Making of the Flower Carpet, a photo from Brussels, Brussels

Photographer's Note

Brussels Making of the Flower Carpet

The first Floral Carpet was created in 1971 on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt in Brussels by the landscape architect E. Stautemans, but in fact, it was the culmination of a whole series created in various towns in Flanders.

In 2010 during the weekend of the 13th to the 15th of August, we will be able to see the fourteenth Flower Carpet on the same monumental square in Brussels.

Today, August, 12th, in the afternoon I took this picture while dozens of people were still making this carpet.
It had to be finished at 08:00 pm, official time of the opening.
In the workshop a closer view on the two young guys and a part of the carpet.

The information I mention here comes from:
http://www.flowercarpet.be
where you can find much more interesting things about this event organized every two years.

The actual making of the Carpet is based on a plan worked out in advance, consisting of several stages.
Everything starts, often a year in advance, with projects and scale models, illustrating a commissioned theme (such as the commemoration of great events, or the arms and shield of a town, and sometimes the proposals of local horticultural associations).

Once the theme has been produced in representation and symbol, the number of flowers and color combinations calculated and the outlines finally drawn on the ground, then the work starts.

The skilful, dedicated work of a hundred experienced gardeners and their enthusiasm enables them to put together this giant floral jigsaw in under four hours.

The day before, the spaces between the floral patterns will already have been filled with rolled turf.
The flowers are packed together one by one, 300 to every square meter of the ground, (+/- 750.000 flowers!) so tightly (no soil is used at all) that they won't be blown away by the first puff of wind, and create their own microclimate.

In heat waves, the turf has to be watered to prevent it from shrinking, but if the weather is too wet, the grass can grow 4 to 5 centimeters in 3 days.

pauloog, asajernigan, edge, yeln, Fante, BluSimo, delpeoples, jhm, paololg, riclopes, josepmarin, macjake, macjake, dip, adramad, Charo, jlbrthnn, kordinator, danos, Royaldevon, paura, macondo, Longroute, photoray, gunbud, diomed, krysia, ikeharel, fotka, Vasa, Sonata11 oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

pauloog (11751) 2010-08-12 13:28

Hello Paul,
You were there early in order to capture the making of the flower carpet, a refreshing approach dfferent from the usual finished sightings. Well composed to show the meticulous effort and the many onlookers.
Regards,
Paul

tober (8797) 2010-08-12 13:38

Hello Paul, very nice view of this traditional "flower carpet" from a well chosen PoV. The Grand Place seems more beautiful than usual. Despite the closed/cloudly weather, all the details are visible. Best regards, Tolga

lousat (139170) 2010-08-12 14:20

Salut Paul,mais quelle photo interessante et tres bien batie,les coulers dominent la scene et c'est une tres beau temoignage de cette fete si etrange et partiuculiere,j'espere d'en voir une autre avec le travail termine'...mes compliments et bonne journee',Luciano

asajernigan (21427) 2010-08-12 17:15

Paul,
This is an interesting display of flowers. Your composition is nice showing the workers as well as the finished areas of the flower carpet. The lighting and colors are great and the photo has excellent sharpness.
TFS,
Asa

edge (7409) 2010-08-12 20:04

Hello Paul, You have certainly captured a most beautiful and colorful scene. Just amazing the wonderous arrangements of flowers for this carpet. I also commend you for the fine picture in your workshop. I am very curious what flowers are being used here. They must have some sustaining power to be able to be setup this long. Again, wonderful post. I really enjoyed all of this color. Regards, Roger After I posted this I went to the website you gave in your notes and found the flowers are begonias.

PixelTerror (0) 2010-08-12 22:29

Hi Paul
That's something I'd like to see some day, must look great if you can find an elevated position to get a comprehensive view over Grand PLace. Good backstage image
Have a nice day JY

yeln (11516) 2010-08-12 22:59

Hello Paul
google
I thank you for the beautiful words written in your critique on my absence. I've been absent for some time and now I'm back to writing my reviews. I'm writing the answers in turn as they came.
beautiful photo with a good design from the daily life. Much work was needed to be finish this carpet. great idea and realization! Superb sharpness!
congratulations
Regards
Vojko

francio64 (39888) 2010-08-13 5:07

Ciao Paul,
bella scena che mostra l'infiorata durante la sua realizzazione.
Ottima gestione della luce che esalta la resa cromatica dei colori.

Well done and TFS!
Francesco

Fante (5429) 2010-08-13 11:17

Hi Paul,

very colorful photo. Strong vivid colors. I like it. Nice idea and good photo efect. Congratulations,
TFS
Regards, Sasko

BluSimo (9392) 2010-08-13 12:30

Bonsoir Paul
Quel travail merveilleux et de grande patience! je l'ai vus faire quelque tourne męme ici en Italie. Ton idée d'insérer le travail des deux jeunes sur le fond de la route et des édifices est trčs bonne. Il donne la dimension de l'étendue du tapis, et de l' interet que cet évčnement provoque sur les citoyens. trčs bonne la lisibilitč sur tout le cadrage. compliments
une bonne soirée
Simonetta

anokutan (15097) 2010-08-13 12:35

Hello Paul,
You have certainly captured a most beautiful and colorful scene.Again, wonderful post. I really enjoyed all of this color. Regards.

delpeoples (60342) 2010-08-14 5:08

Hi Paul, this is so interesting. You've captured it superbly and very graphically. What amazing textures and colours, lovely photo job. Congratulations and I wish you a good Saturday, Lisa

PCharles (27) 2010-08-14 12:17

Hi Paul, Yes, I see your carpet garden isn't planted. It looks beautiful though.

Thanks, Paul

mikolaj_kawa (0) 2010-08-14 12:38

Hello Paul! Amazing scene. Very fine workers. Superb flower carpet. Excellent architecture in the background. Amazing colours. Perfect POV and DOF. Ideal frame. Well done!

paololg (31448) 2010-08-15 1:04

Ciao dear Paul,
what a masterpiece of beauty! Colors, sharp, architecture, everything is pleasant and beautiful in this image. Unbelievable the definition of the details, absolutely perfect. Congratulations!
CIao, have a nice Sunday!
Paolo

riclopes (35577) 2010-08-15 1:36

Olá Paul, this must be an amazing artwork to see in live, better if one can get a view from above. Wonderful capture of the going on work, so many details to apreciate all over the image. I like to see the workers and empty boxes at left which gives us an idea of the backstage of the final Carpet.
RE: thanks for the long comment, I totally agree with you about the mobiles.
best regards,
ric

jhm (211736) 2010-08-15 2:22

Dag paul,

U was twee dagen vroeger dan ik op de Brusselse grote markt, gisteren zag het zwart van het volk.
Ik vind dit wel mooi de fase van ontwerp en plaatsing.
De kleuren zijn mooi en realistisch.
Goed foto werk, bedankt.

Prettige zondag,
John.

ilDottore (5252) 2010-08-15 2:43

Hi Paul,
Yes, I know this habit but I wasn't so lucky to see this on my own eyes.
Fantastic composition with powerful colours.
very interesting event, indeed and probably big tourist attraction.
greetings from Dublin
Chris

josepmarin (59385) 2010-08-15 3:54

Hi Paul,
a great capture of this scene full of vitality, due to the people making this impressive carpet of flowers, in an image with a great sharpness and a beautiful chromatic palette.
The framing is chosen well for to show us also the wonderful architecture of the Grand Place.
Good detail in the WS.
Well done.
Best regards,
Josep

macjake (98402) 2010-08-15 8:33

Hi Paul
very colourful and eye catching indeed!
its great to that you included the colour striped sponge knee pad at the bottom left!
great levels of contrast with the grey architecture in the BG
Cheers
craig

ciakgiak (30) 2010-08-15 13:59

Hello Paul,
what a splendid and colorful image with the men preparing the flower carpet. There's a similar fest here at Noto, and it's a great occasion for beautiful photos like this one. The POV and the quality are perfect so as the light and the sharpness.
Congratulations, TFS.
Best regards
Giorgio

dip (21408) 2010-08-15 15:57

Hello Paul,
good capture of the people at the work,interesting to see how was made the flower-carpet,
a wonderful colorful image!
Thanks for sharing,
Dimitris.

hay_kes (31439) 2010-08-16 0:58

Hi Paul,
Very colorful image with an excellent daily life shot.TFS.
Cheers,

hAyAti

adramad (72934) 2010-08-16 4:53

Hello Paul.
A picture is brilliant and lively starring these workers who are designing this wonderful floral carpet. In the scene you've captured a good POV with all those people watching the work of the buildings and a beautiful part of the work already done while still creating.
Wonderful use of light with a natural color. Well done.
Best regards.
Luis.

peppe59 (14555) 2010-08-16 9:49

Ciao Paul,
molto bella come realizzazione e come cromaticitŕ, questa infiorata nella piazza di Brussels, una manifestazione simile viene svolta in Sicilia a Noto, capitale del barocco siciliano.
Complimenti
peppe

hdl (7035) 2010-08-16 14:38

Dag Paul. Een prachtig kunstwerk; mooi om te zien wat voor iets fantastisch die groep van handige mensen kunnen maken. En dat heel goed op de plaat gezet door jou. TFS.

TopGeo (38220) 2010-08-17 23:27

Hi Paul! Visited the square without coloured the flowers Is really splendid and the locality also here a good choice of moment..Regards
Georgios

UlfE (14641) 2010-08-18 0:00

Hi Paul,

Excellent to take a picture of the flower carpet during the making. The photo is very unusal compared to most pictures you see of the flower carpet. The picture is also very well composed with some people in the foreground and some in the background and the inclusion of boxes with flowers. I note that the activites are filmed as well. TFS and have a nice day!

Cheers,

Ulf

raszid62 (18457) 2010-08-18 1:03

Hello
It must be great fun, including the laying of flowers, colorful compositions. Very well composed picture-reporting.
Yours
Joseph

ymrk (15099) 2010-08-19 13:47

fantastic texture that had been created colorful things..creative photoangle,
hugs,

yağmur

Charo (51290) 2010-08-19 15:41

Hello Paul,
A good time the people caught in the middle of the work to create the carpet of flowers, it appears that there were many people to see it.
Excellent composition and colors.
Best regards,
Charo

AiresSantos (56155) 2010-08-19 23:08

Hi Paul
Great lesson ! how to build a colorful carpet...
Impressive the quantity of people enjoying the moment
Fine POV and details
Have a nice weekend
Aires

Graal (103040) 2010-08-19 23:59

Hi Paul,
unusual place and scenery. Fantastic carpet. Nice colourful image. Good reportage. Well photowork. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

prabut (3548) 2010-08-21 7:24

Hi Paul
A huge and beautiful is the flower carpet. Working with him has a lot of people. I am full of admiration for the work of these people. Their work looks great.
Best regards
Slawomir

jlbrthnn (76043) 2010-08-21 12:01

Bonsoir Paul,
J'ai déjŕ vu une photo semblable de John,(jhm). L'intéręt de cette image est de montrer le travail de construction de ce tapis incroyable. Je n'ai jamais rien vu de pareil. C'est une image trčs intéressante et trčs bien réalisée.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
Joël

kordinator (8738) 2010-08-21 16:39

Hello Paul
Nice composition very well framed.
Nice idea and good photo efect.
Superb flower carpet.
Excellent architecture in the background.
Interesting peoples.
Amazing colours.
Perfect sharpness and clarity.
Great note.
Great job.
Regards
Saa

danos (110407) 2010-08-21 22:40

Good morning Paul,
spectacular the sight of the flower carpet that is made in the Grote Markt in Brussels. Great the number of the people as the colourful flowers that are placed on the ground to create this unique carpet.Well done.

Have a nice Sunday,Danos

Royaldevon (85862) 2010-08-22 1:15

Good Morning Paul,

This reminds me of the 'Well Dressings' in Derbyshire, where flowers are used to create pictures, but yours is on a much grander scale. I was curious to know what happened in drought or heavy rain, but your notes have explained it all.
You have chosen a good pov, capturing the finished effect, but also detailing the meticulous workers, the many onlookers and the location. A good dof keeps it all interesting.

Have a good Sunday,
Bev :-)
Thank you for your link to my photograph, yesterday. I researched the location on the map of N.Y. and found that the similar shot was taken from the opposite bank of the river.

mauro61 (53411) 2010-08-22 2:48

ciao Paul,
grandi preparativi per il giorno in cui la piazza sara' ricoperta di fiori.
Colori brillanti e ottima inquadratura sulla piazza.
Un saluto dalla Romania dove sono in vacanza fino a fine agosto.
maurizio

paura (25802) 2010-08-24 18:19

Paul,
O grafismo aqui está um interessasnte destaque. Ajustes de exposiçăo e saturaçăo de cores também estăo muito bons.

Abraço

Paulo

romalek (3126) 2010-08-26 2:09

Hello Paul!
Very nice staff, showing people contracting the carpet of flowers, a very good light and colors
greetings
Roman

macondo (20449) 2010-08-27 4:51

Hello Paul.
Thanks for your critique of my photo.
I think this is an excellent daily life/event photo, with the beautiful colorful carpet of flowers adorning the Grand Place. The colour makes a lovely contrast with the grey grandeur of the buildings. You picked out one of the workers on his own so well for the foreground. I'm amazed at how many people are gathered to watch the progress of the carpet laying. Nicely done, and very good note.
Regards,
Andrew

Longroute (19600) 2010-08-28 8:49

I have seen the whole square already "carpeted" (as in Jhm photo) but you show it's construction instead. This adds a further interest to the beauty of the flowers. It's a photo behind the scenes, original and well composed. A good reportage.
TFS,
Donato

pablominto (53746) 2010-08-30 23:11

Hello Paul,

An awesome scene - not only the decorators in work but I also notice the large crowd!
Colourful of course, contrasting the old surrounding architecture very well...
Good colour reproduction, fine lines and DoF..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

abmdsudi (95869) 2010-08-31 7:40

Hi Paul
the riot of colors is so eyecatching in this busy urbanscape, nice capture. Your pov is excellent, fine perspective and dof and yr light management is excellent. Nice rich colors and good contrast and the people make this image so lively! Awesome shot, Thks for sharing
Rgds

photoray (13981) 2010-09-02 17:05

Howdy Paul,

Fine image displaying and detailing the floral park workers at their job. Obviously a lot of work goes into the final product - a beautiful piece of floral art.

good job,
Ray

AKITA (15125) 2010-09-04 14:56

dear Paul,
wow,
a beautiful shot of splendid making scene of the amazing flower carpet,
vivid colors are impressive and artists look enjoying the work,
surrounding watching people and old buildings are also beautiful too in this scene,
maybe from high place of house the patterns look so vivid and attractive,
this cheerful and delightful ambience is superb,
thank you for your excellent picture,
Akihisa

mkamionka (74311) 2010-09-05 2:13

Hi Paul,
very interesting street scene. I have seen the flower carpet recently, I think in jhm photo so it is nice to see it in the moment of creation. From a distace I thought these are whole flowers but it seems here thet they are just fragments. The excellent architecture makes a fantastic background.
Nice docummentary,
M

gunbud (34066) 2010-09-05 8:25

Hi Paul
Very compelling capture of these young men painstakingly preparing the fantastic carpet of flowers.
The beautiful old architecture and crowd of on lookers makes a superb backdrop for this lovely festive image.
Regards, Tom

mafegan (8626) 2010-09-14 6:06

Hello Paul
I have seen many photos of this floral carpet - it must be a spectacular experience to see the carpet with your own eyes. Great to see this work in progress. Cheers, Marlene

COSTANTINO (116377) 2010-10-21 11:06

Hello
it is the second shot full of colours and
freshness,colous ,colours and colours
great work with imagination
excellent capture of this traditional flower carpet
amazing photo with fantastic design
Costantino

diomed (13926) 2010-10-21 15:24

Hi Paul,
an image that shows a fantastic event. A very animated scene full of colours, captured with an excellent POV with a perfect exposure, a great sharp and DOF.
Nice evening
Antonio

ruisc_pt (11590) 2010-10-26 14:17

Hello Paul, wonderful flower carpet with awesome details. Best regards, R

ikeharel (113241) 2010-11-24 20:56

Hi Paul,
Fabulous and colorful flower's carpet in midtown Brussels, within a famouse location.
Very good in contrast to the surrounding architecture.
I think "JHM"( John M) also showed one picture of same carpet.
Grand photo.
Ike

fotka (8985) 2010-12-16 10:08

Hello Paul,
It's a nice picture that shows making of the flower's carpet in progress. Brussels choose good idea to make this kind of festivity to attract locals and tourists. The location in centre of the city is great. An excellent composition, colors, light and sharpness.
Tfs and happy holidays,
Zbigniew

Schnappilic (9692) 2010-12-31 4:42

Hi Paul,

Wonderful mix of colours and holiday atmosphere.

Happy new year!

Vasa (515) 2011-01-14 16:37

Bonsoir Paul,

j'ai suivi attentivement ton serial de Portugal - que de belles images. Ici sur la Grande place j'ai mis moi aussi les pieds et je fais une collection des cartes postales sur le sujet de tapis en fleurs. Ton idee de photographier la preparation est superbe. Je suis tres content de le voir.

Amicalement

Branko

guitianmiranda (22) 2011-01-23 12:27

I've been in Brussels at least three or four times and I never got to see the famous flower carpet of Grand Place, I hope to see someday.

Best regards Paul.

Sonata11 (34119) 2012-03-26 20:06

Hello Paul,
This flower carpet is striking beautiful. Colors, sharpness, clarity , an excellent POV. Breathtaking picture of this work wonderfully, flawlessly executed. This is wondrous photo to look at. Excellent work. I love it.
All the best,
Barbara