On Holy Ground Photo

Photographer’s Note

This place called Ales Stenar is Sweden's largest preserved "ship setting"; it is 67 metres long and 19 metres wide and it comprises 59 carefully selected stones weighing between 500 and 1800 kilos. The probability is that this ship setting was erected some 1400 years ago. The stones are located on a place where the sea, the earth and the sky are encoutering one another ( you can catch a glimpse of the sea to the left above the ground). Ship settings are generally regarded as burial monuments, but nobody knows for certain what function this monument once have had. One theory is that the ship setting was 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 north west tip of the monument at midsummer, and rises at the opposite tip at midwinter.

ravish, donluicu, Coyotyto, elihesamian, weswang, robiuk, MarekP, Tue, jpages, kajenn, PixelTerror, jrenier, capthaddock, rozy975, aznegrao, maloutim has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

davido (1982) 2005-05-01 7:44

Very nice composition. My region, Brittany, is also very well know for this kind of stones, although we don't have buried ships. Fin foto!
Regards, David

toni_al (15430) 2005-05-01 12:20

HI Chistian
Intéressante composition toutes ces pierres alignées.
J'aime bien le cadrage
Joli travail
Salutations
Toni

Coyotyto (1299) 2005-05-01 13:39

Tjena Christian,

Nice light and composition. All this perfect shape...
The only thing is that, with such a big sky, it is a bit difficult to guess the size of the rocks.

Regards,
Youssef.

donluicu (23877) 2005-05-01 13:39

It's so simple, but so nice...may be a little more ground would have been better, but a like this picture very much.

bye

loic

elihesamian (26091) 2005-05-01 13:49

Ah!
what an amazing thing about very old time before,1400 years and wonderful theories about it.
very well worked with a great POV,high sky for it is fine,and a part of sea in corner is interesting with notice to subject,excellent quality and sharpness and very well worked,Thanks for sharing,Christian

Yours
M

weswang (18223) 2005-05-01 14:31

Hi Christian, From this picture, we can feel the opening area this place is located. It is an interesting monument presented in this picture. I like the contrast of the stones with the blue sky and the color changes with the sky blue. A well captured picture.

robiuk (10761) 2005-05-01 15:15

Very interesting site as is your POV, Christian.
The note is most educative.
Cheers,
Robi

jkneze (506) 2005-05-01 16:15

Hello Christian,
great shot, nicely composed, good DOF and a very interesting note. I thought it was something like Stonehenge.

avigur_11 (21271) 2005-05-01 16:21

Hi Christian,
Composition-wise you made a terrific job with the best (IMO!) ratio between the grass and the sky, and the excellent placing of the rocks along the vertical axis.
Technically - also a very good exposure, and great colors. Great job you made here.

Tue (25608) 2005-05-01 19:58

Hej Christian,
Jeg har hørt om dette sted, men har aldrig været deroppe (selv om jeg har været i Ystad), men det ser virkelig spændende ud! Smukt billede med himlen, der virker meget godt! Et godt stykke arbejde!
Hilsner,
Lars

jpages (1670) 2005-05-02 16:09

Hi Christian, the first moment I have seen this photo, I have thought the earth part was too thin and the sky too wide, but to tell you the true, me in your case, maybe I had tried a closer view, anyway you choose a very good POV showing all the stones, avoiding people... only ancient feelings were there.
The blue sky is very relaxing and the whole view has a very good sharp, always very nice to see.
Best regards, and have a good week.
Jaume

MvS (4163) 2005-05-02 16:20

Christian,
Så här tidigt på året kan man tydligen få Ales Stenar för sig själv. Sköna färger och ett LUGN...
Magnus

kajenn (2323) 2005-05-02 18:59

I like that you've included the complete 'ship setting', Christian, and shot it from such a low POV, including just that bit of water. It is as if it's eternally sailing on the sea - all under the high blue sky. Having been here myself, I know this is the ultimate way of portraying the monument. Early Spring when the grass has no color and you're lucky to catch it without people or grazing sheep. And you've achieved a splendid sharpness in the stones. Very well done!

MarekP (4744) 2005-05-03 5:09

Beautiful picture, Christian. I like its simple colors, perfect compostition and sharpness. It's really impressive. Thanks for sharing it.

Jean-Luc (5488) 2005-05-03 17:33

la composition qui est bien vue et les couleurs assez douces donnent une atmosphère apaisante mais mystérieuse.
C'est étonnant de constater que les couleurs des pierres rappellent étrangement celles de la terre.
Beau travail Christian

PixelTerror (85994) 2005-05-04 4:19

Hej Christian,
Intersting composition that leaves a large place to the sky and outlines the link of this place with astronomy, I like too your low PoV and the soft light on this view.
Have a nice day,
jean-Yves

pamastro (7213) 2005-05-05 23:47

Interesting construction. It's like a medieval megalithic site. The setting is really good as a memorial if it is that. It looks high above the sea and really gives a feel of looking over the edge of the world with that big sky rising high above this strip of land at the bottom. I like the sharpness with all the detail in the grass. And the colors is great. Well done, Christian.

Intruder (3073) 2005-05-15 12:38

hello Christian
very nice shot, great composition and the soft color of the sky is very relaxings, suits with the foreground very well!
good work

capthaddock (28640) 2005-06-13 9:44

Hi Christian - simple yet fascinating place, full of mystery, excellent natural colours, and great note explaining these things.

rozy975 (3047) 2006-04-15 12:24