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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty: When walls speak and we listen > St. Michaels Church, Samobor, Croatia, 2005
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06-SEP-2005

St. Michaels Church, Samobor, Croatia, 2005

Samobor is a little town 12 miles west of Zagreb. Its 13th century rural charms have always drawn visitors from the big city. A shallow trout stream winds its way through the town center, dominated by the vividly painted St. Michaels Church. With its yellow walls and red roofs, the keepers of this church are carrying on a Samobor tradition that goes back centuries. Yellow and red are both primary colors, and in this image, the early morning sun intensifies them, creating a warm and inviting feeling. I exposed the image to surround the church with large dark areas, which further emphasizes the warmth of its yellow walls. It’s the color that does the speaking here.

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1/1000s f/6.5 at 42.0mm iso80 full exif

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Phil Douglis25-May-2006 17:46
I knew you would like this one, Jack, because of your response to my image of the San Miguel church athttp://www.pbase.com/image/52107538 . Both of these images are organized around their colors, the interplay of light and shadow, and the flow of diagonals. In fact, looking at them side by side, it is if they are opposite sides of the same coin.
Guest 25-May-2006 12:27
Great capture!! Naturally I like the architectural composition and great colors, shades and shadows.
Phil Douglis11-Dec-2005 20:07
Good point, Dandan. I chose to move in to abstract the scene, and I only imply the presence of that dark red roof. The less I show of it, the more I can involve the imagination of the viewer. I liked its color and shape. But there is already enough color here, as well as ample expression of shapes in this image, to evoke the charm of this old building. To me, less is always more.
Guest 11-Dec-2005 11:06
Phil, I think you are emphasizing the colors and those repeating forms. But I am wondering why you didn’t including the dark red roof here? It seems to me that the color and shape of the roof would help here, no?
Phil Douglis21-Nov-2005 05:20
Thank you, Janett, for the compliment. I see why you say that -- the image is abstract, relies heavily on light, color, and line, and even has a touch of cubistic form to it. I was not trying to imitate a painting here -- photography is a medium quite distinct from painting and I was using color to express the essence of these walls. Paintings are an ancient art, and if you feel that this photograph is painterly, I assume you find it of value.
Guest 21-Nov-2005 02:53
like a painting, vn
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