Ponte Vecchio II, a photo from Florence, Tuscany

Photographer's Note

Looking downstream towards this "Old Bridge" With three arches and built in the 14th century it is one of the best known views in this magnificently maintained city. Taken from the window of the Uffizi museum, one of the most special buildings in Italy.
Note from: www.italyguides.it/us/florence/ponte_vecchio
Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges, is one of the city's best known images. Probably going back to Roman times with its stone pillars and wooden planks; it was built in stone but then newly destroyed by a flood in 1333. It was built again twelve years later, perhaps by Neri da Fioravante (or Taddeo Gaddi, according to Giorgio Vasari).

The five arches became three and the main part was widened. The shops, housed under the porticos, first belonged to the Commune which then rented them out. But later on, towards the 15th century, they were sold to private owners and began to change through subsequent additions, raised parts and external terraces, extending towards the river and altering the original architecture in an anarchical, suggestive way.

In the 15th century these shops were greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers. But then perhaps because of their bad smell, Ferdinando I replaced them with goldsmiths, making the road more elegant and cleaner.

In 1565, Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence, had the famous Corridor built by Vasari on the upper side passing over the shops. There's a curious story about that. The Mannelli family who owned a medieval tower at the southern end, towards Pitti Palace, did not want to give the Duke right of passage. So the corridor had to be deviated, as we can still see today, around the tower.

The row of shops is interrupted in the center and the bridge opens over the Arno with two splendid, panoramic terraces. Here in 1900, they put up the bust of Benvenuto Cellini, that ingenious Florentine goldsmith and sculptor.

Royaldevon, jhm, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, Bigfoot44 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (292) 2009-07-23 23:44

Hello Murray,

Such a beautiful city and I see bridges here are not just for cars. Your high POV is very effective to show us the city in the background. The colours seem a bit pale but overall a fine image. Thanks Murray :-)

Roberto

danyy (0) 2009-07-24 0:00

Bonjour Murray,
une vue un peu inhabituelle d'un des ponts les plus célèbres de la planète. Une certaine élévation permet de voir cette enfilade de ponts.
Des perspectives difficiles à gérer.
Des teintes un peu jaunes sur mon écran.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

PixelTerror (0) 2009-07-24 0:08

Hi Murray
I like your pov offering a comprehensive view to the PV with the roof as a lean into the photo, it seems you have here a green color cast
Have a nice day JY

Royaldevon (75252) 2009-07-24 0:22

Good Morning Murray,

Have never visited Florence, I find this a most interesting shot.
I like how you have detailed the textures and colours of the f/g building and used it well, alongside the river, to lead, in an angled way, to the focal bridge.
What an amazing site this is!! Your notes explain it well.
Perhaps the colours could be 'lifted' a little.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

apucci (1020) 2009-07-24 0:41

Hi Murray,
very nice shot and POV.
Anyway I think the color are not true and probably too much saturated.
Anyway this is the my opinion.
Regards,
Andrea

batalay (41261) 2009-07-24 2:14

Hello Murray,

I love this photo from the Uffizi, I believe, looking at the Ponte Vecchio, and below on the Arno, a pair of shells. You mention Vasari, and also Cellini. we wrote a good deal about the former in the new book, Leonardo's Universe. About Cellini, you might remember the statue of Perseus with the Head of Medussa . In the pedestal below the statue, Cellini acknowledges Mercury. It seems that in a business deal gone sour, one of the great sculptor's business partners tried to poison him. The man gave him mercury, which was not quite enough to kill him, but enough to rid him of the gonorrhea from which he was suffering. Cellini was happy to be cured, but he also developed a very dark grayish skin tone that he lived with the rest of his life.

Warm regards,

Bulent

jhm (202871) 2009-07-24 3:29

Hello Murray,

Not easy for take, through the strong light, but through a little bit PP get we a nice image.
Perspective and composition are absolutely not bad.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

ChrisJ (159918) 2009-07-24 4:07

Hello Murray

I would boost contrast here so that the blacks are black & not dark grey. I could do a workshop if you like? A wonderful high pov, with good colour & sharpness, though. Tfs!

[workshop] [compare] +

Angshu (56760) 2009-07-24 4:14

Hello Murray
Quite an original POV, with the fine perspective created by the tiled roof of the Uffizi. You could have used the curves a bit to offset the greenish cast we see here. But full marks for the compo...well done!
Regards
Angshu

pierrefonds (103424) 2009-07-24 18:23

Hi Murray,

The reflections in the water are assets to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the architecture of the different buildings and bridges. The light has a good effect on the colors of the picture. Have a nice day.

Pierre

ryo (24) 2009-07-29 11:59

Hi!

I like your take, but your image has some colour and perspective problems.

I took the liberty to add another workshop...

Cheers,
Olivier

Bigfoot44 (0) 2009-10-22 14:16

Probably best POV I've seen yet of this much over photographed spot. Contrast and saturation could use some adjustment, but doesn't really detract from overall photo.