Medieval Altar

[gahspidy]

This was taken recently during a vist to the Cloisters Museum. Specializing in Medieval Architecture and history. Shot with Fuji Provia 100
What are your thoughts?

[mjs1973]

Hi Gary,

I really like how symmetricall this photo is, and the depth is great too. The two bright spots in the windows are a dad over powering, but not completley distracting for me. Another very nice shot!

[jar_e]

Great symmetry and lovely colors. The bright spot helps focus on the alter, which has a very mysterious, eery sense! Great shot and love the colors!

Jared

[opus]

I can't judge the photo because I'm so in love with the subject matter. I love medieval stuff! There's a medieval museum in NYC? Or were you in Europe?

When I look at this picture I can almost imagine the original people sitting in the chairs, observing a marriage ...

[Chunk]

Gary, I love the muted colors and peaceful feeling of this shot. Now where did I put my gregorian chant albums....

[Chunk]

When I look at this picture I can almost imagine the original people sitting in the chairs, observing a marriage ...

Funny you should mention the chairs Kelly, because I thought they looked out of time in this setting. I thought that kind of furniture was uncommon and expensive in those times and that if there were any seating at all provided in this kind of a place it would have been more utilitarian benches or stools. I know there were builtin choirstalls and such in the larger churches and monestaries. I guess a museum must know it's stuff though, so I must be wrong.

Have you read Margaret Frazer's and Ellis Peter's midieval mysteries?

[opus]

Funny you should mention the chairs Kelly, because I thought they looked out of time in this setting. I thought that kind of furniture was uncommon and expensive in those times and that if there were any seating at all provided in this kind of a place it would have been more utilitarian benches or stools. I know there were builtin choirstalls and such in the larger churches and monestaries. I guess a museum must know it's stuff though, so I must be wrong.

Have you read Margaret Frazer's and Ellis Peter's midieval mysteries?

Chunk, at first I thought they looked too modern too, but then I figured the same thing about the museum knowing better. Then I looked at the chairs more closely and they're not really like modern chairs, and then I figured that they were probably used in church by the aristocracy. Sometimes I'm surprised by how much things have NOT changed in 500 years.

[readingr]

Gary,

What a great job in difficult lighting situation.

I really do like this and the symmetry it provides even down to the shadows of the candles on the walls.

My one little nit pick and its not the power of the light but its that it would have been nice to see a little more in the roof of the alter which looks interesting - perhaps a little reflected light would have done the job. But then that may have spoilt the medieval feel to the photo.

[gahspidy]

Thanks, Micheal, Jared , Kelly, and Chunk. This exposure came out fairly close to what I was hoping for to capture the mood of the place, and this is exactly how it looked standing in there. I was also hoping the light in the windows would not blow out, which is why I shot this at about 1 stop under the camera recomendation. Looking at it over again, my only regret here is that I should have been placed about 6 inches further to my right, but I think this symetry will cut it. There was a rope blocking off access to the altar, but I cloned it out for "realism".
Kelly, yeah, this is in a museum here in N.Y. It's called the Cloisters and is located way uptown manhattan in an area called Fort Tryon Park. The whole communtity has medieval style architecture as well. This museum is a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This was my first time there, but I will be going back with the kids and many times over as this place is awesome. Kelly, being that you like this era alot, as do I, I hope you will get a chance to visit as this is totally a medieval fans dream. Tapestries, Outdoor gardens, relics, statues, monuments, Old doors and full of architecture dating back to those days.
These chairs look much older in style than they appear here, but I'm sure it is fairly accurate as this place specializes in this area of time. I will have to go back and get the details ( I was too anxious taking pictures and did not read most of the info) But chances are this is from the 14th or 15th century, ( which is considered late medieval) as is most of the displays. I really liked the German carvings of saints by Tilman Reichmanschneider ( I'm sure I spelled it wrong, but it is close) who sculpted from wood and did not paint his carvings but rather stained the certain areas with dark stains and then handrubbedoil for the finish. Sorry for this long rambling. Thanks again

[gahspidy]

Gary,

What a great job in difficult lighting situation.

I really do like this and the symmetry it provides even down to the shadows of the candles on the walls.

My one little nit pick and its not the power of the light but its that it would have been nice to see a little more in the roof of the alter which looks interesting - perhaps a little reflected light would have done the job. But then that may have spoilt the medieval feel to the photo.

Thanks for the thoughts , Roger. Yeah, I would have liked a bit more detail ther too, but if it were exposed any more, the windows would have totally blown out. Thanks for noting the symetry as well. I'm relived to hear from most that it works.

[Tuna]

Great capture of existing/natural light - this is what makes this image work. I played with it a little and found that an EDIT-TRANSFORM-PERSPECTIVE adjustment in PS straightened the foreground stone line, kept the columns even on both sides, kept the stairs straight and fixed what appears to be a slight lean of the altar to the back/left(?). It may be that these lines are not even in real life, but one of the aspects of your image that is important, in my opinion, is the symmetry - the nice balance. Also, I would recommend a slight dodge to the ceiling - not so much that it still doesn't look dark because it should be somewhat dark to enhance the effect of the light shooting in through the windows highlighting the bottom of the room - but I think some slight detail on top will keep the eye from wandering up there too much trying to see into the dark.

Talk about rambling...

Again, very nice capture - I'm glad you didn't whip out your flash.

Tuna

[Dzerzhinski46]

Dear Gary,

I really like this shot. Good thinking in a tough lighting situation. I especially like the emphasis that the light gives to the altar and candles. What would have been really neat (not that you could have done this, but hey, what the heck ), is if the candles had been lit, and nighttime as well. Have to talk to the curator about that one . I really like this photo. Fantastic job!

Dzerzhinski

[opus]

what I like most is the slight backlighting on all the objects in the room. I love seeing that slight wedge of light along the edges.

[Seb]

This was taken recently during a vist to the Cloisters Museum. Specializing in Medieval Architecture and history. Shot with Fuji Provia 100
What are your thoughts?

Gary, It is a funny coincidence that you post this picture now as I have read about this museum not so long ago. (I don't intend to go there on my short easter week-end but chances are that I'll go back to NYC sometime next summer...).

About the picture itself. I agree with everything that was already said. There is a strong mystical feel to the picture and the lighting have a lot to do here. The "hot spot" in the center looks right considering the situation. This is definately a strong shot.

Seb

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the respnses. The only way to get this shot is with the tripod, and they only allow me to use it ( gave me a permit, which was asked for various times by the many guards there) because it is off season and the exhibits were not crowded.
Tuna, Yes that will work and will do that to the version before printing. I will also give a bit of dodging to the ceiling area as you and Roger have mentioned.
Seb, thanks for your thoughts. . .I was going to send you a short list of things to see and do when you get here, and this place was one of them. Well , hope you can get back to it in the summer if you don't get to it this time.

[gahspidy]

This is another area of the Exhibit.