Re: [SI] Steeples - What hasn't made the cut
 

On Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:22:07 +1300, Eric Stevens
<eric.stevens@sum.co.nz> wrote:

>I've already explained that there are few worthwhile steeples within
>gunshot of where I live and that I am in any case presently restricted
>in my movements. Instead I've gone to recent archives to extract
>photographs of steeples and the like.
>
>All the photographs were taken under tourist conditions: no control of
>the site, the distance, the nature or direction of the light, or the
>weather in general. A good photograph is one without a stray head in
>it.
>
>One of my problems is I tend to value content as much the technical
>aspects. A technically lousy photograph of an interesting steeple
>still ranks highly in my general opinion. I know that not everyone
>holds that view (sigh). Anyway, I had to make a decision and the best
>way seemed to be put up the ones which didn't make the cut, thereby
>committing myself by implication to those that did make the cut.
>
>Here are two from Copenhagen:
>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31088803/IMG_0088_DxO.jpg is the
>extraordinary spire of "Vor Frelsers Kirke" in Copenhagen. There is a
>stairway to the top of the spire but it runs up the outside! I met
>someone who has climbed it and he said once you get up a bit it feels
>much safer if you go up backwards on the seat of your trousers.
>
>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31088803/IMG_0101_DxO.jpg is the spire of St
>Nikolaj Kirke. Just look at all that copper. The mounted gentleman is
>the bishop. The speckled texture is due to overdoing it with DxO. I
>can now do better.
>
>St Petersberg now:
>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31088803/IMG_0253_DxO.jpg are the 'spires' of
>the family chapel on Queen Catherine's Palace. They told us "If it
>looks like gold, it probably is gold".
>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31088803/IMG_0258_DxO.jpg helps put things
>into perspective. You can see about half the servant's quarters to the
>left of the chapel and less than half of the palace-proper to the
>right of the chapel. You can only photograph the whole of this from
>the air.
>
>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31088803/IMG_0286_DxO.jpg is the "Peter and
>Paul" Cathedral. The tower is 404' high and very difficult to
>photograph from any accessible site on the ground. The murk was due to
>the hot muggy atmosphere - 36C + high humidity I think it was that
>day.
>
>These photographs are interesting but I don't think any of them are of
>real merit.

My niece was at a ball at the Catherine Place for
Xmas 2011. Snow & ice everywhere. I'll try and
get the pictures. All furs and jewels.