The Full Monty Photo

Photographer’s Note

Mont Saint-Michel

One of the most beautiful places in France, without a doubt, impressive when you consider just how many wonders - both man-made and natural - the country has to offer. It's been rightfully listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The first church was founded on the island back in 709, although little of that building remains. Since then there's been a religious presence on the island, and it has been a place of pilgrimage - previously of religion, latterly of tourists ;)

Oddly it was converted into a prison after the French Revolution - and only reconverted again at the end of the 19th century.

Although the buildings are impressive, my strongest memory of the place will be the tides. This shot was taken just a few minutes after the tide had started to rise, during which time the water had already risen several inches. About ten minutes after I took this shot this spot was totally submerged! The water actually comes up as a visible and audible wave. Let's just say there's a very good reason why there's a tidal power station just along the bay...

Interestingly the same group of monks went on to form another St Michael's Mount in Cornwall - more on that here

The Official Tourism Website of Mont Saint-Michel contains more information in a variety of languages too :)

alainh, aramok, HOBO, cleocat, sleon, robiuk, Janice, Xalkida, Roly, PLD_images, jafadabret, PixelTerror, john_c, alon, partha, mjdundee, cam, feather, Porteplume, Curioso, lestans, rtome, linask, kiks has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jocasta007 (0) 2005-09-25 15:14

the lead in lines are fantastic on this shot. i like this pic a lot. thanx

THAR (3291) 2005-09-25 15:16

Superbe photo...mieux que la plupart des cartes postales...Magnifiques couleurs! Attention, la marée monte très vite à cet endroit. Félicitations!

Ina (2679) 2005-09-25 15:17

Wonderful composition and light... The monastary looks like gold...very artistic...TFS...Ina...

kensimage (8541) 2005-09-25 15:19

Excellent tones and colors, Adrian (perfect time of day!), and you really lead the eye well toward the church. Perhaps it's slightly oversharpened, though, created a bit of halo around the building. (Of course, it's a church, maybe it SHOULD have a halo!) Really a great one, though! Regards, Ken.

alainh (35363) 2005-09-25 15:23

hello Adrian.
15 s !!
Splendid shot of this incredible site.
a lot of softness in your picture.
congrats
alain

Calimero76 (9028) 2005-09-25 15:27

Hello Adrian
la pose longue donne un joli effet à la mer qui vient exceptionnellement ici car c' est un jour de très grande marée
j'y étais aussi la veille au lever du soleil et le spectacle était magnifique
j'aime les lumières et les teintes de ton image
cordialement
Patrice

aramok (279) 2005-09-25 15:45

coud quiet easily be a tourist postcard, be much more fun. - exceptionally well caught and presented.

danyy (68672) 2005-09-25 15:45

Bonjour Adrian,
une vue absolument fabuleuse du Mont Saint Michel, de jeux de couleurs superbes baignent cet endroit mythique.
Excellent POV.
Cette courbe formé par ce bras de met, bleue, est vraiment superbe.
Daniel.

HOBO (5244) 2005-09-25 15:46

Simply perfect, time of day, light, sky and POV - congradulations!

jasmis (50298) 2005-09-25 15:59

Another great view of LMSM. Fine.

sleon (9352) 2005-09-25 16:03

Hi Adrian
Fantastic view of this impressive place. The compo is great, with the meandering waterway leading the eye, and I love the lighting and colours in the sky. Lucky you didn't get washed away!!
Regards, Susanna

LeToun (1064) 2005-09-25 16:04

Oui, l'environement est sympa avec ce bras de mer qui vient vers nous.

Oui, la légère couleur rosée sur l'horizon apporte beaucoup.

Oui, les éclairages du mont donnent un bel effet.

Mais je dis NON au renforcement excessif de la netteté dans cette image. ca donne un ensemble lumineux bien trop "saccadé" au sommet du Mont. c'est vraiment dommage !!

Francois

PS : plus de points pour aujourd'hui...

cleocat (221) 2005-09-25 16:09

I love the illuminated building in the background. The water looks like silk. It's a stunning photo.

robiuk (10763) 2005-09-25 16:13

Excellent stuff, Adrian!
Not only I can't find a flaw to it, but from the artistic POV, it has all the elements a professional photographer and an artist could wish for!
I'm happy for you and this shot!
Congratulation!
Robi

Janice (4386) 2005-09-25 16:16

Awesome shot Adrian. Perfect composition, excellent lighting and colours, and your details are nice and sharp. What a beautiful scene, thank you.
Notes are very interesting too.

toni_al (15430) 2005-09-25 16:17

Well composed with the winding water and pretty pink of the sunset and Mont St Michel placed slightly to the right.
Toni

haans_gruber (0) 2005-09-25 16:28 [Comment]

Show Comment

recepyuksel (17786) 2005-09-25 16:29

Bu yerin gördüğüm en iyi fotoğraflarından. Elinize sağlık.

naxius (16679) 2005-09-25 16:34

Hello Adrian,
A splendid shot of Le Mont Saint Michel!
Great light..
I love your POV.
Bravo!
Alex

Zepi (22848) 2005-09-25 17:14

Hello Adrian.
Superbe prise de vue !
J’adore ces couleurs et ce point de vue !
Très bon premier plan avec cette rivière qui serpente vers le mont !
Un délice………..
Beau travail
Merci pour le partage
Amicalement
Sébastien

Xalkida (11740) 2005-09-25 18:25

Hi Andrian

What a fine shot! So clear and crispy. The colors are soft and beautiful. The ligting so soft and low, perfect. What to say else! A masterpiece!

SophieL (6028) 2005-09-25 18:25

I like the effect of the long exposure on the water, it looks like velvet. Very nicely composed picture with the water leading to the Mont, and very interesting light.

Coincidentally, I was that same day about 15 kilometers away in the North-West, on the Chausey Islands... Was it on purpose that you arrived during an equinox tide? (equinox tides come up higher than others and the Mont appears surrounded by water).

Roly (1960) 2005-09-25 19:23

It's a beautiful image indeed, composed and executed "by the book". The sunset colors are great and the choice of a long exposure time enhances the flow of the advancing tide. I notice that your image is just a little bit on the soft side. Using this lens, I was a bit concerned after noticing the same effect and fearing to have purchased a lemon. I know that you're well informed regarding the technical side of photography, so I presume that the 17-40 simply isn't the sharpest lens around.

jinbo (317) 2005-09-25 19:59

I like the compsition. and over all appearance. I was kinda botherd but the noise of the photo though.

great photo for sure!

PLD_images (7141) 2005-09-25 21:11

A very good tittle for a wonderfull shot. The warm evening colors add a lot to this composition. The point of view is very nicely picked and the exposition is well done also.

jafadabret (39541) 2005-09-26 2:41

Ce premier plan avec l'eau qui serpente et conduit le regard vers le Mont fait tout l'originalité et la beauté de la photo qui a en plus des couleurs superbes. Le piéton ne doit pas se laisser surprendre par la montée des eaux, le photographe, non plus.

sebautourdumond (3104) 2005-09-26 3:38

Fantastic, a great view of this place.
Seb

kclai (2267) 2005-09-26 3:49

Hi Adrian
You have given this image a very "clean" effect that made the river flowing with calmnes and mistyly.
The color are well blended with brilliant and superb quality.
Only one thing, the castle. It seem that it is dissolving. Is the image been over-sharpen or the type of lense used!
But it's still a good shot, Adrian.
Eric Lai

anesugur (16826) 2005-09-26 14:48

Very beautiful picture.
Nice colors, lights and sharpness.
Well done. Uğur

Valentia (1522) 2005-09-28 10:07

Beautiful shot Adrian. Clean and maybe a littke bit too crisp. It does appear over sharpened. The composition is excellent.
Danny

john_c (24635) 2005-10-01 13:19

Hi Adrian,
A fabulous capture of this famous spot. I have yet to see two shots the same, and therefore yours is unique. I especially like the smooth meandering stream of water which appears to have a sheen of magic leading to the golden castle...This is a most satisfying and successful rendering and worthy of acclaim.
John

PixelTerror (86060) 2005-10-02 5:02

Hi Adrian,
Your posts are rare but always an enjoyment and meanwhile we enjoy your technical expertise in the forum. Glad you chose to pixelize this nice part of my country, I love the result composition wise, the S leading the eye to the Mont is superb and made stronger by the long exposure that gives it an icy look, time is excellent to combine the last light of the day and the night light of the Mont. I tend to agree with Ken about sharpening, but not too bad, this photo is spendid indeed !
Have a nice week end,
Jean-Yves

alon (1281) 2005-10-02 7:41

Adrian, all is good in this stunning picture. Excellent composition with beautiful colors.! The long exposure made a nice effect on the texture of the water.
Cheers,
Alon

partha (13657) 2005-10-03 15:16

Your pic, your informations all are perfect. Well done.

mjdundee (3508) 2005-10-05 3:00

Hello Adrian,
Looks like you got wet feet here but the result was worth it! Great impression of a unique european landmark. TFS.
Thomas

cam (8880) 2005-10-07 19:09

Hello Adrian
A very good sunset shot of this monument.
Good POV and the mood is excellent.
I like to see the city at th eend of the serpentine river.
Charles

Porteplume (3255) 2005-10-13 7:05 [Comment]

Show Comment +

feather (49858) 2005-10-14 7:59

I can't compliment you enough on the composition; the curving lead-in is spot on. I also like the silky look the slow shutter speed has given the water. Excellent shot
Kath

greg (2835) 2005-11-21 7:05

Hi Adrian, you slipped this one in when I wasn't looking... you must be almost due for another posting by now! I like the dreamy soft S of the sea. The island itself looks a touch overprocessed to me - for one thing, the halo that Ken mentioned; the other - maybe a local adjustment - the whole island seems over-bright and low in contrast. I'd have expected it blacker, and the lights more luminous. I like the image, but think you can make a better version...

bucksaturday (0) 2005-12-28 21:24

huuuuuuwwwwwwww... fantastic...!!!

lestans (15452) 2006-01-09 10:03

Fantastic!!! Mont S Michel is a nice interesting subject... but in your picture it is secondary, winding water is the most impostant... and light is so strange! It is a fairy tale place... or a dream. Livia

timleahy (2189) 2006-04-24 17:30

excellent shot Adrian, composition is good, I love the zig zag of the river as it approaches the castle. The range of colour tones between deep blues to pinks is beautiful.

...tim

dkeus31 (26176) 2006-08-24 14:49

Hello Adrian,
Far better thant the 400D view ;o)
Seriously, you have a great foreground here.
Regards,
Didier

chrisdane (18) 2006-09-07 2:29

Hi Andrian

Excellent photo and a very difficult hour it must be to be there and get this wonderful light.Congratulations for both
Chris

kevinos (6927) 2006-09-17 9:16

The water creates a wonderful snaking composition leading the eye into the heart of the picture. The placement of the mount itself in the top right,produces a dramatic image. The artificial and the fading natural light produce a nice balance between romantic softness and sharpness. I have always loved Mount saint Michel, which, as you say, truly deserves to be a world heritage site.Regards Kevin

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humanist (695) 2006-10-08 21:37

Beautiful shot! I was at MOnt St. Michel recently and wished that I'd been able to see the tide in a little bit more. Thank you for showing me.

I really love the way you have used a classic "S curve" to bring us from the foreground to the abbey.... also in a classic layout on a powerpoint in the image. I also love how you have managed to catch all the lights on the abbey while still retaining detail in the dark foreground. Amazing work.

corsicastorm (3224) 2006-10-12 5:32

Fabuleuse gallerie; peu de photos mais quelles photos!! celle-ci est une pure merveille: prise à l'heure bleue avec ces coleurs et ce cours d'eau qui serpente vers le mont...chapeau!!

Julian_K (1055) 2007-01-25 21:34

Hello Adrian,
Beautiful photo of a beautiful place. The lighting and composition is perfect. Thanks for sharing,
Jules

ronners (10) 2007-03-25 18:37

I think after the feedback you've had so far that you realise that this isn't your best work in a technical sense. To be honest you picked a pretty difficult subject to start with, with a broader range of exposure than you could ever have expected to have captured. I imagine that you worked hard to get some detail in the foreground, but the tower is too fuzzy. You don't mention it in your note, but a ND grad might have helped a lot here - the building sits pretty well on a convenient horizon line, and the grad would have helped get good sky color and avoid underexposing the foreground.

vero07 (1747) 2007-04-22 14:37

Hi Adrian,
I think it's one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I like the soft tones in the sky and the POV you captured.
Thanks for sharing.
v.

donluicu (23925) 2007-05-29 6:13

quelle merveille!
une gestion des lumieres et des couleurs impeccable..
un cadrage soigné

bravo

kiks (6053) 2007-09-12 2:40

Hi Adrian, I just 'discover' your gallery and i'm really amazed by your work! Specially your colour management is fantastique. I realy 'have' to add you to my favourites!

Like on this image with the blues and pinks and i just love the composition with all the curves of the water leading the eyes into St Michel.
TFS
KIks

Herquin (4498) 2007-10-06 2:55

Bonjour Adrian,
magnifique prise de vue . Le mont St-Michel est superbe tout illuminé et sous un beau coucher de soleil .
Du bon boulot .

Amicalement .

Christian .