The Lhasa of Bhutan Photo

Photographer’s Note

Punakha Dzong was built at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers (chhu means river) by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637. The construction of the Dzong was foretold by Guru Rimpoche, who predicted, “…a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”.

Punakha Dzong houses many sacred temples including the Lhakhang, where the embalmed body of Shabdrung lies in state. Damaged four times by fire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and by earthquake in 1897, the Punakha Dzong has suffered the devastation brought by floods which sweep down valley as the snows melt in the great northern glaciers, while bridges which connect the Dzong with the fertile valley on either side were, until recent times, often completely destroyed. The Dzong has been completely restored and permanent bridges built on either side.

Until the sixties, Punakha was the winter capital in Bhutan due to its more temperate climate. Since then Timphu, which was the summer capital, has been made the only capital of Bhutan.

I posted earlier a view of the dzong from the other side of the river. Here is a "close-up" of one of the very tall buildings from one of the small inner courtyards. Notice the almost vertical stairs at the entrance.

robertosalguero, patdeph, ribeiroantonio, stiginthedump, japiey, snunney, delkoo, Budapestman, PixelTerror, zeca, erdna, Angelillo, leo61, siolaw, jhm, Angshu, atilgone, chrisnet, Henryk_Bilor, axiotea, gary91, xavshot, albertopiubello, AiresSantos, alainh, Emile, stego, noborders, Flavia, padeg, thaprem, ViktorVaughn, riclopes has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (110) 2007-10-01 22:46

Hello Vincent. The architecture of this country is beautiful. The details on this building are very attractive and there is a nice contrast with the white walls. Good sharpness an light management. The building itself is a very nice subject but the stairs look very steep :-)

Roberto

sothy81 (8540) 2007-10-01 22:51

Very nice architecture Vincent. I love the texture all over the building. Very colorful and beautiful. The inclusion of the blue sky contrasts well with the red in the building. You did a good job. Sothy

jasmis (51313) 2007-10-01 23:03

Amazing exotic architecture. Fine perspective. Excellent sharpnes and colours. Didactic note, as well.
Regards.

patdeph (18606) 2007-10-01 23:09

bonjour Vincent
quelle superbe architecture bien mise en valeur ici, grâce au cadrage serré!Les couleurs sont fantastiques,et la texture du mur blanc est bien visible.La construction se détache bien de ce beau ciel bleu,et la lumière est belle!C'est magnifique,j'aime beaucoup!
je te souhaite une bonne journée.
pascale

stiginthedump (1823) 2007-10-02 0:17

This is a fine photo of some nice architecture Vincent. The colours and details are very nice, and I'm glad you didn't include a figure in this shot. OK OK it would have given the building some kind of scale, but this building deserves to have its portrait taken by itself thus showing all it's glory!

japiey (9531) 2007-10-02 0:45

Dear Vincent.

Excellent image, a beauty in frame.
Details and tones are amazing.
Salutes, dear friend.

jean paul

snunney (35840) 2007-10-02 1:03

Hello Vincent,
A splendid capture of this magnificent architecture. Excellent point of view and good framing. The tones and detail are excellent; superb sharpness.

ribeiroantonio (22058) 2007-10-02 1:10

This must be an extraordinary place to visit and we do not know much about it. How easy/open is Bhutan for foreigners? The art work on those windows is fabulous and the entire place looks fabulous too. Well done.
Antonio

delkoo (35024) 2007-10-02 1:50

bonjour vincent
voila une belle restauration, ça à l'air d'avoir été fait dans les régles de l'art, ce n'est pas comme au Maynmar ou ils sont entrain de faire n'importe quoi et je parle seulement de restauration!!!.

didier

utkue (3420) 2007-10-02 2:59

Bonjour Vincent,
Good capture and wonderfull temples.
Contrast, colours and sunlight are very excellent in this photo.
Congratulations.
Best regards from Ankara and have a goor week.
Utku

Budapestman (43292) 2007-10-02 3:24

Hi Vincent,
Beautiful architecture image, the vertical composition is very impressive and spectacular. I like the decorative and rich details, lights are superb. Splendid shot, Have a nice day
George

prumod (8264) 2007-10-02 3:31

hi vincent...
very nice shot of this colorful old architecture... good designs on the top... you framed it well...
greetings...

PixelTerror (87195) 2007-10-02 6:22

Salut Vincent,
La forte distortion te pourrit un peu le cote droit, mais sinon c'est bien expose avec une facade lumineuse sur laquelle ces splendides structures boisees peuvent contraster, c'est vraiment magnifique comme architecture et que ce soit la capitale de l'ete ou de l'hiver, le rendu chaud du bois est tres agreable.
Bonne journee,
Jean-Yves

feather (50560) 2007-10-02 7:54

The colours and detail on the building are exquisite. Excellent light management without a trace of over-exposure on the white wall. Thanks for the link to your earlier work; it's a great help to visualise the place.
Kath

zeca (20026) 2007-10-02 10:08

Hello Vincent! Its nice to see Bhutan and also nice to know a little bit about it. This is an interesting architecture, with beautiful details. Well taken!
Regards,
Zeca

erdna (5360) 2007-10-02 13:04

A very good picture of this unique architecture. It is very different from Chinese, Japanese, India or Thailand structures. Very well seen and TFS.

Andre'

Angelillo (9067) 2007-10-02 14:07

Bonsoir Vincent,

Jolie composition, cette façade si gigantesque et très bien dècorée. J'aime bien la texture des murs, très bien capturés, la douceur des couleurs... Very nice! Merci!

Amicalement,
Angel.

Graal (59126) 2007-10-02 23:21

Bonjour Vincent,
interesting architecture and informations in note. Unusual place. Well quality of photo. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

leo61 (44112) 2007-10-02 23:58

Hi Vincent!
A good shot of this wonderful facade.The wooden balconies and windows contrast very well with the white wall and the soft sky.
Regards,leo

siolaw (25890) 2007-10-03 0:01

Salut Vincent,
Impressionnant detail de cette magnifique facade! LA texture du mur blanc est parfaite, les couleurs superbes et les details bien nets.
Le cadrage vertical met bien le tout en valeur
Joli
Laurent

carper (66132) 2007-10-03 0:24

very imposant building Vincent,
good piece of archetecture, fine details and good quality job, I like the contrast, fine job here, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

jhm (83786) 2007-10-03 3:03

Hello Vincent,

Splendid orient architecture with this wonderful front. The details are superb, also the colours and composition are very nice.
Very well done. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

atilgone (4749) 2007-10-03 3:35

Hello Vincent,
Very good details on the building are very attractive. There is a nice contrast with the white walls. Also I like the shadows on it.
tfs
atilgan

chrisnet (20378) 2007-10-03 9:24

Salut Vincent,
Très belle architecture dont le cadrage nous fait apprécier un maximum de détails, un peu de distortion à droite mais pas trop gênante.
Amicalement
Christian

gilou530 (35984) 2007-10-03 13:49

salut vincent
une maison a l'architecture magnifique travaillé, ton cadrage et la lumiére la mettent bien en valeur, beau travail
amitiés
gilbert

axiotea (16359) 2007-10-03 20:57

Bonjour Vincent
Je me souviens bien de cette belle forteresse, bien conservée... ici, c'est une belle approche et on voit bien les détails architecturaux, sous une belle lumière. J'aime bien les couleurs et la texture des murs.
Amicalement
Marilyn

gary91 (15321) 2007-10-03 22:33

Bonjour Vincent,
L'architecture de ce batiment est pour le moins curieuse et les boiseries qui entourent les portes et les fenêtres ont l'air magnifiques. Elles sont sculptées et décorées et donnent à l'ensemble une impression de sophistication discrète.
Bonne journée à toi.
Amicalement, Christian

Stepan (27175) 2007-10-04 11:37

Une bonne ambiance architecturale du Tibet, assez classique mais si typique que rien qu'en y pensant je me retrouve par là-bas... Sympa, donc...
Stéphane

xavshot (63345) 2007-10-04 12:01

Bonsoir Vincent
c'est vraiment le genre de photo qu'il faut regarder en grand format. je suis content d'avoir ouvert al miniature; Les détails de cette architecture sont beaux et impressionnants. Bravo pour ce post.
Xavier

albertopiubello (2593) 2007-10-04 12:09

Bonsoir Vincent,
me voici avecun peu de calme pour pouvoir regarder les dernières production de TE. Bien évidemment je dois commencer par le Bhoutan! J'ai déjà vu pas mal de photos de ce dzong mais ton image ajoute des détails que je suis en train de savourer!
Alberto

alainh (35391) 2007-10-04 12:13

bonsoir Vincent
sacrée destination que ce Bouthan !!
tu as du en prendre plein les mirettes sur^place comme moi j'en prends plein la vue avec cette image. c'est vraiment une autre planete.
tres chouette
amicalement
alain

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2007-10-04 12:16

Hi Vincent
Great architecture. Good vertical composition and nice light.
Regards

AiresSantos (43270) 2007-10-04 12:32

Hi Vincent
very nice view of the Punakha Dzong.
I like this kind of architecture and your POV.
Very good colours and light well managed
TFS and greetings
Aires

Angshu (34243) 2007-10-04 20:51

Hello Vincent
You've shown us this place before, yet it does not cease to amaze me...beautiful architecture & your POV pays tribute to the beauty. Rich colours on the wood contrasts well with the white of the building. Lovely work.
Regards
Angshu

clnaef (6289) 2007-10-04 23:17

Bonjour,
Quel bel exemple d'architecture locale.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Emile (20177) 2007-10-06 11:04

Hola Vincent.
Beautiful architecture captured from a good low angle in a vertical format, great details and colors contrast. very good shot.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.

cessy (13647) 2007-10-08 10:58

the architecture so wonderful with excellent details
you captured nicely with the little bit of a blue sky
very good picture

stego (22500) 2007-10-09 18:47

Salut Vincent,
I never have enough of your photos from this fabled country.
Great light and colours and very clever tight pov. The place is so dreamy...
Amicalement, José.

noborders (14201) 2007-10-09 22:39

Très belle et intéressante architecture, POV bien choisi, merci de nous faire partager des vues d'un pays qui me paraît inaccessible - quelle chance tu as !
Cath.

Flavia (10202) 2007-10-13 15:55

Salut Vincent,

J'ai vu une reportage sur les monasteres a Lhasa et ca m'ai fait pensee a tes photos qui pour moi etait les premieres images qui j'ai vu de ce pays. Le format vertical passe bien la gandiosite de l'emdroit, tous les details des pentures et coleurs du decor sont bien netes. Le pigeon est la cerise sur le gateaux!

A+

Flavia

ViktorVaughn (1517) 2007-10-22 11:18

Already many many comments on this one, so I'll just add a quick note saying that this is a beautiful photo.

I love the vertical framing and the detail in the monastery windows. It seems very peaceful with only the two birds milling about.

Regards

riclopes (33143) 2007-12-21 0:32

Since you are taking your time with your new Lao images that I want to see...
I made a tour in your gallery and found this one. It's fascinating remote place that I really want to visit one day. The architecture is fantastic and this is a very good detail. Love that entrance...those steep stairs, the decorations...really wonderful. And only two pigeons hesitating in this quiet backyard...
ric