La Treille, a photo from Geneva, West

Photographer's Note

Taken Promenade de la Treille in Geneva, where one of its many chestnut trees - the Official Chestnut Tree - ushers in the first day of spring.
If a leaf unfurls from any other tree in this glorious park, it simply doesn't count. Spring is not in the air. But when the official tree, with a special plaque at its foot, puts forth its first bud, spring has come for sure. The specially appointed sautier (guardian of the land), comes to observe the phenomenon and records the date of the annual event on a special notice board in the Town Hall. Sautiers have been fulfilling this function in Geneva since 1818.

The arrival of spring is the gossip of the town and you can count on it being announced in the local paper .There's no way of telling when spring will fall each year -the season began on the 9 March in 1999, 16 February in 1998 and 27 March in 1997. It's all in the hands of God and the sautier!

The promenade was created in the 16th century as an observation post for the defence of the city. From the beginning of the 18th century onwards, it became a romantic place to stroll. Chestnut trees have adorned the path since 1721. Aligned in two rows, the trees stretch the whole length of the promenade. At one end is the "official" chestnut tree of Geneva, which leans slightly, as if bowed down by the responsibility of ushering in the new season.

henrye, robiuk, jhonny_blue, elroyie, Isabelle, cmartos, prlcs, cgrindahl, Rinie_Hoff, joseelias, elihesamian, retesh_gondal, andante, aznegrao has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robiuk (10805) 2004-06-21 4:55

Hi Gal,
This photo reminds me of my home. In Zagreb we have a few very similar promenades and the city is full of chestnut trees.
Very good composition with shallow DOF. I like it a lot!
This is a short critique as I'm on my way out! ;-D

henrye (3500) 2004-06-21 4:55

Nice, relaxed atmosphere you capture here. I like the colors a lot, and the composition is good too. Well done!

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-06-21 5:27

Belíssima composição Gal !
Gosto muito das cores e expressão da moça, está tudo no seu lugar, com muita harmonia.
Parabéns !

manny (21833) 2004-06-21 5:28

Well-composed. I like the distinct colors. I also like the low angle as you have captured the leaves of the trees in good patterns and texture. I like it.

ma-tibou (4566) 2004-06-21 6:19

pretty scene of the ordinary life. Bright luminosity. Very pretty plan.

elroyie (2750) 2004-06-21 6:23

Simple and interesting shot of keeping the moment, I think that the right frame is a little bit tidy.
I liked the contrast between the red shirt to the cold tones in the whole frame.

chagovets (192) 2004-06-21 7:07

Great moody photo, maybe a bit too tight crop on the sides, but still beautiful.

yesterday (9833) 2004-06-21 7:16

Excellent street life photo. Look natural, I like the way she sit with here feet, deep concentrate.

Great compoced, excellent light and contrast + color, very good work.

cmartos (242) 2004-06-21 7:50

Que voilà une composition candide et colorée. Que t'arrive-t-il? Je parle de la couleur bien sûr, les bonnes composition on y est habitués. C'est très équilibré à mon avis, le rouge accentue l'importance de la fille et le reste de la lecture s'effectue agréablement. L'angle relativement bas et la très bonne perpendicularité de la prise donne une importance très bien dosée des autres éléments et de l'arrière-plan. J'aurais peut-être diminué le rouge sur le visage de la jeune fille, je ne sais pas ce que tu lui as dit, mais elle y a été sensible :-). Excellente image, pleine de fraîcheur.

prlcs (63) 2004-06-21 10:39

Très belle ambiance avec une lumière très douce. J'aime beaucoup le sujet qui est bien traité, mais pour lequel j'ai deux remarques : 1) il semble y avoir une légère surexposition visible sur le sac se trouvant derrière cette étudiante et 2) le cadrage que je trouve trop serré derrière elle également, en comparaison avec l'espace laissé sur la gauche. Mais bon ce sont des détails au vu de l'excellente impression que laisse cette photo.

RGatward (20050) 2004-06-21 12:05

Oh yes, perfectly seen and framed. This is one of your best. I think it would also be good in B&W. Another favourite.

cgrindahl (6113) 2004-06-21 15:05

I somehow feel this series deserves a wider audience than we can muster at TE. The images are so fine, but more importantly, the story you tell about Geneva with each is wonderful. I saw a lovely image of a girl studying at a table, her bicycle standing nearby, appreciating the composition with the wall in the distance and the line of trees. Then I read your note and discover something much more in the image. This is great Gal, I love it!

dominique (11414) 2004-06-21 16:52

Tres jolie scene de rue avec ses instants amusant , la photo est vraiment riche en details , une bonne idée , j'aime vraiment .

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-06-21 17:24

Hi Gal, very nice streetscene here, very relaxing, I like her foot like this, is a nice detail, she looks really concentrated here, The trees are beautiful wit their green colour, and the clarity and the sharpness, are as usual,very good.
You present Geneva in a way, that I want to visit it!

Isabelle (9044) 2004-06-21 19:42

muito 'européia' sua foto, se posso chamá-la assim.
tudo harmônico e delicado. a vida parece poder esperar.
sabe, uma sensação de férias?
muito boa de sentir ao olhar sua foto.
a nota está um primor.

joseelias (369) 2004-06-24 8:37

Nota interessante! Sempre pensei que o que marcava o inicio da primavera era o calendário... :o)

Boa imagem com uma sensação de descontracção muito bem captada. Considerando a quantidade de elementos da foto o casaco vermelho da rapariga consegue equilibrar bem a composição pois atrai a atenção no meio de tantos detalhes. Bom PDV também.

elihesamian (26127) 2004-07-08 4:06

Excellent cropping,attractive & real colors,two powerful elements(the girl & bike),great contrast,hide perspective With perfect composition,You really did great,Gal!

I missed it:)

retesh_gondal (173) 2004-11-08 4:50

hi Gal
u almost made me beleive as if i was in this picture ...nice shot....

aznegrao (10296) 2006-03-12 11:24

Hi Gal Eota!!
Linda paisagem com a beleza humana fazendo parte principal do cenario. A atmosfera, as cores e definição estão perfeitas.
Great work!!!
Rgds.
aznegrao.