belfry and the square of heroes Photo

Photographer’s Note

Arras, with its fine old centre, is one of the prettiest towns in northern France. It was renowned for its tapestries in the Middle Ages, giving its name to the hangings behind which Shakespeare's Polonius was killed by Hamlet. Subsequently the town fell under Spanish control, and many of its citizens today claim that Spanish blood runs in their veins. Only in 1654 was Arras returned to the kingdom of France.

Although almost destroyed in World War I, the town bears few obvious battle scars. Reconstruction here, particularly after the last war, has been careful and stylish, and two grand arcaded squares in the centre – Grand' Place and the smaller place des Héros – preserve their historic, harmonious character. On every side are restored seventeenth- and eighteenth-century mansions, built in relatively restrained Flemish style, and, on place des Héros, there's a grandly ornate belfty and town hall, its entrance hall housing a permanent photographic display documenting the wartime destruction of the town and sheltering a set of géants (festival giants) awaiting the city's next fête.

bukitgolfb301, Uhu, Longroute, albertojr, serp2000, snunney, judesta, PixelTerror, adramad, BelCan75, Cretense, darek1978, Floydian, sandpiper, JCG, Amaz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mauro61 (14688) 2009-04-28 7:24

ciao paul,
bella immagine del monumentale centro storico con la fila di edifici a rendere bella la prospettiva della piazza.
Buona gestione di una luce molto forte.
saluti
maurizio

albertojr (718) 2009-04-28 7:38

the sharpness of this one is superb Paul, this is really good in colors, but maybe even better in b&w to emphasize a mood. but still a very good shot.

gildasjan (23363) 2009-04-28 7:55

Bonjour Paul
Un bon POV et une géométrie bien respectée pour cette superbe architecture d'Arras.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
gildas

sevy (12943) 2009-04-28 7:59

Bonjour Paul,

Je connais bien Lille et Douai, mais pas Arras. J aime beaucoup le cadrage et la composition de cette photo qui s appuie tres bien sur le Beffroi et l alignement des facades.
Je ne regrette que ces satanées voitures qui gachent la vue. Des endroits aussi beaux que celui ci devraient etre pietons. Je me suis souvent fait cette remarque pour bien des endroits en France.

Yves.

serp2000 (9183) 2009-04-28 8:23

Privet, Paul,
Fine shot! Excellent quality, nice colours, interesting note!
TFS!
Serghei

snunney (34130) 2009-04-28 8:36

Hello Paul,
A splendid capture of this magnificent square with its lovely Northern French architecture. So much to take in and admire. Fine ambient lighting with very good colours and sharpness.

bukitgolfb301 (4433) 2009-04-28 14:28

Hello my dear Paul

This is your own world, Paul!
Great color management, well calucurated and stable composition and total management.
I think this is very comfortable photo to see. Your strategy results in sucess.
Congratulation on your great Job !

Best regards and thanks for sharing

Takero

judesta (992) 2009-04-28 20:25

Hi Paul
Nice Composition, I like that you have attempted to cut out the cars, well almost :-) Good natural colour and sharp detail in the architecture. Interesting note.
Cheers
Jude

devimeuxbe (55673) 2009-04-28 22:47

Hi Paul
thic cropping and composition about Aras is really amazing. Beautifull light also
Bertrand

PixelTerror (86032) 2009-04-28 23:58

Hi Paul,
Good framing where it was not easy to remove the many cars, doing so you make them less present, colors are a bit pale on my screen.
Have a nice day JY

adramad (3292) 2009-04-29 6:53

Hello Paul.
Another beautiful apprehension to that you us have used. Precious this place, that not know before seeing this photo, good quality to estimate the details and very good light.
A cordial greeting.
Luis.

BelCan75 (2416) 2009-04-29 21:47

Hallo Paul,

Prachtige foto met zoveel details en mooie kleuren. Het licht is hier ook knap, dat zie ik wel graag zoiets met die oude gebouwen. Knap gezien en vastgelegd!

Groetjes,
Ann

PS: Hopelijk heb je de kans om wat mooie foto's te nemen! Het blijft nog mooi tot en met zaterdag...zondag verwachten ze weer regen! Geniet er nog maar goed van!

Cretense (54906) 2009-04-30 3:25

Hello Paul!

Very impressive architecture photo, with two very strong and eyecatching basic elements! Great composition and framing, powerful perspective! Flawless light managment and brilliant colours, amazing sharpness! Congratulations!

Hercules

darek1978 (11143) 2009-04-30 9:12

Hello Paul,
A nice city, fantastic place and a excellent view with a POV very well selected and a great prospect. The architectural lines and angles play a major role in this great composition. I also like this very interesting and impressive, french architecture. Congratulations!
Best regards,
Darek

Longroute (8903) 2009-05-02 2:39

Perfectly balanced composition for this oustanding square and church. The row of buildings at the right, beside being a superb example of Felmish style give a good depth to the photo. The fine light conveys a bright atmosphere.
A major merit to have succeded in eliminating all those unaesthetic cars...
All the best,
Donato

Uhu (7334) 2009-05-02 4:58

Hello and wow - what a place! Beautiful one, and your photo is really great as well, composition is perfect!
Nice info about the Shakespeare though, never knew that.

Floydian (30970) 2009-05-02 11:38

Hallo Paul,

Wat mij hier zeer aanspreekt is het strakke gelid waar de gebouwen in staan opgesteld. Geen vervorming, maar super strakke lijnen, prachtig, echt het hoogetpunt in deze foto. Niet eenvoudig, dus daarom respect hoe je dit heb gecomponeerd en bewerkt.
De diepte met name in het perspectief is heel erg mooi, geeft er een enorm 3D effect aan...klasse.

Prettige avond,

Henk

guitianmiranda (3530) 2009-06-03 23:57

Always cars are a real problem at the time to take urban pictures, I am happy that more cities are taking no cars restrictions to its historic downtowns, and in this case, you have known to chose an angle to try to eliminate all the disturbed elements of the scene.

Best regards.

sandpiper (1559) 2009-06-06 14:54

Hi Paul

I like the suft light, warm tones and POV. You did well to remove most of teh cars and concentrate on the architecture.

Chris

JCG (24851) 2009-06-07 1:54

Bonjour Paul,

Voilà une autre jolie vue sur cette magnifique place d'Arras. Je me suis garé plus d'un fois sur ce parking pour me promener dans les environs quand je travallaisdans le Nord de la France. Une ville au passé historique douloureux mais qui a su retrouver son architecture d'antan. Une belle et intéressante photo avec une luminosité appréciable, merci Paul.

Avec toutes mes amitiés et un très bon dimanche,

Jean-Charles

mkamionka (4226) 2009-06-10 4:50

Hi Paul,
honestly thanks for sharing this. It is such a pretty place and I really did not know that it exists. The mnames sound very foreign to me. I cannot even locate it on a map. The architecture is fantastic and you have done a great job presenting it. Perspective is so straight.
I really like it and again,
TFS,
M

Amaz (6416) 2009-10-25 1:43

Wonderful capture, Paul!!
Perfect perspective and excellent colours!!

Very well done!!

With kindest regards,