Brända tomten Photo

Photographer’s Note

Brända Tomten (The Burnt Lot) is a small, triangular public square in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm.

A building, which located in the corner between the streets Kindstugatan and Själagårdsgatan destroyed by fire in 1728, was apparently not rebuilt for a few decades, which gave first the lot and then the open space their names. The turning radius of horse-drawn vehicles made open spaces necessary, and the city architect Johan Eberhard Carlberg (1683-1773) in 1734 mentions having proposed a turning space on the location two years earlier, on a plan naming the space Eckmarcks afbrände tomt ("Ekmarck's burnt-out lot"). Though the space is not named on maps dated 1733 and 1770, the population register of 1760 names it Brända tomten. Today a chestnut tree is growing in the square.

In summer there are few benches under a chestnut tree and an ivy hanging from the surrounding façades makes the space a lush, relaxed spot. During summers, a network of storytellers gather around the benches to tell their stories both to enthusiasts and passers-by.

Behind the yellow façade directly facing the square, are several merged properties hiding medieval remainders and records of tenants and proprietors back to the 16th century. Over the portal of Själagårdsgatan 3 (the red house on the right hand in the photo) is a cartouche carrying the inscription IAC BSD, the initials of an unknown couple who occupied the building in 1643. While the façade is from the 19th century, the basement is from the medieval era and the decorated ceiling is from the 17th century.

The famous Swedish author August Strindberg wrote a chamber play named 'Brända tomten', possibly inspired by the site.
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The photo would certainly be more attractive, if shot in summer. Also most photos from Brända tomten, which I have seen, are shot from the opposite direction. Therefore I decided to upload this, taken on a cold late March day, fortunately a sunny one.

Geocode: 59.324876,18.073057

The satellite view of Google map is somewhat inaccurate. You can see a more detailed view here.

Longroute, fanni, Clementi, pauloog, saxo042, JudyR, stego, bobocortis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Longroute (9227) 2009-05-08 0:18

Hello Lasse,

this morning we are almost side by side in the main gallery!
what a coincidence!
This photo IS very attractive both for your masterful and intriguing composition and the light that lit the beautifully coloured buildings. The tree to the left is a major graphic effect of its own giving a artistic touch to the photo and which makes a pleasant contrast with the brighter buildings.
The corner you have chosen to take is so fine, I do like the warm colours and architecure of those houses.
As most of your pictures is both fine and informative.
Well done,
Donato

fanni (8735) 2009-05-08 0:26

Hello Lasse,
I like Gamla Stan (especially as it is shown in your photos, now). If one makes a few steps off the usual tourist tracks one can find really very nice places to walk without being pushed around by crowds of tourists :)

Very pleasant view! I like the inclusion of the tree in the photo: thus it helps see the perspective better and adds some depth. I also like the natural "Gamla Stan colours".
And of course I always like your very informative and interesting Notes to your photos!:)
Kindest regards,
Elena

Clementi (43843) 2009-05-08 2:44

Ciao Lasse,
questo gioco di luce e di ombre ha creato dei colori molto delicati e una bella atmosfera tranquilla.
ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

Buin (37514) 2009-05-08 3:33

Hallo Lasse!
This seems to be rather cosy place. The architecture around really is beautiful and I like the many small details and amiable decorations one can detect in your photo. You managed the difficult light skillfully here.
Greetings from rany and thundery Germany!
Germany!
Frank

cobra112 (11414) 2009-05-08 4:54

Hi Lasse. Bella prospettiva chiusa e colorata con affascinate movimento di luce e ombra.

Roberto

pauloog (6426) 2009-05-08 6:04

Hello Lasse,
A fine city view, with the architecture well rendered without distortion. Delicate natural colours too.
regards,
Paul

saxo042 (15544) 2009-05-08 9:29

Hej Lasse,
The naked tree in the foreground, with its peculiar form, is a very fine contrast to the softly coloured buildings here. This kind of architecture really is very attractive. Your note is also very interesting, as usual!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

JudyR (821) 2009-05-08 10:57

So very nice. You capture all the detail of this inviting, human-sized place. I love the tree which will be terrific during the summer but which has its own beauty without foliage. Your description makes it come alive for me. Thanks, Judy

rodgerg (23849) 2009-05-09 2:08

Hello Lasse,

A very good managment of morning's light give beautiful contrast and pleasant play of shade. Good utilisation of the tree for give depht to the image. A very nice place too with these coloured houses.
Have a good WE,
Roger

pablominto (40508) 2009-05-10 7:38

Hej Lasse,

I like how the composition is built around the old naked tree, it is like the branches is embracing the fine old houses!
Fine colours and lovely details, in particular I enjoy the cobblestones that right away takes 100 years off the age of any city...
And the glimpse of blue sky gives a hope for spring...!

Greetings,
Pablo -

stego (22350) 2009-05-14 9:11

Hi Lasse,

Like the other one of Prästgatan, the sense of "old times" is very strong and is part of the great charm of the photo. I find very difficult to find a good angle and PoV in narrow streets and squares like this one, but you did a great job, using very nicely the plant pots and the tree in the compo. The persons are also well placed.

The perspective is very well corrected, but I notice a slight barrel distortion on the right. In the program I use to PP, Gimp, that is easy to correct once we familiarize ourselves with the adjustments. I guess that in other programs it won't be so complicated either.

Regards,
José

bobocortis (14140) 2009-06-02 22:45

Hello Lasse.
A beautiful and colorful corner of an inner city. The tree is an excellent frame for the ancient facades and the human figures are useful too.
Best regards.
Bobo.

Ninello52 (3312) 2009-06-03 13:03

Ciao Lasse!
Che bella questa foto! I colori delle case sono piacevolissimi, devo dire molto simili alle nostre città! Mi piace l'albero, così come lo hai inserito e la luce sulla casa in fondo.
A presto, Nino.

Aviller (3106) 2009-06-22 14:18

You were really able to tame the difficult lighting conditions very well in this shot. The facades in the shade are properly exposed while the sky still has a nice blue hue. I also like how you've incorporated the tree into the shot, creating a nice contrast with the straight lines of the buildings.

mauro61 (15304) 2009-06-27 0:43

ciao lasse,
mi piace questo angolo di città in cui si vede filtrare la luce del sole.
Bella la composizione con l'albero e le case colorate.
un caro saluto amico
maurizio