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Castle Explorers


Castle Explorers
Photo Information
Copyright: Erin By (iGirl) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 29 N: 112] (610)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-07
Categories: Friends/Family
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-28 17:34
Viewed: 667
Points: 11
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is at an incredibly awesome old castle called Cēsu Pils in Latvia. ("Pils" means "castle" in Latvian, and "Cēsu" is a form of the name of the town "Cēsis.") It was so fun to be given a lantern to light our way as we explored the castle! At one spot I ended up outside the castle near the bottom, and looking up I saw two of my friends leaning out this window (or whatever it is) far above. I zoomed my little camera as far as I could and took this picture.

The funny thing is that I was thinking as I took this picture that they would make a cute couple, and now they are both married, but not to each other! I guess I was wrong! But I still like the picture. Two good friends on an adventure together, when they were young enough to travel across Europe without families holding them in one country. Wherever they are today, I hope they are still happy, and I hope they remember Latvia with fondness like I do.

Although I have seen many more beautiful castles, this is one of my favorites because it was the first castle I ever visited, and also because it was interesting to see a castle that was somewhat in ruins and not full of fancy decorations. A castle like this really makes you feel like an explorer as you enter with your little lantern.

Information from Wikipedia about Cēsu Pils:
The oldest settlement in Cēsis is the hill fort on Riekstu hill, a fortified wooden castle built by a tribe known as the Vends. The 18m high mound with its partly-preserved fortification system can still be seen in the Castle Park. This settlement was located near major trade routes from west to east and commanded the regional countryside. German crusaders known as the Livonian Order began construction of a castle (Wenden) near the hill fort in 1209. In 1620 Wenden was conquered by Sweden. It was rebuilt afterwards, but was destroyed again in 1703 during the Great Northern War by the Russian army and left in a ruined state. When in 1777 the Cēsis castle estate was obtained by the Count Sievers, he had his new residence house built on the site of the eastern block of the castle, joining its end wall with the fortification tower. Since 1949, the Cēsis History Museum has been located in this New Castle of the Cēsis castle estate.
seneca77, olissipo, jan515 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

What a fun shot, Erin! I love the composition and the detail in the ancient brickwork, but especially the smiles on your subjects. Very well done!

Fantastic shot. Nice composition and depth of field. Well doe!

  • Great 
  • jan515 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2498 W: 56 N: 3862] (17484)
  • [2006-10-30 16:06]

Hello erin,This is wonderful portrait, good idea and well composed shot,colours and light are perfect.
Best regards.
janusz

  • Great 
  • harpya Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5752 W: 198 N: 2563] (10054)
  • [2006-11-01 6:48]

Interesting shot, very creative and different.
I like the person with the flashlight, it seems to signal me something. Good colors and sharp wonderful.
Congratulations

Sérgio

excellent framing. good pov.
tfs-jon

:D interesting view and setup. thanks for sharing and thanks for kindly visiting my photos while I was away :)

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