Lighted History....( detail)

La Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca (St. Mary of the White Synagogue)

 

"Once the main 12th-century synagogue in Toledo, La Sinagoga de Santa Mary la Blanca obtained its present title after its conversion to a church. The building's structural similarity to a mosque is explained by the fact that Muslim craftsmen constructed it. The synagogue has had many uses that include being a convent for 'fallen' women, a Catholic chapel and an army barracks."

 

Thanks for your thoughts

 

Please read explanation, thanks

The great layers, nice perspective & subtle light makes very interesting dimension here, Pnina, another stunning composed!!! Best regards

beautiful light, composition and subject.

A great shot of what I found to be a very disturbing subject.

Excellent composition, very good control of exposure and light and information,Pnina.

excellent point of wiew, compositionvery dynamic.. nice pic, original. the light.. it seem s to me a little "death". the withes have a few luminance, and some dominant, i never understand if magenta or cyan.

i dont know if you agree... ciao

Very original and sui generis of Pnina's style.

Intricate details and beautiful work. I find the repetition of circles compelling and adding a bit of a surreal touch to this structure.l

... the nested arches to the windows, the filigree decoration, everything about it. Such a lovely choice of a shot, congratulations.

 

Now for the inevitable questions :) Was this built my Muslims or Mozarabs (Christians living under Muslim rule), because most of the churches in Spain that I've read about were built by the Mozarabs. Was this a synagogue until the Christian reconquista? Interesting that both Jews and Christians were allowed to live in Spain under Islamic rule. I understand that the last Muslims were expelled from Spain as late as the 19th Century.

 

An architectural feature that I like is the horseshoe arch ... supposedly a remnant (preserved by Mozarabs) from the Visigothic culture in the 6th Century.

Superb exposure and composition, guiding the viewer seamlessly to the portal of light. The gradually intensifying light and the funneling of frames as one approaches the centre is simply wonderful. Exquisite and perfect work, Pnina.

great pov pnina. love the arches.

Nice DOF, beautiful. Light is the best companion..

thanks read the preface that I wrote. This synagogue/ church was built by muslem workers, but the man that known as built it was a Jew by the name of Don Josef Iben Ezra, and it was a synagogue till the 13 century. as it was built by muslems(not cristians)it has many muslen chataracteristics, like many decorated columns. in the 14 century it was changed to a church. I upload another photo from that place that has many column for decoration in a muslem style. I think that as it was the tree religion living together there are many influences in details.If you will visit Toledo, the best knowledgable about details is Alberto....

To all of you, it is an interesting historical place' with a melange of style because of its history.

This is mysterious and intriguing, a combination of elements that makes this photo unique!

Beautiful architecture.

Another part of that place...

 

 

Adela and Sally thanks!

 

 

Una luz y una edicion estupendas Pnina. Parece que uno pudiera tocar las paredes y sentir el frescor de la sombra. Felicidades.

Incredibly beautiful place,Pnina. Your original upload has a 3D effect and mystic element. The other image shows the grandeur of the place.

A masterful piece of work that does, indeed, have mystical quality, but also is so wonderfully representative of the history of this structure. As you've shot it, one looks through many portals, from dark past to (hopefully) bright future... only my interpretation, of course, and captures much of the history you shared in your preface. Thank you for the other two images you uploaded to help have more of a sense of this place.

The POv is intriguing. The lines created by the play of light and shadow, bring out the interesting geometry of the structures. I love that the window itself is offset in the arched space it occupies. The low light and slight underexposure give a gentle feeling to the scene.

Pep, thanks but please wtite me in English, I wish I could read it in your language but I can't.....

 

Amal and Adela, the whole place is so different and has the mystery of the past.

 

 

Sally, thanks as well

 

David and Gord,this for me was looking like layers of time, (portal is a nice word David),this place passed so many changes in its existence, and this form looked so different in its parts, like its history...

( btw, David, did you get my email? )

Yes, I *did* get your email... thought I'd answered it, but I'll pull it up when I get home this evening and write to you.

Lovely composition, Pnina. More subtle than the last, but much more to my liking. The combination of curves and the various tones of grey are very effective, and that central circle of light anchors the image perfectly. Great work!