Wrest Park in Bedfordshire is a superb country estate that had its origins in the early seventeenth century but was developed later by the de Grey family and is dominated by the French-style mansion built in the nineteenth century. In the last few years the grounds have undergone extensive renovation as a result of grants from English Heritage.
There is much to explore: formal gardens, extensive woodland areas, lakes, numerous statue scattered across the grounds, and several outlying buildings including the Archer Pavilion, and the Orangery (orange trees really did grow there). It’s a delightful place to visit.
The Orangery, Wrest Park
When the sun shines the Orangery offers a number of photographic possibilities. The one that attracts me the most is the play of light and shadow on the walls from the framework of the glass roof. I’ve never used HDR techniques, and this is a single image shot, but there was a little work selectively on the windows and on the interior to get the right balance – more in terms of contrast rather than exposure.
The view back ( William 111 in foreground) across Long Water to the Mansion
For more about Wrest Park – click here to see my first post showing the reverse view of the view down the lake from the mansion – or enter ‘Wrest Park’ in the search widget in the right sidebar to see a number of previous posts from this estate.
I know from experience that getting proper exposure and controlling contrast in a shot like the first image can be tricky but this is perfect. It’s a great shot, certainly worth the effort.
It was almost OK SOOC, but I wanted to work it a bit and just get that slightly better balance – the problem was that getting the best balance in the exterior accentuated the light/shade contrast of the interior and then that play of light on the walls risked becoming too dominant.
I remember learning about orangeries from you previously. This is an even more beautiful image from the place. That you were able to combine the square window panes, the cross-hatched shadows, and the highly patterned floor together, and make it work, is a real testament to your skill, I’d say. It could have been a fussy, overwhelming image, but it isn’t. Whatever you did certainly worked!
Fussy was what I wanted to avoid – the light/shade on the walls could so easily be the dominant feature to the detriment of the rest of the image. I hope I got it right, and it feels right to my eye now. I also wasn’t sure about four elements – the mantra is that odd numbers work best – but I settled on four for once.
Well, there are those four elements that some say underlay the world: air, earth, water, and fire. They work pretty well together.
I must remember that thought Linda. Isn’t interconnection amazing? Me here in the UK in the evening tapping away, and you replying from the other side of the pond (as we Brits call it).
It’s pure fun, that’s what it is!
And it’s free!
I love orangeries!
Thanks Sue. This Orangery has a lot going for it – not all are quite as good photographically as this one
A beautiful play of light and shadow!
Greetings,
Ulli
Greetings to you too, Ulli, and thanks very much for your visit and comment.
Great shadows in the first photo Andy…what a superb shot 🙂
Thank you so much James – Wrest Park is a place I always enjoy returning to.
Terrific shots Andy. Not only have you captured your terrific patterns in the first one, you had those great shadow lines that take it to the next level.
Thanks very much Len. This is a wonderful building to shoot in – there is so much going on inside on a sunny day with the play of light and shade.
Love both photos, but the first one is amazing. Great vision to see this as a viable composition and then pull it off.
Thanks very much Frank. I must have stood in this Orangery on about six separate occasions and each time I see it differently. The light is terrific on a good day.
Smashing photos Andy. I love the light and shade in the first. Wonderful light!
This really is a great place for a visit any time of the year – so much variety, images are never hard to find
Ah, this place reflects true luxury. I do like the shadows you caught too. Very elegant.
Thank you Shimon