Jeff Lubeck

Chasing Light in Portugal

A faint light, filtering from beneath a room’s door, appeared as I ascended the staircase. Upon entering the room, sunlight streamed through a large bay window at a sharp angle. The window stood out as bright blue and white. The archway and alcove as golden brown. However, some locations remained without light.

Capturing light at a desired angle is the most important aspect of my work as a photographer. A relatable story behind it has proven to be almost as important.

I have not experienced a setting like this in recent memory. It was only by chance that I could capture the image. With photography, I usually leave nothing to chance.

Bay Window in the Castle of the Knights Templar & Convent of Christ

The second floor of the Castle of the Knights Templar & Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, was the setting.

Its unique and rich history set the structure apart. Its origins trace back to the twelfth century. The structure displayed the former might of the Papal States and the power and influence of Portuguese royalty. The Moors and Napolean, six hundred years apart, attempted to take the castle and failed.

I encountered these kinds of images and storylines throughout my Portugal photoshoot.

Possessing a deep history, this country and region contain contradictions.

Portugal’s western and southern borders are the Atlantic Ocean. It features a broad range of environments.

The Silver Coast

On the west, the Silver Coast exceeded expectations, offering a blend of natural and man-made splendor.

The Striped Homes of Costa Nova

Costa Nova Portugal at Sunrise

For hundreds of years, the Silver Coast remained a collection of fishing villages. Huts, once used for drying and salting fish, are now radiant, striped-color holiday residences at sunrise. The striped homes of Costa Nova on the Silver Coast provide an example.

The Silver Coast offers hundreds of miles of white-sand beaches. On a late afternoon, perhaps an hour before sunset, I found what for me is the perfect dune.

Late Light and The Perfect Dune

End of Day on the Silver Coast

My perfect dune is full of white sand drifting ever so slightly because of the wind from the ocean. The dune has tufts of native grass bending slightly in the breeze. It contains a battered and tangled fence made of wood and iron. The setting features deep shadows from the late afternoon.

This dune had it all. Portugal delivers again.

The Algarve

The Algarve is on Portugal’s southern coast. Colorful, rocky, filled with sea caves and wide beaches, The Algarve is a rare and special place. One rarity is that you can experience each one in urban areas and in natural settings. Vibrant gold, green, yellow, and red colors can appear spectacular, influenced by the time of day and the sun’s angle.

Its beauty is not its only remarkable trait. So is its history.

The Algarve once served as the nation’s center of power and commerce. It did so for over two hundred years. Portugal calls the era the Age of Discovery.

Magical Coastline

The Algarve Coast.

Once considered the End of the Earth, I captured this magical coastline in almost perfect light. European Exploration of South America and the establishment of sea routes of trade with India first began from the Algarve in nearby Lagos. The Algarve was not the end of the Earth.

A Image with Complications

A building with. a complicated past

A whitewashed building in Town Square, bathed in bright sunlight, was another subject. The building’s history as the location of the first documented sale of humans as slaves came to mind when I captured the image.

Each was less than five miles apart.

The interplay of light and color on window frames can be a fulfilling experience for a photographer, even though it differs from landscape images.

Alfama District of Lisbon

Window of Opportunity

A window in the Alfama District of Lisbon presented itself on a late afternoon. It was a section of Alfama in decay. The alleys were damp, dark, and as narrow as any I had seen before. The building appeared to have no recent human activity. It was in a setting that only the best spy and thriller novels could offer.

Duoro River Valley

North of the Alfama District by several hundred miles, a scenic river valley offers a cure for nearly all afflictions. Its economic potential, if realized, can save a country. Portugal’s Duoro River Valley is such a place. It has been Portugal’s Showrunner for centuries.

You’ll find the Duoro River Valley’s most picturesque area between Peso da Regua and Pinhao. A deep river gorge filled with vineyards as far as the eye can see, make it the most valuable.

Different from the experience while capturing the image at the Castle of the Knights Templar & Convent of Christ, I know what I want to capture and when. It is of the bridges at Peso da Regua from high on the riverbank in the late afternoon.

It’s safe to say that the path to where I wanted to be was arduous. However, the reward was high.

Right Time Right Place

The Duoro River at Peso da Regua

The view and resulting image had it all for me: the light’s angle, the storybook-like color depth of a village, and a historically significant bridge. Each subsequent viewing makes it feel as if you can step into the image.

Last Thoughts

Upon reflection, Portugal delivered on every aspect I desired to capture in my photoshoot. The images and stories above describe but a few.

I expected its landscape and terrain would be enchanting and diverse. It was. I found the countryside and rural areas to be more engaging than the major cities.

I’d love another trip to Portugal.

Images From the Sanctuaries

Do you have a place, or places, that you claim as sanctuaries? Lucky for me, I feel I have many.

The Waimea River and the Kawaiʻele Waterbird Sanctuary are a pair of them. You can find both on the island of Kauai, which is part of Hawaii in the US. Each is teeming with wildlife.

Recently, I captured some images while walking at both locations.

Nene at Kawaiʻele

The two images (below) are of the State’s bird, The Nene. It is a Hawaiian goose. Its population on the islands was about 28,000 when Europeans first visited in the 1700s. In the 1950s, 50 Birds remained alive. Headed by Peter Scott, Naturalists from the WTT Slimbridge nature reserve in England worked to save, successfully breed in captivity, and reintroduce the birds. In 2026, there are about 3,862 Nene alive in Hawaii. It is the rarest goose in the world. The majority treat the area near my house as their home. Occasionally, they will sit in the front yard.

Between November and January, the Nene breeds. The female produces 3 to 5 eggs. She incubates them for 29 to 32 days. While walking on the trail in the Kawaiʻele Waterbird Sanctuary, I spotted a female near what appears to be her nest and a male standing guard.

My 800mm lens allows me to take handheld close-up shots of birds from a safe distance. It’s important to remember that birds can become very aggressive when they feel threatened.

A female Nene at the Kawaiʻele Waterbird Sanctuary

Dad acts as Sentry while Mom protects her eggs.

Monarchs on the Waimea River

Like the Nene, the Monarch butterfly faces the threat of extinction. Experts believe that populations on the U.S. mainland have decreased by 95% over the past ten years. However, the Monarch butterfly faces a distinct reality on Kauai. It is thriving. The main reasons are that these Monarchs don’t migrate and have kept most of their habitat.

You’ll see two images (below) of a Monarch butterfly from my front yard. It is a short distance from the Waimea River’s confluence with the Pacific Ocean. Crown plants are widespread in the area, and Monarch butterflies feed mainly on their flowers.

The first photo displays a butterfly approaching a Crown Plant flower. The second image is of two Monarchs mating.

On Approach

So Nice to Meet You

Birds Along the Waimea River

For those who enjoy walking or running, the initial two miles of the Waimea River, starting at the ocean’s edge, are a genuine pleasure. Different times of day lend different moods to the river. Precipitation in the mountains can cause significant fluctuations in the water level.

Early to mid-morning and late afternoon create the best environment for birdwatching. I have been able to identity and verify 32 different species of birds.

I recently photographed two of my favorite birds, the Cattle Egret and the Saffron Finch, both from a distance and in close-up.

Cattle Egret: Savior and Pest?

With a 20-inch length and a considerable wingspan, the Cattle Egret is lovely to watch in the air. A couple of previous Posts by me about the bird are located [here] and [here]. People brought the bird to Hawaii to reduce the negative impact of insects on cattle. Sadly, Egrets prey on the young of native birds, like the Hawaiian Stilt, as discovered by researchers. I recently captured the images displayed below during the late morning.

Cattle Egret at a distance.

Cattle Egret Up Close

Saffron Finch: Tiny, Fast, and Difficult to Photograph

With its vibrant coloration, the Saffron Finch is a truly beautiful bird. The bird, native to South America, was introduced to Kauai in 1965. It inhabits the tall grass along the Waimea River. It moves in small groups and is quick to leave its spot. The bird is rather tough to photograph. I recently captured the images displayed below during the late morning.

Saffron Finch in tree cover

Saffron Finch a Closer Look

Kauai’s ʻaukuʻu at Kawaiʻele

Also referred to as a Black Crowned Night Heron, the ʻaukuʻu is indigenous to Hawaii. At about 2 feet in height, it is a handsome creature. The bird in the image spent a significant portion of a late afternoon searching for its next meal. Often, the meal consists of shellfish, fish, frogs, mice, or insects.

ʻaukuʻu looking for a meal.

A Chance Encounter

One implication of precipitation returning to normal levels on Kauai would be that plants and flowers are healthy and growing.

Nikon has released a firmware upgrade for its Z9 camera. One upgraded feature supposedly enhances focus and object recognition (people, birds, animals, etc.). I captured the image below using the upgraded Z9 and its 800 mm lens. Apart from manual shooting, I employed autofocus.

Looks sharp to me

Cleaning Up the Beach at Queens Polihale

Being supportive of the mission of the Surfriders, means an obligation for a a quick responce to cleaning up polluting refuge and tangles of netting that washes on shore.

Linda and I received such a call yesterday morning. A large conflagration of netting had been spotted on shore in the Queens area of Polihale State Park on the west side of Kauai.

The only real complication was the final five miles of rough unpaved road to reach the beach. Recent heavy rains rendered this last stretch almost un drive-able.

However, if the gate has not been closed by the state – we are good to go. The water in the trenches is – at times – two feet deep. We know our truck is up to the challenge. So are we.

The netting and the removal crew

Jamie and Leah Hanashiro accompanied by two young trainees joined us. We all participated with the task of cutting the net. A fifth member, Josh joined later.

The Technique

The approach to getting the net off the beach is best called divide-and-conquer. This means establishing sections of net that can be separated from the rest. The desired sectioning should be no larger that what a couple of people can lift into a truck bed. The technique is to create the section by pairing into two teams of two. Each team starts cutting in the same area at the top and bottom (width) and work towards the middle. One person cuts, while the other creates a taught line. Eventually, the section is completely separated.

It should be noted that good canvas gloves and in-expensive serrated bread knives are the best tools.

Three sections created. Working to create numbers Four and Five.

After about two hours the netting is conquered. Five sections are created. Each is loaded into Josh’s Chevy truck.

The next challenge is that Josh’s truck is now too heavy to move through the sand. After a series of attempts to move forward and backward without success, we deflate the tires on his Chevy to less than 15 pounds per square inch (PSI). Success!

Loaded.

On its way to the Dump.

Queens at Polihale Beach on a Rainy Day.

* Jeff’s Thoughts and Worthless Trivia *

I have been told (by persons best to judge) I am somewhere between worthless or best in the world. Stormy Greener (two-time World Photographer of Year) said I was the “best landscape and wildlife photographer there is.” Tom Izzo (Michigan State Basketball Coach) told me “You are not shit to me because you are not 7′ feet tall. Gail Goodrich (Hall of Fame Basketball player and closest of friends) intimated to me both statements above were likely accurate.

Jeff Lubeck

Chasing Light in Portugal