View from the Rockfort, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

After a brief detour to my hometown I return to photos from far away long ago.

This is the view from the Rockfort, the main landmark of Tiruchirappalli, a medium size city in Tamil Nadu state, taken during a journey I made through southern India in 1988.

The Rockfort stands on top of a roughly 90 meter high rock in the centre of the city. It was originally built during the Pallava dynasty during the 6th century but was reconstructed by later rulers. Several small temples are found in caves on the way to the top.

I scanned this from a Kodachrome slide.

Here is a larger version.

ikeharel, danos, snunney, Fis2, PaulVDV, macjake, ourania, COSTANTINO, jhm, Cricri, mehrdad-t, Royaldevon, adramad, adores, cornejo, PiotrF, pierrefonds, mcmtanyel, Miguel82 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danos (110407) 2016-11-18 7:37

Hello Gert,
great the panoramic view of the place with the hindu temple to dominating on the foreground of the scene.The colourful roofs complete perfect teh whole scenery.Well done.

Regards,Danos

papagolf21 (152607) 2016-11-18 7:47

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Je reste admiratif devant une telle prise de vue datant de 1988.
La qualit� photographique est excellente (d騁ails, couleurs, etc.).>
Un sujet int駻essant et bien expliqu�.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

snunney (130967) 2016-11-18 8:05

Hello Gert,
An image that has stood the text of time extremely well. Very well composed and with superb colours and clarity. Very good rendering of the detail in the foreground temple.

dta (98848) 2016-11-18 8:06

Hello Gert ,
Very interesting plunging view on the colorful city , with the ora,ge rocks and amazingly decorated temple in the Fg .
Regards

rychem (72187) 2016-11-18 9:05

I think it is the first time I can see this city on TE, interesting location of this building, we can see the wide flat surroundings and the rock is unexpectedly high, very nice POV and excellent quality regards Ryszard

GyurMaster (24830) 2016-11-18 9:29

Dear Gert,

What an expressive name for that place. The image itself is well-composed, letting us see the rocks, which most be determinant in the landscape and this beautiful temple tower.

I wish you a nice WE!
Gy.

Fis2 (170747) 2016-11-18 9:33

Witaj Gert!
Wonderful view, amazing tower.
Very impressive colors.
Good frame and composition.
I like it.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (62892) 2016-11-18 9:34

Hello Gert,
Tiruchirappalli ... it sounds like an exotic dish.
The style of the Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu is completely different from what I've seen in the north of the country.
People clearly like colours there, even for their homes. I like that.
There's really an abundance of colours on this picture, right next to a spacious green area.
Fantastic overview from on top of that high rock.
Best regards, Paul

mesutilgim (0) 2016-11-18 9:40

Hello dear Gert,
Another topclass "oldie" from your archive.
I'd mentioned this many times here, but shall do it again : there is absoultely a quite positive difference between analogue and dygital photography, specially in case of color.
This is a perfect evidence for this fact.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

macjake (98456) 2016-11-18 11:02

Hi Gert
oh man, this place looks like a city i'd have a great time in taking photos. Its got that rugged style I enjoy so much, and i bet walking through those streets would give you lots of people shot opportunities.
lots of depth in your shot with this viewpoint, lots to like, lots of vibrant colours too. nice one
cheers
craig

batalay (41261) 2016-11-18 11:12

Hello Gert,

I wonder how different this scene would be now, 28 years after you recorded it for posterity in 1988. Your note is informative, and the quality of the photo (presumably Kodachrome 64 or 25) as true as the day you shot it. I'm still in awe of the quality you achieve in scanning these old slides.

I like your comment following my story of the Kentucky Derby regarding the journalists' dictum, "not to probe too deeply, in case the truth tumble." I checked on the history of the famous race. The owner of the winning horse "Unbridled" was indeed, "Mrs. Francis Gentner" in 1990. I cannot imagine the rest of the story being true. The famous physicist I cite, now in his 90s, is a great storyteller, capable of making up jokes and stories with ease. He told me that he and a close friend (another Nobel Prize winner) would call each other in the middle of the night if they had a good joke to tell.

Regards,

Bulent

pajaran (115891) 2016-11-18 11:17

Dobro vece.
Lep pogled, dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajda, lepo pokazana stara arhitektura i deo grada.
Lepa arhitektura i detalji na fasadi.
Lepa fotografija i secanje na 1988.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Good evening.
Beautiful view, good text ...
Good work by scanning a slide, a beautiful old architecture and demonstrated part of the city.
Beautiful architecture and details on the facade.
Beautiful photos and memories of 1988 shall apply.
Good evening and all the best for the weekend, good luck.

BennyV (34748) 2016-11-18 12:15

Hello Gert

India is that big, big blind spot on my travelling map, just begging to be filled in. Always great to see such good pictures from the country. Some day...

Benny

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-11-18 12:28

Hello Gert
Fascinating picture of this town from your high POV, but especially to top of the tower with the remarkable figures looking in all direction is the highlight of the show.
Excellent scan work with great colours and good sharpness.
Have a nice weekend.
Groet Rob

ourania (51103) 2016-11-18 12:36

Hello Gert,
a fascinating view over this packed and colourful town. The landmark in the foreground is so attractive and imposing, I like how it creates depth and establishes an amazing sense of scale. I also like the details, the landscape and the other town on the horizon, the inclusion of human interest and the bright, warm colours. The view and its colours makes me feel that I'm staring at jewels in an open treasure box. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

kasianowak (17676) 2016-11-18 13:33

Hi Gert
This is a fascinating photo packed with intricate details not only in the main building (aptly named "ROCKfort") but in the town below. The shapes and the colours of houses draw the viewer into the picture. All nicely complemented by the green in the distance.
Best wishes
Kasia

Tue (92360) 2016-11-18 13:44

Hello Gert,
What a great view, the wonderful tower with its appealing colours and fine details is well included in the right hand foreground. The city and its many small houses in a wide range of different colours looks great beyond it and the contrast with the green fields is perfect too.
Lars

carlo62 (81265) 2016-11-18 15:06

Ciao Gert
il nome di questa localit� � piuttosto divertente nella "lingua" toscana.
Curiosa architettura quella rosa a destra, ma � bella anche la panoramica su questo paesaggio.
Buon we
Carlo

cagla (4342) 2016-11-18 15:08

A perfect scan and a wonderful bird view of the town. I wonder if the view stayed same in those nearly thirty years, or is it just unrecognisable. Thanks for sharing.

jemaflor (147128) 2016-11-18 23:24

Hi Gert,
great architecture, a perfectly balanced composition, so beautiful with tower and roofs, pleasant colors, tfs.

COSTANTINO (116490) 2016-11-19 0:09

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new day
excellent capture of above presenting
the view from the Rockfort the main
landmark of Tiruchirappalli
you captured it perfectly
regards
Costantino

Silvio1953 (221593) 2016-11-19 5:31

Ciao Gert, great POV on fantastic city, fine details, excellent clarity and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

mayjayne (7204) 2016-11-19 5:31

Dear Gert,

I read about this city, but have seen little photos of it. Your photo certainly gives a good overview of it.

TFS,
May

Nicou (193806) 2016-11-19 7:05

Hello

Avec la roche ocre quelle vue et image quel beau temple rouge et la vue en fond quel ensemble et cadrage superbe.
Bravo et amiti�
Nciou

jhm (211736) 2016-11-19 7:28

Hello Gert,

You chose a very nice angle and shows us very well the city beneath.
An excellent composition and nice presentation.
Also the green area with the temple as subject.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

ikeharel (113345) 2016-11-19 8:43

Good evening Gert,
A magnificent view from uphill's over the red temple and the town colorful houses on the valley beyond and the green fields in contrast.
Decorations on the edifice shown in exquisite clarity.
Well scanned photo.
Enjoy a nice weekend,
Ike

Cricri (176) 2016-11-19 9:26

Hi Gert
Belle vue panoramique sur la ville et du paysage vert en arri鑽e blanc, le point fort est sur le Rockfort, splendide architecture, une image merveilleusement pr駸enter
belle soir馥
cricri

sacimar (38173) 2016-11-19 9:51

Hello Gert,

you chose a good point of view to show this place, I like the tower we can see on the right, well done!

Best regards,

Sergio

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-11-19 22:16

Hi Gert
Nice how the tower steals the show as strong focus point leading the eye all the way own to a highly compact dwelling. Great detail, crispness and contrast. Well done shot
Best wishes

mehrdad-t (4812) 2016-11-19 22:46

Hello,
This photo is truly amazing.
really beautiful work.
I wish you a nice weekend!
Mehrdad

Royaldevon (85932) 2016-11-20 6:26

Hello Gert,

What a view!
The temple grabs our immediate attention but, then, shares the expansive view in a very generous way!
The corner rock helps us to understand the positioning of the temple and how it gains such an elevated position.

Most of the houses have flat roofs but it is possible to see a few with sloping roofs. I wonder if these were later alterations to mimic a new style, since they do not conform to the norm.

I love to see shots like this, so very different from my local scene and views that I would not, otherwise, see!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

saxo042 (38078) 2016-11-20 6:50

Hej Gert,
H舐舐 det 蚯minstone snritt! En v舁 komponerad bild med dessa tv� helt olika f舁t. Det grdominerade erst och det spr臘kligt r-vita nederst. De kompletterar varandra och ger en fin kontrast i bilden.
H舁sningar
Gunnar

kordinator (8738) 2016-11-20 7:01

Dear Gert
Beautiful view from a height over this beautiful temple in the village in the valley.
The colors are gorgeous, beautiful architecture.
Beautiful memories of India in 1988.
Very well done.
Kind regards
Sa啾

Origin (0) 2016-11-20 7:30

Hello Gert
Good depth of shot, I like the focus. Beautiful colors and sharpness, good picture. All the best

adramad (72978) 2016-11-20 14:49

Hi, Gert.
Impressive the great panorama of the green and great plain, very colorful the houses of the population below and esp鐵tacular the temple in the foreground, with its cheerful color and its many details and figures.
A magnificent color that gives much chromatic richness to the image.
Very good lighting management and very good sharpness.
Well done. I like it.
I wish you a nice week.
Best Regards.
Luis.

emka (158156) 2016-11-20 15:04

Hello Gert,

I checked the name of this city and I knew it as Trichy. I was also there but only in the temples and the city, without climbing the rocks. Fantastic this red tower with the colourful figures. When I first saw the temples painted like this, I liked it very much. Later I found it a bit kitschy and preferred just the stones. I wonder if you were in Thanjavur. The south of India is so different than for instance Rajasthan. Great quality after so many years.
Warm regrad s Malgo

adores (46979) 2016-11-20 15:08

Hi Gert!
This fort is very different from the ones I saw in the north. Seems beautifully decorated and even the houses look interesting and so colourful. Great pov! Need to go there to visit the south but time is never enough for everything. I'm leaving to Nicaragua in a couple of days:) !

cornejo (61504) 2016-11-21 9:46

Hello Gert, very good view of this interesting city, very well captured in this good and beautiful photograph. An interesting image, with good sharpness, depth, light, color and quality. Very good and beautiful work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy start to the week.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

jmdias (115156) 2016-11-22 5:57

gert

curious place. here we can see how colored figures are used in hindu temples while in northern part they aren't so usual. the architecture of the tower looks something european despite the sacred sculptures around. nice image,.

hugs

jorge

PiotrF (54666) 2016-11-22 16:43

Hello Gert,
Interesting picture from the Rockfort.
Lovely colors and good clarity and sharpness.
Very well done.
Regards
Piotr

Periko (9107) 2016-11-23 13:07

Hi Gert
I suppose that you could not avoid those rocks, still a good panoramic view with vivid colours, above all in the dome.
I like the exposure, with lack of shadows.

Regards
Pedro

pierrefonds (114448) 2016-12-03 17:56

Hi Gert,

The wideness of the area is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details of the pink building. The cloudy sky does not hurt the output of the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

mcmtanyel (68503) 2017-03-18 20:52

Hello Gert,
I like the abrupt transition from town to greens on the plain. The colors and decorations of the tower are fabulous. Another gem from your treasure trove...
Regards,
MT