X-mas in Haarlem Photo

Photographer’s Note

X-mas in Haarlem

My next post is again one taken in the night. It was taken in the centre of my hometown Haarlem, at de Grote Markt (Big Market Square) with a view on de Grote Kerk (Great Church), de Vleeshal (Meat hall) and the traditional Christmastree.

De Grote of Sint Bavokerk (the Great or Saint Bavo Church) was built between 1370 and 1520 in the Gothic style of architecture.
The church has some famous bells and the legend tells that the two upper bells are taken from the Egyptian city of Damiette (in Dutch Damiate and the bells are called Damiaatjes). Knights from Haarlem took the bells from Damiette during the 5th crusade. Since 1561 the bells ring every single day from 9pm to 9.30pm to commemorate the victory by the knights from Haarlem in Egypt. But they also indicate the closing of the city gates.
Famous is the organ in the church, the Müller-organ. It was built between 1735 and 1738 and when it was ready, it was the world's largest organ. In 1766, the 10-year old Mozart played on the organ.

With this Christmas/Night photo from my hometown Haarlem I would like to wish you all Fijne Kerstdagen/Merry Christmas!

My next posts will be Winter in the Netherlands. :-)

carper, dip, Paolo, riclopes, jhm, feather, Silvio1953, NellyD, Didi, UlfE, emjleclercq, syd1946, jafadabret, bertolucci, atus, dorte_s_t, paura, TopGeo, Emile, alvaraalto, Henryk_Bilor, siolaw, Gerrit, jaywalker, AiresSantos, lilimih33 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (65696) 2007-12-23 3:28

lars, hij is mooi,
prachtige avond foto geheel in kerst sfeer, mooie kwaliteit zeer fraai fotowerk.
Ik wen jou en je familie een prettige feestdagen toe.
groet Jaap

dip (12850) 2007-12-23 3:50

Hi Lars,
very beautiful night shot from the centre of Haarlem,excellent lighting and POV,
Merry Christmas!
Dimitris.

Paolo (40755) 2007-12-23 4:02

Hi Lars, good one, with beautiful colours and a well managed light for a night view.
good quality too.
thanks, ciao

riclopes (33135) 2007-12-23 4:40

Olá Lars, excellent night capture from your hometown and a very good one for Christmas time. I like the way the tree and the façade next to it seems to be flirting with each other, while the higher tower at left observes from a distance if they don't cross the line ;-)
Bom Natal / Merry Christmas,
ricardo

jhm (83352) 2007-12-23 4:52

Hallo Lars,

Goed geschikt moment om deze foto te presenteren dit juist voor kerstmis.
De kerstboom siert het plein en de verlichting van de gebouwen en de toren laten er geen twijfel over bestaan dat uw nacht foto van grote klasse is.
Zeer mooi gedaan Lars, bedankt voor uw bezoek.

Prettige kerstdagen en een gezond 2008
John.

feather (50154) 2007-12-23 6:13

Beautiful Christmas night shot Lars. I love how the shape of the tree is echoed in the facade to its right and the tower of the church. I wonder why the rest of the church isn't lit.
Fijne Kerstdagen to you and your family
Kath

danyy (69465) 2007-12-23 8:23

Bonjour Lars,
une grand place prête pour les fêtes, tellement grande qu'elle parait difficile à remplir, il y a en effet peu de monde et cela enlève beaucoup à l'esprit festif du lieu.
Une superbe capture nocturne , nette , avec de belles lumières et un ciel sans bruit.

Merry Xmas to you and family.

Daniel.

UnTrained (0) 2007-12-23 9:27

Hej Lars,
that is a Christmas light on the church, very pleasant, the tree is beautiful placed. Thanks for giving me knowledge about a Dutch wish to Christmas, therefore also to you and yours Fijne Kerstdagen/Merry Christmas!
Fröhliche Weihnachten, Ulf

xavshot (63133) 2007-12-23 10:15

Bonsoir Lars
très belle gestion de la lumière dans cette photo. L'ambiance de Noël est bien transcrite. j'aime beaucoup l'équilibre de ton cadrage. Bravo.
Xavier

NellyD (1872) 2007-12-23 10:28

Hoi Lars,

Dit is een prachtige avondopname en je hebt een heerlijke kerstsfeer vastgelegd. Mooie kleuren en licht en een mooi uitzicht.
Bedankt en hele fijne feestdagen!

Groetjes, Nel

UlfE (9180) 2007-12-23 12:19

Hi Lars,

This is excellent Christmas card. I love the contrast between the dark roof of the church and the illuminated tower. Also very good placing of the Christmas tree. Perfect sharpness. I wish you a Merry Christmas

Ulf

emjleclercq (14514) 2007-12-23 13:45

Great seasonal view, with the christmas tree and the church in the background. A perfect choice for the period.

All the best,

Emmanuel

syd1946 (17965) 2007-12-23 22:28

Hi Lars,
Very beautiful image with the amazing light and the great handle of it.It is great example of a very beautiful Christmas photo,not only for the tree in front.Very atmospheric!

Happy Christmas for you and your family!

Thomas

jafadabret (40325) 2007-12-23 23:47

Lars bonjour.
J'aime la manière que tu as de nous présenter tes voeux avec cette superbe vue agrémentée du sapin décoré devant la ville illuminée. Les couleurs et la composition sont excellentes.
Meilleurs voeux et Joyeux Noël !
Jacques

bertolucci (12014) 2007-12-24 0:08

Hej Lars, de St Bavo is heel vast mooi gelegd, slechte gedeeltelijk verlicht en versterkt zo de compositie waar de kerstboom centraal staat op een fraaie manier. Een hele mooie plaat!
Prettige Kerstdagen!
Bert

pablominto (41372) 2007-12-24 0:30

Hello Lars,
This is a fine Christmas presentation!
The church and the tree... symbols for different parts of the celebration but both important!
Seasonal greetings from Norway,
Pablo -

A PEACEFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

:-) OK-

Didi (36452) 2007-12-24 1:29

Hi Lars
Interesting composition for Christmas circonstance.
Very nice goldes coulours.
I suggest a WS just for more contrasts.
Merry Christmas.

[workshop] [compare]

Budapestman (42844) 2007-12-24 1:32

Hi Lars,
Fabled atmosphere with amazing details. Beauiful!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Friendly Regards
George

markstaples (15670) 2007-12-24 1:36

A really beautiful Christmas shot with spot on exposure. I like the way you have composed it to include the whole of the church which makes a pretty impressive image. Nice work Lars and Merry Christmas
Mark

atus (15476) 2007-12-24 2:17

Hi Lars,
very well captured and nicely conposed shot, perfect for a Christmas postcard. Well managed light conditions and excellent the pov chosen.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Attila

dorte_s_t (2285) 2007-12-24 4:11

Hi Lars .
A wonderful motif for your Christmas greetings !
Very evocative and a nice atmosphere . Great point of view also !
Interesting note as well !

Merry Christmas to you too .
I wonder if your next post ( winter ) will be a snow covered landscape :o)

Regards
Dorete

paura (39306) 2007-12-24 4:30

Lars,
Beautiful composition here. The lighting are really nice in this composition. Interesting building and x-mas tree. Excellent job, Lars.

Abraços

Paulo

TopGeo (22231) 2007-12-24 4:37

Hi Lars .
A wonderful picture for your Christmas greetings! very beautiful night shot from the city of Haarlem.Very good reception and beautiful note. Wishes in all and Peace everywhere in the Earth
I wish you a Merry Christmas
Georgios

jonathan_hart (22627) 2007-12-24 6:17

hello :)
excellent POV and good exposure, very well done, good photojob
merry christmas
jo

Silvio1953 (42869) 2007-12-24 7:24

Ciao Lars, superb Christmas composition with splendid tree, great light and wonderful colors, very well done, ciao Silvio
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Emile (20127) 2007-12-24 12:14

Hola Lars.
Beautiful Christmas scene with the huge Christmas tree and the impressive architecture of the Great Church, nice night shot with great colors and light. Very good composition. Well done.
Merry Christmas to you Lars and the rest of your wonderful family.
Best wishes.

alvaraalto (5303) 2007-12-24 12:27

Hallo Lars,
Mooie nachtfoto met mooie mysterieuse details van onze oudste kathedraal. Uitermate geschikt voor de kerst.
groet Rob

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2007-12-24 14:57

Hello Lars
Beautiful lights. Nice place and composition.
Merry Christmas

batalay (21205) 2007-12-24 17:31

Hello Lars,

A first rate image to celebrate Christmas. You have conceived the scene exquisitely and exposed it flawlessly. Warm regards, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Bulent

siolaw (25832) 2007-12-25 2:43

Hi Lars,
The lighting is quite spectacular here giving an eerie touch to the magnificent and dark church...I like the colors of the FG houses!
Merry Christmas to you and family!
Laurent

jmdaoudal (82) 2007-12-25 23:48

Been to this one of your fazther, i like also here the Belbry and the classical photo of Architecture offered.
The monument is interesting and the Market in this position is a reminiscence of the middle ages uses.
Well done
I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Jean Michel

Gerrit (36287) 2007-12-26 9:52

Dag Lars,
mooi gezicht over dit majestueuze plein. Ik vind de korrelige donkere delen van de kerk heel aardig.
Goeie feestdagen,
Gerrit

Graal (58732) 2007-12-30 0:09

Hello Lars,
beautiful place and Christmas tree, good night shot. I like it.
Happy New Year for You!
Aleksander

jaywalker (12308) 2008-01-01 12:53

Hi Lars, A beautiful Christmas photo, this wonderful church overlooking this great tree creates a superb shot, you have managed the light very well, excellent detail & TFS, kind regards Wilson.

AiresSantos (42924) 2008-01-11 4:48

Hi Lars
I missed this one in my holidays time. It's a nice view of the Haarlem. Beautiful colours and a well managed light for a night view.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Aires

lilimih33 (9874) 2008-01-24 14:43

Hello Lars!
Really lovely Christmas tree and beautiful night atmosphere!
Great colours and very good light!
With delay, Happy New Year!
Best regards!
Lili

Stepan (27175) 2008-02-02 23:37

I don't recongnize Notre Dame, but despite that, it's OK. A good graphism thanks to the parallel between the tree and the clock tower. Well composed.
Stéphane