Courtyard of Charles V's Palace, a photo from Granada, Andalucia

Photographer's Note

From the website 'Spain, then and now':

"Charles’s Palace was begun in 1526, but never completed. It’s an immense granite square, enclosing a large, circular courtyard...

...The double arcaded courtyard is simple to the point of austere. Its columns –Doric on the lower level, Ionic on the upper-- are solidly grounded and muscular. There is no colour to speak of; it is a formal space, somewhat forbidding, even under the Andalusian sun.

The overall emphasis in this palace is on structure, the way in which loads and stresses are balanced and counterbalanced. Ornamentation is restrained both on the façade and in the courtyard. In this, Charles’s Palace follows well established principles of Western architecture.

The palace now houses two museums. On the ground floor is the Museo Nacional de Arte Hispano-Arabe, with a large collection of artifacts from the vicinity. One treasure is the exquisite "Alhambra Vase" decorated with gazelles. On the upper level is the Museo de Bellas Artes, with an interesting collection of paintings and sculpture."

Taken within the Alhambra at Granada in southern Spain, this is the upper terrace of the courtyard. I've tried some burning and dodging and increased saturation a little to compensate for the hot, hazy weather. I liked the perspective and warm cold color contrast here.

siudzi, pierrefonds, delpeoples, jhm, snunney, timecapturer, Cricri, Graal, nikkitta, Angshu, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

siudzi (34141) 2013-12-27 13:33

Hi Chris,
Like the way you composed this view to make it so classy and graphical. The result is really marvelous! Well seen and taken. TFS!

Best wishes,
Gosia

pierrefonds (115408) 2013-12-27 15:15

Hi Chris,

I like the curve of the building. The point of view is showing the details and colors of this area of the palace. The good luminosity is enhancing the beauty of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

adidas5nb (5743) 2013-12-27 18:14

fantastic curved lines with a great frame division makes the pic really catchy.love the bright curved light band in the frame.nicely done.
regards
dwaipayan

Corry (4508) 2013-12-27 20:11

Bonsoir Chris

Une belle vue toute en courbe qui montre bien la structure du bâtiment avec ses colonnes, ses ouvertures et son plafond décoré. Une photo avec une belle netteté et de belles teintes. Bien fait.

Yvon

fabbs99 (17179) 2013-12-27 22:13

Hello Chris,

The curve along the corridor has been captured very well to create space and enhance the architecture.The golden hue of the ceilings has been exhibited vividly.Great job done.TFS.

Regards,Farhat

jjcordier (79299) 2013-12-27 22:32

Chris
Bel effet dynamique créé par la courbe de cette galerie et de son très beau plafond.
Amicalement
JJ

emka (158672) 2013-12-27 23:14

hello Chris,

I remember this strange building from my visit in granada many years ago. I like how you composed it, with the part of this circular courtyard, splendid light management. Difficult light conditions but you have done it
very well. marvelous photo.

Have a splendid New Year, full of travels and photos.

Malgo

delpeoples (60342) 2013-12-27 23:56

Ciao Chris

I hope you over-indulged in the Christmas nosh and are gearing up for a happy, healthy, travel-ridden 2014. Now this one of course is very recognisable. I really like the perspective and how the curved lines surge out of the corners, guiding the eye around nicely. You also did a great job of handling the extremes of light (external) and shade (internal) - I understand completely how difficult it was and I stuffed it up royally. A minor thing, I would have corrected the perspective of the columns on the left. But that's my OCD operating yet again ;)

Cheers and all the best for 2014
Lisa

jhm (211738) 2013-12-28 1:24

Hello Chris,

An courtyard of Charles V's Palace without people.
I see wonderful arches and a nice ceiling.
You play excellent with light and shadows
A nice perspective and depth picture.
Your pictures is fine to look at.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Excellent composition, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John

snunney (130967) 2013-12-28 2:52

Hello Chris,
A very well composed image, making good use of the sweeping curve offered by the arcade and the repeating columns. Good light management. Excellent rendering of the architectural detail.

timecapturer (49288) 2013-12-28 3:32

Hi Chris
a superbly composed shot this, with irresistible sweeping curve and exquisite detailing. Love the light and the shadows it casts that amplifies the beauty and perspectives so deliciously.

Have a good last weekend of 2013 - B.

Sergiom (117241) 2013-12-28 5:26

Bonjour Chris,

J'aime beaucoup ces perspectives tournantes et ces points de fuite trompeurs qu'offrent ces belles galeries circulaires. J'aime aussi le jeu des ombres et de la lumière.

Bon dimanche

Serge

Cricri (176) 2013-12-28 9:04

Hi Chris
Bon POV formant une jolie courbe de l'architecture belle et intéressante, beau jeu ombre sur le sol, détails et couleurs qui sont bien rendu, belle présentation
Belle soirée
cricri

Graal (103040) 2013-12-30 1:42

Bonjour Chris,
very nice place and view of old architecture in Granada. Interesting courtyard. Good composition. Nice columns, arcades and other details. Well presentation.
Have a great New Year!
Aleksander

eldancer1 (36343) 2013-12-30 7:50

It's unfortunate that you can't get the whole building but then we won't see the intricate details. I like the shadows, it create depth. Good lighting and sharp details. Well done, tfs.

nikkitta (17070) 2013-12-30 17:18

Hola Chris

I visited the Alhambra years ago,I am sure I miss this palace quite different and so european looking,roofs and columns

You take advantage of the circular gallery to create a composition with great perspective given by the columns and their shadows
like also the contrast with the blue of the sky, but there is a problem , litlle one, with the columns, my non expert idea

Creative capture
Cheers
Maria
When in Granada I also miss the tomb of the Catholic Kings, visiting the Cathedral and not reading before

Angshu (56760) 2013-12-31 1:10

Namaste Chris
The wide arc of the courtyard leads us right into the picture and then out of it. The contrast as you said was too strong as is evidenced from the strong lit up part, but you had managed those parts well in PP.

Wishing you & all your loved ones a fine, prosperous & healthy 2014
Regards
Angshu

mcmtanyel (69063) 2013-12-31 23:37

Hello Chris,
Austere or not, this courtyard made for a wonderful photo. I love the curved perspective, especially being able to see both the ceiling and the roof over that ceiling in the same photo.
Happy 2014,
MT
PS. I am planning a trip to Istanbul in March, any chance of meeting up?