Ale's Stones, a photo from Scania, Gotaland

Photographer's Note

It's a while since I uploded a photo from my home country Sweden...

Wikipedia on the matter;
Ale's Stones (or Ales stenar in Swedish) is a megalithic monument in Scania in southern Sweden. It consists of a stone ship 67 meters long formed by 59 large boulders of sandstone, weighing up to 1.8 tonnes each. According to Scanian folklore, a legendary king called King Ale lies buried there.
The carbon-14 dating system for organic remains has provided seven results at the site. One indicates that the material is around 5,500 years old whereas the remaining six indicate a date about 1,400 years ago. The latter is considered to be the most likely time for Ales Stenar to have been created. That would place its creation towards the end of the Nordic Iron Age.
As is the case with many other megalithic monuments, there have been many speculations about the significance of Ales Stenar. Most ship settings are perceived to be burial monuments, and many of the ship settings found in Scandinavia do indeed contain one or more graves. Yet no grave has ever been positively identified in the limited area that has been subject to archaeological research at Ales Stenar. One theory is that if the ship setting is not a burial site, it may have been constructed to honour the crew of a ship who perished at sea. Another theory is that the ship was built to determine various times of the year. The alignment of the stones in relation to the sun is such that the sun sets over the northwest tip of the monument at midsummer, and rises at the opposite tip at midwinter.

Didi, annjackman, danos, timecapturer, Budapestman, Cricri, Kielia, PaulVDV, Charo, saxo042 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

marina7 (5822) 2011-05-25 10:15

Hi Stefan,

That's a really impressive shot with the massive stone structures pictured against the gloomy sky - it makes the whole scene even more mystic looking. I like your point of view with the two big stones framing the shot and the others looking less in the distance. A very interesting note too.

Cheers,
Marina

LOOOK13 (19022) 2011-05-25 10:34

Salut Stefan.
Trés belle image avec une atmosphere particulière , et des couleurs spéciales.
J'aime beaucoup.
Bravo.

holmertz (26906) 2011-05-25 11:16

Hej Stefan,
I haven't seen this place since I was 13 years and wasn't very interested. The rocks, and the way they are placed, are truly fascinating and I would appreciate them a lot more today. The dark sky and the absence of any bright colours certainly add a lot to the mystic atmosphere.
Hälsningar,
Gert

Didi (48896) 2011-05-25 11:21

Hi Stefan
Very nice dramatic ambiance and interesting low point of view.
That's great.
Best regards

sacimar (25957) 2011-05-25 11:21

Hello Stefan,

I like the composition with these megalithic stones, despite the sky was very cloudy the light management is excellent, well done,

Best regards,

Sergio

annjackman (13183) 2011-05-25 13:04

Hello Stefan,
A first class shot. The stones have a lot of detail and a lovely range of brown tones. The stones against the stormy looking sky give a magical effect and a feeling of isolation. A very interesting note,
Regards, Ann

SnapRJW (18712) 2011-05-25 23:30

Hello Stefan - This is a really good shot. There is a brooding, pregnant atmosphere here, due in part to the heavy sky and of course the subject matter. I feel as if I could step right into the frame and touch the stones. Excellent POV and fine light management. TFS best regards Rosemary

resat1972 (5960) 2011-05-26 0:50

Hello
This place is so beautiful
I liked the style of Rock
beautiful composition

TFS
Reşat

danos (73960) 2011-05-26 0:52

Hello Stefan,
the view of these rocks as lay on the ground looks like as to be cultivated! I like the presentation with the created balance of the image to be superb.Well done.

Regards,danos

timecapturer (30300) 2011-05-26 3:15

Hi Stefan
a wonderfully moody and atmospheric shot. Love all the detail and your composition is perfect. A fascinating study and excellent presentation. Bravo!

Have a good day - Brian

Budapestman (82620) 2011-05-26 13:05

Hi Stefan,
a mysterious atmosphere with spectacular composition and effective soft lights, the dramatic sky add a lot to the atmosphere, a superb shot, Tfs! Have a nice evening! Kellemes estét kívánok!
György

Cricri (86391) 2011-05-27 4:02

Hi Stephen
Un endroit particulier avec les rochers, jolies teintes soues le ciel dramatique, belle présentation et note intéressante
Belle journée
cricri

Kielia (20411) 2011-05-27 6:39

Hej Stefan,
what a wonderful light! It is so pleasantly illuminating this famous place and creating a mystic atmosphere. The composition is outstanding. I am looking forward to further impressions of your Sweden!
Warm regards
Harriet

PaulVDV (15017) 2011-05-29 12:32

Hello Stefan,
I never heard of Ale's Stones before but here they certainly look impressive.
I like the low point of view and find that the stones have a beautiful bright and natural colour under the dark overcast sky.
Best regards, Paul

UlfE (13730) 2011-06-02 2:01

Hej Stefan,

An excellent photo of this mysterious place. The dark sky and the sunlight on the boulers make it very intriguing. Your perspective is also very good and the two boulders in the foreground create a nice depth and a good idea of the size. TFS and have nice day!

Hälsningar

Ulf

sacavem (18572) 2011-06-02 3:23

Olá Stefan,

Nice stones "megalithic Cromlech" and composition under a great cloudy sky,well done.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

Charo (51174) 2011-06-07 16:03

Hallo Stefan,
Platsen är magisk och mystisk, och dagen med himlen full av mörka moln tenderar att öka denna känsla.
En mycket intressant och väl sammansatt bild med utmärkt detaljskärpa och djup.
Hälsningar,
Charo

saxo042 (31794) 2011-06-20 12:39

Hej Stefan,
I missed this picture as I was away in Europe, but better late than never... This is indeed a very fine picture of these historical stones and the dark clouds above enhances the impression of history. There is a certain similarity with this picture. I tried to find Ales Stenar on Google maps, but in vain. That part of the world is obviously not with the same resolution as that part of England. Still, a very good and interesting contribution!
Hälsningar
Gunnar