Medieval Wall around Visby Photo

Photographer’s Note

Visby was once a powerful Hanseatic port and its medieval wall is one of Europe’s best-preserved structures from the middle Ages. It was also put on Unesco’s World Heritage List as a unique cultural treasure. This picture dates from the Medieval Week in August 2001, during my first visit to Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea situated off the south-east coast of Sweden.

Gotland was first discovered by a man named Tjelvar. At that time the island was bewitched so that it sank into the sea by day and rose again at night. But after Tjelvar brought fire to the island, it never again sank.

This is the account of the Guta Saga, a history of Gotland put down in writing in the 13th century. A visit to this unique place on earth will certainly tempt your mind to cast back in time .

Tech-details/Pre camera work:
-this picture was taken shortly after it stopped raining and I used a circular polaroid filter to reduce the reflections of water drops
-I also used Cokin's gradient grey filter here to build up a sense of drama (Cokin's filter system is rotateble and instead of adjusting the grey filter to the horizon I rotated the filter about 45 degrees to the right in order to approach a parallel line with the diagonal line in the composition, namely from where to wall starts in the right lower corner, up to the rest of the wall and its towers)

Post processing details:
-used Paintshop's clarify tool at 5%
-ran the sky part through NeatImage
-PS work: toned down the saturion of green and used Unsharp Mask to sharpen the picture after downsizing

RGatward, joseelias, Spoony, cmartos, sunny, lost, Rhiannon, swallace, tyt2000, ninfa_urania, kikidi, jhonny_blue, taivo, jmaddocks, cyril, Homerhomer, annagrace, Albrecht has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19751) 2004-04-30 4:40

Very effetive use of a range of tools, giving a rather painterly looking image. Useful tip on use of unsharp mask, I hadn't realised using it after downsizing was the thing to do.

maciekda (19599) 2004-04-30 4:40

hi Edwin, nice picture, very nice comosition - the wall is nicely framed with the trees and those bushes, i like this post processing too - interesting effect. i have nothing to complain about here, good stuff

olli (2091) 2004-04-30 5:34

Great subject. And the swedish flags are a nice addition. Thanks for the tech-details. I especially like your post processing work – it make the great image even better.
Visby really is very interesting place – I must visit there someday.

hdl (6737) 2004-04-30 7:56

didn't know that Visby had such nice preserved walls. The somber tone gives a special effect. Nice picture and interesting note.

joseelias (367) 2004-04-30 8:21

One of the best castle images on TE! Great composition with the diagonal view, and the natural plant "frame" creates a magical atmosphere.

Excelent colors and pre/post work.

Nice to see your work again. :-)

avigur_11 (21307) 2004-04-30 8:23

Hi Edwin,
Very nice and dramatic picture. T)he clarify tool is very well used here, and so is the contrast and brightness. I like the ballance betwen the bright areasand the dark ones - it highlights the stones wall and it's tecture. There is a good depth in this image. Wonderful shot.

Spoony (3539) 2004-04-30 13:57

Fantastic colors. Great photo environment. Nice work here.
Very well done and seen.

cmartos (6086) 2004-05-01 4:00

A great composition for a fantastic ambience and mood. Much contrast and a beautiful lighting gives this superb result. I like your PP work very much. It is very well managed and perfectly controlled. Outstanding image Edwin. I like it a lot.

sunny (3068) 2004-05-01 4:10

This is a certain shot with atmosphere, Edwin! The moody sky with some grain in it makes it look like a painting. The angle of shooting underlines finely the medieval wall and brings a wonderful perspective. The colours make it even more outstanding. Excellent capture!

lost (694) 2004-05-01 5:30

Great shot..i like the color..great mood and composition..well done

Rhiannon (1726) 2004-05-05 5:14

Wow! This is an impressive shot of the wall!
The sky, colours and sharpness / detail is fantastic.
Great composition and angle too. (I know the sourroundings - therefore I know this is a great spot!)
Otroligt bra jobbat, nu längtar jag ännu mer efter Gotland!

swallace (972) 2004-05-10 13:05

Beautiful Edwin, one of the best castle shots I've seen. Your post processing worked out nicely here. Lovely angle and great framing.

zto (292) 2004-05-11 2:38

You defenatly managed to add drama in to the picture Edwin. Thanks for sharing the technique. I can see the use of claifying tool here. Honestly, i would not think that you would post something like this. It is difrent from what you usuallu post. Still lovely though. As usual your exposure is very well calculated.

tyt2000 (50) 2004-05-11 3:44

Very dramatic atmosphere. The composition is really good, the plants in the foreground seem to be framing the castle. I also like the perspective and depth.

Very well done...

ninfa_urania (799) 2004-05-12 1:36

Hola Edwin: Beautiful construction, I find the image taken out of a story, of gentlemen's histories and dragons. The shades on the walls seem people, of 2 in 2 to each side of the tower of the central part I believe that I am imagining too much until I believe to see a harlequin in those shades. Perhaps I am looking for a dragon or something for the style, probably finds it among you hoist them or perhaps be hidden among the black clouds. Edwin, this it is a very rich image in elements to appreciate. The illumination the grass, I like darkness of the clouds a lot, I believe that the plants and flowers of the front soften the dramatismo adding him a magic touch and charm. Thank you for compatir the humanity's beautiful cultural patrimony. Cordial greetings. *Ninfa Urania*

albiback (8506) 2004-05-12 4:40

This castle is straight left d'un delivers tales. This castle is straight left d'un delivers tales. The visible noise brings of l epaissor and the matter. Excel.

jhonny_blue (4954) 2004-05-24 4:22

Wonderful composition of this beauty castle !
I like very much the colours and effects.
Congratulations

yesterday (9787) 2004-06-02 7:24

Great composition, good perspective, ecellent work, creating the dark mood in picture.
Good texture, light and contast.

Sorry, run out on point.

Regards kaj Nielsen

taivo (1840) 2004-06-05 12:11

Great effect with the grainy look of the photo. It has an appeal of a painting. The desaturation create an nostalgic feel. Very good use of tools.

cyril (2748) 2004-08-19 7:47

You managed tio create here, with this shot a drmatic atmosphere.
The use of the grey gradient filter is a good idea since it puts the accent to the dark sky.
On the contrary the light just in front of the towers contrasts with the sky.
And finally the composition is marvfellous.
Very good work Edwin.
Cyril

Homerhomer (4005) 2004-11-22 21:24

Perfect, composition, post processing, interesting subject and light. I thing the flags make this image stand out above many, not only they enhance the composition but also tell us that this is swedish and noones else, glad the wind was cooperating.
Peter

annagrace (2463) 2005-04-13 19:39

Fantastic photo - I've been to Visby and found the wall surrounding the city gorgeous! Your notes were very helpful as I'm new to editing. The composition was excellent with the tree framing the shot on the left.

Albrecht (11223) 2006-01-11 16:45

Hi Ecwin
I like the colours you made here and the compo and picture is very good.
Great shot.
Greetings Albrecht