Arcadia?

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 12 November 2008 in Landscape & Rural.

Whoever did a manipulation on his images (analog or digital), did experience that photography doesn't necessarily depict reality. But you don't need elaborate treatment on your pictures to get a completely wrong idea of the situation. Like here.

This looks like an arcadian landscape: a pond, a man feeding the geese, within a bucolic landscape. You can even notice a small white temple in the background. Where's the fake?

I didn't much pocessing here: lowering the bright tones, a bit darkening the sky, attaching some sharpness and I was done. But this time it's the perspective: behind the trees you can find one of Düsseldorf's mostly used streets. Vrooom!

Download my coffee-table book of selected postings here. Enjoy!

Comments (9)

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

So the idyllic setting is degraded by the noise of the traffic ? but sound has little importance in the photography, if you hadn't mentioned it we wouldn't know, it is the persons perception of the scene.

A beautiful shot BTW

12 Nov 2008 7:31am

@Observing: Up to six lanes! That little temple actually is the 'Ratinger Tor' (Ratingen Gate), a beautiful neo-classicist gate, flanking a big crossroads. The street connects the city (right side) with the left side of Rhine river. (The left side is the 'right' one, but don't tell that loud in Düsseldorf!)

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

A lovely image ms! I cannot imagine a busy road near here..so I'm not going to try! I'm drifting pleasantly in this peaceful place:-)

12 Nov 2008 8:41am

@Linerberry: Up to six lanes behind these trees! This city drives me mad.

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

this is just heavenly!! amazing scenery -- wonderful colors and light -- in total gorgeous!!

12 Nov 2008 8:56am

@dj.tigersprout: When you close your ears (or come really early) - yes. ;-)

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

It is wonderful that there are these little oases in the cities to distract us. Beautiful park.

12 Nov 2008 3:08pm

@Laurie: This park was founded in the 18th century with English gardens as an example. (Could be much more quiet there, though.)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

Beautiful. A lovely composition.

12 Nov 2008 5:19pm

@Michael Skorulski: They tried to come close to English gardens as much as possible. With corn fiels and forests surrounding the parks this must have been a quite idyllic place.