Balliol College Chapel, Oxford, a photo from Oxfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

Another photograph taken during a day trip to Oxford in August, 2012 as part of a mini TE meeting courtesy of Richard Beghin (Ricx) who, like so many, no longer posts photographs on TE.

This is the rather splendid and colourful interior of the chapel ff Balliol College, Oxford - and I actually posted a photo of the exterior of it eight years ago - here:

https://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=8&p=1383157

Balliol College was founded in about 1263 (leading some to argue that it is the University's oldest college, a claim contested by University College and Merton College) by John I de Balliol under the guidance of the Bishop of Durham. After his death in 1268, his widow, Dervorguilla of Galloway (their son and grandson both became Kings of Scotland) made arrangements to ensure the permanence of the college in that she provided capital and in 1282 formulated the college statutes, documents that survive to this day.

Incidentally, Lady Dervorguilla (or Devorgilla) in 1273 also founded a Cistertian abbey, "Sweetheart Abbey" in the little village of New Abbey in Dumfriesshire, in memory of her late husband. So devoted were the two to each other that Lady Devorgilla, following her husband's death, carried with her at all times his embalmed heart: and when she herself died in 1290 she was buried together with his heart within the church which she had founded.

I tried to add a link to a photo I had taken of Sweetheart Abbey but unfortunately this website failed to accept it because the url was too long. Never mind.

I have no idea who are the people in the picture but it looked as though the young lady was also taking a photograph. I must apologise for the noise in this photo but it was rather dark and I had the ISO set very high: I am sure I could have got away with a larger aperture and lower ISO - but we live and, sometimes, learn!

Here is the location: 51.754786, -1.257221

ISO 6400, 1/60 sec at f/10, focal length 24mm.

ikeharel, jhm, holmertz, jean113, Fis2, papagolf21, COSTANTINO, adramad, mkamionka trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

jhm (198707) 2020-05-28 5:51

Hello John,

We get a nice interior picture, certainly in big format.
The couple, are excellent addition to the scale.
Colours and sharpness are perfect.
Excellent captured nice presentation too
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

holmertz (89340) 2020-05-28 5:59

Hello John,
When you complain of noise I get curious, so I had to see the very much larger version. Yes, there is some, but not more than in most other photos on the site, of which hardly anyone excuses her/himself. "Despeckling" only made it worse, so this is perfectly fine as it is. The older photo shows what a delightful building this is also from outside, and today's photo is a lot nicer that the WS you added the other time. The light and colours are so much better, and the people - as always - mean so much to me. The stained glass windows are really beautiful.
Thank you for your kind words once again earlier today.
Best regards,
Gert

jean113 (19585) 2020-05-28 7:03

Hello John, an excellent picture. I could almost be standing beside you, the impression is so good.
The light is managed so well. I like the way that the wood panelled walls reflect the artificial light, it gives a lovely golden glow.
The couple certainly add to the composition; and I believe that the young woman is also taking a photo.
Excellent sharp shot, I like it a lot.
Comprehensive notes too. Devorgilla is a name to contend with! I have never heard that name before, and what a history!
Thanks for sharing, and keep safe.

Kind regards, Jean.

Silvio1953 (200258) 2020-05-28 7:37

Ciao caro John, great perspective on fantastic interior, lovely composition with couple admiring magnificent stained glass, splendid light, wonderful colors, excellent exposure, good clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (78406) 2020-05-28 13:19

Hello John,
I did a College Tour when I was in Oxford and really enjoyed it and seeing all the splendour and beauty of the colleges. This is a wonderful photo of the chapel with also a beautiful view of the stained-glass window in the middle. The walls and the chandeliers provided a very nice and warm glow as well. Excellent work.
Lars

Fis2 (150850) 2020-05-28 13:24

Witaj John!
A very interesting interior, I like stained glasses and pavement.
Good framing, colors and light.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Ilonka1974 (8609) 2020-05-28 14:04

Hi John,
Wonderful interior architecture with such a perfect capture!
Excellent sharpness, light management, colors and composition!
Congratulations!
Best regards,
Janusz

jemaflor (131538) 2020-05-28 23:31

Hi John,
Interesting architecture and interior well presented, good light management, good perspective effect with symmetry and lines on the floor, tfs.

papagolf21 (149815) 2020-05-28 23:40

Bonjour, cher John,
une composition très réussie avec une note d'accompagnement fort bien rédigée et édifiante.
Excellent !
Amitiés
Philippe

ifege (27159) 2020-05-28 23:42

Hi John
A good interior photo despite the bit of noise in the ceiling (from evening up the light?)
cheers
Ian

emka (147873) 2020-05-29 0:06

Hello dear John, Nice view from the interior in Balliol, probably a chapel. Beautiful wooden benches, wonderful stained glass window buy the floor is here the most striking. I do not remember this interior, maybe I was not inside. But I remember college. Excellent composition, symmetry, nice scene with the visitors.
Best regards MAlgo

ktanska (38481) 2020-05-30 1:52

Hi John,
At first I noticed how sharp it is from front to back, and thought this this must be high ISO shot. Only then I saw the grain. So, not a bad choice in my opinion. Symmetric framing looks good of course, and I like all these golden tones.
I made a workshop. Of course removing grain has some effect on sharpness too.
Kari

[workshop] [compare] +

COSTANTINO (99908) 2020-05-30 23:06

Hello my friend and have a nice day
this is not a simple interior!!!!
this is the rather splendid and
colorful interior
of the chapel Balliol
perfect present with great
lightness
regards
Costantino

rychem (72147) 2020-06-01 7:41

A beautiful view of the interior of this impressive church, I find the floor very interesting but the most attractive element is the high stained glass window, a very eye catching photo
regards Ryszard

adramad (64936) 2020-06-04 9:07

Hi John.
This beautiful chapel is fantastic, with simple lines and a sober wooden choir without frills, but the wonderful Gothic window is so enormous, with its balanced interior division for the stained glass windows, which are what make this place spectacular and grandiose.
Sharpness, lighting, color, and the magnificent composition; they are all perfectly made factors, in this beautiful image.
Well done. I like very much.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

mkamionka (56855) 2020-06-10 11:28

Hi John,
a truly great quality of interior photo. It is so full of light, so colorful. The couple adds a nice touch -is it MJR?
The lights nicely were turned to stars. Great effect.
There is some noise at the top, I would use a noise filter but I see somebody made a workshop already.
Very nicely patterned floor and so shiny!
Excellent reportage,
M