Veranda, a photo from Ang Mo Kio, North East

Photographer's Note

This was taken at Raffles Hotel.

The hotel was founded by four Armenian brothers: Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak Sarkies. They opened the 10-room colonial bungalow at Beach Road and Bras Basah Roads on 1 December 1887. The original location was by the seaside, although continued reclamation means that the site is presently some 500 meters away from the shore. No Asians were permitted as hotel guests until the 1930s. The hotel continued to expand over the years with the addition of wings, the completion of the main building, the addition of a verandah, a ballroom, a bar and billiards room and further buildings and rooms.

The Great Depression saw trouble for Raffles Hotel and in 1931 the hotel went into receivership. In 1933, however, the financial troubles were sorted out and a public company called Raffles Hotel Ltd. was established.

Upon the capture of Singapore by the Japanese on 15 February 1942, it is commonly said that the Japanese soldiers encountered the guests of the Raffles Hotel dancing one final waltz. During World War II, the Raffles was renamed Syonan Ryokan (湘南旅館, shōnan ryokan?), incorporating Syonan ("Light of the South"), the Japanese name for occupied Singapore, and ryokan, the name for a traditional Japanese inn.

The hotel survived World War II despite the hardships Singapore faced and the use of the hotel at the end of the war as a transit camp for war prisoners. In 1987 the government declared it a National Monument.

In 1989 the hotel closed for an extensive renovation, at a cost of S$160 million.

It reopened on 16 September 1991, after being restored to its state during its heyday in 1915. The hotel has built an extension with a similar design, for a shopping arcade and new rooms.

In announcing the July 18, 2005 sale of the parent company, Raffles Holdings, Colony Capital, LLC chief executive Thomas J. Barrack said in part as the purchaser, "We deeply respect the historical significance of the Raffles Hotel Singapore and we consider it our responsibility to protect that legacy

-- All the notes above were quoted From Wikipedia --

rigoletto, cunejo200, TravelerNL, sadeik, tigra, bhuniatrekearth, snunney, bebep, triptych2003, besnard, delkoo, sufi, miuky, pablominto, pastadog, MLINES, serp2000, WhiteRose, Brian, gunbud heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

rigoletto (34279) 2007-02-17 6:58

Hi Kiwi :)
I knew it was something "good" when i first saw the thumbnail. Very very fresh feeling with the cleanness of white and the anti-depressing green. For it is already a hotel, reminiscent of holiday and any other good days, this made me feel good. Here in Istanbul, it is rainy, cold and foggy, this photo of soft light and summer feeling made my day. The DOF and perspective is of course great. TFS,
Deniz

cunejo200 (7281) 2007-02-17 8:30

So lovely Ren. I like this vertical composition. There is good depth, the greens from the columns and potted palms certainly create good contrast. Well done. Greetings and tfs. Danilo

TravelerNL (3011) 2007-02-17 11:44

Hello Renier,
I like this one because it is so different from most photo's we see here at TE.
I like it because basically it has only three colors: black, white and green.
I like it because basically it is such a simple composition, yet so well seen.
Very well done!
Harko

sadeik (3282) 2007-02-17 12:41

Theres an opitcal illusion here, its looks slightly tilted from a horizontal perspective but isn't so it must be the angle of the shot. Excellant composition here with nice fine detail and the greenery adds an awful lot to the foreground. Your note is quite excellant too.

Simon

tigra (2968) 2007-02-17 20:34

Hello Renier
Good composition, but you should straighten the horizon a bit.
You can also crop the top and the bottom, to accentuate the veranda.
Katia

james-r (676) 2007-02-17 21:26

The green and white is a good combo and there is some interesting repetion throughout the image - the lights, balustrade, shutters and pillars.

Unusual shot, well spotted and captured!

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-02-17 23:09

Dear Renier,
Excellent illusion: there in your capture. I am sure you have already noticed it and carefully adhered only to the horizontal line definition.

Ms. Katia (tigra) has been misled by the illusion and advised for a straightening. Mr. Simon (sadeik) has carefully noticed it and mentioned.

The horizontal lines are perfect regarding the straightening of the picture.
But vertical line consideration shows that the top of the frame is tilted to the right.

Mr. Simon has blamed the camera angle for the problem.
There may be another reason that is an ill aligned construction of the building.
I have withdrawn myself from a workshop detecting this phenomenon.

Whatever framing problem there may be, your capture makes the beholder comfortable in a airy and roomy veranda as if he/she participates and interact with the picture. The well researched note accentuates the effect. There bubbles your success.

Best wishes
Dr. J.

snunney (130967) 2007-02-18 6:06

Hello Renier,
A fascinating place for taking pictures, Raffles. I like the long view here down the verandah with good framing from the balustrade and the palms. The greens in the foreground make a nice relief from the almost total white of the rest of the image. Excellent clarity.

bebep (2089) 2007-02-18 19:24

Hi Renier,
great shot, the plants and the green columns make a beautiful effect in the middle of the whole white, very good the perspective

Greetings

Giuseppe

DarkoG (8) 2007-02-19 3:01

Good one. Well exposed and balanced composition. Nice perspective. On thumbnail I thought you use selective colors but it's only very small number of colors and that give something good to overall impression of this photo.

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2007-02-19 4:27

Hi Renier.

The only pity is that is a little bit titled I think.

Nice depth and simple composition.

Rgs, Oscar

besnard (59196) 2007-02-19 4:36

Bonjour Renier
Bien saisie cette véranda qui fait le tour de la maison. Le regard se perd tout au fond et tu nous proposes une très belle photo.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

king (4242) 2007-02-19 5:08

Hello Renier
Nice composed picture is this, with great nuances in white and good DOF. Great job!
Huub de K.

triptych2003 (1534) 2007-02-19 7:24

wow.. another good framing shot. are these your speciality? ;)

again, the use of repetition and simple composition highlight the uniqueness of your work. a little blown out around the frame for my liking, but you also need that to accentuate the contrasts down the veranda. sweet...

:) on the morrow

rbcy1974 (20758) 2007-02-19 7:41

Hello Renier
Excellent perspective. Very nice use of the existing elements to highlight hte beauty of this architecture
Very well done
Regards
Daniel

delkoo (68) 2007-02-19 9:40

hi renier
you have archieved a very goood picture, great perspective and very interesting colours, especially the green on the balustrade.

regards
didier

sufi (9588) 2007-02-20 7:14

Hi Renier...
It's a wonderful point of view and perfect perspective, indeed... Also very creative composition... The colors, the contrast between the white and green and the light are perfect too...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

miuky (3335) 2007-02-20 16:21

hy interesting natural framing here...and exellent dof
regards, m.

pablominto (53746) 2007-02-21 1:30

Hello Renier,
Nice to see images from this classic hotel!
Good point of view showing details from the architecture, and the touch of green offers some nice colour contrast...
Well framed, good perspective!
Greetings,
Pablo -
...

pastadog (13111) 2007-02-22 13:09

Hi Renier - like how the white dominates the frame, and the long perspective; and especially - the mood of Old Singapore! Definitely an unusual Singapore shot. It does have a tilt feeling, which I don't find significant. Excellent shot, cheers ;) Daniel

MLINES (12516) 2007-02-24 20:18

Hi Renier. Very good original perspective showing this famous and very well maintained hotel. The long view from your vantage point is very effective. Murray.

Stepan (27210) 2007-02-27 17:07

Interesting minimal and smart compo. I like the Grean&White tones. Makes the compo a little strange and mysterious. Well framed and realized.
Stéphane

colinb (1592) 2007-02-27 20:02

Really nice shot. I like the post processing you've doen to soften the edges and make the green colors stand out against the white. Well done.

serp2000 (47063) 2007-04-01 11:26

Privet, Renier

I like this minimalizm.It seems like me some another hotels in South Europa and Asia.TFS.

Best wishes from Russia,

Serghei

clic (76) 2007-04-12 9:37

G'day Renier
Your juidicious point of view creates a tunnel effect on this gallery and sight feel attracted by the perspective to see what is at the other end!
Great control of high and medium tones on this difficult white subject.
Au revoir
Robert

WhiteRose (10) 2007-04-16 13:58

I agree with some of the other critiques that you should straighten this up a bit. I disagree that you should crop the top or bottom. I think the proportions of the overall image match the subject perfectly. I love the very simple colours. The shadow areas look a bit noisy.

Mer1000 (738) 2007-06-16 11:31

bonita varanda, y largo pasillo. Saludos
Mer

noborders (1010) 2007-09-10 1:48

Ah, the harmony and the beauty of the Raffles ! an exclusive world where comfort and peace are guaranteed, too bad that I cannot afford to stay in such a luxury place when travelling for months...
Great and elegant shot,
Bravo (and waiting for your next photo...),
Best regards,
Cath.

gunbud (34066) 2007-09-25 18:27

Hi Renier,
Wonderful depth created by the look straight down the verandra. Excellent light management renders clear colors and strong details to this 19th century beauty.
Regards, Tom

Angshu (56760) 2008-06-28 22:51

Hello Renier
Fine depth with the corridor. The green of the columns looks great & create a good contrast. Exposure is good, especially with the predominance of white tones. When do I see the first post with your new camera?
Regards
Angshu

MadelinaVizoso (64) 2013-02-16 6:00 [Comment]