ANGELS AND DEMONS Photo

Photographer’s Note

ANGELS AND DEMONS

Over the past weekend I saw the new film “Angels and Demons,” based on a thriller by Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code.” In the film, the four “preferiti” — cardinals who are finalists to succeed the newly deceased Pope — are all kidnapped. The plan of the conspirators calls for the ritual sacrifice of the cardinals at four ordinal points around Rome. The murdered body of the first of the prefereti is discovered in the Augustinian church, Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo. Constructed between 1472-’77, the magnificent church displays contributions from a number of Renaissance masters. Featured is a façade by the 17th century sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini; the interior walls are adorned with paintings by Caravaggio and Annibale Carracci. Raphael Sanzio, who also decorated the dome of the church with mosaics, designed the private Chigi Chapel, located in one corner of the church.

While briefly visiting Rome last August, I was in the Santa Maria del Popolo enjoying the artwork, when suddenly a small group of young priests entered, and were guided to a corner chapel. It was extremely dark, the ISO on my camera was set at a mere 200, and I had no time to change it to a higher value. But that did not matter to me at the moment as much as just recording that atmosphere resonating with contemplation and inspiration. I had to tease out this view from a dark image, a process that resulted in the graininess, and a touch of pointillism. Having said that, I would urge you to see the ws performed on this photograph by Dan Kohanski. Thank you, Dan.

Warm regards to all TE members, especially to my Roman friends.
Bulent

carper, Tue, papagolf21, Emile, zeca, judesta, BWJ, Wandering_Dan, jhm, jaywalker, stego, ymrk, paololg, Henryk_Bilor, shevchenko, meltemi, Cretense, ChrisJ, Bluejeans, Vasa, Jakab has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

daddo (11324) 2009-05-25 7:00

Merhaba Bulent Bey. Pointillism and earnest devotion- an interesting combination. I like your euphemistic and clever terminology for the graininess as much as I like the atmosphere of quiet and reverence. I suppose that there are times when one has to shoot and ask questions later (a policy that should be applied only to photography and not as a foreign policy). Selamlar. Klaudio.

carper (64638) 2009-05-25 7:23

Very nice atmosphere here my friend.
a flash was be nice here, little joke. no very good composition, fine capture this with your original note it's complete, fine one Bulent, have a nice day.
regard jaap

Tue (25608) 2009-05-25 11:26

Hi Bulent,
A really good photo from this church, I find the vertical composition very good. The lighting is actually very pleasant and there's a very nice atmosphere in the photo. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

papagolf21 (56251) 2009-05-25 11:30

Bonsoir, mon bon ami Bulent,
J'ai beaucoup aimé le titre ! Cette photo s'apparente à une image d'un vieux magazine avec son grain.
L'ambiance est joliment restituée.
Quel beau voyage !
J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance générale.
Amitiés.
Philippe

stelli (2941) 2009-05-25 11:43

What a coincidence; I saw the movie with my son this weekend too!! I liked it more than the Code although I thought it was filmed at a slower pace! Your picture reminds me of my visit to Rome in 2006 which was memorable! Walking through history and seeing it nontheless! Thank you for sharing this moment, "art" in pictures is not panacea!!! Regards Stella

Emile (19913) 2009-05-25 19:51

Hola Bulent.
I haven't yet seen the movie although they are showing in our theaters in my country, I prefer to wait for the DVD to see it in my house. I think if you had increased the ISO on your camera would have appeared more noises, maybe you used flash which produces more but I think it goes very well with your composition which it's very good. Your shot is magnificent.
Best regards.

zeca (20026) 2009-05-25 21:06

Hi Bulent!
Well, I saw the movie last friday! So, for me this post is even more interesting now. Its a pity you had the settings to ISO 200, but it happens, we know. The picture couldn't be the same without the priests, and you did well capturing them anyway. Its why is good to capture in RAW. TFS!
Regards

MLINES (10870) 2009-05-25 22:35

Hi Bulent, A very timely image, as the movie is just being announced. It has a lot of character about it. Well cropped to include many different elements. I'm looking forward to visiting Rome next month for the first time. Your images and notes on Italy have given me a lot of interest. TFS. Murray.

judesta (992) 2009-05-26 0:11

Hi Bulent
At first I almost thought this was a painting, the grainy effect fooled me. Your note as always gives a good explanation and setting the scene. It is a beautiful photo with a lot of detail and character and interesting body language of each of the priests.
Cheers
Jude

giorgimer (21070) 2009-05-26 0:36

Hi Bulent,

the PP added a mistrious mood to the shot, this is a good link to the title. I'm not a great fan of that writer but I'm a fan of Rome ;)

TFS

Gio

rikko77 (6014) 2009-05-26 0:40

Hi Bulent
the right pic in the right moment! Who are the angels? And who are demons? ehe...maybe that marble statue on the left knows it... Have a nice day, we wait for you in Rome ;-)
Rikk

azaf1 (15541) 2009-05-26 2:22

Good morning dear Bulent bey

I think the noise fits perfectly well the atmosphere and even a b/w version might have brought the real feeling of the moment. What I like is the way you have associated it with the note and the film

Have a lovely day and TFS
Argiris

windosil (768) 2009-05-26 6:30

It was the low-key colouring that attracted me to this thumbnail, Bulent. It is a very peaceful scene, but with a certain tension in the straight backs of the priests. The statue on the left seems to have a sardonic smile as he watches them. The two patches of gold bring attention to the curved wall with its painting, and bring out the golden shades there.
Well worth 'snapping' when you had the chance!
Best wishes,
Winifred

Silvio1953 (41557) 2009-05-26 10:56

Ciao Bulent, I never see film, but your photo is a splendid composition and I think more fascinating than Dan Brown's bok, very well done, ciao Silvio

BWJ (1771) 2009-05-27 7:18

Hello Bulent,
This remarkable shot of the Santa Maria del Popolo is an exquisite work of art. You very successfully captured the ambiance and beauty of the church. The young priests with their backpacks and the gentleman in the hat seem completely absorbed and are great subjects to bring intrigue to the scene. It is a composition of extraordinary excellence and your timing is perfect with the movie “Angels and Demons” just released!
Kind regards,
Betty

Greg1949 (8507) 2009-05-27 7:26

Bulent, actually there is a lot of detail in this one for being dark, a really fine shot once examined closely. Fine work like we have come to expect from you. Keep up the good work professor.

Greg

emka (21261) 2009-05-27 7:50

Hi dear Bulent,

How the times have changed. The same movies comes to the screens at the same time more or less all over the world. And I still remember that we had to wait sometimes some years till they came to Poland. But then I went to the movies to see them all, and now I usually see some years later at home in TV... I haven't seen this new Dan Brown movie. Is it worth seeing?

Interesting photo of Santa Maria del Popolo, specially becasue of this group of young priests. Nice atmosphere. maybe a little dark, but I do not care, there are so many details to see. I like the photo very much.

Warm regards

Malgorzata

Wandering_Dan (3213) 2009-05-27 9:49

Merhaba, Bulent -

A neat decisive moment! But, tell, me, who are the demons here? :-)

I hope you don't mind, but I was moved to try a bit of WS on this photo to see if I could bring out a bit more light while still keeping the grainy pointillism you got here.

Best,
Dan

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Fis2 (45687) 2009-05-27 13:29

Witaj Bulent!
A very interesting scene.
Curious place.
Good reportorial photo.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

trekks (14262) 2009-05-27 18:41

hi Bulent

A bit unusual to see from you to get this grain and slight UE although I cannot comment much on the lack of photo info.

But the visibility of this pp effect is showing the spontaneous moment of the visitors in black and with camera.

You are allowed to have camera and shoot inside here?

tfs, bill

jrj (34779) 2009-05-28 1:51

I like the darkish setting you have here Bulent and the special effect by just seeing the back of the guys - they must sure be out on some 'secret' mission there hehe..
Dan Brown is probably one of the most ballyhoed writers of our time - but of course looking for secret legions, alliances etc etc all under a cover of hidden religious agendas for sure does the trick. But I must admit his books as well as all the look alikes for sure may contain some exciting plots and reading.

I was looking for some exif dates, but not there I think - wondering about the ISO..
Good idea and work in this one..

jhm (82319) 2009-05-28 11:46

Hi dear Bulent,

I find your title extraordinarily nice, thank you very much for the excellent note. .
Very impressive with intricate detail and wonderful warm colours
Sharpness and clarity are superb and good presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Photo65Net (43084) 2009-05-29 4:00

Hello Bulent,
Great indoor image.
I like the technicals here, and your compo is very pleasant.
Have a nice day,
JB.

jaywalker (12190) 2009-05-29 12:00

Hi Bulent, Although your camera was set at the wrong ISO & there is a lot of noise, the shot is still well composed, I like this religious theme & the tight crop works superbly, I have also seen Angels and Demons & loved it, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

anesugur (16818) 2009-05-29 13:50

Merhaba Hocam,
Kitabını okudum ama filmini henüz seyretmedim.
Paylaşımınız için teşekkürler.
İyi bir hafta sonu dilerim. Uğur

stego (22350) 2009-05-30 11:03

Hello Bülent,

The technical and aesthetic qualities of this photo are below the high level you used us, but it is still a very worthy image, namely as a presentation of the church and the situation, quite appropriate to evoke the film. The noise/grain actually isn't so bothering and despite it we can perceive the fine details of the stone work and painting.

I wonder why I have never read the book, as I am pretty sure my wife has it. Maybe you gave me a suggestion to holidays reading. :-)

Kind regards,
José

ymrk (8639) 2009-05-31 3:12

Güzel bir anlatımla birlikte,farklı ve dikkat çekici bir başlık.Elinize sağlık hocam,selamlar ve sevgilerle.

Yağmur

cigdom (2232) 2009-05-31 7:35

Merhaba sevgili Bulent Bey,
Melekler ve Seytanlar kitabını okumustum ve cok guzeldi bence bu fotograf da kitabi kadar guzel olmus. Paylasiminiz icin tesekkurler.
Saygilar, sevgiler

Cigdem Yavuz

ifanik (20518) 2009-06-01 3:56

Hi Bulent
Very nice photo my friend
Well done
Best regards
Nick

paololg (13643) 2009-06-01 6:28

Ciao dear friend,
I like the combining of this image to the film, because it gives a feeling of mysterious mysticism. Don't worry yourself for the light, because often, inside the churches, the obscurity is a pleasant characteristic that helps the concentration to the prayer. You have had a good idea, compliments!
Ciao, have a beautiful week!
Paolo

Henryk_Bilor (20365) 2009-06-01 23:14

Hi Bulent
This is the church I didn`t manage to visit three days ago, because of a big amount of shops on via del Corso :). Excellent work, moody picture.
Have a nice day.

P.S. I`ve got something special to you, but a bit later :).

shevchenko (9872) 2009-06-02 2:42

Hi Bulent,
I'm not yet watch this movie, seem we are here more interest with the Terminator series. This kind of scene always come out in western movie, I like the old mural and artistic design of interior walls, thanks for sharing.
Ally

meltemi (9746) 2009-06-02 4:49

Hello Bulent,
I think this image gives the exact feeling coming from the book, as it could easily be its cover. This picture is poignant and intimate, giving a real insight into the lives, the religion and the relationship between the priests. It is beautifully composed with all the elements arranged in a very pleasing and interesting manner.
All the best.
Stella

Uhu (7374) 2009-06-08 0:52

Never understood this, why all the excitement about these books - of this author. Just a thriller, quite original maybe, but still... Oh well!
Photo are very good - with a quite -how to say - awaiting mood, like they all have different things in mind but still stand this way.
Great work!

Cretense (55848) 2009-06-08 8:40

Hello, dear Bulent!

Great photo, with brilliant atmosphere and great "connection" with the book and the film! Excellent composition and framing, nice light managment, there is some "noise" in the shadows, but that's just a minor detail! Congratulations!

Warm regards,
Hercules

zmey (7244) 2009-06-12 7:43

Merhaba Bulent

I see all the good praise here, but to be honest, personally I am not sure what to make of this post. Probably, the reason is my ignorance. Ok, you are showing the interior of Santa Maria del Popolo to us in a decent and straightforward manner, while managing well the low light.

However, the the fact that all the priests are shown with their backs to the viewer cast a very casual, impersonal and even snap-shotty overlay, marginalizing the impact of the image.

A very informative, insightful note as usual.

With kind regards,
Kristaps

ChrisJ (70125) 2009-06-14 7:03

Merhaba Bulent Bey

Missed this one. Good sharpness, colour, framing & exposure indoors. Sounds like a rivetting movie. Have a nice week!

Bluejeans (32083) 2009-06-15 9:51

Ola Bulent,
Ficou interessante esta tua foto no interior desta igreja , os detalhes de arte sacra são magníficos , boa inclusão das pessoas na foto , bom enquadramento , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Vasa (5454) 2009-06-17 1:17

Dear friend Bulent,

recently I had the similar picture. Great motif, nice seen and realized. This time my greetings from the south of Serbia. Friendly your

Branko

AiresSantos (41970) 2009-06-18 23:10

Hi Bulent
Beautiful picture with this small group of young priests.
Despite the noise as you had described, we can see fine details
TFS and greetings
Aires

berek (28871) 2009-06-25 21:03

Merhaba Bülent bey,
Hakikaten film karesi gibi olmuş. bakıldığında hem sakin hem detaylarda bir çok şeyin gizli olduğu bir kare . soft renkler ve dengeli kadraj çok başarılı.
sadece 4 ağustos bende dolu gibi eğer vaktiniz olursa mutlaka 9 una kadar olan sürede tekrar görüşmek isterim. eee bir yılı tamamladık seneler çobuk geçiyor. eşinize çok selamlar.
Burak

Angshu (33607) 2009-07-01 22:15

Hello Professor "A"
Like your tem pointilism in this context of the digital noise! While I have seen Dan's WS, which definitely is an improvement overall, I did not like how the fresco in the BG has been flattened by the Noise reduction software. The picture has an interesting context with the film. Nice picture but an even better note!
With Warmest Regards
Angshuman

Jakab (3466) 2009-09-24 4:45

Hello Bülent,
I did not read the book of Dan Brown (therefore the title does not tell me much) but I like this church and the scene captured by you is interesting.
As for the post processing: what do you think of my version?
Best whishes
Laszlo

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