Peterhof Palace, a photo from Saint Petersburg, Northwest

Photographer's Note

Peterhof Palace

The magnificent Peterhof, summer imperial palace of Peter the Great, is located on the Gulf of Finland on Baltic Sea about 18 miles from Saint Petersburg. The Palace constructed in 1715 sits in 1500 acres of formal gardens and parks. Its 173 glorious fountains are fed by underground springs that are 14 miles away.

The palace was almost in ruins following World War II. However, many photos allowed reconstruction. Peterfof is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Foremost of the fountains of Peterhof is the Great Cascade. Arriving from St. Petersburg by boat, one gets off on a long pier at the end of the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal cuts through the woods surrounding Peterhof leading directly to the front of the palace. As you proceed, you begin to notice something big and colorful at the front of the palace, the Great Cascade. It is created in Baroque style and is more impressive than the palace. At its base is a large pool with rock platforms crowned by golden statutes spouting water thirty to fifty feet in the air to the top of the palace. The fountains operate by a system that is run entirely by gravity.

The picture is a portion of the Great Cascade. I remember it as being one the most impressive and most beautiful fountains I have ever seen. Please take into consideration it's from a scanned slide of a picture I took in 1995.

paololg, belido, subhendu_bagchi, kordinator, pajaran has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

batalay (41261) 2010-02-14 18:28

Hello Betty,

The set of Greco-Roman style statues makes a most elegant ensemble to show of the cascade. The water does appear to fall in cascades from one level to he next. I have the image on my screen as 9 1/2 inches high by 8 1/2 wide, and the resolution is quite good. This is a successful scan and post-processing effort. I visited the city as Leningrad in 1990 and as St. Petersburg in 2002. Unhappily, I did not take an excursion out to the Peterhof, and I can see what I missed.

Warm regards,

Bulent

serp2000 (47063) 2010-02-14 21:35

Zdravstvuj, Betty,
I have visited this beautiful place in 2002. Fine composition and excellent historical object. TFS!
Serghei

mafegan (8626) 2010-02-14 22:06

Hello Betty
Interesting to see more baby-boomers posting scanned images from the past. This is a good scan with all the colours in tact. I visited Peterhof on a trip to Leningrad in 1973 - unfortunately when I returned to St Petersburg in 2006 I didn't have time to revisit the summer palace. Brings back memories and so tfs, Marlene

paololg (31448) 2010-02-15 13:50

Ciao dear Betty,
excellent work with the scanner! The statues, in the typical Greek style, create a beautiful scene enriching this splendid fountain. Good POV, that allows us to also appreciate the architecture of the Palace. Compliments!
Ciao, have a nice week!
Paolo

foozi (7101) 2010-02-16 23:42

Hi Betty,
wow...what a place wuith excellent statues and you have presented it in a very surreal style. The people and the intricate work of art, on the ballustrades, the window sills and the fountains of course.
the are well depicted and elaborated in a beautiful composition.
Nice presentation of this place.

Regards,
Foozi

belido (19934) 2010-02-17 7:13

Hi Betty,

very nice shot! The tight framing works pretty well in here. I see some nice details of the statues and the beautiful architecture in the background. I can't see any other format better than this. Simply great!
Regards,
Carlos

fabianoleite (13575) 2010-02-22 10:27

Beautiful details of the palace, forming a great pattern, being the water a great feature. Congratulations!

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2010-07-25 11:08

Namaste Betty,
it is really a great architectural palace. You captured it very well with the sculptures at foreground. The quality of this photograph is superb in every aspect like light / colours / sharpness and depth. Very well done. Tfs.
Best wishes
subhendu

kordinator (8738) 2010-08-09 1:18

Hello Betty
Beautiful details of the palace.
Fine composition and excellent historical object.
It is really a great architectural palace.
High quality paper with beautiful colors and contrast effects.
Hugs
Saša

pajaran (104923) 2010-08-31 21:51

Pozdrav.
Mnogo lepa fontana ...
Majstorski rad starih majstora, mnogo lepo mesto i kipovi koji krase fontanu, dobar trenutak snimka, mnogo lepa fotografija.
Uzivanje je gledati, daje mir.
Sve najbolje, zeli vam Paja.

Google.

Hello.
Many beautiful fountain ...
A masterful work of old masters, many a beautiful place and statues that adorn the fountain, a good time recording, a lot of beautiful photos.
Enjoy the view, gives peace.
All the best, wish you Paja.