The Cluny abbey

Set against gently sloping green hills, the remaining towers of the Cluny abbey in the Saône-et-Loire department of central-southern France looked magnificent in soft evening light. Cluny is an interesting (10th century) old city now, but once it was the shining center of christianity, housing the first monastic order following the rule of St. Benedict. The abbots of Cluny were very influential until the Huguenots put an end to the glory of this monastic center of power. The French revolution gave the final blow to this institution. Your comments are very welcome.

Hi Vincent it's a good photo, but my eye immediately went to try to see lower down, I would have preferred a vertical photo with a view of the terrain too, but maybe there was something ugly below!

Good photos!

Best regards, Max

Hi Max,

 

thanks for your friendly comments! As you presumed, there are contemporary elements in a photo like this that you don't want in your final image. The orientation that you mention (portrait instead of landscape) is very interesting; next time I visit Cluny I will try it out. Kind regards, Vincent

You took best part of the day to photograph, Vincent. Most of the light is on the main structure. It gives a nice warm glow to the building. The composition sends your focus to where it belongs along with the darker structures on the left and right side. A very beautiful image. Best regards, Paul.

Beautiful urban environment so well presented with a play of lights and shadows! My sincere compliments, Vincent! PDE

Beautiful shot, Vincent! Amazing ancient object, light and shadows, colors, textures, frame ... I like it, Bravo! Sincerely, Tatiana

As usual your beautiful images are accompanied by an interesting explanatory note that makes the proposed photo better interpret, ciao Giangiorgio

Beautiful photo Vincent. I really like the way you framed the church bell tower/spire and the evening lighting is very nice. Unlike Massimo, my eye was drawn upward to the tower. Warmest regards, Todd

Hi Paul,

 

thank you for your appreciative comments on this image! I had seen the beauty of the evening light on the building before when I didn't have a camera with me, so I just had to go back and photograph it . Kind regard, Vincent

Hi Pierre,

 

thank you for your very friendly comments and appreciation! Kind regards, Vincent

Hi Tatiana,

 

I feel honored by your warm and friendly comments on this image, thank you so much! Kind regards, Vincent

Hi Giangiorgio,

 

thanks for your friendly comments and continuous support! It's nice to see that you appreciate the explanatory notes. Kind regards, Vincent

Hi Todd,

 

thank you for your amicable comments and appreciation! Indeed, the central tower seems to be where the eye would go first, but I can't decide that for other viewers of course. Thanks! Kind regards, Vincent

Vincent, ["t]he French revolution "[may have given] the final blow to this institution," but this did not diminish the manner in which these buildings were constructed or their larger environment. The religiosity that once belonged to the Abbey is preserved by the crosses atop the two spires. As with other architectural images of yours, I find this one portrays the dignity of this community and its lasting beauty (especially under the lighting conditions that others mentioned). Outstanding.... - -My best always, michael

Hi Michael,

 

thank you for another amicable and well-worded comment! It's the dignity of the building itself and the way it represents the values of who built it that makes photographing it easy. It's hard not to like the beauty of this construction. Kind regards, Vincent