THE LAWN Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

In this, the one-hundredth photo I am posting from the United States, one can see a line of columns (a colonnade) from 'the Lawn' of the University of Virginia (UVA). On October 15 I gave a talk at UVA, under the dome of the great Rotunda designed by Thomas Jefferson. In addressing 104 physicians and benefactors of the medical school, I spoke about my new book, released in 2009 by National Geographic Books.

In the opening of my talk, I mentioned that in 1963 President Kennedy was hosting 30 Nobel Laureates in the White House. He opened his remarks with the memorable line, "This is the greatest concentration of creative genius since Thomas Jefferson dined alone." The third President of the United States was arguably the most brilliant of 43 individuals who have occupied the White House during the past 233 years.

Many Nobel Laureates are immensely gifted. Many are geniuses, as was Mr. Jefferson. At the end of the day, they are at most "ordinary geniuses." Once in a very long while, a genius of much higher order comes along, a "transformative genius," who establishes, or who completely redefines a field. Beethoven and Bach were in that group. No one would seriously debate that Shakespeare was the greatest writer, nor that Newton the greatest scientist, and both accordingly would be transformative geniuses.

Among painters, one might debate whether the third greatest might be Raphael or Rembrandt. Regarding the rankings of Numbers One and Two, those are reserved for Leonardo and Michelangelo (in either order). As "drivers" they are unequal.

With some trepidation about my editing skills, I uploaded a short segment of my lecture at YouTube. Anyone who has a few minutes to spare, I welcome you to watch "What's in a Title".

Warm regards from Virginia.

Bulent

phwall, snunney, meltemi, ymrk, jwmunro, ChrisJ, ciakgiak, Emile, papagolf21, Angshu, jafadabret, BWJ, macondo, asajernigan, paololg, Vasa, ahmetgedikli, MLINES, Jakab has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

nirvana73 (8656) 2009-10-26 0:30

Bülent Hocam,merhaba
perspektif
ritm
doku
ışık kullanımı
renkler
çok hoşuma gitti
paylaşım için teşekkür ederim
selam ve saygılarımla
Özhan GÜRSOY

phwall (5564) 2009-10-26 1:21

Hello Bulent,
I loved the video, I love the shot, excellent presentations of both media by your good self.
The line of columns looks amazing, I like the soft light wrapping around them.
Superb, although the grass looks like it could do with a mow :)))
Best wishes
Peter

snunney (34884) 2009-10-26 1:41

Hello Bulent,
I like the perspective here along the line of repeating columns and the differences in tonal contrast between the interior and exterior. The person in silhouette is well placed and contributes to the mood of the shot. Fascinating and informative video.

AROBN54 (10765) 2009-10-26 6:31

Warm greetings, Bulent,
this is so very nicely done. I love the different lines and patterns made by the columns, the overhead and the walkway. Lovely soft light and a very mellow moodiness. The bright splash of color from the autumnal tree is a wonderful contrast. Beautifully done. Many thanks and warmest wishes,
Shelly

ymrk (8735) 2009-10-26 8:40

Harika bir perspektif ve muhteşem bir ışık-kontrast görseli.Fondaki ağacım yapraklarının rengi ve modelin yeri kusursuz!
Sevgilerle hocam,

Yağmur

jwmunro (6577) 2009-10-26 15:23

Hello Bulent -

This is a nice image but to me it seems to be lacking something. I am not sure what it is though. To me I think I would have tried to incorporate more of the gorgeous tree outside of the colonnade and less of the dark interior. Just my perspective.

Thank you for sharing.

John

danyy (68778) 2009-10-26 23:45

Bonjour BUlent,
recherche évidente de graphisme bien aboutie ici, avec des lumières peut-être un peu basses mais qui confèrent à la photo, une ambiance et une vision reposantes.
Ma best regards.
Daniel.

Graal (57941) 2009-10-27 0:17

Hi Bulent,
an interesting place. Nice perspective and composition. Good note. Well photowork.
Gr., Aleksander

amazon (10647) 2009-10-27 4:28

sütunların verdiği derinlik hissi fevkalade görünüyor,sonbahar renklerine bayıldım,
ellerinize sağlık,
setenay hanımla haberleştiniz mi bilmiyorum ama şu sıralarda endülüs'te...
selam ve seviler,
iffet

ChrisJ (70231) 2009-10-27 6:38

Bülent Hocam, merhaba

Superb use of diminishing linear perspective, with good sharpness, & the person positioned near the vanishing point, animates the scene. Nice repetition of the vertical columns. Well done!

ciakgiak (10698) 2009-10-27 15:51

Hello Bulent,
fantastic perspective on these coloumns, with a splendid light passing through and amazing colours. Well done dear friend.
Congratulations, TFS.
Best regards.
Giorgio

worldcitizen (2257) 2009-10-27 16:44

Hello Bulent,
This is a lovely fall scene. I always like the appearance of colonnades, and this one has beautiful fall colors and grass peaking through. The person walking by is also well-placed. I also like the patterns of the bricks below, and next to, the columns.

PixelTerror (86124) 2009-10-27 23:12

Hi Bulent
A pleasant perspective with a well placed person and some fall colors outside, it looks more heritage than US here
Have a nice day JY

Wandering_Dan (3225) 2009-10-28 9:54

Marhaba, Bulent -

This photo has an odd balance that took me a few moments to get used to, but it is a good use of negative space (not really all that negative, which is why it works). Lovely touch of fall color, too. (I wouldn't have noticed the unkempt lawn, though, if Peter hadn't mentioned it.)

We're back from Paris, by the way, and I can now look at these with a decent monitor. I had seen this while still in Paris, but with a crappy laptop, so I didn't want to say anything. It does look much better on a decent screen!

I must quibble with you, however, on your order of painters. I think Rembrandt (some of whose Rijksmuseum paintings are currently on display in Paris) should come before Leonardo, mainly because he produced more great paintings over a longer period, and because, while I love Leonardo's mathematics (as I learned from you), I love Rembrandt's light more.

Ce la vie.

Best,
Dan

Emile (19977) 2009-10-28 11:16

Hola Bulent.
I finally had the joy to see you giving a lecture on your excellent video, congratulations for that and for this very good photo with the repetition of the columns and beautiful autumn colors in the leaves of the trees. Very good work.
Best regards.

papagolf21 (56367) 2009-10-30 2:00

Bonjour, mon ami Bulent,
Très bel effet de perspective avec cette répétition de colonnes formant une enfilade sous couvert.
Le personnage, l'environnement donnent à l'ensemble une bien jolie composition.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Angshu (33645) 2009-10-30 8:46

Dear Professor 'A'
I saw the video...thanks for the link to the video, your lecture is very inspired on a topic close to your heart as well as mine. This picture appears in the first few frames of the video. Good perspective created with the colonnade, with a nice glimpse of the autumn colours through the window created by the columns. The lady is a good addition for the composition
With warmest Regards
Angshuman

jhm (82545) 2009-10-31 1:54

Hello Dear Bulent,

Congratulations this is your one-hundredth photo of US, we got a lot nice picture with an informative background, your notes are always sublime.
Good perspective, I see very gladly this type picture, depth and a good choice of the angle.
Composition and presentation are very well.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

jafadabret (39627) 2009-10-31 2:58

Bonjour Bulent.
Cette colonnade s'inscrit dans une belle perspective qui nous fait découvrir un passant à son point de fuite. Une image bien composée et très agréable !
Amical salut !
Jacques

BWJ (1773) 2009-10-31 18:33

Hello Bulent,
This elegant image is a fabulous scene with patterns above and below along with the beautiful graceful columns of the colonnade. Vertical lines of the columns and the leading line of the walkway take the eye into the distance. The almost silhouetted figure and the bright orange tree limb add just the perfect touches to the composition. Your video is outstanding. Congratulations for a superb job!
Kind regards,
Betty

macondo (13111) 2009-10-31 22:52

Greetings, Bulent!
It was the colours that caught my eye in your thumbnail; little did I imagine that the note would be so fascinating that I nearly forgot to look at the photo. I was thinking at the point of your comment about Kennedy, that you had neglected Jefferson, one of the great geniuses of his era, but you did not. I will have to click on your Youtube link after looking again at the photo.
It certainly has amazing colours and a strong perspective effect; the lone shadowy figure looks almost spectral. Nice composition and strong highlights and shadows in the colonnade.
Regards,
Andrew

Fis2 (45827) 2009-11-01 1:21

Witaj Bulent!
A very interesting place.
I lioke the frame and perspective.
Interesting composition.
The person add savor of photo.
Nice sunday
Krzysztof

emka (21466) 2009-11-01 2:34

Hi Bulent,

Nice photo of the historic place. Interesting lines formed by the columns. As usual, very interesting note about the geniuses. Next week I go to see a place maybe rank one in architecture - Taj Mahal. I wonder, what my impression will be? I know it from so many photos. ..

Warm regards

Malgorzata

Cricri (43092) 2009-11-02 6:00

Bonjour Bulent
Bonne recherche dans le cadrage, bonne lumière et perspective des colonnes, bien présenter et composer
Friendship
cricri

paololg (13761) 2009-11-02 13:06

Ciao dear Bulent,
it has been really a pleasure to see you in You Tube. Thanks for the link!
Over that to the lesson about Leonardo, with this photo you give there a beautiful lesson of photographic perspective, playing in pleasant way with the light and the colors. It's really a honor to have a friend as you.
Compliments!
Ciao, have a nice time!
Paolo

Vasa (5500) 2009-11-02 14:23

Dear Bulent,

your note is more important than your photo. Your life far away of photos could be more important than your photos activities... But your photos are your trade mark and I will continue to look to your soul trough your pictures, dear friend.

I visited you on You Tube (without sound this time). I am fascinated of your presence in USA and so proud of your friendship.

Warm regards,

Branko

didemay (2435) 2009-11-03 2:14

ABD'den yuklediginiz 100.fotograf kutlu olsun Bulent Bey. Golgesi ve isigiyla pespese olan kolonlarin diyagonalligi, arka planda cotta zemine kontrastlik olusturan yesil cimler, modelin konumu ile hos bir kompozisyon.
"A Love Story Lent a Helping Hand" i cok severek okumustum. Aktarim sekliniz, orneklendirmeleriniz ve anilarla renklendireceginiz sunumunuzu dinleyenler eminim kendilerini icinde bulacaklar. Iyi sunumlar size.
Sevgiler,
Didem

asajernigan (14132) 2009-11-03 3:27

Bulent,
This is a nice shot of this fine colonnade! The repeating the pattern formed by the columns gives the shot a sense of direction. The lighting and colors are fine as is the photo's sharpness.
TFS,
Asa

ahmetgedikli (21911) 2009-11-06 12:35

Sutünların verdiği ritim ve perspektif süper... Yürüyen kişinin varlığı ve ışıkla nefis bir kompozisyon.
Selamlar, saygılar Hocam.

ahmetgedikli

MLINES (10884) 2009-11-06 19:27

Hi Bulent, Good to see some more photos from around those glorious buildings. The columns offer such a strong image, and the texture on the cobbled/brick path are also a detail worth seeing. TFS. Murray.
PS Just saw the youtube talk, fascinating to hear those stories.

Bluejeans (32293) 2009-11-07 1:10

Ola Bulent,
Bonita perspectiva em diagonal com estas colunas , lindas as flores vermelhas da árvores , gostei da pessoa da noção de escala ,interessante o teu filme no You Tube ,parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom fim de semana

tedesse (13166) 2009-11-07 13:00

An interesting place. Nice perspective and composition. Good note.
Interesting note
Greetings
Tadeusz

anokutan (7617) 2009-11-08 12:50

Bülent bey merhaba,
Derinlik,ışık,renkler...Hepsi de muhteşem.Tablo gibi olmuş.Tebrikler.

Jakab (3470) 2009-11-30 5:59

Hello Bülent!
First of all, it's been a real pleasure to listen to your lecture and interviews on YouTube. To tell you the truth, I am rather pessimistic about the full success of your big challenge for understanding this (or any) universal genius - but who else but you with your graphical and scientific talent (and observing method) would have real chance for finding out some of Leonardo's secrets? The more you discover of his work the better we know our world.
I wish you (and ourselves) all the best in your great enterprise!
Laszlo