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Valletta - Harbour mood


Valletta - Harbour mood
Photo Information
Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3788 W: 0 N: 6800] (24225)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-20
Categories: Daily Life, Transportation, Architecture, Artwork, Decisive Moment
Camera: Canon Digital EOS350D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Discovery of Malta [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-02 1:26
Viewed: 1127
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is built on the northern half of the Sciberras peninsula, which separates the Grand Harbour from Marsamxett Harbour. The city is completely surrounded by fortifications and covers an area that is 900 meters by 630 meters The street plan is based on a more or less uniform grid. Republic Street divides one side of the city from the other and runs from Fort St. Elmo to the City Gate. Many of the streets that run parallel to Republic Street fall steeply as you get closer to the tip of the peninsula. Transverse street begin as flights of stairs at each end. The stairs do not conform to normal dimensions since they were constructed so as to allow knights in heavy armour to be able to climb the steps. The steps contributes towards the uniqueness of Valletta. Any irregularities that occur in the streets grid were imposed on it by the lie of the land and the need to have unhampered communications around the circuit of the fortifications.
Valletta was the brainchild of Grand Master Jean de la Valette. When the knights agreed, although reluctantly, to make Malta their headquarters, de la Valette quickly realized that they needed a defensible city to protect the island against the Turkish hordes that had driven them out of Rhodes and had followed them all the way to Malta. At the Grand Master's request, the Pope sent his own architect and Michelangelo's assistant, Francesco Laparelli, to Malta to help with the building of Valletta. Arriving in Malta on December 28th, 1565, he had the plans for the city drawn within three days. On March 28th, the new city was officially born. The inauguration ceremony was held on the site of the Porta Reale (the site of the entrance gates to Valletta) and the city was christened Valletta after the Grand Master. The bastions surrounding the city are impressive indeed but were never tested. Perhaps the Turkish generals realized that they were no match against the fortified city. The Grand Harbour is virtually lined with a string of bastions. Fort Sant' Elmo and Fort Ricasoli (the largest fort in the Commonwealth) protect the entrance to the harbour. Fort St. Angelo and the walls of Birgu and Senglea across the harbour shield its flank. The Grand Master died before the city was finished.
Towards the end of 1568, the Maltese architect and engineer, Gerolamo Cassar, took charge of the building of the city when Laparelli left for active service in Crete, where he died. Cassar and Laparelli laid out the street plan for the city. The first building that went up in the city is the Church of Our Lady of Victory, which commemorates the lifting of the Great Siege. Cassar designed all the auberges, the Magisterial Palace, the Conventual Church of St. John, the parish church of St. Paul, the churches of St. Mary of Porto Salvo, Carmine, St. Augustine and St. Mary of Jesus, and numerous other buildings and houses for the members of the order. Cassar died in 1586.
(Source: www.maltagozo.com)
isabela_sor, Greg1949, Angelillo, snunney, syd1946, mortijo, siolaw, kiwi_explorer, jlbrthnn, AiresSantos, dip, zeca, clnaef, Guenther, axiotea, Tue, danos, jaywalker, asajernigan, balatrek, ViktorVaughn has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

New versus old!!!!What an incredible contrast between them!!!!!The modern boat was perfectly placed in composition!!!!Congratulations
A nice week
Isabela

George,

I don't think this is your best photo of Malta but it is a good shot and really puts the city into scale even better than your other ones, in my opinion anyway. I only ever saw this port as a sailor and I love the timelessness of the place. I have really enjoyed your photos since it has been nearly 40 years since I was there. Your shots have the same color and detail that is in my memory and I thank you for this wonderful series of shots.

Greg

Hi George,

I like the strong contrasts in this shot: contrast of colors, the white against the golden stones; contrast of sizes: the big city seems so small with this impressive ship in the foreground; contrast of times: centuries of history against the new techniques and the new world. The quality is extraordinary! Congratulations!

Regards,
Angel.

Hello George,
Very good composition of this shiny modern cruise line against the backdrop of old buildings with their ochre colours. I like how you have only included part of the ship, which helps emphasise the contrast between old and modern. Superb colours and clarity. Good work.

Hi George,
Very good work again!The big whit ship contrasting very well the beautiful town bisides.Light and colours are very well seen giving a very nice sense to me for the summer!

Have a very fine week,
Thomas

Great contrast between the boat and the old houses of Valeta. Very colourfull and sharp.
Regards, John

  • Great 
  • siolaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3778 W: 393 N: 6182] (21176)
  • [2007-07-02 2:54]

Hi George,
An interesting compo with the liner contrasting with the colorful cityscape with great details and textures. Excellent POV and framing!
Greetings
Laurent

Hi George,
Nice capture showing contrast between the old architecture of the houses and the modern sleek tourist boat. I like the inclusion of trees in the compo ... it softens the concrete image of the city. Well composed ... good work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

Hi George!

Excellent photo, with perfect composition and excellent light managment! This wonderful whiteship looks like invading the frame and creates a great contrast with the architecture and the colours of the beautiful town. Congratulations!

Have a nice week,
Hercules

Hello George,
You succed in a good composition. In front technical architecture and cold colours of a modern boat. A great contrast with the historic city and its warm tones. Good shot well realized.
Cordially
Joël

Hi George,
Great view of the Valletta harbour. Very gorgeous architecture in the background, modern boat in foreground. Nice contrast between them.
Excellent colours and details
TFS and greetings
Aires

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4605 W: 119 N: 429] (40469)
  • [2007-07-02 9:56]

Jó estet George,
very nice view, great ship and interesting architecture in BG. I like the composition also. Good informations and Your work.
Gr., Aleksander

  • Great 
  • dip Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1698 W: 0 N: 803] (8013)
  • [2007-07-02 11:44]

Hi George,
interesting view,the beautiful old town and the modern ship.
I like the clarity and the amazing colors on your photo.
Well done!
Dimitris.

Bonsoir George
ce POV permet de se rendre compte de al taille de ce bateau ! J'aime beaucoup ce contraste entre lui et les façades de cette ville. Belle lumière également.
amicalement
Xavier

George, nice photo of the ship stoped in the harbour. Beautiful framing and colors.

Well done my friend

Andre

hello George
great clarity and sharpness
the white boat is making a good contrast with the goden tones of this beautiful architecture, the orientation of the sunlight makes the photo very nice, good moment, well framed, well done :-)))
regards
jo

merhaba dear george
wonderful big boat and harbour.wonderful interesting valletta and houses.
well done my friend.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

  • Great 
  • paura Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3784 W: 8 N: 2498] (20008)
  • [2007-07-02 17:25]

George,
Excellent composition here, friend. The ship input interesting details in the nice architeture from the background buildings.

Paulo

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2781 W: 162 N: 3822] (16430)
  • [2007-07-02 20:20]

Thats very nice, George! I like the contrast between the cruiseship and the old town. Excellent framing!
Regards,
Zeca

Hi George,
This is really nice architectural picture.
Superb sharp and clear composition with very beautiful colours.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti

Bonjour,
Excellent mélange de la modernité et du vieux.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hi George,
I like this superposition of the lean white ship on the old pink town very much! A very well working contrast.

Hi George
The boat looks very impressive in front of the warmly colored houses, providing a good traditional/modern contrast.Light and exposure are excellent. Funny antenna forest on top of the houses!
Cheers
Marilyn

Hi George,

Excellent view of this city. I really like the composition and good choice to include the ship.
Nice work, thanks for sharing!

-Matt

  • Great 
  • Tue Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5104 W: 56 N: 7191] (23023)
  • [2007-07-04 12:43]

Hej George,
A good view of Valletta. The city looks great with many fine details. I like the contrast between the boat and the city, both in colour and in modern-old. The light is also fine. Good work!
Regards,
Lars

Ola George fanatatica foto que belo contraste entre o moderno e antigo, bonito contraste de cores , gostei muito da arquitectura das casas , parabens!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Hi George,
Wonderful POV and composition. Beautiful colors with good lighting... Very well done.
Ahmet

Hello George,
Very pretty photograph mixing traditional architecture and modern technology of the ships. The effect obtained is very impressive. Beautiful framing.
Have a good day
Jean-Louis

  • Great 
  • danos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3099 W: 83 N: 4508] (16823)
  • [2007-07-05 4:03]

Hello George,
very nice your shot of Valletta harbour with the presence of the 'Black Watch'in it.Excellent the combination of the colours between the ship and the old houses of the Capital.The placement of the ship in your scene seem the seriousness of them in the life of the island.Very informative your note too.Well done.

Regards,Danos

Hi George, A wonderfully composed photo, clear & superbly sharp, the ship makes a marvelous spectacle & the figures walking along it's side give an excellent prospective of size, the light is perfect & magnificent detail, the note is very good kind regards Wilson.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9292 W: 445 N: 14616] (51323)
  • [2007-07-06 14:24]

strong photo my friend,
the shot is well taken the pov is good and the sharpness 9is realy great, good photojob here,
groet jaap

George,
Nice contrast of the new and the old here. Nice composition placing the ship in the foreground in front of the old city. The bright white of the boat creates nice contrast to the earth tones of the rest of the photo.
The lighting and colors are fine with nice sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

A fantastic photo George,
The shot is very nice, the details the perspective the Pov and the Dof.
Very good composition of this shiny modern cruise line against the backdrop of old buildings.
Good photojob.
Best Regards,
Filipe

Hi George,

Good image my friend, excellent perspective and perfect illumination, the boat seem immense next to the houses, am a floating city next to another city, I like the visual effect of this work, is different and very interesting. Thanks to share.

Regards
José

This is a really great shot. The beautiful buildings of Valleta provide an excellent contrast against the sparkling new cruise ship.

TFS

Regards,
David

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