Photographer's Note
Versailles was the unofficial capital city of the kingdom of France from May 1682 until September 1715 and then again from June 1722 to October 1789. During the entire period, Paris remained the official capital city of France, and the official royal palace was the Palace of the Louvre, but in practice government affairs were conducted from Versailles, and Versailles was regarded as the real capital city. Back in 1623, Louis XIII - father of Louis XIV - built a 'hunting lodge, a little gentleman's chateau' of brick, stone, and slate at Versailles. The king liked it so much that he soon had it enlarged by his 'royal engineer and architect', Philibert Le Roy. Then from 1661 to 1668 the young Louis XIV had his own architect, Louis Le Vau, embellish the residence. From 1668 to 1670 Louis Le Vau built the 'envelope', which entailed wrapping the old chateau in a second building whose uniformly white stone facades served as a fine garden setting. In May 6, 1682, Versailles became the official residence of the Court of France, supplanting the palaces at the Louvre and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. From 1678 to 1684, meanwhile, the terrace of the new chateau was transformed into the Hall of Mirrors, symbolizing the power of the absolute monarch. Feverish building activity then gave birth to the North and South Wings, the Orangery, Stables, and Grand Lodgings. The last major feature built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Chapel Royal, was completed in 1710.
Here we see the central courtyard of the Versailles Palace from one of the two symmetric archways leading to the park. The shot was taken in winter, so the white thing on the ground to the right and left of the central perspective is snow. I have used Ilford B&W film and later added a touch of sepia in PP. The original B&W version is in the workshop.
Scanned from printed photo
Critiques | Translate
PixelTerror
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(0) 2006-08-02 6:07
Privet Alexander,
I liek here the use of the archway to frame and the ageing you have applied to this view, looks good to evocate an old postcard.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves
Peter_rggu
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(193) 2006-08-02 6:29
Привет, Александр!
Отличная фотография, мне очень нравится как исполнение, так и цвет: совсем как в какой-нибудь старой газете или вообще на гравюре! Хотя последнее применимо не только к цвету, но и ко всей композиции.
Спасибо за постоянные большие и информативные подписи к фотографиям!
С наилучшими пожеланиями
Петр
fabio_ts
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(13696) 2006-08-02 6:30
A lovely sepia tone for a nice old postcard feeling.. I like a lot the resul, so well composed too, BRAVO!!
ciao,
Fabio.
kiwi_explorer
(12209) 2006-08-02 6:43
Hi Alexander,
Excellent choice of sepia here to match the old buildings and perfect framing. Well done.
Cheers,
Renier
ben4321
(9875) 2006-08-02 7:01
Another good use of the frame within a frame technique Alexander.
I think your composition is good and I like the soft diffused light. The lack of shadows suits the subject in this case.
I must say that I prefer the original non-sepia version; the image has a cooler feel to it that suits the wintry atmosphere.
Good work,
Ben
jhm
(202883) 2006-08-02 7:21
Hi Alexander,
My compliments for this scanning picture, very lovely and certainly in this old brown colour, exactly of this picture come out of the years thirty, very nice framed and very well composition.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice day,
John
Lynette
(1615) 2006-08-02 7:21
Hi Alexander
Nice choice of sepia here to match the old buildings and I like the archway into the courtyard. Well done.
: ) Lynette
ramthakur
(1529) 2006-08-02 8:52
Alexander, I love a picture shot through the frame of a door/gate. This is a perfect shot in that respect.
You have given the image the sense and look of history by using sepia.
Well done, my friend!
vinicio
(23423) 2006-08-02 10:17
Fascinating composition, the frame of the arch and the sepia tone are really beautiful, this image is good for my little theme about old images, thanks, and of course, compliments, you have made one great work with this shot.
Ciao
Vinicio
carper
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(96) 2006-08-02 10:56
mooie shepia foto Alexander,
zeer mooi genomen foto en uitstekend uitgevoerd. de kwaliteit is zeer goed, de doorkijk is een mooie schaduw partij, zeer goed werk.
gr. jaap
Budapestman
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(82620) 2006-08-02 12:12
Hi Alexander!
Beautiful mood, again! Good choice the B&W, very nice impression! Marvelous architecture in beautiful composition! Thank you, nice days
George
sebinho342
(19329) 2006-08-02 17:59
Hi Alex', oh nice you also have pictures from versailles ! This is a good idea to have make this shot this way, excellent framing 'seen through the archway' (and for writing this note cause i learnt some things !), it must be particular to visit this monument (perhaps the most amazing in all french patrimoine) in winter, less tourists, and such an amazing garden
Great Alex ! :)
Kititit
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(813) 2006-08-03 6:18
Hi Alexander,
Excellent choice of sepia here to match the old buildings and perfect framing. Well done.
Rita
yanseiler
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(20) 2006-08-24 3:37
Hi Alexander, an interesting sepia shot which sends us back to the past. The composition is interesting with those small folks in the background, it would have been so nice to have someone in the foreground, somewhere behind this door...
Kindly
Yan
Subterfuge (16) 2007-07-07 8:33
Good use of sepia and interesting viewpoint. Thanks for the note.
-Duncan
designsoul
(17843) 2007-10-21 6:24
Privet, Sasha,
I would have almost missed this great shot but thankfully found it. THe composition is excellent with the elaborate archway and the view from underneath, the sepia transforming the scene into one without time passing... a nice mood created.
tc,
sasa
PS Have been away for a week (work-related trip) but am back and will visit more soon
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Alexander Pasternak (pasternak)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1341 W: 179 N: 3373]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(15185) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Preto & Branco
- Date Taken: 2003-01-00
- Categories: Arquitectura
- Camera: Canon EOS300, Canon EF 28-80 f/3.5-5.6
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Tema(s): Old B&W images, My sepia conversions [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2006-08-02 5:59
