Photographer's Note
City, Gate, Mao and translation
About the Gate of Heavenly Peace
Placed at the souther of the Forbidden City, is reached via seven marble bridges across a small moat.
Meaning (translation from Chinese)
Gate of Heavenly Peace has become the symbol of Beijing and, indeed, the People’s Republic
It is the only public building in the city still to display the portrait of Mao on the outside
To the left of this portrait is a sign in Chinese characters: “Long live the People’s Republic of China.”
The sign on the right says, “Long live the great unity of all the peoples of the world.”
Source : My notes and some information obtained in Travel Chine Guide
The photo
I know it is not simetrically perfect, it was because I wanted to capture the wide arch through which one enters the complex and there was a huge box at the very middle
Critiques | Translate
rigoletto
(34279) 2013-11-07 11:23
such a different photo of this legendary palace! i don't remember seeing any night shots from there, indeed. the lighting looks quite humble compared to many other fancy illumination techniques they use in big cities, i guess this is much better to protect the old. i could have hardly noticed the asymmetry, if you hadn't pointed to it.
jemaflor
(148094) 2013-11-07 11:56
Salut Maria,
Un imposant monument bien cadré avec cet effet de symétrie et parfaitement valorisé par une excellente capture de la lumière, bravo !
Antipodean
(666) 2013-11-07 12:49
Kia ora Maria (greetings from New Zealand),
a nicely composed good clear night shot. Well doen. Cheers, Neil
siudzi
(34141) 2013-11-07 12:50
Hi Maria,
The night presentation of this well known building looks really superb and it was managed very well with good exposure and sharpness. The achieved result ( including symmetrical composition:)) is impressive. Like it a lot! Well done.
Best,
Gosia
mkamionka
(75009) 2013-11-07 14:06
Hola Maria,
I wanted to write that I like this perfect frontal symmetry but then I read your note saying that it is not perfectly straight :) You must be a perfectionist!
It is a very original presentation of this famous structure.
Excellent work!
M
PaulVDV
(63432) 2013-11-07 14:45
Hello Maria,
Your beautiful night shot is definitely a different approach of the well known monument.
Excellently executed.
Best regards, Paul
fabbs99
(17179) 2013-11-07 22:30
Hello Maria,
Thanks for your good wishes on Diwali. Excellent here of the Gate of Heavenly Peace.Excellent POV and perspective, beautiful colors and light, good sharpness.The colors are fine and the sharpness is excellent.TFS.
Regards
Farhat
ikeharel
(114435) 2013-11-08 3:43
The most known palace in China, stunning pic. at night, maria, with extraordinary clarity and immaculate outlines.
As you know, Beijing nowadays is under heavy has, dust and mist - all combined to the worst pollution in town's history. So, you may consider yourself lucky.
Fabulous view on.
Buen dias,
Ike
No_One
(4) 2013-11-08 5:14
Hi Maria,
Wow and wow on this, what an amazing place, and a perfect capture of it that you share,. The light around the roof of the temple looks beautiful and otherworldly, while the light that you caught here is so vibrant. Taking in the view across the bridge, which allows superb depth, this is a fantastic shot.
Cheers as always
Noel
EstudioChispa
(2182) 2013-11-08 10:17
Que padre foto! (Se dice "que padre" en el sur? O está un Mexicanismo? -- significa "muy bueno").
Estoy sorprendido por los números -- con ISO 400 y f/2.8, pensaba que habría sido una velocidad de obturación mas largo que 1/25.
Y su decision estar un poquito al lado fue correcto. El equilibrio no es un problema.
Danos una escena muy exotica, un lugar muy lejos... Gracias!
Russ
Austin, Texas
subhendu_bagchi
(26091) 2013-11-08 10:24
nice night capture. Love the view of this palace with such dark background. Interesting one. So good. Tfs.
S
Cricri
(176) 2013-11-08 12:18
Hola Maria
Excellente précision dans le cadrage, la prise des lumière, netteté et l'architecture fort intéressante, belle présentation
Belle soirée
Bise
cricri
mcmtanyel
(69063) 2013-11-08 12:44
Hi Maria,
Such crisp, noise free night photographs always impress me. Add to that the perspective of the illuminated walls and the colorful signs, you have here a winner. Congratulations & TFS. BTW, did you use a tripod?
Regards,
MT
ChrisJ
(172372) 2013-11-08 15:02
Hi Maria,
I've been there but not at night. Excellent graphism and superb sharpness. I was a astounded to read about the Uighur terrorist attack here just this week where they crashed a car through the crowd and ignited it. I'm glad we both missed that bit of drama! Good color combination and have a great weekend!
Romano46
(18472) 2013-11-09 1:24
Ciao Maria
una foto perfetta, stringata, essenziale nella quale ogni elemento che non è utile è stato tenuto fuori.
Una foto quasi stilizzata nella quale la composizione è perfetta anche per la scelta di un punto di ripresa che esalta la simmetria.
Luci e colori gestiti in maniera perfetta.
Una eccellente testimonianza del tuo viaggio in Cina.
Complimenti
Ciao e buon fine settimana
Romano
abmdsudi
(95869) 2013-11-09 7:29
Hi Maria
I like the contrast and vibrancy of to pitch-dark sky, good exposure-work. This one certainly very interesting to see capturing an aspect of China. I think you are a bit unfortunately as the forbidden city seems such a desolate place without people presence except Uncle Mao! Good photo works, Congrats
Best regards
danos
(110407) 2013-11-09 10:32
Hola Maria,
great the night view of the well lighted gate of Mao,with the middle pedestrian to creates depth in the scene and lead-in the eye on the hanging portrait of Mao.I like the quality as the details we can see in the photo.
Regards,Danos
worldcitizen
(16226) 2013-11-09 12:27
Hello Maria,
This is a beautiful night view. I like the black background, and the outline of small, white lights around the temple. The exposure is wonderful, and the white writing on the red background really jumps out, too.
josepmarin
(59385) 2013-11-10 5:08
Hola María,
Buena toma nocturna de la famosa Puerta de la Paz Celestial en la Ciudad Prohibida, con un eficaz encuadre, en el que has logrado una profunda perspectiva del Puente hacia ella.
La imagen de Mao preside el lugar, y me gusta el buen efecto visual de la iluminación de esta bella arquitectura.
Excelente trabajo.
Un abrazo,
Josep
ourania
(51103) 2013-11-10 8:44
Hola Maria,
I agree with the priority you gave to capturing a comprehensible and elegant view over a plain symmetrical composition. There's wonderful sense of depth and you've used the luminous perspectives effectively. I thought that from this point of view Mao seems to be looking straight into the camera but this portrait is probably one of those that the glance follows you wherever you go:) I like very much how the Gate is outlined and defined by luminous lines, details and colours on a deep dark canvas. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely Sunday,
Ourania
Didi
(61589) 2013-11-12 10:24
Ave Maria
Ici je note un parfait contrôle des lumières avec une intéressante perspective symétrique
Bonne soirée
Bises
Didi
adramad
(73376) 2013-11-17 8:02
Hola Maria.
Una foto muy representativa de las imagenes que nos llegan de China, magnifico trabajo en esta captura nocturna, que nos muestra perfectamente los contornos del templo con la linea de luces, la foto de Mao focaliza bien el plano.
Buena luminosidad y nitidez, con un optimo color.
Bien captado.
Pasa una buen domingo.
Saludos cordiales.
Luis.
yquem46
(38752) 2013-11-20 10:09
Hola Maria
Juste de retour d'Argentine !
Un super voyage dans un pays très attachant, nous allons y revenir sûrement
J'étais quelques dans le quartier des antiquaires, on aurait pu (ou dû) se croiser !
Belle image nocturne de ce fameux endroit. beaucoup de clarté dans l'image et une excellente définition
bonne journée, amicalement
patrick
adores
(46979) 2013-11-20 14:38
Olá Maria!
Gosto do pov e da simetria! Uma boa foto nocturna deste local. Estive aqui há cinco anos, mas durante o dia. Parece-me que o local vale bem a pena à noite também. Bem conseguida!
adidas5nb
(5743) 2013-12-03 17:58
this surely is an amazing pov.love the angle and the symmetry in the frame.great light management and framing.neatly done.
regards
dwaipayan
jcpix
(14030) 2013-12-18 17:33
Bonsoir Maria,
Ca va mi amiaga? :) I'm starting to really get confused with the multiple languages...I can barely understand English most days!? jaja
Impressive black hour shot, you've really extracted some sharp detail out of the lighting, which sets very well against the flat black. I certainly wouldn't worry about perfect symmetry, in fact, had you not mentioned it in your note I probably wouldn't have even noticed....I'm more drawn to the outline of lights and detail within.
All in all, I'd say it's balanced and smartly controlled. A simple enough scene, but presented in a manner to be rather intriguing. Thanks for providing the translation of signs too, it helps us foreigners better understand the location and building.
Warm wishes from the "pasty" side,
Jason
Glad you enjoyed the short video clip of the hump day camel...makes me laugh every time. ;)
Oceania
(5202) 2014-02-10 6:33
Hi Maria,
This is such an iconic place for Chinese people. The picture was very well taken. The night view on your picture is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
jmdias
(116307) 2014-07-22 17:58
maria
una maravilla de encuadre con buen uso de los elementos. me gusta el contraste de colores y la luz perfecta que contrasta bien con el cielo negro. un bello trabajo.
saludos
jorge
Waylim
(25436) 2014-08-28 10:38
Hi,
Saw this one at random display and was drawn to it. This take me back to the time when China when under such strick control by the Communistic Party. Amazing how the world has changed since than, to think that there was so much happening in this square, demonstration and history.
Excellent night shot. How you get this shot without any people in it is amazing.
Way
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Maria Ocampos (nikkitta)
(17070)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2011-06-16
- Categories: Arquitectura
- Exposição: f/2.8
- More Photo Info: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Date Submitted: 2013-11-07 11:18
Discussions
- To mcmtanyel: Not tripod because.. (1)
by nikkitta, last updated 2013-11-08 02:17 - To abmdsudi: Not at all (1)
by nikkitta, last updated 2013-11-09 05:05 - To yquem46: San Telmo? (1)
by nikkitta, last updated 2013-11-20 03:08