Norway in Details [II] Photo

Photographer’s Note

Details of another wooden church.

After the Russian orthodox one in France - now the largest and most ornately designed stave church of Norway, in Borgund.

Built around 1180, having still kept an amazing mediaeval appearance, it's one of the best-preserved wooden churches and being a symbol for Norway.

I read somewhere "From a distance they look like gingerbread houses, but in reality the stave churches of Norway are incredible architectural masterpieces." - And I must agree with that strange aspect as the exterior of the original church has been treated with many layers of a tar mixture to preserve it, and inside you can also smell the 800-900 years of treatment by tar, turpentine and linseed oil...

Written by Rich Heffern:

"The roof shows beautifully the blending of architectural exuberance with the practical function of shedding snow in Northern winters. The intricate, fanciful carving on the roof ridges and the shingles arrayed like a dragon's scales are held up by massive wooden timbers like a dream supported by a solid sleep..."

= = = = = = = =

jbweasle, Michael_Gan, pamastro, Rinie_Hoff, pboehringer, Mike-Rix, marknunnerley has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Bos (619) 2005-02-02 13:33

Nice work, i like the patterns of the roof, nice angle and a good composition.

jbweasle (9294) 2005-02-02 15:29

A great detail pic, Viviane. It holds my interest well as I try to imagine the rest of the church around it. Good note too.

Michael_Gan (2772) 2005-02-02 16:21

Hi Viviane. You've created a very nice play of lines in this picture. For some reason it reminds me of the flags of the Czech Republic and South Africe. Must be the diagonals on the left. A picture like this could use just a tiny little extra sharpness (or is my monitor..?) to give it an optimum 'crispyness' and to bring out the different textures.

sohrab (7423) 2005-02-02 23:08

the pattern here is very nice viviane . black and white is interesting, although i wouldn't mind seeing this one in colour.
what i miss here is a bird sitting on the ledge on the left though.
i find patterns very nice, but i always think that if you add something more like some life, in the middle of an interesting pattern, it helps in making the photograph even better.
however i also must add that for a photograph like that you must have both patience and luck
take care :)

LeHo (809) 2005-02-03 6:26

Ha! nearly of my home, in Wroclaw(!) stay old norwegian wooden church too! I must make a photography.
Wonderfull details. My idee-fix...

joseelias (367) 2005-02-03 9:32

Amazing work on BW. The textures and shapes are perfectly rendered. The framing is also very good and balanced by placing the darker area in a strong point of the composition. Truly excellent.

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2005-02-03 19:34

Hi Viviane, this is such a beauty. Your choice for BW fits the image perfectly, I even think that colour would have disturbed the rythm here.
Te lines, going to all sides, are pretty to look at, also those of the tiles.

SophieL (6030) 2005-03-01 10:03

Is it on purpose that you have so much wood in your "Details" pictures? It sure makes beautiful patterns and textures that goes well with your B&W tones and the lines of your compositions. I like the echo between this church in Norway and the one in France, seeing both of them in a row makes me feel like I can travel very fast!
I enjoyed looking at all your "Details" pictures. Hope there will be more.

pboehringer (770) 2006-05-13 19:59

Very inspiring B&W detail of this church. I would like to see also a pic with the whole building. Do you have one?

marknunnerley (2768) 2008-03-07 3:16

Hi Viviane. I know one thing. I definately have a graphical eye and this one, especially in B&W, is my favourite. With a bit of thought, these always look good.
br
mark