Summer in the City Photo

Photographer’s Note

‘Brussels - Summer in the City’

A few pictures of the flower carpet on Brussels’ Grand’Place have been posted already on TE. This picture is taken while people are still making the carpet.
When the job was finished the biggest part (the complete center) of the Grand’Place was covered by about 800.000 begonias.

It’s an event that takes place every two years on August, 15th and the carpet can be admired during three days (and four nights). So for to see the next flower carpet in Brussels people will have to wait till August, 15th, 2010. :) Write it down.

While the main component are the begonias, other natural elements are used to give the carpet its necessary colours. Dahlias form the blue entrelacs; the green colour of course is grass and tree bark is used for the brown nuances on the background.

Not only the rich range of colours is the reason why begonias are chosen.
These flowers have a very good resistance to bad weather and strong sunshine (hmm, no problem this year). Further on the begonias guarantee the carpet freshness during the three days it can be admired.

Belgium is the world’s largest producer of begonias (yes, we got more than chocolates and beer) and every year about 60 million begonia tubers are cultivated, mostly around Ghent (Lochristi, ...).
The biggest part of the production is exported.
These facts and more information can be found on:
http://www.flowercarpet.be

BTW, often I see that people post more pictures of the same subject (for instance taken from another POV) in a workshop. Can anyone explain me please how to do that ? Thanks ! Paul

shevchenko, giorgimer, kpav, skippy007, jhm, gracious, hispic, Felip, danos, alftrek, Cretense, ilDottore, degani, paololg, patshoo, trekks, UlfE, mafegan, jaywalker, Emile has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emilbo (9753) 2008-09-01 17:47

Salut Paul!
Quelle belle présentation et joli tapis de fleurs, une image remplie de merveilleuses couleurs, un plaisir pour les yeux. L'architecture des édifices est superbes et la netteté d'image est excellente. Beau travail.
Félicitations!... et bonne semaine,
Emilius

shevchenko (10196) 2008-09-01 22:18

Hello Paul,
Intersting composition to show the big carpet under making, nice to see their team work, good pov to include background building, I like the colourful pattern, thanks for sharing the festival atmosphere.
Ally

giorgimer (21710) 2008-09-02 13:45

Hi Paul,

I already saw other shots of this event, it seems to be wonderful. Very good colors, nice building in the BG

TFS

Gio

kpav (5025) 2008-09-03 1:17

Hello Paul, excellent capture, the colors on the flower carpet are amazing and the people working on it add energy to the scene. The impressive buildings at the back complete a great presentation of the event. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Kostas.

skippy007 (7451) 2008-09-03 1:31

Hello Again Paul & I thought only excellent chocolate & beer came out of Belgium but now I know thanks to you that is not true. Beautiful & very colourful scene, I like the way you have shown the floral carpet & beautiful building in the BG. Interesting note.
Well done.
Thank you.
Santo

Silvio1953 (43458) 2008-09-03 3:00

Ciao Paul, great festival of colors, beutiful composition with splendid perspective on elegant buiolding, very well done, ciao Silvio

rodgerg (25575) 2008-09-03 4:28

Dag Paul,

Een plezier voor de ogne met deze zeer mooie kleuren en de mooie gebouwen van de Groote Plaats.Good idee de tuiners op het werk gephotographeerd hebben.
Amitiés,
Roger

jhm (83802) 2008-09-03 5:13

Hallo Paul,

U heeft het goed beschreven de grote massa begonias komen tussen Gent en St-Niklaas, meer bepaals uit Wetteren Lochristi, Laarne en omgeving, het is in de zomer een pracht om tezien wanneer ze zicht op het land bevinden.
Bijna te verlijken met de fruit bloessem in Limburg.
Op uw foto waren de mensen nog volop aan het werk om het tapijt klaar te krijgen.
Ik vind het iederjaar een mooi Belgisch spectakel, geleverd door Vlamingen op Brussels grondgebied waar Walen komen naar kijekn, waar is hier het probleem!!!
Bedankt.

Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John.

izmirli (3367) 2008-09-03 22:48

merhaba dear paul
magnificent garden and magnificent interesting building.excellent colours and composition.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

gracious (20017) 2008-09-04 1:13

Bonjour Paul,
this is so beautiful and I loved the rich colouration in this wonderful image!
the pov is great with total sharpness and great details in every part in the image
very well done and a good notes
merci
Tony

hispic (7399) 2008-09-04 2:43

Hi Paul,
The tonality to emphasize red makes this scene colorful further more. This event was seen on TV news in also Japan.
Have a nice day, Hisashi

Felip (3905) 2008-09-04 7:00

Incredible simphony of colours in this flowery street carpet you have shot here Paul! Colours and light are simply fantastic, and the buiding in the backgroud enhances with its beautiful architecture the whole image.
Have a nice day.

Felip

danos (33766) 2008-09-04 11:34

Hello Paul,
really a very pleasant and colorful carpet in the middle of the 'Grand Place'.I visited this place in 2000 but unfortunately was February so I did not have the occasion to see this beautiful event.Well done.

Regards,Danos

alftrek (2985) 2008-09-04 16:13

Hi Paul,
I think you have chosen a good BG building which is very colourful if not as colourful as the flowers. By doing so, you have almost completely blocked out the glaring sky, yet maintaining the flower carpet as the main subject in the FG. Good work.

I have given a note in the discussion about posting to Ws.

tfs
Alfred

Cretense (57608) 2008-09-05 3:01

Hi Paul!

Fantastic photo with dazzling colours, I wish I could be present in such an event, it must have been a photographer's paradise! Excellent framing and composition, brilliant light managment! congratulations!

Hercules

vinicio (22504) 2008-09-05 6:15

I much like also this moment, I find it fascinating viewing the artists at work, good choice and photo Paul, compliments.
Ciao
Vinicio

ilDottore (4028) 2008-09-05 7:26

Hi Paul,
I heard about this interesting Belgian habit.
But the most important thing is your photo: beautiful colours, great composition, joy of life and (las but not least) amazing architecture.
Best Regards & TFS
Chris

lousat (16492) 2008-09-05 12:38

Oooooh Paul! C'est la fete des couleurs!!Mais quelle beaute' cette photo! L'ambience est vraiment extrordinaire,les palais aussi parait avoir une lumiere particuliere,mes plus gros compliments,bon weekend,Luciano

omixlistilimni (3287) 2008-09-05 13:05

Hi Paul

Very good shot!!!

Marina

vbl (1402) 2008-09-05 13:47

Hi Paul:
wow!!!!
Very nice colors and perfect POV.
Good sharpness.
TFS
Vanessa

tober (4144) 2008-09-06 17:05

Hello Paul, I've lived in Brussels almost for three years but never had the opportunity to visit Grand Place in this period. Really an eye-catching photo with the colours of begonias, however the clouds could seem much better if the photo was taken in a more convenient time. Regards to Brussels, Tolga

degani (2876) 2008-09-06 22:10

a picture full of colours that give a strong sense of joy, this is a very nice image Paul, very well done
kind regards
franco

paololg (14573) 2008-09-07 2:32

Ciao Paul,
it is not frequent to see a beautiful show of colors, as this, in a great city. The composition of the image is excellent with a good definition of the details. You have done a very pleasant photo, compliments.
Ciao
Paolo

patshoo (944) 2008-09-07 8:52

Love to see this place in fresh condition,Well capture POV of colorful activities as the event scene that matched the title too.Sharpness overall and well control of light.Finally,Lively and easy atmosphere.Good work,TFS.

trekks (14336) 2008-09-08 1:30

hi Paul

Very color bed of flowers, really wonderful decoration for the square to compliment with the fine achitecture facade of the building. A fine capture.

p/s For workshop, after you post this original photo, open this page, at top left border, you will see 'post to workshop' and you can post 2 photos per day.

tfs, bill

John_F_Kennedy (32340) 2008-09-08 2:48

Interesting a place and scene. Fine colours and composition.
Best wishes,
Achim

Waylim (11391) 2008-09-08 11:32

Paul,
What fantastic display of color and shpes. Wow, beautiful and brilliant. Very lovely scene. Good details, good light and composition. Well seen and captured. Love the pattern of the display and arrangement. TFS
Way

UlfE (9268) 2008-09-08 12:00

Hi Paul,

A wonderful shot of the flower carpet. In particular I like the a little bit unusual POV towards La maison des ducs de Brabant. Very nice colours and a very well-composed photo. TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

mafegan (4635) 2008-09-08 16:09

Hello Paul
Your photo and the accompanying notes really tell of a special event. A carpet being created. TFS, Marlene

claudeD (11564) 2008-09-14 9:20

Bonsoir PAul,

quelle belle image colorée de la Grande Place.C'est vraiement un plaisir pour l'oeil...Bravo.
Salutations amicales du Luxembourg

Jean-Claude

jaywalker (12419) 2008-10-11 9:53

Hi Paul, A wonderfully coloured foreground & the architecture balances the shot very well, there is lots for the eye to see here & the overall composition is superb, great picture, kind regards Wilson.

PJE (19575) 2008-10-13 14:07

Paul when I see photos like this it brings to light some aspects of European culture that many in the west never get the chance to see. This event is simply amazing and a real delight to see. Your second photo from this location is a real treat too. This one explains how its created. Both photos are outstanding photos to say the least. Thanks for sharing!

Greg1949 (8551) 2008-10-14 4:12

Paul, after seeing the night shot I went looking for the set up one. This is a great view of the work required to make this event come off. You have captured and presented this one very well.

Greg

Emile (20177) 2008-12-05 15:13

Hola Paul.
Wonderful composition, beautiful carpet of flowers with the impressive building in the background, good POV and superb colors and sharpness. Very well captured.
TFS.
Best regards and wish you a great weekend.