A new contest is always welcome and when we find out about it in time to have the chance to participate, it is more than nice. A photo contest is even more interesting. Because just as they say that every person is a bit of a poet, it can be said that every person is a bit of a photographer! A bit of photographer = amateur photographer, of course.
A new contest, organized by 
Like any nature and photography lover, I too welcomed this contest which I immediately found both beautiful and easy. I just have thousands of photos in my archive. I am forced to use photos from my archive because where I live does not offer me the possibility to photograph at this particular time for the contest. I'm a great lover of the sea, so the sea will be the theme of the photos I will show...
I thought it was going to be easy and I got a surprise I didn't expect at all. I found that I have very few scenery photos. I realized that almost all of my photos capture close-up images and not wide images with depth.
I live far away from the sea and most of my holidays have been at the sea, because of my passion for the sea. I took a lot of photos there. Most of them on my three trips to Greece, to the island of Thassos.
It was hard to find photos that could fit the theme of the contest. I found a few and tried to do something with them. I also noticed something else...
Namely, what made me take those images
On clear days with good visibility, a mountain could be seen somewhere over the sea.
It is not just any mountain...
It is Mount Athos, the holy mountain of Orthodox Christianity.
Mount Athos has been inhabited since ancient times and is known for its long Christian presence and historical monastic traditions, which date back to at least 800 AD during the Byzantine era. Because of its long history of religious importance, the well-preserved agrarian architecture within the monasteries, and the preservation of the flora and fauna around the mountain, Mount Athos was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. Source and more...
After I found out that was the mountain I had heard about, I knew it was in that area of the Aegean Sea, it was like an obsession to try to photograph it whenever it became visible enough.
I had a smarter camera than me but as much as it helped, it couldn't counteract my lack of skill. This is the best I could do.
I think, however, that I have an excuse. I didn't take these photos with the thought and intention of being scenery shots. The question may now arise...
Why am I entering this competition?
I answer, even if no one asks me...
Because the contest is made to participate and the judges are made to decide.
