Barajas Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

I had to make a stop-over in Madrid last week, and discovered the new Terminal 4 of Barajas Airport (built in 2005)..

I can hear some of you already moaning that an airport can’t have the charm of a late XIVthe century Gothic cathedral.

Big mistake. This terminal was designed by Richard Rogers (yeah, the same who came up with centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, in 1972), and it is, in my opinion, an architectural success in terms of aesthetics. The roofs are designed as waves, to the point you feel like surfing while waiting for the next plane that will take you to Vuanatu.

I spent two hours inside of this building, and it was such an intense visual experience, that I realized, much later, I hadn’t even glanced towards the Freeshop entrance door.

avigur_11, designsoul, yanseiler, falves, bertolucci ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

alkramer (0) 2006-07-13 18:03

Hi Gal;
I agree with you that this new terminal is in itself worth a visit like the airpot in Hong-kong for instance, but I am happy you and you camara survive the experience and were not lost by the Barajas staff and so many thousands of sutcases get lost. (It´s a big joke in Spain about the terminal 4 being the spanish triangulo de Bermudas)
The shot is interesting.
Regards
Alberto

MiguelP (14326) 2006-07-13 19:45

Well, I do agree with you about the arquitectonical point of the building and disagree with Alberto, I have used Terminal 4 quite a few times and nothing happened to me. You tell about gothic. Gothic looks for the light, and it´s true, this constructions plays with light all the time as you probe at your photo. Congratulations Gal.

designsoul (21394) 2006-07-13 23:18

So good to see you post again. The shot is gorgeous in its wonderful harmonies, the way the ceiling opening is so beautifully balanced with the woman's scarf, both structurally and tonally. BUT what really blows me away here, Gal, is that wonderful graceful gesture you caught, the way her beautiful hand, resting on the railing, is lit by the light above. That is breathtaking.
Good night from a very hot Ottawa...
sasa

I haven't been in the Barajas Airport unfortunately, Gal, but I can trust your eyes. While my heart also veers toward the Mediaeval, I also melt looking at some of the graceful architecture by Calatrava or Gehry these days.

avigur_11 (21301) 2006-07-13 23:18

Your note is very interesting, Ga, and so is the picture, although it looks a bit strange at the first time. Modern architecture in spain is very unique and exceitint. I didn't see this terminal, but you made me courious about it.

yanseiler (20) 2006-07-14 6:26

Salut Gal, quel rendu des couleurs et des contrastes ce 50mm... A première vue ça ne m'a pas frappé et ensuite:
Le jaune sur fond bleu, la main dans la lumipre, cette femme dans l'axe du hublot du haut, les lignes vertes et les diagonales de l'escalateur, une compo très riche en détails...
A+
Yan

falves (1403) 2006-07-14 7:51

Com que então sr. Gal, afinal sempre se aproveitou uma foto. Vendo bem as coisas ainda se hão-de aproveitar mais algumas. Esta foto é uma típica composição galeótica, e mais uma vez ao mais alto nivel. O ponto de vista é esplendido e a profundidade aquilo a que a 50mm nos habituou, ainda por cima guiada pelas sábias mãos do mestre. A luz ambiente cria uma envolvencia suave, quase melancólica, como que típica dos terminais dos aeroportos.
Obrigado por tudo.
Aquele grande abraço
Fred

bertolucci (11976) 2006-07-14 11:54

Hi Gal, I guess the light and its play shows me what you mean here. The distribution of it is so nicely atmospheric. I like the way you positioned the woman in the frame. The way her hand intermediates between her voile like outfit and the escalator and thru this the other strong lines, is very interesting and in a way connects, or maybe grounds, Rogers' high tech architecture with warm humanity. Very good.
Have a nice weekend,
Bert

pridel (233) 2006-07-14 13:34

bonjour Gal
Je suis a Madrid en ce moment, je n ai pas vu ce hall.
Mais ta photo me plait beaucoup.
j aime cette femme que je pensais etre une statue, et c est la main delicate qui attire le regard. la touche jaune en haut un plus.
Pascal

fixed (3831) 2006-07-15 7:41

hello Gal
belle construction graphique
toutes les lignes convergent vers cette femme
joliment vu et bien fait avec quelques pointes de couleurs
la lumière sur cette main ajoute aussi une touche de sensibilité et de poésie
bravo
nono