Dancing in the library, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

Together with Rinie, Isabelle and Dominique my girlfriend and I visited the famous opera house of Paris, also known as the Palais Garnier (Charles Garnier was the architect).

The opera was built on the orders of emperor Napoleon III and the construction took 15 years and was finished in 1875. It is an incredible place, decorated with loads of marble, red plush and gold-leaf.

The west pavilion of the building hosts the library, which is now in use as a museum. While we were strolling through the rooms, my eyes fell on this symmetric scene, overviewed by the painting of the ballet dancer. The low light conditions forced me to use ISO 1600 to obtain an acceptable shutter speed for a handheld shot.

Rinie_Hoff, ribeiroantonio, king, pridel, Xalkida, thomeryon, eleparc, nwoehnl, robiuk, Jeppe ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2006-05-30 1:37

Good morning Michael, what a lovely scene. Both ladies echoing the painting so well, one leaning to one side and one to the other side and the dancer receiving the admiration she's asking for.
I like the layers, as if the have a dark floor behind them.
Hard to find the noise though. uch a good camera, the D70 ;-)
Have a good day.

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2006-05-30 1:53

Excellente shot with a very nice DOF and colours. The POV is perfect and the composition genial. Congratulations.
Antonio

Xalkida (11744) 2006-05-30 3:37

Hi Michael

Excellent catch of lighting. Great DOF, very fine colors. The shapes of the two ladies are marvelous. Nice work.

pridel (233) 2006-05-30 4:10

goedendag Michael
famous D70 worked well :o) but your eye also !
I like very much this light and the symmetry hustled by the two people.
I like also the grace of the painting which contrasts with the rigid order of the books.
happy to meet you too. you have to said to us when the baby will come.
Pascal (later)

thomeryon (1985) 2006-05-30 5:23

Hello
Quelle admirable construction.
Une netteté impeccable, l'oeil attiré par le tableau et son sujet, des visiteurs en mouvement Chapeau !

What a beautiful composition. The eye is attracted by the light, the painting and all in a good sharpness.
Congratulations.
Pascal

marcinploszka (21) 2006-05-30 6:33

I love this picture!

eleparc (24063) 2006-05-30 7:02

although i have visited the place many times, including the backstage and the rehearsal areas, i have never had the chance to see the library... this painting at the end of the gallery, the inclusion of the top floor above, the dim light inside the library and the two visitors make an excellent compo for this photo. excellent shot!
Eric

erdna (5713) 2006-05-30 9:43

Very good lighting and point of view on this picture. The painting is nicely framed by the books above and on two sides. I feel that you will have a more dynamic or stronger subject if the lights on two sides are cropped off. Its brightness competes with the subject wall.

Andre'

nwoehnl (122) 2006-05-30 15:18

Very nice work on this one, Michael. The exposure came out really balanced considering the varying intensity of light sources, as your final result renders the details of the book backs on the shelves as well as the brighter area with the painting in a very balanced way. Great to have the two people in front of the painting, as they provide additional focus towards the ballerina painting, and they also did you the favor of not obscuring the view of the artwork. Also technically a good quality considering the 1600 ISO which doesn't always come out that good with Nikon DSLRs. Great shot, wish I could have been at the meeting as well.

flydragon (0) 2006-05-30 16:10

hello Michael
nice how u maneged the light
also the stricy composition
i like the warm tone and wood
a nice place a good pics ;o)
regards
••simon••

[2]

roamermark (1592) 2006-05-30 16:13

How wonderfully composed with the two subjects at either corner of the picture frame. The backdrop of the books and the vertical framing make this a very pleasing image.
Cheers
Mark

avigur_11 (22553) 2006-05-30 17:17

Sowhich one of them is Rinie, Isabelle, and Dominique, Michael ;-)

Wonderful artistic shot, where not only the techanical side is great, but also the multi-subject compo, and how the different subjecta reffer to each other.

Great to see you around, Micahel.
Very well done.
Y.

Luko (14000) 2006-05-30 17:35

Very nice light.

I'm a sucker for triangular composed shots, on top of that the two real character seem like they're mimicking the dancer.
Never been inside Garnier, but from your photo, I may guess that all the girls dream they are ballerinas dressed in a rose tutu at the very moment they enter the building and eventually start doing ballet steps.

Have you shot Rinie and Isabel's entrechats in their rose tutu?

[2] +

robiuk (10807) 2006-05-31 10:09

Hello Michael,
Another superb shot, came out well with high ISO and the light is beautiful.
Great warm colours and lines - the atmosphere well conveyed!
Bravo!
Robi

Jeppe (18654) 2006-05-31 16:16

Hi Michael

You did a very job here getting us the fine details in the ceiling and the spectators as almost silhouettes - the dancer indeed nicely framed.

Good to see your continue the meeting and Isabelle still on her tour.

Regards
Jeppe