Post Tenebras Lux Photo

Photographer’s Note

I’m not very much a flag fan, mainly at this time of history when people tend to abuse from every kind of exacerbated nationalism. But it just wouldn’t cross my mind to talk you about Geneva’s old town without mentioning the flag of the republic.

Everyone knows the Swiss flag with a white cross on a red background. But what you perhaps don’t know is that Switzerland is a confederation divided in “Cantons” or republics if you wish, each one of those having its own government with particular competencies.

Geneva’s flag is divided vertically into two equal parts, yellow (hoist) and red (fly). In the hoist, a black double-eagle with a red crown, beak, tongue, legs and claws, cut in half by the palar line. In the fly, a yellow upright key with its ward toward the fly.

The eagle symbolises loftiness, justice and protection. The key symbolises ecclesiastical rule, treasuries, and responsibility. The arms of Geneva are actually two shields impaled: half the eagle of the Holy Roman Empire, and one of the two keys of St. Peter (the "keys of heaven").

Ps : this is a view of Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville, one of the main streets in the old town that takes its name from the building on the left, siege of Geneva’s republic government.

RGatward, papagolf21, jhm, Cool-ice, elihesamian, prlcs, sunny, cgrindahl, jhonny_blue, kLe, Brian has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19737) 2004-06-08 5:24

Mmmm. I think I find that both the flags and people are clipped in this one just a bit too irritating. Why not a portrait format for this one?

maciekda (19587) 2004-06-08 6:44

hi Gal, nice shot, but the one you posted yesterday was better. here the composition is not very clear somehow, flags are cropped not very elegantly, people are cropped too - i don't see much order with them, and the center of the frame to which everything leads is empty... so not bad, but you can better

papagolf21 (56353) 2004-06-08 6:58

Nous devenons très difficile Gal, la photo d'hier était excellente. Celle d'aujourd'hui paraît plus fade, cela semble injuste, mais il ne faut pas nous habituer à des compositions si réussies.
Il n'en demeure pas moins que cette prise de vue est très intéressante Gal.
Merci pour la note très détaillée.

Cool-ice (5289) 2004-06-08 7:23

Pour bien connaître l'étroitesse des lieux, je trouve que tu t'en es pas mal sorti du tout.
La luminosité, qui amène une belle transparence aux drapeaux, est bien captée.
Le seul vrai problème que je vois est le fait que les jambes des passants sont coupées; pourquoi alors, peut-être, ne pas essayer de carrément recadrer au-dessus des parasols pour tirer parti au maximum du graphisme ?
Enfin, ce n'est qu'une piste...
Moi, j'aime bien !

PS : chapeau pour la note ;-)

manny (21378) 2004-06-08 8:06

A vertical format would have been better to show the flags and the people in full. A good shot but not a sgood as yesterday's.

elihesamian (26091) 2004-06-08 11:09

I'm not,too:)
But,here it's another shot in this motif,situation here is very important,you could managed the colors & contrast very excellent,very nice composition you creat,
Thanks for sharin,Dear Gal!

prlcs (63) 2004-06-08 14:53

Bonjour Gal,
Nous avons une organisation démocratique fort proche en Belgique et donc aussi beaucoup de drapeaux. Ce à quoi vous échappez en Suisse, je crois, c'est le nombre de ministres.
Tu avais dit pas de ciel dans tes prochaines photos. Heureusement qu'il y a ce premier drapeau à droite dans lequel on devine un peu de ciel en transparence. La note est très détaillée, la prise de vue plus discutable, mais j'apprécie beaucoup la luminosité qu'on y trouve. Bravo donc !

jrzufferey (7249) 2004-06-08 15:39

Superbe tes deux photographies de Genève, en plus en couleur ce qui me semblait ne pas être ta passion. Merci pour nous amicalement/jr

sunny (3068) 2004-06-08 16:43

Fantastic composition of grey buildings and brightly coloured flags, Gal! :-) I like very much how the opening comes to an end to the flat BG, but not before opening a fine space for the overal of all the details. I love how people add even more colour to it, as well as life. So very creative!

vbourrut (30571) 2004-06-09 2:45

Image symathique et très bien présentée ! je me demande cependant ce qu'aurait donné un cadrage vertical !?

lost (694) 2004-06-09 4:46 [Comment]

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jhm (82487) 2004-06-09 6:42

Very informative note that makes the photo interesting Gal, colourful picture, sharp and clear! good job!

cgrindahl (6109) 2004-06-09 14:18

This is a wonderful shot Gal. You handle the perspective and the variation in light from foreground to background very well. I especially appreciate the muted colors of everything but the flags and the roof tiles at the upper right. Also by taking a POV turning slight to the left of center you give us the distant facade of the building facing another lane. Very nice touch that adds greatly to the sense of depth in the image. And the iron lamps... ;-)

Your note, as always is very informative and well written. First rate on every level. Thanks.

jhonny_blue (4938) 2004-06-16 4:57

Bela composição com essas bandeiras coloridas, quebrando a monotonia do betão.
Bela composição.
parabéns !

kLe (2039) 2005-11-02 13:11

Your note remembered me the time I lived in Switzerland. These three years will be unforgetable to me. I liked very much the Swiss flags and I can say that after a short time living there I was able to recognize everyone of the 23+3 Swiss cantons in their flags. Some Swissmen do not, I believe.
In your note, you tell about nationalism. I was not very interested in politics but I felt that there is a swiss identity and unity that is over these 26 cantons and four language areas. In Spain we are facing what it could be the destruction of our state.
Overmore the colourful flags I like the light of the building in the background, the details of the façade and the pink blinds. The title is perfect here. You do not explain it but I think that the translation would be "after darkness, the light". Your has also a dark area in the foreground and goes towards the light.