A Quiet Place Photo

Photographer’s Note

Civrac-de-Blaye is a rural commune in Haute-Gironde. Its population of around 750 is spread over a number of small hamlets as well as the small village that gives the commune its name. Its economy revolves around wine making, mixed farming, animal breeding and forestry.

A view of the well kept cemetery at Civrac-de-Blaye, which stands next to the church. I like the long perspective between the ranks of silent tombs towards the stand of pollarded trees just beyond the cemetery wall.

For those who are interested, some trivia from Wikipedea on why trees are pollarded:

“Pollarding is a woodland management method of encouraging lateral branches by cutting off a tree stem or minor branches two or three metres above ground level. The tree is then allowed to regrow after the initial cutting, but once begun, pollarding requires regular maintenance by pruning. This will eventually result in a somewhat expanded (or swollen) top to the tree trunk with multiple new side and top shoots growing from it.

A tree that has been pollarded is known as a pollard. A tree which has been allowed to grow without being cut as a pollard (or coppice stool) is called a maiden or maiden tree, which also refers to the fact that pollarding is normally first undertaken when the tree is quite young. Pollarding older trees may result in the death of the tree, especially if there are no branches below the cut, or the tree is of an inappropriate species. Pollarding is sometimes abused in attempts to curb the growth of older or taller trees. However, when performed properly it is useful in the practice of arboriculture for tree management.

Pollard trees may attain much greater ages than maiden trees, because they are maintained in a partially juvenile state, and they do not have the weight and windage of the top part of the tree. Older pollards often become hollow, and so can be difficult to age accurately. Pollards tend to grow more slowly than maiden trees, with narrower growth rings in the years immediately after cutting.

Pollards cut at only about a metre or so above the ground are called stubs or stubbs. These were often used as markers in coppice or other woodland.”

This is the last picture in this short series from Civrac-de-Blaye. I hope you have enjoyed it.

jalab_temen, Budapestman, dareco, saxo042, Charo, ChrisJ, jlbrthnn, crckt, maltese, salvator, feather, gunbud, mydrjoe has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Budapestman (41086) 2008-04-25 0:33

Hi Stephen,
Very fine shot for this place with excellent composition. Clarity and sharpness are splendid, lights too. Very well done! Have a nice day
George

jalab_temen (1939) 2008-04-25 0:34

DEar Steph, it is a really nice photo of this provincial necropolis. I like it especially because of the light-shadow balance and the interesting composition. I added it to my cemetery collection (Theme called Beyond Styx). Many thanks for sharing, Jalab

dareco (17024) 2008-04-25 0:42

A very different looking cemetary than I'm use to. Interesting, and it does look peaceful. Very nice lighting!! TFS

saxo042 (15188) 2008-04-25 1:01

Hi Stephen,
Indeed a quiet place, where you have captured the peaceful and calm atmosphere. Good depth and perspective and interesting note.
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

UnTrained (0) 2008-04-25 1:57

Hello Stephen,
this quiet place is well captured with that mixture of light and shadows through the lane of tombs. The trees and the sky with the shades of light in the background make it warm.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Charo (31651) 2008-04-25 2:21

Hola Stephen,
Un lugar al que no se tiene mucha prisa por ir.
Estupendos detalles y profundidad.
Cordialmente
Charo

ChrisJ (69618) 2008-04-25 2:58

Hi Stephen

Wonderful sidelight from the right, with superb use of the shadow, to reinforce the diminishing linear perspective of the pathway. Good sharpness, colour & shadow detail with excellent contrast. Tfs!

Nicou (43977) 2008-04-25 3:01

hello,

Très belle image, discrète et pleine d'intensité, elle dégage calme et respect, superbe.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

horatiuTT (4566) 2008-04-25 4:43

Splendid tones,and some nice shadows captured here.A cemetery is
always an interesting place to take photos.Regards,
Horatiu

jlbrthnn (37038) 2008-04-25 6:00

Bonjour Stephen,
On ne peut guère trouver endroit plus tranquille, ce qui me rassure pour mon devenir, moi qui ne supporte pas le bruit. Jolie perspective entre des architectures que je ne qualifierai pas de belles :)
Bonne journée
Cordialement
Joël

jurek1951 (25760) 2008-04-25 9:01

Hi Stephen,
Very nice shot, intersesting composition and point of
view, beautiful natural colors and lovely light,
Georg

Gustaw (21670) 2008-04-25 10:04

Hi, my friend!
It is very interesting photo. I like your composition. Good colours and light. Interesting cementary. Well done.
Marek

wolf38 (12549) 2008-04-25 10:52

Hello Stephen. Cemeteries are always interesting. There are the noble cemeteries as for example the Per la chaise, and on the other side those usually smooth cemeteries in the villages. Cemeteries tell stories of generations. One sees at them, how the time flies. Cemeteries invite to thinking. There is indeed calm places. With your photo you show that exemplary. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Fis2 (45286) 2008-04-25 13:05

Witaj Stephen!
Very curious place. Interesting composition and frame. I like the persprctive, light and shaoow. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

crckt (6979) 2008-04-25 15:40

Hi Stephen,
Thanks for sharing the shot and also for your detailed note. The mix of light and shade in the shot works really well.
Regards,
Shaeri

maltese (21531) 2008-04-25 23:41

Hello Stephen
Un bon cadrage qui joue bien sur la perspective en s'appuyant sur ce mur. Un DPC bien gérée ainsi que l'exposition sur cette lumière qui aurait peut être piégeuse.
Du bon boulot!!
Bon WE, amicalement
hervé

salvator (18759) 2008-04-26 0:52

Hi Stephen,
Nice pov and wonderful details together with a wonderful blue sky make a wonderful photo.
Best regards. Salvator.

feather (49848) 2008-04-26 3:54

A very different cemetery from those in the UK. Your use of perspective works well. Also the side light has provided some pleasant light/shade contrasts. Interesting series.
Kath

dorte_s_t (2285) 2008-04-26 4:18

Hi Stephen.
Indeed a nice place for the final rest !
Your point of view is fine as are the shades and the gentle colours of the toombs and fence which enhance the delicate flower arrangements !
Have a nice weekend !
Kindest regards
Dorte.

batalay (20712) 2008-04-27 5:34

Hello Stephen,

An excellent aesthetic shot, as any cemetery can possibly present. Your note, as usual, is very informative. The underlying social comment in any view of a cemetery is the message that no one has ever escaped that final fate. The slightly off-center perspective shot is well chosen.

Warm regards,

Bulent

gunbud (27585) 2008-04-27 20:52

Hi Stephen,
Wonderful light management to this lovely detailed vertical capture of this brilliantly detailed cemetery. The stone carvings are seen in exceptional details and sharpness. Very informative note as well.
Regards, Tom

mark_mk (246) 2008-05-01 6:50

Hi Stephen,
this picture transmits a very quiet atmosphere, the POV is excellent and the colors are very nice. I also like the shadows and the light, nice one!

Best regards
Mark