Photographer's Note
This is the Basilica Cistern, (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarayı - "Sunken Palace", or Yerebatan Sarnıcı - "Sunken Cistern") an extraordinary underground "palace", that dates back from the early years of the Byzantine empire and is the largest surving byzantine cistern in Istanbul.
It was built by Emperor Justinian in 532, when Istanbul was still Constantinoupolis- Constantinople. Its roof is 65m wide and 143m long. It is supported by 336 columns (some of them quite "weird", two of them supported by blocks carved into Medusa heads, probably from ancient greek temples, and another one with a teardrop design) in 12 rows. The water was coming from a reservoir near the Black Sea, via 20 km of acueducts.
The Cistern was hidden and forgotten for many centuries, until a scholar named Petrus Gillius, who had come to Istanbul in 1545, searching for byzantine antiquities, "re-discovered" it. After two restorations, one in the 18th century, and a second one between 1955 and 1960 and a renovation and cleaning in 1985, it is open to the public since 1987.
*WORKSHOP 1* : B&w version
*WORKSHOP 2* : Horizontal version, from the opposite side.
***HANDHELD SHOT, NO TRIPOD ALLOWED INSIDE.
MY THEME:
Istanbul-2010 Cultural Capital of Europe
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atha2pan, edytungkal, Budapestman, g_panakia, dip, Bruno40, BurhanettinMasa, dareco, vasilpro, Wanda1, ymrk, bostankorkulugu, ciakgiak, Longroute, clio, Felip, CatherineD, Emile ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile
Critiques | Translate
atha2pan
(3811) 2009-04-30 2:08
Pija ki ego ekei, alla xoris tripoda mou bjikane oles axristes.
Klassiki thea, kali douleia.
Se xaireto
Sakis
pastadog
(13111) 2009-04-30 2:08
Nice red tones, well achieved in this dark indoor context, and great perspective lines with reflections in the mysterious water... Congratulations...
edytungkal
(4551) 2009-04-30 2:12
Wow...what the fantastic lights, mysterious, dramatic and superb colours. Congratulation Hercules, really like it. tfs.
ps I do like the 2nd ws (horizontal version)
daniel
Budapestman
(82620) 2009-04-30 2:41
Hi Hercules,
Great shot from the cistern with beautiful composition and perspective. The colours and lights are amazing...no tripod? Your machine works wonderfully. Congratulations! Have a nice day!
George
Sedef65
(766) 2009-04-30 3:08
Hi again :)
This is and the other WS photos all of them successful.
Colors,light and sharp..
Good day
Sedef
g_panakia
(4031) 2009-04-30 3:19
kalispera irakli,
aaa!!!epivlitiki eikona!
apo ta ws proteimo ayti edw & logw tou xrwmatos pou tairiazei pistevw sto 8ema alla kai epeidi to sfixto kadro tin kanei pio aystiri en sygkrisei me to orizontio...
ayto pou mou kanei omos idiaiteri entypwsi einai poso kala exoun grapsei oi antanaklaseis...to patwma gyalizei toso poly pou dinei tin ais8hsh oti einai nero..
filika
georgia
vincz
(19113) 2009-04-30 3:28
Beautiful one with great colours and reflections. I was there last year at the same period. Nice to have chosen vertical. here.
dip
(21408) 2009-04-30 4:16
Geia sou Irakli,
edo o fotismos kai oi antanaklaseis sto nero milane apo mona tous den xreiazonte ta pola logia,
mia katapliktiki foto!
Se xaireto,
Dimitris.
scyntilla
(1844) 2009-04-30 4:24
Hi Hercules,
It reminded me the underground city in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This cistern has such an out-of-this-world feel to it. Your use of light and perspective adds to this eerie feeling. TFS
Petek
Bruno40
(6662) 2009-04-30 5:52
Hercules,
A classic!
Quizas los tonos estan muy saturados (para mi gusto personal) y se producen mucha sombras negras. No se, es mi modesta opinion.
Muy buen pulso!
saludos
jorge
aadilj
(18102) 2009-04-30 6:05
Delightful work hercules. Divine and breath taking. I am simply mesmerised by the hues and by the lights and by the way you have composed this
stefanocer
(10642) 2009-04-30 6:30
Impressive envinroment Hercules with this red colour dominance and reflection , fine architecture too , compliments.
Stefano.
Vasa
(515) 2009-04-30 7:53
Hi Hercules,
master piece like usual. The atmosphere on the limit of possible light. Be proud of your gallery like i am of your friendship.
Branko
dareco
(17136) 2009-04-30 8:03
I do prefer this to the workshop versions. Nice strong colors and the lighting and reflections are beautiful. TFS
vasilpro
(41801) 2009-04-30 8:14
Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Η χρωματική απόδοση, οι αντανακλάσεις, το βάθος πεδίου και η γωνία λήψης είναι στοιχεία που εντυπωσιάζουν στη υπέροχη παρουσίασή σου. Μου αρέσουν και τα δυο WS, το καθένα με την δική του προοπτική.
Σε χαιρετώ, Βασίλης.
TopGeo
(38220) 2009-04-30 10:00
Χαιρετώ σε Ηρακλή!
Μου αρέσει και η οριζόντια επιλογή, ίσως δίνει κάτι περισσότερο δεν μπορώ να το εντοπίσω! Αψογο το θέμα στο στοιχείο σου! Δεν ξέρω σε μεγέθυνση!(?)
Φιλικά
Μαλό Μήνα
Γεώργιος
Wanda1
(15142) 2009-04-30 10:51
Hi Hercules,
This place sure is as beautiful as it looks impressive. Great symmetrical view point and what splendid orange and yellow tones, and I love the reflections. It looks very well preserved. Nice work!
Regards
Wanda
ymrk
(15099) 2009-04-30 11:48
Kalimerhaba Best!
Excellent depth,perfect ezposure time and shot!How a great perspectivewith going takes on the difficult photocorner!
Have a good days,
Yağmur
bostankorkulugu
(42866) 2009-04-30 12:07
an istanbul travelogue would not be complete without this one of course giritli mou... a classic yes, but it has become a masterpiece in your hands bro...
mesutilgim
(0) 2009-04-30 12:39
Hi dear Hercules,
I know how hard it is to make reasonable captures here, but you have managed it perfectly ! Great work done my friend.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM
ciakgiak
(30) 2009-04-30 15:19
Hello Hercules,
what a great architecture with particular red tone of colors and with splendid reflections.
The details are really superb.
Best regards
Giorgio
Longroute
(19600) 2009-05-01 0:58
This cistern is just the ideal to build a highly graphic and artistic photo: the pattern of repeated arches and the textures of the bricks are really scenic and together with the charming light creates an unique environment and atmosphere.
You really have a taste for red: in this case it suits very well. Bravo,
Donato
TGULUMSER
(13252) 2009-05-01 3:06
Hello Hercules,
A masterpiece from this fascinating place. Of course there are many shots of this place but yours is special,
Best regards,
Tulay
Dragut
(14) 2009-05-01 3:22
Hi Hercules.
Where is James Bond? Have you seen him..;-) Congratulation for this difficult shoot. Good job. I prefer the vertical shoot. This give more perspective and biggest importance to this place.
Dyerco
(10185) 2009-05-01 7:59
Hi Hercules
Great shot for a hand held shot. I can't make up my mind if I like the colour or B&W version better but the colour has an eerie glow to it which adds to the mystery of the place.
Phil
clio
(27961) 2009-05-01 15:23
Geia sou Irakli,
Impossible to decide what is the version which I prefer ... they are all fine great. We enter in a very strange world and I have the impression to hear drops falling and resounding under these vaults.
Kalo sabbatokiriaki!
Artemis
Felip
(3907) 2009-05-03 8:53
Hola Hercules,
Veo con agrado que tu viaje a Istanbul ha dado pero que muy buenos frutos.
Si la "Yerebatan Sarayı", es ya de por sí majestuosa, tu fotografía la hace mas espectacular incluso.
El formato vertical y ese plano cerrado le confieren un atractivo "especial"
Buen trabajo amigo.
Felip
burGu
(4840) 2009-05-03 22:04
Deniz is making a list of places to visit in Turkey and all around world since he's quite bored of got stuck in a single point for a while. I shyly -since his list is full of other marvellous places- asked him to add Yerebatan to the list after your photo. I was a little kid when I visited there, a real shame that I never visited there again. Lights, reddish atmosphere reflections on water... hmmm... Even though I am quite sure that I can't shoot a better or more creative one, place is definitely inviting me to make some shots...
azizbilgili
(2111) 2009-05-04 5:35
Hi Hercules,
This is and the other WS photos all of them successful.
Colors,light and sharp...
TFS
CatherineD
(4864) 2009-05-05 11:41
I prefer this colour version, for the nice warm tones, which add more mystery. Beautiful place. Perfect symetry. TFS,
Katerina
Emile
(20352) 2009-05-16 11:10
Hola Hércules.
La perspectiva así como los tonos rojos del lugar con las gigantes columnas y el reflejo están captados de una magnifica manera desde un buen POV. Has conseguido un buen manejo de la luz así como una excelente composición.
Los dos WS están muy buenos también aunque a mi me gustan las fotos a color.
Un fuerte abrazo.
kdialyna
(3148) 2009-05-30 10:50
Εξαιρετική εκμετάλλευση των αντανακλάσεων αλλά και του υποβλητικού φωτισμού, έδωσε ένα έντονα εντυπωσιακό αποτέλεσμα γεμάτο μυστήριο.
Πολύ καλή η χρωματική επεξεργασία, την έκανε ακόμα πιο εντυπωσιακή.
Κώστας
chantelley
(113) 2009-07-12 22:41
Hello again!
I was wondering if you'd mind me saving a few of your pictures for my computer's backround? Although it will be difficult to chose which one. These photos are really amazing, they make me wish I could jump through the screen and be in the exact place at the exact time they were taken, just to witness the beauty with my own eyes. The way you play with lighting is what really gets me; I find it so difficult! Turkey is officially on my list of top ten places I want to go (a list that actually contains far more than 10 places :P).
Cheers, and keep the photos coming, they inspire me!
Chantelle
PS greece is on that list too!
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Hercules Milas (Cretense)
(68709)
- Genre: Luoghi
- Medium: Colore
- Date Taken: 2009-04-15
- Categories: Architettura
- Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM
- Esposizione: f/2.8, 1/10 secondi
- More Photo Info: view
- Versione Foto: Versione Originale, Workshop
- Tema(i): Yerebatan Sarnici, Istanbul-2010 Cultural Capital of Europe [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2009-04-30 2:06