Forgotten Stairs

[MarieV]

On my walk last evening, I found this lonely staircase....










Fuji x100s

[FrankMi]

A lovely and interesting composition Marie. Makes me wonder where the stairs would lead. Ah, a bit of mystery - an excellent element in the right context.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[dennybeall]

Nice photo. Interesting, mysterious and well shot. Thanks for sharing.

[jamn4ex]

I never know how to compose shots like these, I like what you did with this.

[FootLoose]

Nice discovery, Marie, but as it stands the subject of the image is only small part of the composition. Most of the frame is filled with the stone wall and surrounding garden.

If it were mine, I would try to crop it to make the staircase more the main feature. By pulling down the top border I have removed a lot of the distracting foliage and shrubbery in the background and left just enough above the top step to show the viewer there is something worth investigating further up there.

By pulling the right border in, I have focused more attention on the staircase, and also brought the the foliage on the left into play. The vines on the wall and the ground form leading lines which direct the eye towards the staircase.

I think the image could be further enhanced by darkening the staircase to give it a bit more depth.

JMHO, others will have different ideas and tastes.

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi Marie,

I thing Gregg has the right of it with his crop, how bout a B&W version?

[MarieV]

Thank you Frank...... I would like to say it was a hidden staircase of a grand mansion for secret lovers to meet but, alas, it is part of a terrace leading down to a sunken garden (see photo below) on a great estate - designed by well known garden designers Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll and is considered to be one of the finest of Lutyen gardens.

[MarieV]

Hi Greg - I had considered initially cropping as you suggested but thought it took from the overall splendour of the cut-stone walls and lintel. Also, I felt the inclusion of the rampant wild plants contributed to it's sad abandonment! Thank you for your suggestions which are quite valid in the complete concept.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Marie . Very nice subject to shoot. I quite like Greg's and Mark's versions. And the garden is lovely indeed

[MarieV]

Hi Mark - I had actually taken a black and white shot similar to your version but felt the result was too 'unsympathetic' for this lonely staircase!!

[MarieV]

Thank you Binnur.

[MarieV]

Lovely of you to say so James....I think I just got lucky!!

[MarieV]

Thank you Denny...I too felt it mysterious and could visualise all the ladies long dresses dragging up those steps a century ago!!

[MarieV]

Thank you John...

[FrankMi]

Ah Marie, so we are not looking up to where the stairs lead in but rather where the sunken garden exits. I think I like the uncropped version as it more clearly shows the circular base of the stairs and capped as it is, unlike most exterior stairs, is a portal as well as a staircase. Quite unusual.

The gardens themselves are lovely as well. I could easily envision the gardens as a secret place where young lovers would meet. I'd be quite surprised if they didn't given the romantic atmosphere.

[IzzieK]

Marie...as usual I am late to this party. From your title, it seems that Greg's crop is a more better description. I didn't like the B/W version though the idea is there. Sorry Mark. I feel enough of the mysteries about that stairs is more complete with the coloured version.

Lovely shot, Marie. I really like the possibilities of how the photo open up to different interpretations and cropping and styles based on different perception of the viewer.

[MarieV]

Frank.....my sentiments exactly!

[MarieV]

Thank you Izzie....it can indeed create many interpretations of how we can each perceive an image.

[ied]

What an interest on capture. The eye instantly climbs the stairs. I like the lush green foliage along with the dry clumps of grass on the old stone and the dried up leaves on the steps. It gives it a semi abandoned look.
Irene