Rochester Castle

Rochester Norman Square Keep Castle

 

The last in a series of 6 images of historical subjects with a colour treatment in the style of the pre-raphaelite brotherhood. Please let me know what you think. Your comments are always appreciated.

 

Regards Paul - The Grey House Photography

 

Potted History

The castle was one of the first to be built of stone and at 125 feet is the tallest keep in England. It was constructed by the Bishop of Rochester in around 1090 in the angle of the Roman town wall.  The four-squared towers were added by Archbishop William de Corbell in 1127.In 1215 Archbishop Langton failed to follow King John's order to hand over the castle to the Bishop of Winchester, a close supporter of the King.   The result was one of the best recorded sieges of the Middle Ages.  King John personally besieged the castle for two months but his great stone throwing machines had little affect.  He was forced to resort to undermining the walls using pig fat as fuel.

Interesting photoshop treatment.

Even if I'm colorblind, I like the colors on this photo. most of the time, I am not fan of subject centered into a picture, but here I don't care. That's a beautiful photography for me :-)

Paul,

 

 

That is amazing that each photo is different, but they all are good. The latest uploads are full of dramatic mood, but peaceful on the other hand. I was wondering what filter you use to achieve that effect? You have managed to perfectly use the tools in hand to bring creativity and feeling to photography. Very admirable skill!

 

 

 

I hope you will give me some tips how to make photos look like it!

 

 

 

All the best

 

Pawel

 

Another rendition of your creative talents in PS.

I also like the watercolour background...as contrast to the strong dark.. metallic coloured foregound!the soft light on the castel is beautiful!!great work

I think you see the mystical in your mind's eye when you take a photograph. This work takes on a sense of enchantment. Great artistic vision. Hope to see more.

Nice Paul !

So this your last in a series of 6 images, I will tell you I enjoyed them all.

it has an almost unreal look to it.....very unique.I wonder how ir looked in the original?

Maybe not yout best shot, but interesting and well done as usual!

Paul, I like the story behind the picture :) I think it always adds to the overall work presented.

 

Regarding the colours, I find it a bit strange that the skies are totally different colour scheme compared to the ground. It disturbs a little bit, I think. I like the skies as such, and the background is also good - very well matching the castle. But I am not sure that together they make the best solution. That's my honest opinion, if you like ;)

Keep sending your work - I am always very interested!!! :)

 

Vi

Thanks all for your comments, much appreciated. Vi, thank you for saying what you see, to me this is very helpful feedback. I do sometimes wrestle with the colouring I have used on this series. I applied a graduated filter to provide some of the colour on a layer and it was just too much. I then decided to erase some of the colour that is on the castle from the sky. The reson for this was to bring out the structure of the building more. It was getting lost a little in a darker orange sky before the modifications. Keep the critique going, it is much apprecited. regards to all - Paul...

This a again another memory lane for me. You are the master of atmospheric creation. The only disturbing factor is the vignetting effect of the top right angle. May I suggest that you super impose an additional skyline of wash out blue colour to replace the top right corner. Nevertheless it is still a master piece.

Thanks Tony - your point is well taken. I liked the vignetting when I first applied it. I have tried the image without it and I also like that. Thanks for suggesting I try it. Regards Paul...

I have really enjoyed this series. I love the beautiful effects of the filters. They certainly give the photos a unique look. Kind of an old look, but not the usual old sephia look, much, much better. The history lesson has also been great, thanks for sharing with us.

I have enjoyed this series, also. A very different "feel" to them.

Jayme & Kim, thanks so much for your comments they mean a lot to me. I'm pleased that you have enjoyed this series. Regards Paul.

Very attractive images you have here...Paul, I love them all.

Great work as always!

Paul, its sad that the series is over, this was a very original and inspiring series, cheers to your efforts.

Very good and interesting work. Thanks for the idea!

Paul--I'm devastated to think that this is the last in this marvelous series!!!! I want to see at LEAST 10--maybe more!!! :-(

 

Okay--having gotten that out of my system--I'll address the photo.

 

I like this--alot. While it lacks the darker broodiness of your other pre-Raphaelite pieces--the heaviness of Rossetti or Millais, it captures the lightness and delicacy of the some of the later artists of that period--like Burnes-Jones and Evelyn de Morgan.

 

While I can understand how some people feel the light sky doesn't quite fit with the darkness at the base of the castle...to me--this image seems very allegorical--practically creaking with symbolism!

 

The light sky--the surface of things--the shades of soft pink and blue, with the lovely, fluffy clouds--is consistent with a romanticized view of medieval times--while the darkness at the base of the castle--and the darkness slowly creeping up the castle walls--symbolize the darker, more seamy side of the time. (To be terribly pre-Raphaelite--the darkness could stand for the sordid passions of man--while the lightness would be idealism and moral purity. ;-))

 

The heavy vignetting at the upper right can either be image aging--or more of the darkness, beginning to envelope the castle.

 

I can't help but think that the heavy, overt symbolism would be deeply satisfying to any pre-Raphaelite. Once again, Paul--bravo!!! :-)

Hi Paul, Wonderful capture with such soft almost tactile tones. It's good to see that there are several high ratings here which this one deserves, alas as always it's impossible to please everyone. In my book this is stunning. Tony

Hi Paul, back from my vacation, nice to see that one. I find the light sky adding softness to the massive building. Good series, what next? Pnina