The Magellan Cross Photo

Photographer’s Note

the Magellan cross is a christian cross planted by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan (who discovered the Philippines) upon arriving in Cebu on April 21, 1521.

this cross is housed in a small chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, just infront of Cebu's city hall. A sign below the cross claims that the original cross is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. it is done so to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of it for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. some people, however, believe that the cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan's death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.

aside from being a symbol of Cebu City, the Magellan cross is also seen as a symbol of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

and btw, the name Philippines came into existence after King Philipp of Spain who at that time was the reigning monarch.

the Magellan Cross
Magallanes Plaza
Cebu City
Philippines.

belido, edal, stego, ribeiroantonio, adores, gracious, pen, saylan-cb, denisn72, parbo, plimrn, riclopes, COSTANTINO, jmcl, banaei_nikon, mikolaj_kawa, dareco, cunejo200 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

belido (15963) 2009-01-07 6:10

Hi Ben,

simple but beautiful dome. Nice to see something of the colonization through the paintings. Very good angle, I like the perspective and how the cross is placed in the frame. Well done!
Abraço,
Carlos
PS: all the best for you, my friend!

serp2000 (9123) 2009-01-07 6:52

Hello, Benedict,
Like a concistadores. Excellent work! I like your POV. An interesting note!
Haw are you?
Happy 2009!
Serghei

edal (6553) 2009-01-07 9:13

Hello Benedict,
Excellent pov, vivid colors and interesting exlanation note.
Best wishes,
Anton

stego (22312) 2009-01-07 9:52

Hi Benedict,
I am very fond of these almost vertical PoV's and this one looks specially achieved. It was so typical of the Portuguese discoverers (the word seems to be a bit out of fashion or even politically incorrect lately, but I don't care) to make a Mass and put a cross in every place they arrived... :-)
I wonder what's the origin of the "English" name of Fernão Magalhães (his real name), I guess that the fact that the "ão" is one of the most difficult sounds of the Portuguese to be pronounced by any foreigner may have something to do with it.
Regards, José.

ribeiroantonio (21709) 2009-01-07 16:02

The perspective is excellent as it shows the cross and the paintings too. Even if the discovery was for Spain we, Portuguese people, are still proud of what Fernão de Magalhães did in the 16th century. I would like to see an general view of the chapel. Well done.
Antonio

adores (15235) 2009-01-07 17:01

Hi Benedict!
This pov is fabulous! I like the way you captured the dome with the paintings, including the cross. Very good detail, light and colours! In a way, seems it's even connected to our history:)!

gracious (20017) 2009-01-08 0:54

Hello Ong,
Wonderful interior shot with the best pov to have the Cross and the beautiful paintings well included in the shot!
very sharp with vivid colour and details
many thanks for the sharing
wishing you the best of everything in the year of 2009!
cheers
Tony

pen (438) 2009-01-08 3:03

Hi Ben,
Nice use of fisheye lens, well captured. If you don't have a viewfinder suited for angled shot masakit sa leeg to. Great Ben.

Pedro

saylan-cb (12726) 2009-01-08 6:01

Hi Benedict,
Superb POV!Great capture and very nice details.
Excellent work!
TFS/Regards

elherbz (0) 2009-01-08 7:35

Que Ondas Ben!

Wow such vivid colors. You snapped a good angle. The history lesson was cool too! TFS.

-El Chapin!

denisn72 (6867) 2009-01-08 15:03

Hello Benedict
Marvelous painting and excellent colours and details. I like the funnel effect by choosing that point of view. Excellent note! Well done and thanks for sharing.
Best regards
Denis!

parbo (10936) 2009-01-08 15:17

Hello Benedict,

An enviable, creative capture of historical part. I like splendid effect created by your cleverly selected POV and your fish eye lens while the structure of dome helping you wonderfully. The paints on ceiling are amazing. Congratulations. Have a nice weekend.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

plimrn (19524) 2009-01-08 19:42

Hi Benedict,
Stunning framing!! The detail and color are very nice as well. The note is fascinating; I had no idea the the Philippines came from the name Phillipo. Duh! I feel dumb.
3 K's, Pat

riclopes (32821) 2009-01-09 1:04

hahaha, Amen for this work, Benedict. I would never guess that I would find here a similar pic to my "Crucified by the light". Good capture of the paintings on the ceiling and splendid inclusion of the real cross in FG. Still, I'm thinking of moving it a bit to the side so we can see better the painted one on the ceiling - not sure if possible, though.
ric

aadilj (17950) 2009-01-09 3:34

Nice work benedict. very imposing and very nicely captured with fine hues and good use of the lights and tones

COSTANTINO (22104) 2009-01-10 1:37

HI Benedict
I red all your useful notes about the Magellan cross which is
a christian cross planted by the Portuguese..
I found them very interesting and your shot excellent with
very interesting details and descripition..I like a lot
this kinf of photo,great lightness and great symbolism
regards and greetings from Grece
Cstantino

erdna (5346) 2009-01-10 21:40

This is a very good shot Benedict. When I visited this place I could not get in as it is sorrounded by steel security grilles. Where you able to get in or took this photo from outside the security grilles?

Andre'

jmcl (13721) 2009-01-12 10:05

Hi Benedict,

Wonderful note .. you have created a very unique and effective perspective looking up through the cross at the ceiling from this angle .. very nice. take care, John

banaei_nikon (775) 2009-01-14 20:27

Hello Benedict,
Excellent pov, vivid colors and interesting exlanation note.
Nice use of fisheye lens, well captured.
TFS
**MAB**

darek1978 (11070) 2009-01-16 7:54

Hello Benedict,
Great composition and very interesting POV. This is really beautiful picture. Well done!
Regards,
Darek

lc4giala (2186) 2009-01-25 5:34

Hello Benedict
Marvellous prospect and attribution in the mural,congratulations!
regards
George

Jepoy (32) 2009-02-01 18:41

NIce shot of the magellan cross, too bad the actual cross is inside that casket thing..would really love the see that.

anyway pov is just right, lighting and everything else..good job here

mikolaj_kawa (29322) 2009-03-31 0:56

Hello Benedict! Mysterious place. Wonderful cross. Amazing background. Ideal POV, perfect composition. Good luck!

dareco (17024) 2009-04-27 17:06

You've done a great job on this. I love the pov and the framing. Excellent detail! TFS

cunejo200 (7157) 2009-05-05 4:31

I like your composition here Ben. The famous landmark is well shown, the image is sharp. Ingatz...Danilo

salvator (18729) 2009-05-26 4:31

Hi Mehmet Ben,
Very nice pov and angle and nice colors and sharpness.
Looks wonderful.
Best regards.
Salvator.

Photo Information

Copyright: Benedict Ong (Benedict) (7060)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-03
Categories: Artwork
Camera: Canon EOS 30D DIGITAL, EF Canon 15mm f/2.8 (fisheye), Hoya 62mm Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/250.0, 1/30 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-01-07 5:51