Guarding the city Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is my contribution to the Pyramids of Egypt. No image of the too photographed monuments, though (there are too many in the gallery). Instead I show you the view from the Pyramids (the Great Pyramid of Cheops is about 100m from the guard in the direction he's pointing at).

A Guard of the Giza Pyramids gives orders from his faithful Camel. As you can see here, the outskirts of Giza city are very close to the Pyramids which was rather disapointing. Far from being isolated in the desert as carefully angled photos suggest, they rise just beyond the dormitory buildings and its infinite sattelite dishes.

Also during the time I was there, hords of touts and tourists contributed to ruin my expectations or any mystic idea I could have of these famous Pyramids.
What is experienced in place can be so diferent from what reads in book guides:

"Of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World, only the Pyramids of Giza have withstood the ravages of time. The Great Pyramid of Cheops has inspired more learned and crackpot speculation than any monument on earth. For millions of people, the Giza Pyramids embody antiquity and mystery."

From Rough Guide to Egypt, November 2005.

delic, Scharan, ChrisJ, Tue, Gerrit, Jonas_Schmitt, japiey, Photo65Net, TeresaT, syd1946, rodgerg, danos, paura, Cricri, xuaxo, stego, lucasgalodoido, ribeiroantonio, AiresSantos, Emile, JCG, belido, kiks, josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Paolo (40445) 2008-06-09 3:12

Beautiful and funny one with that 2 different levels in the picture! excellent quality, depth of field and brilliant composition.
thnaks, ciao

ChrisJ (65367) 2008-06-09 3:17

Ola Ricardo

I love the camel & guard in the fg, which transform an ordinary shot of the city in the bg, into something special. Tfs!

carper (60991) 2008-06-09 3:20

a very nice one Ricard,
fantastic composition, goodm pov and marvelous dof, well seen and good photojob, have a good day my friend.
gr. jaap

zeynepe (9173) 2008-06-09 3:27

Hi Ricardo,
This is what I call "captured at the right time, the right place" .
The model with the camel covers the unpleasant view of Giza.
Congrats,
Zeynep

smarcell (12407) 2008-06-09 3:28

Interesting and rather funny contrast between the came;l and the jungle of buildings and antennas, flattener together by the tele lens view.
A good composition
Stefano

Tue (25367) 2008-06-09 3:32

Hi Ricardo,
I find this an excellent photo and I really like the idea. The guard on his camel is well placed in the foreground, a little off-centred. The slightly hazy background with the city is great too with a great repetition of all the satellite dishes. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

delkoo (31658) 2008-06-09 4:31

hi ricardo
spectacular shot, the picture speaks itself, funny and timeless.
well done and well seen
didier

Gerrit (33056) 2008-06-09 4:43

Hi Ricaro,
original indeed. We've police on horses; this is something else. The satellites are also a great topic.
Regards, gerrit

wolf38 (11029) 2008-06-09 6:07

Hello Ricardo. A good and worth seeing picture for TE. The picture contains much information. Outstanding. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2008-06-09 7:36

Hello Ricardo!
Very nice picture, what a great scene. Just the man sitting on his Camel and in the background these interesting buildings.
Very well done!
Jonas

NMaverick (0) 2008-06-09 9:28

Hi Ricardo, I can understand the reason for not photographing the much photographed monuments and thanks for this view from the pyramids. I would concentrate in the details ON the pyramids if I had the chance, if you would ask me.
TFS
Nick

japiey (9453) 2008-06-09 10:41

Hi Ricardo,

Great concept, and worked well, visually...
Superb !!
The task is so clear in frame.
Well done.
All the best, dear friend.

jp

scalerman (24228) 2008-06-09 11:10

Ricardo: this is a cool shot for many reasons - the camel-cop of course, but the geometric domiciles behind add to the contrast you've caught here. Full green. c

Photo65Net (43078) 2008-06-09 11:23

Ricardo,
Nice compo.
I like how you included the FG in front of the city which seems so busy.
Regards,
JB.

emka (17061) 2008-06-09 11:49

Ola Ricardo,

Indeed, often is this situation, you go somewhere, to the very known place but there are too many photos already. and sometimes the expectations differ from the reality. Nevertheless, it is amusing and good photo. I like this policeman on the camel. the dormitory buildings are rather ugly. Regards

Malgorzarta

TeresaT (10727) 2008-06-09 13:20

Olá Ricardo,
Muito boa esta foto do guarda e do camelo com a cidade como pano de fundo.
Mais uma vez a dominante são as parabólicas e esta cor de deserto que resulta muito bem nas fotos.
Lamento informar mas na tua próxima incursão ao deserto, no dia 14, não terás oportunidade de fotografar camelos só gaivotas ;-)
Beijinhos
Teresa

syd1946 (17549) 2008-06-09 14:52

Hello Ricardo,
Looks like he is the sheriff of the city which looks so interesting,so attractive in my opinion with the him in your frame!The guard of a city that seems to watch television so much :)

many wishes,
Thomas

Scharan (13929) 2008-06-09 18:10

Olá Ricardo

Uma imagem muito original, ótima foto.
Muito boa composição, cores e luz.
Parabéns!
GA
Vera

cepekdong (3668) 2008-06-09 23:28

hey

hehheheh, a police officer on a camel. we only have them on horses ! i like the bg and the sharp object in the front

well done

daniel

delic (6735) 2008-06-09 23:38

Mystery is hard to find these days, Ricardo. Still, you came back with this rather original shot. Great catch. Regards,
Hakan

Angshu (30896) 2008-06-10 0:27

Ola Ricardo
Where are the pyramids? This is an interesting capture & I like the levels so clearly visible here. The guard & his camel sharp & in focus with the BG hazy, which makes the guard stand out clear. Very interesting compo. & so very different view from the land of pyramids. Good work!
Friendly Regards
Angshu

bantonbuju (47448) 2008-06-10 1:23

nice one...
i think that f/4.xxx is an ideal setting for this type of photos... city behind makes a great pattern-background...
pretty good!
bw, j.

rodgerg (17572) 2008-06-10 1:49

Olà Ricardo,

Superb this vew with a great depth of field thnks this man and this camel. A very insterstong photo with a interesting notice. Good work
Regards,
Roger

danos (27886) 2008-06-10 3:40

Olá Ricardo,
nice the presence of the policeman on his 'conveyance',that is showing the direction to someone.I like this confusion of antennas in the sky of Cairo that create an attractive scene.I have seen policemen with their camel, in the Pyramids of Giza in my previous visit in this area...Well done my friend.

Regards,Danos

paura (33137) 2008-06-10 4:50

Ricardo,
O guardo à camelo e a eonrme quantidade de parabólicas fazem um contraste incrível. Linda foto.

Abraço

Paulo

Stepan (27163) 2008-06-10 10:50

I was surprised to understand the pyramids was actually in the city. I expected them to be lost in the desert, with silence, magic... And you remember me that sas sensastions, and you show us the "real" life... I do like that.
Stéphane

Cricri (38422) 2008-06-10 11:06

ola Ricardo,
Ce gardien me rappelle ma visite auprés des pyramides, c'est une belle scéne que tu a obtenue devant la ville sous une forte chaleur
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

xuaxo (4759) 2008-06-10 11:32

Olá Ricardo
Excelente foto do sítio das pirâmides. É o tipo de imagem que eu procuro quando se trata de um local tão fotografado (conhecido?).
Realmente eu também tinha ideia que as pirâmides eram no meio do deserto. Fiquei com curiosidade e fui ver na vista de satélite do Google (clica aqui), apesar da tua foto já não deixar dúvidas.
Um abraço
F

coco (25650) 2008-06-10 12:08

Hi Ricardo.

Well, you must know we don't have all the great pyramids from Egypt. One of the them, a big one and also very old, disappeared due politics matters.

But, that's not the question: again a good and smart photo. The composition is good and the DOF is fantastic.

Well done.

stego (21486) 2008-06-10 13:09

Olá Ricardo,
Muito bem apanhada, esta foto inesperada das... pirâmides.... Na sua feiura, acentuada pelo "castanho sujo" e pelo ar mal acabado de alguns prédios, até que o bairro constitui um padrão de fundo interessante para o guarda no seu camelo branco, que se destacam bem pela cores e pelo DOF.
Se por um lado perceba a tua desilusão (que eu talvez não tenha sentido tanto por as minhas expectativas de tirar muito prazer de uma visita em rebanho serem quase nulas), parece-me que estás a ser ou foste muito pessimista. Ou dito de outra forma, não é inevitável ter multidões de melgas e turistas num local tão popular num país do 3º mundo? Vou fazer papel de advogado do diabo, pois no fundo concordo, e muito, contigo, mas se queres que te diga, estava à espera de pior no que toca ao urbanismo à volta, pois algumas notícias que às vezes vêm a lume davam a entender que a coisa seria ainda pior, pois se desse lado as casas estão "quase em cima das pirâmides" (ainda há uns 200 metros...), do outro lado "ainda" está (estava?) tudo vazio, embora me parecesse muito preocupante um bairro enorme descrito como "de luxo" que estava a crescer a umas centenas de metros à esquerda deste PdV.
Um abraço, José.

vincz (19031) 2008-06-10 13:36

He he great image, a bit funny with the guard on the camel right in front of the huge city with all the dishes on the roofs.

lucasgalodoido (14231) 2008-06-10 14:11

Olá Ricardo,
bem interessante essa imagem, ver um policial andando a camelo chega a ser cômico. Impressionante a quantidade de antenas porabólicas na cidade também.
Parabéns e Abraço!

gilou530 (31861) 2008-06-10 14:34

salut ricardo
des antennes de tele en fond et un sujet au premier plan qui flashe bien excellent cadrage bravo
amitiés
giblert

pboehringer (768) 2008-06-10 21:35

Ricardo,
I was once there too and had similar feelings as you desvribe it in your note. For decades I was dreaming of once beeing there and once I was at the place the deception was tremendous. I went to the King's Chamber and instead of a contemplative and silent moment some teenagers did exactly the contraty and ruined that unique moment ...
Great alternative shot to underline the 'modernity' in which the pyramids are placed and that there is no mystic at all.
Peter

ribeiroantonio (20449) 2008-06-11 0:28

O facto de as casas estarem encostadas às pirâmides eu já sabia mas pensava que havia mais espaço em redor. Enfim, é o progresso!!!
A foto, está novamente estupenda com o polícia e o camelo bem destacados sobre um fundo com muita "neblina".
António

AiresSantos (35827) 2008-06-11 0:38

Ola Ricardo
Uma vista muito interessante da cidade com destaque para o Policia a Camelo :)
Gosto do baixo DOF e do enquadramento. Boa nota informativa
Um abraço Amigo
Aires

sacavem (7315) 2008-06-11 7:41

Olá Ricardo,

Com uma cidade assim tão bem guardada e patrulhada os turistas certamente se sentirão em segurança :)!?
Diria que é um bom apanhado bem mais interessante do que habitualmente postam "as pirâmides".O f/7 utilizado provocou um desfoque propositado(?)se sim ainda bem porque criou um segundo plano para lá do super guarda.
Filipe

Emile (19038) 2008-06-11 12:48

Hola Ricardo.
Excellent shot with the guard and camel off center in perfect sharpness and the wonderful blurred city of Giza. Very well captured. Very good idea with superb results.
Well done.
Best regards.

isabela_sor (39766) 2008-06-11 12:58 [Comment]

Show Comment +

pablominto (35973) 2008-06-13 0:57

Hello Ricardo,

Something tells me they watch a lot of TV..!
Interesting contrast between the old mean of communication in the front and the 2008 version dotted all over the roofs...
Great sense of depth!

Greetings,
Pablo -

JCG (22703) 2008-06-14 1:17

Hi Ricardo,

It is a true forest of satellite antennas which I see behind this man and his mounting !!! I like much the contrast here which gives an extraordinary effect of relief. Good management of the light too. Interesting glance, thank you Ricardo.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

belido (13371) 2008-06-14 6:12

Olá Ricardo,

um belo flagrante do cotidiano de Giza, com o guarda acenando. O fundo com a particular arquitetura faz um belíssimo pano de fundo. Uma imagem de cores suaves e iluminção balanceada. Ótimo trabalho!
Abraço,
Carlos

kiks (5334) 2008-06-19 1:22

Hello Ricardo, i can imagine how diapoitend you were with the proximity of te city by the piramides. I have never been there and Know the place only from TV and photo's. I remenber my disapointing when i look at a documentaire that show how close the city was and how crouwded with tourists!
I love your composition that in combination with the note show's the contrasts of this place.
Best regards
KIKs

Bluejeans (27444) 2008-06-20 9:50

Oi Ricardo
Que fantástica foto deste policia a camelo , incrível a quantidade de antenas parabólicas deve ser um bom negocio no Egipto ,bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

josepmarin (31437) 2008-06-26 12:34

Olá Ricardo,
esta escena es buena, tiene un gran efecto gráfico. Has conseguido destacar este policía en su camello sobre un escenario urbano un poco caótico, lleno de parabólicas, y con un buen efecto de degradado por tu buen trabajo de control de la profundidad de campo.
El resultado tiene una buena luminosidad y un gran grafismo.
Bien vista, y bien hecha, amigo.
Un abrazo,
Josep

jmdias (15499) 2008-07-05 17:24

ricardo

o camelo pode até estar debaixo dele mas aquela farda de cor preta deve fritar um ser humano no calor do deserto. Belo flagrante dos suburbios que cercam as pirâmides. É, a gente ouve falar que a cidade rodeia os monumentos mas as fotos que a gente vê as mostram sempre de uma maneira a esconder isso. Como já dirreram um dia, uma foto é uma meia verdade ou uma mentira

abraços

jorge

giorgimer (17508) 2008-11-14 6:19

Hi Ric,

great idea! Not the "usual" sand dunes, but an enlived city behind. Good depth by the slightly hazy BG.

TFS

Gio