getting the party started, and people were downing Cristal. It was a hard photo to take – we’d secured a position just next to the DJ booth and there was lots of balancing precariously with a long exposure and just the right amount of flash. Plus, I just wanted to join in and dance!”
DESTINATION TIP: Fancy learning how to spin some choonz while you’re on the party island? Subbass DJ Academy runs courses for budding Tongs, where you’ll you tutored by DJs who’ve blown Cream, Pacha, and the Ministry of Sound apart (www.subbassdj.com). From £300.
SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT
PHOTOGRAPHER: Manfred Bertoli
“You can’t see the scale of the photograph, but this clownfish is very small. They usually range from 10-18cm in length but this little fella was only 3-4cm long. Absolutely tiny. It’s rare to find one this size – he’s certainly the smallest I’ve ever seen – and to find him on the sea anemone like that was just great.
People move about too quickly when they’re diving and miss so much. I had to wait a while to see him, but there he was swimming up and down by the coral where he lives, 24 metres down. The picture was taken at Sodfa in Sharm el Sheikh, where I dive every few months. The Red Sea is one of the most beautiful places for an underwater photographer like me, but I still feel exceptionally lucky to have got this shot.”
DESTINATION TIP: For those that want to have a go at finding Nemo, Sinai Divers offers diving trips of all levels – as well as beginner courses – to Sodfa. Isango also runs diving trips in the area. Visit Jet2holidays.com to book.
NERJA, COSTA DEL SOL
PHOTOGRAPHER: Anthony Whittle
“Chiringuitos, or small, beachside restaurants, are really common in the Costa del Sol, and, of course, seafood features heavily on all the menus. Octopus is used a lot in the region’s cooking but you tend to see it as the finished product on the plate.
I have been visiting and photographing the area for 25 years, but always make sure that I spend a few days at Nerja on each trip. It’s just so beautiful. I was walking along Burriana Beach when I saw the octopus hung out to dry. There were many fishermen using the beach, so it may have belonged to one of them.
I’m always looking for a different angle. There are thousands of photos of this very popular beach, but I’d like to think this one is a bit different.”
DESTINATION TIP: With such a long tradition of seafood cuisine, Nerja is a great place for seafood. Top picks include the Michelin- quality Sollun restaurant (www.sollunrestaurante.com), which has an extensive fish menu, and the informal Marisquería La Familia (Calle Diputación 17), which dishes up delish seafood tapas.
MAJORCA
PHOTOGRAPHER: Christian Frolich
“I’ve lived on Majorca for the last four years and, once or twice a week, I run around the island shooting landscapes, as a change from my day job as a journalist. When I saw the donkey, I’d been taking photos since 6am and was on my way home from Es Trenc beach, which is in my humble opinion one of the most beautiful beaches of Majorca. I passed by the stable and I just couldn’t resist him.
Pictures like this are a great change from the norm. I had such a laugh—it was just me and the donkey pulling these hilarious poses in the middle of the countryside. The composition and the wide-angle add to the photo, but there’s no denying it, he has a great face!”
DESTINATION TIP: If you want to see another side to Majorca, Isango run a series of ‘off the beaten track’ tours. Check out their Majorca Island Sightseeing Tour, which explores some of the prettiest parts of the island, or the Granja Ticket Tour, which visits a 10th century working farm – you might even bump into the donkey! Visit Jet2holidays.com for more info.
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