horse-drawn carriage ride Photo

Photographer’s Note

Back in 1900...joking!

I shot this in front of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, Victoria. I was lucky to catch this horse-drawn carriage with the rider in her typical clothe. There was no modern cars around and someshow that scene reminded me of a memorable old time family portrait (despite the guy with the cap and sunglass). But I must confess that the choice for the sepia with the old look effect was due to the horrible light conditions. It was shot at noon, against the sun and the camera metering put the foreground to a complete darkness. I worked hard to manage that but at the end the result was...let's say not suitable for posting in here. If you are curious, you can see it in the workshop.

British Columbia Parliament Buildings

The BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria were constructed in 1893 by a young 25 year old creative architect, imagine that - just 25, by the name of Francis Rattenbury in honor of celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Arguments arose of course, but soon the controversy was put aside and the Parliament Buildings were finally completed in 1915 with great anticipation. The Province of British Columbia now had an official residence for the B.C. Parliament and a home for the Provincial Legislation to assemble and discuss ways of boosting the lagging local economy at the time.

Francis Rattenbury and his crew focused the construction of the BC Parliament Buildings using, as much as possible, local materials, resources and expertise - supporting the local businesses was very important then and it is still now. Granite rock foundations were brought in from nearby Nelson Island, the site facades locally imported from Haddington Island and much of the local brick, lime and Douglas Fir were from Vancouver Island.

Even back then, Victoria BC dealt with construction over runs and controversy as the construction costs ballooned to just under 1 Million Dollars opposed to the $600,000 budgeted for the project.
The BC Parliament Buildings, today, run visitor tours daily during the summer months. Usually the tours run between May long weekend and Labour Day long weekend in September. All tour times should be confirmed as tour times can alter.

Horse-drawn carriage

One of the best ways to see Victoria is via a horse-drawn carriage. Relaxing, totally informative, and actually a lot of fun! You get to see where the locals live, can visit the city's best park (Beacon Hill), or view the beautiful scenery along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The carriages can pick you up/drop you off at local hotels and/or restaurants. Tally-Ho Carriage Tours is Victoria's oldest running transportation company (since 1903).

siamesa, Amaz, Sergey13, francio64, jlbrthnn, leonorkuhn, riclopes, wgreis, Cricri, Charo, paura, bona, JCG, subhendu_bagchi, s_lush, Bluejeans, shevchenko, denisn72, danos, bostankorkulugu, jhm, PixelTerror, ahmetgedikli, alvaraalto, sunamoon, axiotea, Angshu, lucasgalodoido has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sergey13 (66) 2009-09-28 17:40

Amazing composition and post-processing! A little bit too much of sharpening for the background building and shading in the top corners, but I love this picture anyway.

Great job, Carlos!
Sergey

xavshot (63329) 2009-09-28 22:19

Bonjour Carlos
j'aime beaucoup le traitement de l'image et son ambiance retro. Très beau travail. La composition est bien pensée.
Xavier

francio64 (12128) 2009-09-28 23:33

Ciao Carlos,
spettacolare immagine in bianco e nero.
Sembra una foto senza tempo. Elaborazione riuscita alla perfezione.

Bravissimo!
Francesco

BennyV (4978) 2009-09-28 23:45

Sraightforward, succesful composition, and I love the retro tones on this shot. Tfs, Carlos.

Benny

giorgimer (21640) 2009-09-28 23:55

Olà Carlos,

very fascinating one, the architecture is the perfect BG, and B/W is a must!

Well done

G

siamesa (13387) 2009-09-29 0:39

Olá Carlos

Mesmo a cor tendo sido escolhida pelas circunstâncias da luminosidade, a foto ficou linda e bem condizente com a imagem da carruagem e do prédio de linhas clássicas.Só faltaram mesmo os trajes de época.
Após ter visto o WS fica difícil escolher a mais bonita. Adorei ambas. Parabéns.
Abraços
maria

rodgerg (25489) 2009-09-29 0:44

Olà Carlos,

A superb shot, a real athmospehr of 1900. Congratualtions for this excellent PPO work.
Very nice composition well balalnced too with the horsecar in the FG which give a great depht and very beautiful propsect to the edifice in the BG.
Amizades,
Roger

Amaz (7868) 2009-09-29 1:21

Legal captura, Carlos!!
Ótima composição e bom enquadramento!!

Belo travalho!!

Parabéns amigo!!

gervaso (5788) 2009-09-29 2:24

Olá, Carlos!

Uma foto com cara de antiga, as cores ficaram muito interessantes assim, nos levando ao passado! Enquadramento muito bom com a carroça no primeiro plano e uma belíssima arquitetura no fundo! Belo trabalho!

delpeoples (6996) 2009-09-29 2:52

Hola Carlos. Timeless is the first word that comes to mind here. Great choice of the monochrome colours. Excellent composition with the ancient carriage in front of the beautiful old architecture. The amazing clouds in the sky also combine to make this a unique and very beautiful photo. COngratulations and warm regards, Lisa.

jlbrthnn (39451) 2009-09-29 4:26

Bom-dia Carlos,
Gosto de este primeiro plano que não oculta a arquitectura. O enquadramento é um modelo magistral. A escolha sépia dá com efeito um aspeto antigo muito marcado apesar das lunetas e boné. A versão cor é agradável também, mas prefiro sépia neste contexto. Excelente reéalisation nítido e atrativo. Felitações.
Passa um bom dia.
Cordialmente.
joël

mauro61 (16620) 2009-09-29 4:46

ciao Carlos,
scatto che sembra andare indietro nel tempo per la bella ambientazione cromatica che hai dato.
Ottima la definizione con una grande profondità,
un caro saluto
maurizio

leonorkuhn (14351) 2009-09-29 6:15

Olá Carlos,

Que linda, parece aqueles cartões postais antigos, você conseguiu o tom perfeito de sépia, um pouquinho rosado e não o amarelado. Gosto mais desta versão, ela é encantadora e o boné e óculos do passageiro não atrapalham a atmosfera de "relíquia" da foto. Excelente trabalho, parabéns.

Abraços
Leonor

sabermonajati (696) 2009-09-29 6:28

hi carlos
to my mind it is realy tip-top.
photo exist creative idea.
best regard
saber

specialist (893) 2009-09-29 6:55

hola Carlos,
Estupenda composición y buenos detalles...
interesante imagen y original idea, me gusta el reflejo que se confunde con la realidad.
un saludo,
kurtul

npecanhuk (15142) 2009-09-29 6:56

Bom dia Carlos!
Belíssima composição!
Nitidez super adequada à imagem! Exposição correta e a escolha pela ausência de cores creio acertada nesse caso, transportando-nos ao passado!
Parabéns, abraços e até logo!
Neyvan

riclopes (33137) 2009-09-29 7:56

Olá Carlos, depois de ler a tua nota fiquei surpreendido ao verificar que a versão colorida não está assim tão má. Acho que exageras ou então serás demasiado exigente ;-) A verdade é que fizeste aqui um excelente trabalho e quase que dá para acreditar que esta imagem tem pelo menos 50 anos. Por isso mesmo, acaba por ser bem mais interessante que a versão normal. Mas agradeço o teres mostrado as duas ;-)
Um abraço,
ricardo

patdeph (18590) 2009-09-29 8:31

hello Carlos
your sepia version is really better,because of the old effect that it gives to the picture,that fits very well with the scene!It was worth to work hard on this picture,because the result is really superb!
Regards
Pascale

Gerrit (36529) 2009-09-29 9:15

Hi Carlos,
wonderful light and fantastic mood.
Beautiful place and composition,
regards, Gerrit

Waylim (11321) 2009-09-29 9:27

Hola Carlos,
Beautiful shot, classic scenery, the treatment of the photo does take us back in time, back to 1900. Perfect composition, beuatiful light, good details, perfect contrast, not too strong. like a post card back in time. excellent work. My complements.
Way

wgreis (6302) 2009-09-29 11:02

Carlos,
a foto parece ter sido realizada no começo do século XX. Você editou ela muito bem e soube aproveitar a oportunidade que o tema oferecia para isso.
Parabéns e grande abraço.
Wagner.

Cricri (44068) 2009-09-29 11:31

Hola Carlos
Je pense que la calèche est arriver au bon moment cela donne un cachet plus rétro, compliment pour ce très beau travail
Friendship
cricri

COSTANTINO (23435) 2009-09-29 12:59

Hello
In my opinion this shot is one of your best..
Perfect light very well somposed with the shadows,
it looks like a scene from the movie.
Artistic and excellent photo,compliments
Costantino

Charo (32126) 2009-09-29 14:37

Olá Carlos,
Bellísima foto, parece una postal antigua. Magnífico el efecto conseguido y ese color tan singular. Excelente la composición y detalles.
Un abraço,
Charo

paura (39608) 2009-09-29 15:28

Carlos,
Belíssimo trabalho, mano. A composição, em todos os aspectos, está excelente.

Abraço

PAulo

bona (2675) 2009-09-29 16:39

Bem criativo o uso do monocromático aqui. Realmente ficou com ar antigo. Bela composição e nota.
Abraço

carper (66108) 2009-09-30 2:25

very nice one Carlos
nice effect here look like an old photo, good quality fine photo job here, have a nice day.
regard jaap

JCG (25863) 2009-09-30 3:35

Hello Carlos,

Still a personal treatment which gives an old aspect to this scene but I acknowledge that I like much the version color too !!! Very good framing of all the elements on the photograph which brings a beautiful balance to the image I find. Architecture is really impressive. Well done Carlos.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

subhendu_bagchi (3762) 2009-09-30 4:34

Namaste Carlos,
nice sepia tone to emphasise the old look. Great to see the horse drawn carriage in front of this beautiful architecture. Depth and light is perfect. Very well done. Tfs.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

s_lush (2730) 2009-09-30 5:13

Hello Carlos,
Excellently conventionalized picture! It looks exactly like a photo from old family album or as an illustration for a historical book. Absolutely professional job!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Rafer (4642) 2009-09-30 5:18

Magnífico tratamiento de la luz y composición...saludos

Bluejeans (33391) 2009-09-30 5:47

Oi amigo ,
Que lindo trabalho de PP, estás mestre :), parece que voltaste atrás no tempo , lindos detalhes da carruagem em primeiro plano , boa luz, gostei da foto original , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

celmaleite (3038) 2009-09-30 9:58

Gosto do efeito sépia dando ares de antiguidade para a bela imagem. O tom ficou sensacional. A carruagem e a grande arquitetura são os destaques para mostrar a beleza de uma imagem tão saudosista. Parabéns, belo trabalho!

shevchenko (10184) 2009-09-30 22:26

Hi Carlos,
Creative idea to turn it into sepia color, it is artistic,
really full in old feel, well done.
Ally

denisn72 (7093) 2009-10-01 4:19

Hello Carlos,
Using the black and white, like you did, make me feel back in time. They are wearing typical clothes and there is nothing in the picture that tells me we are in 2009. Marvellous sky and contrasts. Lucky to caught the carriage. The building in the background is really splendid. Cheers!
Best regards
Denis!

danos (33680) 2009-10-01 7:51

Ola Carlos,
what a beauty of the shot that looks like as a scene from the past centuries.I like the passing by horse-drawn carriage as your excellent idea to transmitted it with these superb sepia tones.Well done.

Regards,Danos

bostankorkulugu (34168) 2009-10-01 22:55

loved the nostalgic look of it... a timeless beauty indeed carlos... hugs... korkut

emilbo (9735) 2009-10-02 9:39

Olà Carlos,
Une très jolie carte postale magnifiquement présentées. Les couleurs qui tirent sur le sépia font penser à une photo prise dans les années '50. Bonne composition et excellent choix du sépia après avoir vu la version originale. Beau travail.
Félicitations!... et bonne fin de semaine,
Emilius

jhm (83742) 2009-10-03 1:31

Hello Carlos,

Indeed here feel one immediate one century back in the time. Very good light and colours.
Nice composition and good post-processing, real lovely.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

PixelTerror (87159) 2009-10-03 8:12

Ola Carlos
Going sepia is often a good way to rescue such images, the result is not bad here you could add some grain in the sky and scratches, but the latter would be bit too much PP for TE
have a nice day JY

ahmetgedikli (22243) 2009-10-04 2:21

Beautiful composition... The POV, light and B&W choice are very good...
Have a nice sunday.

ahmetgedikli

alvaraalto (5305) 2009-10-04 6:21

Hi Carlos,

Beautiful old-fashioned presentation of this scene in Victorian style.
Like a picture-postcard from 1909 instead of 2009. But with the quality of the present digital age.

Groet Rob

sunamoon (5061) 2009-10-04 9:06

Olá Carlos,

Un adaptacion muy original y buena, que nos lleva a otro tiempo,
buenos detalles y definición!, me gusta!
Buen trabajo!

Saludos,
Elena

axiotea (16355) 2009-10-05 9:11

Olà Carlos
I have been away for a month and just came back few days ago from Thailand ;)
Sepia here is working well which gave an ancient look to the image. A well timed capture of the carriage nicely positioned in front of the BCPB. Luminosity is pleasant too!
Abraço
Marilyn

AiresSantos (43250) 2009-10-05 23:03

Ola Carlos
Uma foto belissima a fazer lembrar os tempos idos.
Magnifica perspectiva, bem escolhido o momento
Muito boa a escolha do P&B
Cumprimentos
Aires

andywo (2999) 2009-10-06 4:28

Hi Carlos,
Very interesting idea and fantastic picture! Wonderful scene just like from 19th century.
Congratulations!
Andy

pablominto (41676) 2009-10-07 22:33

Hello Carlos,

An interesting atmosphere has been created by the advanced post processing!
And you're right this can pass for a postcard anno 1900...
Well composed and sharp fine details, lovely light and an impressive 3D effect!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Angshu (34219) 2009-10-10 6:59

Ola Carlos
The PP work is simply astounding, the colour tones replicate old picture tones. Everything transports us back by perhaps a 100 years...all except the sunglass/shades, the guy's wearing ;-). Excellent work!
Regards
Angshu

lucasgalodoido (16929) 2009-10-12 19:38

Olá Carlos,
realmente ficou parecendo uma imagem de época essa foto, principalmente por causa das vestimentas e ausência de veículos. Uma opção interessante é colocar um pouco ruído e marcas na fotografia, para parecerem mais aintgas ainda, mas é questão de gosto mesmo. O importante é que ficou bem melhor que a original.
Parabéns e Abraço

jusninasirun (10361) 2009-10-14 4:45

Kodiang 2009

Hi Carlos.

You have recreate this b+w back in the old days with fine framing and sharp details of the pinhole camera. Nothing modern is visible making this a true classic of that era and a brilliant creation of the day.

Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Jusni

Benedict (7062) 2009-11-27 15:01

your BW choice really make this image look like it was from centuries past, like history re-birth.
victoria, one of the prettiest cities on earth!!
Benedict