Abbaye de Fontenay (Cote d'Or)

Interested in critiques

I like this motif very much, and your composition is well thought out with the break of symmetry, the off center placement of the door at the end, and the stairs. A bit strange feels the softer left side against the in-focus right side, I guess it was the TS-lens. I have tried Helicon Focus as software solution for perfect DOF, and find it quite nice. This is an example , it would be interesting to try it for interiors like your Romaneque architecture

... I had loosened the screw for the shift on the previous shot and even though I moved the lens element back to center, I must have accidentally bumped it during the setup. It was very slightly out of focus and I didn't see it until that evening when I reviewed the shots. Will try the Helicon Focus software, would be very interesting with some of the shots I am planning for my next go-round. In the meantime, I'll practice locally.

 

Posted this shot anyway because it is one of my favorite views. I really like the Cistercian austerity in this Abbaye. Even though they eschewed decoration, the structure itself is beautiful.

A superb picture. Your understanding of light and how it is read by the camera is crucial to the success of this shot.

... this is one of my favorite pictures. Something about the undadorned purity of the lines of Fontenay appeals to me. Not a carved capital in sight, no fanciful gargoyles, just beautiful masonry and gorgeous structure.

I never noticed this one. I think it is my very favorite. I really like that shot. The light is great. The perspective and composition is classical but flawless, perfect. Maybe it's the Rhythm of the light in tune with the columns? Not sure why but it carries something loaded. Loaded with emotions maybe, even if it's just stones. Great shot Dennis. Truly, I am not saying it because you are my friend, I mean it.

... one of my absolute favorites as well. This is such an interesting side aisle, particularly because each of the bays has its own transverse barrel vault, in other words, there is no single vault going from the distance toward the camera, like one would expect, but instead, each bay has its own vault going left to right, intersecting the nave vault at right angles. Very rare. Also, gives the peculiar rhythm to this shot, of the repeating arches. This is one of the reasons that there is so much light coming from the left to the right and ending on the bases of the columns. Because the wall is not carrying the weight of the vault, it can be pierced with windows, so that each aisle bay has its own window. Thanks for your kind words, my good friend.

Found my way to your portfolio and have been stuck here for some time... it's great and a wealth of education to me in architectural photography.

 

My favorite has to be "Eglise Abbatiale Lavaudieu, Lavaudieu (Puy-de-Dome)", but this image has to be a near second. It does, however, play many tricks on the eye (especially an untrained eye like mine) and the slight off center set throws so many angles and curves at you. I feel like the grasshopper addressing the master, but does the end of the corridor, at the offset door and the change in brickwork above, have a slight cant? It just won't go away and keeps getting my attention. I've had the audacity to level it slightly; and it seems to work better for me.

 

Fantastic portfolio!! Mike

 

... the offcenter is definitely a ringer, combined with the fact that the pillars themselves are not always parallel or vertical. The pressure of the barrel vaults pushes the columns in the nave (the right hand pillars in this shot, which is looking west from the east) pushes them further to the north. If you are interested in this, please look at the following: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?topic_id=1481&msg_id=00MkUD&photo_id=6470496&photo_sel_index=0

 

This really shows the effect from the displacement quite clearly, even posing a challenge photographically.

I looked up your reference and that is truly amazing! I suppose that's why you have the patches in the arches at Basilique Sainte Foy, Conques (Aveyron). Thanks for taking the time to explain. You are indeed on a grand quest! Good Luck! Mike

 

... here is another example, the Eglise de Fenioux in the Charente Maritime, a beautiful area for a lovely church. However, the weight of the clocher is collapsing the walls ... the barrel vault has collapsed at some time and has been replaced by wood, but you can see how the lateral pressures of the vault and the vertical pressures of the clocher have displaced the walls, to the point where they needed substantial repair just to remain standing. The shot has been corrected for verticals, so what you are seeing is what you see with your eyes.

in more ways then one this is a very interesting photo. It lacks focus and contrast and is tilted to the right. If this is one of your favourites I really can't understand why you don't put some extra work in it because in a way you're right, it's all there. It's your picture tough which means you have to decide and as a general rule I'm not one to alter someone else's photo's. But in this case I just can't help myself and want to offer some humble advice: Correct the perspective, crop out the top beam, convert it to mono and push the contrast. In that case the lack of focus could even add to the mood. Now, I've said it. Hope you don't bite my head off (my wife would't appreciate that).

... as I said, it was one of my favorite views, not my favorite shots. As Carsten pointed out, the shot is soft (bad problem that I caused with the tilt-shift lens) and there is perspective distortion. I am not going to correct this shot, however, because this year I shot another version (and took much more care in doing so). The only problem is ... and it may not be a problem, I haven't decided) ... is that the interior lights were on and it is a completely different feel. I'll post it soon and then decide whether or not to replace this one or not. I like the criticism, though, and may just post the other version separately.

 

And I'll try not to bite your head off, Ton. In fact, maybe the best thing would be to thank you. After having gone to your site and seen your work, I am very honored to have you comment on my work.

looking forward to it and my wife is very relieved. Regards, Ton