The deepest in France Photo

Photographer’s Note

If a championship would be held between the large "High Gothic" French cathedrals of 12-13 century, the Notre-Dame d'Amiens would get the gold in all cathegories. Not only it is both the tallest and the largest complete cathedral in France, and has the greatest interior volume, but also the main portal of its west front, popularly named "The Portal of the Beau Dieu" ("Beautiful God") and presented on today's photo, is the deepest. Indeed, if you look at the picture, you'll see that there are eight rows of sculptures framing the main tympanum, and this is unprecedented, all the other High Gothic cathedrals have less.

The tympanum illustrates the Last Judgement. On the lower level, the dead come out of their graves; in the centre, Saint Michel weighs the souls, the good are lead towards Heaven, and the damned towards Hell. On the third level, the Father receives Christ in glory.

The construction of the present cathedral was started in 1220 and it was finished 68 years later. This achievement was made possible by its architect, Robert de Luzarches, who had all the stonework cut to its finished dimensions before it left the quarry, then simply assembled on the site. The floors were covered with a number of designs, including the famous labyrinth at the centre of the nave, which was installed in 1288; a 234 meters-long path was proposed to pilgrims who couldn't make it to Jerusalem or Santiago, to be done on their knees as penitence.

Amiens cathedral has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

Scanned from printed photo

lappino, priyasri_80, king, imrek, carper, papagolf21, Timmok, Dragonheart, nicole80, Lynette, Budapestman, tabora, kermit350, Davidwh, s_a_s_h_a, jean-marie, PixelTerror, jrj, sabyasachi1212, SophieL, Clairedelune, Yffic, goodwill, Emiel_Skyfreak, feelthespirit has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jinju (14265) 2006-08-29 6:28

Hi Alexander,
Ive been printing up my shots recently, trying to put together a portfolio and from my experience with it, Ive been superbly happy with the quality. Prints blow anything the computer screen can show. Im imagining this as a 10x15 print, large size. It would be such a treat to examine those details closely, at high resolution, on quality paper and quality ink. The graphism is fantastic, the details marvelous. I like the strong, symmetrical POV.

lappino (850) 2006-08-29 6:32

Privet Alexander,
this is a very nice shot: I like the symmetry and plenty of details...most informative note, too!
Well done, thanks for sharing!
Vlad

priyasri_80 (363) 2006-08-29 6:39

Excellent shot. Nice POV.
Priya

haya (825) 2006-08-29 6:39 [Comment]

Show Comment

king (2598) 2006-08-29 6:45

Hello Alexander
Shot with the only POV that suits.
I know this cathedral from a very long time ago. The district of the church was rather poor. That emphasized the richness of the building. Here to see again.
Maybe a bit sepia-teinting?
Your note is worth reading.
TFS ,
Huub de K.

imrek (4) 2006-08-29 6:47

Hi Alex,
i like the symmetry here...very nice angle and good sharpness...well seen!!!
regards,
imre

siolaw (25734) 2006-08-29 6:56

Hi Alexander,
A fine and unusual POV and angle taking this portal, nice symerty and perspective, B&W working well here
Well done
Laurent

carper (64804) 2006-08-29 7:28

heel mooi Alexander,
het gedraaide beeld geeft hier in zwart wit een prachtig perspectief effect, goede details uitstekende foto.
gr. jaap

papagolf21 (56353) 2006-08-29 8:07

Bonjour Alexander,
Merci pour le cadeau de cette très belle image. J'admire ce tympan et ces voussures magnifiquement sculptés. Je remarque que les saints ont gardé leur tête (après la Révolution française, nombreuses églises ou cathédrales ont vu leurs sculptures décapitées).
Belle représentation des scènes du Christ.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

Timmok (800) 2006-08-29 8:08

Hi Alexander

Interesting point of view of the entrance. The B&W works perfectly well on it, especially with this sharpness.

Thanks for sharing ;o)

Dragonheart (8393) 2006-08-29 8:54

Hi Alexander,
Excellent details, and good choice of BW. I love artwork all over and perfect composition with symmetrical placement.
Well done
Thanks for sharing
Best regards
Vivek

nicole80 (2162) 2006-08-29 9:25

Hello Alexander,
Good choice of B&W for this Last Judgement portal.
I like the low-angle you choose !
Very Interesting note. I see you have a good memory ! Amiens is one my favourite cathedral !
Regards,
Nicole

Lynette (1615) 2006-08-29 10:54

Hi Alex,
this is a good shot: I like the symmetry and all the detail. the note is quite informative too.
Well done, thanks for sharing!
regards
Lynette

Budapestman (41886) 2006-08-29 13:04

Hi Alexander!
Very expressive and spectacular architecture photo! Excellent cut and superb POV! Beautiful details! Good choice the B&W! Thank you, nice days
George

tabora (13638) 2006-08-29 13:45

Bonjour Alexanders,
Composition très symétrique,mais une multitude de détails et trsè nets.
Beau Travail
Amitiés Joseph

kermit350 (8988) 2006-08-29 13:48

Hello Alexander, cette exposition est très réussie avec peu d‘élément, et finalement assez photogénique, j'aime cette image en noir et blanc pour la richesse de ses nombreux détailles, le cadrage est original, j’apprécie l’excellent travaille, et les puristes de ce genre d’architecture seront ravi, bien amicalement

hay_kes (28562) 2006-08-29 13:56

Hi Alexander,
Superb architecture details.Exellent B&W composition.Well done.
Regards.

hAyAti

Fis2 (45799) 2006-08-29 16:32

Witaj Alexander!
Your photo is interesting. I like the composition and frame. The black and white increase emotion. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

Davidwh (3652) 2006-08-29 16:43

Hi Alex,
You have created here quite an amazing image because of the extraordinary perspective you have chosen.The symetric pattern is very good and you have the effect of a very deep almost 3D image.The choice of black and white was a good one and added mood and feeling.I found the note very interesting...well done.
Regards, David

greg64g (11193) 2006-08-30 4:03

hi Alexander

well you had visited a nice part of France. the picture made here is great, pov is nice and grea scan
cheers
greg

s_a_s_h_a (607) 2006-08-30 13:16

Hi Sasha,
This is a good choice of BW for this shot.
POV is very interesting.
Excellent shot.

Good work
Alex

bantonbuju (48626) 2006-08-31 1:19

hi alek, privjet,
this photo reminds me about those visual tests where you present some geometrical forms to create an illussion of different things, like holograms and s one;
if you look at the arch you see it in 3 dimensions, in fact;
a creative way of presenting it, and an excellent finding;
best wishes, j.

jean-marie (3088) 2006-08-31 2:53

Hi alexander,
Excellent piqué pour cette photo, c'est saisissant ! Le noir et blanc accentue encore cette sensation.
Amicalement,
Jean-Marie

PixelTerror (86088) 2006-08-31 4:14

Privet Alexander,
I like your framing here, from below seems a good way to photograph such portals for you could achieve here a very nice convergence of the details and a good symetry feeling.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

jrj (34779) 2006-08-31 6:13

hi alexander
Well disposed presentation with all the details well exposed from this grand cathedrahl. Nice cut including lots of details. Interesting to see

AiresSantos (42080) 2006-08-31 8:40

Hi Alexander,
I like the symmetry here and the angle. Good sharpness in this B&W composition. I also like the note and how you managed the light.
Thanks FS my friend,
Aires

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-08-31 11:11

Hi Alexander,
Excellent graphism, fantastic details. This is one amazing shot.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

SAGAPO (1736) 2006-08-31 17:29

Hi Alexander,Perfect composition and a nice view.Excelent photo.I hope to see your photos in the future.Very good B&W photo.
Congratulations.
Ahmet

oochappan (22032) 2006-09-01 5:07

I like this graphical turn to B&W almost like an etching and you impresiive POV looking up a creative inspirational approach Aleaxander, well done.
greetings
Henk

Polonaise (5636) 2006-09-01 9:32

Allow me, dear Alexander NOT to understand this picture. Allow me to sit here comfortably and think about pyramids of Egypt, ten thousands terracota soldiers in China, Macchu-Picchu city in Peru and Angkor Temple in Cambodia. For, I have the same question for all of these 'unexplaiables'...Why?
----------------------------
Presented for our amused eyes.
Thanks , Alex
g.

SophieL (6028) 2006-09-02 4:34

A perfect framing to capture the symetry and the harmony of this architecture. The texture look very nice, but of course they suffer from the size reduction from TE. I imagine that the print would be wonderful. Your B&W tones are very nicely contrasted. Well done! And I learned a thing or two (even more!) about this cathedral with your note.

Clairedelune (4885) 2006-09-02 13:43

Sure. This is an optical illusion. Am I passing some psychological tests to test my common sense? But let me revel in that illusion for a while... Those artists of the past were truly amazing. The amount of details is so great! The ones of my species that love tiny details are in awe in front of this. In awe but also, overwhelmed... The black and white here reinforce that "illusion". Good choice.
Then, let me drop on my knees as penitence for not having seen that beauty with my own eyes... Thanks to show it to me with art.
Claire

Yffic (6106) 2006-09-03 15:58

Hi Aleksander.

A very nice argentic BW scan..
Details are here and also this grain of analogic picture.

A real nice POV.

Regards.

Yves

veronika (6022) 2006-09-05 16:29

Hi Alexander,
i see that i have missed some of your masterpieces lately as i was too bussy, but now im here to admire this beauty :)
Wonderful symetrical impact, i like a looot! :)
Good night
Vero

sebinho342 (18740) 2006-09-27 4:39

Hi Alex, i let a comment there before this pic "disapear" in your second page cause it's really a good shot, I first thought it was taken at notre dame but i realize then it was amiens cathedral. Anyway, you could have made the same in notre dame site and only few people could as good as you there. BW tones are really great and the framing is excellent, the result is a very powerfull composition and picture.
Great !