City Streets Photo

Photographer’s Note

I've been flitting all over the place since joining TE, so I think it's time for a short series, which really started yesterday, of Lviv buildings. Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and a UNESCO heritage site. This shows the statue of St. Georges in the newer part of the town centre (19c rather than the renaissance central square). I don't know why Lviv celebrates this virtually unknown Lebanese soldier any more than I can understand why he's the patron saint of England, but there's lots of things I don't understand.

I liked the way the statue was in shadow, almost in silhouette against the sunlit buildings. If I'd been in TE earlier I might have noticed that changing my PoV a short way to my right would have made a much better shot, accentuating the contrast of the statue against the buildings, as well as hiding the irritating white wall where an earlier building had been demolished (though the one in it's place still looked pretty old).

Galeota, Josh69, ChrisJ, Kenny10pin, sunny, veimann, cmartos, Steely, egemenyilmaz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10334) 2004-05-20 4:04

Good note to document your photo Richard. I've just learned something about Lviv, and that's what is fantastic with TE. I like the photo but guess that the neutral sky occupies to much space. It is a bit soft to my taste and I think it could gain a bit from sharpening.

Josh69 (1427) 2004-05-20 5:35

Nice photo and good note. There seems to be a distinct lack of people walking around. I like the composition, the only slightly distracting thing is the brightness of the white building wall in comparision to the rest of the picture. Nice work.

merpb (1970) 2004-05-20 6:35

You have already made my major critisism about viewpoint Richard but the rest of the shot does indicate that Lviv is a wonderful place.

manny (21378) 2004-05-20 7:37

Very very nice! Lighting effect is very dramatic to go along with the dynamic position of the statue. Color tone chosen is very good making the shot more classic.

ChrisJ (70485) 2004-05-20 8:19

Nothing to nitpick here. The perpendicular on the right would be lost, with any rotational correction to the bottom to get the statue's podium perfectly level.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-05-20 9:44

great play with light here, I like the darkness of the statue against the bright light at the back, its fascinating, shame a part of the building is under renovation, but apart from that it is wonderful shot

sunny (3068) 2004-05-20 13:09

Very creative angle of taking, Richard! The diagonals of fine buildings at both sides meet elegantly in the middle, where is the silhouette of the statue. Light is superb. Very well done!

veimann (1250) 2004-05-20 17:27

I Russian, but the childhood have lead in Ukraine, therefore both these countries for me the native land, I do not share them, despite of a policy. (It about why I speak about Ukraine as about a single whole with Russia). Among other things, this monument also is very interestingly fixed on a pedestal, it is a pity, briefly to not tell:) And in general, in Russia and the countries of the former USSR it is a lot of monuments which as speak in Russia to keep " on the word of honour and devil's mother ";))

cmartos (6086) 2004-05-22 3:07

Excellent POV, I like it that way, and not too busy streets. The B&W process is good, very good here. Well detailed building structure and very good picture Gamma.

Steely (895) 2004-05-22 3:59

Richard, there a very vintage feel to this image, not just becos of the monotones , but also becos of the subject matter and the persective. I get deja vu feelings from it and memories of old Nat Geo and Reader's Digest mags...
Really Cool , especially with the statue taking dominant position.

Nice :)

egemenyilmaz (464) 2005-10-06 1:58

Wonderful photo, informative note... I didn't know that Lviv was such a special city. The statue is also very interesting, thanks for demonstrating it. I have never seen a horsed-statue with such a positioning. I wonder where the center of gravity is :))

My comment is to the city planners and municipalities... As in all developing countries, "cables and TV antennas" around everywhere (like the ones in the upper right corner of this photo) making the landscapes (and photos) dirty...