Photographer's Note
Another photograph which I found while trawling through some images I had taken during a little TE meeting in Oxfordshire in August, 2012 courtesy of Richard Beghin (Ricx)
This famous building in the City of Oxford is called the Radcliffe Camera, designed by James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and built between 1737 and 1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library.
Of course, in the days when this was built, the word "camera" had the same meaning as that same word in Latin, namely, a vaulted chamber or room. In fact, the English word "chamber" derives from the French word "chambre" which derives from the Latin "camera". The word "camera" still exists in legal parlance in as much as a judge might decide to hold a hearing "in camera", meaning that the hearing is to be held in a private chamber rather than in a public courtroom.
Only later did the term "camera obscura" (darkened room) appear when light admitted through a small opening in a darkened room was focused (with the aid of lenses and mirrors or a simple pinhole) on a flat surface so that images of objects outside the room could be viewed. And later still, when the science of photography developed, the lightproof box used for taking photographs became known simply as a "camera".
Having said all that, it is widely believed that some of the Dutch masters from the 17th Century might have used some form of camera obscura to assist the composition of their more detailed works; a similar apparatus was described by Leonardo da Vinci; and even Aristotle in the 4th Century B.C. understood the principles of the pinhole camera.
The Radcliffe Camera, however, is a magnificent piece of architecture and a library but not a camera as we know it! It is seen here viewed from the northwest with the west gate of All Souls College in the distance at far left.
Here are the co-ordinates of the location: 51.753740, -1.254380
ISO 320, 1/500 sec at f/9, focal length 30mm.
This is a link to a larger version of this photograph:
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/48186/img_6148.jpg
Ilonka1974, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, pajaran, holmertz, jhm, PaulVDV, adramad marcou esta nota como útil
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Tue
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 13693 W: 57 N: 24396]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(92402) 2020-05-26 13:40
Hello John,
Fantastic photo of the Radcliffe Camera. Somehow this was the building I had most looked forward to seeing before I visited to Oxford and it didn't disappoint, especially when I saw it from the top of the nearby church. You captured its grand architecture very well, super sharpness and the sunlight was really pleasant.
Lars
jean113
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2328 W: 0 N: 7267]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(27887) 2020-05-26 13:43
Hello John, the picture has been composed very carefully, and what a wonderful building it is.
Your invaluable notes explain so much, thanks for that.
Excellent sharp quality, all the colours and textures are delightful.
I like the inclusion of the people.
Kind regards, Jean.
lousat
(139298) 2020-05-26 13:59
Hi John,the lady taking a pic is perfect to talk about the camera and its origin as word in the past. Magnificent capture of this building,now library,in a very sharp and bright way,i like it! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano
Fis2
(170807) 2020-05-26 14:22
Witaj John!
Another beautiful photo from Your archive.
A very interesting building, I like it.
Excellent framing, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Good night.
Krzysztof
Ilonka1974
(10289) 2020-05-26 14:41
Hi John,
Wonderful picture of the interesting architecture.
Lovely composition and very good presentation .
Clarity and sharpness are perfect.
Well done.
Best regards
Janusz
Silvio1953
(221659) 2020-05-26 21:37
Ciao caro John, great view of imposing building, lovely composition with photographer in action, wonderful colors, splendid light, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
COSTANTINO
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 11514 W: 23 N: 18607]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(116542) 2020-05-26 23:14
Hello dear friend
one of your best photos I have ever
seen with the best quality....
excellent sharpness and lightness
and an excellent close up too...
it is an original photo perfectly
executed and I have the feeling
being into the environment
regards
Costantino
jemaflor
(147184) 2020-05-26 23:41
Hi John,
Excellent photo result, interesting and beautiful architecture very well presented, nice light rendering, good composition with people and the photographed in the middle of your photo, tfs.
papagolf21
(152607) 2020-05-26 23:48
Bonjour, cher John,
Je ne me lasse pas de contempler ce genre d'édifice qui passe les siècles avec bonheur et majesté.
Belle présentation générale animée.
Amitiés.
Philippe
ifege
(48135) 2020-05-27 0:12
Hi John
Another good one from your TE excursion to Oxford. Great in the large view.
cheers
Ian
emka
(158198) 2020-05-27 0:24
Hello Dear John, Interesting note about the different meaning of the word camera in English. Now we think mainly about our cameras taking pictures. It has been suggested that also the great 17th-century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer made use of the camera obscura as an aid to painting. And probably many other artists.
Radcliffe Camera is the most famous and photographed building in Oxford. I wonder how it looks inside, I haven't seen any photos, maybe it is not open for public.
excellent picture. we see not only the magnificent building but also a photographer in red.
Stay safe
MAlgo
holmertz
(102732) 2020-05-27 1:33
Hello John,
This is a rightly famous building, and although the photo as such is fairly conventional, it makes a strong impression. The sharpness and careful processing of your photos always astonish me, and this is no exception. The colours are bright and vivid but far from overdone, and the contrasts have created a strong sense of 3D.
Kind regards,
Gert
jhm
(211736) 2020-05-27 10:59
Hello John,
A pity John, I think that the good old time never coming back during our life, for an event with members of TE.
A lovely frontage with much details.
Wonderful picture, nice presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.
Best regards,
John.
PaulVDV
(62944) 2020-05-28 6:43
Hello John,
Wonderful clear and sharp picture of the well-known Radcliffe Camera!
All architectural details are well visible.
The colours of the walls and columns makes the building stand out well against the sky and the green lawn.
I knew the meaning of 'camera obscura' but had never associated this meaning with the Radcliffe Camera.
I now finally understand why the building is so called.
Best regards, Paul
Royaldevon
(85932) 2020-05-31 4:40
Hello John,
Ha! Ha! A camera photographing a Camera!
This building is a must when visiting Oxford. It is so distinctive, so recognisable. Whenever we watch Morse or Lewis, we point it out, with the added phrase, "We've been there, photographed that!"
It is a really good photograph of the Camera.
You managed to include the entire building, with some lovely cloud details above it, too.
The clarity and the colour saturation is excellent, and you were able to include another photographer, wearing red!!
Oxford needs more than the few hours that we were there, to do justice to the photographic potential.
Thanks for sharing this.
Have a good Sunday and keep safe,
Bev :-)
adramad
(73004) 2020-06-01 10:16
Hi John.
Wow ...... what a fabulous building and how original its circular architecture, which reminds me of the great baptisteries of Italy, only with different styles, its interior full of books, which I imagine on old and artistic bookshelves, from being wonderful, the photographer in red and the other guys add a vital touch and and the proportions of the great building.
A magnificent color that gives a lot of chromatic richness to the image.
Very good lighting management and very good sharpness.
Well done. I like.
I wish you a pleasant week.
Very best regards.
Luis.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: John Cannon (tyro)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1985 W: 427 N: 7659]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(30513) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2012-08-26
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, Hoya 77mm Pro1D UV(0)
- Exposição: f/0.7, 1/21 segundos
- Map: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Date Submitted: 2020-05-26 13:09
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