LOST IN THE CITY OF PILLARS... Photo

Photographer’s Note

...For it was in Irem, City of Pillars, that I did speak the Words that
opened the Gate. However, I was not the first one to open the Gate in the
City of Pillars; already in olden times sought, in his arrogance, to do so
unpunished, even the King and builder of Irem, whose name was Shaddad, he
who bethought himself capable of ruling the Spirits in the same manner as he
ruled men.
Believing himself king of kings, seduced by visions sent to him by the
Great Old Ones, dazzled by the Light of Madness, Shaddad led his people,
which was the People of Ad, to the desert; and there, upon a spring, the
waters of which had never until that day reflected a face, other than that
of the Moon, Shaddad proclaimed himself King of Kings, Sorcerer of
Sorcerers, and he spoke the Forbidden Names and the Incantation of Na seven
times seven times, through seven nights, until the coming of the Black Moon.
Then, whilst the People of Ad trembled before his madness and their priests
prayed for their own souls, Shaddad brought forth the Spirits from the
Desert and commanded them, with the Forbidden Name of Azathoth, to there
build a city. And it is said that, at the coming of dawn, Irem, the City of
Pillars, was built already. And upon the gateway of the walls of Irem,
Shaddad commanded that a hand like unto that of a giant man be constructed,
which was truly the hand that reaches out to grasp the Key to the Final
Gateway. For Shaddad, in his infinite arrogance, wished to cross all the
Gateways and impose his rule on the Outside, and be King of Kings, of
Sorcerers, and of Gods. Nevertheless, the only thing in which he emulated
the Da emon-Sultan was his unlimited and blasphemous madnes...

(taken from OF THE DOOM OF IREM -A Fragment of the Necronomicon- by Luis. G.
Abbadié)

I thank you the colaboration of Korkut for finding this fragment that gives the 'heavy' dark mood that this Gothic architecture deserves ;-)

------

Taken in the refectory of Alcobaça Monastery that I've been showing on Sundays.

The refectory was the room in which the monks had their meals everyday. While they ate, one of the monks read aloud passages of the Bible from a pulpit, which in Alcobaça is embedded on one of the walls. The access to the pulpit is done through an arched gallery with a staircase. The pulpit is one of the most harmonious architectural structures of the monastery. Like the dormitory, the refectory has many pillars separating aisles and is covered by early gothic rib vaulting.

-------------

WS1 - alternative picture taken from another angle.

WS2 - A wedding party happening in another room (dormitory) covered by early gothic rib vaulting.

manatee, shevchenko, mikolaj_kawa, besnard, papagolf21, zeynepe, ChrisJ, npecanhuk, saylan-cb, bostankorkulugu, marjan, JCG, feather, belido, josepmarin, Gerrit, alvaraalto, Cricri, stego, siamesa, chris04stop, lucasgalodoido, trekks, paura, Photo65Net, jmcl, danos, adores, Emile, Benedict, xuaxo, jafadabret, Amaz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mikolaj_kawa (31889) 2008-12-14 1:31

Bom dia Ricardo! Amazing monastery, wonderful interior. Good POV, geommetry and composition. Perfect capture. Superb effect. Good luck!

carper (66132) 2008-12-14 1:36

very nice photo Ricardo,
nice pov here, also nice that person behind, well handled the light here,
regard Jaap

besnard (31348) 2008-12-14 1:45

Bonjour Ricardo
Une très belle image dominicale de ce cloitre bien mis en valeur par le cadrage, la bonne luminosité et la présence du personnage qui donne la dimension de l'édifice.
Merci pour le partage et bon dimanche.
Nicole

papagolf21 (57015) 2008-12-14 1:53

Bonjour, cher Ricardo,
Beauté, magnificence architecturale, savoir-faire de nos aïeux ! c'est tout ce qui est montré à travers les différentes images présentées.
Cette galerie inondée de colonnes à chapiteaux soutenant les croisées d'ogives.
Je reste admiratif de ce témoignage du passé.
Très belles images.
Amitiés.
Philippe

zeynepe (9400) 2008-12-14 1:55

Sorry Ric, I can't read the note it is too long, I think you don't need any collaboration for your notes,especially the notes from Korkut:D
I am lost between the columns like the man in the image.I remember the place "Binbirdirek Cistern" in Istanbul.You captured superb graphical effects with your perfect POV and a great sharpness.
Congrats and enjoy your sunday,
Zeynep

ChrisJ (70521) 2008-12-14 2:33

Ola Ricardo

Nice repetition of the vaulted arches & bg windows, with superb lighting contrasts & good sharpness. Have a great Sunday!

tober (4138) 2008-12-14 2:39

Hi Ricardo, two years ago I made a package tour including Fatima, Nazare and Obidos. This town, Alcobaça was the last stop of the tour. However, due to my tiredness of all the day, I was so lazy to enter the inside of the Monastery, only saw the façades and returned back. Thank you for giving the opportunity to enter the inside this time :) Best regards, Tolga

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-12-14 2:48

Hi Ricardo,
Wonderful image,great compositions,very nice light,good POV.
Excellent work!
TFS/Regards

npecanhuk (15182) 2008-12-14 2:49

Olá Ricardo!
O efeito criado com os arcos e os pilares foi muito bem pensado e sua realização muito bem feita, com bons controle e aproveitamento da luminosidade interior! A foto ficou bem interessante e, com certeza, muito bonita!
Parabéns, abraços e até mais!
Neyvan

bostankorkulugu (34198) 2008-12-14 3:22

a mysterious shot taken in a mystic place... and a good note to go along with it>:PPP... okay it's a bit long but who cares... adds a lot to the mood i think... better than a link to some cheezy song!!!... loved the title also>:P...

hugs ric...

marjan (6099) 2008-12-14 3:24

hi Ricardo, wonderful motive with excellent composition,
Marjan

JCG (25875) 2008-12-14 3:28

Hi Ricardo,

A very beautiful photograph on this forest of pillars, I like much your management of the light which gives a pleasant hot color to this refectory. When I see the photograph in WS, I imagine acoustics of the place, the hubbub must be amplified I think !!! I do not know if concerts of classical music are organized here, but it must be quite pleasant… Good and interesting photograph.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

feather (50560) 2008-12-14 3:40

I love all these vaulted ceilings and am overawed to think of the medieval stonemasons building such structures with the tools of their day. It looks surprisingly light, but I see from the data you had to open your aperture very wide. Both similar ones are equally good and the wedding party adds a lot of interest. I have a Papagolfade of my own today; I'm hoping it deserves entry into your theme. ;D
Kath

belido (17185) 2008-12-14 3:43

Olá Ricardo,

antes mesmo de uma excelente foto de interior com ótima luminosidade e nitidez, uma composição de acertada perspectiva e timing. Gostei de ver o solitário transeunte entre dois pilares. Beleza pura! Obrigado pelas imagens complementares. Parabéns!
Abraço,
Carlos

edal (6611) 2008-12-14 3:49

Ola Ricardo,
I like this magestic forest of pillars. Remarkable dof and composition. Excellent details despite the difficult light.
Abraco,
Anton

josepmarin (34269) 2008-12-14 5:22

Olá Ricardo,
hay un buen grafismo en la geometría de esta arquitectura, gracias a la forma en que tu encuadre organiza las columnas en la composición.
La belleza de sus fustes, sus capiteles y sus bóvedas es impresionante, tiene un buen nivel estético.
La imagen es muy limpia y tiene una buena luz.
Un abrazo,
Josep

emka (22797) 2008-12-14 6:21

Hi Ric,

Impressive view of all these pillars. Amazing architecture of this monastery. It is wondersful in that it is so uniform in style - all white with no decorations, also in this refectory. Maybe, it should be so in the place of prayers and contemplation.

Warm regards

Malgorzata

Gerrit (36553) 2008-12-14 6:37

Hi Ricardo,
it is a sort of forest with all those pilars and the pefrspective lines that are created and broken.
The figure is well positioned.
Regards, Gerrit

alvaraalto (5305) 2008-12-14 6:56

Hi Ric,

Impressive presentation in image and in text. Very educational!
I like the lonely man who gives dimension to the hugeness of the pillars.

Groet Rob

Cricri (44115) 2008-12-14 8:43

Hola Ric
Trés belle lumiére avec une jolie teinte de l'intérieur du monastére, le POV excellent de meme que celle du WS1, j'aime l'ambiance qui régne sur le WS2 trés joli endroit pour lee mariés..
Good evening for you
cricri

jmdias (20189) 2008-12-14 8:49

ricardo

lindo local, já estive em outros salões semelhantes mas não me lembro de ter estado neste em alcobaça. lindas colunas e arcos, a luz é magnífica e o pov e enquadramento são perfeitos

abraços

jorge

stego (22500) 2008-12-14 9:09

Olá Ricardo,
Como papagolfada, é muito original. Acho que conseguiste captar bem a atmosfera mágica dessa sala. Apesar do PdV parecer casual, estou certo que não é, pois não é nada fácil que este tipo de fotos dê compos tão harmoniosas, principalmente quando se foge ao óbvio de tirar partido da simetria. É curioso como não consigo explicar porque é que gosto muito mais desta do que do WS#1, que me parece muito bem e até mostra melhor o tecto. Talvez sejam as janelas e a luz que delas emana aqui, mas acho que a perspectiva aqui tb. tem mais impacto.
Como sempre, a figura humana fica a matar.
Um abraço, José.

bantonbuju (48856) 2008-12-14 9:34

ola ric,

this is a fantastic play with light and repetitions... i'm not surprised you and others enjoy it so much, it's really enjoyable...

however - i cannot help feeling that this image is "too obvious" for such place(s) (i'm sure you know what i mean)... being there - one inevitably wants to do SUCH PHOTO oneself and have it in p'folio... and share it with the others...
bw, j.

siamesa (13415) 2008-12-14 10:06

Oi Ricardo,
Belíssima foto. A impressão é de entrar em um cenário de filmes antigos tipo daqueles com palácios de corredores intermináveis e salas gigantescas.Um clima de mistério ou mesmo religioso paira por aí. Adorei tudo.
Abraços
maria

gilou530 (35984) 2008-12-14 12:47

salut ricardo
belle gestion de la lumiére dans ces arcades avec un cadrage bien approprié et le personnage donne l'échelle bien vu
amitiés
gilbert

sacavem (8693) 2008-12-14 13:31

O titulo cabe aqui que nem ginjas,Ricardo.
Grande captura e PDV. E esta arquitectura sr. arquitecto? Inspira alguma coisa:). A mim sim, muito trabalho feito ao longo de muito anos.
Gosto muito mais desta imagem ao alternativo ws 1.Esta mostra o poder dos pilares no suporte ao tecto da vastíssima sala. O estilo gótico simples digo eu aparenta dar mais espaço porque a nossa vista não se perde em pormenores, ao contrario do estilo que mais gosto o manuelino.

Um abraço,
Filipe

chris04stop (2589) 2008-12-14 14:50

Well, this really is magic, Ricardo. A photo SO representative of...oh, my dear: our soul? Our deep desire of immensity and our poor, capability to get it? Ehi..sorry if I am flyng with my crazy fancy. I always run with my brain. Anyway, your photo is wonderful.
Anna Paola

lucasgalodoido (16945) 2008-12-14 17:50

Olá Ricardo,
bem interessante mesmo essas colunas e as formas delas, seu controlo de luz aqui ficou ótimo também, belo trabalho amigo.
Parabéns e Abraço

trekks (14336) 2008-12-14 21:32

hi Ricardo

Very fine architecture interiors with the columns and arches nicely captured here. That person is really most in the pillars.

Good clarity and sharpness.

tfs, bill

AiresSantos (43270) 2008-12-14 23:30

Ola Ricardo
Uma excelente perspectiva que nos mostra um grande numero de colunas. Gosto muito da simetria e ate da pessoa que dá a nocao da dimensao.
Muito bom o manuseamento da luz
Um abraco e boa semana
Aires

Graal (59126) 2008-12-14 23:40

Hi Ricardo,
unusual place, great architecture, good presentation and note. Fine complementary WS. Well photojobs. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

paura (39608) 2008-12-15 1:44

Ricardo,
penso que deve ser um bocado trabalhoso fazer um desenho em perspectiva daí... A imagem é linda e vc ainda conseguiu um eficiente ajuste de iluminação.

Abraço

Paulo

Photo65Net (43106) 2008-12-15 3:55

Hello Ricardo,
Super architecture, and I like the way you used its curves.
Beautiful image,
Have a nice day,
JB.

Juntas (3692) 2008-12-15 4:02

Olá RIcardo. Bela foto com luz perfeita e uma perspectiva bastante interessante. A presença humana dá-lhe umtoque especial sim senhor. Para mim seria mais uma candidata ao belo clarify: By the way, andei a pesquisar e pelo que vejo não existe mesmo alternativa a esta ferramenta. Pouco tempo, este fim de semana e baldei-me à papagolfada :-(. Abraço. Paulo

jmcl (14183) 2008-12-15 20:11

Hi Ricordo,

nicely composed .. beautiful and thoughtful tone and light ... really moody Gothic vastness .. very nice. wonderful place well seen and presented. take care, John

Angshu (34243) 2008-12-16 1:26

Ola Ricardo
I was looking for a 450D shot! Interesting troica of posts here. Indeed you've posted this one as the main post where the light is the most challenging. The deep vaulted ceilings are excellent & how they flute out from the top of the columns. Excellent my friend...And where on earth does Korkut get all these stuff!
Best Regards
Angshu
PS : I note with interest Jerzy's comments. You're right...to striving for a 'different' picture, one has to be alone & with time to experiment

John_F_Kennedy (32340) 2008-12-16 4:57

Interesting interior of this intersting architecture, pleasant colours and light. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

danos (33730) 2008-12-16 5:03

Ola Ricardo,
difficult shot under low lighting conditions but successful with the good management of the light.I like the lot of pillars as the shape of the walking man between them.Finally all the monks behaved with the manner that you describes in your note, during the dinner.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

adores (15841) 2008-12-16 16:53

Olá Ricardo!
Mais uma bonita foto de Alcobaça! Esta perspectiva está excelente. Gosto de ver este arcos e o homem caminhando calmamente. A luz também está perfeita.

manatee (4299) 2008-12-17 15:52

Muy, muy buena foto, las columnas o pilares sn increibles, la prepeticion de ellas te dan una sensacion de estar en un bosque de columnas y se entrelaza lo arquitectonico con lo natural y hasta pareceria algo sobrenatural.

La persona caminando nos ayuda a entender mejor la latura de las columnas.

Gracias amigo por tus foots y tu exelnete punto de vista.

El Workshop es bueno y la nota tambien

Saludos

Emile (20177) 2008-12-20 21:51

Hola Ricardo.
Impressive monastery with so many interior arches perfectly built, good POV and perfect sharpness, wonderful composition. Light and frame are very good. Your two WS are also very well captured.
TFS.
Best regards.

shevchenko (10192) 2008-12-21 23:15

Hi Ricardo,
Good pov to show the complicated structure, fantastic color and lighting, distinct indoor image, well done.
Merry Christmas my friend !
Ally

Bluejeans (33423) 2008-12-23 11:07

Oi Ricardo ,
Belo ângulo de visão com os pilares em diagonal , os detalhes dos arcos ficaram magnifico , bom controle de luz ,interessantes os WS, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom Natal

Benedict (7062) 2008-12-24 20:34

hi ric,
enchanting column repetitions with the lone human element adding to that mystic appeal. merry christmas!
Benedict

xuaxo (5911) 2008-12-27 5:51

Gosto desta. No WS1 as pessoas têm um aspecto mais modernaço, que não condiz com o ambiente.
Acho que quem manda nisto devia pôr qualquer coisa neste espaço, umas réplicas de mesas e cadeiras, sei lá.
Agora alugarem isto para casamentos (WS2) é que eu não sabia nem estava à espera. E a empresa que faz os casamentos devia investir mais qualquer coisinha em cadeiras decentes. Num lugar destes cadeiras de praia de plástico!! Nas tendas das "quintas de casamentos", tudo bem, agora aqui é uma extrema falta de bom gosto (para não dizer pior).
Estou a imaginar o que diria o Prof. Hermano Saraiva ;-) Uma vez ouvi-o a criticar severamente o "mobiliário moviflor" que puseram numa pousada num castelo ;-)
Cumprimentos,
..-. .-. .- -. -.-. .. ... -.-. ---

jafadabret (40651) 2009-02-20 0:38

Olá Ricardo.
Cette photo de ce réfectoire est très belle. Belle maîtrise de la lumière et excellent graphisme de ces arcades et de ces voûtes d'une belle couleur miel.
Amicalement,
Jacques

Amaz (7914) 2009-08-12 2:15

Extraordinária arquitetura, Ricardo!!!
Perfeita tomada e boas cores!!
Muito interessante anota sua, também!!!

Belo registro!!!

Parabéns,