The Västgöta footbridge, a photo from Uppland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

This is another photo taken in central Uppsala along the Fyris River. The narrow footbride is called Västgötaspången. It was a bridge in this place already in the 13th century. In a map from 1770 there was still a bridge here, but in a map from 1858 it was gone and replaced by ferry services. The present bridge was built in 1862. The bridge was called the Malin Bridge in those days which comes from Malin Grönbeck whose father Carl Eric Grönbeck donated money to the bridge.

The present name of the brigde, Västgötaspången, a name that was not officially established until 1944, comes from Västgöta nation which is situated at the western end of the bridge.

Västgöta nation is red building partly shaded by the tree. A nation is a society for students at the University of Uppsala. Västgöta Nation is a nation for students from the province Västergötland in the south western part of Sweden. There are 14 Student Nations in Uppsala. The student nations are almost as old as the University itself. Västgöta Nation that was founded in 1639 has 1 200 members. It is one of the smaller nations at Uppsala. The Nation has extensive cultural activities including three choirs, a theatre club and an orchestra.

The next building to the right of Västgöta Nation is the Kaniken which was built in 1902. Between 1902 and 1973 Kaniken was a printing house run by Almqvist & Wiksell. Today it houses offices, dentists and a cinema. Further down the street there is another student nation, Norrland’s Nation.

bukitgolfb301, bukitgolfb301, PaulVDV, danos, pajaran, maloutim, Longroute, Jakab, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (63580) 2011-10-09 13:22

Hello Ulf,
I remember the building of the Västgöta nation (you have posted a picture of it before) and the bridge with the flowers from my visit in July. I have been looking for reflections in the water when I was on that spot but they weren't on their best at that time. Later that day the weather changed and created beautiful reflections elsewhere along the river. Reflections of the cathedral, of the houses along the river and of the bridges. There are so many bridges over the Fyrisån.
Your picture brings back some good memories of Uppsala. I like the composition, the excellent light management and the reflections in the dark blue water. The guy with the red jacket adds colour to the picture. If the Västgöta nation building wasn't partly in the shade of the big tree it would also stand out with its bright red colour.
Best regards, Paul

stevesaba (8167) 2011-10-09 14:05

Hi Ulf!
A very beautiful photo indeed. The flowers hanging from the bridge and the reflections are wonderful. There is a warm light at play here, and the buildings in the background are beautiful as well with the warm red hues. Perfect clarity throughout with the blue sky complimenting everything! Altogether a very pleasing photo. Warm regards,
Steve

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2011-10-09 14:40

Hi my dear Ulf

Sorry for my late reaction as always, as I have been so busy this week.
This your new posting is so vivid colored image.
Great reflection is marvelous.
Perfect framework and complete composition are so nice as usual.
Sharp and clear presentation is comfortable very much.
Thanks for sharing with your finest work and have a good start of week, Best regrads.

Takero from Tokyo

holmertz (103762) 2011-10-11 11:13

Hej Ulf,
This is also a very fine picture with excellent sharpness and colours. The reflections are fantastic and we can be grateful to the person who arranged those hanging flowers. Personally I am also grateful to the guy in red who stepped into the picture as you were probably waiting patiently for someone like him. The Kaniken makes a very good background. I love those old industrial buildings.
Hälsningar,
Gert

pablominto (53746) 2011-10-11 23:48

Hello Ulf,

This is autumn at its best...!
A bright and calm day, when the sun still provides some warmth in the middle of the day...
The point of view works well, looking along the river, as the fine architecture is mirrored in the water surface..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

DjoleEric (0) 2011-10-12 4:17

Hello friend.
Beautiful photos.
A good display contrast and photography.
The perfect moment shot.
I love the picture.
Have a nice day.
Djole.

danos (110407) 2011-10-13 1:18

Hello Ulf,
nice the view of this vertical format,with the reflections to make the scene so effective.I like the creative perspective as the great light and colour management.

Have a good day,Danos

pajaran (117233) 2011-10-13 22:47

Dobar dan.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o mestu ...
Dobar snimak sa refleksima na vodi, lepa fotografija.
Dobra ostrina snimka, kontrast i perspetiva, lepe boje.
Lep most ukrasen cvecem.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan sa lepim vremenom, kod nas hladna jesen sa kisom.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Google.

Good day.
Very interesting and good article on the site ...
Good shot with reflections on the water, beautiful images.
Good shot severity, and perspetiva contrast, beautiful colors.
A beautiful bridge decorated with flowers.
Have a nice and successful day with beautiful weather, in our cold fall with rain.
All the best.
Paja.

Atousa (7131) 2011-10-16 9:52

Salam Ulf,

Great colors n clarity in this shot.. I really like its peaceful atmosphere n also the lovely reflections.. very well done.. tfs
Best regards, Atousa

maloutim (13617) 2011-10-20 12:53

Good evening Ulf,
I am enjoying this series about different parts of Uppsala !
I love the composition here of the little footbridge adorned with flowers, and the reflections in the river.
The presence of the student with the red sweater gives some dynamism and adds a pleasant touch of colour.
Best wishes.
Marie-Louise.

Longroute (19600) 2011-10-27 4:01

I had missed this one... and I can see now that is was much deserving. You have chosen well the pov and the place showing an interesting old architecture illuminated by a lovely light but the real protagonist of the photo is the wonderful reflection, so vivid and gay and which gives much depth to the image. And of course the bridge with its flowers and the boy with the red jacket are fine focal point. Excellent clarity and very good colours.
Another corner of good old Sweden which inspires serenity.

TFS,
Donato

mkamionka (75273) 2011-11-02 14:59

Hi Ulf,
very charming scene from this lovely town.
You have found a nice POV to include the reflection in water, it adds a lot of interest here.
Very well done,
M

Jakab (3867) 2011-11-15 14:37

Hello Ulf!
It seems as if it were taken in spring and not in the autumn! (The trees, the flowers, the sky, the colours evoke a springtime mood, at least in me.) The excellent reflection gives a special accent to the main object, the bridge, since it is the optical barrier between the real and the reflected world. (Without this composition the bridge would probably be unsignificant in the foreground of these great houses.)
Very good solution, my compliments!
Laszlo
P.S.: The photo seems to me a bit tilt, see WS. But this is not a real fault. And the short description of the student society in Uppsala is very interesting - well, old university, rich traditions.

[workshop] [compare]

sacimar (38173) 2011-12-01 7:24

Hello Ulf,

this is an interesting picture, I like the reflection game and the man walking through the bridge, well seen and composed,

Best regards,

Sergio

adores (46979) 2011-12-04 13:25

Hi Ulf!
You were really lucky to have that person crossing the bridge. His red coat makes all the difference. The composition is very good and the colours also.I like the reflection and specially those flowers decorating the bridge.

ikeharel (114777) 2013-09-22 2:48

Good morning Ulf,
Marvelous decorated iron-bridge with the flowers, over the river. Also, with a notable reflection on a bright day.
DOF and clarity, along with great vivid tones, made this photo so beautiful.
Have a nice Sunday,
Ike