CATALONIAN VILLAGE

SOUTHERN FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 758 and 758a

The Catalonian independence movement, centred on Barcelona, has a passionate following among Catalan speakers, but possibly less than 40% of the population.  The movement extends into southern France, much to the chagrin of the French Government in Paris.  Along the French/Spanish border in Eastern France, Catalan flags show in most villages with little prospect of success.

TECHNICAL NOTES

image Number 758 (top)

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/40th of a second and at aperture f11. 80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

Image Number 758a (below)

The image was taken with a hand-held Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/225th of a second and at aperture f7.1. 150 mm Schneider Kreuznach telephoto lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

CATALONIAN VILLAGE

SOUTHERN FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 757

The Catalonian independence movement, centred on Barcelona, has a passionate following among Catalan speakers, but possibly less than 40% of the population.  The movement extends into southern France, much to the chagrin of the French Government in Paris.  Along the French/Spanish border in Eastern France, Catalan flags show in most villages with little prospect of success.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/200th of a second and at aperture f5.6. 80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

CARCASSONNE FROM THE PLAIN

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 756

Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department of France.  The city is famous for the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress restored by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853 and added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.  The fortified city itself consists essentially of a concentric design of two outer walls with 53 towers and barbicans to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own drawbridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over a long period.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/250th of a second and at aperture f5.6. 150 mm Schneider Kreuznach telephoto lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

 

MINERVE

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 754a

Minerve is a picturesque village 25 kilometres north-west of Narbonne in Languedoc-Roussillon, that is classed as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France'.   The fortified medieval village, with many of the fortifications still in place, is perched on a naturally defended rocky peninsula high above a canyon in the barren Languedoc landscape - Minerve is above the gorge carved by the River Cesse before it disappears underground intoa natural tunnel.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/275th of a second and at aperture f5.6. 80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

MINERVE

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 754

Minerve is a picturesque village 25 kilometres north-west of Narbonne in Languedoc-Roussillon, that is classed as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France'.   The fortified medieval village, with many of the fortifications still in place, is perched on a naturally defended rocky peninsula high above a canyon in the barren Languedoc landscape - Minerve is above the gorge carved by the River Cesse before it disappears underground intoa natural tunnel.  

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/500th of a second and at aperture f7.1. 150 mm Schneider Kreuznach telephoto lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

FONTFROIDE ABBEY

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 753 (top)  & 753a (below)

The Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1145, and became one of the most important and richest Cistercian abbeys in France.  It is 20klm from Carcassonne.  The abbey fell into decay following the Plague of 1348.  It was subsequently run by noblemen who were given the title of Abbots without being monks.  They added various luxuries which make parts of the abbey look more like a château than a Cistercian abbey.   A wealthy local family bought the ruins early last century and spent years restoring the abbey.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 4/5thd of a second and an aperture of f4.5.  28 mm Schneider Kreuznach wide angle lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

FONTFROIDE ABBEY

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 751b

The Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1145, and became one of the most important and richest Cistercian abbeys in France.  It is 20klm from Carcassonne.  The abbey fell into decay following the Plague of 1348.  It was subsequently run by noblemen who were given the title of Abbots without being monks.  They added various luxuries which make parts of the abbey look more like a château than a Cistercian abbey.   A wealthy local family bought the ruins early last century and spent years restoring the abbey.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/7th of a second and an aperture of f22.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

FONTFROIDE ABBEY

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 751

The Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1145, and became one of the most important and richest Cistercian abbeys in France.  It is 20klm from Carcassonne.  The abbey fell into decay following the Plague of 1348.  It was subsequently run by noblemen who were given the title of Abbots without being monks.  They added various luxuries which make parts of the abbey look more like a château than a Cistercian abbey.   A wealthy local family bought the ruins early last century and spent years restoring the abbey.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/7th of a second and an aperture of f20.  28 mm Schneider Kreuznach wide angle lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

FONTFROIDE ABBEY

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 750

The Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1145, and became one of the most important and richest Cistercian abbeys in France.  It is 20klm from Carcassonne.  The abbey fell into decay following the Plague of 1348.  It was subsequently run by noblemen who were given the title of Abbots without being monks.  They added various luxuries which make parts of the abbey look more like a château than a Cistercian abbey.   A wealthy local family bought the ruins early last century and spent years restoring the abbey..

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/6th of a second and an aperture of f22.  28 mm Schneider Kreuznach wide angle lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

THE ABBEY OF ST MARY

LAGRASSE, FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 748b

The Abbey of St. Mary of Lagrasse is a Romanesque Benedictine abbey in Lagrasse, southern France, whose origins date to the 7th century. Lagrasse is a commune in the Aude department in southern France near Carcassonne.  Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association ("The most beautiful villages of France").  Lagrasse dates from the time the abbey was built. Permission for the construction was given by Charlemagne in 783.  The two highlights of the village are the Abbey and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, and remains of the town walls can still be seen. 

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/15th of a second and at aperture f18. 80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

TOWN HALL & MEDIEVAL MARKET

LAGRASSE, FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 748a

Lagrasse is a commune in the Aude department in southern France near Carcassonne.  Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association ("The most beautiful villages of France").  Lagrasse dates from the time the abbey was built. Permission for the construction was given by Charlemagne in 783.  The two highlights of the village are the Abbey and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, and remains of the town walls can still be seen.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/135th of a second and an aperture of f4.5.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

 

LAGRASSE

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 747a

Lagrasse is a commune in the Aude department in southern France near Carcassonne.  Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association ("The most beautiful villages of France").  Lagrasse dates from the time the abbey was built. Permission for the construction was given by Charlemagne in 783.  The two highlights of the village are the eponymous Abbey and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, and remains of the town walls can still be seen.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/125th of a second and at aperture f6.3. 150 mm Schneider Kreuznach telephoto lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.

CARCASSONNE

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 745b

Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department of France.  The city is famous for the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress restored by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853 and added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.  The fortified city itself consists essentially of a concentric design of two outer walls with 53 towers and barbicans to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own drawbridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over quite a long period.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/200th of a second and an aperture of f3.5.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

CARCASSONNE

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 745a

Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department of France.  The city is famous for the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress restored by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853 and added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.  The fortified city itself consists essentially of a concentric design of two outer walls with 53 towers and barbicans to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own drawbridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over a long period.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/100th of a second and an aperture of f5.6.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.