Coba

[dubaiphil]

Coba is a Mayan ruined city, set in the jungle in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Compared to Chichen Itza it is a little less well known, has more of a Raiders of the Lost Ark feel, and the largest pyramid, Nochoch Mul (unlike in Chichen) is climbable and the tallest in the Mayan civilisation.

Getting there early in the morning allowed me to get in first and be completely alone. Great for photography as I was completely alone in the jungle but all the main points of interest were backlit against the early morning sun.

Here are a few B&W's processed so far:

1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




And finally 6. - a 5 shot pano of the main pyramid

[Digital]

Phil, very nice photographs.


Bruce

[Shadowman]

Nice series, very gloomy atmospheres.

[John 2]

Evokes thoughts in me of what it must have been like when it was populated. Nicely processed images Phil.

[Downrigger]

I agree with John - I think the images are beautifully processed and contain wonderful light despite difficult conditions. Could be a lesson set for Freeman's "Capturing the light".

Thank you for your history, and your story about making these - it is one of the features of posts I most enjoy here.

[Rita]

A very nice series. You have certainly captured the feeling of desolation.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set, B&W works very well

[Janko]

Beautiful B&W pics. Nicely balanced exposure, despite difficult light conditions. The effect is in BW much better than in colour.

[dubaiphil]

Phil, very nice photographs.


Bruce

Thanks Bruce

[dubaiphil]

Nice series, very gloomy atmospheres.

Thanks John - the backlighting adds to the atmosphere, I think - 30 minutes later and it was swarming with tourists

[dubaiphil]

Evokes thoughts in me of what it must have been like when it was populated. Nicely processed images Phil.

Thanks John - I was hoping that the site would evoke the same feelings as Angkor in Cambodia but it didn't - still well worth the early morning alarm call though

[dubaiphil]

I agree with John - I think the images are beautifully processed and contain wonderful light despite difficult conditions. Could be a lesson set for Freeman's "Capturing the light".

Thank you for your history, and your story about making these - it is one of the features of posts I most enjoy here.

Thanks Mark - with the structures on the site only cleared from the jungle and visible or shootable from a few places it is difficult to get anything unique, but ealry morning light and no people adds to the atmosphere

[dubaiphil]

A very nice series. You have certainly captured the feeling of desolation.

Thanks Rita

[dubaiphil]

Very nice set, B&W works very well

Thanks Binnur

[dubaiphil]

Beautiful B&W pics. Nicely balanced exposure, despite difficult light conditions. The effect is in BW much better than in colour.

Thanks Janko - compared to the previous time I've shot in similar conditions (2009 with DX and a kit lens in SE Asia jungles) I'm definitely noticing far better IQ on FX with good glass (particularly in the very high contrast areas of the image). This means that my shots in colour are more salvageable but I preferred the feelings that B&W evoque in this set.