Transformation Photo

Photographer’s Note

Here you can see St. Johanniskloster (St. John’s Priory) again. This is the cloister, in German called “Schwahl”. St. John’s Priory is a former Benedictine Abbey that did not survive the Reformation period. What was left was taken over by Schleswig-Holstein’s knights who converted it into a chapter of nuns. There is no money from ecclesiastical institutions; St. Johannis is owned by itself and the knights.
Benedictine monasteries were built to a standard plan. It was highly functional. The main buildings were placed around a cloister preferably on the south side of the church to catch the sun. The cloister was the quiet centre of the contemplative life.
Today more and more tourists come to St. Johanniskloster and they are guided through the rooms, fortunately bringing along a great deal of money. In the summer months it is like mass migration. When the tourists are gone, cool silence is again prevailing in the Schwahl. Coolness is seeping from the whitewashed walls, the age-old, tracked stones of the soil and creeping into the small quadrangle, which is encompassed by the hallway. In here there is no noise, only the one produced by oneself. But this does not bring any money. Former chambers have been converted into flats, each with 55 square metres and not very expensive. Flats for singles sell like hot cakes; there is a long waiting list. And the cloister became a hallway.

saxo042, dareco, buscape, patdeph, JCG, Buin, leo61, Vasa, bakes888, rginer, ciakgiak, papagolf21, fanni, ghilain, Cretense, shevchenko, clio, skippy007, alvaraalto, Bluejeans, Angshu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

saxo042 (15054) 2009-06-04 8:46

Hi Harriet,
This is a very good capture of that peaceful and calm atmosphere, that you normally connect with cloisters and monasteries. I like the light shining through the windows and the fine perspective!
Kind regards
Gunnar

dareco (17024) 2009-06-04 9:10

This has a very nice quiet feel, interesting lighting and excellent depth. TFS

buscape (3395) 2009-06-04 10:37

Hallo Harriet,
du hast diesen langen Gang trotz der schwierigen Lichtverhältnisse sehr gut abgelichtet. Durch die Wandlampe und die Birkenstock-Schuhe am linken Bildrand, sowie die braune Holztür am rechten Bildrand wird eine sehr gute Bildtiefe geschaffen. Gute Schärfe und viele gut erkennbare Details. Auch das Spiel von Licht und Schatten gefällt mir sehr gut. Die Ruhe an diesem Ort kann man förmlich spüren.
Viele Grüsse aus dem Donautal,
Helmut

patdeph (17370) 2009-06-04 10:55

hello Harriet
this is a very nice cloister,the wooden doors and windows are beautiful and give a lot of charm to the place,as the white walls,and the plants!The perspective is great,and I like the light on the ground coming from the windows!Very nice!
Regards
Pascale

Silvio1953 (40677) 2009-06-04 11:04

Ciao Harriet, lovely composition with peaceful atmosphere, splendid light and great perspective, very well done, ciao Silvio

JCG (24783) 2009-06-04 11:45

Bonsoir Harriet,

Places of rest which is sought more and more by the tourists, even in France, who need to find themselves or benefit from the calm one. A beautiful perspective on this luminous corridor. Pretty and interesting glance Harriet, thank you for the interesting note.

With all my friendships and a very good evening,

Jean-Charles

Buin (36786) 2009-06-04 12:55

Hallo Hariet!
Was für ein stimmungsvoller Ort! Einfachste Architektur - und doch irgendwie gemütlich, ja fast heimelig. Das schwierige Licht hast Du toll gemeistert und die eingefangene Stille ist herrlich. Ich hab's vor 2 Jahren nicht geschafft, es zu besichtigen - jetzt sehe ich, was ich versäumt hebe.
Grüße aus dem kühlen Südwestfalen!
Frank

gilou530 (34657) 2009-06-04 12:59

salut harriet
une belle perspective de ce couloir ou la lumiére est bien gérée, beaucoup de détails dans ce cadrage d'école, un bon boulot
amitiés
gilbert

leo61 (42740) 2009-06-04 13:06

Hallo Harriet!
Ich glaube mich dunkel daran zu erinnern,daß ich vor ca 40 Jahren mal dort war(werde am WE meine Mutter fragen).
Das Bild hat was,fast S&W,bis auf die Pflanzen in den Fenstern,schönes Licht/schatten Spiel und gute Tiefe.Mir gefällt auch der Steinboden und der Fußball hinter der konischen Glasvitrine,wie auch immer der da hin kam ist ein interessantes Detail.
Gruß,Leo

Vasa (4764) 2009-06-04 15:19

Dear Harriet,

your choice is great and I like so much this corner of cloister. It is so peaceful and inspirative picture. I like the floor end all details of "country architecture". So happy to see it and to meet you here.

Friendly your

Branko

bakes888 (18055) 2009-06-05 0:19

Hi Harriet. Nice photo. The sunlight spilling through the windows adds a nice warm feel to the scene and the shoes at the door add a nice homely mood. Well composed for depth. Good work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

rginer (525) 2009-06-05 2:22

Hi Harriet,
Wonderful capture of a corner of St. Johanniskloster ! You have captured the placid and peaceful side. The light gives a perfect composition. As usual your note is splendid to have a real good knowledge of Schleswig-Holstein. Well done ! Love it !
Best regards,
Roser

claudeD (11146) 2009-06-05 10:30

Hello Harriet,

this is a very interesting interior shot with a oerfect light managment.Thank you for your detailed note.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude

ciakgiak (10070) 2009-06-05 15:26

Hello Harriet,
I like a lot the mistic atmosphere that there is in this image. The light is very well controlled so that the result is such suggestive. I like a lot the POV and the splendid texture of the floor.
Very well done dear friend.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

delpeoples (5318) 2009-06-05 17:31

Hi Harriet, this is a very different subject from your usual seascapes. I really like the syymetry of the windows and the capture of light throught them. The shoes in the FG give us an idea that the place is lived in. Great job, TFS, Lisa.

papagolf21 (55872) 2009-06-06 1:07

Bonjour, chère Harriet,
Cette mise en vente des anciens locaux dans lesquels ont séjourné des moines doit donner l'illusion d'une vie contemplative dans ce monde en pleine effervescence.
J'aime la construction de l'image et de la lumière dispensée joliment.
Amitiés.
Philippe

mafegan (3949) 2009-06-06 1:30

Hello Harriet
You have picked a very different subject this time.
The shoes and the football give a homely feel to the cloister. Lots of textures and good lighting. Tfs, Marlene

fanni (8709) 2009-06-06 2:24

Hi Harriet,
very interesting Note accompanying this photo! without the detailed description it would be very difficult to understand what is what :)
Yes, times do change... and we are not living in the Middle Ages anymore. I am not sure if this place looks very comfortable (too ascetic, in my opinion), but surely it is interesting to see, as a tourist :)
Very good perspective! the passage leads us almost into the total darkness... so this photo has a slight touch of mystery :)
Have a nice weekend!
Best regards,
Elena

ghilain (1714) 2009-06-06 8:34

Hello Harriet,

Simple, good light... i like this.

the commentary is very interesting.
TFS,

brigitte

Cretense (54654) 2009-06-07 6:11

Hi Harriet!

Great interior photo, great framing and composition, excellent perspective! Flawless light managment, under dificult conditions! Congratulations!

Hercules

shevchenko (9724) 2009-06-07 21:35

Hi Harriet,
Good pov and good perspective effect to show an old corner, I like the silent atmosphere here, lighting and shading add extra effect, thanks for sharing the historical architecture.
Ally

John_F_Kennedy (30545) 2009-06-09 3:46

Wunderschöner Klostergang. Mir gefällt das Lichtspiel auf dem Boden sehr gut.
Viele Grüße,
Achim

clio (22340) 2009-06-12 12:46

Hi Harriet,
It is a very attractive perspective full of charm with these white walls and the graphic of the ground.
It is damage that the parts in the light are a little overexposed, it is difficult to look how you would have been able to make because there is no information photo on the recording. Maybe an a little faster speed would have been able to avoid it. It is true that convents with the differences of lights are places very difficult to photograph.
But you perfectly seized the peace of the place!
Have a great WE, cheers
Diane

skippy007 (6753) 2009-06-15 0:39

Hello Harriet, Nice peaceful feel to this one, I am almost expecting to see one of those Monks to come out the door. Excellent depth and lighting. Very interesting & informative note. Thank you
Greetings
Santo

alvaraalto (5225) 2009-06-15 5:39

Dag Harriet,

I think there are too little inside pictures on TE. This excellent picture proves this statement. There is a peaceful atmosphere and a beautiful light in this “kloostergang”.

Groet Rob

Bluejeans (31479) 2009-06-15 9:49

Ola Harriet,
Interessante esta corredor de paredes brancas , tem um chão muito bonito de tijolo vermelho , bom controle de luz , boa profundidade de foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Angshu (33215) 2009-06-15 23:14

Hello Harriet
Nice, staid interiors of the priory, where you created a nice perspective with the cloister, with nice contrast between the whitewashed walls & the wooden colours of the doors, windows & benches & the brick pathway. As always your note is excellent & highly informative!
Best Regards
Angshu

gunbud (27515) 2009-06-16 18:33

Hi Harriet,
Wonderful look down this long priory hall that is seen in lovely varying light that bring a very soothing look to this image.
Love the richness of the old brick floor that contrast nicely with the whitewhashed walls.
Regards, Tom

KateinDenmark (1083) 2009-06-26 12:36

This photo has an excellent use of light. It feels peaceful, until one see the football and slippers. Very good note to accompany the photo. I can see why people would want to move in.

Sincerely,
Kate