The Solar Boat Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Solar Boat

South of the Great Pyramid at Giza is the pod-shaped Solar Barque (Boat) Museum. This holds a full-size ancient cedar-wood Egyptian boat discovered in 1954, lying in a pit beside the pyramid. Experts spent 14 years putting the 1200 pieces together again using only ancient Egyptian materials of wooden pegs and grass rope.

It is called the solar boat because it resembles the vessels seen in tomb paintings in which the sun-god makes his daily trip across the heavens. Marks on the boat suggest that it had been sailed before being buried. It may have served to bring the mummy of the dead Pharoah Khufu across the Nile to the valley temple and then buried at the pyramid to provide transport for the pharaoh in the next world.

The boat is encased in a glass museum to protect it from the elements. Visitors to the museum are not allowed to wear shoes inside to also help with the process of protection. There are plans to move the boat to the nearby Great Museum of Egypt when it opens in 2009.

The Solar Barque may be one of the oldest boats in existence.

mumek, danasam, belido, asajernigan, mafegan, bakes888, gunbud, jmdias, wag, jaywalker, Atousa, sacimar, windosil, avene, lucasgalodoido has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mumek (17506) 2008-06-07 18:10

Good evening Betty!
Beautiful capture of the museum's interior with an ancient Egyptian boat.Thanks for very interesting and informative note.
best regards
ziggy

danasam (1057) 2008-06-07 23:46

Hi Betty, this is very good photo, the wood colors matches the surrounding area. Excellent POV especially you've included a human presents to show the actual size of this boat. useful note too :) very well done, keep it up.
Sam.

belido (16813) 2008-06-08 4:32

Hi Betty,

superb interior shot. I know how hard is to manage light in those situations but here you prove it's possible to make it perfect. I mean: excellent exposure! Interesting note as well. Great job!
Regards,
Carlos

asajernigan (14284) 2008-06-08 5:17

Betty,
Excellent shot of this fascinating boat. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. The angle of the shot produces nice depth and direction.
TFS,
Asa

batalay (21193) 2008-06-08 12:34

Hi Betty,

I had seen photos (as well as miniature replicas of the solar boat), but this is the first time that I've had the chance to see an image of the actual site. Your choice of vantage point reveals the tastefully designed hanger, and it shows the structure of the boat as well. The boat is in extraordinarily good shape, considering its age (4500 years) — but that dry Egyptian sand has helped to preserve the wood extremely well. The note is superb also.

Warm regards,

Bulent

[2]

jrj (34779) 2008-06-09 1:57

Interesting capture from this museum Betty with a good pov to present the old boat. Perfect light and soft colours very good for the overall impression.

mafegan (4483) 2008-06-10 6:40

Hi Betty
Thank you for posting this photo of the Solar Boat and telling its story. A very sharp and clear image. I did not go into this museum and so thank you for sharing this photo. Marlene

bakes888 (18327) 2008-06-15 1:45

Hi Betty. Its impressive what some will do to preserve the past while others neglect or worse destroy that link to times past. Great photo. Good sharpness and good handling of light. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

cak (3900) 2008-06-18 19:21

ship is 1400 old years.a good historical presentation. thank u

gunbud (28153) 2008-06-20 17:59

Hi Betty,
This one is a real beauty seen in brilliant light that bring out all its lovely intricate details. Great lines especially the very prominent bow. Clear colors and excellent sharpness to this lovely historic piece.
Regards, Tom

jmdias (19837) 2008-06-21 17:09

betty

a very rare boat. I liked the way you show it. The light in this place is very nice too. Shapes of the new building and the ancient boat are very nice together.

Hugs

jorge

wag (651) 2008-06-25 5:24

Hello Betty, you made good perspective, also good idea to compare the dimension of boat vs. man, tfs and for nice note.
Peter

jaywalker (12302) 2008-07-07 10:40

Hi Betty, A fascinating old boat, the construction looks excellent & must of been to survive all these years, the restaurateurs have made a great job, your POV was well chosen too show us a good part of the boat, I would like to have seen you step slightly to the left & try to get more in, however your photo has captured some nice detail, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

Atousa (3466) 2008-07-09 1:33

Salam Betty,
Very interesting museum n shot..the pov is great n the colours are lovely..TFS
All the best, Atousa

sacimar (7686) 2008-07-09 18:34

Hi Betty,

Looking at your pics I've found this one, I like it, the perspective is great, good details and interesting note, thanks for sharing,

Regards

Sergio

giorgimer (21478) 2008-08-24 23:55

Hi Betty,

very fascinating subject. Good POV, it well shows its imponence. Good light managing despite it's an indoor shot.

TFS

Gio

avene (11136) 2008-11-09 19:11

hi Betty,
thanks for the informative note, I learned something new today. I also like the photo, it's not easy to find a creative and simple enough composition indoors, but I think you have succeeded quite well, the lines and patterns are fascinating, and the lone person adds a sense of scale. I'd crop a little from the left though, there are some red and distractive bits and pieces :) but that's a minor thing, the photo is very nice.

regards,
Kristine

lucasgalodoido (16789) 2008-12-03 5:13

Hi Betty,
very interesting this museum and the olds boats, principally this of wood. Also good lightning in your capture, qith good soft tones.
Regards,
Lucas