<< Previous Next >>

...forgotten...


...forgotten...
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivana Chudikova (Elaine_Blath) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1322 W: 31 N: 1745] (8502)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-18
Exposure: f/4, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-15 0:53
Viewed: 1009
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another view of Trakai castle...

There are 5 national parks and 32 regional parks in the Lithuanian Republic and these cover in total almost 11 percent of the whole of the country. Trakai Historical National Park is the smallest national park in Lithuania. This state-protected territory stands out from the rest in that it is centred on an ancient Lithuanian political centre, Trakai, and has a unique natural landscape to preserve. The town is located 28 km west of Vilnius. There are 200 lakes in the region, of which the deepest (46.7 m) is Galvė with its 21 islands. A state-funded organisation, the Trakai Historical National Park Management, has been set up to meet the park’s aims and duties. The Management comprises thirteen persons and the function of founder and watch dog is played by the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture.

Trakai was given special protected status back in Soviet days (1960) and its value was appreciated even before then. In the 1857 Vilnius romantic writer Władysław Syrokomle (1823-62) posed a question typical of his generation: “O why is Trakai not somewhere in England, Scotland or Switzerland? Then crowds would come every day to gaze at its fairness. We would find thousands of their accounts in travel journals and novels. Thousands of painters from all over would sketch it. It’s honour would be conveyed across Europe in millions of prints and this honour would eventually even fall to Lithuania”.

Trakai is a genuine archaic town on water. At the same time it is the beautiful place for relaxation and rich in numerous beautiful lakes. The Trakai town and its neighbouring outskirts, as the state's centre, had begun to form in the 13th century. According to the chronicles, the Grand Duke Gediminas after a successful hunt found this nice place not far away from the capital town of his time, Kernavė, and decided to erect the castle there. So the new capital Trakai originated. The town was mentioned in German chronicles for the very fist time in 1337. And that year is considered as the official year of the town’s foundation. Around the newly built castle in Trakai, settlements began to emerge. When Vytautas became the Vassal Ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Trakai had become the political and administrative centre. Eventually, the town gained the Magdeburg rights.
Trakai castle was built in the 15th century. This is the only water castle in the entire territory of Eastern Europe. The castle is one of the most visited historical and architectural sites in Lithuania. The museum of history operates there. Different events are organised, as well as festivals of theatre and concerts.
Trakai is interesting also because of the fact that there live 30 Caraite families – representatives of the Turkish ethnic group, the ancestors of which were invited by Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania in the 14th century. The Caraites guarded the castle of the Grand Duke, and were the personal bodyguards of Vytautas himself. Besides this, they earned their living by making handicrafts and trade. Their society preserved their religion, customs, and culture up to present times.

Trakai Historical National Park was founded in April 23, 1991 to preserve Trakai as a centre of Lithuanian statehood as well as its authentic nature. It is the only historical national park not only in Lithuania but also throughout Europe. The territory of the park covers 82 km², 34 km² of which are covered by forests, and 130 km² are covered by lakes.

Read more about Trakai historical national park on the official site.
MarcT, pasternak, fayeulle, delkoo, cbrman, lasscor, newtintin, xavshot, leo61, Photo65Net, gneufeld, macondo, gary91, vincent24, Yffic, rushfan2112, IgorDeleze, crashfemale, flashpoint has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • MarcT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1729 W: 513 N: 3352] (13605)
  • [2007-10-15 0:57]

Hi Ivana,
Excellent picture with great colors and nice story going with it.
Good contrasts between the roofs and the dark sunken boats.
Best regards
Marc

Uh, what a shot, Ivana, I like it more than the one with the bright boat, here the contrast of the half-submerged boats in the shadow with the well-lit castle is amazing! The mood is fantastic in this one.

Cheers
Alexander

  • Great 
  • barni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 90 N: 1648] (9829)
  • [2007-10-15 1:14]

Hello Ivana
Un premier plan sympa et une belle lumière.
Have a nice day
Christophe

Hi Ivana, nice photo with great POV, composition and colors. I like it!

TFS

Philip

  • Great 
  • partha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1488 W: 85 N: 1295] (12922)
  • [2007-10-15 1:30]

Composition is simple yet effective.Pleasing lighting condition and great view.
Regards.
Partha

Hi! Yuo have captured nice light on the castle. Framing is also very good. Well captured!

Hi Ivana
Great composition with this shot. Stunning warm colors on the castle. Great note.
Cheers
JP

  • Great 
  • delkoo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3752 W: 235 N: 4850] (23940)
  • [2007-10-15 2:04]

hi ivana

i'm a lover of these pictures with boats in the foreground, full of emotions and technically very well managed and handled.
best regards
didier

  • Great 
  • cbrman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 294 N: 3607] (13356)
  • [2007-10-15 2:22]

Hello Ivana,

J'aime bien la tâche rouge formée par le chateau dans l'image !
Il est un excellent point d'interêt et attire immédiatement le regard ! Les barques noyées du premier plan viennent ensuites et finissent l'observation de l'image sur une touche de tristesse !
Bien vu!

A+

Dominique

Hi Ivana,
Lovely composition.
Great red old castle and black little boat in FG.
TFS,
Corinne

hello Ivana,
a nice composition with the foreground boats and the good light on the opposite houses.
regards
didier

Hello,
Superb light on the castle,
There are some boats that took the water! ? .
Bravo for a look and framing
Greeting.
R.A.F

Bonsoir Ivana
très jolie cette vue. Les barques au premier plan guident l'oeil vers le reste de la compo. Très belles couleurs et lumière sur le chateau. Bravo.
Xavier

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3673 W: 339 N: 7372] (31310)
  • [2007-10-15 12:14]

Hi Ivana!
Thanks for this very interesting note,and this very well composed image.The sunken boats tells a story and there is good light at the nice building in the distance.Good contrast with the dark tones of the foreground and a nice texture of the water.
Regards,Leo

Ops I had a little boat here...
hehe Great title and great photo Ivana!!!
Good eye!
I love this atmosphere! brava!!!

CeccoPhoto!!

Ivana,
The light you caught is great, and you managed it well, to get details in all picture parts.
I like the result, very pleasant, a beautiful one.
Regards,
JB.

Hi Avana,
I just scanned your gallery and saw many impressive shots. This one is quite striking with the sinking feeling up front but leading to the very beautifully colorful buildings in the distance. Good light and fine details. Great work and TFS. Gerald

Hi Ivana.
Ah, those sad looking boats, sinking slowly. Or is it too shallow to sink any further?
There is a tremendous contrast between the boats in shadow and the wonderful looking castle, well lit and a beautiful colour. The old boats seem to be pointing at it. Very nice shot.
Regards,
Andrew

  • Great 
  • kebek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 991 W: 55 N: 1081] (5424)
  • [2007-10-18 8:00]

Serwus Ivana !
The illumination of this scene is outstanding. The reddish tones of the lit castle stand in perfect contrast with the darker forground. You composed it with unique charm, it has very romantic mood as befits this wonderful place i had a pleasure to visit once. Very, very nice.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Mat

  • Great 
  • gary91 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2101 W: 487 N: 3083] (13973)
  • [2007-10-19 23:11]

Hello Ivana,
I love this one !
Superb composition and wonderful play on colours.
Everything is just at the right place.
I think I would have removed the bag or thing on the foreground.
Have a nice week-end.
Best regards, Christian

Hi Ivana, good one!
i like a lot the dark tones and the touch of red..
the composition is very very good!
ciao!
Valeria

Hello Ivana,
You've found a good foreground with that boats!nice contrast of colors with the warn tones of the castle,
cheers,
vincent

  • Great 
  • Yffic Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 17 N: 1157] (5736)
  • [2007-10-26 4:46]

Hi Ivana,

A nice shot.
I like the fact that you have captured the first plan on your shot: it gives dimension to the picture.
Framing is also good.

Regards.

Yves

Hi Ivana. Great photo and wonderful contrast of top half with bottom half. Top = bright, sunny, well-kept and affluent-looking. Bottom = dark and neglected. Well spotted and extremely well executed. Best wishes, Paul.

Fantastic gallery you have.GOOD PHOTO. Wonderful light and good composition

Hello Ivana,
Beautiful shot!
Excellent framing with boat in foreground.
Greetings.
Igor

Ahoj Ivana
Congratulations! You've found the way to show so many times photographed place in a different light - originally, with atmosphere. I have a feeling that the boats are pointing at the castle, helping us to find the main attraction of the vicinity ;-)
Best regards
Joanna

hello Ivana,
sorry, but not welcome invitation for a turn in boat and the visit to the castle, I prefer the postcard!!! another great post!

cheers sERGIO

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF