Michael Markey
Veteran
Words aren`t failing you Larry …. very honest ,thoughtful post .
Dralowid
Michael
Amongst all this spare a thought for the people rebuilding the Charles Rennie Macintosh building in Glasgow, they had nearly finished when it burnt again. They appear resolute but it must be tough.
One of them was on the BBC offering newly developed highly specialised scanning techniques to help in the rebuilding of the cathedral. In simplest terms they run scans the whole time so that when bits continue to fall off they know where they have come from.
Sounds simple but I bet it ain't.
One of them was on the BBC offering newly developed highly specialised scanning techniques to help in the rebuilding of the cathedral. In simplest terms they run scans the whole time so that when bits continue to fall off they know where they have come from.
Sounds simple but I bet it ain't.
Ted Striker
Well-known
People who have such a reaction like that have an extraordinarily limited mind. Notre Dame was an incredible work of art, engineering, and vision.
I would be very very sad to be unable to appreciate the majestic accomplishment and now loss of this great building.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Not religious. Not at all. But, I greatly mourn the loss of all things beautiful and historic, including religious sites. Notre Dame has had the same checkered history as any other "landmark" of our (human) existence. That history, all of it, is so important to me. I have the same strong feelings for nearly all old and amazing things - stone circles, mosques in Istanbul, cliff dwellings, Aztec pyriamids, monastaries in eastern Europe, and even the old railroad depot in my town. I know its all in my head, but I can feel the presence of history when in these places.
Perhaps I am truly a luddite. I love all things old for some odd reason. Actually, I know why... physical artifacts of the long history of us. That includes my old Barnack Leicas -- I just love to imagine where my favorite IIIa has been, who held and used it, and what it has survived. I know it was sold in Europe (likely Germany) in 1936, and it had to have survived the war somehow...then found its way to the U.S. and only lately surface from an attic or closet to meet me.
I'm very sad about Notre Dame. Not easily articulated, but I am sad.
Perhaps I am truly a luddite. I love all things old for some odd reason. Actually, I know why... physical artifacts of the long history of us. That includes my old Barnack Leicas -- I just love to imagine where my favorite IIIa has been, who held and used it, and what it has survived. I know it was sold in Europe (likely Germany) in 1936, and it had to have survived the war somehow...then found its way to the U.S. and only lately surface from an attic or closet to meet me.
I'm very sad about Notre Dame. Not easily articulated, but I am sad.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Ultimately, yes. "Life itself" is the only fit answer to "What is the meaning of Life?" If that's not good enough, well, make up whatever feels more satisfying to you. Anything you can dream up is all a subset of Life itself. The only thing greater than Life is Time ... because without Time, Life cannot exist.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to walk the floors and halls of Notre Dame. I grieve its passing, although I accept that it is inevitable. That it happened in my Time is just a chance happening, like so many many others.
G
Richard G
Veteran
1. Thanks Larry.
2. Bil: don't leave the forum.
For the restoration there has indeed been a very detailed photographic record made. Restoration architecture is a wonderful art and science. Anything 800 years old needs work periodically. This one will need quite a lot now. Sadly Europe is still also the centre of the world when it comes to such work.
2. Bil: don't leave the forum.
For the restoration there has indeed been a very detailed photographic record made. Restoration architecture is a wonderful art and science. Anything 800 years old needs work periodically. This one will need quite a lot now. Sadly Europe is still also the centre of the world when it comes to such work.
FujiLove
Well-known
It still is an incredible work of art. It’s not been lost, rather, badly damaged. Studying its rebuilding and repair will be fascinating.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Unfortunately accidents happen. I feel sad for the injured fireman. We should all thanks all the firemen who risked their life to save what was possible to save.
In 1996 in Venice the Theater La Fenice burnt (it took fire during restoration works, sounds familiar) and it was rebuilt where and how it was. Not easy, not cheap, but it can be done.
We have different opinions in this thread. I think it's always interesting to hear and listen to different opinions, even the ones we do not agree with. It's the strength of a forum, just my opinion...
I hope Bill does not leave the forum. And yes, Notre Dame was, is still a great work of art.
robert
PS: I am catholic and do not feel offended by any comment here...
In 1996 in Venice the Theater La Fenice burnt (it took fire during restoration works, sounds familiar) and it was rebuilt where and how it was. Not easy, not cheap, but it can be done.
We have different opinions in this thread. I think it's always interesting to hear and listen to different opinions, even the ones we do not agree with. It's the strength of a forum, just my opinion...
I hope Bill does not leave the forum. And yes, Notre Dame was, is still a great work of art.
robert
PS: I am catholic and do not feel offended by any comment here...
raid
Dad Photographer
We should not insist on our own opinions and views and beliefs when it comes to sharing a forum or thread like this one here.
I recall a specific episode of TED.com in which a brilliant man was showing some software that let him "blend together" a huge number of images (maybe they were 1,000,000) to obtain one overall image. Which image was it of? Of course, it was photos taken by tourists of Notre Dame.
I found it! https://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth
Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads a dazzling demo of Photosynth, software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos culled from the Web, Photosynth builds breathtaking dreamscapes and lets us navigate them.
I recall a specific episode of TED.com in which a brilliant man was showing some software that let him "blend together" a huge number of images (maybe they were 1,000,000) to obtain one overall image. Which image was it of? Of course, it was photos taken by tourists of Notre Dame.
I found it! https://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth
Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads a dazzling demo of Photosynth, software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos culled from the Web, Photosynth builds breathtaking dreamscapes and lets us navigate them.
jbrubaker
Established
I visited Notre Dame in 2005 and photographed this roof detail. Note that the news reported that the copper statues on the spire had been removed prior to the fire because of restoration work.
mcfingon
Western Australia
In 1977 I was sorry I made an accidental double-exposure in Notre Dame when I reached the end of my roll of Kodachrome 64. Now I'm glad I have that photo for a memory. I am sure the Parisians and Parisiennes and all of France will be very sad and I hope the repair can be made as soon and as good as possible.
John Mc
John Mc
DwF
Well-known
I'd forgotten that I made this exposure. I made a trip t London and took the Chunnel to Paris in 2008. I always try at least to see Notre Dame when I go to Paris so I know was in Paris.
M8
M8
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
When I saw Notre-Dame burning on CNN I was a bit sad, but it is just a building in the end. The hyperbole about it is almost out of control. I was thinking, the building is made of stone, so like, it ain't gonna burn. I used to live in Paris, and I wasn't that put off by the fire. Kinda sad, but the building has been rebuilt many times. It isn't all 800 years old. In fact it has been semi derelict for a lot of that time, but you know, facts are inconvenient sometimes. In the end it will be rebuilt, perhaps even better than it was. No one died. I imagine all of the art was/will be saved. No windows were ruined from what I have seen. Kinda feel sorry for some of those gargoyles though. I mean, it musta been pretty toasty up there...
There are laws in France limiting the government from giving money to religious institutions and I can't imagine the Vatican not owning that property. Where that 700 million goes should be interesting although we will never find out.
There are laws in France limiting the government from giving money to religious institutions and I can't imagine the Vatican not owning that property. Where that 700 million goes should be interesting although we will never find out.
farlymac
PF McFarland
What I learned today is that the French government actually owns the cathedral. But methinks Mssr Macron is a little off in his five year rebuilding estimate/declaration. All that heat surely will have caused damage to the stone walls, as it is built of locally sourced limestone (some from the very island it sits on), and would be crumbly.
PF
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
Yes, thank you. I came back here to correct that.
Alberti
Well-known
A bridge of many sighs
. . about memories. Likewise about some posts
. . about memories. Likewise about some posts
FujiLove
Well-known
700 million Euros donated so far by rich benefactors to restore a beautiful building full of riches and history.
...or help the poor and destitute of France and beyond.
What a dilemma. Perhaps we should ask, “what would Jesus do?” ;-)
...or help the poor and destitute of France and beyond.
What a dilemma. Perhaps we should ask, “what would Jesus do?” ;-)
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
A great deal of the upper structure of Notre Dame is built from oak, not stone, and oak burns very well.
It's unlikely that France (or the rest of Europe) has any oak forests left that are old enough to supply enough timber for a rebuild. If there are any such forests, it's likely that they are covered by some kind of conservation covenant and cannot be harvested anyway.
DwF
Well-known
From an '08 visit
From an '08 visit
Alberti,
Seeing your lovely pic above, I went back and found this one is taken just further "downstream"
M8 (21mm Elmarit-M)
From an '08 visit
Alberti,
Seeing your lovely pic above, I went back and found this one is taken just further "downstream"
M8 (21mm Elmarit-M)
peterm1
Veteran
No offence meant but I wonder what makes you think the rich may not already be donating to the poor. It's a time honored institution to do this in many countries. I don't see it as a particular dilemma myself.
There are about 5 billion (at last count) poor people in the world. The 700 million euros, or about what, 1 billion US dollars would be about 20 cents each - one time payment. That's not how you solve world poverty. Mighty thin pickins. Poverty is solved by changing cultures that allow poverty, eliminating ugly backward and repressive systems of government and corruption that feed off it, by trade, by jobs that trade creates, by education and so on. It's not so easy when stated like this but in this instance I guess I would rather not ask Jesus but instead ask an economist with experience in international development.