<< Previous Next >>

Melk Abbey


Melk Abbey
Photo Information
Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4185 W: 0 N: 7570] (26813)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-01
Categories: Castles, Nature, Architecture, Artwork
Camera: Canon Digital EOS350D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Magnificent architectural memories from Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-15 8:33
Viewed: 1048
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In 996 the name “Ostarrîchi” (Austria) was mentioned for the first time in a document. In the more than 1000 years that have passed since then, in which little Ostarrîchi developed first into a huge empire and finally into our current-day Austria, Melk has always been an important cultural and spiritual center of this country.
Leopold I, who was made margrave of the area of present-day southwestern Lower Austria in 976, made the castle in Melk his residence, and his successors provided it with valuable treasures and relics. In 1089, Leopold II gave the castle to Benedictine monks from Lambach. Since then monks have lived and worked here without interruption following the rule of St. Benedict . Since the 12th century a school has been connected with the monastery, and valuable manuscripts have been collected and created in the library. In the 15th century, the monastery was the starting point of one of the most important medieval monastic reforms, the “Melk Reform”, and had close ties to the Humanists at the University of Vienna.

Visual evidence of the monastery’s importance in the Baroque as well as of the outstanding status of the abbot at the time, Berthold Dietmayr, is the magnificent baroque building. This was built between 1702 and 1736 following plans by Jakob Prandtauer and with the cooperation of some of the most renowned artists of the time (J.M. Rottmayr, P. Troger, L. Matielli, A. Beduzzi, J.W. Bergl, P. Widerin, etc.). In this period the monastery also showed flourishing activity in other fields, for example liberal arts or music (i.e. Anselm Schramb, Father Bernhard Pez, Father Marian Paradeiser, Father Maximilian Stadler).
Although the monastery was spared from the fate of dissolution during the rule of Joseph II (1780-90), numerous state regulations were imposed on monastic life. For example, imperial lay administrative abbots were installed, the monastery’s theological school was closed upon imperial order, and the secondary school was moved to St. Pölten. Due to the parish order under Joseph II, the number of parishes cared for by the monastery increased to 27, a heavy burden for the monastery to staff.
The Napoleonic Wars and the end of the feudal period in 1848 brought substantial economic changes and difficulties for the monastery. In the 19th century, the first extensive restoration was carried out, and the rooms for the secondary school and boarding school were expanded. The monastery received a modern sewage system, electric lights and new plumbing around 1900.

The period of the two world wars brought great problems to the monastery once again. In addition to economic difficulties in the time of inflation came the threat of imminent dissolution by the National Socialists after the “Anschluss” in 1938. Fathers were threatened with arrest. The secondary school was taken away from the Benedictines and a large part of the abbey confiscated for a state secondary school.
(Source:www.stiftmelk.at)
danyy, jaywalker, salvator, kiwi_explorer, Paolo, leo61, delic, carper, Buin, jlbrthnn, Uhu, Floydian, Marcelo_Almeida, snunney, Angshu, asajernigan, cannanmd, TheMystic has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • TopGeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2087 W: 79 N: 2819] (12890)
  • [2007-05-15 8:41]

Hi George
Nice shot! Wonderful composition and good colours The Melk Abbey with sharp light and detail line. excellent work. TFS George

Hi George,
This is nice, very nice. Beautiful composed in warm sunlight. Detail, sharpness is really good. Good presentation, well done...
Regards, Henk

Hello George,

This is a compelling shot of Melk Abbey, which I've always remembered from photo of a magnificent spiral staircase. Perhaps it one that climbs up one of the two towers. Your highly informative note complements the exquisite photograph very effectively. The perspective and composition, the light and shadows, and the colors and definition all work in concert to produce a memorable shot.
Warm regards,
Bulent

Olá George,
Bela construção e muito bem capturada, ótima nitidez, cores e dof. Nice shot.
Marcelo Almeida

Hello George,
Superb shot of this very imposing Abbey seen across the fields. Excellent light and tones and very good sharpness.

Hello George,
this is a magnificent building, whith nice architecture and colours, very pleasant to see. Phot very well realized. Bravo.
Cordially
Joël

Hello George,
Very nice Melk Abbey picture,good work to capture this image.Very good colour, contrast and definition.

Regards,
Filipe

hi George
nice place & architecture :)
good composition with perfect framing and great colours, well done *****
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • Buin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3604 W: 0 N: 7270] (25396)
  • [2007-05-15 12:36]

Hallo George!
A great photo of a gret building! That's all for today ... great!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9663 W: 452 N: 15580] (54594)
  • [2007-05-15 12:37]

a very nice and clear shot George,
good composition, good contrast and fine balance in the shot, realy good photojob. well done.
gr. jaap

Hello George,
A majestic piece of architecture is well framed!
I like the space in front leading up to the buildings, and the tad of haze blurring the background...
Well composed image with remarkable clarity in colours!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1377 W: 63 N: 1797] (6274)
  • [2007-05-15 14:53]

Hello George,
Beautiful telephoto composition with compressed view. Perspective is very nice and I particularly like the foreground with alternating browns and greens. An excellent presentation of the abbey. Regards,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3741 W: 351 N: 7546] (32188)
  • [2007-05-15 15:34]

Hi George!
I remember this style of architecture and the colors of this abbey.I `ve been there about 35 years ago and was fascinated.
Great shot of this impressive building,very well composed with this nice foreground.The orange tones of the abbey contrast well with the nice colors of nature.
Regards,Leo

merhaba dear george
beautiful architecture picture.wonderful composition and colours.
well done my friend.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

  • Great 
  • Paolo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4706 W: 146 N: 9098] (40035)
  • [2007-05-16 4:21]

Hi George, excellent composition and excellent colours for that beautiful image.
the POV was the right one and the view on the field and then on the palace is amazing.
thanks,ciao

  • Great 
  • vincz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 85 N: 5051] (17520)
  • [2007-05-16 4:24]

Beautiful one. I like how the different layers come one after the other. The colours are beautiful with the red of the contruction in between the various greens of the vegetation.

Hi George,
Based on your note, a lot of history in this beautiful building. The dome's architecture is quite intricate and wonderful. Well captured and composed.... very good color quality and contrast. Excellent! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

Hi George,
Very nice this monastery on your shot, lovely light and colours, good sharpness to see all the details, well taken.

Hi George, I am always amazed by your photo & look for a long time to see any faults, however they are perfect & I love them, this one is stunning, the light & colours are wonderful & the composition first class, the very sharp architecture stands out superbly against the green backdrop, a great photo & TFS, kind regards Wilson.

  • Great 
  • danyy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 7452 W: 441 N: 10374] (52865)
  • [2007-05-16 18:48]

Bonjour George,
il est très impressionnanr ce batiment , malgré le recul tu n'as pu le cadrer complètement.
Domage pour ce ciel qui n'offrait pas de belles couleurs.
Bets regards.
Daniel.

Hi George,
Impressive composition and use of light. The details and colors especially on the green, and the use of the background is superb. Best regards. Salvator.

  • Great 
  • Angshu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5040 W: 170 N: 7817] (25494)
  • [2007-05-20 3:46]

Dear George
This is a very nice picture indeed! You've got good sunlight, but I like your composition with layers in the FG leading us to the abbey. Your note is very informative. Well done!
Regards
Angshu

George,
Great architecture shot. The lighting and colors are great with nice sharpness and DOF. Your composition is great including the fields in the foreground with the trees in the background.
TFS,
Asa

Hello George:
A fine alternate view from the usual pov taken from the Danube up. You managed to capture the splendor of the structure with the inclusion of the agricultural foreground, the lifeblood of the historical Abbey.
Cheers
Otto

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF