Margam Abbey & Castle, a photo from Neath Port Talbot, Wales

Photographer's Note

Margam Abbey was founded in 1147 as a daughter house of Clairvaux, a Cistercian abbey in northeastern France, by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII of England in 1536 and sold, with its extensive grounds, to Sir Rice Mansel. Significant holdings of the monastery library appear to have survived this event, including the Annales de Margan. At this time, only 12 monks were living in the monastery. From the Mansel family the abbey eventually passed into their descendants in the female line, the Talbot family, and in the 19th century C R M Talbot constructed the mansion at Margam Castle which overlooks the abbey ruins. The nave of the abbey continued in use as the parish church, as it does to this day.

On this bright and sunny spring morning, the ruins of the abbey's chapter house are seen on the left in the foreground while the imposing Victorian mansion of Margam Castle is seen in the distance through the remaining mist.

Interestingly, Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, who built the castle as a luxurious mansion between 1830 and 1840, was the cousin of William Henry Fox Talbot who lived at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire and who became famous as an inventor and photographer, producing the very first negative/positive photographic "calotype" process enabling multiple photographs to be made from a single negative image. And, of course, modifications of the calotype process were used almost exclusively in photography for almost two centuries until the development of electronic digital imaging.

Please click here for a larger version of this photograph on "beta" TE.

snunney, macjake, holmertz, Royaldevon, marabu61, alvaraalto, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (130967) 2016-03-27 4:15

Hello John,
The beautifully illuminated wall of the ruined abbey guides us lovingly toward the impressive pile of the castle. I like very much the lights and colours and the lovely perspective along the gravel path. A very appealing composition, nicely executed.

Nicou (193814) 2016-03-27 4:20

Hello

Fantastique ensemble quelle compo et image sueprbe captage avec ce ch鈚eau et l'abbaye quelle mise en valeur et cadrage superbe ensemble et tonalit� quelle profondeur et cadrage parfaite.
Belle f阾es.
Nicou

macjake (98544) 2016-03-27 4:33

Hi John
well my friend, I have to say you've done well with this subject, you've come away with some fine shots indeed.

first of all - we are neighbors today on the gallery page :)

and second - great little piece of information about photography, that was unexpected to learn about in your note.

personally, i like these shots where you have a clear fg/bg separation of subjects. Its an easy and very effective way to create depth in a photo.

I also like how the fg is much clearer/brighter, while the mansion in the bg seems to be in a haze or misty air.

such lovely/rustic gardens and plot of land. Man, I wish I could be here to enjoy this one in person.
super shot, especially in the fg with all those textures and stone detailing.

cheers
craig

jhm (211738) 2016-03-27 4:50

Hello John,

Thank you very much I've again something learned today through your excellent notes.
Also your picture with a little bit misty atmosphere before the abbey in background makes your picture lovely.
A lovely perspective and depth picture, also the arches beside are sharp and clear.
Excellent composition nice presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday.
John.

holmertz (103732) 2016-03-27 5:32

Hello John,
I am rather fascinated by the haze surrounding the castle on this very bright and sunny day. I get memories of Calcutta, where the many neo-Gothich Victorian buildings are always shrouded in this kind of haze, caused by dirt, fires and exhaustion fumes, even on the sunniest days. There is only the oppressive heat missing in Wales ;-)
Your composition connects the ruins of the abbey and the castle visually, but I also detect a cultural connection bridging 700 years. Surely there are similarities in style between these two buildings?
Kind regards,
Gert

GiovanniG (3914) 2016-03-27 5:43

Howdy John,
Splendid capture with great fore thought regarding our chosen position. Pleasing elements to the left balance nicely with the beautiful Margam Abbey.
Regards
GiovanniG

Royaldevon (86564) 2016-03-27 5:53

Hello John,

Thank you for your good wishes; may I extend happy, Easter greetings to you and Yvonne, too.

You did have some lovely weather and pleasing subjects during your visit to Wales.
Did you go to stay with your daughter?

I really like how you have anchored the f/g with the ruins of the abbey, bright and sharp, with strong textural details.
The path makes an excellent guide to the mansion, which sets up a most interesting and mysterious second focal point, with its contrasting hazy, grey facade.
You have ensured that viewers follow your own well defined path and can pick up on the contrasts, immersing themselves in the mood and the setting.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

No_One (4) 2016-03-27 6:09

Hi John
Another architectural gem and with a long long history, part of which our nations share! Though when I shoot the abbeys of Ireland that were dissolved, their condition does be rather worse for wear. The way you've composed this instills a low into the circular building, and I can't work out if it's time is standing guard for the castle, or spying on it. The colors and light and beautifully natural too. You post the most interesting subjects John, thanks

Silvio1953 (223103) 2016-03-27 9:27

Ciao John, lovely composirtion with fascinating ruines, wonderful colors, excellent perspective, good clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, Happy Easter, ciao Silvio

willperrett (14215) 2016-03-27 11:01

Hello John

Back in the '60's I visited Margam on a school trip. However, we certainly weren't taken to spendid, beautiful places like this, but to the Abbey Iron and Steelworks, then I believe, Europe's largest steelworks and the largest single employer in Wales, with a labour force of 18,000. Quite a culture shock for a lad from a seaside resort. I had no idea that Margam had this completely different face. Thanks for showing it to me!

Regards

Will

marabu61 (11587) 2016-03-29 2:01

Hello John
Honestly I wouldn't ever have made the connection of the name Talbot in your two previous uploads with the name of the famous photographer, great piece of information.
So, there is this ruined monastery on the grounds of this magnificent castle as well, well it seems to be a location with countless photo opps. Great framing with the ruin in the foreground and the castle in the back. It gives the composition a great depth.
have a great day
Daniel

lousat (140070) 2016-03-30 1:50

Hi John,great idea this point of view,perfect to create a wonderful 3D effect in the different perspective levels.Bright colors and fine details,perfect way to show us this place with a long long history as i can read in your interesting note,very professional work! Thanks for share,Luciano

mkamionka (75255) 2016-03-30 7:54

Hi John,
great composition, I can recognize already the building in the centre from your other photo.
Very good idea and well done.
There is a lovely contrast of the clear foreground and a bit foggy centre, nice effect.
You had a wonderful weather!
What bothers me a bit is that the ruins in the left feel as if they were not straight. Since they are ruins they may be actually not straight.
Excellent work!

M

alvaraalto (42880) 2016-03-30 9:41

Hello John,
A very sophisticated composition. An excellent play with foreground and background.
The perfect distance of field is very important here and you managed is sublime.
Groet Rob

emka (158962) 2016-04-01 3:55

Hi John, Another picture from this lovely place. Now the mansion is in the background, with a bit of haze, and we see the ruins of the old abbey (so many romantic abbey ruins in UK :)). What a lovely sunny day you had. Nice trip to Wales.
Interesting place. I looked on the map in Google. Maybe you could show more of these ruins? The park around is very nice, probably very attractive in the time of flowering rhododendrons.
Thanks for sharing

Malgo

delpeoples (60342) 2016-04-21 5:47

Caro Giovanni

What a spectacular subject and an equally impressive quality photo. The golden light bouncing off the fa鏰de on the left is really appealing, as are the wonderful textures in the masonry of the ruins. The right half of the image is superbly contrasted, with impeccable sharpness and depth. Wonderful photo all round.

Un abbraccio
Lisa