Praying... Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin

Lost in the middle of the narrow streets in the medina of Fez, you can find one of the treasures of the city and also one of the world's most beautiful places of worship, the Mosque of al-qarawiyyin, of the 10th century, the greater Islamic sanctuary of magreb, one of the largest mosque in Africa, and also, one of the world's oldest universities.

Here you can see a view through one of the lateral halls towards the courtyard, where you can see it in the background. In the middle of it, there is the [ ablutions fountain], where Muslim people wash themselves before going to say.

This mosque has always the doors open, so you can look inside, but you are not able to go in if you do not belong to the Muslim religion, so, I did this photo from the street, trying to don’t bother nor disturb these men.

Note:
As Miguel has asked me, I add that I did it without flash, just the lower light of the street reflected in the entrance of the mosque, and the natural light from the background, in the courtyard.

singuanti, P-S-I-G, capthaddock, coco, anakin, quantabeh, Coyotyto, niphredil76 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

devimeuxbe (55865) 2005-07-01 16:10

hI jAUME
Very nice atmosphere and great light. Your composition give a nice perspective.
Very nice work.
Bertrand

papacornbinder (35) 2005-07-01 16:21

a glimpse of another culture. and a unique perspective with this view.

markgong (2840) 2005-07-01 16:36

A bit too much of the tarp in the forground I'm afraid. It would be nice to see a more traditional composition from this photo to show the fine arches. Not only do it bring balance to the photo, but also it can help frame the subject in the back. You can either shoot from a lower angle or push the lens back and shoot a bit wider, either way, I think the result would be nice.

Emile (19947) 2005-07-01 18:18

Very interesting picture Jaume.
Nice composition, good lighting and sharpness.
Good work. Thank you for sharing.

singuanti (15240) 2005-07-01 23:51

Hi Jaume. As always it’s nice to see a new post from you. You have captured the people in provocative and interesting poses. The only thing I'd do differently is include the top of the arch and lose some foreground if needed. Beautiful shot Jaume.

P-S-I-G (24482) 2005-07-02 2:25

Hi Jaume,
I enjoy the door of the mosque. I think it's a good photo in this conditions : not disturb the these men. Good work. Amicalement.
Fabrice

MiguelP (14324) 2005-07-02 4:23

Esta foto reproduce una atmósfera muy del lugar, lo que uno siempre imagina, viéndola encuentras pie para empezar historias fantásticas y no tan fantásticas. Has controlado la luz muy bien en la parte del pasillo, aunque la sobrexposición del fondo no me molesta. Me alegra que no utilizaras el flash (¿no tiene flash, no?) Bueno Jaume, te dejo que tengo comida TErciana. Cuídate.

CliffW (2310) 2005-07-02 12:36

Jaume, I rather like the immediacy of the shot, with the tilt and even the crop (mostly). I do think a little off the foreground would do best, just barely below the man on the near right. I too often have trouble raising the lens at a subject in an intimate moment but I think this came out pretty well. Like the far figure and the glow off of the mats.

coco (27820) 2005-07-03 7:38

Hola, Jaume.
Me gusta mucho esta foto. Desde la composición vertical (reforzada por toda la gente que aparece en la foto) hasta la luz y el color (gracias al no usar el flash en la foto).
Además que la imagen es de una nitidez muy alta.
Sí, me gusta. Tanto técnicamente, como por la naturalidad que veo.

capthaddock (28640) 2005-07-03 12:53

Hi Jaume - very atmospheric and timeless scene, the arrangement of people and the succession of arches is excellent. The darkness/brightness does not bother me, but I agree with others that it would be better to shoot a bit higher to get the farthest arch in its entirety.

anakin (2775) 2005-07-04 17:25

Ummm que paza nen :p
Que tal mani, un toma algo oscura pero un fiel retrato de la vida cotidiana del lugar, buena perpsectiva con la cual nos adentras a este lugar prohibido :o
mi mas sincero
well done mani

erdna (5348) 2005-07-04 20:57

Very nice photo> The gradual change of light from the inside to the outside is nicely handled. Good shot.

Andre'

kinginexile (2440) 2005-07-04 21:15

The red rectangle in the image is a great touch of color in a very monochrome image. Wonderful composition out of a limited and a forced choice, still very expressive in its understatedness.

quantabeh (5203) 2005-07-07 15:18

hi Jaume,
it's nicely incorporated the people into the foreground. I like you have managed to do that, and also the use of the natural light to shoot this. I must say, it has come out really nice.
cheers.

Coyotyto (1299) 2005-07-08 10:00

Hola Jaume !
Not easy to perform without entering and with that harsh light in the back. But I really like the result you had, especially this guy sitting on the light. Very mystical connotations !

A nice picture of the interior of this beautiful mosque, Well done!

Saludos,
Youssef.

niphredil76 (686) 2008-02-13 12:30

Beautiful shot Jaume!
The background is a bit overexposed, but it's a interesting composition, the reflections on the floor are great and the perspective of the arches is beautiful. Furthermore is a wonderful subject, I think.
You're note is great! History, habits and technique. Tanks