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Maiden Tower with flowers


Maiden Tower with flowers
Photo Information
Copyright: Alexander Pasternak (pasternak) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1688 W: 200 N: 2966] (11838)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-26
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 18-200 f3.5-6.3, Hama HTMC PL circular M62
Exposure: f/11, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Azerbaijan, august-september 2007
Date Submitted: 2008-04-21 2:31
Viewed: 553
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Maiden Tower (Azeri: Qız Qalası, Russian: Девичья башня), is a tower in the Old City of Baku, originally on the shore of the Caspian Sea. Due to the land reclamation in the early 20th century the tower is now separated from the Caspian by a busy main road and public gardens. It was constructed in the 12th century, by the architect Masud ibn Davud. There are a number of competing explanations for the name:

- A legend about a maiden who threw herself off its top, to her death in the waves below;

- The fact that the tower has never been taken by force;

- Some historians relate it to Oghuz Turks;

- Some consider that it was once a Watch Tower [Göz Qalası].

The Maiden Tower is a noted landmark and one of Azerbaijan's most distinctive national emblems, to be seen on Azeri currency notes and other official pieces of paper. The view from the roof takes in the alleys and minarets of the Old City, the Maritime National Park, the De Gaulle house and a wide vista of the Baku Bay. In recent years the brazier on the top has been lit during the nights of the Novrouz festival.

Together with the Old City of Baku, since 2000 the Maiden Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I have left the slight perspective distortion here as it was, I like the tower "leaning" to the flower tree...:)

kiwi_explorer, ChrisJ, NMaverick, feather, Budapestman, asajernigan, PixelTerror, daddo, gneufeld, Cretense, jhm, pboehringer, UnTrained, jlbrthnn, kermit350, carper has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Alexander,
Fantastic capture ... I like the colorful flowers contrasting the concrete tower. The combination worked well with both elements complimenting each other. Well composed with interesting notes to describe the scene. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

  • Great 
  • ChrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 8607 W: 909 N: 11344] (54822)
  • [2008-04-21 2:47]

Hi Alexander

Good sharpness & colour saturation, with a superb warm vs cold colour contrast, between the purple flowers & blue sky. Tfs!

Hi Alexander, First of all you have a very detailed note which I found most useful. Secondly the colors, the framing and the positioning of the thematic elements is exceptional. If you could also avoid or erase the 4 lights at the bottom of the frame it would be great.
TFS
Nick

Actually the distortion you mention looks natural, as if the tower is not perfectly cylindrical. The blossoming tree is perfect on the right, not only balancing the frame but pointing to the tower. Good light and lovely colours. Well done
Kath

Hi Alexander,
Picturesque shot with splendid details I like the fine composition and the flowers in the foreground, the Maiden Tower is very spectacular too. Colours and lights are very nice, superb shot, indeed. Have a nice week
George

Alexander,
This is a very well composed photo with the flowering tree providing nice balance for the tower. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

Privet Alexander,
Even though it was taken in full summer glory, the very present flowers deliver an impression that fits (or should fit...) our current time of the year, a nice association with the architecture under pleasant light.
Have a nice day JY

  • Great 
  • daddo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1606 W: 29 N: 1624] (7517)
  • [2008-04-21 5:43]

Hi Alexander. Very captivating composition due to the combination of the delicate flowers and the imposing tower. Excellent DOF and beautiful colours.Regards. Klaudio.

Lovely composition using these nicely coloured flowers alexander , great light management and depht of field too , compliments.
Stefano.

Bonjour Alexander
Une très belle composition de cette architecture avec un bel accompagnement des fleurs du premier plan.Bonne journée.
Amicalement
Gildas

salut alex
des couleurs bien du moment avec en arriere plan une belle tour, un cadrage parfait pour donner toute la beauté des lieux
amitiés
gilbert

Hi Alexander,
Wow, a very well seen composition - wonderful balance between architecture and nature. Nice colors and good balance. Well done and TFS. Gerald

Hi Alexander!

Excellent architecture photo and great contrast of the walls with the vibrand natural "touch" on the right side! Perfect composition and framing, excellent depth of field showing clearly both the foreground and the background subject, fantastic colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12239 W: 244 N: 15969] (63962)
  • [2008-04-23 4:10]

Hello Alexander,

De lente zorgt voor een schitterend schouwtoneel en iedereen speelt zijn deel.
Dit is hier letterlijk van toepassing met de bloessem van de boom.
Ook het geheel is mooi meegevallen, prettige samenstelling, goed van kleur, ik kijk met plezier naar deze foto.
Bedankt voor uw bezoek.

Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John.

Alexander, the leaning of the tower doesn't bother me at all. It really gives the feeling of mutual attraction between the tower and the blossom packed tree. From your description in your note it seems to be quite a captivating view from the top to the city. I hope that you will present us with that view pretty soon.
Peter

Hi Alexander,
the play of colours against the stone from the tower is pleasant. The warm blue and pink and the good textures on that interesting architecture. I may be wrong but it seems that the compression did some flaws on the flowers.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Hello Alexander,
Initially, your framing including the flowered tree is perfect. This tower is attractive and intriguing by its architecture and the reasons for stone. The photograph is carried out perfectly. Beautiful work.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Hello Valeria,
The flowering tree makes a fine frame for the ancient structure!
This is a well balanced composition with a fine sense of depth, great details in the tower...
Attractive colour palette, and the people on top give scaling!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hello Alexander, according to Turks' of Oghuz this tower was never taken by the force, and well now it is done, by your gun, this composition is very aesthetic and very gravitational of share this tree in flower with the right-hand side of the image and which decorates this one of its beautiful and rich colors, an excellent quality of image with this tower monument of UNESCO which is well emphasized by your photograph, sincerely..................Hello Alexander, selon les Turcs d'Oghuz cette tour n'a jamais été prise par la force, et bien maintenant c’est fait, par ton canon, cette composition est très esthétique et
très attractive de part cet arbre en fleur à la droite de l’image et qui agrémente celle-ci de ses belles et riches couleurs, une excellente qualité d’image avec cette tour monument de l'UNESCO qui est bien mis en valeur par ta photo, bien amicalement

  • Great 
  • Buin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3260 W: 0 N: 6352] (22229)
  • [2008-05-02 3:45]

Hallo Alexander!
A wonderful architecture photo! This tower is an exceptional building indeed. I like these different structures in its walls - and of course this bloomin tree, and all under this gorgeous sky. A great picture!
Greetings from Germany (near Freudenberg ;-)
Frank

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9230 W: 444 N: 14425] (50734)
  • [2008-05-04 10:27]

prachtige foto hier Alexander,
jammer van die laatste dat hij in de steigers stond en wellicht nog staat. deze vind ik ook erg mooie goede pov, prachtige kleuren en een goede compositie. prettige avond.
groet Jaap

Áàêó òîæå, îêàçûâàåòñÿ, êðàñèâûé ãîðîä!
 îáùåì, TFS, êàê çäåñü ïèøóò :)

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