The inevitable postcard Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is probably an image a lot of people have seen on postcards from St. Petersburg. It is part of the facade of the baroque Catherine Palace which can be found in the village of Pushkin 25 km south of St. Petersburg. The palace was built under empresses Elizabeth and Catherine the Great between 1744 and 1796 and was named after Elizabeth's mother, Peter the Great's second wife. During the Second World War it was occupied by the Germans for almost three years, and the famous amber chamber was dismantled and disappeared. After the war the palace was more or less in ruins. Today, everything has been rebuilt and restored, and the palace and its gardens have as much to offer to the visitor as similar palaces elsewhere. And the amber room is a gem.
I caught this as we came out in the late afternoon and a storm was brewing. I belive the sun disappeared for the day five minutes later.

maphoto, pamastro, roconnell, Galeota, ninfa_urania, elroyie, Hanssie, Zanni, milloup, RGatward, jhm, Jeppe, nwoehnl, veimann, sn00zie, elihesamian, Dionysos, apazevedo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

spence (1554) 2004-06-05 19:36

Superb building and you've caught it very sharply in perfect light with a great moody sky and sunlight. I love shooting in these conditions. The green of the trees is a lovely contrast too.

maphoto (8076) 2004-06-05 20:46

I don't know how it looks on the postcard, but it looks great here, very beautiful architecture perfectly composed, great contrast and colors with this marvelous sky, very well seen.

pamastro (7215) 2004-06-05 22:20

Very nice perspective and great colors. The blue really is nice and bright against that stormy cloud. The golden domes look great against the sky, too. It is an amazing piece of baroque. And you captured it beautifully from this point of view with a great, dark, sky. Very nicely done.

roconnell (327) 2004-06-05 23:08

Beautiful constrast between the bright and ornate facade and the dark plain background. The colors and detail are marvellous. Well done.

Galeota (10334) 2004-06-06 2:09

What a superb photograph you've got here. The light is just magnificient, and the composition couldn't be better. The color of the sky, at this precise instant, gives such a dramatic atmosphere to the bright building. You were really at the good place at the good moment. Very good work.

elroyie (2750) 2004-06-06 3:02

Great place and very good colours, you have chosend good angle and the frame is very good with the trees on the right side.

I think that you should crop at the bottom about 3mm to get perfect frame.

Hanssie (9133) 2004-06-06 3:59

Great picture, nice details and colours in the sunlight and then this "bad wheather" as a fine background.
Great shot, Per !!

Zanni (5893) 2004-06-06 4:08

You have to thank sincerely the bad weather coming because you obtained a great contrast between the sky colour and the facade colour. Good angle, shapr and detailis. Note very useful

milloup (1829) 2004-06-06 4:23

Beautiful capture of an impressive place. It's incredible how the contrast of dark rain clouds and the last rays of sun before the rain will add to a photo.

RGatward (19759) 2004-06-06 4:38

No, this doesn't look like a post card, the angle and sky give it edge which raise it above the genre. Also interesting note.

jhm (85052) 2004-06-06 5:45

Excellent series of Russia Per, very good note with an beautiful picture, sharp and clear!

yesterday (9787) 2004-06-06 9:27

Great sharp photo, Splendid light and wonderful how this beautiful white building stand up against the dark sky.

Very good color and wonderful picture, sorry Im out of point today.

Regards kaj Nielsen

waskahegan (0) 2004-06-06 13:09

The architecture is delghtful, but your perspective renders it well, I like the way you composed the facade, I also love the contrast between the white walls and the sky.

Jeppe (18624) 2004-06-06 16:25

Oh Per your fine photos comes in burst - I must try to keep up your pace ;-)

Again you found a new and different angle to give us that fine Palace. You did very well indeed - the dark sky excellent background for those gold onions and the light just perfect - remind of the last time I saw this light my self.

Ebbe (9595) 2004-06-06 16:50

WOW what a light and what a sky! I think it was good to include a little bit of trees to balace the palace.

nwoehnl (120) 2004-06-06 17:03

Well, the "postcard" term seems to have a tendency to be sniffed at, but my personal take is that it's not easy to shoot them, as they have to catch the essence of a place or else people won't buy the postcards. Anyway, this is pretty much perfect, Per - the angle, the colors, the sharpness, the light. I don't know which attribute to praise most as you handled all of them to the best. Congratulations.

veimann (1250) 2004-06-08 0:25

Ooo! This one of the most beautiful places in Petersburg. I think, that you have not regretted, that have visited there. Very good colors, especially contrast between color of the sky, greens and bright paints of a palace. Well done))

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sn00zie (2384) 2004-08-10 12:08

brilliantly captured Per. perfect lighting and subject. nice lines and very clear. well done!

elihesamian (26091) 2004-08-24 5:53

Hi dear Per!

What a heavy & great sky you captured,and what a fine & real contrast you managed,very well done!In a great way you composed there all elements ,and light is well captured,also you cropped it excellent & POV well choosed,I like it alot,A fine shot,really,You did great,Per!
Sincerely
Mohammad

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loupiot (3909) 2004-09-20 10:36

Very beautiful pic, Per! Superb contrast between the lightly facade of Catherine palace and the very dark sky. A nice postcard, well done!

poulinp (4466) 2004-10-29 11:58

No distortion, good sharpness, nice colors and composition. However, I would prefere it in a beautiful sunny day.

Dionysos (1234) 2004-11-06 4:49

One of the best shots of the palace which is one of the best architecture in the world, in one of the most beautiful city of the world.

apazevedo (5469) 2004-11-15 18:43

An excellent postcard, Per; I liked the colours, framing and perspective, and, of course, the marvellous Palace. A very pleasant work!

brajesh (192) 2005-07-04 19:07

that sky really makes the difference in the picture for me :-)

cleocat (221) 2006-01-14 7:22

I saw the new post and thought it was stunning but then I saw your link to this one. Magic!!!The detail on the pillars and balconies and the little shaped trees. It msut be amazing to see it for real. I think what makes this one so different is the dramatic sky. I love skies like this. There is a sense of expectation.