It is the quaint ornamental detail such as this that gives historical character to the architecture of Bruges. Instead of photographing a whole building or group of buildings, I used a medium telephoto lens to reach out and bring these symbolic embellishments together in a coherent, expressive way. I narrowed my composition down to three rectangular posts and one triangular spire, supporting four characteristic details -- two weathervanes, an ornamental sculpture and a heraldic beast. The morning light created strong contrasts and deep shadows. I chose a vertical format to extend the height of these embellishments as much as possible. My decision to place the heraldic beast within the triangular spire behind it was an important one. It gives this image a consistent diagonal flow of movement beginning in the lower left hand corner and carrying the eye through to the upper right hand corner. The image gradually soars upwards with whimsy, grace, and elegance, a study in historical character, expressed largely through detail.