OXFORD... MAGDALEN TOWER Photo

Photographer’s Note

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford University

Where the name "Oxford" comes from has been lost in the mists of time. It could have been a site where in Saxon times oxen could ford the river, or maybe where the patron saint of the town, St. Friedeswide, ordered her beasts of burden, "Ox, go forth!" In any event, by 1167 scholars were known to congregate, and confer. By 1249 the "college system" had emerged, with the first of the colleges University College having been chartered. Over the subsequent centuries, the university saw countless other colleges established (at last count the number of college that comprise the great university stands at 39). One of the richest and best known of the colleges is 'Christ Church' — who, among its members, included the 19th century mathematician Charles Luttwidge Dodson, who using the pen name, 'Lewis Carroll,' wrote 'Alice in Wonderland.' He was also a pioneer photographer who produced a beautiful portrait of Dean Henry Liddel's daughter, Alice.

The view is of the Isis River, which, as it meanders through the countryside, is really the Thames, passing through Oxford. The beautiful tower in the background belongs to Magdalen College. The actual park area is Christ Church Meadow.

I was a member of the department of theoretical physics at Oxford University, and it was in the 70s that I shot this now 'ancient' photo. I was using a camera called the Miranda, and the film was the very slow Kodachrome-25 slide film.

siolaw, jaywalker, Ertan, delic, stego, Yar, salvator, Aliza, meltemi, emjleclercq, Angshu, BWJ has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

siolaw (25882) 2007-01-16 23:30

Hello Bulent
Nice to see older photos too,Good POV and compo, vertical framing is well adapted to that view, a good scan
Laurent

jaywalker (12401) 2007-01-17 3:28

Hi Bulent, Very nice composition, i like the natural framing by the tree at the top, love the reflection, excellent colour & light, TFS kind regards Wilson.

delic (6735) 2007-01-17 12:40

Hi Bulent,
Very nice framing of the tower. Ideally, I would say tripod and graduated neutral density filter, but I doubt you were in a position to take all that much time when you shot the picture. I'll check if you have a drawing of the same area.
Best wishes,
Hakan

levocan (2253) 2007-01-18 13:27

Bülent bey;
Elinize sağlık.
Sudaki yansımalar hoş

missninja (495) 2007-01-19 5:43 [Comment]

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stego (22500) 2007-01-19 19:24

Hi Bulent,
Your photo archive is a real treasure trunk!
It's beautiful, with that charming tower framed in all those trees and its tip reflected on the lake.
It's a pitty the definition isn't better, but for a scan of an old photo is great.
TFS, Cheers, José

boonie (777) 2007-01-20 17:52

Hi Bulent
Thanks for rescuing the old slides and scanning and posting. Nice reflection in the river. Be interesting to see the same capture with your D70.

Dan

Yar (795) 2007-01-21 9:53

Hello Bulent,
as usually nice and educative picture from you ;-)
very nice reflections, good view of the tower
thank you

salvator (18979) 2007-02-06 3:28

Hello Bulent Bey,
The composition, the pov are superb. So are the colors and the beautifull reflections in the water.
Best regards. Salvator.

Aliza (592) 2007-02-27 8:21

Merhabalar,
Sudaki yansimalar çok hos görünüyor.
Güzel bir kompozisyon, elinize saglik.
Aliza.

emjleclercq (14620) 2007-03-12 18:31

Of course, colors in th top of the picture are far from perfect due to the scan, but there are much better in the bottom and give a beautiful reflexion of the tower. But your framing is very good here.

All the best,

Emmanuel

danos (33680) 2007-04-06 4:17

Hello Bulent,
It's a wonderful graphical place and very creative composition.Your point of view gives such fine lines to your composition with wonderful view from the river.The colours and the depth are great.Well done.
Regards,Danos

meltemi (9746) 2007-05-15 12:59

Hello Bulent,
nice, serene photo. Beautiful light and sky. The big tree accentuates the greatness of nature. Fine reflections in water. Beauty is surrounding us all, and the lucky ones are those who can notice it.
Warm Regards.
Stella

Angshu (34219) 2007-12-20 20:52

Hello Professor "A"
Always good to see your old posts. Here the light is harsh on the Magdalen College tower. In fact the reflection of a part of the tower in the FG waters, look so much better. Well done with the framing with the branches of the tree on the left. As always your note is a treat to read.
With Warmest Regards
Angshu

BWJ (1777) 2009-05-20 17:21

Hello Bulent,
What a wonderful landscape scene with excellent perspective of Magdalen Tower and the surrounding Christ Church meadowland. A truly magical site with exquisite lighting, shadows, and reflections. Well done. I also like your note.
Kind regards,
Betty