Madeira I
I shot these images during my first visit to Madeira in early 2021. While we planned and succeeded in visiting most of the interesting areas, we also had to suffer through one of the worst storms that occured there in years, making shooting images and hiking often impossible or difficult. It also didn't help with getting great light, although I did get lucky with the conditions a few times like on the first image. I was much luckier during my second visit this year, which you can already some of the images on my website !
_______
If you like these images, you can check out my website at gregoirepansu.com
Do not hesitate to DM me over on instagram if you have any questions or would like to chat ! @gregoire_pns_photography
Sunrise piercing through a storm
This picture was my favorite for a while. I shot it in Madeira a few years ago, during a storm on a winter morning. There was a thick layer of clouds not far from the island, and I captured the exact moment the sun went above it. I liked how it looks both warm and cold - the storm on one side and the sun on the other. I just came back from my second trip to Madeira, with a lot of new incredible pictures like this one !
Cloudy mountains
Madeira's mountains are often cloudy in winter. On the day we hiked up there, the wind was so strong that we could only see the peaks for a few seconds in between fast-moving clouds. The colors were very vibrant thanks to the sun peeking through exactly at the right time !
Crashing waves
I shot this one on the first morning with a break in the storm after days of violent rain and wind on Madeira. Haven't edited it until 2 years later because I didn't like that shot - mostly due to the lack of a strong subject. Finally came around to like it - as a nice sea scene where you can both see the storm raging and the bleak morning sun peeking through at the same time. Larges waves back-lit from the sun, water on the volcanic stones mirroring the waterfall in the back, the rock mirroring the cliffs - both leading to the hole in the sky.
Morning stillness
A beautiful sunrise at one of Madeira's most iconic trees. I planned to arrived earlier, but couldn't - I got that twilight shot on my second visit though. That golden light was very beautiful, and the morning was really peaceful and windless. It had snowed the night before on the mountains though, which made the separation of the tree's white branches against the peak behind it more complicated.
Towers piercing the ocean
I couldn't reach this place at sunrise during my first visit, so I settled for a sunset picture. While the light couldn't hit the sea stacks because it set behind the island, I really like the contrast of colors between the moss-covered rocks and the colorful clouds.
The Peninsula
A colorful twilight over Ponta de Sao Lourenco in the east of the island. It is Madeira's most beautiful area in my opinion, as there are a lot of interesting plants and rock formations, as well as towering cliffs and sharp sea stacks, all along a short and easily accessible hike.
