Antwerpen: The diamond city Photo

Photographer’s Note

"Copyright © – Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

Antwerpen is Belgium's second city after Brussels and has the second largest port in Europe after Rotterdam, one of the 10 largest in the world, and the principal source of the city's wealth. It has been the diamond capital of the world for centuries and enjoyed its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries as the trading centre of Europe. This was also a time of great cultural prestige, reflected in the architecture of the period and the work of artists such as Rubens and Van Dyck who lived and painted there.
The heart of the city on the river Scheldt beats at the Grote Markt, an irregularly-shaped square, surrounded by decorative guild housedating from the 16th and 17th century. This square is home to the statue of Brabo. According to a 16th century legend, his action of handwerpen ("flinging your hand" in Dutch) led to the city's name. Silvius Brabo is said to have flung the hand of Antigonus, a giant who terrorized passing ships. The 15th century City Hall on the square shows a successful blend of the Flemish style and Italian Renaissance characteristics.
None of the above mentioned highlights are visible on this picture, because I tried to get a different pov, we can usually see of this very nice square.

***scanned from print***

macondo, Buin, cunejo200, Gerrit, Jakab, pasternak, vero07, saylan-cb, asajernigan, wishlist, stego, edytungkal, bostankorkulugu, syd1946, John_F_Kennedy, siolaw, riclopes, Tue, rigoletto, Cricri, bizsu, snowfalken, gurselerdener, Scharan, Vato_Law, Paolo, parbo, danos, Henryk_Bilor, dip, josepmarin, andante, Emile, elmec, ekinokswest, Cretense, alvaraalto, Wanda1, ocskaymarci, HOBO ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

pcp (3362) 2007-12-16 6:01

hi Szili,

Awesome composition :) everything is perfect with fantastic work. well done

TFS

Senthil

Buin (37834) 2007-12-16 6:05

Hallo Attila!
You show us a wonderful architectural ensemble here. I think there are not many cities with a market place like this one in Europe. You managed the truly difficult light very skillfully and the build up with these tulips - great!
I also like the note very much!
Greetings from sunny but cold Westfalia - and have a wonderful Christmas season!
Frank

cunejo200 (7159) 2007-12-16 6:08

What? Scanned from print? Incredibly high quality, and the composition is flawless. Antwerpen has never been seen in a more beautiful fashion. This is very good Attila. Greetings! Danilo

Gerrit (35861) 2007-12-16 6:11

Hi Attila,
excellent composition and beautiful light. This realy is a magnificient place.
Groeten Gerrit

Jakab (3470) 2007-12-16 6:23

Szia Attila!
Tényleg nem a megszokott perspektíva (én sem innen kattintgattam), de talán éppen ez a legjobb benne. A gyönyörű homlokzatok remekül érvényesülnek, a nagy üres placcot meg kitöltik a tulipánok. Szép hely ez, bizony!
Üdv
Laci

izmirli (3219) 2007-12-16 6:29

merhaba my friend attila
wonderful depth and tulips.wonderful interesting houses and excellent colours.
well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

maximage (13478) 2007-12-16 7:31

Bonjour Attila,
Superbe compo! avec des couleurs éclatantes.
Un cadrage top! super bon travail, bravo.
Amitiés et bonne semaine.
max

pasternak (13400) 2007-12-16 7:46

Very good scan to shot the "sunny side" of Antwerpen, composition is so well built with the tulips and the perspective of the Markt...

Cheers
Alexander

vero07 (1747) 2007-12-16 7:46

Hi Attila,
Excellent shot showing this nice place with great light, specially the one you captured over the buildings. I like very much the detail of include these red flowers in the foreground.
Thanks for your useful information and TFS.
Well done!

Cormac (26449) 2007-12-16 7:56

Beautiful shot! The city square and the old buildings surrounding it are good by themselves, but the flowers really steal the show. The bright red colour attracts our attention and the positioning in the bottom corner leaves lots of space for the rest of the scene. Well done!

paura (38626) 2007-12-16 8:27

Attila,
Uma fotografia linda, com boa profundidade de campo e ajustes de cores. A praça é muito interessante, com belos prédios de incomum arquitetura e um belo calçamento.

Linda foto.

Paulo

lestans (15460) 2007-12-16 9:32

Ciao Attila!

che bella composizione, che bella veduta con la macchia rossa dei tulipani in primo piano!
Collocxati nel modo giusto da far vedere bene gli edifici.
Sempre bravissimo anche in queste foto passate allo scanner
Ciao!!

Livia

saylan-cb (12726) 2007-12-16 10:13

Hi Attila
Excellent shot!Very nice composition and great colours,POV are beautiful.
Well done.
TFS/REgards

chrisnet (20376) 2007-12-16 10:27

Hi Attila,
I like the framing with the red flowers in the foreground, the light is splendid.
Regards

asajernigan (14200) 2007-12-16 10:35

Attila,
Your composition is great using the tulips to form a border in the FG of the shot while showing the nice architecture in the BG. The lighting and colors are fine with excellent sharpness and detail. This is a very good image for a scan!
TFS,
Asa

wishlist (4133) 2007-12-16 11:50

Ciao Attila,
prima di tutto ti chiedo una cosa..con quale scanner fai la scannerizzazione delle foto? Sembra che lavori molto bene e siccome ho iniziato ad usare la F5 sono ancora indeciso se comprare uno scanner per negativi o se far stampare le foto per poi scannerizzarle. Credo che siano 2 differenti tipi di scanner ognuno per un uso specifico..o sbaglio? in materia di pellicola non sono afferratissimo.

La foto e' stupenda, al solito. Una composizione armoniosa che si lascia guardare; una dof davvero notevole e una pulizia d'immagine degna di nota.
Un gran lavoro
Ciao
Igor

stego (22374) 2007-12-16 11:57

Hi Attila,
Wonderful compo and light. The red tulips on the FG make a nice colour contrast with the beautiful place behind them. If it wasn't a scan, one could argue about the sharpness and exposure levels, but it is remarkable how you achieved such clarity and colours with a scan.
Regards, José.

gilou530 (35350) 2007-12-16 12:44

salut attila
un trés beau scan, mais avec au départ une bonne photo, grande profondeur avec les tulipes du premier plan nettes une gestion de la lumiére impeccable beau travail de post
amitiés
gilbert

edytungkal (4519) 2007-12-16 18:35

Again a perfect scanned picture from this beautiful diamond city. The old style townhouse with clear sky and beautiful flowers on fg really make this picture special. Perfect composition with beautiful colours, well done friend...
Thanks

daniel

Alco (1512) 2007-12-16 21:12

Hello Attila,
Great shot of that city with beautiful colors and a good composition.
Alain

bostankorkulugu (33708) 2007-12-16 21:59

a lovely composition with the tulips on the foreground attila... beautiful light on the buildings also... i would buy this one as a postcard if i had seen it being sold in antwerp definitely... good job as always...

cheers

korkut

syd1946 (17913) 2007-12-16 22:35

Hi Attila,
What a nice idea to put the deep red tulips as a foreground.Adding much beauty to a wonderful image with big architectural interesting.The note also helps very much to enjoy.Excellent presentation my friend,

I wish you a nice day,
Thomas

John_F_Kennedy (31609) 2007-12-16 23:49

I like the soft warm light on the scene. Very good quality too. Well done
Best wishes,
Achim

vincz (19043) 2007-12-17 1:21

Very nice composition with the landmark tulips in the foreground. Great golden colors on the buildings.

hatti52 (12654) 2007-12-17 1:30

Hi Attila,
excellent composition with great lighting and vivid colours
compliments

siolaw (25788) 2007-12-17 1:56

Hi Attila,
A good POV with nice inclusion of the flowers in FG, Nice wide view of the the place with this superb architecture. Sharp details and good light management
Greetings
Laurent

riclopes (33033) 2007-12-17 2:24

Olá Attila, superb inclusion of the red tulips in FG. The contrast is striking and the resulted depth is very nice. Gorgeous architecture entering in the image from the right. Beautiful colors and light in a very creative composition. Great shot.
Best Wishes,
ricardo

Tue (25608) 2007-12-17 3:50

Hej Attila,
Wonderful photo from Antwerpen. The colours are very attractive and the golden light on the facades around the Grote Markt is beautiful. The inclusion of the red tulips was excellent too. Very well done and thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

Deepforest (8813) 2007-12-17 9:40

Hi Attila,
Nice springboard during dark and snowy day... Excellent composition with the flowers in the foreground; beautiful golden light... Great shot!
Best regards,
Andrzej

jonathan_hart (22578) 2007-12-17 10:05

hi Attila
wonderful place and excellent composition, the flowers, the golden light on the right, well done :))
regards
jo

Gustaw (21670) 2007-12-17 10:54

Hi, my friend!
It is very interesting photo. I very like your composition. Nice view, nice street. Good colours and light. Beautiful architecture and tulips.
Marek

rigoletto (26384) 2007-12-17 11:26

Hi Attila,
Those tulips are definitely stealing the role from the beautiful Grote Markt of Antwerpen. OH, how i miss those chocolate box houses...
Interesting angle of warm light, but i would prefer to see the left part under daylight as well.
Cheers,
Deniz

Cricri (43220) 2007-12-17 11:58

Hi Attila,
Une belle ville Anvers notament en architecture....belle lumiére qui donne une couleurs dorés aux façades de droite, joliment cadrer par les fleurs de printemps, beau travail
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

paololg (13787) 2007-12-17 15:56

Ciao Attila,
una immagine veramente straordinaria e piacevole, con una definizione superlativa. Bella l'idea di colorare la foto con i fiori i primo piano. Ottima anche la gestione della luce. Bravo.
A presto,
Paolo.

Scharan (13951) 2007-12-18 16:23

Olá Attila

Linda foto, belo olhar, um trabalho de sensibilidade. A composição e as cores são belas; ótima luz e o céu está maravilhoso. Meus parabéns, uma foto encantadora.
GA
Vera

bizsu (1011) 2007-12-18 16:40

Szia Attila !
Csodálatos város , amit a képed még jobban kiélez. Nem tudok mit írni, hiszen mindent leírtak itt már, és azt meg nem mondhatom, hogy egy kicsit beleégett a tulipán a képbe, vagy rosszul vágtál, vagy nem elég éles...., szóval nagyon szép, és megint okosabb lettem a leírásodtól.
Üdv, Zsú
Ui: Ja, jó POV. TFS. :)))

snowfalken (1108) 2007-12-19 4:01

Hello Attila,

Very interesting informations about the city of Antwerpen you present here! I only knew about Antwerpen from a computer game called Medal of Honour Allied Assault :)
The picture has great perspective, especially because you chose such a low POV and placed the tulips in the foreground. Personally, I would have placed the camera a little bit higher to create some space between the buildings in the background and the tulips. Of course if you didn't intend to cover certain things with them. I love the golden light on the buildings in the right side of the picture. Great light for photographing architecture! Thank you!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

gurselerdener (972) 2007-12-20 12:21

Hello Attila
Beautiful and impressive Antwerp and veryvery nice red tulips.
Congratulations
Best wishes from Ankara
Gursel

manada (6237) 2007-12-22 2:40

Ciao caro amico mio
dalle Fiandre uno scatto bellissimo. Ci hai ormai abituato alle tue composizioni magistrali, come questa.
Una chicca i papaveri in primo piano ed un must le costruzioni sullo sfondo.
Sempre in gamba!
Comincio a farti gli auguri, magari avremo occasione di rifarceli...
Freddy

Vato_Law (11682) 2007-12-22 9:54

Hello Attila,
Great quality of this scan to show us this beautiful composition.
The flowers in front bring us a touch of hot colours which contrast very well with the golden glow coming form the old facades.
The view of the esplanade with the bikes parked in front is a nice add on to the compos too.

Best wishes for Christmas for you and your family.

Paulo

Paolo (40713) 2007-12-22 14:18

Ciao Attila, bella foto, con una composizione bella, forse un pò troppo da cartolina, ma ottimamente eseguita,con colori stupendi, bella luce e una vista molto bella sulla piazza princiaple di ANversa.
ciao e buon Natale.

parbo (10970) 2007-12-23 5:09

Hello Attila,

Your well chosen view point is created a wonderful scene. I like city texture at background and the lights on buildings facade with visitors.

I wish Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

danos (32708) 2007-12-23 6:51

Hello Attila,
excellent composition with great perspective.The quality in the digital format is impressive despite of the original version was from an a negative. The light is creating, great the shadow and your POV looking up the middle in the scene, is creating superb depth. The red flowers in the foreground ,add a fabulous aesthetic in the scenery.

I wish you Merry Xmas as your family too and a Happy New Year,Danos

Henryk_Bilor (20367) 2007-12-23 7:46

Hi Attila
Beautiful town, nice capture, although I would crop most of the tulips ;). Great light and colours.
Merry Christmas

dip (12660) 2007-12-24 2:15

Hi Attila,
very beutiful shot of the place,
great POV and lighting,I like also the colourful foreground with the red flowers,
Greetings and Merry X'mas!
Dimitris.

Silvio1953 (42095) 2007-12-24 7:25

Ciao Attila, bella città che non conoscevo, bella composizione con i tulipani rossi in primo piano che introducono magnificamente la splendida architettura, bravo, un gtrande BUON NATALE, ciao Silvio

josepmarin (33837) 2007-12-24 7:47

Hi Attila,
A beautiful spring scene with the tulips in foreground with its magnificent red color, being outlined on the most beautiful architecture, with a light and a few perfect colors.
I like, it's a great work, cleanly, attractive and well realized.
Merry Christmas for you and your family my friend, and a happy New Year.
Best regards,
Josep

Emile (20007) 2007-12-24 9:03

Hola Attila.
A superb work from a scanned photo, looks like you have a good scanner but also your shot has a lot of artistic importance, very well captured with a good POV, the tulips are beautiful in the fg giving a good perspective to the amazing market square and the old buildings. Great colors and composition. Very good sharpness. Well done.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Best wishes.

CRATEOS (7274) 2007-12-25 1:54

Merry Christmas my friend..i wish you the best for you and all your people around you..!!!!..be Happy..and health.......... .

Nikiforos

elmec (12194) 2007-12-25 14:20

Hello Attila!
Amazing spring shot from this city!
I like the red flowers there!
Perfect done with lights and shadows!
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

Graal (58169) 2007-12-26 0:20

Jó napot Attila,
very nice place and view, fine photo from Your archive. Beautiful colours and old architecture. Well quality of scan. Good work.
Happy New Year for You!
Gr., Aleksander

edal (6571) 2007-12-26 1:36

Szia Attila!
It's a great panorama of this medieval hoses in the rays of the late sun. The tulips in fg add a delicate touch to the diamond hardness of the place...
Viszlát!
Anton

andante (7092) 2007-12-26 6:51

If I ever need to explain somebody about the rule of thirds, this is the picture I will pick up to do it. You have applied it perfectly to this image. Great colors, great light management.
Happy holidays!
Enrique

ekinokswest (2974) 2007-12-26 14:39

Attila
amazing photography I always knew antwerp through its port and typical belgian rain but this appereance of sun makes your photo very unique and bright

Cretense (56326) 2007-12-27 5:40

Hi Attila!

Fantastic architecture photography with excellent composition, but what makes the diference here is the low POV and the positioning of these blinding red flowers in the foreground. Great colours and definition overall, the work of a pro! Congratulations!

Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones!

Hercules

alvaraalto (5231) 2007-12-27 13:25

Hi Attila,

These red tulips are a lovely foreground for this beautiful square in Antwerpen.
The typical Flemish architecture was brought by Lieven de Key to Haarlem with its famous “Vleeshal” on the Grote Markt.

Best wishes for 2008 !
Groet Rob

Wanda1 (11001) 2007-12-30 19:41

Hi Attila,
I love the light just touching the buildings and colours are wonderful. The way you have shot through the bright flowers in the foreground is a great idea, and you have captured terrific clarity and details.
All the best for 2008!
Regards
Wanda

Angshu (33815) 2008-01-01 1:45

Hello Attila
Excellent & different POV of the Grote Markt area, an area I used to stroll around every weekend when I stayed in Antwerp. Superb light & brilliant colours. While I admire your excellent POV, I also like how you portrayed the oft photographed place differently. Excellent my friend.
Best Regards
Angshu
Wishing you & your family the very best for the New Year

pablominto (40876) 2008-01-02 2:34

Hello Attila,
The inclusion of red flowers makes this a different city capture!
Amazing DOF, seems to cover most of the frame...
Good details in the architecture and a fine sense of depth!
Greetings,
Pablo -

macondo (13141) 2008-01-02 3:48

Hi Attila.
Just had a look in your gallery. I thought when I saw the words 'Diamond city' that this must be Antwerp, just from the thumbnail. Very nicely composed, of course, with the tulips in front. They provide a great colour contrast with the golden sunlit buildings on the right. I think the cathedral must be very nearby. Great composition and exposure.
Regards and best wishes for 2008,
Andrew

ocskaymarci (2508) 2008-01-04 7:22

Szia Attila!
Mivel azóta nem "találkoztunk", ezért szeretnék most kívánni sikeres, boldog új esztendőt!!!
Tetszik a nézőpont a képen, jól mutatnak a piros virágok az előtérben, így teljes is a színpaletta. A kompozíció is jó, a fények is nagyon hatásosak és a minőség is jól át lett mentve! ;)
Csak egy apró dolog: egy kicsit feljebb tartottam volna a gépet, hogy a tulipánok és a túloldalon lévő házak között maradjon egy kis csík a térből. Na ja, utólag könnyű okosnak lennei! :D
Üdvözlettel,
Marci

HOBO (5244) 2008-03-23 23:02

Szia Attila,
first of all, what a scan quality!
Sharpness and colors are perfect; an example how to work with maximum depth of focussing.
Happy Easter
Knut

Timea (60) 2008-05-05 11:39

Ciao papi
mi piace tantissimo la tua foto perche'ha questi edifici con colori stupendi. Mi piacciono anche i tulipani rossi che danno un tocco floreale alla foto.Bravissimo!
Timy

rozy975 (3047) 2008-06-14 13:28

Lovely composition for a pretty town like Antwerp.
I love the red tulips in the foreground.
Well done!