The Czar and the Dome, a photo from Saint Petersburg, Northwest

Photographer's Note

Czar Nicholas I stands sentinel at St. Isaac's Basilica, St. Petersburg, Russia. The magnificent bronze statue is balanced on the horse's hind legs, seen clearly from the side. Below the dome is suspended an unusually long Foucalt Pendulum swinging back-and-forth, demonstrating the rotation of the earth.

My good friend, Andrew Coppin, improved the image immeasurably by lightening it slightly. Please, see his Workshop. The "grandmother" to whom he refers in his note was Lady Eugenia Peierls, the wife of my boss and champion in Oxford's Theoretical Physics Department during the 1970s. Thank you, Andrew.

Sonata11, macjake, serp2000, papagolf21, worldcitizen, jlbrthnn, jhm, nikkitta, delpeoples, mcmtanyel, Didi, mirosu, mirosu, PaulVDV, s_lush, photoray has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sonata11 (28289) 2013-02-04 19:20

Hello Bulent,
what a spectacular statue of Czar Nicholas I and beautiful dome architecture. Striking beautiful image. Perfectly well executed with fantastic colors, sharpness, perfect clarity and wonderful POV and DOF. Very beautiful composition. Like it a lot. TFS.
All the best,
Barbara

macjake (39227) 2013-02-04 20:55

Hi Bulent
as I've said before, this is a city which is high up on my travel list! Even more so than Moscow.

As i'm searching the scene, i notice people up on the Basilica, a viewing area....i wonder what that view would provide? any ideas?

the scene itself is well balanced, i like how my eye moves across the frame. lots of sweet subjects to view. well done
cheers
craig

serp2000 (29172) 2013-02-04 22:57

Zdravstvuj, Bulent,
Very interesting point of view, attractive composition. You are lucky photographer, if you had the blue clear sky on Juni in St. Petersbourg. I really like this composition.
Best wishes,
Serghei

Graal (88852) 2013-02-04 23:38

Hello Bulent,
nice composition, two themes in one. Good presentation from S. Petersburg. Gold domes and statue are beautiful. Well done photo.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

papagolf21 (76515) 2013-02-04 23:59

Bonjour, cher ami Bulent,
Excellente juxtaposition d'une sculpture et d'un édifice architectural de la plus belle eau.
Composition très réussie et particulièrement intéressante.
Excellente journée.
Amitiés.
Philippe

snunney (67292) 2013-02-05 3:52

Hello Bulent,
A pleasant well balanced composition across which the eyes move naturally from left to right. The light shining on the golden domes is particularly attractive.

Bluejeans (64227) 2013-02-05 5:02

Ola Bulent ,
Que belo ponto de visão para esta cúpula desta basílica são lindos os detalhes em dourado , bom primeiro plano com a estátua , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Royaldevon (17791) 2013-02-05 8:33

Hello Bulent,

You certainly get around!
This is a place that I would love to visit.
The clarity of your shot is excellent.
I like how you have included the statue, so that we can follow his lead to the golden dome and then, on towards the second dome.
A fine sense of perspective is achieved.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

npecanhuk (53889) 2013-02-05 16:03

Hi Bulent!
Very beautiful details!
Very attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov and composition truly pleased me!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

worldcitizen (4850) 2013-02-05 17:44

Hello Bulent,
Beautiful combination of architecture and sculpture. I like the POV, with us looking at Czar Nicholas as he looks towards the basilica. The variety of gold domes is wonderful, and the details on the basilica are so rich and strong. I agree with the workshop creator; the image seems a bit dark on my monitor as well, but it is lovely and very well-composed.

jlbrthnn (79773) 2013-02-06 5:52

Hello Bulent,
Statues and domes are remarkable. The exposure of the photo is excellent. I love the contrast between the statue of dull color and shining dome. An interesting photo, and a great achievement. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Best regards
Joël

Oceania (2141) 2013-02-06 6:46

Hi Bulent,

It's truly magnificent. But I expect to see onion dome church in Russia suppose...just kidding.

eldancer1 (17008) 2013-02-07 7:55

Awesome capture of this beautiful domed basilica. And thanks for the wonderful information. Good lighting and dof with nice details. Love the colors. Well done, tfs.

(The black bird in the picture with the eland is a turkey vultures which is very commong in Southern California.)

holmertz (26906) 2013-02-07 11:54

Hello Bülent,
It's not just the bronze horse and the Foucault Pendulum that are well balanced - the whole composition is. You have cropped it very neatly too. The lighter workshop version may be an improvement in a way, but i like these darker tones and strong contrasts that to my mind give the building and statue an even greater impact.
Kind regards,
Gert

mkamionka (24505) 2013-02-07 12:56

Hi Bulent,
beautiful presentation from Russia. Nice composition of the monument next to the impressive dome.
Nice colors, gold goes well with the blue sky.
Very well done!
I don't remember ever seeing this structure before, TFS.
M

jhm (122410) 2013-02-08 3:10

Dear Bulent,

I've already read, your text on National Geographic, tomorrow gets you on all three a small response.
Your picture:
Perfect composition, technical a very good image.
The dome with cupper roof together the two small domes care for a good picture.
Not forget the statue, excellent presentation
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

nikkitta (5852) 2013-02-08 16:20

Hola Bulent

Good composition organized by a mathematician with great sharpness and bright colors

Greetings and TFS
Note
Will write about Leonardo
About being in NY, I told you in a note about the new restaurant at the Moma

ACL1978 (5773) 2013-02-10 18:09

I've posted a workshop as well, Bulent, but not as a correction to this - instead, I posted a similar shot I took in the summer of 2011 from this spot. Yours is far superior; mine was taken while being hustled back onto a tourist bus with a little Panasonic point and shoot, but it struck me.

This particular exposure is outstanding, with a wonderful equality of height between the dome and statue that balances each beautifully. You had a great clear sky and bright sunlight to help you as well, which gave the dome excellent definition and detail. Beautiful!

Andrew

[workshop] [compare]

pedram_abazari (917) 2013-02-11 5:23

سلام
عکس بسیار زیبا و خوش رنگی است از یک مجسمه که شکل یک شوالیه ای است که روبروی یک سا ختمان قشنگ ایستاده است .
روز خوبی داشته باشی

delpeoples (44904) 2013-02-15 18:22

Merhaba dearest Bulent

Although this is not your 400th photo, I want to congratulate you for having reached that milestone. I could not resist this photo, as the history of Russia and the tsars has always held a fascination for me. It is beautifully composed with the high POV and tight cropping. The light is exquisite and the golden domes a a feast for the eyes and for the lens. Your camera has devoured them, and rightly so. Thanks for sharing this impressive photo with us.

Have a lovely weekend too
Lisa

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-02-17 1:42

Hello Bulent,
I like this tight frame very much. It makes the eye focus intirely on the details of this architecture. Very interesting composition and well given colors. The blue sky work fantasticaly as a background.
TFS
Kamila

Didi (48896) 2013-02-19 2:41

Salam my friend
Good frame quality of the golden dome and the statue
Well done for the nice lights ambiance.
Best and kind regards

jmdias (45780) 2013-02-19 17:01

bulent

very nice image matching the sculpture and the golden dome in a perfect way. very nice framing, sharpness and use of the elements.

hugs

jorge

mirosu (5509) 2013-02-22 3:48

Hi Bulent,
You have made a good attempt here, choosing to go in tight on the Czar & Horse statue. The composition works well, and the focus with deep DOF draws the attention not only to the statue but also to the unique basilica dome behind. Both, the staue and the basilica dome are very well-exposed. Asymmetrical arrangement creates excellent balance and harmony. Excellent!!!

PaulVDV (15017) 2013-02-22 4:10

Hello Bülent,
Very remarkable that the bronze statue is fully supported by only the back legs of the horse.
The combination of this statue with the dome is excellent and creates a well balanced picture.
We find much more statues at the foot of the golden dome that is magnificently shining in the blue summer sky.
Best regards, Paul

claudeD (24173) 2013-02-23 7:19

Hello Bulent,

Wonderful architecture picture from Saint Petersburg with a perfect framing . You have realized a perfect sharpness and excellent clarity. Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

ricardomattos (3175) 2013-02-24 6:15

Hi Bulent,
Very interesting composition. Well done and nice to see. You coudn't have choose best POV. The colors and sharpness are very good.
Congrats
Ricardo

TRB (12315) 2013-02-24 6:32

merhaba Hocam,
Mimari detayları, kadraj kullanımı, renkleri ve netliği ile ustaca bir çekim.
tebrikler, selam ve saygılar

Tülay

s_lush (15580) 2013-02-24 22:45

Hello Bulent,
Saint Isaac's Square is one of my favorite places in Saint Petersburg. I was in my pre-graduate practice in an institution situated just there. You have managed capturing the two main objects of the square in one shot. Excellent composition, highly interesting architectural and sculptural details, favorable light and perfect quality of the image!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Silvio1953 (98093) 2013-02-25 0:37

Ciao Bulent, great POV on fantastic dome and beautiful statue, splendid light, excellent clarity and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ChrisJ (86854) 2013-02-26 9:14

Hello Bulent,

Everyone I've spoken to says if you only see one city in Russia, it has to be St Petersburg. Forget Moscow. Tis image supports that view. Good sharpness and a nice warm cold colour contrast between the blue sky and yellow topped cupolas of the domed building. Good graphism & sharpness. Tfs!

photoray (4926) 2013-03-01 17:41

Howdy Bulent,

Excellent eye level view of classical Czarist Russia before their revolution, including the Romanesque St. Isaac's Basilica, and surrounding ornate statues.
My World History prof way back in 1963, traveled every summer all over Europe, and told us that the Russians were the most like Americans of any country. Which is very ironic, because back then the propaganda was totally aimed against the Russians.

Have a great weekend, etc.,
Cheers,
Ray

emka (58110) 2013-03-04 12:49

I knew about The Bronze Horseman:the equestrian statue of Peter the Great in Saint Petersburg, about which is the Pushkin's poem. But I see here other equastrian statue. For many years I am thinking about going to St. Petersburg, as I know it is wonderful city, but always I go somewhere else. I would like to see famous white nights there, but usually I have different planes. and this year also I will not go.
beautiful composition - golden dome the green horsemen against marvelous blue sky.

Warm regrads

EstelleJ (921) 2013-03-05 14:32

Hello Bulent,
I am happy to see this fine capture of the grand golden dome of one of the most famous cathedrals in St. Petersburg, here on TE.
The statue of Czar Nicholas I stands out so prominently against the perfectly clear blue sky. (something rare for St. Petersburg,,, I mean no clouds in the sky).
Amazing POV with very interesting proportions - the statue seems to ride high in the sky, almost as tall as the dome itself.
The exposure is perfect, as well, which is not easy with the bright sun reflecting from the glistening golden dome.
Congratulations on such a great shot!
Regards,
Jenna

kato (6761) 2013-03-07 3:22

Hello Bulent,

You're capturing well this place by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's impressive to see the dome with unique shape and gold roof, and the bronze statue. The both looks like the historical architectures. The whole is harmonized well by a good arrangement of two main objects and the good light control.

Kind regards,
mikio