Hungary: Serenity Photo

Photographer’s Note

"Copyright © – Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

Pannonhalma is a small town in western Hungary, in Győr-Moson-Sopron county with approx. 4000 inhabitants.
The town, known as Győrszentmárton until 1965, is dominated by its most famous landmarks: the World Heritage site (since 1996), thousand-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey and the Benedictine Secondary School, which are situated above the village, on Szent Marton Hill. The hill itself is still known by this ancient name and the name 'Pannonhalma' was introduced as part of the Hungarian language reforms in the 19th century. This is the second largest territorial abbey in the world, after the one in Monte Cassino, Italy. The complex includes the Basilica with the Crypt (built in the XIII century), the Cloisters, the monumental Library with 360,000 volumes, the Baroque Refectory and the Archabbey Collection.
Today there are about 50 monks living in the monastery. The abbey is supplemented by the Benedictine Secondary School, a boys' boarding school.
It was founded as the first Hungarian Benedictine monastery in 996 by Prince Géza, who designated this as a place for the monks to settle, and the it soon became the centre of the Benedictine order. The monastery was built in honour of Saint Martin of Tours. Géza's son, King Stephen I donated estates and privilege to the monastery. Astrik (Anastasius) served as its first abbot.
The oldest surviving document to use Hungarian language, the Charter of the Tihany Benedictine Abbey, dating back to 1055, is still preserved in the library. The first buildings of the community were destroyed, then rebuilt in 1137. The Basilica's pillars and the early Gothic vault were built in the early XIII century, using the walls of the former church. In 1486 it was reconstructed under King Matthias in Gothic style.
The monastery became an archabbey in 1541 and as a result of Ottoman incursions into Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was turned into a fortification. During one and a half centuries of the Turkish Occupation, the monks, however, had to abandon the abbey for shorter or longer periods of time. Only later were they able to start the reconstruction of the damaged buildings. During the time of Archabbot Benedek Sajghó, a major baroque construction was in progress in the monastery.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, rich Baroque adornments and extensions were added to the complex and much of its current facade dates from this time. It received its present form in 1832, with the library and the tower, which was built in classicistic style. The 18th century, the era of the Enlightenment also influenced the life of the monasteries. The state and the monarchs judged the operation of the communities according to immediate utility, by and large tolerating only those orders which practised nursing and education. In the 1860's, Ferenc Storno organised major renovations, mostly in the basilica.
After 1945 the properties of the Order and the schools run by the Benedictines were confiscated by the communist state from 1950 until the end of communism in Hungary. In 1995, one year before the millennium, the complex was entirely reconstructed and renovated.

While I was looking for a different pov to take a shot to the Abbey and after I took some of them, suddenly entered in the viewer of my Nikon a mum and her child. They arrived in silence from downhill and I noticed them really in the viewer for the first time. I was lucky two times: first because they came, second 'cause they were white.

edal, Standa, danos, Cricri, Bruno40, saylan-cb, branley, andante, bostankorkulugu, cunejo200, Jakab, JCG, Deepforest, stego, siolaw, Csilla, temmel, josepmarin, paura, axiotea, Tue, Cretense, mursaloglu, Vato_Law, edytungkal, Wanda1, AiresSantos, John_F_Kennedy, elmec, Buin, wishlist, Emile, Angshu, ocskaymarci, daddo, gurselerdener, Henryk_Bilor has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Bruno40 (6440) 2007-11-24 6:15

Hi Attila
A simple but beautiful photo, especially the composition and colours. Beautiful horses!
Good job
TFS
Jorge

saylan-cb (12726) 2007-11-24 6:24

Hi Attila
Superb view!Very nice composition and great colours,light are wonderful.
TFS/Regards

Gustaw (21670) 2007-11-24 6:49

Hi, my friend!
It is very nice view. I like your oryginal composition. I like your colours - very warm. Beautiful old architecture and horses... Well done.
Marek

jonathan_hart (22564) 2007-11-24 7:06

hi Attila
nice composition with the white horses, the light is strong and colours are powerful
regards
jo

branley (3681) 2007-11-24 7:40

Hi Attila ,

this is a lovely composition, very simple but full of life. The horses are a fine addition in the foreground, lucky to have them trot into view and the colours are excellent throughout. A superb capture and well seen.

Regards

Stephen

andante (7092) 2007-11-24 8:00

Ciao, Attila, something about this image makes me want to turn it into a puzzle and spend a few days putting back together. Great shot,
Enrique

jcsas (25) 2007-11-24 8:19

Nice colours and photo!!!
Regards JAMES.C

bostankorkulugu (33334) 2007-11-24 8:23

beautiful piece of nature... and very nice architecture, both up on the monastery and down in the village... horses add dynamism and charm to the compo... good job as always atila...

cheers

korkut

cunejo200 (7157) 2007-11-24 8:28

Hi Attila,
The horses are a highlight and beautifully adorn this pastoral village. Well metered and there is good sharpness. Best regards, Danilo

Jakab (3408) 2007-11-24 9:26

Szia Attila!
Szokatlan felvétel Pannonhalmáról, inkább falusi idill a nagy mű lábánál, ahol a két szép ló az igazi főszereplő. Szép időnk volt aznap, látom, ki is használtad alaposan.
Ja, olvastam, hogy a környéken (mások szerint a mai Szombathelyen) született a későbbi Szent Márton egy római katona gyermekeként, innen a hegy neve.
Jó pihenést, szép hétvégét!
Laci

JCG (24851) 2007-11-24 11:21

Hi Attila,

A superb photograph where these two horses have an important place in the composition. They bring the element of life. The colors and the light are extraordinary and give much relief to the image. I like much, Attila cheer and thank you for the instructive note.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

Deepforest (8813) 2007-11-24 11:31

Hi Attila,
beautiful dynamic capture and good contrasting colours... I like especially composition and fantastic light. Great autumnal shot my friend!!
Best regards,
Andrzej

stego (22336) 2007-11-24 13:52

Hi Attila,
A lovely bucolic view, with gorgeous POV, clarity and colours. I like everything on it, but most specially the elegant horses and the castle up on the hill.
Regards, José.

paololg (13238) 2007-11-24 15:17

Ciao Attila,
migliore titolo non potevi dare per questo superlativo scatto che ho messo tra le mie rarissime foto preferite. La foto tecnicamente è da manuale della fotografia, ma la composizione è un'opera d'arte. Sono veramente felice di vedere le tue foto. Bravo.
Paolo.

Scharan (13951) 2007-11-24 15:17

Olá Attila

Belo cenário muito bem registrado com uma ótima composição. Os cavalos são lindos e ainda você conseguiu um em movimento. Gostei muito das cores também.
GA
Vera

siolaw (25702) 2007-11-24 19:31

Hi Attila,
A country seen which you built very well, with interesting FG with the horses and nice colorful tree, the the superb monastery on top of the hill is an excellent BG.. First class colors and sharpness.
Greetings
Laurent

Csilla (1780) 2007-11-24 20:00

Szia!
Hat, Attila nagyon tetszik a fotod, mit ne mondjak, nagyon idillikus. Valoban nem a szokvanyos megkozelitese az Apatsagnak. Nagyon jo az elrendezese a kepednek, tetszik ahogy a tavoli domboldalon ekeskedik ez az epiteszeti remekmu es nagyon tetszenek az eloterben a hirtelen felbukkano feher lovacskak. (Valoban szerencses voltal. :)
Koszi es jo hetveget kivanok, Csilla

vincz (19039) 2007-11-24 20:40

Looks like out of time, in a different dimension. so quiet, so peaceful, so wonderful. The horses bring this feeling of slowness. Composition is excellent.

char_mifsud (540) 2007-11-24 23:37

Hello Attila,
A simple but beautiful photo, especially the composition and colours. Beautiful horses! The light is strong and colours are powerful. Well done.
Regards,
Charles
Malta

temmel (3036) 2007-11-25 2:02

Szia Attila,
festői,idillikus , gyönyörű....!!!
Sokszor jártam Pannonhalmán,de mintha egy teljesen más "QPAC-ot" látnék ezen a fotón!
Gyönyörű színek, fények és a lovak az előtérben tökéletessé teszik a kompozíciót!
Gratulálok!
puszi,
Linda

josepmarin (33591) 2007-11-25 2:31

Hi Attila,
Magnificent composition that combines the abbey and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it, on a blue and clean sky, and with the agreeable presence of the mare and her colt that they appeared in your picture, giving you a scene very natural and full of tenderness.
Good work of management of the light and the colors, with an excellent graphical result.
Best regards,
Josep

paura (37848) 2007-11-25 3:44

Attila,
A very pleasant landscape, full of interesting elements. The uncommon architecture house in the top of the hill is also very beautiful.

Abraço

Paulo

axiotea (15929) 2007-11-25 7:19

Hello Atus
You were lucky with these two horses naturally entering in the scene, adding more beauty to it! It is well balanced and the huge tree stands out well against the blue sky with behind the monastery dominating nicely the entire scene. Great luminosity, colors and framing.
Cheers
Marilyn

Tue (25608) 2007-11-25 8:58

Hej Attila,
A very pleasant view with attractive colours and a fine light. The two horses are a good inclusion in the foreground and the town looks nice on top of the hill. Well done!
Regards,
Lars

Cretense (54906) 2007-11-25 10:20

Hi Attila!

Fantastic place, greatly composed. No need to discuss technical issues, everything is perfect! Besides the feeling of calmness there is also a feeling of freedom, caused by the presence of these beautiful horses. Congratulations!

Hercules

mursaloglu (5068) 2007-11-25 10:38

Hello attila
I like theshape of the horses and stunning eyecatching landscape effect in background. You did a great perspective using these elements capturing amazing colors. İhsan

Vato_Law (11638) 2007-11-25 12:15

Hello Attila,
Great mix with the vegetation and trees, the houses and those 2 horses passing by.
The abbey on top of the hill seems to dominate this place.
Like your title says there is a very strong feeling of serenity transmited by this photo specially caused by the white horses.
Cheers.
Paulo

edytungkal (4517) 2007-11-25 19:19

fascinating view with nice hourses on fg and interesting old building on the distance, i call it beauty of nature. Thank you my friend for this shot :-)

daniel

Wanda1 (10886) 2007-11-25 22:02

Hi Attila,
A beautiful setting and lovely light make a picture postcard scene which you have captured so well. The horses are wonderful and make the shot that bit more special, I especially like the little one galloping. Great work.
Regards
Wanda

AiresSantos (41400) 2007-11-25 23:25

Hi Attila,
Lovely and peacefull place this one. I like you composition with these two horses walking in the field.
Nice the monument in foreground, excellent POV and colours
Have a nice week
Aires

Giorgio (8628) 2007-11-25 23:34

- Beautiful verdant landscape in this famous area, the good weather, brings out an excellent light, the sky color is superb also, the horses, all, in one word, bravo !
Greetings.
giorgio

John_F_Kennedy (30689) 2007-11-25 23:59

Good country shot. A great point of view gives a nice view to the castel in the background. Good composition with beautiful details and colours.
Best wishes,
Achim

Graal (57278) 2007-11-26 0:47

Jó napot Attila,
interesting place with the rich history. Fine composition with the horses on FG, peaceful atmosphere. Nice light and colours. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

markstaples (15670) 2007-11-26 10:45

A nice sharp shot, well framed. Great Nikon colours which are so vivid and bright. Nice work.
Best wishes
Mark

Cricri (42835) 2007-11-27 4:02

Hi Attila,
Belle composition avec le monastére surplombant la vallée et participant a ce moment adorable du passage des deux chevaux sous une belle lumiére et ciel bleu, trés belle image
Have a nice day for you
cricri

danos (31716) 2007-11-27 5:14

Hello Attila,
what a nice and pictureable shot is this? Excellent this landscape view with the white horses to steal the show.The razor sharp focus is excellent and i love your composition and choice of POV, as the Abbey has been captured superbly, wonderful light and brilliant colours, a very well crafted shot.Well done Attila.

Regards,Danos

Aviller (3086) 2007-11-27 5:23

Everything just comes together pefectly in this picture. The tree, the horses (the young one running), the hill and building in the background. Really great composition with lots of elements to explore.

elmec (12194) 2007-11-28 11:17

Hello Attila!
Next paradise compo!
I like this scene with white, fairy tale horses and castle on the hill!
Classic theme and very good done!
Best regards!

Buin (36910) 2007-11-29 7:04

Hallo Attila!
The others have said all, but this photo caught my eyes. A wonderful peaceful sceney in a gorgeous sunlight. Very very beautiful! I would like to give special points for the note! ;-) Perhaps TE should establish this ...
Greetings from grey and wet Germany!
Frank

pablominto (40008) 2007-11-30 7:31

Hello Attila,
It is nice to see the horses roam free in this paradisic setting!
Colour wise a lovely touch of autumn, and the composition is well balanced...
This is a fine rural scenery with a peaceful atmosphere!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

gilou530 (34731) 2007-12-01 12:54

salut attila
une image pleine de beauté et de sensibilité, les cheveaux sont un plus dans le cadrage de ce paysage verdoyant. bien vu
amitiés
gilbert

Standa (1861) 2007-12-01 13:08

Hi Attila,
lucky moment in your photo, sometimes it happen and the photo has a special bonus.
I like the composition, colours and strong light.
Best regards,
Stanislav

edal (6553) 2007-12-02 1:58

Hello Attila!
It's a wonderful landscape with the horses and the Abby... Colors and sharpness are outstanding. The explanation note is a lesson in history.
Greetings!
Anton

toto (18563) 2007-12-02 11:01

Belle photo de cet endroit superbe et calme, jolies couleurs, bien vu ces chevaux a l' avant plan. Belle prise de ce batiment a l' arrière plan, il donne une bonne profondeur de champ a votre photo.Grande netteté sur toute la photo et très belle couleurs d' automne.
Amitiés Thomas

manada (6237) 2007-12-04 10:42

Ciao Attila
non potevi scegliere titolo e momento migliore per questa fotografia.
Un caro saluto
Freddy

wishlist (4133) 2007-12-06 11:28

Questa e' davvero bella e quasi fiabesca Attila. Bellissime le tonalita' e le sfumature dei colori, soprattutto il blu intenso del cielo. Bella la composizione con l'entrata in scena dei due cavalli che e' davvero la ciliegina sulla torta.
Davvero complimenti!
Ciao e buona serata
Igor

Emile (19803) 2007-12-09 21:41

Hola Attila.
Nice view with a very good composition, colors and clarity are great, your upward POV is good, the presence of the monastery on top of the mountain and the horses in the fg produces a nice peaceful environment. Good sharpness.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards

Angshu (33318) 2007-12-12 1:46

Hello Attila
Surely the horse & the foal adds a lot to the scene. The compo. is excellent with autumn colours in the FG & leading up the slope to the magnificient monastry in the BG. As always a delightful capture my friend
Regards
Angshu

ocskaymarci (2508) 2007-12-14 8:25

Szia Attila!
Jó kis kör tettél azon a délutánon!!! :) És milyen szép időt fogtál ki!
Szóval tökéletes színek, fények, kompozíció meg miegymás...
Most egy kicsit kibújik belőlem a gonoszkodó énem: az apátság egy kicsit elmosódottnak tűnik (habár lehet, hogy ez a méretcsökkentés miatt van), a másik pedig, hogy miért nem használtál keretet? Választhattál volna ide egyet a csodás fehér kereteid közül. Vagy talán van összefüggés a kettő között?
Üdvözlettel,
Marci

daddo (11283) 2007-12-16 5:56

Zdravo Attila. It looks like something from a few centuries ago.All the main components are there:the power of the church, the humble village, the fields and the domesticated animals. Could be a feudal scene. Beautiful colours and light as usual and impeccable skills with composition.Regards. Klaudio.

gurselerdener (972) 2007-12-20 13:00

Hello Attila
Composition, autumn colours and sunlight are excellent in this photo.
Congratulations
Best wishes from Ankara
Gursel

Henryk_Bilor (20365) 2008-01-30 13:53

Hi Attila
Lovely serene scene. Great composition with the abbey and horses and beautiful colours.
Regards