San Miniato, a photo from Florence, Tuscany

Photographer's Note

Interior of the church San Miniato al Monte - my favorite in Florence.

San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is a basilica in Florence, central Italy, standing atop one of the highest points in the city. It has been described as the finest Romanesque structure in Tuscany and one of the most beautiful churches in Italy.

St. Miniato was an Armenian prince serving in the Roman army under Emperor Decius. He was denounced as a Christian after becoming a hermit and was brought before the Emperor who was camped outside the gates of Florence. The Emperor ordered him to be thrown to beasts in the Amphitheatre where a panther was called upon him but refused to devour him. Beheaded in the presence of the Emperor, he is alleged to have picked up his head, crossed the Arno and walked up the hill of Mons Fiorentinus to his hermitage. A shrine was later erected at this spot and there was a chapel there by the 8th century. Construction of the present church was begun in 1013 by Bishop Alibrando and it was endowed by the Emperor Henry II.

The geometrically patterned marble façade was probably begun in about 1090, although the upper parts date from the 12th century or later .

The interior is extremely unusual, with the choir raised on a platform above the large crypt, and has changed little since it was first built. The patterned pavement dates from 1207.

ciakgiak, npecanhuk, pauloog, Clementi, ellelloo, Graal, danos, Angshu trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (17645) 2009-07-18 1:52

czesc malgorzata,

jak sie masz? ladna czarna bjela fotka...excellent sharpness.

bardzo dobra robota
pozdrawiam
Silvio

mikolaj_kawa (0) 2009-07-18 2:24

Czesc Malgorzata! Wspaniala patetyczna rachitektura, dostojna czarno-biala fotografia. Swietna kompozycja. Bardzo dobry kadr. Klaniam sie!

aadilj (18102) 2009-07-18 2:55

Indeed a poetic and extremely well handled composition with remarkable use of the lights and the shades. The b/w adds tremendous value

ciakgiak (30) 2009-07-18 3:26

Ciao Malgo,
bella la luce che entra dal portale e che crea questo splendido gioco di luci e ombre.
Perfetto il POV che enfatizza le colonne e stupendi i dettagli degli interni di questa bella chiesa.
Un caro abbraccio e un buon WE.
Giorgio

npecanhuk (79329) 2009-07-18 4:20

Hello Malgorzata!
Black and white worked greatly in this one!
Sharpness and exposure are excellent!
The high pov was quite privileged and the composition is magnificent!
TFS - congratulations!
Have a wonderful week-end!
Neyvan

jasmis (58653) 2009-07-18 5:18

Ciekawie wyszło w B&W. Dobre mocne światło.
Pozdrawiam.

yquem46 (38752) 2009-07-18 5:50

Both of us posted on Florence today. I dont think I've been to this church but I'll try to remember not to forget it next time
What I like in this one is the light, the soberness of the compo and the patterns on the walls
Well done
Have a good WE
patrick

holmertz (103732) 2009-07-18 8:19

Hello Malgorzata,
This is a superb picture. The light falls very nicely on the walls and between the pillars. I love the exquisitely decorated walls and the people on one of the benches. I have only seen this famous church from the outside. That was 40 years ago, so I don't remember why I didn't go inside.
Best regards,
Gert

Silvio1953 (223103) 2009-07-18 9:54

Ciao Malgorzata, fantastic view of splendid interior, superb light, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

cobra112 (15589) 2009-07-18 13:13

Ciao Margherita. Un opera d'arte in BW che riprende un'altra opera d'arte. Luce stratosferica.

Roberto

pauloog (11751) 2009-07-18 14:23

Hello Malgorzata,
Light so well captured in this perfect architectural view of this Romanesque church with its typical Italian decorations. All distortions perfectly corrected. A wonderful play pof light and shadows.
Regards,
Paul

Fis2 (172083) 2009-07-18 14:28

Czesc Malgosia!
Super wnetrze i to jak pokazane w b&w ;)
Ciekawe swiatlo robi klimat.
Fajny pionowy kadr.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof
P.S.
Przed chwil± przesz³a burza i siê ochlodzilo :)

Deepforest (9260) 2009-07-18 15:15

Witaj Malgosiu,
Rzeczywiscie piekne i oryginalne jest to wnetrze, nie dziwie sie, ze to twoj ulubiony kosciol... Postaci ludzkie daja wyobrazenie o wielkosci... Rowniez perspektywa jest tutaj niebanalna. Swietnie udalo Ci sie uchwycic atmosfere tego miejsca.
Podoba sie. Pozdrawiam,
Andrzej

mauro61 (53429) 2009-07-18 15:50

Ciao Malgorzata,
un bel b&w che mi permette finalmente di vedere l'interno di questa chiesa che ho trovato sempre chiusa le due volte che sono stato a Firenze.
Ottima gestione della luce e bella inquadratura dall'alto.
saluti
maurizio

Clementi (52514) 2009-07-18 16:42

Ciao Margherita,
splendido interno e plendido biano e nero d'autore, molto bella ben gestita la luce.
ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

jimmyjimmy (6164) 2009-07-18 20:42

Hello Malgorzata

This is a stunning image of this place. I love the B/W effect and contrast. Nice work. Thank you for the history of this place.

Regards
Jimmy

ellelloo (6572) 2009-07-18 22:06

Hi Malgorzata,
An attractive shot! It sure looks like a remarkable church. I like the atmosphere which your photo transmits so well in B&W and with the beautiful light filtering into the church. An excellent composition and
good contrasts. Thanks for the excellent note too!
Greetings,
Lasse

jurek1951 (42198) 2009-07-18 23:08

Witaj Malgorzata,
czarno bialy kolor podkresla dostojnosc tego miejsca,ciekawy opis,pozdrawiam
Jurek

Graal (103040) 2009-07-19 0:05

Piekno Florencji. Nawet w B&W wyglada to miejsce interesujaco. Dobre informacje. Podoba mi sie.
Pozdr. Al.

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2009-07-19 0:11

some bits may be a bit overexposed, but still a great shot... impressive architectural details... very good compo... my compliments...

korkut

danos (110407) 2009-07-19 0:35

Good morning Malgorzata,
nice the interior of this B/W interior of the church of San Miniato.I like the good perspective and the skilful management of the light.Well done.

Have a nice Sunday,danos

raszid62 (18457) 2009-07-19 1:06

Cześc
Piękne wnętrze kościól , fajnie że w B/W jest bardziej wyraziste. Piękne freski na ścianach i wydać słynne pasy lombardzkie. Doskonałe.
Pozdrawiam
Józek

darek1978 (13361) 2009-07-19 5:49

Czesc Malgosiu,
Udana konwersja i bardzo ciekawa kompozycja. Warunki oswietleniowe niezwykle trudne, wiec nie za wiele moglas zrobic - ja w takich miejscach sie poddaje. Piekne miejsce.
Pozdrawiam,
Darek

photomorgana (148) 2009-07-19 12:48

bardzo fajne moim zdaniem!

rodgerg (55767) 2009-07-20 2:44

Hello Malgorzata,

An excellent B& W with beautiful contrasts well collected. Good mangament of light too and great depht. The POV is very well selected too. Good and interetsing photowork.
Best regards,
Roger

Greg1949 (9011) 2009-07-20 3:19

Malgorzata, this is a great shot, worth of being made into a large size and framed I think. It is a step back in time and the detail is awesome. This really great work and shows off your skills very well.

Greg

dmarizz (2796) 2009-07-21 13:50

Hello Malgorzata,
your choice of black and white fits perfectly the subject. Also the extreme dynamic range (from overexposed white to full black) is able to add a strong character to your posting. Congratulations, Dario.

mkamionka (75255) 2009-07-22 1:31

Czesc Malgorzata,
bardzo mocne kontrasty, nie mniej koncowy efekt bardzo fajny: swietna atmosfera wnetrza. Oczywiscie sama architektura super ciekawa. Wstyd przyznac ale nie bylem jeszcze we Florencji. Jest na pierwszym miejscu miast do zobaczenia jakie mi jeszcze zostaly w zachodniej Europie.
B&W wzmacnia efekt.
Pozdrowienia
M

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-07-22 5:30

Ola Malgorzata ,
Boa escolha pelo preto e branco deu mais dramatismo a foto , esta igreja tem um belo interior com belos detalhes de arte sacra , parabéns !!
Um abraço Gonçalo

azizbilgili (2111) 2009-07-27 0:44

Hi Malgorzata,
Sharpness and exposure are excellent.Black and white worked greatly in this one..

TFS

Angshu (56760) 2009-07-28 22:12

Hello Malgorzata
I missed this one, but great in B&W. Like the vertical framing, the fine effect of the graceful column & the arches and the people sitting on the benches, which allows us to appreciate the height of the church. Exposure is very well managed for this excellent picture
Regards
Angshu