Library of Congress Reading Room, a photo from District of Columbia, South

Photographer's Note

Library of Congress Reading Room

This is the view of the Main Reading Room at the Library of Congress from the Visitor’s Gallery.

Around the room, eight giant marble columns each support 10 foot high female figures which represent: Religion, Commerce, History, Art, Philosophy, Poetry, Law and Science.

Sixteen bronze statues set along the railing around the top of the room pay homage to men whose lives symbolized the thought and activity represented by the female plaster statues just above. The bronze statues include Moses and St. Paul (Religion); Christopher Columbus and Robert Fulton (Commerce); Herodotus and Edward Gibbon (History); Michelangelo and Ludwig van Beethoven (Art); Plato and Francis Bacon (Philosophy); Homer and William Shakespeare (Poetry); Solon and James Kent (Law); and Isaac Newton and Joseph Henry (Science).

The circle of knowledge is completed by the reader desks on the floor of the room, as users of the Main Reading Room make their own contributions to their fields of knowledge.

If you read Dan Brown’s recent book, The Lost Symbol, you will remember the Great Reading Room at the Library of Congress. Capitol architect Warren Bellamy and Robert Langdon attempt to figure out a Freemason’s code here. Also, Langdon and Katherine Solomon escape from CIA agents on conveyor belts used to carry books at the Library of Congress.

Anyone who has access to the Internet can enjoy digital items from the Library of Congress by going to www.loc.gov. Researchers who want to use the Library in person can obtain a research card at the Library. Only members of Congress can “check out” books at the Library of Congress.

kordinator, subhendu_bagchi, pauloog, batalay, pajaran, Atousa, danos, Longroute, worldcitizen has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AKITA (15125) 2010-09-23 23:21

dear Betty,
a beautiful picture of the wonderful atrium in the library,
this settled classic appearance is well designed using elegant arches and decorations,
really dignified ambience is nice as the excellent library,
and your POV and symmetrical composition are nice,
thank you for your wonderful shot,
Akihisa

danyy (94688) 2010-09-23 23:33

Bonjour Betty,
un joli cadrage assorti d'un POV en altitude vraiment efficace. La mise au point parfaite ainsi qu'une capture des lumière au top, livrent des détails impressionnants. J'aime beaucoup.
Cheers.
Daniel.

kordinator (11519) 2010-09-24 0:10

Hello Betty
Many nice architectural details.
Great capture of the interior of the Library of Congress.
Fine colors and light management.
Well written informative note.
Excellent sharpness and contrast.
Great composition and presentation.
Very well done.
Regards
Saša

subhendu_bagchi (15829) 2010-09-24 7:31

Namaste Betty,
nice capture here. The famous library is looking nice from this POV. Great clarity and sharpness. Light is perfect. Great informative note as ever. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

pauloog (11729) 2010-09-24 9:05

Hello Betty,
A wonderful view of hte imposing hall, well presented with good colours and contrasts. The photo would be perfect if you would straighten the perspective distortion.
Regards,
Paul

batalay (30786) 2010-09-24 21:52

Hello Betty,

The simple but elegant image reveals the majesty of the cavernous reading room in the Library of Congress. How well I remember sitting in those desks in my undergraduate days, looking up at the ornamentation, while waiting for the books that I had requested to be delivered. Your surpassing photos of the great institution brings back happy memories, but also memories of not so happy deadlines looming... The light management is extraordinary.

Warm regards,

Bulent

pajaran (26936) 2010-09-24 22:52

Pozdrav.
Prelep enterijer biblioteke ...
Mnogo dobar rad starih majstora sa mnogo detalja i skulptura, lepo ste ga prikazali dobrim tekstom, trenutkom snimka i ostrinom, lepe boje i mnogo lepa fotografija, moje cestitke na odlicnom radu.
Imajte dobra vikend sa lepim vremenom.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Google.

Hello.
Beautiful interior of the library ...
Much good work of old masters in much detail and sculpture, it's nice you have good text display, the moment of recording and clarity, beautiful colors and many beautiful pictures, my congratulations on the excellent work.
Have a good weekend with beautiful weather.
All the best.
Paja.

fabianoleite (8172) 2010-09-25 17:33

Wonderful place, showing well all the details. Good light control, congratulations!

sacavem (17120) 2010-09-26 9:44

After the holidays, I am back in TrekEarth

Olá Betty,

Beauty Library, magnificently.Very nicely captured and composed shot from a very good POV.

Um abraço,
Filipe

Atousa (6866) 2010-09-27 5:34

Salam Betty,

Really elegant with great artworks.. the light management has been very good.. I also like your chosen pov.. a fine detailed shot n a complete note as always.. tfs
Best regards, Atousa

danos (64295) 2010-09-27 23:57

Hi Betty,
impressive the presentation of the Congress library's reading room.The interior is well decorated with the statues and the marbles to make it so brilliant.Informative your note as well.

Regards,Danos

Longroute (19350) 2010-09-28 1:34

I didn't know that in America you had such a beautiful classical architecture! Quite majestic and harmonious.
I like the symmetrical composition, just a trittico!
And I guess it had not been easy to manage the light here but you succeeded quite well. The series of arches are very graphical and I love the sight of the illuminated bookshelves.
Really a fine and interesting document.
TFS,
Donato

worldcitizen (4031) 2010-09-28 10:30

Hello Betty,
This is a very impressive and large room. All of the artistic and historical details are great, and you handled the difficult lighting very well. I like the symmetry in your presentation, too.

zoomer (2613) 2010-10-07 16:25