Jeff Lubeck

Capturing The Amazing Algarve

Portugal’s Algarve region is breathtaking. The variety in its terrain is surprising. It includes sunny white beaches, rocky coastlines, sea caves, steep cliffs, and a lush tree-covered countryside.

The Algarve is in southern Portugal, on the Atlantic. The coastline extends to the Spanish border. It stretches from Odeceixe in the northwest to Santo Antonio in the southeast.

The Algarve’s history has its roots in the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The Algarve has been home to many cultures and occupiers. It includes Portugal’s Dom, Algarve’s Kingdom, Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves, First and Second Republic.

These cultures still have some influence here. However, tourism, migration, and vacation homes have greatly reduced the historical culture in the 21st century.

The Coast near Luz and Lagos.

The Algarve

Portugal

When and Where to Visit

Certain sections of the Algarve are urban and busy. The off-season population stands at 400,000. At its peak, the population swells to 1,200,000. The population in certain areas more than triples then. Ouch!

Rick Steve, a travel writing specialist, presents an honest account. Says Rick, “Choose your home base carefully. If you go to the places featured in travel blogs (the middle stretch, roughly between Faro and Lagos), you will find it much like Spain’s Costa del Sol: paved, packed, and pretty stressful.” A link to Rick Steves Portugal is located [here].

Linda and I prefer traveling during the shoulder season. The weather is likely to be pleasant, and the tourist population is small.

A Visit to Lagos

Swapping homes in Luz, near Lagos, from late October to early November, would be ideal for this trip. This spot is an excellent starting point for discovering the Algarve. Lagos has a complicated past. Today, there’s a lot going on in the city and nearby.

Lagos played a key role in world trade and exploration between 1400 and 1600 AD. People know the era as the Golden Age or Age of Discovery.

Through Prince Henry, Portugal rose, became dominant, and its language went global. The Lagos market saw the start of the African slave trade in 1444.

Earthquake and Tidal Wave

Starting November 1, 1755, Lagos would be different. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake, among history’s strongest, hit the area. It was located 50 miles offshore of the Algarve. The earthquake and tsunami destroyed cities from Lagos to Lisbon.

The tidal wave exceeded the height of Lagos’ city wall (image below). The earthquake and tsunami caused around 40,000 to 50,000 deaths. Portugal, as a result, would not regain its former power and influence.

Today

Lagos’ off-season population is roughly 31,000. The population of Lagos reaches about 130,000+ during the tourist season.

Tile is an important architectural element in Lagos. Narrow, clean, and bright alleys are typical of central Lagos.

To have fun, hike the Fisherman’s Trail in Lagos, followed by a boat tour. You can use multiple methods of water travel in Lagos.

The coastline west toward Luz has what seems like countless sea-caves.

Lagos The Walled City

The Center of the old city,

Tile is the theme in Lagos and Portugal.

Clean and bright narrow alleys in the center of Lagos are the norm.

Beaches accessible to the public dot the rugged coast line at Lagos

Waterfront walk in Lagos. Lagos is the end point of the 125 mile Fisherman’s trail. The Lagos stretch of the trail are filled with nicely paved walkways, condominiums, restaurants and trophy homes. The walk is enjoyable and striking.

The Bensafrim River acts as the riverfront for downtown Lagos and entry point to the Atlantic Ocean

Ponta da Piede La Lagos Portugal is one of many overlooks on the Fisherman’s trail in the city of Lagos

A fun thing to do is walk the Fisherman’s trail in Lagos, followed by a trip covering the same area but on the water. There are a multitude of options for travel on the water at Lagos.

The Algarve from an overlook in Lagos.

The Algarve from the water in Lagos.

There feels to be an endless number of sea-caves on the coast line when moving west towards Luz.

Approaching a sea-cave

Inside a sea-cave

Staying in Luz

Linda and I like city centers, but only when we can skip the car. Or we’ll try to find a nice place that gives us easy access to other places. Luz was the latter.

The beach town of Luz is near Lagos and is rather small. Luz’s offerings (beach, water, shops, food, stays) are available, but on a smaller, more personal level. All within walking distance of each other.

We did a HomeExchange with Jacquie. Her apartment faces the ocean in Luz. It was a great place to stay and exchange.

What makes it ideal for traveling the Algarve is that the Luz waterfront has superb access to primary and secondary roads. Taking secondary roads to Salema and Sagres is much more fun and interesting than via the main highways.

We enjoyed our trip to Salema, which took us from Luz through Mata Procas, Burgau, Barracão and Boca Do Rio. The route uncovered the routines of daily life. Travel time was only a few minutes longer than using the highways.

Jacquie’s place near the oceanfront in Luz Portugal

The overlook at Jacquie’s place in Luz Portugal

Church of Our Lady of Light on the waterfront in Luz Portugal.

Abandoned building near Boca Do Rio Portugal

Salema

Salema is a beach village towards the western end of the Algarve. It is a cherished spot for surfers and travelers hiking on the Fisherman’s Trail of Portugal. Salema is teeny-tiny. It feels almost shutdown in the off season. I can imagine surfers planning to live here forever.

The Beachfront

Salema’s beachfront is massive. It’s wide, big, and deep. On this day, few travelers are in Salema.

The Fisherman’s Trail.

The 25-mile section of the 125-mile Fisherman’s Trail between Salema and Sagres can be demanding. However, this section of the trail provides access to some of the world’s most scenic cliffs and beaches.

Salema Beach Portugal

Salema Village

The Fisherman’s Trail.

The 25 mile section of the 125 mile Fisherman’s trail between Salema and Sagres can be demanding. However, this section of the trail provides access to some of the world’s most scenic cliffs and beaches.

Looking east from the Fisherman’s trail directly above Salema Beach.

The view west from the Fisherman’s trail directly above Salema Beach.

Figueira Beach on the Fisherman’s trail west of Salema Village Portugal (looking west)

Figueira Beach on the Fisherman’s trail west of Salema Village Portugal (looking east)

Cape Sagres

Conventional thought prior to Columbus held the Earth was flat. Back then, people considered Cape Sagres in Portugal to be the closest land to the world’s edge. Even though it’s the 21st century and the world isn’t flat, Cape Sagres still feels like the edge of the world.

This journey includes Sagres village, Fort Sagres, Cape Sagres, and Cape St. Vincent.

It’s a remote, empty, parched, windy, and stony place. The area has massive cliffs. Waves from the Atlantic hammer both the cliffs and beaches.

Sagres and Prince Henry the Navigator.

Prince Henry the Navigator was the son of King Joao and Queen Phillipa of England. He let his brothers take the lead in the royal court and become kings. Prince Henry was brilliant and devoted to his religion. He was the head of the (wealthy and powerful) Order of Christ.

The Order of Christ comprised monks who were crusading soldiers based in the city of Tomar, Portugal (i.e., Knights Templar). Prince Henry the Navigator was the mastermind that ignited Portugal’s world leadership during the Age of Discovery. He was not a sailor, but an organizer, scholar, fundraiser and motivator.

The unprecedented and otherwise miraculous sea voyages were because of Henry’s vision and making. He convinced his sailor followers to enter and return from the Sea of Darkness only after discovering unknown places.

Prince Henry established a navigational school at Cape Sagres. After Henry’s death, the next generation of Portuguese would find and establish commercially successful routes to India, China, and circumnavigate the globe (a.k.a., The Golden Age). Ironically, the 1755 earthquake destroyed the school.

Windswept and barren the land of Fort at Cape Sagres Portugal

Cape Sagres Point Lighthouse (a.k.a The End of the World)

The Lighthouse at Cape St. Vincent, the actual southernmost point in Europe

The cliffs at Cape Sagres

The beach at Cape Sagres

* Jeff’s Thoughts and Other Worthless Trivia **

The People of Portugal

Portugal and its people are inviting and accommodating to visitors. Someone asked us why Americans are moving to Portugal. I’ve seen these kinds of headlines lately, but I don’t know if they’re true, or why. Evidence suggests more Americans are emigrating to Portugal. An interesting and related story is located [here].

I receive no compensation for recommendations or links on this Post.

How Prime is the Nikkor Z 24-70 II ?

Nikon as it relates to camera gear, has been operating on the offensive for some time. For the past five years (or so) their Z line has looked similar to a championship caliber basketball team with a lineup 15 people deep. A team where the difference in quality and skill between players #1 and #15 on the depth chart is not much.

So much for the metaphors.

Surprise

Nikon announced and launched a new Zoom lens, the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II, in August. The release was a bit out of sequence and the new lens pushes to the back seat a rather superb existing offering. We now have the Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II and the Z 24-70MM 2.8 S as options.

So what is the difference between the two Zoom lenses? From a traditional marketing and sales ploy pitch, the storyline is “Quicker, Faster, Better.”

Really? Is that true? The short answer – yes. The NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II lens is also lighter, wonderfully balanced while zooming in and out, and effectively sealed from a weather proofing perspective.

And Then the Hype

I have read and viewed most of the material from the people and organizations who provide “early first impressions.” Almost every reviewer concludes the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II is worth the price and worth replacing the I.

Below are some of the reviews:

Matt Irwin

Alex Cooke

Peta Pixel

However, be aware, most of today’s reviewers are being paid (in some form or another) to promote the product. I am not.

Replacement For Your Prime Lens

Some reviews conclude the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II is so good it can replace the Prime Lens’ in your kit. For me, that would mean my 20MM, 35MM, 50MM and possibly the 85MM would be put on the Waiver Wire. Hmm…

The Focus of this Post

This Post is not intended to conduct a comprehensive review of the Nikkor Z 24-70 II. For that, you can use the links above, search the internet or your trusted source. However, I was intrigued by the hypothesis that the II is effectively as good as the Z Prime lenses in the same range.

I discussed the replacement hypothesis with my Brother Roger. Roger is an accomplished photographer who likes to explore and examine subjects similar to this one.

We agreed that a non-exhaustive, simple, and practical test in normal conditions should be done as a 1st pass. We agreed that I should compare the NIKKOR Z 24-70 II to my NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S.

The Test

Three shots
Three different subjects with different kinds of light and distance
Subjects and settings that I might encounter in a regular impromptu manner.
No elaborate setup. Hand Held. Manual settings of my choice, except for Auto-Focus [Single Point].
Use two Z9’s with same Shooting configurations. The II on one camera and the 50 on the other.
No Post Processing would be performed in any manner – except for export to a JPG file to be used in this Post. I am always disappointed when loosing 16 bit or 14 bit color as the native source down to 8 bit color. However, the monitor cannot show the difference anyways.

The Flower Basket & Flag

We have flower baskets on our Lāna‘i. The baskets have our State Flag planted in them. The light on the flowers and the flag are an enjoyable observation for me. I would capture the image from 10 feet in distance.

The 50MM

The 24-70 MM at 50MM

The Fan Palm

We have a variety of Palm trees in our front yard. I find the light on them throughout the day is enjoyable to observe. I decide capture an image with direct sunlight about two hours before sunset from 20 feet in distance.

The 50MM

The 24-70 at 50MM

The Front of the House from the Beach

Our home is located on a beach. I find the shadows in the yard and on the house interesting as the light of day is nearing end. I decide capture an image 90 minutes before sunset from 100 feet in distance.

50MM

The 24-70 at 50MM

The Flower Basket & Flag 100% Crop

50MM

24-70 at 50MM

The Fan Palm 100% Crop

50MM

24 – 70 at 50MM

The Front of the House from the Beach 100% Crop

50MM

24 – 70 at 50MM

Impressions

As can be seen above in The Front of the House from the Beach 100% Crop, the 50MM resolves much better 24-70MM at 50MM up to the focus point (which is a beam in the center of the Lāna‘i). From the roof line to the mountains and sky, there were no discernable differences at 100%.

The implication to me is with the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II in my kit, I can benefit from materially higher quality images in the the range of 24-70MM utilized in the standard and more in-the-moment settings. I will likely not lose out on shots where I would be attempting to switch lens.’

The NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II is a superb lens. Almost everything the reviewers are raving about (e.g., much faster focus, handling, weight, bokeh) are true. As a professional photographer the new lens will likely pay for itself from one photo-shoot.

As for the Prime Lens replacement hypothesis? One simple, non-scientific test suggests to me that at short to medium distances the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM 2.8 S II seriously challenges the output of the prime lens’. Obviously more experiences and a variety of testing will lead to a true determination.

Na keiki Ko Kākou wā mahope

keiki

Something inspiring has recently occurred in my town. A vision set forth by children has been created by them using their hands for all to see. The Children are our future (Na keiki Ko Kākou wā mahope).

I live in a small town called Waimea on the island of Kauai in the State of Hawaii in the United States. A tall levee and a great wall protect the town of Waimea from the floods of its local River.

The wall is part of a United States Army Corps of Engineer project from the 1970’s. The implication is the town is no longer subject to flooding of 4-8 feet in height after a major rain.

Part of the project includes a tall secondary wall set back from behind the enhanced river bank (or levee). The wall is not ornate. However, over the years, some creations have been added or removed from the wall.

The children of the local elementary school recently painted the wall with coordination and support of the school district and its educators. I do not known who inspired the effort, donated the paint, or the time for supervision. All involved get a Mahalo nui (thank you very much) from me.

The result is a wonderful addition to the beauty of the area. It is a cool thing to see from a distance and up close

Capturing The Amazing Algarve

When and Where to Visit