The 2 Euro view Photo

Photographer’s Note

Lübeck, the second largest city in Schleswig-Holstein province in northern Germany, was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League ("Queen of the Hanse") and because of its brick Gothic architectural heritage is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Situated at the Trave River, Lübeck is the largest German port on the Baltic Sea. The old part of the town is an island enclosed by the Trave. Much of the old town has kept a medieval look with old buildings and narrow streets. The town once could only be entered by passing one of four town gates, of which two remain today, one of which, the well-known Holstentor (1478) we can see here. The old town centre is dominated by seven church steeples, here we see four of them, to the right of the Holstentor is the tall tower of St.Peter's church and on the left, behind the trees - two steeples of St.Mary's church.

The Holstentor consists of two round towers at the north and the south side with an arched entranceway between them. The building is four stories high. Today it is considered a major landmark of Lübeck. Together with the Altstadt of Lübeck it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The main gate was erected by the city master builder Hinrich Helmsted between 1464 and 1478. A front gate of the Holstentor, supposed to improve the defence of the city's west side, was built in 1585. It was later demolished. Because the Holstentor was sinking into the ground, it was in danger of collapse. In 1863 the lowest arrow slits were found 50 cm under the ground and the tendency of the whole gate was risky. Until 1871 one tried to save it, but it still caved in. In 1933/34 the security precautions were successful, but the architecture of the gate was thereby altered. In 2005/2006 the gate was renovated again.

Holstentor is so famous in Germany that it appears on the 2006 version of the special edition German 2 Euro coin (in the WS) and on former 50 DM banknote. Despite this, this classic view, to me indeed one of the landmarks of Germany, hasn't been shown on TE so far so I close an important gap... ;)

Taken on a detour on my way to Scandinavia, this explains the travelogue...

PixelTerror, Buin, besnard, InasiaJones, Tue, gneufeld, lilimih33, Budapestman, riclopes, dip, danyy, leo61, pablominto, Stepan, asajernigan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Buin (37374) 2008-03-14 1:22

Hallo Alexander!
Here you show one of the landmarks of Germany - and you show it in a most beautiful way. You have had the luck of a wonderful, but for a photographer difficult, sky here. I like the summerly atmosphere of this picture very much - and this great note!
Greetings from rainy and grey Westphalia!
Frank

besnard (30468) 2008-03-14 1:25

Bonjour Alexander
Un bon cliché de cette belle architecture qui a fière allure sous un ciel menaçant.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

InasiaJones (20002) 2008-03-14 1:50

Hi Alexander,

Nice idea to show the actual euro with the towers. No doubt that its an official Germanic icon.

You've picked the right day to shoot it with big cloudy sky. Light is direct and creates intense colours with strong contrasts.

Great note. Greater photo... :-P)

André

Nicou (44465) 2008-03-14 2:23

Hello,

mangigique ce château, quel beau cadrage de l'ensemble, avec toutes ces tours verte, grise, super pointues, et de très belle couleurs, superbe.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

UnTrained (0) 2008-03-14 2:33

Hi Alexander,
the first "money shot" on TE? Superb light on that classical view of Lübeck's entrance. Good choice of the POV with the lane a bit out of the centre, all those towers and the great cloud structure. Clarity and light are great.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Tue (25608) 2008-03-14 2:41

Hi Alexander,
Beautiful view of Lübeck on a great day. I drove once through the city on my way back from DK, but never actually stopped there (so I don't have any photos) and I had a very nice impression of the city. I'm glad you show now the beauty of this Hanseatic town so well with appealing colours and a fine light. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

Elaine_Blath (6170) 2008-03-14 5:26

Hi Aleksi,

very nice architectural shot in rich colours, good job!

Take care, Ivana

Graal (57631) 2008-03-14 8:22

Hi Alexander,
very good documental shot, excellent quality. Amazing castle, an interesting informations. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

gilou530 (34999) 2008-03-14 9:41

salut alex
un chateau des milles et une nuits sous une belle lumiére, un cadrage parfait comme d'hab
amitiés
gilbert

jemaflor (39183) 2008-03-14 10:43

Hi Aleksander,
Nice architecture and garden, perfect light capture, colours are lovely in your shot, well taken.

dkeus31 (26106) 2008-03-14 11:13

hi Alexander,
a nice view of the Hansestadt with its "Wahrzeichen", great colors, nice big cloud in the sky.
regard
sdidier

gneufeld (15159) 2008-03-14 14:49

Hi Alexander,
Excellent shot of this very impressive place. Very good clarity and sharp as a tack. Great deep saturated colors and TFS. Gerald

cherryripe (18869) 2008-03-14 16:19

Hi Alexander
The light here is so clear and makes the colours so striking. The pretty building stands out nicely with the manicured gardens and animated sky.
Regards
Nikki

lilimih33 (9872) 2008-03-14 17:08

Hello Alexander!
Fairy talle image!
Beautiful architecture and wonderful colours and clarity!
Great light and detail!
Nice perspective!
Best regards!
Lili

testmaniac (12032) 2008-03-15 1:17

Hi Alexander, I like this photo very much! Excellent composition,colors and atmosphere in this photo! Excellent job and great place!

TFS and regards,
Philip

Budapestman (41530) 2008-03-15 4:34

Hi Alexander,
Picturesque shot for Lübeck with spectacular and very attractive composition. I like the beautiful and rich architectural details and the splendid colours. Great city shot, Congratulations! Have a nice weekend
George

riclopes (32951) 2008-03-15 6:41

Olá Alexander, the architecture is gorgeous and those two conic hats that went to the coin are a delicious sight that reminds me of a fairly tale. Nice view from a distance with lovely colors and a wonderful sky enhancing.
Cheers,
ricardo

Cretense (55620) 2008-03-15 6:47

Hi Alexander!

Surely this splendid view worth more than just 2 Euro!!! Excellent architecture photo, great straight forward POV and composition, fantastic colours! Perfect overall definition and quality! Congratulations!

Hercules

PixelTerror (86038) 2008-03-15 7:34

Privet Alexander,
Nice architecture and a view with strong contrasts where the red of the brick goes well along with the blue of the sky, the big clouds developping dramatize the scene a bit.
Have a nice day JY

ChrisJ (69973) 2008-03-16 6:06

Hi Alexander

Good repetition of the 6 spires, & 4 1/2 triangles, with perfect sharpness, & good colour & contrast. Tfs!

dip (12532) 2008-03-16 9:36

Hi Alexander,
a wonderful image of the Holstentor,great POV and sharpness amazing colors and good framing too,
your close up shot in the WS is also superb:)
Regards,
Dimitris.

danyy (68454) 2008-03-16 15:41

Bonjour Alexander,
ce qui me frappe en premier lieu dans ta photo, c'est la perfection de l'exposition. Le moment bien choisi avec cette masse nuageuse impressionnante.
Une photo où chaque élément se dégage très bien.
Regards.
Daniel.

leo61 (43205) 2008-03-17 13:20

Hi Alexander!
Great shot of Lübeck`s landmark.It`s a bout 30 years,that I`ve been there.Amazing sharpness at this unique architecture and good composition with the lawn in the foreground.A very good exposure,the clouds look great here.
Regards,leo

jurek1951 (25890) 2008-03-18 14:36

Hallo Alexander,
beautiful architectural image, sharp, detailed and nice colors.good exposure as well.
Georg

Stepan (27175) 2008-03-19 0:05

I went there when I was 14, with my french school. A great and far souvenir...
And you're right I never saw that typical monument on TE since I'm here !?
Interesting and useful compo, with an important note.
An useful post.
Stéphane

pablominto (40390) 2008-03-19 1:09

Hello Alexander,
The beautiful cloud formation makes a great background for this interesting piece of architecture!
Maybe one of the most impresstice city gates I have seen, and the four green towersw tell there are other interesting buildings too...
A well balanced composition, with vivid cololur and sharp details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

capthaddock (28640) 2008-03-19 17:41

Hi Alex - classic money shot, I remember the 50DM note, but haven't seen the euro coin yet, pretty brick architecture, they should trim the tree at left to get a better view of the church at left.

asajernigan (14072) 2008-03-26 17:35

Alexander,
This is a nice view of this fine building. Your composition is great using the walkway to lead the eye into the shot. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

sacavem (8219) 2008-04-20 8:02

Olá Alexander,

You found a great POV for this photo. The architecture of castle of the You found a great POV for this photo. The architecture of castle of the Luebeck is fantastic and different of my country. TFS,
Well done...

Best regards,I await always to its visit in the my gallery
Filipe

Aviller (3090) 2009-03-02 8:21

Very nice shot. The colors are strong but at the same time not oversaturated. The angle you've chosen allows us to see quite a few spires of Lübeck and the sky looks beautiful, mainly thanks to that big cloud. I also like that the Holstentor is a tad off center.