Rwanda: The rainy season, a photo from Ouest, West

Photographer's Note

"Copyright Š Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

I visited this very nice and friendly small country, with a terrific recent history, during the long rainy season and punctually like every afternoon, it was raining when I took this shot from the shoreline of Lake Kivu. It features a succession of deep bays, inlets and islands and marks the boundary between Rwanda and the D.R. of Congo. It also holds huge reserves of natural gas. Like the great lakes of Central Africa, was formed by the huge fracture in the African plate: the Great Rift Valley. At an altitude of almost 1400 metres the lake is devided between the two mentioned countries, as are the many islands it contains. Lake Kivu derives much of its beauty from the backdrop of the surrounding mountain chains such as the Congo-Nile Crest to the West and the Birunga Volcanoes to the North of which two are still active in Congo. As mentioned, thanks to the volcanic activity, beneath the lake bed are substantial reserves of natural gas, which since 1963 provides an energy source at the Bralirwa brewery in Gisenyi. Unfortunately the volcanic activity has caused also disasters like the violent eruption in 2001 and series of earthquakes registered a couple of weeks ago. I avoided the first and strongest of the series because in flight, while that of 5.4 magnitude was felt clearly also by me, in the early morning on 14th February. Short report of what happened and its consequencies:

- An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude and subsequent aftershocks hit South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts of Rwanda on the morning of Sunday 3rd February.

- 44 people dead and 1,090 injured in DRC and Rwanda.

- 2,518 families have received assistance in DRC and 1,201 homes have been destroyed in Rwanda.

- On Thursday 14th February an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude, hit the same area. 1 person is reported dead and at least 65 injured.

The shot was taken in the small prefecture of Cyangugu, located at the frontier of two countries. The River Rusizi, which links Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika in Burundi to the South, acts as a natural border, where on the Congolese side, the border town of Bukavu stands at the end of a peninsula like a flagship that seems to be anchored in Cyangugu harbour. The settlement has two main areas: Cyangugu itself is the low-density district on the lake shore, while Kamembe, the higher density industrial and transport centre is further inland and to the north.
The city lies near Nyungwe Forest, one of the last remaining forest areas of Rwanda and home to chimpanzees and many other species of primate.

bostankorkulugu, Dpbours, daddo, parbo, Tue, andante, stego, edytungkal, Cricri, Gerrit, Budapestman, jhm, Bruno40, ocskaymarci, albertopiubello, danos, ahmetgedikli, Jakab, delic, pedrocarmo, paura, ChrisJ, Henryk_Bilor, dip, AiresSantos, Buin, Vato_Law, pasternak, MarcT, Hellas, Emile, tzourob, ellelloo, BWJ, joscel1975, lytaward oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-02-24 2:57

impressive landscape, and the pov is the best to show it all... people with vivid clothings add life and colour to the compo...

all the best my friend... korkut

Dpbours (222) 2008-02-24 3:01

Hello Atilla,

That could have easily been in Indonesia as well.
Haha, always funny to see what people view as being a small country. I'm coming from the Netherlands and Rwanda is really a big country for me! ;-)
Good note. Yes, some people have little luck. Like they did not already suffer enough. Though in a sense lucky that the number of casualties is still quite low - not that densely populated in this area I guess.
Thanks for sharing! And again, a good note!

Greetings, Dennis

Gustaw (21670) 2008-02-24 3:10

Hi, my friend!
It is very beautiful photo with beautiful composition. I like your colours and light. Good idea. It must be very interesting place?! Beautiful all nature. Well done.
Marek

gilou530 (34) 2008-02-24 3:15

salut attila
un paysage qui parait calme et tranquille, mais ce n'est pas le cas a lire ta note, neanmoins un POV magnifique et verdoyant de ce coin d'afrique, beau travail
amitiés
gilbert

jonathan_hart (21276) 2008-02-24 3:42

a lovely country for landscapes, and yes, terrific recent past...
interesting note about the Rift Valley, i've seen somre documentaries about it and it really seems somewhere to be seen, it's so huge !
the red colour of the ground add a little touch of contrast in that nice green view
regards
jo

daddo (28748) 2008-02-24 5:07

Zdravo Attila.I find your latest shots not only great to look at but they keep me informed about your peregrinations. I often tell my sons about TE members like you who see so much of the world while they are young.It is a mystery to me how as a family man you have so much freedom. I can only conclude that somehow your travels are connected with your work. Whatever the case, i do admire your convictions. Thanks for sense of discovery and wonder that you convey in your photos. Hvala prijatelju i sve najbolje. Klaudio.

parbo (11092) 2008-02-24 5:38

Hello Attila,

Very well merged a beautiful frame with note that includes some unlucky chances for the country.

Your frame excellently composed while adding wide view with green and water under perfectly cloudy sky. Natural effect of muddy river already left her tracks at shore while colorful people adding life and helping us for scaling your frame. Beautiful works, congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

Tue (91450) 2008-02-24 6:29

Hi Attila,
Very nice view from an great POV. The composition is well built up. The land in the foreground, then the curved river and land again, all well placed in the photo. The rain clouds look nice too and I like the big variety of green hues in the trees and grass.
Regards,
Lars

vincz (19113) 2008-02-24 8:14

Very impressive landscape with beautiful colours caught on the sea in particular. Great use of a rather wide angle.

andante (7092) 2008-02-24 8:15

Hello Attila, another great presentation. Another great note. Another interesting POV that shows a small sampler of a mysterious and widely-unknown country. TFS.
E

lestans (17258) 2008-02-24 13:53

Ciao Attila!! ecco dove sei finito!!
Deve essere davvero un paese molto interessante da visitare. Non sapevo che tu stessi "covando" questo viaggio.
La foto č bellissima, l'isola dŕ il senso della natura preponderante, in raffronto al gruppetto di piccoli uomini sulla sinistra.
Ottimi i colori e la luce

Livia

stego (24132) 2008-02-24 14:23

Hi Attila,
Again Africa... A beautiful place gorgeously photographed. It's so lush and that water looks so clear... Gorgeous!
It's sad to know about the earthquakes, like Dennis say, it's like those people still haven't suffered enough.
Regards, José.

edytungkal (4551) 2008-02-24 23:36

Welcome back my friend, a nice pov with the little island inside. Like Dennis's said that sad situation easily happening in my country Indonesia, just few day ago a strong earthquake 7.3 magnitude hit the small Simelue island near Sumatra, at least 4 people died and hundreds were injured.
Back to your picture, it shown the similiar kind of some islands in Indonesia. I like how you framed with nature around. Maybe the bg not too sharp just because of the weather on that day. I,m glad you back and hope you will post another beautiful picture. Thanks Attila and for the note too.

daniel

Cricri (176) 2008-02-25 0:55

Hi Attila, satisfy to re-examine you..... ( je ne pas sais si j'ai bien écrit!!!
Bonne information sur ce paysage qui parait paisible.....et trés beau avec des couleurs et une lumiére bien préserver du moment, compliment belle présentation
Have a nice day for you
cricri

Gerrit (62042) 2008-02-25 2:15

Hi Attila,
beautiful landscape and a fine view over this wonderful country with the horrifying history.
Regards, gerrit

Budapestman (82620) 2008-02-25 3:45

Szia Attila,
Örülök, hogy ismét láthatunk, ráadásul ismét egy különleges helyről hoztál (nem első alkalommal) egy igazán remek fotót. Nagyon tetszik a kép atmoszférája, a háttérből lecsapni készülő esőfelhők nagyon látványosak. A színek és a szűrt fények nagyon rendben vannak. Gratulálok és szép hetet kívánok!
Gyuri

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2008-02-25 6:47

Merhaba Attila,
This is a wonderful landscape with excellent colors and lighting. I like it.
Greetings from Türkiye.
Ahmet

jhm (211734) 2008-02-26 2:35

Hello Atilla,

Indeed we see a very nice and friendly small country, with this green island in middle of the picture.
I'm glad that we you see again after your trip.
Your note bringt us very bad report with the earthquakes in this region.
I like you very lovely picture, nice composition and attractive colours.
Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

Bruno40 (6662) 2008-02-26 4:29

Hi Attila
It is very rare to see a photo of Rwanda that is not connected to the tragic events a decade ago, more rare is that picture is taken from a friend (at least cyber friend).
Thanks for showing us all a part of this beautiful country thru this nice photo.
Have a nice week
Jorge

albertopiubello (2623) 2008-02-26 6:47

Ciao Attila,
e cosě sei finito nel paese delle mille colline! Ho molti amici ruandesi che me ne hanno parlato ed un giorno o l'altro dovrň andarci. Della foto mi piace molto l'angolo che le da un'ampio respiro e gli inconfondibili colori dell'Africa!
Alberto

ocskaymarci (2832) 2008-02-26 6:53

Szia Attila!
Ezek szerint ismét messze kóboroltál, és gyönyörű képekkel sikerült hazatérned!
Az esős időhöz képest elég színes lett a kép, a kompozíció a kis szigettel tökéletes, és lent a hangyányi "színes" emberek is nagyon tetszenek.
Sajnálatos, hogy ilyen szörnyű esemény történt ott, itthon nem lehetett róla hallani semmit (én legalábbis nem hallottam).
Következik a Kongói D. K.? Szurkolok, hogy mielőbb teljesen sárga legyen a térképed!!!
Üdvözlettel,
Marci

danos (110407) 2008-02-26 7:56

Hello Attila,
very nice the presentation of this 'unknown' photographically country for me.Informative your note and in combination with splendid shot make your trip destination very interesting.Excellent the light and the colours as the sharpness and the clarity.

Regards,Danos

bruce_wayne (1507) 2008-02-26 14:22

Ciao Attila
very good picture, colors and light are perfect, real, I thank you for sharing this shot about this beautiful place...!

Alessandro

paololg (31448) 2008-02-26 14:33

Ciao Attila,
suggestiva immagine tipicamente africana, con la terra rossa, il verde acceso della vegetazione ed il cielo immenso. Mi dispiace che il terremoto abbia rovinato un pň le tue vacanze. E' una brutta sensazione, perchč non c'č rimedio, sei solo in mano alla fortuna. La foto č veramente bella, complimenti.
Paolo.

izmirli (3989) 2008-02-27 8:22

merhaba my friend atilla
wonderful landscape and nature.wonderful light and reflections.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

Jakab (3867) 2008-02-27 15:21

Szia Attila!
Örülök, hogy visszatértél egy újabb egzotikus túráról. Olyan kedvesnek tűnő táj, ki gondolná, mennyi tragédia emlékét őrzi. Igencsak jó pillanatot kaphattál el, amikor a látványosan gomolygó felhők előtt még jutott a víz csillogásából, és a fák is szépen tükröződnek. A kép színvilága is teszik: ahogy távolodunk, egyre hidegebbek és tompábbak lesznek a színek. (Persze, mert a távolsághoz még besegít a közelgő vihar is.)
Üdv
Laci
P.S.: Olvastam a Marcinak írt válaszodban, hogy elégedetlen vagy az élességgel. Hja, 200 kB csak ennyi részletet bír el, mint azt a saját káromon is tapasztaltam. Ha nem írod, nem tűnik fel, megszoktuk a TE korlátait.

delic (6735) 2008-02-27 15:26

Off the beaten path location and an attractive photo. High vantage point offers nice view with good colors. Outstanding up-to-date reportage in note. Excellent work, Attila. Regards,
Hakan

pedrocarmo (1295) 2008-02-27 15:30

Hi Attila

Great photo of this of the beaten track place.
The view seems beutifull throw your photo.

Well done

TFS
Pedro Carmo

paura (25802) 2008-02-27 17:06

Attila,
A nice shot from this beautiful landscape. The little boat close the shore is an excellent details.

Well done.

Paulo

Scharan (14144) 2008-02-27 19:16

Olá Attila

Bela foto deste cenário encantador onde o tom verde precalece e fazendo um suave contraste com o azul do céu.Bom trabalho amigo, parabéns.
GA
Vera

ChrisJ (171146) 2008-02-28 0:45

Hi Attila

A good overview of the shoreline of Lake Kivu & the verdant, tropical greenery. I like the sweeping curves & excellent sharpness & colour. Tfs!

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2008-02-28 1:25

Hi Attila
Beautiful place. I like the composition with nice colours and clouds in the background.
Regards

dip (21408) 2008-02-28 1:54

Hello Attila,
if someone sees this wonderful landscape,suspect not the sad history of this beautiful country,
excellent captured and composed the place!
Greetings,
Dimitris.

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-03-02 0:27

Hi Atilla
Wonderful landscape, very well captured. I like the reflections, how you framed it and your POV.
Excellent photojob
Greetings
Aires

Buin (42580) 2008-03-02 8:14

Hallo Attila!
You are a real world citizen ...
Again a great photo of a distant corner of our planet - and a very beautiful one. Here I nearly like your note even more than the photo because it points out the cruel fate of this country and the geolocig realities there. A really great contribution to TE!
Greetings from springlike Germany - and have a good week!
Frank

Vato_Law (12732) 2008-03-03 12:21

Hello Attila,
Once again a pleasure to see a photo so well linked to a note.
Reading it we almost can feel the atmosphere of the photo, just like we were there.
As you say on your note, Rwanda is beautiful but has a very horrific recent story, specially the one that took place few years ago and gave inspirations to some movies, I'm speaking of course of the massacres that took place there.
As a tragedy never comes alone, now this earthquake to destroy even more what was left...
Nevertheless, the nautral beauty of the country is still there and is well presented by your photo.
Cheers.
Paulo

pasternak (15185) 2008-03-05 1:54

Very educative picture together with the note, and the view is comprehensive with the tiny people adding an important idea of scale...

Cheers
Alexander

bizsu (1015) 2008-03-05 4:02

Szia Attila,
WOW !!!!!
Görögország Szkiathosz szigete, egy az egyben így nézki. Különbség, Hogy ahonnan fotózol, ott régi Görög házak vanna. Még a kicsi sziget is így helyeszkedik el. De szívesen látnám Rwandát, de nekem ez soha nem sikerül.
Képed annyira élethű, hogy talán már jártam is ott. Köszönöm!
Zsú

gmg (4202) 2008-03-08 15:17

Such a beautiful and peaceful landscape....I must force myself to think about all those tragedies.
TFS
gmg

MarcT (20964) 2008-03-08 20:27

Hello Attila,
That's a beautiful land spot. The colors are great and the composition gives a beautiful island feeling. I suppose the region is not really safe ...?
Well done
Marc

Hellas (7123) 2008-03-09 7:48

What a tried hard country but beautiful, too! The view here is exceptional with lovely colors and a very good DoF. You must be very happy associating with the people of Rwanda. Many thanks for sharing.
Best wishes,
Athanasios.

Emile (20352) 2008-03-09 11:13

Hola Attila.
Very sorry about the earthquake with all the people dead in a country that had suffered for so many years. Your note is very informative and well written.
Beautiful landscape captured from a high POV, you did a good work despite the bad weather. Good colors and composition.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.

Angshu (56760) 2008-04-10 0:05

Hello Attila
Another new place..Rwanda! more famous because of the genocide/massacre, that we are unaware of the natural beauty of the country. This looks like an oxbow lake finely captured with the green in the FG & the hills in the BG. The ant like people help in scale. A fantastic picture my friend!
Best Regards
Angshu

coco (30439) 2008-04-13 23:48

Hi Attila.

Impressive and very nice landscape. The place is good and your perspective makes it much more interesting.

Regards.

joscel1975 (489) 2008-06-07 19:48 [Comment]

Show Comment

ellelloo (6572) 2008-07-04 20:58

Hello Attila,
This is a lovely shot of a most beautiful landscape. The colors, clarity and sharpness are superb.Thanks for the very informative note too.
Best Regards,
Lasse

sn00zie (2384) 2008-07-07 2:13

WOW!

from the looks of your pictures, i can actually tell that Rwanda must be really gorgeous.. thanks for sharing the beautiful views.

p.s. love the pov and the lighting in the picture.. great work!

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-07-12 19:49

Hello Attila!
That's a pretty interesting landscape!
Your photo has natural and beautiful colors, a great POV and good sharpness!
The way you have captured the scene made your picture so nice!
TFS - Congratulations!
Greetings from Brazil,
Neyvan Peçanhuk

karan (42) 2008-08-19 5:58

Great POV i must say... a beautiful shot :)

lunamarine (9) 2008-08-21 13:38

Bonjour Attila
la verdure est flamboyante. Le calme apparant ne laisse pas présager des cadastrophes naturelles éventuelles.

sanjeevkochumon (108) 2008-09-10 20:13

Very good picture. I liked the reflection of trees in the lake. Colors seems excellent.
Regards

BWJ (3094) 2008-09-29 12:31

Hello Atilla,
What an excellent vantage point to capture this beautiul scene. The tones of greens and blues and the misty mountains and sky are lovely. Your note is informative and very interesting.
Warm wishes,
Betty

elif2150 (66) 2008-10-22 1:39