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The heart of the city


The heart of the city
Photo Information
Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4152 W: 0 N: 7506] (26591)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-17
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture, Artwork
Camera: Canon Ixus 50, Canon Zoom Lens x3 5.8-17.4mm 1:2.8-4.9
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-10-12 10:12
Viewed: 1571
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Helsinki Cathedral (in Finnish Helsingin tuomiokirkko) is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia and until the independence of Finland in 1917, it was called St. Nicholas' church.
A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Helsinki, the church was built in 1830-1852, representing the neoclassical style. It was originally designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, and later altered by his successor Ernst Lohrmann.
Today it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Helsinki. Annually more than 350,000 people visit the church, some of them to attend religious events, but most are tourists. The church is in regular use for both worship services and special events such as weddings.

History of Helsinki:
Founded in 1550 as a rival to the Hanseatic city of Reval (today: Tallinn) by King Gustav I of Sweden, the town of Helsingfors struggled in its infancy. The fledging settlement was plagued by poverty, wars, and diseases. For a long time it remained as a small low-key coastal town, overshadowed by the more thriving trade centers in the Baltic region. Construction of the Sveaborg (today also: Suomenlinna) sea fortress helped to improve its status, but it was not until Russia defeated Sweden in the Finnish War and annexed Finland as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809, that Helsinki began to truly change.
To help reduce the Swedish influence, Tsar Alexander I of Russia had the capital moved from Turku (also Åbo) to Helsingfors. The Academy of Åbo, the only university in the country, was also relocated to Helsinki in 1827, eventually becoming the University of Helsinki. This move consolidated the city's new role and the following decades saw unprecedented growth and development for the city, creating the prerequisites for the birth of a modern world class capital in the 20th century. This transformation is highly apparent in the downtown core, which was rebuilt in neoclassical style to resemble St. Petersburg. As elsewhere, technological advancements such as railroads and industrialization were a key factor behind the growth.
In the aerial bombings of the Winter War (1939-40) and the Continuation War (1941-44) Helsinki was attacked by Soviet bombers. Most intense air raids took place in the spring of 1944, when over two thousand Soviet planes dropped over 16,000 bombs in and around the city. However, due to successful air defense the city was spared from the large-scale destruction that many other cities in Europe under similar scale bombings had suffered. Only a few bombs hit populated areas.
Aviller, pablominto, leo61, emjleclercq, JonteW, TheMystic, berek, prezntime, robertosalguero has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

A classic shot of Helsinki. The only thing that bothers me a bit is the wire and the quality. It's nice that you managed to include a number of people, they always add a certain atmosphere to a shot.

Hi George,
Nice view to the cathedral, the narrow side street takes us right there!
Some fine pieces of architecture from around 1850-1900 in interesting pastel colours...
I like the inclusion of quite a few people in the streets, after all it is a city by broad daylight!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi George,
Very nice architecture shot.Good details, sharp and compo.Well done my friend.
Regards.

Hayati

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3719 W: 343 N: 7474] (31854)
  • [2006-10-12 13:55]

Hi George!
Good composition with the view at the cathedral in the distance between these nice houses.Maybe a bit too dark in the street,but nice with the colorful people in the foreground .A good shot with nice bright colors,many deatails and a great contrast with the sky.
Regards,leo

  • Great 
  • Wanda1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 21 N: 1576] (8329)
  • [2006-10-12 15:02]

Hi George,
A nice view looking down the buildings to the cathedral against the clouds. The people add extra life to your shot.Well photographed.Tfs.
Regards
Wanda

Good point of view of the cathedral though this street. Excellent sky and very good sharpness.

All the best,

Emmanuel

  • Great 
  • gigi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 1 N: 93] (2668)
  • [2006-10-12 16:26]

bonsoir George
tres beau paysage urbain
une fois de plus
un bon cadrage et une tres belle luminosité
bravo
jean louis

Hi George,
Well seen this perspective and the cathedral inon background, nice light too.

Hi George,
Very nice view of the buildings.
Good light, details and great POV.
Well done.
Have a nice weekend. Uğur

  • Great 
  • danyy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 7429 W: 441 N: 10329] (52644)
  • [2006-10-13 9:44]

Hello George,
une ville pleine de vie et d'animation, mais pas trop de foule, juste ce qu'il faut pour donner du punch à une photo.
J'aime les couleurs et celle du ciel en particulier.
Les lumières sont parfaites.
Best regards.
Daniel.

Great view through the aperture between the buildings, with nice everyday life in the foreground.
Cheers
Otto

Intersting POV of the catedral. I like the people moviment here. Do you have this photo in high quality? Looking at it I have a great ideia! Look to the woman on the right side, she was walking to the right and has a sing indication the left side, I made a WS to show to you that. What did you think?

Nice colors.
Regards
Andre

  • Great 
  • Angshu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5036 W: 170 N: 7789] (25424)
  • [2006-10-14 3:46]

Dear George
Beautiful POV & colours. I like the way how the street between the buildings lead us to the cathedral. Adding the people are a bonus here. Well done!
Regards
Angshu

  • Great 
  • berek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4029 W: 172 N: 5155] (23686)
  • [2006-10-14 8:32]

Hi George,
I like this narrow street . I can see beautiful historical architecture and of this street. good colors and composition. Have a nice weekend.
Burak
my overall evaluation -> ***

Bonjour George
une très belle lumière qui met en relief ces façades. J'aimbe bine le choix du fomrat carré qui amène un bel équilibre à la compo. Bravo
Xavier

  • Great 
  • MIG13 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1854 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-10-15 17:11]

Hi, George! Nicely composed pic, showing a so quiet downtown! Great perspective, with good depht! Nice buildings too, mainly the Cathedral! TFS! Best wishes, my friend! Miguel.

Hey George.
Superb notes.
I really appreciate the fine saturation you have acheived with these shots. I love the line of buildings descending from the right towards the church. I really like the green domes sitting against the background of the clouds.
Regards,
Chris.

I like the perspective showing the cathedral through the narrow cobblestone street. The colors of the composition are very nice. Good light and awesome details throughout the picture. I think including people on the scene make the picture more dynamic and gives it more life. Great shot George :-)

Roberto

Privet,George,
I love this city, this place in august summer warm day.
Nice shot.
Thank you!
Serghei

Very interesting POV, good perspective and interesting lines created by this street in the foreground, that lead my eyes into cathedral. Good work! Andrzej

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