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If These Walls Could Talk


If These Walls Could Talk
Photo Information
Copyright: ana cristina garaventa (snuggleaphagus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1629 W: 133 N: 1074] (4110)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-14
Categories: Decisive Moment
Camera: Olympus Camedia 770 UZ
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Lisbon and Azores- Touching my Past
Date Submitted: 2006-02-10 2:09
Viewed: 1526
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is more of a symbolic snap shot than a photographic prowess.

If these walls could talk the tales they would tell.

This top Monte Leopoldo is a witness of history. Construction for the present house started in 1613. Through the next 3 centuries there were additions to the house, what is visible here is the very top of the house. On the left somewhat visible are the roofs to the kitchen, chapel, and the original structure from 1613. The roof to the right is the roof of the caretaker’s home. This house was the home of Count and Countess of Fenais, and was in the Count’s family since it was built, his ancestor having won the land in a gambling event. Through its life this house was seized twice to serve as a military hospital most recently during the revolution in 1910 during the revolution overturning the monarchy. In 1920’s the count’s nieces arrived from Germany, after seeing the horrors of the war they found peace running and playing in the gardens. The count died in the 1930’s, in the room behind the partially obscured window. His wife died in 45. The house passed hands to his nephew Ernst Wallenstein. Soon the home was full again Ernst's daughters were overjoyed to live in such a large place with room to roam and beautiful gardens. The conical structure you see between the greenery and the stone wall is a small cave like structure that was built as their playhouse. The two girls grew and in 1964 one of them was married in the chapel in the house. Soon after, Ernst sold the house to his brother Eduardo. 40 years and 1 day ago, a little girl was born in the count’s room, she was to be Eduardo’s last child, the following day Eduardo’s niece gave birth to a little girl too (she was Ernst oldest grandchild and only granddaughter, he doted on her-me). Ernst lived in the smaller caretaker's home (the roof top is on the right), and his granddaughter lived with him for half of every week. The cycle continued the two cousins were inseparable and roamed the gardens, built forts, chased bees, ate peaches until their tummies hurt and celebrated their birthdays together in the house. And then one left to another country, and the cycle was broken.

The house was sold in 2000 for the first time it left the stewardship of the family. The new owners said it would be developed as small exclusive hotel. Soon they disappeared and it became clear that they were not coming back. The house now stands alone, rats navigate the marble floor, and gnaw the hardwoods, the roof slopes, the garden’s overgrown, rabbits made their way into the kitchen, weeds and bushes have covered the heavy green doors.

Please forgive the nostalgic mood of this note. As I talked with my cousin on the phone wishing her a happy 40th, I realized that the roots of my being are planted in this house.

The workshop shows the whole property.

Contrast/ bright to the sky, and NI. Resized incrementally saved for web. Taken from a moving car.
efigesta, spence, Emile, xuaxo, singuanti, Rossignol, anavazao, rabani, dsidwell, feather, pamastro, plimrn, Flavia, TeresaT, Jeppe has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pamastro: If These Walls Could Talksnuggleaphagus 4 03-11 22:04
To spence: am I being too fanciful?snuggleaphagus 1 02-11 15:24
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Critiques [Translate]

Ola Cristina

fico feliz que post de novo fotos de portugal, esta é mais uma boa da cristina, com bom pov e boas cores

abraço
manuel

  • Great 
  • spence Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1628 W: 189 N: 125] (1671)
  • [2006-02-10 6:52]
  • [2] [+]

I like this so much Cristina. Even before I read your note, I liked its simplicity a lot and felt it had a special mood. Reading your note, I can see the attachment you feel to this place which is part of your history. The horizontal layers in the foreground seem to represent the distance of your emigration - am I being too fanciful?

  • Great 
  • Emile Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4087 W: 137 N: 4416] (16045)
  • [2006-02-10 14:29]

WOW,,,,welcome back Cristina. I missed your pictures.
This house has an interesting history, sound like a sad novel and you wrote it in an excellent way. The picture is simple but with good POV and perspective. Great colors contrast.
Very well done, TFS.

  • Great 
  • xuaxo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2617 W: 179 N: 2433] (4089)
  • [2006-02-10 18:26]

"If These Walls Could Talk"
They do.

Olá Cristina,
Gosto da foto e do texto.
Talvez tenha demasiado contraste, mas tirada de um carro em movimento, até nem está mal.
Francisco

Hi Cristina. The textures on the wall are superb even if the image quality isn't knocking my eyes out. Well the note is good and helps us appreciate it even more. Very nice one Cristina.

Ola Cristina
What a beautiful story - can fully appreciate your strong attachment to this place. The composition of the photo is nice with the parallel lines of the walls and the grass and the house beyond.
Well captured
Peter

Olá,
Gosto da vista a da casa ao fundo!
Boa vista e detalhes!
Ana:)

  •      
  • rabani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1335 W: 1 N: 3182] (9234)
  • [2006-02-17 1:53]

So much to say I believe Cris. Hi there Cris, at least you can go back to hundreds of years into your past. Thinking and recalling the past can be a melancholy and even your photo, has a surreality tone to it.
Regards
Bani

Hi Cristina! I love all the horizontal lines here that set off that house so nicely. Very effective composition!

This is a clear case of the note trascending the photograph. A very moving note. I can understand how much this house means to you and your heart must ache to see it going to waste. Let's hope the future brings some good news.
Kath

That's too bad about the complex. Why was it sold out of the family? Disinterest or too much to maintain? Or both? Hopefully it will see someone with a caring touch come in and rehabilitate it. The home of the count in Ceccano, where we are from in Italy, was a mess for a long time. But it's been sold in pieces, very large pieces, to different people. My aunt and uncle purchased a large building in the complex and faithfully restored it to its former beauty, making use of as much original material as possible. It's amazing when I think of the mess it was before and the beautiful home it is today.

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 232 N: 5030] (15911)
  • [2006-03-11 1:12]

Hello Cristina,
Thank you for sharing this very moving story
Pat

Hi Cristina,
I feel your emotional link to your roots and history. This house and the past life so well taken in a symbolic way in your post. You give me your advice and you Remeber Empadadas Lagoons, so I have here a another post of Spring time that have another reference to you here: Link

Thanks Cristina for your words and family roots. All the best to you and family.

Fernando

  • Great 
  • MIG13 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1854 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-04-09 14:15]

Oi, Cristina! O efeito plástico desta foto é muito bonito: "linhas" de pedras, terra, pedras, verdes e céu! A casa quebra a linearidade e faz da composição algo de muito especial! Parabéns! Miguel.

  • Great 
  • Flavia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1759 W: 99 N: 1909] (7990)
  • [2006-04-17 13:24]

Ola Cristina,


Gosto muito do contrast obtido nesta foto os tons de cinza do ceu e dos muros da casa vao de encontro a esta certa tirstesa e nostalgia que descreve. O grama dourada tb oferece um otimo contraste, os diferentes niveis formados pelo muro,gram, muro ate chegar-se na cass dao profundidade a casa e tb uma certa ideia de fortaleza isolada. Imagino o que esteja sentindo tivemos o mesma sensacao a alguns meses atras quando visitamos a antiga fazenda dos meus bisavos...

Abracos,

Flavia

  • Great 
  • asanak Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 421 W: 0 N: 328] (1972)
  • [2006-05-28 18:38]

Dear cristina,
I can't tell you how much I'm delighted.A great combination of technique and artistry is demonstrated in your photo.
Light ,color and contrast are well balanced and the only word that I could use to describe your pic is :PERFECT.
I'm looking forward to more great pix from u.

TFS

Olá cristina,
Bonita esta composição.
Os detalhes das pedras ods muros estáo excelentes.
O ceú nublado também está excelente.
Bonitas cores.
Cumprimentos
Teresa

  • Great 
  • Jeppe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4590 W: 390 N: 4188] (18556)
  • [2007-02-24 14:41]

Hi Cristina
An old shot I missed - thanks for the history behind as well - I like the composition with horizontal lines and the texture of the stone walls - good to see Fernandos words as well.
Jeppe

I really can't believe you took this from a moving car. The effect is lovely and adds to the historical nature of the story. You've documented your memories well with this beauty! I like how the clouds seem to have a line that comes down to lightly touch the roof adding to that sense of history, well done.

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