Toulouse Twilight, a photo from Midi-Pyrenees, South

Photographer's Note

Winter on the north side of the globe has passed, but I keep hearing about the cold weather and late snowfalls in France and other European countries. Here is a photo from the previous winter or very late Autumn, taken just a couple of weeks before Christmas in 2011. Looking to the west across the Garonne River in Toulouse, from the Place Saint-Pierre, close by the bridge of the same name, we see the copper dome of the Hфpital de La Grave, situated in the Saint-Cyprien district. In earlier times named after Saint-Joseph de la Grave, the hospital or hospice was set up to treat victims of the plague epidemics in the 15th century, but converted to a general hospital in 1647, when the many victims of the plague had all died. Below the dome, the circular chapel of La Grave was commenced in 1758 and completed in 1845. After a collapse into the soft alluvial soils beside the river, the foundations were rebuilt in concrete and the dome was constructed of copper over wood to keep the weight low.

Today, the hospital is still of major importance to public health in Toulouse, having been used mostly as a maternal care centre during the 20th century.

Incidentally, the name 'Grave' was given to both the saint and the hospital after the sandy bank - or 'grиve' in French - beside the very shallow Garonne.

Kofman, snunney, Royaldevon, SnapRJW, Kielia, abmdsudi, jhm, adramad, manrezaei, PiotrF, fotka has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (146190) 2013-03-26 5:22

Hi Andrew,
Good moment with this perfect water mirror, lovely tones and reflections, a well managed photo, tfs.

snunney (130967) 2013-03-26 5:31

Hello Andrew,
A wonderful peaceful moment you have captured here. A perfectly framed composition with superb light and colours. Winter does seem exceedingly long this year, though spring does finally seem to have come to this part of France at least - touch wood.

Royaldevon (85602) 2013-03-26 6:52

Hello Andrew,

A very quiet and tranquil twilight, where just the tiny ripples betray any movement on the water.
The shot is simple, uncluttered and perfectly composed, paying attention to thirds and focal image.
I love the soft, evening light.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Believe me, winter is definitely not over! We have had blzzards, and incredibly cold arctic winds! It is snowing very finely, at the moment, and still bitterly cold. The forecast is for it to stay like this all over Easter! Roll on summer!!!

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-03-26 9:52

Beautiful in its simplicity Andrew. Your composition is well balanced and incredibly serene. I like the fact that there is the merest hint of detail in the buildings. Warm regards rosemary

holmertz (101890) 2013-03-26 11:30

Hello Andrew,
You show us a quiet and slightly moody photo from a time of the year when even southern France was entering a period of relative darkness (if this had ben Stockholm the time would have been maybe 3 PM with this kind of light). There are very good poportions between sky and water, giving a lot of space for the quiet surface.
Kind regards,
Gert

lousat (138541) 2013-03-26 17:17

Hi Andrew,a magic moment taken in the best exposure to create a beautiful composition whit a magnificent atmosphere,i like it!Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

ACL1978 (7511) 2013-03-26 18:14

Beautifully exposed sunset, Andrew - the light on the water really takes over nicely here, glowing around the silhouette of the dome. Beautiful!

Andrew

saxo042 (38078) 2013-03-26 18:59

Hi Andrew,
A very pleasant and well composed picture with beautiful colours. Interesting architecture.
Kind regards
Gunnar

npecanhuk (79329) 2013-03-26 19:06

Hi Andrew!
Very beautiful and pleasant-looking picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, vertical format, chosen pov and composition are all excellent!
I love that sky and those reflections!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

siudzi (34141) 2013-03-26 23:16

Hi Andrew,
This is very artistic and classy shot of this stunning view! Love the water reflection effect included in your composition and beautiful pastel tones of the scene. Amazing work. Very well seen and done. Like it!

Best,
Gosia

Silvio1953 (220465) 2013-03-27 12:39

Ciao Andrew, lovely composition withfascinating reflections, magic atmosphere, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

wolf38 (30) 2013-03-28 6:06

Hi Andrew. A truly evocative photo. The colors of the evening will be wonderful. The reflection is very effective. I particularly like the peace and tranquility of the photos.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

marabu61 (11587) 2013-03-28 14:55

Hello Andrew
What a charming photo from beautiful Toulouse.The sky is gorgeous, the reflection in the water simply stunning and there is such a calm atmosphere to this scene. Truly beautiful indeed.
But in one thing you are very wrong: Winter is still in full force over here, even today it was snowing again. Even me as a winter's person, I am slowly fed up with it.
happy easter to down under
Daniel

Kielia (24077) 2013-03-29 4:49

Hi Andrew,
this was really a very difficult task! The result is a fantastic impression of Toulouse. The mood is very well conveyed and felt by the viewer. The composition is also excellent. My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

Nicou (193806) 2013-03-30 7:08

Hello

quels reflets et image quel calme et tranquillitй, un vrai miroir superbe ciel et vue quelle image et captage merveilleux.
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

baclama (19214) 2013-03-30 7:16

hi,
a very nice reflection with great light!
TFS
have a good WE
vero

rbassin (27472) 2013-03-30 7:34

Hello Andrew,
une belle rйalisation, la lumiиre ainsi que le miroitement sont mangifiques.
Bon W-E
Roland

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-03-30 8:25

Hi Andrew
Excellent & lovely twilight shot with tones, clarity and the colours are simply glorious. There's some highlights retained in shadowed areas and the catchy calm reflection has further enhanced the strength of this shot. Great description, wel done
Kind regards

Waylim (25436) 2013-04-01 15:05

Hi Andrew,

This is an excellent shot. I like the semi melodramatic mood, created by the subdue evening light, and the early wintery weather. The chosen POV with calm surface of the river evoke the sense of peaceful and tranquil mood. The color is pure and beautiful without trying to overly saturate or contrast. Making it very soothing to the eyes and keeping it pure and natural. The vertical composition work best to include large portion of the unclutter foreground of river. The silhouette of the chuch doom and its reflection dorminated our attention, makes it a strong anchor point to the composition. A well thought out composition and perfectly executed shot.

Way

williewhistler (16606) 2013-04-02 12:46

Hello Andrew, the gentle ripples add a nice sence of tranquility in a well balanced composition.
The circular dome silhouetted against the evening sky is a lovely feature.
Best regards,
Les.

jhm (211734) 2013-04-03 4:04

Hello Andrew,

We get a very soft image with a fantastic reflection of the tower.
A perfectly framed composition with superb light and colours.
Excellent presentation, very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

adramad (72526) 2013-04-03 8:16

Hi Andrew.
Sensational vertical composition, which offers a wide view of the river with the beautiful reflections of the great dome and its surroundings, beautiful sky with the warm colors left by the sun as it was. It is a lovely composition with a nice backlight.
A good range of color and a great management of light, good sharpness.
Well done.
Enjoy a good day.
Best wishes.
Luis

manrezaei (1749) 2013-04-07 6:01

Hi Andrew,

Excellent shot. Very nice colors you captured. Very well done.

Regards.

Mansour

robmal (2439) 2013-04-09 9:10

Hello Andrew,
beautiful vrtical composition with lovely reflection and soft colors, well done.
Regards Robert.

mjw364 (1466) 2013-05-07 1:09

Hello Andrew

Great exposure here which captures shadow detail and the reflection as well as that gorgeous late evening sky.

TFS

Mike

claudeD (47754) 2013-07-21 23:26

Hello Andrew,

wonderful picture from Toulouse with a perfect light managmentz and perfect smooth colors. I like the reflections in the water and the atmosphere very much.Very well done.TFS.

WIth regards from Luxembourg

JC

gervaso (28177) 2013-08-28 4:42

Hello, Andrew!

Wonderful reflection of the beautiful architecture on the water, and with excellent colors of the end of the day! Wonderful composition! Very well done!

PiotrF (54246) 2013-09-04 10:59

Hello Andrew,
I like the idea and attractive result. Nice composition . I am really impressed Composition and presentation are pleasant.
Very well done,
Regards
Piotr

fotka (8897) 2016-11-01 8:18

Hi Andrew,
Nice picure of the church with huge dome shot just before the blue hour. The church and surrounding buildings are almost silhouette and with the calm weather the reflection is perfect. Well done with good quality.
Kind regards,
Zbigniew