Tram City, a photo from Antwerpen, Flanders

Photographer's Note

This shot has been taken in Antwerp where the trams are like an icon of the city.
The work permit for electrifying the tram system was granted by CGTA on March 12, 1902 just after half year form applying (November, 22 1901). The works started on the omnibus route Draakplaats — Grote Markt (now - route № 11). In fact this is the first tram line which stated to work, since omnibuses are road transport, rather than rail transport. Therefore there were no infrastructure built before electrifying this line.

On May 6, 1902 along the way of the former omnibus route, tracks were laid, from Draakplaats to Nieuwstraat. After that the tracks started to be rebuilt along with the electrification of the horse drawn line on the boulevard ring (Leien). For a time of work, omnibuses which became unused temporarily replaced horse drawn cars. On July 9, 1902 horse drawn cars started to move on a former omnibus route segment from Nieuwstraat to Grote Markt.

The first gantry for an electric tram line was installed on June, 10 1902 on the Kunstlei boulevard (now Frankrijklei), between the crossing of streets De Keyserlei Gemeenteplaats (Fr. Rooseveltplaats). On August 13, 1902 the catenary was connected to the temporary electric power substation, which was erected in a tram depot on Boudewijnstraat. Then the electric tram test rides started. The normal operation of an electric tram started on September 2, 1902 . First there was a mix of electric trams and horse cars on the line. And then, the horse drawn trams left the boulevards of Antwerp - forever. Source: Wikipedia

ChrisJ, Noel_Byrne, mayjayne, jhm, timecapturer, SnapRJW, ikeharel, claudeD, jusninasirun, Hansaphotos, Sonata11, marina7, papagolf21, krzychu30, bayno has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (86902) 2013-03-08 1:29

Hello Gosia

Looks a little like Melbourne, Australia with the tram lines. Good choice of a vertical format with excellent sharpness and perspective. The oblique angle of the cyclist at right adds interest. The people add life and animate the scene as well as providing scale. Tfs!

Noel_Byrne (7426) 2013-03-08 1:34

Hi Gosia,
That is a really wonderful piece of architecture, and well spotted to include the tram lines like this too. normally, tram lines can ruin a shot, but you;ve positioned them really well. Criss Crossing the sky like this, they look really superb and give a great sense of place to your image. Cool shot, thanks
Noel

mjw364 (3720) 2013-03-08 1:51

Hello Gosia

Interesting architecture but those tram cables - how do the drivers know which ones are which?! Fascinating and intriguing to think about how it all works! I like the cyclists leanning into the corner here - an alternative form of transport to trams! No wires - no worries!

TFS

Mike

manrezaei (1710) 2013-03-08 2:38

Hi Gosia,

Very nice shot. In this picture you managed the cables very well. Very nice.

Cheers,

Mansour

cornejo (18116) 2013-03-08 3:38

Hi Gosia, very good view of this interesting and beautiful scene of daily life, with an interesting and beautiful building, very well captured with great pov in this great and beautiful photography. An interesting picture with good sharpness, depth, light and color. Very good and nice job perfectly done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good afternoon and happy weekend.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

mayjayne (2792) 2013-03-08 4:17

Dear Gosia,

You have chosen a great perspective where the tram lines complement the scene, rather than to seem like a mess of cables which tram lines usually may look. The inclusion of the cyclist and a few other pedestrians add interest to the composition.

TFS,
May

Sergiom (39298) 2013-03-08 5:10

Bonjour Gosia,

La toile urbaine est très visible dans cette composition. Je trouve même beau ces fils électriques qui tissent le ciel. Le cadrage est excellent et le rendu d'une grande netteté.

Amicalement

Serge

jhm (122474) 2013-03-08 5:13

Hello Gosia,

You shows us the building of the national bank of Belgium.
One of the much lovely buildings in Antwerp.
I find the the electric wires always very annoying for a photo, but this is perfect normal on these picture.
Sharpness and clarity are perfect taken, nice architecture image.
A beautiful work, my friend. TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John

timecapturer (30342) 2013-03-08 5:25

Hi Gosia
great POV and composition this! I love the enticing lines and immaculate deatiling which somehow is more compelling when seen through this spider's web of tram wires. Like it a lot! Well done!

Have a great weekend - Regards Brian.

carlo62 (12636) 2013-03-08 5:45

Ciao Gosia
una vera e propria ragnatela di fili che intrappola la città.
Bella l'architettura in primo piano, con i binari del tram che la circondano.
Saluti
Carlo

SnapRJW (18784) 2013-03-08 6:25

Hello Gosia - An urban environment but one with great architecture. I think anyone depositing their money in this bank at the time when the tram was first functional must have felt that they lived in a very fine city with a fine and secure bank! I like the angle you have placed the building on giving us a view of both directions the tram takes. The cobweb of overhead cables add a little reality to the scene. Nice job. Warm regards rosemary

Nicou (97775) 2013-03-08 8:02

Hello

Avec les voies au sol et ce graphisme de fil de tram quelle imagequelle architecture et mise en valeur un sacré beau bâtiment splendide photo.
Bravo et amitié

Nicou

tedesse (22124) 2013-03-08 9:20

Witaj!
Piekna narozna budowla! Dobry POV i kompozycja, ladne kolory i dobra ostrosc obrazu. Podoba mi siê rowerzystka wchodzaca w zakret!
Pozdrawiam
Tadeusz
P.S.
Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji Miedzynarodowego Dnia Kobiet

claudeD (24173) 2013-03-08 9:33

Hello Gosia,
very good picture showing this interesting architecture. Good sharpnnes and clarity. I only miss a tramway ...Nevertheless a very good contribution to TE. Love the shot very much.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

Waylim (22357) 2013-03-08 12:22

Hi Gosia,

Beautiful shot of the architecture. the wire bother a little bit at the beginning, but it is life in the city. We need it. As I get use to it, it is kind of cool, looke like spider man was here and left behind his web.

Way

jusninasirun (17138) 2013-03-08 17:03

Hello Gosia.
Those power lines for the tram look like a cob web in this finely captured image. Lovely tone on the architecture against the beautiful sky.
Thanks and have a great weekend.
Jusni

jjcordier (62366) 2013-03-08 22:34

Gosia
Ces fils forment une immense toile d'araignée dans laquelle les immeubles se sont fait prendre. Tu les as bien exploités dans ta composition alors que la plupart du temps on cherche à les éviter.
Amicalement
JJ

Cricri (86501) 2013-03-08 23:58

Hi Gosia
Belle architecture, effet graphique des fils des trams, les formes des rails, belle présentation
Belle journée
cricri

ikeharel (37378) 2013-03-09 0:40

Fantastic corner view on town, Gosia, exquisit outlines and clear image. Even the electric wires play a beautiful role on the photo.
My cong.'s,
Ike

karacabeylis (1287) 2013-03-09 5:51

the composition focused on those lines has been greatly arranged. it takes the attraction instantly.

eldancer1 (17088) 2013-03-09 7:44

Indeed! It reminds me of the downtown of the city of San Diego strung with electric train wires. Good pov and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

dkmurphys (36831) 2013-03-09 8:44

Hi Gosia,
Very attractive architecture, a true trademark for any Belgium city. Well taken, enjoy the weekend.

Daniel

Hansaphotos (5435) 2013-03-09 9:48

Hello Gosia

A very interesting note to accompany this fine shot. What`s very interesting here is that you manage to convey very well the tram history of this city without even showing a tram. You have incorporated the wires in a suitable way. Wonderful architecture. A splendid shot:) TFS. Have a nice weekend.

Best regards, Erling

Fis2 (73124) 2013-03-09 10:28

Witaj Ma³gosiu!
Pl±tanina kabli jak we Lwowie ;)
Budynek bardzo ciekawy.
Dobry kadr i kolorystyka.
Podoba siê ta kompozycja.
Mi³ego wieczoru.
Krzysztof
P.S.
Trochê dziwnie wygl±da³o z oknem na dole kadru ;)

Sonata11 (28375) 2013-03-09 13:57

Czesc Gosia,
kolejna piekna Twoja kompozycja. Wspaniala architektura tego noroznego budynku, ale tych linii tramwajowych rzeczywiscie duzo. Tak tez jest we Wrclawiu i w innych duzych polskich miastachze nie mozna ich uniknac. Wspaniala praca podkreslajace linie tramwajowe. Podoba sie.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam i zycze milego WE,
Barbara

EstelleJ (921) 2013-03-09 14:37

Hello Gosia,
For somebody from the US, where trams are a rarity, this is a very cool image of a city so unmistakably European! You chose a good moment without too many people in the street, no cars blocking the view of tram tracks. Great POV on this gorgeous building, too!
Regards,
Jenna

Alco (4637) 2013-03-09 20:52

Hello Gosia,
Perfectly well chosen angle to show us the beautiful architecture of that building and the electric tram line.Usually wires are not interesting in pictures, but in this picture they are a +.They are pertinent to your note.Very well done.
Have a nice Sunday.
Regards
Alain

SWEETFREEDOM (18421) 2013-03-10 0:13

Hi Gosia,
i like your p.o.v. with this nice building in bg and all the tram power lines in fg.
regards
Alessandro

mesutilgim (68014) 2013-03-10 5:53

Hello Gosia,
Nice capture from Antwerpen but even nicer "title" !
Unfortunately we miss the tram so much in our city İstanbul but I think in a city with 17 million inhabitants also tram wouldn't help too much !
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

marina7 (5860) 2013-03-10 9:08

Hi Gosia,
looks like this beautiful and stylish building is caught in a web. Wonderful angle creating a very interesting effect. Fine work as always.
My best wishes
Marina

papagolf21 (76603) 2013-03-10 9:10

Bonsoir, chère Gosia,
Cette toile d'araignée tissée pour la circulation des tramways est décorative et s'intègre parfaitement au décor général.
Nous pouvons admirer l'architecture du dix-neuvième siècle.
Une bien belle image.
Amitiés.
Philippe

krzychu30 (8897) 2013-03-10 15:45

Czesc Gosia,
zazwyczaj linie tramwajowe stoja nam na przeszkodzie zeby zrobic ladne,czyste ujecie a ty potrafilas z nich uczynic jeden z najwazniejszych elementow zdjecia.Brawo za swietny pomysl i wykonanie.Do tego ten piekny budynek w tle i mamy naprawde wyjatkowa kompozycje.
Ciekaw tylko jestem jakie tam maja tramwaje,bardziej nowoczesne,czy jednak starsze pasujace bardziej do tak stylowej,historycznej zabudowy miasta jaka tutaj mozemy podziwiac.

Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Krzysiek

wolf38 (28208) 2013-03-10 23:47

Hello Gosia. Title, photo and text complement each other perfectly. The magnificent building is a real eye-catcher. This city has so much to offer. Overall, a successful contribution to TE.
Rgds. Wolfgang.

InasiaJones (29347) 2013-03-11 20:07

Hi Gosia,

There is a term in architecture called Brusselization, describing the improvised urbanization and careless development of modern buildings among historical districts, typical of Brussels and Belgium in general, so it's easy to visit this place with lots of apprehensions.

But it is rather reassuring when visiting this country to actually see some preserved areas that still have their original character and historical value.

This magnificent building that you are presenting is a fine example of stunning architecture, with beautiful details.

Excellent presentation!

André

mkamionka (24559) 2013-03-12 6:06

Czesc Gosia,
rzeczywiscie w krajach Beneluxu tramwaje sa czyms charakterystycznym, Tory i przewody czasami denerwuja ale jesli sie przestanie na nie obrazac mozna z nich zrobic dobry uzytek zeby wzmocnic kompozycje i dodac lokalnej atmosfery fotografii.
Piekne architektura, ciekawy pomysl.
Pozdrowienia
M

serp2000 (29242) 2013-03-13 11:37

Hi, Gosia,
Very interesting and informative note and so fine illustration of this text. Attractive architecture, fine details. I think, this perfect weather for Holland climate.
Pozdrawiam!
Serghei

bayno (16213) 2013-03-14 0:17

Ciao Gosia,
i like the compo and the scene, interesting architecture with clear details, the people add a moviment to the image, nice tones too...
greetings from India...
Valter

npecanhuk (53913) 2013-03-16 19:01

Hello Gosia!
Wonderful building!
Very interesting and attractive urban & street & architecture picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, vertical format, black & white borders, chosen pov and composition really pleased me here too!
TFS - congrats,
Enjoy your sunday,
Neyvan

Oceania (2165) 2013-04-03 5:28

Hi Gosia,

This picture was captured wonderfully by any measurement. It is excellent in composition, light management, clarity. I like it a lot.

pierrefonds (48369) 2013-04-15 17:31

Hi Gosia,

The track are sending my eye toward the building which is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colours of the architecture of the building. It is clear and sharp. Have a nice day.

Pierre