One of Batalha cloisters, a photo from Leiria, North

Photographer's Note

When I traveled through Portugal, I have visited many monasteries and within them a lot of cloisters. This was actually one of the linguistic learnings for me. In Polish language the word "klasztor" means monastery, convent or priory. Similarly in German there is the word "das Kloster", translating also as monastery. So I was quite surprised that the word cloister was used there in a very narrow sense, applying to a very specific part of the monastery. I think it is the same in Portuguese and English.

Wikipedia of course explains it all:
A cloister (from Latin claustrum, "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a warm southern flank, usually indicates that it is (or once was) part of a monastic foundation, "forming a continuous and solid architectural barrier... that effectively separates the world of the monks from that of the serfs and workmen, whose lives and works went forward outside and around the cloister."

Cloistered (or claustral) life is also another name for the monastic life of a monk or nun. The English term enclosure is used in contemporary Catholic church law translations to mean cloistered, and some form of the Latin parent word "claustrum" is frequently used as a metonymic name for monastery in languages such as German.

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ikeharel, csabagaba, PaulVDV, Fis2, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, jean113, adramad, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

lousat (138599) 2021-07-15 2:53

Hi Mariusz,interesting note about the original of name "cloister" and obviously a very useful pic to understand better,nice view of a part of this lovely one, so well decorated over this elegant geometric garden,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Tue (91564) 2021-07-15 5:48

Hello Mariusz,
You included the low green hedges and the narrow paths between the very well in the foreground and the one at left leads the eye nicely toward the beautiful arches of the monastery architecture and their wonderful details.
Lars

csabagaba (7018) 2021-07-15 6:41

Hello Mariusz!

High quality detail photo of the monastery. Nice colors, good sharpness and color fidelity.
The composition is also good, the green bar of the garden leads the eyes.

Regards
Csaba

Silvio1953 (220577) 2021-07-15 6:51

Ciao Mariusz, great view of fantastic copisteria, splendid light, excellent clarity, fine details and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-07-15 11:00

Hello Mariusz,
It was equally confusing for me years ago to understand the word 'cloister' only in its narrow sense.
In any case, Portugal has many fantastically beautiful cloisters. In your gallery there is also one picture of the Jerónimos Monastery. I thought that monastery was a real highlight.
Attractive foreground with the long lines of the hedges.
Best regards, Paul

Fis2 (169709) 2021-07-15 14:42

Czesc Mariusz!
Piekny zielony dziedziniec, budynek w glebi robi wrazenie.
Wspaniale gotyckie elementy.
Dobry kadr, kolorki i swiatlo.
Podoba sie.
Milego piatku.
Krzysztof

ChrisJ (171220) 2021-07-15 20:49

Hello Mariusz

I like the symmetrical trio of arches and the linear perspective added by the hedges and paths. Good sharpness and punchy lighting with excellent saturation and colour. Tfs!

pajaran (114891) 2021-07-15 21:17

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepo zelenilo i stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Lep deo Samostana i fotografija.
Dobar rad, lepo secanje.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Pajav

COSTANTINO (115515) 2021-07-15 21:59

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy week end
here we can see a combination
of ancient classical architectural
details and natural ones
these long lines of the garden
add depth
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (146274) 2021-07-15 23:05

Hi Mariusz,
Nice garden and architecture and a good depth effect with this Fg and these lines, well choice this POV and the low angle, tfs

ifege (46923) 2021-07-16 0:37

Hi Mariusz
Good photo of the monastery with good leading line in the foreground.
Cheers
Ian

ikeharel (112419) 2021-07-16 3:00

Hello Mariusz,
Such a sight is typical for several inner yards of convents, cloisters and cathedrals we saw around Portugal, typical decorated arches. Frankly, I do not remember this specific yard, as I was more interested upon the indoor's attraction in the Batalha.
Good afternoon,
Ike

jean113 (27637) 2021-07-16 13:43

Hello Mariusz, I like the way that you have made use of the low green hedges to lead our eyes towards the cloisters.
The carved stone work is very fine.
Thanks for the interesting notes.
Kind regards, Jean.

adramad (72558) 2021-07-22 11:18

Hi Mariusz.
Wonderful photo with the hedges in the foreground, which increase the perspective of this beautiful composition, which shows us in the background three superb windows of this wonderful Gothic cloister, wonderful the lace made with the stone.
The color and light management are magnificent, highlighting the beauty and clarity of the image.
Very well done. I like
Have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jmdias (114262) 2021-07-29 9:12

mariusz

yes, a cloister in portuguese is only this part of monastery.
I liked the vertical format you used catching the design of the plants in the garden and matching them with the arches of the monastery.

take care

jorge

mcmtanyel (67635) 2021-09-02 19:35

Hello mariusz,
Oh, look at that intricate stone work! I'll add this to my theme of Arches.
Regards,
MT