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The last part of our visit of the Romanesque churches in Le Puy-en-Velay (central France) takes us from today to the one that is possibly the most moving, and certainly the most spectacular of them all: the Saint Michael Chapel, perched on top of the Aiguilhe Rock, an enormous, 82 meters high geological dike made of hard basalt and left standing like a finger sticking out of the plain below by the erosion of all the sediment that once surrounded it.
There is only one way to get there: climb the hard, tall and uneven 268 steps carved out of the basalt, and in doing so, you will be following in the exact footsteps, not only of the millions of Compostela pilgrims that came here over the centuries, but also of innumerable historic figures, among which the Kings of France Charles VII, Louis XI and Charles VIII, who ascended the rock to pray under the humble vaults of the chapel.
According to persistent legends, the first edifice built on top of the rock of Aiguilhe (notice how close the name is to the French word aiguille, i.e., needle) was a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury. No trace of such a sanctuary was ever found by archæologists. The chapel that one can see today was built in two successive phases. First, the initial and very small square chapel, probably with three apses but only two remain today. This was built soon after 950, either by bishop Godescalc (who had been the first French pilgrim of Compostela in 950–51), or more probably by Truannus, dean of the canons of the cathedral chapter, duly authorized by Godescalc. I have not been able to find any definitive evidence pointing to one rather than the other. What is documented, however, is that the finished chapel was consecrated by the said bishop in 961. It was a pre-Romanesque monument.
Secondly, during the late 1000s, the primitive oratory was “surrounded” and augmented by a Romanesque chapel built on the flattened top of the dike. In the process, the probable third apse of the oratory was destroyed to open a way of access between the newly built “nave” and the square space of the oratory, repurposed as “choir”. The best way to understand the layout if to have a look at the floor plan drawn by architect Mallay in the 19th century, here: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plan_de_la_chapelle_Saint.... The imposing bell tower was also built at the same time.
General view of the dike and the chapel, looking to the southwest. The original, pre-Romanesque oratory is the squarish part that can be seen on the right. It is duly oriented and built in coarse apparel with lots of mortar. The Romanesque part “wraps” around the primitive edifice and is much better built.
The most recent part is the façade, from the late 1100s.
The chapel was listed as a Historic Landmark by Prosper Mérimée, General Inspector of the Monuments historiques on the very first list of 1840.
This shot has been taken during one of my sunrise sessions in Rosolina Mare (see my What a meaningful world... for information about that peculiar location).
In its conception this is a humble shot, just the first of a series of exposure bracketings to be stitched and blended into a panorama. Not enough spare time even to think of such an endeavour now - but I have realized that this shot could have a life of its own, so I have processed it and... here it is.
I was fascinated by the rampant, mighty, glowing cloud on the left - something like a rampart against the shadows of the night - and this "detail" of that sunrise puts it in the limelight. Hope that you will enjoy this view, my friends!
I have obtained this picture by blending an exposure bracketing [-1.7/0/+1.7 EV] by luminosity masks in the Gimp (EXIF data, as usual, refer to the "normal exposure" shot), then I added some final touches with Nik Color Efex Pro 4.
And on a 90 degree day you won't mind it at all. Take your shoes and socks off and cross Clear Creek at the Clear Creek Knoll path - Nachusa Grasslands - Three exposure HDR processed with Nik HDR Efex Pro 2
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my written permission. © All rights reserved.
It was very cute watching her flit from bud to bud to drink nectar out of the plant.
UPDATE: Wow! This photo made it to the Flickr "Explore" page for August 1, 2019 (No. 447 out of 500). Hello to all my new visitors and welcome!
“Sometimes it’s easy just to get… stuck. Stuck with what’s comfortable, stuck in what we know, what we think makes us happy.”
I heard this quote in an intro to a song recently and it struck a cord with me personally.
While 2014 is coming to end, I look back on all of the memories and places I traveled to. In 2015, I already have at least one west coast trip planned and several other trips that I'm still trying to iron out plans for.
With that said, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year!
“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
~Anais Nin
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my written permission.
© Toni_V. All rights reserved.
Reflection of Almas Tower, Platinum Tower and AU Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE.
Post-processing: 7 manual blending exposures processed with CC. Fake reflection was done with new flipped motion blurred layer. Some more adjustment was done by Nik software (Pro Contrast, Sunlight filter, Vivenza and Brilliance/Warmth filter)
Nikon D300s & Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2,8 DX
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©2014 Marek Kijevský, all rights reserved
Something a little different from me (processing wise).
Thoughts, critiques and criticisms are welcome.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my written permission.
© Toni_V. All rights reserved.
Parys Mountain is a disused copper mine first established in the bronze age, and now a way marked trail centering on the old mill at the top.
Due to the high level of soil contamination, little life survives on or near the mountain, but there are a number of examples of rare plants and bacteria.
It is a spectacular sight on a bright sunny day and well worth a visit if you're in the area.
William R.A 20100813
Camera: Canon EOS 1000D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1,8 II
Exposure: 1/400 sec.
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO: 200
Lighting info: Natural light
Format: RAW
Processing: Adobe Camera Raw 6.0, PS Dodge and Burn and Nik Software Color Efex Pro.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my written permission.
© Toni_V. All rights reserved.
I could't believe the sky when I got out of work tonight, without a doubt the most beautiful clouds I can ever remember seeing. Sadly I wasn't someplace where I could really take advantage of them, and I only had my old G11 with me.