Photographer's Note
The unique value of Tallinn’s Old Town lies first and foremost in the well-preserved completeness of its medieval milieu and structure, which has been lost in most of the capitals of northern Europe. Since 1997, the Old Town of Tallinn has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Its powerful defensive structures have protected Tallinn from being destroyed in wars, and its lack of wooden buildings has protected it from burning down. But it is also crucial that Tallinn hasn’t been massively rebuilt in the interest of dispensing with the old and modernising the town.
Tallinn is one of the best retained medieval European towns, with its web of winding cobblestone streets and properties, from the 11th to 15th centuries, preserved nearly in its entirety. All the most important state and church buildings from the Middle Ages have been preserved in their basic original form, as well as many citizens’ and merchants’ residences, along with barns and warehouses from the medieval period.
The golden era in Tallinn’s history lies in the period between the early 15th and mid 16th centuries. Tallinn had attained fame and a powerful role in the Baltic Sea area through its membership in the Hanseatic League. Economic might carried with it both the need to defend the city and the opportunity for a rich period of architectural and artistic creativity.
The Tsarist Period
From the time that Peter the Great captured Tallinn in 1710 until just after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, Tallinn was under Russian Tsarist rule. Though the Baltic Germans still played a dominant role in town life, the Russian empire brought its own customs, architecture, and the Russian Orthodox religion, all of which heavily influenced the development of Tallinn through the 18th and 19th centuries. The most lasting remnants of that era are symbols of the Tsar’s power and extravagance, such as the magnificent Kadriorg palace and surrounding parks, and the symbols of the empire itself, such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Tallinn's Soviet Legacy
Estonia was first occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, then by Nazi Germany in 1941, and again by the Soviets in 1944. The country remained occupied, forcibly integrated into the USSR, from the end of the war until the country regained its independence in 1991. During that time Soviet rule left indelible marks on Tallinn’s landscape which today serve as reminders of the powerful regime that once exercised tight control over every aspect of life in Estonia. They’re also fascinating places to visit for foreign guests interested in that chapter of the world’s history.
(Source:travelbaltics & Tourism.Tallinn)
Critiques | Translate
adelune
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 169 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2008-03-02 1:23 [Comment]
smarcell
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1672 W: 62 N: 1474]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(19965) 2008-03-02 1:29
A nice atmosphere and view, but I would crop half of the green in foreground. I think it is too much and it moves the attention from the roofs and the street.
Regards Stefano
besnard
(59196) 2008-03-02 1:30
Bonjour George
Une vue plongeant intéressante sur tous ces toits rouges. Tu as bien cadré la maison au coin des deux rues.
Merci pour le partage et bon dimanche.
Nicole
hatti52
(12786) 2008-03-02 1:31
Hi George,
wonderful POV
excellent colours and perspective
have a nice sunday
regards
jurek1951
(42198) 2008-03-02 1:45
Hi George,
Nice shot with vivid colours.great composition and nice sharpness too,interesting architecture.
Georg
ChrisJ
(172436) 2008-03-02 2:05
Bonjour George
A superb downward pov, with excellent colour & sharpness. A good, informative note, also. Tfs!
snunney
(130967) 2008-03-02 2:07
Hello George,
Very good point of view looking through the gap between the roofs down to the little square. The couple in the foreground are a nice touch. Stefano's suggestion of cropping some of the grass in the foreground would help strengthen the composition even further I think. Nevertheless not a major issue. Very nice colours and clarity.
TGULUMSER
(13252) 2008-03-02 2:31
Hello George,
A very nice, clear atmosphere. The colors are beautiful. Your POV is excellent,
Have a nice sunday,
Best regards,
Tulay
Tue
(93458) 2008-03-02 2:52
Hi George,
This is a very cleverly composed photo. Great view down the hill to the city with no sky included. The grass in the foreground was a great inclusion to add a more quiet part in contrast to the dynamic view of all the lines of the houses. I like very much the many reddish hues of the roofs. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars
chrkont
(4005) 2008-03-02 3:00
Hi George
Your photos of Estonia are all beautiful. Nic composition with the lines of the roof point to the center. Great POV and details. I like the color and the people of the foreground, where it seems to have big slope. TFS
Regards
Christos
Gustaw
(21670) 2008-03-02 3:47
Hi, my friend!
And next photo from Estonia. Very interesting conception. I like your oryginal composition. I like your colours - res and green. Good light. Interesting old architecture. Well done.
Marek
UnTrained
(0) 2008-03-02 7:54
Szia George,
very good high POV with a great impression on the resulting view. I like the impression of a view of something being a bit hidden or secret. Fine architecture well added with some life. Good sharpness.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf
mesutilgim
(0) 2008-03-02 8:12
Hi dear George,
Wonderfull pov and great compo. Very nice light management and perfect notes as allways.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM
ahaberal
(6469) 2008-03-02 9:51
Hi George
wonderful POV
excellent colours and perspective
regards
asim
carper
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 9444 W: 441 N: 18]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-s.gif){kind=small}
(96) 2008-03-02 10:53
it's a fine one George,
I like your pov with the red and the green and the fine details, very nice to look at, good photojob, have a nice evening.
gr. jaap
leo61
(0) 2008-03-02 12:21
Hi George!
The amaount of forground is OK for me and works well for the composition.
Great POV and interesting perspective here.The few people add a lot to the image.
Regards,Leo
paura
(25802) 2008-03-02 13:28
George,
A nice POV to show all this interesting architecture shapes. Colors are beautiful and DEP very nice.
Well done, friend.
Paulo
TopGeo
(38220) 2008-03-02 15:31
Hi George! excellent shot!Impressive the frame. Important picture with good colours and forms! good the corner and the place of view.
Georgios
ifanik
(21679) 2008-03-02 15:52
HI Dear George
An other beautiful shot from you
Very well done my friend
Best regards
Nick
Photo65Net
(43144) 2008-03-02 22:29
George,
The POV here is very interesting, and I like the way you composed the picture, with nice use of the green FG, and of the red/pink roofs.
Overall a pleasant one,
Regards,
JB.
Graal
(103040) 2008-03-02 23:23
Jó napot George,
good POV and fine captured place. Amazing red roofs, fine sight at down. An interesting architecture and informations. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander
jjcordier
(79299) 2008-03-03 0:30
George
Joli POV et très belles couleurs. Une photo très agréable à contempler.
Amicalement
JJ
John_F_Kennedy
(43797) 2008-03-03 0:45
I have a similiar picture of this corner - great reminder, Thanks. Great capture, very nice composed. Greats colours on the roofs. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim
izmirli
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2746 W: 0 N: 428]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(3989) 2008-03-03 1:21
merhaba dear george
wonderful composition and wonderful interesting roofs.lovely picture.well done my friend.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.
Cretense
(68709) 2008-03-03 11:26
Hi George!
Fantastic urban "landscape" you chose an excellent POV and a great framing! Beautiful perspective, vivid colours and the people adding life, make this photo a trully remarkable one! Congratulations!
Hercules
berek
(50518) 2008-03-03 13:39
Hi George,
I like red and green combinations. lovely atmosphere . interesting point of view. have a nice evening.
Burak Erek
hay_kes
(31439) 2008-03-03 22:36
Hi George,
Very good architecture.Excellent POV and perspective.Well done.TFS.
Regards.
Have a nice day,
hAyAti
evanrizo
(462) 2008-03-06 0:27
Good morning George,
the POV you used is superb and it gives with this frame a stunning composition.
Is a very good idea to include the green part in the front with the people sitting there with the reddish roofs works very good.
The strongest effect-plus is the view of the corner facade of one building between the view of the roofs.
A really great work.
Cheers
Evangelos
Angshu
(56760) 2008-03-20 8:43
Dear George
A good top view of the rooftops, almost like a jigsaw. The V shape almost pulls our eyes to the troika sitting there. But I guess cropping of the green FG could have made this more effective. Well done!
Regards
Angshu
Photo Information
-
Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 8900 W: 3 N: 20435]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(82620) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2005-08-06
- Categories: Vida Diária, Arquitectura, Arte
- Camera: Canon Ixus 50
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Tema(s): Tallinn, The picturesque medieval city [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2008-03-02 1:18
Discussions
- To smarcell: Atmosphere (1)
by Budapestman, last updated 2008-03-02 01:54
