Fountains Abbey

♫ Swissmay, on February 15, 2008, said:

Beautifully composed photo of Fountains Abbey with the tree trunk in the foreground, Marilyn! It's incredible to think for how many centuries people have seen these walls and maybe the tree as well. A human's life seems so short beside it.

My best wishes, May

Marilyn Whiteley, on February 15, 2008, said:

Thank you, May. I wasn't going to post any more pictures of Fountains Abbey. But when I was skimming through the England album, this one jumped out at me. Yes, I too really like that sheltering tree!

Very best wishes, Marilyn

© SisAnnick, on February 16, 2008, said:

Very romantic place and nice picture, Marilyn; any phatoms wandering through these venerable walls? Greetings Annick

Wallace Rivera, on February 16, 2008, said:

Perfect composition, like Swissmay said the trunk in the foreground give you a referred point! Great work! :)

Ian Stehbens, on February 16, 2008, said:

I must have seen a 1000 images of Fountains over the years, and there have been many memorable ones on calendars. But yours, like the wonderful photographer you are, is unique, and of course "well composed and exposed".

Ian

Palmina Moore, on February 17, 2008, said:

What a great shot Marilyn Wonderfully composed as Ian said.

Palmina

Marilyn Whiteley, on February 17, 2008, said:

Thanks, all of you: Paul, Annick, Wallace, Ian, and Palmina. I knew nothing about Fountains Abbey until we were looking at what to do on our one precious free afternoon while we were in York. What a treasure it is!

My husband deserves a medal! He picked up the rental car and then figured out how to get it to the campus where we were staying, how to get out of York, and how to get back again! It was quite a challenge.

Marilyn

TRingold, on February 17, 2008, said:

Interesting irony in this photo. You eye is drawn to the marvelous old sheltering tree; only to realize, the trees life is so short, next to the Abbeys. Perhaps the Abbey is sheltering the tree! To my knowledge,we have no architecture this venerable north of Mexico in North America. Tom

Marilyn Whiteley, on February 17, 2008, said:

You're right, Tom. Though the tree is old (I cropped some width from the trunk for balance), it's young in comparison to the Abbey. I suppose only a few things like the Anasazi ruins in the South-West could begin to compare with the Abbey. Marilyn

Richard Ryer, on February 17, 2008, said:

Greetings Marilyn, A wonderful picture of an old ruin. It is so rewarding to go through something like this and take pictures. Your eye has captured a very beautiful scene. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

Rich

Marilyn Whiteley, on February 18, 2008, said:

Thanks, Rich. I'm glad I've been able to share with you a glimpse of a lovely and wonderful, peaceful place.

Cheers, Marilyn

Tjeert Mensinga©, on February 19, 2008, said:

Beautiful capture of this old ruin Marilyn with just a glimp of a big tree ,and again i see your architectical skills in your last series,just surprise us with more of it! best regards! Tjeert

Marilyn Whiteley, on February 19, 2008, said:

Many thanks, Tjeert, for your kind words. Best wishes, Marilyn

Tony Reid, on April 4, 2008, said:

Imagine what this place would of been like in it's hayday. Can I assume Tudor times?

Marilyn Whiteley, on April 4, 2008, said:

The ruins are still so imposing that it must have been a wonderful place. It was founded in 1132 and continued until the 1539 Dissolution.

Although I would love to have seen it as it was, I also like ruins. They allow my imagination full scope!

ACRONYM, on June 25, 2008, said:

Greetings Marilyn.

This incredible ruin has to be the most quintessential of English Abbeys.

As you say, it must have been magnificent before the Dissolution. If I could reverse time, this would be my destination.

Was it me, or did you also feel a connection with the past??

I could not help feeling that the ghosts of its former occupants were all around.

Your photo Marilyn, portrays the very essence of Fountains Abbey.

Warm wishes and saved.

Jim

Marilyn Whiteley, on June 27, 2008, said:

Yes, Jim, thought I haven't visited nearly as many of the ruins as I'd like, I'd say there is a very special feel to this place, and a connection with the past. Many thanks for your comment.

Marilyn