Nefertari Temple Photo

Photographer’s Note

We are now at Abu Simbel, not inside the main temple dedicated to Ramses II but inside the secondary temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari. The time is around 5.30 a.m. and the sun is about to rise in a matter of minutes. The interior of the temple has been restored and is well lit but photography is not allowed inside. Some stories even say that if you are caught you may be taken to the police station and may have to pay a fine of 100.- Egyptian Pounds per photo.
But there was only one attendant, and he looked nice. So what if I asked the permission to take only one picture as a " Souvenir " ? He accepted and turned his back, because there was nobody at that moment and he must have thought " So what after all ? "
I was happy that the carvings depicting the battle of Kadesh against the Hittites cam out well: I had to be fast and I took only two pictures.

parbo, siolaw, ymrk, ChrysK, AYDIN, zeynepe, broglia, quillo, tober, TGULUMSER, rlrad, amazon, salvator, bostankorkulugu, MarieAnge has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

siolaw (25720) 2008-12-30 5:36

Hi Izzet,
A funny story and good luck for us to see a well taken photo of that place, with the guard at the door, turning a blind eye! Perfect light control and nice colors all over.
Have an excellent 2009!
Laurent

ChrysK (495) 2008-12-30 5:54

Hello Izzet,
How lucky for you to have such an accomodating attendant! The reproduction of the light and wall paintings is very well done. Great persepctive and good balance to the compostion. The man facing out onto the desert adds interest.
Regards,
Chrystyna

yquem46 (7820) 2008-12-30 5:57

Yes Izzet it's true I've seen people in the Kings Valley have their camera confiscated inside a tomb where it was strictly forbidden. Won't have been possible in the main temple in Abou Simbel. Anyway a nice picture well exposed which was certainly not easy with the artificial light inside and the light in the door liable to be overexposed
Bravo and happy 2009

zeynepe (9342) 2008-12-30 6:42

Hi Dear Izzet Bey,
Thanks to the perfect exposure ,the lighting, your very creative angle,the splendid heiroglyphics on the wall and the man at the door really makes the composition unique.
I would like to wish a happy New Year to you :D
Zeynep

glasscafe (824) 2008-12-30 7:19

Hi Izzet!

wooww! one amazing and spectacular photo with a very good POV, but the better is the light is simply fantastic, congratulations!

Merry Christmas from Madrid!
Alberto

broglia (3341) 2008-12-30 7:22

Great little story Izzet, and I'm very glad you were able to bring us this wonderful shot. As you said, the walls are nicely lit to help bring out the detail. And I especially like the way you've included the generous attendant, with head slightly inclined, obviously admiring the sunrise.

Best wishes for 2009 my friend! Roberto

quillo (7112) 2008-12-30 7:30

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Hello Chief, an image with good colors and a perfect control of the interior and exterior light.
A photo that shows with detail the nice and elegant drawings of the Egyptian Temple.

Feliz año nuevo.... un abrazo.

-

brandstaetter (13910) 2008-12-30 7:46

Hi Izzet,
you mastered one of the most difficult things in photography...to have the right exposure indoors and outdoors in the same shot.
Besides this, the image formation with the proportions of the walls (the column is placed perfectly) and the person in the door is outstanding.
Compliments, Chris

tober (3938) 2008-12-30 8:43

Merhaba İzzet Bey, birkaç gündür fotoğraflara ayrıntılı bakamamıştım. Son yükledikleriniz gibi bu da son derecede sıradışı ve Mısır'ın gizemini yansıtan bir fotoğraf.

Bana kalırsa Mısır makamları size bir liyakat nişanı borçlu. Zira bu tür fotoğraflar onların kendi tanıtım broşürlerinde, posterlerinde bile yok.

Saygılar, Tolga

jonathan_hart (22570) 2008-12-30 9:15

the angle and the framing are very well thought
what a welcomed silhouette outside !
jc

TGULUMSER (12478) 2008-12-30 9:29

Hello Izzet Hocam,
I remember again every minute of my Egypt trip that I had two years ago by your shots. I remember that the sunrise around these temples are really amazing and the light conditions inside are very hard. You reflected all these beauties perfectly as usual,
Thanks a lot for these views, for uploading them in TE,
Best regards,
Tulay

alibasarir (14301) 2008-12-30 9:39

merhaba izzet bey
mükemmel bir bakış açısı ve harika bir görüntü.bir iç mekan geniş açıdan ancak bu kadar güzel yansıtılabilir.özellikle ışığın etkisi ve renkler nefis bir etki yaratmış.ayrıca kapıda duran modelin katkısıda çok güzel olmuş elinize sağlık.
yeni yılınızı kutlar sağlıklı ve mutlu daha nice yıllar dilerim.
selamlar
Ali

zanzi (4472) 2008-12-30 10:39

HI Izzet
Wonderful light management and superb colors.
All the vertical lines are perfectly straight. The horizon through the window however looks a bit weird.
Bravo
Chris

pauloog (6354) 2008-12-30 11:53

Hello Izzet,
Light well managed in difficult conditions. An interesting view brought to life by the exterior view and the man.
regards,
Paul

paprika-jancsi (1948) 2008-12-30 13:18

wonderful shot that belongs in a magazine. beautifully composed with a contrasting focal point and the arab guy definitely makes it.
Bravo, Jancsi

amazon (10577) 2008-12-30 15:03

en onemlisi los ortami bu kadar net bir sekilde belgelerken dis goruntunu patlamadan kadraja dahil edilmesi sanirim,
ellerinze saglik,
mutlu seneler,
iffet

rlrad (1187) 2008-12-30 15:04 [Comment]

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bostankorkulugu (33482) 2008-12-31 23:48

profesyonelliğin farkını ortaya koyan şahane bir fotoğraf bu izzet bey... sanat eseri gerçekten... herşeyin gönlünüzce olduğu nefis bir yıl diliyorum size tekrar... sevgiler, selamlar...

korkut

parbo (10966) 2009-01-01 14:57

Dear Master,

You solved the problem and jumped inside very cleverly. Your way using splendid lights to show rich figures on ancient walls are just speechless. Wonderful effect of wide angle lens and your creative way adding the guard with outside view is spectacular. Congratulations.

I wish you and your family a healthy, prosperous and happy new year.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

salvator (18763) 2009-01-03 0:32

Hello Izzet Bey,
Absolutely superb. The golden colors of the walls, the man's semi-silouette at the door and the composition and sharpness, the details allover look wonderful, superb.
Best personal regards. Salvator.

tetixxx (1919) 2009-01-04 2:39

merhaba izzet hocam,
bakış açınızla harika bir fotoğraf..elinize emeğinize sağlık..TE yi bırakacağınızı okumuştum fakat sizden yeni fooğraflar görmek güzel..
saygılar
said