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Kiva II


Kiva II
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Jules (chrisJ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4243 W: 414 N: 6720] (42311)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Pentax Me Super, Pentax 28mm f:2,8, Fuji 100
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-10-30 4:09
Viewed: 136
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of the many 'kivas', at Mesa Verde, in south western Colorado. The tourists add scale, seeing as the original inhabitants are long gone. There is a little snow in the shadows, in the bottom left. This area is around 8,000 feet above sea level.

"The pithouse represents the beginning of a settled way of life based on agriculture. Its basic features were a living room, squarish in shape and sunk down a few feet into the ground, four main timbers at the corners to support the roof, a fire pit with an air deflector, an antechamber, which might contain storage bins or pits, and a sipapu. Pithouses evolved into kivas of later times. In Mesa Verde, the people lived in this type of dwelling from about 550 to 750.

These were fairly prosperous times for the Basketmakers, and their population multiplied. About 750 they began building houses above ground, with upright walls made out of poles and mud. They built these houses one against another in long, curving rows, often with a pithouse or two in front. The pithouses were probably the forerunners of the kivas of later time. From then on, these people were known as Pueblos, a Spanish word for village dwellers.

By 1000, the people of Mesa Verde had advanced from pole-and-adobe construction to skillful stone masonry. Their walls of thick, double-coursed stone often rose two or three stories high and were joined together into units of 50 rooms or more. Pottery also changed, as black drawings on a white background replaced simple designs on dull gray. Farming provided more of the diet than before and much mesatop land was cleared for that purpose.

The years from 1100 to 1300 were Mesa Verde's Classic Period. The population may have reached several thousand. It was mostly concentrated in compact villages of many rooms, often with the kivas built inside the enclosing walls rather than out in the open. Round towers began to appear, and there was a rising level of craftsmanship in masonry work, pottery, weaving, jewelry, and even tool making. The stone walls of the large pueblos are regarded as the finest ever built in Mesa Verde; they are made of carefully shaped stones laid up in straight courses. The mortar between blocks was a mix of mud and water. Rooms averaged about 6 foot by 8 foot, space enough for two or three persons. Isolated rooms in the rear and on the upper levels were generally used for storing crops."

Source: http://www.mesa.verde.national-park.com/info.htm

A combination of a 300 year long mega drought, & the arrival of the Navaho Indian tribes, effectively sealed the end of this unique civilization.
harpya, luckybry, werdir, Juliet, wieyos, mvdisco, milas, horias, burak28, pierrefonds, hifimusicdai, mikolaj_cava has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To linus: Already uploadedchrisJ 2 10-30 15:22
To WhiteKnight: DodgingchrisJ 2 10-30 04:54
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Chris


Effects of this beautiful place and
superb colors.
From what I see, must have a gazebo for
see all beauty in the background!
Interesting text on how the houses were built.
Excellent perspective, good presentation too.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Very well done,

Sergio

hi Chris good pov and colours like the way you captured the shadows of the tree on the wall nice one
tfs bryan

I like the compo with the path sweeping around the wall to the left through the frame. Also the whole image follows 1/3rds quite well.. Nice colour saturation..

I may have personally used the 'dodge' tool on the wall that's in the shadows at left just to lift them a bit..

Cheers
DAVid

Hi Chris,

Great capture of the breathtaking landscape with wonderful colors and sharpness.
The tree is simply wonderful and artistic somehow, gives great contrast to the ruins of the reddish colored tones of the ruins.
The sharpness and POV are perfect.

Very well done.

Have a nice weekend!
best regards,
Paras

Hi Chris,
A nice country view with two strollers just on the way to turn right from this lovely lead-in path!
Nicely composed ith magnificent details adorned with adequate lighting.
Very sharp presentation from a proper POV.
Great management in lighting.
Best regards,

Francis Xavier

Hi Chris,

The old stone work and curvature of the strucure are nicely captured. The tourists add both scale and a human element. The varying colors and details of the masonry are superb, TFS.

Have a nice weekend.

Werner

  • Great 
  • Juliet Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 878 W: 64 N: 1973] (13588)
  • [2009-10-30 6:32]

Good Morning Chris,
This is beautiful! I love this scene. Colorado is by far my favorite spot in the US and you've captured the essence well. Nice colors/POV and a beautiful sky. Well composed. BTW they get 300 days of sunshine per year. Thanks for the notes. Julie

Hi Chris!
lovely composition with nice and clear details...the colors are great...very nice DOF
tfs
best regards,
Alper

details are well seen here, Chris. - the textures on the bricks and the tree trunks. a nice one!

TFS
Regards
Agoes

HI Chris..nice shot...great sun light color..nice work.

Roger

Hello Chris!
Amazing lighting you captured here!
Beautiful game with shadows,lighting and colours.Effective curved path,silhouettes
and nice blue sky!Wonderful compo dear friend!
Regards and tfs
Kostas

Hi Chris, Bonjour,
Nice perpective and details,
Excellent POV. and composition,
great colors and light.
nice note too
Have a good day.
Michel

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2732 W: 412 N: 2987] (32821)
  • [2009-10-30 8:17]

selam dear Chris...
harika manzara bunlar, ne güzel renk ve detaylar...süper bir çalışma yine..selamlar

  • Great 
  • linus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1477 W: 10 N: 738] (10767)
  • [2009-10-30 8:27]
  • [+]

Hi Chris,
A great shot showing the scale of construction at Mesa Verde. I love this part of US South-West, its beautiful deserts and mountains. Another photo showing more overall scale of things here at Mesa Verde would also be nice.
Sunil

Chris
Lovely capture!
Great details and colors!
Wonderful!
Horia

Hello Chris,

Excellent shot and nice composition.
Great POV, clarity and colors.
Wonderful play with light and shadows.

Very informative note.

Best regards,
Tatjana

Hi Chris
What an interesting capture and place
Great colors, light and details
Have a nice weekend
Burak

Hi Chris,

The path leads my eyes toward the trees in the background which is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the pithouse. It is clear and sharp. The colors ar enhanced by the quality of light. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Nicely composed The gap between the wall and tree lead the eye nicely into the distance I like the gentle sunlight and shadows on the wall TFS
warm regards
David

Hello Chris! Amazing wall, very interesting place, mysterious men, fantastic tree, very fine light and shadow, good contrast. Superb colours. Well done!

Ciao Chris, great view of beautiful place, good POV, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, ciao Silvio

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