Stourhead Church and Spread Eagle Inn Photo

Photographer’s Note

I have previously posted some shots featuring Parish Church of St. Peter at Stourhead. This one however, is from a very different point of view, looking down from the grounds of Stourhead House itself.

In front of the church, is the Spread Eagle Inn, which is, as well as the house and gardens, in the ownership of the National Trust.

Taken as JPEG: PP in FastStone and PhotoShop 7.

Click on Map:[view] to see the aerial picture from Google Earth.

snunney, Glint, saxo042, asajernigan, tyro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (34800) 2009-08-09 2:46

Hello Peter,
A fine composition of this lovely ensemble of architecture nicely framed by the surrounding greenery. A very good ambient light to bring out the tones and textures in the stonework to best advantage.

Glint (3042) 2009-08-09 4:11

Hello Peter,
what a smashing POV to show us what I can only describe as a view of part of toytown. Those building are so pretty, so....right.England, dear England. N(Not the England that I grew up in but the England I longed to grow up in!).I see one of your triangles there (John and I refer to them as graffer's triangles)with the church tower at its apex. Nicely framed in lovely green.
best regards,
Bev

macondo (13079) 2009-08-09 7:21

Hi Peter!
Very sharp and nicely exposed, and your point of view is good, with the buildings all angled on the diagonal from left to right. You really did well here, framing the whole group of buildings , little church, inn and whatever. There's even someone in the inn's doorway! An excellent photo.
Regards,
Andrew

saxo042 (15592) 2009-08-09 8:04

Hi Peter,
I like this composition where you have these parallel lines of all roofs along a slight diagonal in the picture. The church tower is exactly at the third... This looks to me like the ultimate English village with a church and a pub, something for everyone! It is also very interesting to study the satellite view, all details are visible! The colours are very good too, very good weather conditions or just good PP?
Kind regards
Gunnar

asajernigan (14098) 2009-08-09 8:21

Peter,
The shot was taken from a nice POV giving us a nice overview of the buildings. The angle of the shot provides nice depth for the scene. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. The trees frame the scene nicely while providing contrast to the brightly lit buildings.
TFS,
Asa

tyro (2664) 2009-08-09 16:01

Hello, Peter.

What wonderful and very interesting buildings. I can see what Bev (Glint) is getting at - some of these buildings almost look as though they have been made up from "Lego". The curious combination of square stone construction with round-topped windows, possibly Norman, together with red brick parts with steep roofs, is very interesting. I presume that these buildings have a very varied history with different parts having been modified or added over the centuries.

But I have to agree with others that the composition here is just perfect. Perhaps you have just been fortunate not to have a distracting background here, but you have chosen a perfect viewpoint to look down on the scene at just the right angle: too high and the picture would have been "flattened": any lower and we wouldn't be able to see so much fine detail of the place.

And, of course, excellent clarity, colours and sharpness as is your wont.

Bravo!

Kind Regards,

John.