Inspiring Photo: The Whole ! #3036740

The Whole !

Uploaded: November 19, 2006

Description

Sitting on Bennelong Point, virtually in the Harbour and overlooked by the great Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is completely exposed, as three-dimensional as the orange segments its forms are based on.

This iconic structure was finally completed in August 1973 (under the direction of Peter Hall) when - sadly, the original architect Jorn Utzon, who is described as being an intensely private person was unwittingly entangled in political intrigues and besieged by a hostile press when the venture experienced cost blow-outs, which eventually forced him out of the project in 1966 before it was completed.

Utzon refused to return to Australia and has never laid eyes on his masterpiece

(The final image of this series). Hand held - auto landscape settings.

Comments

Barbara Waldoch November 19, 2006

The whole is great, but I must say I loved the bits of it, Donna! #559223

Su Sana E. P November 19, 2006

Donna, great capture of this historical landmark structure!! Sad to hear about Utzon. #3603032

Paul E. Earl November 19, 2006

Now I do have a shot like this! A great shot of this icon! #3603044

Renee Doyle November 19, 2006

As stunning as 'the whole' as it was in 'some of the whole' Donna!
Great perspective and wonderful blues against the sails!
Glad you were there then rather than the last week!!!!
#3603088

Jenny Bosmans November 19, 2006

Excellent series and great 'whole' finale, DDU...loved every 'bit' of it! :) #3603099

Ray Clarke November 19, 2006

Great finale to this series Donna!!!!(R) #3603111

Glenn E. Urquhart November 19, 2006

Beautiful composition, in every respect... Can not say it beter then R&A, Donna!!! Outstanding Series! VERY Well Done! Cheers, Glenn. #3603142

Carolyn M. Fletcher November 19, 2006

Well, the guy should be proud of his creation just as you should be proud of the way you have photographed it. Wonderful series! #3603224

Carol Sawyer November 19, 2006

This is great, Donna!! wonder series and captures!! #3603236

Manuel Barrera November 19, 2006

The sum of the parts is greater then the whole in this case, maybe he sneaked a peek? Great series, Donna #3603271

Karen Engelbreth November 19, 2006

Excellent series and a fantastic final image, Donna :0)) #3603372

Rakesh Syal November 19, 2006

Great capture of this historical landmark structure!! Grand finale to this series Donna!! #3603535

Linda D. Lester November 19, 2006

You always do awesome series and this one has been one of the best! Great shot! #3603665

Stephen Zacker November 19, 2006

Australia is on my list of places to visit one day. This is like a perfect postcard #3603757

Bill Wyatt November 19, 2006

This is so beautiful! Excellent work Donna!! #3603919

David Phalen November 19, 2006

This has been a spectacular series Donna. Thank you for sharing!!
#3604311

Ray Thoms November 19, 2006

A spectacular building and well taken Donna....someday I may get to see this structure....... #3604502

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna November 19, 2006

Wonderful image...The whole series is fantastic, Donna!!!! Hate to see it end!!!! ^.^ Kitty #3604537

Shelly A. Van Camp November 19, 2006

Beautiful..love it all!!!! Did you think of me when you saw this one???? LOL OUT THERE!!! :) Just thought it would make you laugh, Pongy!! Hope you have a great day over the pond!!!!!! #3604638

John Connolly November 19, 2006

Not the last one, Donna, where is your night time view? This is a great capture, and I see the weather was kind to you. Your history is spot on, and very informative. #3604743

Boris Kirpichnikov November 19, 2006

Awesome architecture!and the capture is great and wonderful blue and white contrast !Donna! "the Whole" and "some of the whole" series are a great find and very creative work! #3605404

Stanley J. Contrades November 19, 2006

Superb conclusion to your fabulous series, DDU, and as John C. said, maybe it's not your last one(?)! I hope we do get to see a night view of the Opera house!!
Outstanding exposure and colors in this beautifully done scenic!!
Much Aloha,
Stan #3605692

eileen bedford November 20, 2006

BEAUTIFUL Capture of the Opera House Donna, and we appreciate the history of this great structure... #3607366

Jeff Robinson November 20, 2006

Great Job Donna; you have done a wonderful series with this!! Jeff #3607405

Carla Metzler November 20, 2006

This is great, Donna!! #3607961

Pat Gamwell November 20, 2006

WOW! What an impactful series this has been! Impact is what happens when master architecture is photographed by a master photographer! SUPERB! #3608614

Donna Roberts November 22, 2006

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments on this final image but for the whole series.
They were fantastic to read and receive.
Much appreciated!
:-)
#3614492

Tarun Bose November 23, 2006

Donna, Fantastic series of Sydney opera house. Your work is as usual great. You are a master on structural images. Lately I have not been able to see your work. Regrets for that ,my dear friend. #3621689

Donna Roberts November 23, 2006

Hi Tarun, it is great to hear from you!
Thank you so much for your lovely comments.
:-)
#3623384

Carolyn J. Connolly November 27, 2006

FABULOUS capture, Donna!! Isn't the Opera House 'a picture' on a BEAUTIFUL day like this? Did you happen to capture a night shot of it?!! ;o)

Sadly, as you say Donna, since he left Australia in 1966, Jørn Utzon hasn't returned to Sydney to personally lay eyes on his design masterpiece... Now, because of his advanced age, he no longer feels able to make the long trip from Denmark to Australia... (He turned 88 on 10 April this year!)

However...he "was re-engaged by S(ydney) O(pera) H(ouse) in 1999 to develop a series of design principles" for the Opera House. He and his son Jan, as members of Utzon Architects in Denmark, and Richard Johnson of Johnson Pilton Walker of Sydney (Architects in collaboration), worked together to develop the concept for The Colonnade, which is "the first external change to the building since (it’s) opening in 1973".

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who originally declared The Sydney Opera House open way back on 20 October 1973, also opened The Colonnade on 13 March this year (2006)! Jørn Utzon's son Jan proudly attended the opening, and delivered a message from his father, which in part reads, "I will have, I think, a small tear of regret that we (my wife and I) cannot participate – we are too old to get down there, but we are very happy with all that has happened to us with the Opera House and Australia."

After being re-engaged by the Sydney Opera House in 1999, and before collaborating on The Colonnade, Jørn Utzon was involved in designing "a stunning new interior for the former Reception Hall", which was "re-named the Utzon Room in honour of the great architect... The room is also the only authentic Utzon interior within Sydney Opera House. Unlike other spaces which were structurally altered after Jørn Utzon left the project in 1966, the Reception Hall had only superficial modifications."

The Utzon Room was officially opened on 16 September 2004, and "from Denmark, Jørn Utzon said: 'It (the naming) gives me the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. I don't think you can give me more joy as the Architect. It supersedes any medal of any kind that I could get and have got.'" #3635662

Carolyn J. Connolly November 27, 2006

Please refer to these webpages for the above quotes, and more interesting information:

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/sections/about_the_house/building_program/index.php?Page=3&sm=4&ss=15

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/sections/media_room/media_releases/press_release.php?idPressRelease=211&sm=5&ss=19

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/sections/about_the_house/building_program/index.php?Page=2&sm=4&ss=15

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/sydneyoperahouse/

http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/bilateral/sydneyoperahouse/pubs/utzondesignprinciples.pdf

http://www.pritzkerprize.com/2003annc.htm

Donna - the story of the ‘birth’, and continuing life of The Sydney Opera House over the years until now, makes for VERY interesting reading indeed!! I applaud you for ‘taking us there’, AND for inspiring us to further research this OUTSTANDING building through your series of FABULOUS images of this Aussie icon!! :o)

Thanks SO much, Donna, and keep up the WONDERFUL work!! There is NO doubting that you have a *special* gift for capturing architectural images!! :o) #3635664

Donna Roberts December 02, 2006

WOW Carolyn, thank you for placing so much information and interesting links into this thread.
I do hope it was beneficial to the other members to discover the wonders of what Sydney has to offer!
:-)
#3656614

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