Hogwarts Open Days, a photo from Durham, England

Photographer's Note

Some people dont like my titles.
This is not Hogwarts, this is Durham Castle! they would say.
No Harry Potter movie was even filmed here! they would add.
Its not similar at all! they would argue.
Never mind them.

I am recently a bit into Harry Potter stories. My daughter, who is 7, reads them quite fast, she is at the fifth book. It is actually quite amazing. In Poland being that young, she would be in her fist school year. She would start to read and write. In the UK, she already reads thick books and she enjoys it. On the other hand, I remember that I was taught by my mother to read and write long before I went to school as well.

Any Harry Potter fan would be proud to live, like I do, in the North East England. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which was attended by Harry Potter is a fictional place, but for the movie filming purposes, it is amalgam of several locations. Two big chunks are in the North East England. Alnwick Castle is probably the most notable one. I have showed it here already. The other one is Durham Cathedral. If you closely inspect Hogwarts School building, you will see that it has two symmetrical towers, which strikingly resemble Durham Cathedral. They just have added turrets on top to make them look slightly different. Indeed a lot of Harry Potter scenes were recorded in or around Durham Cathedral. Across a lovely square from Durham Cathedral you can admire a charming Durham Castle which currently houses Durham University. I have heard it is one of the best universities in the country.

These two weeks there is an event across England called Heritage Open Days. Many places normally closed are open or those with the paid entry are free to visit. Last Sunday, in spite of a dreadful weather I visited this charming castle.

This photo presents Bishop Bek's Great Hall of Durham Castle, where students and staff of the college eat their meals.

jean113, Fis2, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, ikeharel, gervaso, PiotrF, Royaldevon, PaulVDV, alvaraalto, mcmtanyel, sacimar, adramad, ChrisJ, kasianowak oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (0) 2019-09-18 10:02

Hello Mariusz,
Another topclass interior capture/entry in your gallery.
Perfect layout and sharpness.
Many good and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Silvio1953 (220495) 2019-09-18 10:35

Ciao Mariusz, great perspective on fantastic interior, excellent exposure, good clarity, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

lousat (138551) 2019-09-18 11:25

Hi Mariusz.Even in my region there is such an event this month, over 200 old villas mostly private, are open to the public for free. You took advantage of this by showing us this truly magnificent hall from the castle, great capture with perspective and perfect details ... and anyway your titles I like very much, at least they are different and original. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Tue (91488) 2019-09-18 11:55

Hello Mariusz,
Such a beautiful view of the great hall, it looks so very English and reminds me of some of the colleges I visited in Oxford as well, although the halls there were a bit smaller, but were just as characteristic. Excellent vertical composition, the long table is well placed in the centre too.
Lars

jean113 (27585) 2019-09-18 12:15

Hello Mariusz, an interesting note to accompany your excellent picture of the Great Hall.
Your point of view seems to emphasise the length of the room.
The light is well managed. I like that there are some people present.
Thanks for sharing, regards Jean.

Fis2 (169635) 2019-09-18 12:36

Czesc Mariusz!
Odwiedziles ciekawe wnetrze.
Ladne witraze i sufit.
Dobry kadr i perspektywa.
Kolory i swiatlo robia atmosfere tego obrazu.
Jadac w takiej sali...
Milego wieczoru.
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

Gerrit (62042) 2019-09-18 15:21

Hello Mriusz,
I see why you took this title. The long table with the red chIrs could have the decor for the films indeed. Fine perspective and well handled light.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

Nicou (193806) 2019-09-18 20:42

Hello

quelle vue et perspective quelle salle intérieur avec ces chaises rouges ces tables de bois tout la profondeur voulue la découvert du patrimoine un une belle choses ŕ découvrir ces personnes en fond et quels lustres quei ressortent et leur lumičre superbe
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

ifege (46851) 2019-09-18 22:15

Hi Mariusz
Good to see you're young daughter reading so much although by book 5 the concepts are getting a bit older (I have 2 grandsons who are fans).
Anyway a good bit of fun with this grand castle hall - a good interior photo.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (115451) 2019-09-18 22:24

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
and a happy new day
I like the symmetry of this photo
with vivid colors very well composed
and interesting decoration
welldone
regards
Costantino

papagolf21 (152605) 2019-09-18 23:25

Bonjour, cher Mariusz,
Cela me rappelle mes années de pension au collčge avec des tables moins importantes, une cantine en quelque sorte, avec interdiction de parler !
Cette salle est impressionnante avec ces tables possédant des sičges qui semblent confortables !
Amitiés.
Philippe

Energysavingelk (7816) 2019-09-19 0:12

Dear Mariusz!

I always wonder if the outer circumstances (buildings for instance) under which somebody grows up will influence his or her attitudes.

Concretely: are you prone to become a brexiteer by habitual dining in such a hall? :-)

Regards
Sven

gervaso (28177) 2019-09-20 8:20

Hello, Mariusz!

I find the title very creative for the comparison of this place with the settings of the movies! It does have something to do with that! And you captured this interior with very nice perspective and light management! Wonderful composition!

PiotrF (54246) 2019-09-20 22:59

Cześć Mariusz
Swiety symetryczny kadr z tego wnetrza. Dzięki za przybliżenie obiektów z tego popularnego filmu.
Z książką pamiętam szał gdy ukazywały się kolejne tomy / lub gdy po ukazaniu się wersji angielskiej gdzieś w internecie pokazywały się polskie tłumaczenia : na "wyścigi" po fragmencie aby było szybciej :)
Z tym pisaneim/czytaniem już tak jest, że wiek 7 lat jest umowną granicą. Niektrzy dobrze tą sztukę opanowują już przed tym wiekiem innym sprawia spore kłopoty długo po :)
Ciekawa prezentacja
pozdrawiam
Piotr

Royaldevon (85606) 2019-09-22 1:53

Hello Mariusz,

Children and adults alike, enjoy Harry Potter.
He grows up in an exciting, spell bounded society, where the most incredible things occur but ultimately, good beats evil! It's a great way to excite the imagination and encourage youngsters to read!

Your photograph is well composed, creating an excellent sense of perspective, leading ultimately to the focal point of the long, arched window.
The light is good and the colours natural.
Though the figures are not essential to the scene, they animate and confirm the scale.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

PaulVDV (62770) 2019-09-22 8:56

Hello Mariusz,
A very nice and clear interior shot with good light management.
Not easy to shoot the stained glass windows together with an interior.
Excellent depth and composition.
Best regards, Paul

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-09-22 9:45

Hello Mariusz
Beautiful story well illustrated with this beautiful photo.
Although Harry Potter may never have been here, Durham Castle could easily have been selected as a film location.
Excellent photographed,
Have a good week, groet Rob

pajaran (114821) 2019-09-22 11:23

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep enterijer i stolovo, lepi detalji. Lepi lusteri.
Lepo pokazano sa dobrom perpsktivom.
Zelim vam lepu i mirnu noc, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-09-22 13:05

Hello Mariusz, that castle hall is grandiose. The walls are decorated with stained glasses and painted portraits. The room can receive about hundred people. Fine colors, good image quality and excellent depth, regards.

carlo62 (81265) 2019-09-22 13:18

Ciao Mariusz
non sono un fan di Harry Potter, ma, ovviamente, conosco il personaggio e ho visto due film.
Bellissima prospettiva e ottima esposizione.
Saluti
Carlo

abmdsudi (95869) 2019-09-22 23:40

Hi Mariusz
An engaging dynamic interior compo, immense depth and perspective all leads to the pretty architecture. The catchy long row of chairs and tables sit very well on the eye as strong anchor points to make it so appealing rendering more punch and stand out. Human touch is always a plus point! Enticing capture superbly exposed, Congrats
Best regards

mcmtanyel (67555) 2019-09-23 20:52

Hello Mariusz,
It looks similar enough to me and the title is just fine. I can tell this is a little narrower than Hogwarts, but the resemblance is there. The chairs look a little too modern, though. 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

sacimar (38173) 2019-09-24 8:24

Hello Mariusz,

good title for this photo, I couldn´t visit the castle when I went to Durham so I see what I missed... this is an impressive place, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

adramad (72532) 2019-09-24 12:49

Hi Mariusz.
A very interesting note, which introduces us to the vision of a beautiful room from which you show us a great perspective, an elegant construction and with a slightly cold air, according to teaching in times past and especially in England.
Magnificent management of brightness and sharpness.
Well seen and done. I like it.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

ChrisJ (171146) 2019-09-25 21:19

Hello Mariusz,

It looks more like a convention centre here than a cathedral or a castle. It's great that it is open to the public whatever it might resemble. Good sharpness, perspective and repetition of the chairs. Tfs!

jmdias (114196) 2019-10-01 16:23

mariusz

I never read or watched HP movies. anyway I visited many of the scenarios they used. I became upset in this town because they prohibited photos inside the cathedral and because the tower was being restored. nice the view of this traditional hall, in fact looks like scenarios of that histories.

take care

jorge

ikeharel (112395) 2019-10-06 1:13

Hello Mariusz,
The three rows of red-velvet chairs gave extended DOF towards the far side of the large hall.
Good use of the outside light and the illuminations combined, and fine clear details.
I am not a great fan of HP tales, but interesting assey to read.
Have a nice sunday,
Ike

kasianowak (17672) 2020-01-05 11:47

Czesc Mariusz
Mowisz, ze sa miejsca w Londynie, ktorych jeszcze nie miales okazji odwiedzic. Ja moge to samo powiedziec o wielu atrakcyjnych miastach na polnoc od stolicy. Najpierw nie mialam pieniedzy, potem, przez wiele lat, czasu, a teraz, od referendum 2016, juz nawet ochoty na podroze po UK. Durham widzialam tylko z okna pociagu do Jorku. Imponujaca katedra.
Piekne zdjecie wnetrza, swietnie naswietlone i skomponowane. Bardzo podoba mi sie ta symetria. Nigdy tam nie bylam, ale czuje sie, ze bardzo dobrze oddales atmosfere tego zamku.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia