{"id":3596,"date":"2013-08-25T05:57:05","date_gmt":"2013-08-25T09:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=3596"},"modified":"2013-08-25T18:48:14","modified_gmt":"2013-08-25T22:48:14","slug":"magnificent-modern-railway-station-at-liege-belgium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/magnificent-modern-railway-station-at-liege-belgium\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnificent Modern Railway Station at Liege, Belgium."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Calatrava\u2019s Railway Masterpiece.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Calatrava's<\/a>
Calatrava’s magnificent railway station at Liege is one of the finest modern structures in Europe. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To my total surprise and delight, Liege (Li\u00e8ge-Guillemins)\u00a0has been completely transformed\u00a0since my last visit \u00a0in August of 1998\u2014 when I paused to change trains from Bonn, Germany to Charleroi. I remember a dreary, tired and uninspired railway station and it was this facility I was expecting.<\/p>\n

I admit, the new station had completely escaped my notice until that moment when I got off the train\u00a0last week. I must have missed the memos, the parades and fireworks that certainly must have announced the opening of such a spectacular railway facility back in September 2009.<\/p>\n

\"Calatrava<\/a>
Liege station in August 2013. This graceful canopy was opened in September 2009. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The station largely consists of modern vaulted canopy spanning five railway platforms. Designed by prolific Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava<\/a>\u00a0it is constructed of steel, concrete and glass, and makes for a very positive railway experience.<\/p>\n

The canopy softens the sun while maintaining a bright environment to watch and photograph the passage of trains. Exposures must be made carefully, because the large white structure tends to fool camera meters in the same way of a bright snowy day.<\/p>\n

I found it necessary to overexpose (add more light) by about 2\/3s of a stop above what the camera meter had recommended.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, Calatrava also designed two Dublin bridges over the Liffey; the Joyce Bridge near Heuston Station<\/a>, and the Samuel Becket Bridge in the Docklands, both of which I\u2019ve often photographed.<\/p>\n

\"Liege<\/a>
The new SNCB Station at Liege is a total contrast with the dreary postwar facility it replaced. LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Calatrava<\/a>
This memorizing structure compels photography from every angle. Yet, exposures must be calculated carefully or the proliferation of white and skylight can result in an underexposed (dark) image). LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Calatrava<\/a>
When exposing for trains under the canopy, I found it necessary to manually override the camera meter by dialing in a 2\/3s stop over exposure compensation or make manual equivalent based on the in-camera meter. Canon EOS \u00a07D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Calatrava<\/a>
I had just half an hour to wander around this amazing station. I was impressed, and hope to return some evening to photograph it in a post sunset glow. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Li\u00e8ge-Guillemins\"<\/a>
SNCB InerCity train arriving at Li\u00e8ge-Guillemins. LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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