.
.
Tag: arches
Archways in Neustadt a.d. Weinstraße
There are more than 20 towns and villages called Neustadt in Germany, meaning “new town”, so they get an affix to distinguish one from the other. Neustadt an der Weinstraße is situated on the German Wine Road, a route traversing the wine region of the Palatinate region in the southwest of Germany. It is surrounded by vineyards to all sides, and there are traditional wineries and wine-growers on every street and on every corner. These are traditionally homesteads in the middle of the village, several houses and buildings surrounding a courtyard. They usually have a large gate as the main entrance to let tractors and in former times horse-drawn carriages in.
Often they have a smaller door set in the larger gate for everyday access. When the building purpose is changed the arches are often kept because of the structure of the wall as well as for looks.
In this case the arch was filled in except for a door and a window.
Archy
Half a circle peeping over a roof – the full circle sports a star. But it is not a car roof.
A roof peeping through an arch or through a half circle.
Through lots of arches in the castle gardens of Schloss Neckarhausen.
Linked to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles, Curves and Arches.
Brick said: I like an arch
The Abbey of Lorsch is a UNESCO world heritage site, close to Worms in the Rhine Valley, about 60km south of Frankfurt. It was an important monasteries during the Carolingian times. Through one of the arches of the “kingdom hall” one can look upon the monastery’s church.
Three arches, facing north and south, lead into the main room.
There are innumerable ways to play with these arches and their vistas. This time I preferred to try out desaturation.
Title with apologies to Louis Kahn.
More Arches, Domes, Half Circles can be found on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge.
Like two sides to every story
The next step: “Symmetry“. Horizontal symmetry is more difficult to find than vertical symmetry. Often, though, horizontal symmetry is encountered in reflections. The photo below has little to do with photographic skills, it was taken on a compact camera without viewer which meant I took the shot practically blind because the screen was almost unreadable. Being at the right time at the right spot (at 2265 m altitude on the First above Grindelwald in Switzerland) was all it took.
In any case symmetry in architecture is easier to find than in landscapes because architects have discovered the power of symmetry long ago. The doors below are a case in point.
So are these. But although we look for symmetry as Cee states it is also a fact that flawless symmetry is not something we appreciate too much. Faces that are artificially made completely symmetric are rejected by viewers as they tend to look wrong. I find that slight deviations in the symmetry can enhance the pleasing effect of a photo. In the picture below it is the chalk lettering left by the Epiphany singers with the initials of the three kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and the year for which their blessing was given (2015) as well as the off centre doorknob which tip the balance.
Here the whole house has been built symmetrically, from the windows which are symmetrical in themselves, to the door with accompanying windows, the pediment, the steps and the railings.
Windows are often paired and lend themselves to symmetrical shots or, the photo can be cropped appropriately. The different reflections in the window panes keep the photofrom being boring but I could have done without the electrical icicles on the right.
Another set of interesting and symmetrical windows. The shadows, of course, point in the same direction and are thus not strictly symmetrical, neither is the plant in the left window but I think this adds interest.
These two doors obviously lead into houses that are build in mirror symmetry but probably furnished individually just like the colour difference. Having once moved from one side of such a house to the other, I know that this mirroring can be quite disconcerting.
An old church with a symmetrical entry through several arches.
But not just architecture, nature itself provides symmetrical topics altough I find them easier to discover on macro level. Again, it shows that’s Louis’ face is approximated rather than perfect symmetry and this is what makes him so attractive.
pictures imperfect blog 