Cigarette break Photo

Photographer’s Note

After a general view from above I show you here a scene of the employees that take care of the temple. As they take a break (at 7am!!!! the site has only been open for half an hour), have a chat, smoke a cigarette and drink tea, we feel how indiferent they are to the place that impresses every visitor. If not for everything else, the scale of the huge statues of Ramses II are enough to amaze me. Being here everyday all day long, the fascination that the employees might had one day is gone of course.

WS1 - Frontal view showing the scale bettween one of the colossi and the tiny employees at the entrance of the temple.

WS2 - View of the whole façade from a close perspective.

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About the Colossi and the Façade of the Temple:

The temple facade is dominated by four enthroned Colossi of Ramses II, whose twenty-metre height surpasses the Colossi of Memnon at Thebes (though one lost its upper half following an earthquake in 27 BC). Their feet and legs are crudely executed but the torsos and heads are finely carved, and the face of the left-hand figure is quite beautiful. Between them stand figures of the royal family, dwarfed by Ramses' knees. To the left of the headless colossus is the pharaoh's mother, Muttuy; Queen Nefertari stands on the right of the colossus; Prince Amunhirkhepshef between its legs. On the right leg of this same figure, an inscription records that Greek mercenaries participated in the Nubian campaign of the Saïte king Psammetichus II (c.590 BC).
The facade is otherwise embellished with a niche-bound statue of Re-Herakhte, holding a was sceptre and a figure of Maat. This composition is a pictorial play of words on Ramses' prenomen, User-Maat-Re, so the flanking sunk-reliefs of the king presenting the god with images of Maat actually signify Ramses honouring his deified self. Crowning the facade is a corvetto cornice surmounted by baboons worshipping the rising sun. On the sides of the colossal thrones flanking the temple entrance, twin Nile-gods entwine the heraldic papyrus and sedge around the hieroglyph "to unite". The rows of captives depicted beneath them are divided between north and south, so that Asiatics feature on the northern (right-hand) throne, Nubians on its southern (left-hand) counterpart.

Source: Rough guide to Egypt book.

saylan-cb, JanD, paura, Gerrit, feather, Cricri, lucasgalodoido, Photo65Net, bostankorkulugu, bisok, shevchenko, John_F_Kennedy, zeynepe, trekks, carper, Juntas, Sne011, robiuk, bakes888, ribeiroantonio, JCG, josepmarin, AiresSantos, Vato_Law, Benedict, Tue, xuaxo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

JanD (14606) 2008-11-26 2:21

Howdy Ricardo!
Wonderful architecture. Amazing scene. Excellent capture. Original work. Funny effect.
Regards!

bema (8619) 2008-11-26 2:34

Ola Ricardo,

woow, what a great shot, perfect capture in a brilliant composition, fantastic sharpness and colors too..
Good work,

have a nice day, regards Bernd

paura (38222) 2008-11-26 2:48

Ricardo,
Que coisa linda isso tudo aí. Os detalhes são absolutamente interessantes e a adição dos dois cidadãos ficou muito boa para apresentar a escala. Linda foto.

Abraço

Paulo

Paolo (40690) 2008-11-26 2:55

Hi Ricardo, what a good spot to have 5 minutes of relax, smoking...
fantastic view, brilliant POV and amazing tones.
ciao

Yves-triga (3348) 2008-11-26 3:04

Yes,
One more beautifull diferent shot,i like this one.
good perspective.
best regard.
Yves

Jeppo (11774) 2008-11-26 3:18

hola ricardo,

this is a pretty different and funny POV on this temple.
I like the diagonal perspective from below to emphasize the size of these giants...and the inclusion of such a normal daily life action...the guys are just relaxing and smoking in the shadow of the temple...

well done
silvio

smarcell (14257) 2008-11-26 3:39

This is a high class shot. Those one can see on National Geographic. It is not a simple picture of a monument, but it also includes much more about life in Egypt.
Really a very good work
Ciao Stefano

jasmis (50094) 2008-11-26 3:53 [Comment]

Show Comment

siamesa (12674) 2008-11-26 4:20

Bom dia Ricardo,
Parece que no momento, eles estão impressionados mesmo é com o cigarro,mas assim com eles aí temos a percepção da escala.
A imagem é maravilhosa e mostra algo da imponência do antigo império egípcio. Parabéns.
Abraços
maria

Gerrit (35593) 2008-11-26 4:40

Hi Ricardo,
excellent photo,
The POV is fantastic and the contrast between the giant statues in the sun and the workers relaxed smoking in the shade is an excellent trouvé.
Regards, gerrit

mkamionka (4248) 2008-11-26 4:54

Hi Ricardo,
How did you do that!
When I was there, there were so many tourists that I couldn't take a shot without them!
M

feather (49858) 2008-11-26 5:53

It is so interesting to see such close detail on this trilogy of images. For instance where the top layer has worn away we can see bricks have been used. Also the scale is incredible, considering the technology available at the time. Ramses' foot is bigger than a person. Are they also having tea with their cigarettes - from the little caskets thay have with them? Keep them coming Ric.
Kath

jmdias (19053) 2008-11-26 6:08

ricardo

esta ficou bem legal, dando senso de escala e um pov não muito comum, as pessoas do lugar adicionam mais interesse ao todo. é verdade, grande parte da beleza de um lugar se deve ao fator surpresa. não por acaso me apaixono às vezes por lugares que sequer recebem uma linha de elogio dos guias turísticos, a supresa faz grande parte da graça de estar vivo. o cotidiano pode anestesiar o nosso senso estético.

abraços

jorge

dta (4848) 2008-11-26 6:15

Hello Ricardo ,
Very nice and original picture . The main interest here , are the men smoking under this fabulous statues , and the combination of these two elements is very well captured .
Bravo
Denis

batalay (20806) 2008-11-26 7:44

Hello Ricardo,

I like very much the vantage point you have chosen, since it shows the iconic temple from an unusual angle — a corner (it is almost always presented straight on) — the scale is revealed by the fellahin puffing their cigarettes, as well as the human interest aspect. Bravo!

Um abraço,

Bulent

Waylim (10741) 2008-11-26 9:24

Ola Ricardo,
This is an excellent shot, I like the incusion of the two local guys taking a break, under this impressive architecture and work of art, giving it the anthentic essence as well as to provide a scale, it really enhanced the grandness of the statues. Excellent details of everything. good colors, well managed on the light and shadow, and a good verticle composition to finish it off. Thanks Ricardo.
Way

hatti52 (12654) 2008-11-26 9:53

Ola Ricardo,
great one
excellent POV,perspective and light management
regards

Cricri (43030) 2008-11-26 10:17

Hola Ric
Il est vrai que ce temple a une hauteur impressionnante le cadrage serré et les deux personnes trés relax accentue son volume, belles aussi celle en WS
Good evening for you
cricri

lucasgalodoido (16583) 2008-11-26 10:20

Olá Ricardo,
impressionante como os homens ficam insgnificantes diante da estátua. E parecem sossegados também fumando seu cigarrinho, tal como os caipiras daqui de Minas, hehe. Boas cores na foto.
Parabéns e Abraço

Photo65Net (43084) 2008-11-26 10:41

Hello Ricardo,
Wonderful colors here !
Great job too including the people, very nice image,
Have a nice day,
JB.

edal (6567) 2008-11-26 11:29

Ola Ricardo,
Your photos are just outstanding! All of your workshops give the best idea about the greatness of the ancient statues. Excellent sharpness and colors. A true favorite!
Abracos,
Anton

bostankorkulugu (33508) 2008-11-26 11:29

dont tell me you were out for smoking also!... i may have to check your lungs when you come to istanbul then... and it is very soon isnt it? :DDD... cool, i cant wait for it... bring the whole family please!>:P... zeynep will take care of them while we go out for photo sessions>:))))...

i like how the statues have diminuated the guys smoking in this one ric... the light is good too...

cheers... krkt... the frozen one...

bisok (244) 2008-11-26 18:05

Hello Ricardo

This is the unusual place in Egipt with four enthroned Colossi of Ramses II ...
One of the most known place in Egipt but not often visited.
Your glance with your camera is unusual too. The comparison of small living creatures with twenty-metre height Colossi of Ramses II is very accurate.
That's done very well, Ricardo. You have a good eye :-))

Thanks for sharing and very good Photographer's note.

Greetings
Mirek

gneufeld (15159) 2008-11-26 18:55

Hi Ricardo,
This is amazing and thanks for sharing several additional views in WS. Your perspective, colors, and details are exceptional and one really gets the sense of magnitude here. Great view and TFS. Gerald

shevchenko (9858) 2008-11-26 20:33

Hi Ricardo,
What a magnificient architecture reveal of humans business, humans built it, used it, abandoned it, discovered it, maintain it and visit it. Good pov of three photos to show it from different angle, detail to see carving on the wall, thanks for sharing.
Ally

emka (21179) 2008-11-27 0:58

Hi Ric, Creative photo. Very touristic place but shown in an original way. Good capture of the daily life. It is funny that they have a break so early but I cannot imagine how one works in such a heat. I would be also very lazy! The statues are really amazing. great shot!

Hot regards

Malgorzata

tober (3944) 2008-11-27 2:37

Hello Ricardo, both this and the previous one are really splendid photos. In this photo, thanks to your inclusion of those two tea- breakers we can easily feel the hugeness of the temple. In such a weather, having a tea-break on the shadowed part of the temple should be enjoyable. I envy them :) (Not for the cigarettes but for the tea)

Best regards,

Tolga

John_F_Kennedy (31167) 2008-11-27 3:33

Good perspective of the temple and the sky, good composition too and colours. The low POV is very nice. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

zeynepe (9342) 2008-11-27 4:17

Giants and dwarfs, I wonder when the world will come in our size... I want to live in a world without giants and dwarfs. Everyone should be the same and I know that it is a dream!!!
Amazing POV&impressive composition ,
Congrats Ric,
Zeynep

trekks (14262) 2008-11-27 5:30

Hi Ricardo

The sculpture is impressive from this viewpoint even with crackline showing. I like your presentation especially showing the sharp detail and texture of the stone carvings, and a great touch to shoot the smokers having a break.

It is quite amazing to think that this can be few thousand years old and we are still able to see such heritage today.

Selamat

tfs, bill

carper (64484) 2008-11-27 9:07

a nice one Ricardo,
good composition, people are so little when you look to thisone, very nice photojob here, have a nice evening.
regard jaap

Bluejeans (31993) 2008-11-27 10:42

Oi amigo ,
Ficou magnifico estes dois homens encostados nesta parede a fazer uma pausa com Kit-Kat :) , dão uma bela noção de escala o monumento e gigante , gostei muito do contraste entre o amarelo e ao azul ,parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

gilou530 (34999) 2008-11-27 13:17

salut ricardo
un coté incongru et dérisoire devant ce temple si célébre, une lumiére forte trés bien maitrisée, beau travail
amitiés
gilbert

Sne011 (3099) 2008-11-27 13:47

Ola Ricardo,
Great photo!! What more to say.. I guess it's all said by now with so many comments, praises to your photo :)
Excellent point of view to show how huge the temple is and and I like the scene with those guys on their cigarette break :)
Parabéns!
Sneza

Juntas (3135) 2008-11-27 14:04

Olá Ricardo. Ora aí está um sítio onde eu gostava de ir. è uma arquitectura colossal que nos deve fazer sentir pequeninos. Bem caçados os artistas a fumar e se calhar às escondidas. Perspectiva boa com o céu a aliviar a pressão lá em cima. Parabéns. Paulo

chris04stop (2267) 2008-11-27 14:07

Big Ricardo! The contrast between the incredible monumentality of the statues and the little, little men is wonderful.Bravissimo! And...oh... thanks for this pic bout me. I am very grateful. Because the girl on the left side that's me. Of course many, many centuries ago: when I lived in Egypt at the time of Ramses. One of my wonderful previous lifes!
Ciao,
Anna Paola

robiuk (10763) 2008-11-27 15:41

he-he-he, not only a ciggy-break, but a tea-break as well!
Can't blame them - it's like most of us: after
some time we all become numb to the local beauty that
surrounds us, no matter where we live.
I like your unusual take on Abu Simbel, Ric.
And I'd like to come back to it one day...
Robi

bakes888 (18055) 2008-11-27 23:38

Hi Ricardo. Nice blend of daily life and the awe inspiring. Great colours, nice contrast between the warm statues and blue sky. The wide angle view gives prominence to the statues. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

ribeiroantonio (21839) 2008-11-28 16:55

Ao olhar para estas imagens fico cheio de "inveja". Mas, não será por muito mais tempo. Acho que me convenceste a ir ao Egipto.
Esta cena de "smoko" (é a expressão australiana para os intervalos da manhã e da tarde) está magnífica.
António

bantonbuju (48490) 2008-11-28 22:44

right in that place you should have been standing with your camera... and imagine this - forget about these two fellows, imagine a big close-up of a bypasser or someone talking to someone else, or making a strange gesture, or holding something in his/her hand... right in front of your erected camera, with everything you already have in the frame.... that would be really the killer...

although current version is for sure very attractive...

bw, j.

JCG (25137) 2008-11-29 7:32

Hi Ricardo,

A new series of photographs on this temple of beautiful quality once more and interesting. These stone characters are really impressive. I like much the visual angles that you have choose to emphasize each part of this temple. The morning light is quite appreciable also gives a pleasant color to the stone. Well done Ricardo, cheer and thank you for the note.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

npecanhuk (13595) 2008-11-29 9:05

Olá Ricardo!
Aqui nessa sua foto a nitidez e o controle da luminosidade são duas qualidades técnicas que se destacam bastante!
Porém, o que penso ser o ponto alto (ainda mais) dessa sua imagem é a escolha do formato vertical para incluir os seres humanos em contraste com a "obra de arte", nos dando sua exata dimensão e proporcionando-nos o pensar sobre o eterno x fugaz, o grandioso x mesquinho, dentre outras questões!
Muito boa mesmo! É de encher os olhos!
Parabéns, abraços e até mais!
Neyvan

josepmarin (33769) 2008-11-29 9:07

Olá Ricardo,
esta escena es divertida, y por lo que veo, tampoco allí se permite fumar, por lo que estos hombres han de salir al exterior a hacer una pausa-cigarrillo.
Bien vista esta escena, y muy bien integrada en un conjunto impresionante, con las enormes y colosales estatuas de los faraones, que nos muestran su gran tamaño precisamente gracias s la presencia de los fumadores.
La composición es muy buena, y el contrapicado está perfecto para este encuadre.
Gran trabajo.
Un abrazo,
Josep

AiresSantos (41820) 2008-11-30 5:04

Ola Ric
Magnifica esta perspectiva com uma profundidade de campo excepcional. A qualidade da foto e excelente e o manuseamento da luz tambem.
Este é um lugar fantastico muito bem retratado aqui
Um abraco e bom fim de semana
Aires

jmcl (13721) 2008-11-30 12:03

Hi Ricardo,

The sense of scale and the absurd feeling of their nonchalant attitude about where they are is just striking ... a superimposition of times .. beautiful color .. thoughtful and striking image. take care, John

Vato_Law (11660) 2008-11-30 13:42

Olá Ricardo,
Mais uma muito interessante desta viagem ao Egipto.
Ainda ontem estava a ver no NG uma serie sobre o Egipto, mais precisamente sobre as grandes piramides, e esta é uma daquelas civilizações que não param de me fascinar, pelo que esta foto e a quantidade de detalhes que nos mostras só poderiam ser do meu agrado.
Pena que tal como estes dois as autoridades egipcias não mostrem o fascinio que a maior parte de nós tem por estas construções miticas, pois são do melhor que podemos ver pelo mundo fora (na minha opinião).
Esta luz da manhã que captaste assenta que nem uma luva nestas gigantescas estátuas.
Um abraço.
paulo

Benedict (7062) 2008-12-01 19:41

marhaba ricardo,
sura jamillah jiddan!
Benedict

Angshu (33533) 2008-12-02 19:41

Ola Ric
Does look like Gulliver & the liliputs. Superb low (no other choice) POV from the angle & without those two smokers this would not have been the same picture as it is now. What's in that glass...tea I presume & what are those tool boxes for? Both your WS posts are spectacular, but I'm sure you have 000s of such beauties in store for us. Excellent my friend!
Best Regards
Angshu

Tue (25608) 2008-12-03 6:17

Hi Ricardo,
You chose a fantastic POV to show these huge statues. The sunlight brings them out wonderfully too with their warm colours. Excellent inclusion of the two employees too, both as a piece of daily life as well as to show the scale of this place. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

stego (22350) 2008-12-04 2:39

Olá Ricardo,
Mais uma excelente "riclopada" - um magnífico POV de um lugar mundialmente famoso com um toque muito especial de "daily life". Um chazinho, um cigarrito, dois dedos de conversa, de onde é que eu conheço isto, se não fossem as roupas, o chá e o monumento? :D
Os WS's tb.estão estupendos.
Um abraço, José.

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-12-19 2:18

H Ricardo,
What a beautiful shot wiht great compositions and very nice light,good POV.
Well done!
TFS/Regards

xuaxo (5683) 2008-12-24 10:40

Olá Ricardo
Apesar da sugestão do Jerzy ser de considerar, esta foto está impressionante e satisfaz-me pelo que mostra e como mostra. Gosto mais do que as dos WS (que também estão boas).
F.

banyanman (7716) 2009-01-18 3:33

Hi Ricardo. I've been away from TE for a while (work commitments!) but just trying to catch up with a few critiques over the holidat break. Great composition here - the inclusion of the workers in the foreground gives this life and well as scale. And wonderful colours and saturation in the early morning light. I am in Luxor at the moment (have retreated to an Internet Cafe for an hour in the heat of the middle of the day - and to get away from all the touts hassling me on the street!) and after seeing your photographs from Aswan will try and fit in a trip down there too. Cheers . . . David

giorgimer (20990) 2009-02-06 4:34

Olà Ric,

excellent idea and moment capture. I like your idea, the contrast with the huge temple is great! Good light managing.

TFS

Gio