In Da Casbah Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Casbah (French) or as transliterated from Arabic Qasbah (from qasbah, قصبة, 'citadel') is specifically the citadel of Algiers and the traditional quarter clustered round it. More generally, kasbah denotes the walled citadel of many North African cities and towns. The word made its way into English from French in the late 19th century (the Oxford English Dictionary says 1895), hence its conventional English spelling. Etymologically rooted to Khaybar, an ancient city in present-day Saudi Arabia where the local Jewish population was famous for holding out against Mohammed's conversion of the area. Khaybar was famous for its fortress and in ancient Hebrew means "fortress". Khaybar then became the generator for the name Khyber Pass connoting toughness and a fortress-like environment.

In Rabat, since 1912 the capital of Morocco, the Casbah of the Oudaya is the military barracks encircled by walls with gates, built in the 16th and 17th centuries on ancient foundations.

The 1938 movie Algiers (a remake of the French film Pépé le Moko of the previous year) was most Americans' introduction to the picturesque alleys and souks of the Casbah. In 1948 a musical remake, Casbah, was released.

Another wonderful movie with a Casbah as location is "The Battle of Algiers" by the Italian filmaker Gillo Pontecorvo, a portrayal of the Algerian resistance during the Algerian War, follows in the footsteps of neorealist pioneers such as de Santis and Rossellini, employing the use of newsreel-style footage and non-professional actors and focusing primarily on the disenfranchised population that seldom receives attention from the general media. Pontecorvo was clearly reading Frantz Fanon while making The Battle of Algiers, as many of Fanon's notions are echoed in the film, though often simplified. When the film achieved mass screening in the United States, Pontecorvo received a number of awards (the Golden Lion in Venice), and was also nominated for two Academy Awards for direction and co-writing. The film has been used as a training video by government strategists as well as revolutionary groups. It has been and remains extremely popular in Algeria, providing a popular memory of the struggle for liberation.

"The Battle of Algiers" was censored in France for many years by the governement and after just one rapresentation in Paris in the 1971 it became a "ghost-movie". It's still today considered one of the most important and beautiful movie of everytime but in France is quiet impossibile to see on tv.

Partialy from Wikipedia

papagolf21, besnard, vinicio, Emile, Floydian, mvdisco, delkoo, plimrn, designsoul, john_c, axiotea, danos, andante, Ramy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Muse (31111) 2006-12-15 4:40

Hello Paolo,
Une photo qui donne envie de soleil et de vacances.
Un bon pov et cadrage au travers de cette ruelle pour donner la vue sur cette mer bleue typique aux mers du Sud.
De très jolies couleurs et un joli ciel qui diffuse une lumière agréable.
Best regards
Denise

pastadog (12821) 2006-12-15 4:42

Beautiful framing of the sea between the walls, Paolo!!. The light and dark blue strips on sea are very special. A lot of blue (sky, sea, lamp, window), appropriate for the dominant color in this picturesque Tunisian town. Rgds, Daniel

papagolf21 (57003) 2006-12-15 4:46

Bonjour, cher Paolo,
Félicitations pour cet excellent cadrage, c'est une réussite. Tout passe (sensations, beauté, ...) à travers cette composition.
Du très bon travail.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

bakes888 (18353) 2006-12-15 4:53

Hi Paulo. Great photo, I love the idea of gaining a glimpse of the scene between the houses. Nice compo and POV. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

barrufeto_77 (25957) 2006-12-15 5:22

Hi Paolo.

Nice idea with the walls as a frame. The depth is good too.

Well done!

Rgs, Oscar

besnard (31316) 2006-12-15 5:33

Bonjour Paolo
Belle composition avec un cadrage bien choisi. Paysage agréable à regarder lorsque l'on bénéficie d'un jour de grisaille.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

jinju (14265) 2006-12-15 6:00

All Im missing here is sharpness Paolo. The focus seems to be a bit soft, and I thought that this was a scan but I see its a digital file...strange. Its an attractive photo neverethless, just that I wish it was sharper as the colors here are nrilliant and youve found a very nice way to frame the sea through the buildings.

vinicio (22498) 2006-12-15 6:15

Ottima nota e foto Paolo, complimenti, una bella descrizione del posto e bella la foto con una cosi lunga prospettiva verso l'orizzonte, molto ben fatta, bravo.
Buon fine di settimana
Ciao
Vinicio

stefanocer (10416) 2006-12-15 6:30

Bella cartolina dagli splendidi colori marini e del cielo , bravo ben fatto.
Stefano.

Emile (20177) 2006-12-15 9:46

Hola Paolo.
You captured this shot with great perspective, love the different colors of the sea. Very good POV. Great composition.
Well done.
Regards.

Floydian (30970) 2006-12-15 9:49

Hi Paolo,
A very nice look through to the ocean. This vertical composition works very wel...good work.
Have a nice weekend, Henk

Rosa_d_MonteLua (1504) 2006-12-15 10:19

Saludo Paolo!
Nice white and blue composition, with a good amount of cloudy sky and the blues and whites of the house on the right, which gave this splendid effect that we can see here.
Good definition and a perfect POV. Fabulous colors, too!
Grazie e complimenti per la foto,
Rosa

carper (66108) 2006-12-15 10:38

very nice one Paolo,
the pov is great, the depth is nice, the dof is good and the quality is from a high standard, very good job Paolo.
gr. jaap

mvdisco (11709) 2006-12-15 11:09

Bonjour Paolo,
Wow! Superbe photo et belle composition (couleurs netteté, contraste et cadrage...Très jolie...Mes salutations Michel

Fis2 (46681) 2006-12-15 14:21

Witaj Paolo!
Interesting composition, wonderful sky. Good frame and colors. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

plimrn (19856) 2006-12-15 16:10

Hi Paolo,
Beautiful shot!! The walled city framing the lovely striped sea and the cloud puffs and your note changes my view of the Casbah completely. I always though of it as dark and smoly place :-)
Regards, Pat

designsoul (21394) 2006-12-15 16:50

Ciao Paolo,
I hope I get to see this one day... would love to go to that part of the world! Your shot titillates the senses with these intense tuquoises and the lovely buildings, in between which you show that vast expanse of the sea. A lovely, very classy composition with such extraordinary colours...
buona notte from ottawa
sasa

capthaddock (28640) 2006-12-16 23:38

Hi Paolo - wonderful detail, nice sky, I really like da "pregnant" window, yo! cool work, mon.

markstaples (15670) 2006-12-17 4:18

I like very much the different bands of blue in the sea which has been well framed by the houses on either side. The image respects the rule of thirds.
Best wishes
Mark

feather (50480) 2006-12-17 17:17

Well composed shot using the walls to frame the view, while they are an integral part of the image. The striped sea and wonderful sky are both very eye-catching.
Kath

john_c (24635) 2006-12-17 17:20

Hi Paolo,
An original perspective, well framed and with good depth. I like the alternating layers of light on the sea. The vertical format was well chosen here, Paolo. Very fine work...later.
John

axiotea (16355) 2006-12-19 2:28

Ciao Paolo,
A well composed image with a beautiful view and range of blue naturally framed by the casbah. Good light/shade contrasts and an informative note about the meaning of the casbah and the movie which recalled "the battle of Algiers" during the french occupation. Hopefully to see that film on TV one day.
Concerning "Pepe le Moko", I've seen many years ago, a parody of it which is called "Toto le Moko".
Cheers,
Marilyn

andante (7092) 2007-01-11 13:03

The picture is very good, as per your note lots of history have happened here. It made me curious about the movie... should rent it this weekend. The image doesn't seem to be very sharp, but the compensation between the lighted and shaded areas is very well managed. Great job!

Ciao,
Enrique

danos (33680) 2007-01-11 13:12

Hi Paolo,
nice view from The Casbah,with compo of the homes and the see.Excellent colours with lighting and shadows all over the photo.Nice and the contrast.You captured this shot with great perspective.
Regards,Danos

nika (0) 2007-01-21 19:05

Woaohh Paolo , recalls me a bit the old part of a charming little mediterranean village near Alicante , called Altea , steep slopes , white , blue , sea , chill out but in that case those blue pastried windows add an arab touch . I love the way you have placed every element in that picture with the right dose of light , shadow , colour , blue , paint , sea , sky ...I m overwhelmed by your works and it is difficult to see , choose the way of streaming right all the great sensations about your gallery , because all your pictures are really wonderful , so it deserves more time to sift inside every detail ...Touched by your gallery !!

Have a nice week !