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Skyline from the 12th century


Skyline from the 12th century
Photo Information
Copyright: Steven Le Vourc'h (Curioso) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 585 W: 287 N: 1498] (8902)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-23
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, 70-200mm f/4, Digital RAW, Hama UV 77 mm
Exposure: f/11, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: 21 DAYS IN MYANMAR
Theme(s): MY BEST OF on TE, All together with the Burmese people [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-04-03 14:48
Viewed: 2121
Favorites: 17 [view]
Points: 82
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
150km south-west of Mandalay, Burma, one can discover a magic place on earth called Bagan. It's un unbelievable jungle area where hundreds of temples and pagodas are standing creating an exceptional skyline at sunrise or sunset mainly dating back from the 12th century.

This shot was made at Sunrise from the Mingalazedi temple. A balloon appeared from the mist 20 minutes after sunrise.

By the way, if you visit the temples during the day, you have to learn "Moweibu !". I didn't need it in Inle, Mandalay or Kyaing Tung but it was necessary in Bagan. It means "I don't want to buy !" :)

In 849, Bagan became the capital of a village federation and started to be a major place in the Burmese history. The place was merely living from agriculture along the Irrawady river.

In 1044, the Anawratha king turned that federation into a major kingdom including far more lands from the south gathering two major people : Pyu (Bagan area) and Môn (delta area).

Starting from that date, the place became a major buddhist site and hundreds of pagodas and temples have been built during three centuries. Each Burmese king dedicated more and more ressources to build bigger and bigger buildings dedicated to Buddhism.

The place and the Burmese kingdom lost its influence when the Mongols invaded Bagan in 1287. Some more temples and pagodas were built during the following century but Bagan was no more the main capital of those kingdoms.

leo61, cherryripe, GrahamB, nercan, eleparc, pitai, kclai, Bien, SWFalken, pilpel-adom, gary91, Elaine_Blath, lesfilous, rajhema, limaz, Nottinghill, Mrija, nivaldo has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To flydragon: ThanksCurioso 2 04-05 02:26
To Luko: Facilité...Curioso 1 04-04 14:47
To cherryripe: Des oiseauxCurioso 1 04-03 15:43
To rbcy1974: VeloCurioso 1 04-03 15:41
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Critiques [Translate]

Uau! Wonderful shot!!

Hello,
a nouveau un pur régal. Ce cadrage et ces silhouettes en dégradés sont superbes.
Les teintes et cette légére brume ... waoouuhh...

Bravo

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3564 W: 316 N: 6990] (29758)
  • [2006-04-03 14:52]

Hi Steven!
Fantastic shot,verry nice composition with that balloon.Fantastic colors and I like your title.
I`ll be there in december.
Regards,LEO

"In one word as in one hundred" (french expression), Wonderfull...

amazing depth brought by this monochrome (ce camaïeu).
Wonderful scenary and amazing vision to see that balloon there!

Hi Steven - WOW !!!
You left me speechless
This is magnificent
TFS - Shir

  •      
  • rbcy1974 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2743 W: 153 N: 3392] (20182)
  • [2006-04-03 15:12]
  • [+]

Sakut Steven
Wow,
les coleurs et silhuetes osnt vraiment magiques, tu as tres ien capture la scene
bien vu
sa veut la peine de se reveiller tot pour ca tu l'a faite en velo?
A+
Daniel

Bonsoir Steven
Magnifique cette image avec les silhouettes des temples et du ballons contre un ciel sublime. J'aime beaucoup la profondeur créée par les dégradés. Dommage les je ne sais pas quoi tout en haut qui enlève un poil d'harmonie dans le ciel.
Salutations Nikki

  • Great 
  • Ina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 629 W: 51 N: 297] (2593)
  • [2006-04-03 15:28]

Wow this is great... Colors, composition and all the fine soft tones of black... It perfect... TFS...Ina...

  • Great 
  • naxius Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 96 N: 2336] (16631)
  • [2006-04-03 15:29]

Une vue classique finalement de cet endroit magnifique mais je dois dire que ta photo est vraiment belle..
Impressionant ces différentes nuances de couleurs, comme des calques.
Superbe!
Alex

  • Great 
  • greg Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 653 W: 310 N: 95] (2837)
  • [2006-04-03 15:55]

great multi-layered silhouette!

  • Great 
  • yoelb Silver Star Critiquer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 0] (117)
  • [2006-04-03 16:03]

hi steven,
a real wondeful monochromatic,multy leyered skyline.
and the composition with the baloon makes it even better.
yoel

What a wonderful shot.
I love the layers of trees and temples fading into the distance abd the baloon is a perfect balance for the big temples on the right.

Salut Steven,
Superbe teinte chaude et bel effet du télé qui rapproche ces plans successifs,vraiment une belle ambiance matinale!
vincent

  • Great 
  • alimo3 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 489 W: 112 N: 97] (6682)
  • [2006-04-03 16:42]

Bonsoir Steven,
une tres belle image,ça donne envie d'y etre !
ce melange de brume et de couleur chaude donne un aspect irrel a la photo.
J'aime beaucoup !

Tom

Hello Steven,
Je vois que tu as superbement profité des teintes magiques de la lumière matinale
Il y a un effet 3D qui me plait bien ici.
Dommage pour les oiseaux, c'est vrai qu'ils "polluent" un peu.
Amicalement
Véro

Hi,
This is an impressive shot, like it exists of multi layered shadows.

Regards Neşe.

what a shot...
what an atmosphere...
what a colour

bravo!!!!!

ce lieu reste unique, je te l'accorde.. faudra quand même que j'y aille une prochaine fois;-)) ces dégradés de brumes me touchent tjrs bcp! c'est beau cette lumière dorée...

Eric

  • Great 
  • drago Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 568 W: 174 N: 745] (4544)
  • [2006-04-03 19:02]

A magic place indeed!Fantastic composition!

  • Great 
  • pitai Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1193 W: 162 N: 936] (3925)
  • [2006-04-03 20:32]

Steven, what a fantastic view. The depth is very good. I like all those different layers yoou got there. The orange colors of the sky is superb. On top of that you got the balloon. Just a treat for the eyes. TFS. Gabriel

  • Great 
  • moxon Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 114 W: 16 N: 33] (457)
  • [2006-04-04 0:00]

Terrific shot! Perfectly composed, brilliant colours, and I love the layers in the background that you managed to capture.

  • Great 
  • Bien Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 502 W: 50 N: 947] (4685)
  • [2006-04-04 1:55]

Salut Steven, C'est vrai que c'est un endroit magique qui colle à la peau! Ta photo est vraiment formidable avec des couleurs très féériques. Impressionant! Sabine

PS Gout personnel, mais je pense que j'aurais enlevé les petit taches (oiseaux?) derrière le ballon

  • Great 
  • kclai Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 38 N: 506] (2259)
  • [2006-04-04 3:41]

Hi Steven
Awesome. Breathtaking. Wonderful. Marvellous. Cool.
The multi-layer of subjects and toning creating a masterpiece in a single color toning. And to add the interesting point, you got the hot air balloon here. Just timingly cool.
Excellent composition, Steven.
Well done.
Eric Lai

  •      
  • Luko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 503 N: 2854] (13479)
  • [2006-04-04 5:39]
  • [+]

Bin, je partage assez l'avis de Simon... c'est une photo "jolie" (pretty, nice,...) et bien faite mais, du point de vue objectif, on la voit dans pas mal de catalogues de TO et du point de vue subjectif, comme je te l'ai dit, je ne suis pas vraiment emballé par Bagan que sillonent les bus FRAM et NF, je trouve que l'opération "balloon over Bagan" est une faute de goût, presqu'autant que la hideuse tour panorama installée au milieu des ruines (propriété du beauf d'un des généraux au pouvoir)... en attendant une grande roue, une réplique de la tour Eiffel miniature, ou que sais-je...

Comme je ne mets que des observations assez subjectives, je ne note donc pas cette photo.

Hello Steven,
I think this is going on my top 5 favorite shots on this site. I really like the way that the tonal values recede smoothly into the distance it almost looks like a watercolor painting. Cheers to the good fortune of that balloonist drifting into the frame also.

Thank you for posting, JB

Amazing sunrise, Steven! The balance between the baloon and the pagodas is well balanced with pleasent borwn-ornage color tone that dominant the frame. The exposure control is also very good! Was worth while to climb so early in the morning, aint it??
:)
Chen

  • Great 
  • gary91 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 485 N: 2900] (13167)
  • [2006-04-04 18:35]

Bonsoir Steven,
Quelle superbe image !
Vraiment incroyable de délicatesse. J'adore ces teintes pastel et ces formes en demi-teinte.
Bravo pour cette belle réussite
Amicalement. Christian

une vue plus classique que la precedente
qui perso ne me fait pas bondir, mais tout de meme
une tres belle image
Le ballon me gene et pollue toute la magie de cette
endroit et de ton image ( c'est tres perso )
amicalement
••simon••

meme si je ne suis pass fan, cette image est belle
et mérite bien ses points

Hi Steven
One of the most beautiful pictures I have seen lately;beautiful silhouets and the ballon is a perfect catch;right time and right place. Great shot and atmosphere.
~ greetings Albrecht ~

Hi Steven,

amazing photo! No words needed, just excellent...I put this one to my favourites...

Regards, Ivana

Bonjour Steven,
Magnifique, tout ce jaune dominant. Le ballon ne me dérange pas, même qu'il donne un petit air moderne au paysage.
Bravo.

  • Great 
  • jufego (78)
  • [2006-05-01 15:35]

Amazing photo.
Congrats.

  • Great 
  • muratd Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 30 W: 4 N: 42] (3345)
  • [2006-05-01 15:45]

hello very well foto. The colour and shoot time is perfect. Thank you.

  •      
  • clarita Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 237 W: 0 N: 52] (654)
  • [2006-05-01 15:46]

beautiful photo!
i love the silhouette here next to the beautiful golden sky.
you framed this well.
thx for posting!
sorry i can't give you any props for this...i ran out for the day.

Hi Steven,
It's a magic shot with wonderful colors and shades.
Regards.
Fred

  • Great 
  • jkos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 95 W: 0 N: 114] (981)
  • [2006-05-19 8:35]

Great magical shot!!! Very nice shading of reds.
Well seen!
TFS,
Joel

hi

Extremly beauty view.



tdsi

Orange picture is awesome Steve. You are right about the ancient atmosphere and the balloon brings us back to present. Very well presented - which means your POV is excellent.
Thanks for sharing. Informative note as well!
TFS
Rajesh

This photo has everything, the tones slowly fading into the distance compliment the sprawling site of Bagan, the rusty colour is beautiful and the balloon offsets the composition magnificently.

  • Great 
  • tudor Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 36] (214)
  • [2007-02-17 15:43]

Hi Steven,
Even before reading your note, one word came to my mind with regards to your photo: Magic!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo, that transports the viewer to a different world in a different time.
Bravo,
Tudor

extraordinary!!!

hi Steven,
great shot.Regards,Göker

Hi Steven
I like colors and the mood of your picture. I tried similar shot in Egypt but without much success.Your combination of colors is more appealing
thanks for sharing
Marek

Hello Steven,

what an exceptional shot. Everything in the same color, in different shades of this color, making it a really spectaculair.

Salut Steven !
It looks like a dream!!!
Phantastique!!!
Bravo! Viva!
Amicalement,
de Recife-Brésil,
Nivaldo

Pura magia.

I miei complimenti

Hi Steven,

Waouhhh ! Beautiful these chinese shades and this orange sky... The montgolfier is nice in the landscape.

Regards,
Stéphanie.

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