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Beware the Basilisk


Beware the Basilisk
Photo Information
Copyright: Silke Force Lady of the Lens (Silke) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2847 W: 263 N: 5945] (23582)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-02
Categories: Artwork
Camera: Nikon D-70s, Sigma 18-200 mm (F3.5-6.3), Tiffen 62 MM Circular Polarize
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: UK, French & Swiss Shooting Spree
Theme(s): Gargoyles & Grotesques [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-10 8:31
Viewed: 1043
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I present to you my first shot of a whole new city in my travelogue, and one that I hope to return to another year (without this year’s overcast skies and drizzle and for more than my all-too-short 3 ½ hours).

This delightful fountain dates back to the 1920’s and is one of the few of the original 30 that still exists today. For a full view of the fountain and the attached dainty fluted drinking bowl for dogs, please see the workshop.

Basel's heraldic animal is the Basilisk, a mythical creature born of a yolkless egg laid by a seven-year-old rooster and hatched by a toad! It was reputed to be the most poisonous of animals, able to kill with but a single breath or glance. In medieval art, the basilisk symbolized the devil and the antichrist. After the Reformation, the Protestants used it as a symbol of the papacy, a deliberate slight against the traditional church.

Why Basel should have chosen this horrifying creature as its “mascot” is a bit of a mystery! There are many fanciful tales connected to the choice. One story, for example, says that the Basilisk holding the city’s coat of arms can be traced back to an early 15th century monument (whose present whereabouts unknown) commemorating the fatal 1356 earthquake that almost levelled the city: "Basilisk, you poisonous worm and fable, now you shall hold the shield of the dignified city of Basel". The historian on altbasel.ch (http://www.altbasel.ch/fragen/basilisk.html) suggests that the most plausible theory is connected to the similarity between the names of the creature and the city. Basilea, the original name of the city is derived from the Greek Basileus (king or ruler) and means “the royal one”, while the name of the animal means “little king.” The relationship between the names of the city and the animal is obvious: Basilea - basilisk.

Tech: shot in RAW, converted to jpg, cropped here and there, resized for TL and sharpened edges

Please forgive my inability to critique as fully as I did earlier. Both of my hands have become temporarily incapacitated, but I am hopeful that I will be back in full swing by the beginning of August. In the mean time, I would like to continue sharing my photos with you. These images were processed before my hands got bad. I do hope that you will take time to critique them honestly, knowing that I will be able to do the same once I am back in full swing.

Many thanks for the good wishes for recovery that many members have sent me off-list.
Blessings, Silke
PierreFrigon, milas, OeilMagique, TheMystic, harpya, Werewolf, Beger, Liberty, perryhooter, janneman has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To janneman: swingSilke 6 07-13 16:03
To perryhooter: rooster headSilke 2 07-13 05:12
To PierreFrigon: gargoyles and ghouls!Silke 1 07-10 09:21
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Critiques [Translate]

You are into strange beasts now, hey???? First gargoyles and not this :-).
Excellent capture. Good sharpness and details.
TFS
Pierre

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2708 W: 405 N: 2948] (32531)
  • [2007-07-10 9:32]

merhaba Silke;
Well done and a great colors...super pov..selamlar

Hi Silke
Great perspective on this fountain. Composition is good
with bg slightly blurred to all put all our attention on the
main subject. One minor detail the stand of the fountain
is slightly cut off. Like your excellent notes also. TFS

Paul

Relax and take care of yourself....(°U°)

Beautiful fountain it sure is, Silke.
Its also situated on a lovely place near the river.
Good shot.
Jan

Nice pov, nestled cozily shaded by the overhead branches.
Supposedly, a basilisk had hatched in Vienna at the bottom of a well in a bakery shop. The apprentice descended with a mirror, the basilisk looked into it and killed itself with the look (root origin greek myth).
Cheers
Otto

Hello Silke,

Well done and a great colors bG pOV DOF excllent details very crisp Ireally like this POV alot well done

TFS Kyle
PT

Hello Silke

Beautiful look of this fountain, the times I feel lack of we have not ourselves for here these beauties and looks that we were colonized by Europeans, but they didn't leave none of these beauties for us to admire. Great shot, beautiful visual!
Congratulations

Sérgio

Hi Silke,
wonderful place to visit and take photos :)
Seems you have a great time there. May you have beautiful sunny days and take lovely photo like this one.

Kindly regards,
Ioana

It have a special style! The style look practically medieval or Dungeon & Dragon! With the river behind it's an alive scene!

  • Great 
  • Beger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3297 W: 786 N: 4419] (19874)
  • [2007-07-11 9:43]

Hi Silke,
Beautiful place for relaxing! I like the naturals colors and details on the fountain. The tree make a good framing. Very well done! Annie

I love this motive - I haven't known that their mascot is this animal - and the name is like in the Harry-Potter stories, I don't know if you ever read them. I love the shot and I look forward to the next Europe-shots, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Silke :)

Very nice place, Wow! Well seen and taken. I like the composition. Good detail too.

TFS and take care Silke.

Kinds regards, Josée :)

Hello Silke,
It's good to see you posting your shots! I like this shot of the fountain even better than your previous one. I like the composition here, the light and shadows on both the water and the cobbles, and the Basilisk's outstretched wings directing our gaze onto the fountain.
Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Hello Silke !

Missed your recent shots, and the reason why your hands got bad. Hope you feel better now, since you visited me (^_^).

I love the light here , with the light green giving depth and a nice natural frame to your shot. Funny dragon. From here , it looks like a rooster head (^_^).

Well done and take care!
Robert

Nice shot Silke !
Don't want it as my pet LOL

Hope that your " swing " will be back soon !!

Jan

I would be SO scared to drink from that fountain! That thing might BITE me on the neck and drink my blood! A nice shot, very nice architecture for the horror fans!
B-)
Linder
**haha**

WOW ............ !

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