Wadham College, Oxford, a photo from Oxfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

Wadham College is a college of the University of Oxford founded in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham during the reign of King James I. This picture was taken from the entrance looking into the front quad. The fine building is described as 'Jacobean Gothic'. Christopher Wren was amongst many notable early members of the college. Wadham College has about 150 graduate students and about 450 undergraduates.

The University of Oxford is one of the leading universities in the world. It is also the oldest in the English speaking world and the second oldest surviving university in the world with evidence of teaching from 1096 (oldest is the University of Bologna - approximately 1088). The individual colleges of Oxford are self-governing.

This picture was taken during a wonderful TE weekend based beside the Oxford Canal in Copredy (thanks to Ricx). Wandering around Oxford on Sunday was delightful. Wadham College was closed to the public but the main door was open and we were allowed to take a few pictures from the entrance.

tyro, tyro, kathryn_weir, marabu61, bukitgolfb301, gildasjan, Graal, macondo, ACL1978, rmajum, Budapestman, mirosu, Noel_Byrne, macjake, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tyro (13595) 2012-08-31 9:37

Hello Ann,

Hurrah! Nice to see some other photographs from last weekend - and this one's a cracker!

Your composition is spot-on technically with the tall dome and its weather vane placed perfectly on the right vertical dividing line of thirds and balanced diagonally by the girl walking along the side of the quadrangle. It is also a very pleasing composition.

The colours are delightful, showing the lovely honey coloured Cotswold stone to good effect, no doubt on account of the fine lighting which also picks out the textures of the stonework and the elegant stripes of the lawn. I love the dark sky too - it really makes a fabulous background to show off this fine architecture.

Perfect exposure and exquisite details and sharpness. And, of course, a fine note to top it all off perfectly!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

holmertz (27254) 2012-08-31 10:06

Hello Ann,
The fine light and good contrasts really bring out all the nice details of the architecture. The impact of the light is probably strengthened by the dark clouds. The striped lawn is a fine part of the composition and among the very small details that I enjoy are the green spire of the little tower and the woman near the corner. Not that I can see her that clearly, but she is there and alive, and that's important to me.
Kind regards,
Gert

rychem (9772) 2012-08-31 11:06

Beautiful place, I like this old architecture and beautiful warm light, well done
regards
Ryszard

kathryn_weir (1744) 2012-08-31 11:12

Hello Ann,
Thank you for the informative notes, we visited Oxford earlier in the year on a Sunday and very little was open to view. This is a lovely capture with rich colour and detailed composition. The sky is certainly ominous looking and helps to highlight the Rick creamy tones of the building
Thanks for sharing
Kathryn

brianmcc (5536) 2012-08-31 11:21

hi ann,
this is a lovely bright and vivid scene. the colours on the stone are superb and very appealing. i love the detail around the door and windows. the grey sky is full of character here and adds to the impact of the image.
regards,
brian

marabu61 (4182) 2012-08-31 13:25

Hi Ann
Very pleasing architectural shot from Oxford. Great framing and a pleasing light, together with the lonely figure walking along this makes a really nice composition
Have a good weekend
Daniel

bukitgolfb301 (30433) 2012-08-31 14:07

Hello my dear Ann

Another Impressive UK shot from Oxford this time!
That sounds very nice that this is fruit from TE meeting. Nice zooming and cropping to get attractive framework. Sharp and clear image due to F.11. Thanks for your sharing a finest shot and have a good weekend!

Takero from Tokyo

npecanhuk (54231) 2012-08-31 15:21

Hello Ann!
Beautiful architectural details!
Truly attractive picture!
I love its colors!
Sharpness, light, vertical format, black & white borders, contrasts and composition are all excellent and certainly pleased me a lot! I like the presence of that woman there... sense of scale and lively feeling!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

rbellemare (2087) 2012-08-31 21:14

Hello Ann,

Another nice picture of yours. Great colours and light of the building. Beautiful grey sky. Nice composition.

Réjean

emka (59040) 2012-08-31 23:19

Hi Ann,
Another TE meeting in Oxford shire! You are so active . I imagine it was a wonderful walk around the streets of Oxford. When I was in England last year I also spent the whole day there and and saw many colleges, Waldham also. Usually the colleges are closed. In Cambridge I could see them inside with my son working at the univesity. In Oxford it was not possible.
Nice composition and colours.
Warm regrads

Malgo

gildasjan (38444) 2012-08-31 23:55

Bonjour Ann
Image soignée en vertical pour cette partie de l'université bien éclairée.Bien vue la présence de cette femme dans l'image.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

JFS (32429) 2012-09-01 0:19

Clean cut and excellent warm light over this nice college in Oxford, the stormy sky always goes very well when the sun hits somewhere...Nice work Ann!

Royaldevon (18393) 2012-09-01 0:29

Hello Ann,

Your shot is very well composed, whilst the light on the building gives it a most attractive appearance. I like how your inclusion of the f/g shadows gives a feeling of depth, and a suggestion of what is out of shot.
A pin sharp exposure gives access to the fine details.

Have a lovely w/e,
Bev :-)

Graal (89462) 2012-09-01 0:37

Hello Ann,
College have interesting architecture. Good shot and presentation. Beautiful details. Well photowork and informations.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

macondo (17997) 2012-09-01 2:22

Hi Ann.
A really appealing photo which not only shows very well the architectural features in a lovely light, but has a well contrasting darker sky and the all-important - even if small - figure captured in a well timed spot emerging from the doorway. She balances well, in my view, the tower in the top right corner. A very pleasing composition and narrow-ish vertical crop. Good note, as usual, too.
Regards,
Andrew

ACL1978 (6115) 2012-09-01 18:49

An interesting note accompanying a nice shot, Ann - I love this type of light, with the sun behind you and dark clouds in the background, creating this kind of awesome contrast. You brought out the really nice tan tones of the building itself, and caught a good moment with the woman coming out of the door.

Andrew

rmajum (1077) 2012-09-01 22:53

Hello Ann,
NIce to see this picture of great educational heritage in Oxford. You have well selected view with two walls and the dome.Bright light and good sharpness showing us the details. The walking lady adds life to the picture.There is a picture of Wadham college in my gallery too.
I have memories of attending a dinner with our group at Wadham college hall, in 1995 when I was attending a program in Oxford.
Thanks for sharing and have a nice sunday,

Ranjan

dkmurphys (37439) 2012-09-02 0:58

Hi Ann,
I like this simple presentation of the old corner. Nice colors and a superb warm sunlight. Well seen!

Daniel

mauro61 (52527) 2012-09-03 1:14

ciao Ann,
immagine ben ripresa dal tuo taglio veticale con la luce che rende brillanti i colori.
Perfetto inserimento della ragazza a vivacizzare la scena.
buona giornata
maurizio

boa (4313) 2012-09-03 4:42

Hi Ann,
nice to see a photo from world famous Oxford! The soft and warm light really stands out here in this scene. Impressive solid walls in this building and i am sure the light must be fantastic inside from the big windows. Crisp and clear shot with an interesting note,Tfs!
Have a nice day.
Boa

Fis2 (73674) 2012-09-03 5:21

Witaj Ann!
Beautiful court.
I like frame, colors and light.
The woman add savor of photo.
Well done.
Nice afternoon
Krzysztof

chrisvek (5689) 2012-09-03 6:22

Hello Ann

Very good shoot with amazing details ad awesome background.Vey nice colors and lightning management.Very nice job!

Have a nice week
Chris

Budapestman (82620) 2012-09-03 9:41

Hi Ann,
a slendid photo of this place with attractive composition and beautiful architectural details, great lights and clarity, Tfs! Have a nice week! Kellemes hetet kívánok!
György

batalay (32930) 2012-09-04 2:14

Hello Ann,

Shooting either an inside corner or an outside corner demonstrates simple two-point perspective. I my 1974 book, "Oxford and the English Countryside: Impressions in Ink," I had used this technique to depict Merton College, with the oldest surviving buildings, along with a one or two more. The golden hues of the Cotswold stone, especially after a good cleaning highlight so many of the older building at Oxford. Wadham, on Parks Road, was one of the richer college, like University, Christ Church and Balliol, that could afford to build three stories (unlike Merton). In the early 1970s the "Jesus Movement" took place, that transformed Oxford into a truly coeducational university, when Jesus College began to accept women. What a smart idea it was, it doubled the applicant pool, increasing the quality of the students. The young woman who has just emerged from corner door owes her Oxford education at Wadham to the Jesus Movement. What I did not know until a couple of years ago is that the Royal Society of London its roots at Wadham. And until I read your excellent note, I did not know that a woman, Dorothy Wadham, founded the college.

There is, incidentally, a much older university than Bologna. The University of The University of al-Karaouine, otherwise known as the University of Fez, founded in AD 859, also by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri. I wish I could been there with you and Martin, and strolled down memory lane. Wonderful photograph!

Warm regards,

Bulent

mkamionka (24808) 2012-09-06 13:39

Hi Ann,
beautiful fragment of architecture showed in extraordinary light. I like very much the contrast of the well lit scene with the dark clouds.
Except for London of course, I have never had a chance to see anything in the "south" yet. So many things to discover yet.
TFS
M

mirosu (5557) 2012-09-07 9:32

Hello Ann,
A great use of excellent light. The deep depth of field is perfect. A well presented crop allows eyes to remain fixed on the large windows and the wooden door. This is a really excellent photo, and is a good example of architectural mode. The great light on the building and the overcasted sky also lends a lovely contrast to the scene. The walking lady fit well in to the photo. Well done.

Noel_Byrne (8095) 2012-09-08 9:06

Hi Ann,
You've presented this beautiful historical architecture with fantastic light and colour. The green grass, yellow stone and angry sky all compliment each other so well. You must be very proud of this one, I know when I manage to sneak a few shot where most are not allowed, I walk away with a smile on my face. Great result, and great note.
Best wishes
NOel

macjake (40028) 2012-09-08 16:19

Hi Ann
beautiful colors!
I thought i had critiqued this one already, but i'm here now.
its the colors and lighting that make this one so vivid.
No doubt, the scene deserved to be captured forever.
the grey sky above provides you the best contrast too.
very very nice!!
cheers
craig

delpeoples (45735) 2012-09-14 5:04

Hello dear Ann

What a magnificent building, they just make em like that anymore do they? And the golden light is just magical, enhancing every wonderful detail. I also like how you used the vertical frame, giving room to the green lawn, the gold building and that dramatic grey sky. Your note is also fascinating. I knew that Bologna was the oldent uni, but had no idea that Oxford was that old. Lovely shot, congrats.

Have a beautiful Friday
Lisa