Versailles - A Garden in Four Seasons

 

The sumptuous palace and gardens of Versailles represented both Louis XIV’s celebration of himself and a perfectly balanced integration of art and nature. Millions of tourists have long admired the gardens for their inexhaustible source of new life and enduring mystery. The allées and parterres resonate with memories of pomps and promenades, feasts and follies. As a monument to the Sun King, the solar symbolism of Apollo reigns over both architecture and ornament at Versailles, yet French classicism dominates the gardens, imposing a strict geometrical order on the forest, shaping the flowerbeds and boxwood, and brightening the bosky depths with fountains and statuary.  [Book Description]

Photographer Jacques Dubois presents Versailles through the cycle of the seasons and the shifting intensities of their light. His evocative images show the great facades, the stone goddesses, the flowers and pools, the masks, columns, and towering trees transformed by the ever-shifting forces of nature. Brief essays provide historical perspective and insight into the development of this enduring landmark. This gorgeous book will be treasured by visitors to Versailles as well as any garden lover.   [Book Description]

I've visited Versaille in each season to see the differences in colors and perspectives.  It's easy to think "Oh, it will just be the same." But each season brings something new, with the changing light, the weather, and the crowds. Sunshine, rain, snow.  It all makes such a difference in the look and feel of the gardens.  Here are a few comparisons from my trips.  My first trip to Versaille was in the Summer of 2007. I toured the Palace, and walked the center part of the gardens.  I was fascinated by the statues and water ponds. In the fall of 2009, I wanted to go to see what the trees looked like with full color, and discovered the other areas of the grounds that were now open, such as the Trianon.  In the winter of  2010, I was amazed with the snow cover, iced over ponds, and stillness of the grounds.  It was beautiful, and freezing!  In the spring of 2011, I had read some additional literature and books on the gardens, and, to my delight, discovered that there were more water fountains, grottos and delightful areas hidden amoung the trees.  The trip from Paris to Versaille is very easy and is a short train ride.  More and more rooms are renovated, and opened, at the Palace although I have gone just to see the Gardens. The fountains are all running on the weekends in the Spring and Summer. Check the website for exact dates and times.  You can buy a ticket just to visit the gardens if you have already seen the Palace interior. (The Gardens are free during the week.)  Okay, on to the photographs and the seasons.

Note: I will add my Summer 2007 pictures soon.

The Front Entrance

Fall 2009

Notice that the left facade is under renovation.  The palace is in a constant state of renovation to restore it to the former condition.

The open plaza leading to the gates is all cobblestone. This is not a problem in dry weather.

Winter 2010

The facade update has been completed. The gold trim is brilliant.

The cobblestone is slushy and hides puddles of cold wet surprises.

Spring 2011

The cobblestones are wet and slippery, and water is running down hill.

Side Gardens

Fall 2009

Winter 2010

Spring 2011

Water Parterres

Large reflecting pools on the first level at the Chateau's back.

Fall 2009

Winter 2010
Ice covers the ponds and the fountains are still.  Snows lays on the statues around the pool.
The gold statue in the background is from a special exhibit.

Spring 2011
The grass is green and the fountains are active.

The Grand Perspective

From "the king's viewing point"

Fountain of Latona, mother of Apollo and Diana, in the center of the Grand Perspective.

Fall 2009. The trees are just beginning to turn color.

Winter 2010

Snow covers the ground and the trees have all dropped their leaves.

Spring 2011

The fountains are active from April to October, and the Gardens come alive.

White blossoms can be seen on the trees in the forested area.

More books on the Gardens at Versailles (Amazon affiliate links)

The Sun King's Garden: Louis XIV, Andre le Notre and the Creation of the Gardens of Versailles

Versailles: The History of the Gardens and Their Sculpture
Versailles Gardens
Gardens of Versailles
Territorial Ambitions and the Gardens of Versailles (Cambridge Cultural Social Studies)
Gardens of the World VERSAILLES Paris, France
Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles
The Gardens of Le Notre at Versailles: Plans by Jean Chaufourier
Key to the Panorama of the palace and garden of Versailles. Painted by J. Vanderlyn.

Pittsburgh, PA - Allegheny River Tour

I love to see Pittsburgh from the river.  This Gateway Clipper dinner tour started on the Monongahela River at the docks.  We then headed up the Allegheny River.  Pittsburgh's skyline has a mix of old and new.  The bridges are frequent.

 The Heinz Field stadium with Point State Park in the foreground.

 Looking at downtown Pittsburgh. Point State Park is in the foreground where the two rivers meet to form the Ohio River.  The evening sunlight is perfect!

 We travel along the Allegheny Riverfront and Fort Duquesne Boulevard Park

 We passed under the Andy Warhol Bridge, historically known as the 7th Street Bridge.  This is one of the "Three Sisters Bridges", three parallel bridges. The other two are "Roberto Clemente" and "Rachel Carson" bridges.

 The US Steel Building is tall in the background as we approach the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

 The railroad bridge.

 The David McCollough Bridge in honor of native historian, author and commentarial.  The bridge is known locally/historically the 16th Street Bridge.  Bridge type "Arch Bridge", "Through Arch Bridge".

Church spires along the north side banks.

The view of downtown from the Allegheny.

Barges turned and stowed along the banks.

The Duquesne Incline on the south shore Carson Street at the lower end to Grandview Avenue on Mt. Washington.

Paris Food - From Plate to Pixel

Click on the book to go to Amazon. This is an affiliate link and supports the blog with pennies on the dollar spent.)
Plate To Pixel - non-affiliate link. This is a non-affiliate link that you can use if you want.

A new photography book was released in May, 2011, just after the return from my last trip where I spent weeks eating and photographing food.  This book has prompted me to review my food photos with a critical eye, and see what could have been done to improve the photograph. Any thoughts?

I took this one with my iPhone, which takes nice photos.  Sometimes it is uncomfortable walking in to a restaurant with a huge camera, so I need to do the best that I can with a small camera.  I took a lot of photos at this restaurant, Ebury Wine Bar, in London.  So many that the waitress came to the table after a few days and asked me if I was an industrial spy.  "No" I told her, and explained that I just took food photos so that I could talk about what was good and bad.  I did take a second photo of this dessert, a closeup of the little sprigs, but it was blurry.

I often wonder about the angle.  Should a take it from the top view? Should I take it from the side?  What about "Staging"?  I had already taken a bite from the sandwich, and a little bit of the soup, when I remembered to snap a photo.  So, this looks like I was in the middle of eating it. I was!

I also took a side photo of the one ordered by my friend.  I didn't notice how weird the pepper looked until now.  I think that I need to pay attention to these details at the time.

I have this problem often with coffee drinks.  Do I get the full effect of the design on the latte, losing the cup? 

Or do I try to capture the cup too?

Sometimes the food looks too good and I dig in.  I'm lucky if I remember to put my food down after one bite and take a photo.  I already took a bite, and played in some of the chocolate sauce, before I remembered.

So, maybe you have some tips and suggestions that you can add. Feel free to use the comment sections.
A friend of mine is a photographer, and has taken wonderful photos for a tea shop.  They are on display in the windows.   Click here to see Nick's food photos.
I also found these other books at Amazon and they provide great ideas about photography, blogging, and more.
Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Reviews, Memoir, and More (Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Blogs,)
For Food and Drink Photography (Lighting)
 Food Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots
A Guide to Tasteful Food Blogging

Paris-Montmartre - The Art of the Stroll

It is worth the quick trip from the middle of Paris via the Metro to the area north called "Montmartre". There is so much to see, and such a wide variety of sights.

The street leading from the Metro station is filled with shops and cafes

The glowing whiteness of Sacre Coeur becons you to the top of the hill.

And once you reach the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of Paris.

But wait, there's more!

A short walk takes you to the center of an open plaza filled with restaurants and artists.

A singer greets you with her vibrant song.
(Enjoy Arlette's singing on this post.) 

The cafes call to you as you see plate after plate carried to the patrons sitting under the canopies.

Now it is time to find the perfect painting to take home. How can you choose?
The flowers had such a vibrant color.

The landscapes, done in shades of a color, draw your eye from across the street.

Ohhh, and look at the store front paintings on the left.

So classy!

These paintings whisked you back into an earlier period and reminded me of sepia tone photos.

Spirited colors.

And here are some of my favorite photo topics: windows and doors.  With the beautiful flowers of spring.

After walking round and round, the perfect one finally calls to you and it is whisked off to your homeland.

As you head towards the Metro, you see charming shop signs.

Quaint old windmills.

And a very famous red windmill, The Moulin Rouge.

A wonderful afternoon spent perfecting the "art of the stroll".  Or is it better to say promenade?