Whitby Abbey, a photo from North Yorkshire, England

Photographer's Note

This shot was taken on a hot sunny day out to the seaside town of Whitby about 40 mins away from my house.

Whitby Abbey can be reached by walking up the 199 steps from the town. Theer is a nice view over the town and the harbour from up on the cliff (but they are another story and post).

Upon arriving at the abbey we had to pass through Chomley house, and collect some audio tour equipment. This allowed us to walk around the abbey and listen to key notes without the need for a tour guide.

The abbey has taken many forms over the years, from a small humble place for the monks and nuns to go about their worship, to a grander abbey, and the abbey has also been attacked from Viking raiders and also bombs from planes during the second world war.

The most famous abbess of the abbey was Hild who arrived at Whitby in 657 C.E.

For more information please visit this interesting website:

link

This is one of a LOT of photos I got yesterday and the first of a few I either like enough to post or which I woudl like comments on.

I like the fact there are a few clouds to make the sky a bit more intersting. I also like the reflection in the water and the people, especially the one who looks as though he is crouching to take a photo! Is it anyone from on here?:P

MarekP, rozy975, Albrecht, danieltowsey, Steft, capthaddock, feather, robiuk has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (25798) 2005-06-21 19:11

Hi Mark,
Very good picture! The ruins of this abbey look very nice. I like the little reflections in the water too, very well done! :-D
Groetjes,
Lars

MarekP (4750) 2005-06-21 19:30

Hi Mark,
This is an incredible structure taken from an excellent angle. Slightly hooked waterline gives the picture dynamics, while people give it life and size. Very well done!

Thanks for sharing! I'm looking forward to the next ones of that nice place.

Marek

Drom (1205) 2005-06-22 2:24

Bonjour Mark,
Superbe photo de cette eglise en ruine avec ces reflets en premier plan et son aspect monumental et isolé.
Dominique

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eza1701 (3345) 2005-06-22 2:46

Nice photo Mark, the abbey is well placed with the water in front and the people add extra interest. I think it would look quite good as a B&W photo too.

Kolyamour (1760) 2005-06-22 3:35

I like this picture: good POV, beautiful composition and colours. As for me it will be better to make a shot without tourists. This place is very close to your home, so you have a chance to do it.
Thanks for share.
Nikolay

Albrecht (11279) 2005-06-22 7:31

Hi Mark
What a special place you have captured. Those people should perhaps not be there. But the picture is very good.
Greetings Albrecht

mouse (0) 2005-06-22 13:13

i like the water and grass in the foreground. it makes it look different.

nice one.

Hanssie (9921) 2005-06-22 15:31

A pity of the always tourists..... like us:-))
But, a great building full of mystery, I like your composition with the water in the foreground, and the beautiful abbey, nice done, Mark !

annie (396) 2005-06-22 17:23

Hi Mark This is a lovely image of the Abby it is not always taken from this viewpoint which is a shame as it realy is the best. Especially when there is water in the pond. The last time I tried this shot from this angle, if I remember rightly I had to climb over a wall, but when you get it right as you have here it is worth the effort. I have also seen this shot taken at the same angle with a setting sun which gives a very dramatic feel to the image. Well done Anne

Steft (5975) 2005-06-23 6:00

Very nice photo of a very nice ruine. I really like ruines, they are always a bit mystic.

The photo is quite good, but maybe it need some more contrasts and light. I like the way the water leads the eye to the ruin. Also the hills in the background are nice. I tried a workshop for fun.

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HD462 (280) 2005-06-23 8:03

Good photo, I like the way the water sweeps through the corner of the photo. Taking it from a low angle like you have done, makes it more prominent too. I've got a similar photo myself, but taken more to the right of where you were, and from over the wall (call me a cheapskate). Must be a popular spot for photos :-)

capthaddock (28790) 2005-06-25 10:11

Hi Mark - very nice colour, sky and reflection, normally I would find the tourists disturbing, but the funny way that guy is squatting for a photo remedies that. (I went there in 2000, so it's not me!)

feather (51128) 2005-06-25 11:19

Hi Mark
I have a shot from this viewpoint too! My opinion about the people:- Leave the group in front, but clone out the two individuals as they are the ones that distract from the shot; the group serve to show the scale. Just an opinion, but good shot nevertheless.
Why not start a Whitby theme?
Kath

casey286 (27) 2005-06-25 14:45

Hi Mark,

Beautiful picture! The small details (grass in the foreground, ripples in the water, clouds in the sky) add a nice contrast to the texture of the abbey. The people in front make a nice scale reference. Did you use a polarized filter? I'm thinking one might help increase the contrast for the background and the sky.

Katherine

brian1949 (209) 2005-06-28 7:44

Hi Mark,
I really like this picture, it has such a dramatic effect against the skyline. I don't think the tourist distract from the picture but give it some scale. The water in the foreground provides a good lead in to the abbey.
PS I'm actually a Geordie living on Teesside, but since I have lived here have realised what a great place it is for taking photographs.

robiuk (10805) 2005-06-28 15:34

Hi Mark,
How lucky you were to have this huge puddle in front of the abbey - it almost looks like a river!
Good POV and VERY good light management of the ruins.
Actually, this is one of the best shots of the abbey I've seen so far,
Robi

hdl (6995) 2005-06-29 7:44

Hi Mark, I was going through your archive and found this. It seems a very extraordinary building and an amazing scenery behind. You off-centered it slightly, which I like a lot. I was just wondering how this would look like in a panoramic view with more of those green pastures aside, I imagine it's a great sight. Very good atmosphere; just a pity of all the people, but that's sometimes hard to prevent.

Vagabond (5848) 2005-06-30 13:02

Very nice picture. Great composition and colours. I have been in Whitby, some years ago, in a Tour I made through England and Scotland. Let us see whether I find some pictures of this place. I remember from this place its nice little harbour, its nice houses and a lot of seagulls crying at my B&B place on a long night of Full Moon ..

danyy (0) 2005-06-30 15:08

Bonjour Mark,
l'angle de prose de vue est original et donne beaucoup d'ampleur à ces ruines.
Le tout dans des teintes très naturelles.
Well seen and done.
Best regards.
Daniel.

joseelias (369) 2005-07-01 17:39

This is an impressive monument. It’s rare to see such a huge building in this state. Usually when they are ruined, they are totally ruined to the ground because in the past people would get the stones from the to build new things. So this is a bit surreal.

Except for the fact that I would prefer to see it even closer to the right border I think the uncentered and diagonal view is quiet nice as well the reflection. I would also remove the people although I agree they are acting funny. Some more contrast would work well too.

Stepan (27210) 2005-07-10 15:06

Even if I regret the people on the compo, this place seems to be really great.
Thanks for the sharing...
Stéphane
PS : I've tried a WS to change the view. Hope you like it.

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Photo Information

Copyright: Mark Say (sayzey) (2358)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-20
Categories: Ruins
Camera: Sony Cybershot V1
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Whitby, North Yorkshire, Places that inspire a story... [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-06-21 19:07