Cucugnan

Photographer's Note

Posting #4 from the joint session with TE member “Didi” – and very interesting I think to see how we compose slightly different, shooting from the same point on a session like this. This with regard as well to the ‘in field’ exercise as to the postwork.

Nested on a vertiginous rocky peak, the fortress of Quéribus watches over a pass called “Grau de Maury” for nearly a thousand years. Of its mess of terraces and staircases suspended over the abyss, the glance searches far towards the East. The plain of Roussillon spreads below, immense and bottomless.

Look for the person in red – on road to this small castle that needed no more than 20 men for its defence.

Pls find below some more of this castle – and not least also of Cathar in StarWars – as just this rocky peak with the castle could have well been a model for some movie scene.

Quéribus (Popia Cherbucio) is mentioned for the first time in 1020, . Quéribus keeps the north of Aragon at that time. Also mentioned in the crusade against the Albigensians (Cathars). The Cathar monk: Benoit of Terms, deacon of Razès, takes refuge there and dies there in 1241.

Quéribus is the last bastion to fall to the hands of France in 1255, under the reign of Louis Saint.
In 1258, the treaty of Corbeil fixes the border between France and Aragon at the south of Corbières, with range of sight of Quéribus.
This last becomes a centre piece of the French defence force of which of center of command is Carcassonne.
It is one of the "Five sons of Carcassonne": Quéribus, Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens and Termes.
Entirely rebuilt by the kings of France at the end of XIIIè and XIVè century, it loses its strategic interest in 1659.
The Treaty of the Pyrenees then fixes definitively a new border (the present one) between France and Spain.

The outer space variant:
Cathar in Star Wars
Cathar is the homeworld of the cat-like species of the same name. Cathar was one of the worlds conquered by the Mandalorians during the Mandalorian War. It has terrain alike to that of Earth with fields, forests and oceans.

The Cathar are cat-like. Famous Cathar are the Jedi Juhani and Crado, a pupil of Master Vodo Siosk Bosk. They were often considered an inferior slave species.

Ref: Wikipedia

Paolo, supereira, nwoehnl, Didi, Tue, Emile, Fixfocus, jmdaoudal, richtersl, babakhendi, Janice trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Paolo (41258) 2005-10-13 3:47

Hi Jack, beautiful composition, with great colors and light.
the shot lost something as focus, probably for the zoom. excellent the contrast of colors and the really interesting note.

thanks, ciao

PixelTerror (0) 2005-10-13 5:09

Hei Jack,
When I see this nice example of stairway architecture, what comes to my mind as a title is rather "Stairway to heaven" (by LedZep), though I believe it was hardly the case for the Cathars. Great angle !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

supereira (9576) 2005-10-13 5:44

Great shot.I like the composition and angle.Good contrast between the rocks and the sky.Beautiful place.I like the colors,light,textures and sharpness.Well done!

dkeus31 (27739) 2005-10-13 6:10

Hi Jack,
Very nice composition, with a strong diagonal.
Maybe just too much blue in the picture.
Regards,
Didier

nwoehnl (122) 2005-10-13 6:14

Good use of diagonals for the structuring of this photo, Jack. Nice textures and colors obtained in the afternoon light, and a fair amount of detail at 70mm.

Didi (61589) 2005-10-13 12:24

Bonjour Jack
Je compare notre différence de style; nos deux photos sont comparables, chacun de nous possède sa propre méthode.
Avez vous ajouté du jaune ? Cela donne un effet de début de journée peu après le lever du soleil.
Votre cadrage est plus large à 70 mm.
J'avais réglé ma focale à 135, à 300 mm ce serait moins intéressant.
Le commentaire est très original et bien-sûr très intéressant.
Maintenent, je passe au village de Cucugnan.

Hello Jack
I compare our difference in style; our two photographs are comparable, each one of us has his own method.
Added yellow? That gives an effect of beginning of day little after the rising sun. Your framing is wider at 70 mm.
I had fixed my focal distance at 135, at 300 mm it would be less interesting.
The comment is very original and well-sure very interesting.
Now, I pass to the village of Cucugnan.

jhm (202939) 2005-10-13 13:07

Hi Jack,
It's splendid for together with a other member of TE to work. And than a lovely image in presentation, good contrast between the rocks and the sky, wonderful blue sky Jack!
Thank a lot.
John.

Tue (82204) 2005-10-13 17:26

Hej Jack,
Yes, I know this place from Didi's pictures and your version is also very nice. A good composition for this castle as well as a very nice lighting. Good work!
Hilsner,
Lars

Emile (20352) 2005-10-13 17:43

Hola Jack.
Captured from a very good angle, great composition, the size of the persons climbing toward the castle give you a great perspective and depth. Very good lighting.
This is really an impressive picture.
Well done.

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-10-13 20:14

Hi Jack,
One can see why this fortress was easy to defence.Excellent framing and nice play of light and shadow,the included people add scale and context.
Greetings,
hermann

richtersl (3546) 2005-10-14 8:15 [Comment]

Show Comment +

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-10-14 13:47

(Already seen this one from didi you met), the wider picture offers an acces to the summit, and I can see now how to walk to the tower.
This meridional castle isbeautiful and you caught well the sun on the stones.
Great place.
Jean Michel

alfiemoon (10) 2005-10-14 15:32

Well I must say that that is the best description of a photo ever, in the entire universe, Godverse, you get the picture, I am lapping the literary up.

By the way, do you believe in past lives?
Just that I had a past life or two in southern France when the Cathar's were busy.

jasmis (58631) 2005-10-15 9:38

Fine photo of the most famous (except Montsegur) Cathars' castle. But I suppose that this photo is also quite good: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/France/photo146235.htm

weswang (18247) 2005-10-15 12:20

Hi Jack, This place does like what your title says: like a scene in starwar. Nice contrast for the staircase alike rocky mountain against the blue sky. Good to include the people in the people to see the scale. A nicely taken picture.

huynt (5079) 2005-10-17 19:05

Hi a great landscape in a great shot. Color and light are perfect, Well done. Thanks

premels (2400) 2005-10-22 7:27

Hi Jack, Impressive how the castle seems to spring out of the rock. Or is it the rocks that progressively shape into a castle ? I like this composition where proudness and fierceness of both the castle and nature show clearly.

babakhendi (196) 2005-10-23 18:29

Hi Jack
just let me watch what you did whithout any talking.
thanks
bob

Janice (4403) 2005-10-26 4:51

Excellent composition Jack. The sky is so blue and the fortress stands there so majestic-like. Sharpness and contrast are good, colours and lighting too. Well shown, thank you.

Photo Information

Copyright: Jack R Johanson (jrj) (34843)
Genre: Lieux
Medium: Couleur
Date Taken: 2005-09-22
Categories: Châteaux
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor AFS DX 18-70 ED
Exposition: f/6.3, 1/125 secondes
More Photo Info: view
Versions: version originale
Thème(s): Meeting between Trekers in september 22 2005, The Cathars [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-10-13 3:45