An embrace or a stranglehold?, a photo from Siem Reab, West

Photographer's Note

‘Beng Mealea - An embrace or a stranglehold?’

By the stranglehold I mean my first photo in the WS.

For my main photo I chose a view similar to my previous picture.
However, a slightly wider view and more windows are visible.

The photo here was taken shortly after my previous one. But the sun was shining a little brighter. There was more light and I liked to show the difference between the black & white version and the other version with limited colours.
I guess I should have shown this photo in the WS of my previous photo. At first I only wanted to show the b&w picture. Afterwards I started to like this one too.

Several members wonder if the trees and their branches in Beng Mealea are just keeping the ruins up or making them collapse sooner. Hard to say. In the very long term, I think it will only harm the constructions.

jhm, holmertz, jean113, ktanska, ricardomattos, Fis2, pierrefonds, ChrisJ, jemaflor, Royaldevon, COSTANTINO, clic, mcmtanyel, adramad has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (211738) 2021-03-15 10:14

Goedenavond Paul,

Bij het bekijken van uw toegevoegde foto vind ik de *Altered Image #1* de aller mooiste
Zeer gedetailleerd scherp en goed van inhoud.
Maar ook uw hoofd foto is van goede kwaliteit, ook zeer gedetailleerd
Heel mooi fot werk, bedankt.

Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John

Tue (93592) 2021-03-15 10:57

Hallo Paul,
De schaduwen zijn heel mooi hier en ook de kleuren en dan met name de blauwe en gelige tinten zijn heel aantrekkelijk hier. De takken en de spijlen voor de ramen zorgen ook voor mooie vormen in de compositie.
Lars

holmertz (103732) 2021-03-15 11:03

Hello Paul,
Three more photos of the Indiana Jones category. What we see of the architecture, and even more the artwork, is superb, but I am sure there were dozens of other temples in the area that were just as impressive. It's the trees and their roots that make the difference and create this exciting atmosphere.

As for Vietnam I was also amazed to find so little bitterness after the suffering and losses during the war. I also met Americans who said they were never treated with any hostility, and I sometimes had an impression that the young generation hardly knew about the war, or at least didn't care. Could it be a way of "saving one's face" to never express any grief or hard feelings to foreigners? Or maybe it's like you had heard: "We won, so we have our pride and can move forward".

In 1995 I met the writer Bao Ninh, whose novel 'The Sorrow of War' had caused a minor sensation a few years earlier for being the first realistic Vietnamese description of the war and the sufferings of the people. It's like officially the country wants to leave the misery behind and go steadily forward. The war is nothing that should be talked openly about.
Best regards,
Gert

pajaran (117201) 2021-03-15 11:18

Pozdrav.
Lepa stara arhitektura, interesantno drevece, dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici, lepo pokazane rusevine i drvece, lepe boje i kontrast.
Lepe rusevine i fotografije.
Zelim vam lepu i mirnu noc, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja

jean113 (28349) 2021-03-15 11:23

Hello Paul, there is a lovely dappled light falling across the stone work, probably shadows from a nearby tree, whatever it is, it has produced a lovely effect.
I wonder how long it has taken for the trees and plants to take over the buildings?
Three excellent pictures.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

ktanska (45126) 2021-03-15 12:05

Hi Paul,
I really like colour variations on the wall. So I think this is better than your previous B&W upload. Play of sunshine and shadow looks good too. The tree branches are special of course.
Kari

ricardomattos (17600) 2021-03-15 12:49

Hi Paul

I am always impressed by the strength of these roots that, instead of going to earth, embrace everything they see ahead. It looks like a horror movie scene (hehe ..) .

Best regards

Ricardo

Fis2 (172083) 2021-03-15 13:42

Witaj Paul!
An excellent set of photos, works of art surrounded by nature. I like windows, this is my favorite topic.
Good frames, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (223103) 2021-03-15 14:01

Ciao Paul, an other great view of impressive roots on ancient temple, excellent clarity, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (115677) 2021-03-15 16:41

Bonsoir Paul,

La photo de l'atelier et celle-ci montre que les arbres ont envahi le temple. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails ce cette partie du temple. La lumière donne de belles teintes aux couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

ifege (49617) 2021-03-15 21:57

Hi Paul
The sun gave you some unusual colour patterns on the ruins for a good interesting photo. Good strangled WS too.
cheers
Ian

ChrisJ (172442) 2021-03-15 23:47

Hallo Paul,

At the moment its an embrace but in 50-100 years time it will be a strangle hold. We have strangling figs in Australia.

https://www.cairnsholidayspecialists.com.au/shared_resources/media/curtain-fig-tree---atherton-tabl-36674_360x537.jpg

The distinctive window style adds interest. Tfs!

lousat (140070) 2021-03-16 0:08

Hi Paul,another great report from this site not often visited by tourists comparing with Angkor,3 great example of love amonf trees and old architechtures,all are beautiful but the main is a materwork,very well done! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

jemaflor (148368) 2021-03-16 0:09

Salut Paul,
On retrouve cette façade avec ces ouvertures avec cette vue plus large. Intéressant effet impressionnant avec ces tiges tentaculaires, la mousse ou les lichens donnent un effet de teintes sur ce mur, en n&b c'était très bien aussi, merci du partage.

Royaldevon (86564) 2021-03-16 8:26

Hello Paul,

Three more fine shots of your exploration of Beng Mealea.

The light and shadows on your main photograph play really artistically on the ruins and on the window decorations, whilst the branches of the trees seem to be trying to find a way in! In reminds me so much of the story of Sleeping Beauty!
From the w/s, there is no doubt, this is a stranglehold! In a few more decades, without interference, the ruins will be swallowed up by the vegetation!,

The bas relief is delightful. I imagine when the temple was used for worship, these would have been much more defined but weather and Nature take their toll.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jmdias (116635) 2021-03-16 12:12

paul

amazing these artistic windows, the trees added a special touch of texture. the last WS looks like if an alien monster had swallowing the building. very beautiful images of this monument.
PS: what part of southern brazil you visited ? I presume it was a trip for work, usually the foreigners only visit iguassu falls while visiting the 3 southern states of brazil. a pity, but our "typical" views are concentrated in other regions.

take care

jorge

COSTANTINO (117940) 2021-03-16 23:26

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
original version
the title is well chosen
the right timing...
strange presentation
of another world
regards
costatino

mkamionka (75255) 2021-03-17 5:35

Hi Paul,
this window seems familiar indeed, here in a wider context and full of color. Nice series of photos.
It is certainly a very interesting combination of ancient ruins and nature. Nature clearly is able to recover what was taken from it. I wonder whether long after all humans are gone the nature will be able to recover yet.
Very nice reportage,
M

clic (76) 2021-03-18 9:10

Bonjour Paul
Votre supposition en fin de note me semble plausible: Un arbrisseau a grandi juxtaposé à une imposante roche sur le terrain de notre ancienne demeure et voilà qu'adulte, ses racines l'ont fait pivoter d'un quart de tour.
Ci-haut, peut-on accuser ces racines-lianes d'avoir facilité la fugue d'un dragon!
Si oui, telle preuve de complicité est joliment localisée sur une ligne de tiers verticale pour une imagerie fort agréable.
Amitiés

foxy (3547) 2021-03-18 15:01

Hello Paul,
I would definitely say ...it's an embracing of nature, it's what its meant to be in Beng Mealea.
In the very long term, it'll only making it more 'Mystical and Alive'. Anyway, it's already in the 'ruins'. I do believe that the the trees and their branches ....stranglehold it even more stronger.
I do like Bas-reliefs ....they are kind of very alluring , like seducing with the natures :-)
Thanks for sharing this 'embrace' in colours.
Loong

mcmtanyel (69384) 2021-03-18 19:33

Hello Paul,
I like the various hues on the ancient walls.
Regards,
MT

kasianowak (17676) 2021-03-19 16:41

Interesting question indeed... Maybe those structure would no longer exist without the roots holding them? Or maybe they are in such a bad state because of those?
I really liked your b&w image of this sort of window it looks lovely in colour too, especially with the delightful play of light and shadow so glad you started to like it eventually. :-)
Have a nice weekend
Kasia

adramad (73498) 2021-03-23 13:43

Hi Paul.
A great composition with these windows so well preserved, artistic work on those carved bars, it is impressive to see the roots as it seems to want to devour it.
A magnificent range of colors, in very attractive tones.
Good job. I Like it.
Have a great day.
Greetings.
Luis.

worldcitizen (16234) 2021-04-09 12:35

Hello Paul,
The splash is color does make this scene different, and I like that. Still, we see some missing pieces on the left, and the branches covering part of the facade. It's seen better days, but still speaks of history and what was. I hope you're doing well. Take care!