Double Arches Photo

Photographer’s Note

I was going to call this the Golden Arches, but I was afraid I would get a call from McDonald's hyperactive lawyers. This is the Fontevraud Abbey, which at one time was one of the largest monastic complexes in Western Europe. There is a large collection of buildings, some very well restored, and others in poor shape. This is the main courtyard, which is very impressive considering the time in which it was built. I used an extreme wide angle to get this 90 degree angle shot, looking down two sides at the same time. I have another one with some people in it, but I prefer the pure lines and shapes of this one. Actually, if you look very closely on the left hand side you can see a very tiny person at the end.

Scanned from a slide, and as usual, the contrast had to be reduced quite a bit to equalize the light and shadow areas.

robertosalguero, siolaw, vesalius, mdetay, atilgone, Floydian, PixelTerror, ChrisJ, nwoehnl, Pitoncle, dospordostres, Angelillo, wilkinsonsg, singuanti, kevinos, john_c, chrisnet, Signal-Womb, mbasil, ArtLook has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

osmarq (865) 2006-11-15 21:35

Perfect geometry,
very very beautyful picture for me, perfect color and light balance, really a great picture. Thanks for sharing.
Oscar.

jwmunro (6728) 2006-11-15 21:43

Hello Alvin -

This is a nice image and your "Golden Arches" analogy really works here. Your composition is spot on and the having the individual at the far end of the cloister does give a sense of size. Your exposure is spot on with nice tones in the shadows, highlights, and the garden. Well done!

Thanks for sharing

tigra (2966) 2006-11-15 22:27

Hi Alvin!
Perfect!!! Exellent symmetry of the architectural details and at the same time the image is divided into two parts by the light. Really amazing composition:)
Katia

siolaw (25694) 2006-11-15 22:35

Hi Alvin,
A great monument with fine geometry and perspective, colors and sharpness are good, light and exposure excellent..nice sheen on the center flor tiles
TFS
Laurent

Brian (1) 2006-11-15 23:07

Nice symetry, and a good wide angle shot. I love all the different patterns and shapes with the perspective of the arches running along with the black diamonds. Great shadows too.

Thanks for your great photo.
-Brian

vesalius (857) 2006-11-15 23:11

Hi Alvin,

What a great perspective, ingenious. It's also very well exposed in difficult lighting.

Regards,

Don

mdetay (4265) 2006-11-15 23:51

Hi Alvin,
Nice idea this double arches.
Good POV and colors.
Very nice capture.
Cheers from Bangkok today.
Michel

jjcordier (24068) 2006-11-16 1:20

Superbe perspective pour cette magnifique photo où tu as magnifiquement géré l'exposition. Excellent travail, Alvin!
Amicalement
JJ

besnard (30084) 2006-11-16 1:22

Bonjour Alvin
Superbe composition de ce cloitre. Tu t'es positionné au bon endroit pour nous faire voir qu'il y a une parfaite simulitude entre les deux sections.
Très bon travail. Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

atilgone (4749) 2006-11-16 2:05

Hi Alvin,

Fantastic shot. Very good persfective! I liked it very much. TFS.

Graal (57220) 2006-11-16 3:19

Hi Alvin,
greatcomposition and beautiful architecture. Good POV and colours. I like it. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

brevbrev14 (370) 2006-11-16 3:29

HI ALVIN!a beautiful game of arches here and a very intersting POV!perfect compo and lights!
ciao!
Valeria

Floydian (30970) 2006-11-16 3:35

Hi Alvin,
Excellent composition with a perfect play with highlights and shadows. Even detail on the yard outside, perfect.
Wonderful composed and exposed...beautiful picture.
Regards, Henk

PixelTerror (85994) 2006-11-16 4:10

Hi Alvin,
A superb example of double perspective, I love the symetry of this shot as well as it good exposure not blown by the courtyard light, it looks like you have challenged the wide end of your lens ;-))
Have a nice day,
JEan-Yves

recepyuksel (17786) 2006-11-16 4:41

Excellent architecture composition, bravo

ChrisJ (69464) 2006-11-16 5:00

Hi Alvin

Good repetition of the tiles & arches, & I like the right angled view. The warm ambient yellowish colors are nice too. Tfs!

greg64g (11193) 2006-11-16 6:30

hi Alvin

nice view of the typic architecture of an abbey. perspective is good. nice exposure too.
cheers
greg

nwoehnl (118) 2006-11-16 6:40

Hi Alvin. Haha, fun remark about the hyperactive lawyers, gosh that's really bad. Good use of the classic v-shaped double perspective of the cloisters, resulting in a fine rendition of depth and a well-balanced showing of the quite varying intensities of light that are present in this view. A well-made shot, greetings from Tokyo.

Pitoncle (3743) 2006-11-16 7:22

Bonjour Alvin,
Belles perspectives et symétrie. L'exploitation de la lumière est remarquable.
A bientôt sur TE pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

delkoo (33904) 2006-11-16 10:17

hi alvin
very nice light in the coridor of the abbey, the light highlight the details of the architecture.
great one
best regards
didier

Fis2 (45166) 2006-11-16 10:24

Witaj Alvin!
Very curious place. I like the composition and frame. Interesting perspective. Super light and colors. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

cdmonson (2751) 2006-11-16 10:30

Great shot Alvin! Love the composition and the lighting. Well done.

Clark

stefanocer (10323) 2006-11-16 10:43

Fantastic architecture and symmetries in your photo , Compliments also light control is great , well done.
Stefano.

dcawker (5665) 2006-11-16 10:50

Beautiful framing and excellent light here as well! Regards, Doug

roconnell (327) 2006-11-16 13:27

Fantastic use of line and shape, particularly the diagonal. Great control of the exposure in the difficult lighting. Well done.

erdna (5346) 2006-11-16 18:38

Your light and your tonal values are what I like here. With the arcade opening as the brightest, you have just the right and enough light to show the details of the vaulted ceiling. Nicely done.

Andre'

Angelillo (9065) 2006-11-16 18:44

Hi Cormac,

Prefect viewpoint, symmetry and light management in this shot. A big space given by the wide-angle, and the lines straight! Very interesting and very well done! The place is beautiful, and you has captured its soul, the quietness and peace in this ambiance. It's a peaceful shot. Thanks,

Angel.

partha (13655) 2006-11-16 19:47

wonderful composition. So balanced. The Symmetry looks very nice. Good sharpness and excellent expousure control.
Regards.
Partha

wilkinsonsg (8644) 2006-11-16 20:01

I did a double take when I saw this, fantastic POV in regard to the symmetry of the shot - excellent!

PJE (19353) 2006-11-16 20:04

Wow Alvin...a double perspective here that really is matched up perfectly. I can see that the left hand side has a little more light in it, but other than that its almost a mirror image. How wonderful to simply stare at this photo and look both directions. A real treat Alvin!

singuanti (15240) 2006-11-16 21:42

Hey Alvin. That is funny about the Golden Arches resemblance. The symmetry is perfectly executed. The interior white balance seems rather accurate. Also the shadows have been sufficiently lightened so we can see everything just fine. tfs Alvin!

Ann75 (0) 2006-11-16 23:45

Hello Alvin,

Stunning capture of the symmetry of these arches. I love the details and the amazing depth you were able to capture in this shot. Excellen composition with stunning lighting and excellent perspective! Excellent work, Alvin!

Greetings,
Ann

donluicu (23877) 2006-11-17 10:19

great work Alvin
the symetry is perfect, and overall the difficult exposition of the bright part is excellent, nothing is burnt..
congrats

loic

kevinos (6891) 2006-11-17 11:20

You have achieved wonderful geometry and perspective, Alvin. At first I thought that it was a pity that you did not have a monk in there, to give a focal point of interest (Well! monks are becoming harder to find these days.) However, on reflection, I feel that there is a wonderful purity and economy about this architectural study. There is a great gravity and weight about it. Regards Kevin

john_c (24635) 2006-11-17 12:30

Hi Alvin,
Very fine symmetry, with superb lighting. The clarity of detail is such that one can appreciate the impressive architectural details, including the interesting floor. You obtained the perfect exposure level here, as although the eye can discern and appreciate the outside courtyard, which yields perspective, there is no undue light or overexposure evident. A very fine capture and especially good scan, Alvin. Well done.
John

chrisnet (20354) 2006-11-17 14:16

Hello!
Excellent shot, very good perspective and geometry, good exposure too,I like alot this symetry effect. Avery good work. All my congratulations.
Regards
Christian

Signal-Womb (11598) 2006-11-17 16:45

Fantastic shot Alvin with golden light coming through the arches. Distortion seems to be well corrected, either that or it works to great advantage here. You know when I first saw this picture I thought It looked familiar...well very similar to a shot I took here a few year back. Even had a person on the left side...the wife. Yes very well done mf.

JPlumb (3153) 2006-11-17 17:11

Hi Alvin, I can't add a lot to what everybody else has already said about this photograph, but I concur with all of the accolades.

Thanks, John

mbasil (2117) 2006-11-17 21:44

Wonderfully done, Alvin. Great perspective that is well seen and well captured. The PP did a perfect job with the contrast.
Mike

kensimage (8539) 2006-11-19 12:11

Great job with the contrast adjustment here, Alvin. It really looks natural--I'd never guess it was from a slide. Amazing that you were able to get a shot nearly free of people, to bring out the strong geometry. I think the ultrawide angle to get both sides of the abbey is an excellent idea. The whole thing is really well executed! Regards, Ken.

capthaddock (28640) 2006-11-20 11:37

Hi Alvin - fantastic symmetry, the patterns in the pavement have a dizzying effect on the eye, what makes this work so well is of course the ultra wide angle.

toni_al (15430) 2006-11-20 18:17

Salut Alvin
Très beau l'effet crée par cette symétrie, avec une bonne exposition, même dans les hautes lumières
Regards
Toni

ArtLook (2332) 2006-11-21 17:55

Hi Alwin,
Looking on this perfect symmetry and greatly centered details of architecture of this abbey on this picture, it seems that here is mirrow effect. Very nice, soft colors and good sharpeness. Well done, Bravo!
With BEST Regards,
Arthur

cam (8880) 2006-11-22 22:17

Hi Alvin
Good light control as it is not an easy place to shoot from.
The corridors are well detailled and the area beyond is not overexposed.
The symmetry you are presenting us is like being pulled apart,but pleaaaaaasantly.
Well done
Charles

Angshu (33235) 2006-12-06 4:16

Hello Alvin
I've seen lots of pictures of this abbey, mostly in TE..but I think this is one of the best. Though your POV is not unique, the symmetry is striking. I'm sure you did not find it easy to balance the lighting of the outside & interiors, but you've done it marvellously. The amall details like the reflections on the tiles in the FG is important visually, while clarity & sharpness is exquisite. Wonderful!
Regards
Angshu