For this week’s mobile phoneography challenge by Sally at Lens and Pens, I am posting a shot taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Amor statue from the Vanderbilt Mantelpiece is a stunning statue, over 15 feet tall. Created by August Saint Gaudens for the entryway of the Vanderbilt mansion at 5th Avenue and 57 Street, the massive mantel was flanked by twin statues of Amor (love) and Pax (Peace). An inscription welcomed the visitor: “The house at its threshold gives evidence of the master’s good will. Welcome to the guest who arrives; farewell and helpfulness to him who departs.” It still holds the record for the largest private residence built in Manhattan. However, the welcome mat wasn’t rolled out for very long. The house was demolished in 1925. Why? I don’t know. I couldn’t find an answer from a brief online search.
You’ll see that I’ve cropped and post processed this image several ways. Which one do you prefer?
Version 1: Amor with Poster Edges Filter
Amor with Poster Edges Filter.
Version 2: Amor with Topaz Filter
Amor with Topaz Dust Removal Filter.
Original Shot Taken with the Samsung Galaxy S5:
Original Image. Amor from the Vanderbilt Mantelpiece. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Complete Vanderbilt Mantelpiece
The Vanderbilt Mantelpiece. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
I’d love to hear your thoughts! And have a wonderful week, everyone.
My fellow mobile photography challengers and our intrepid leader, Sally D:
Categories: Photography
P.A. Moed 
I prefer the first version, and really find it to be more enticing in monochrome. The details are made clear and ethereal all at once, which is how history is, to be appreciated for the facts and to be interpreted at a distance. Happy Photo Challenge.
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Hi Sally. That’s an interesting observation about monochrome vis-a-vis history and detail. Thanks, as always, for your thoughts!
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🙂 I like the second picture best.
Would be very interesting to find out, why everything was demolished.
Have a very HAPPY week! 🙂
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Yes, you too, Happyface. I am so curious too why the building was demolished. I’m going to do a bit more digging to see if I can find out! Thanks for your comments.
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I like the effect of the first. Isn’t it interesting how it’s impossible to tell size from a shot like the first two? Seeing the last one puts everything into perspective, so to speak.
janet
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Absolutely, Janet. There’s no indication of scale, except for the fact that I had to look directly up to take the shot at the Metropolitan Museum. It is truly huge! Thanks so much for your feedback. 🙂
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What beautiful sculpture! I like the first two.
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Hi Maria. It is gorgeous, isn’t it? So glad you like it too! And thanks for the feedback, as always. 🙂
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I rather like the first one 🙂
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Hi Jo. Yes, I must admit that’s my favorite too! Thanks for your thoughts.
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I, too, like the first one. I like how you crop it, and the retouching is beautifully done. 🙂
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Hi Amy. Thanks so much for your feedback. 🙂 PS is a very long learning curve!!
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