Colors of Xinaliq Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another view from Xinaliq, last time I showed the process, here we may see, among other things, the result... :)

Xınalıq is an ancient Caucasian village going back to the Caucasian Albanian period, high up in the mountains of Azerbaijan. It is located just west of Quba (which is two hours from Baku) in the east of the Greater Caucasus mountains that divide Russia and the South Caucasus. Xinaliq is also the highest, most remote and isolated village in Azerbaijan and among the top highest in Caucasus. Because of its dramatic location, spectacular scenery and relative isolation, the village is considered one of Azerbaijan's premiere destinations for hikers and adventure travellers in such travel guides as Lonely Planet. As some other Caucasus villages, Xinaliq is also linguistically unique: its language, descending from the ancient language of Caucasian Albania, is spoken only by the inhabitants of this village (around 1000-1500 speakers only). The language has 77 letters and 14 grammatical cases(!), and there is even a grammar of Xinaliqi, published in Germany(!) Although the Xinaliqians speak Azeri as well, they are considered to be a different ethnicity.

Xinaliq is amongst the most ancient and still active places in the world, the history of Xinaliq is 5,000 years old. Before the conversion to Christianity of Caucasian Albania in the 3rd century, and Islam in the 7th century, the people of Xinaliq were followers of the prophet Zoroaster, who established Zoroastrianism. Because of the high altitude and remoteness of Xinaliq it managed to survive and withstand many invasions and therefore many historical sites in Xinaliq are still intact and are considered as holy places for Zoroastrianism.

dip, syd1946, BennyV, snunney, anes_lc, feather, MayaG, everlasting, PixelTerror, pboehringer, bostankorkulugu, Budapestman, capthaddock, johnfreeman, Merline, daddo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dip (12552) 2008-04-01 2:10

Hi Alexander,
beautiful and interesting image,good POV and excellent framing with the old house in the foreground,
informative note too,
Thanks for sharing,
Dimitris.

syd1946 (17869) 2008-04-01 2:11

Hello Alexnder,
Picture and note works very well...Even the informations are very interesting,the image is excellent as a capture.The point of view helps us to enjoy the perspective to the beautiful land.A different civilazation hidden somewhere in our planet!

Greetings,
Thomas

BennyV (4642) 2008-04-01 2:14

Hello Alexander,

I remember your 'process' picture (on woman's day). This certainly looks like a very interesting place to discover...arriving via the winding road in the background from between those mountains.
I appreciate your very informative note too. Thanks.

Benny

snunney (34732) 2008-04-01 2:27

Hello Alexander,
A very nice daily life composition with laundry now hung out to dry. The vertical format is well chosen and helps put everything in its context. The old house is interesting to say the least and well belongs in the rugged landscape we can see beyond it. Good natural colours and excellent clarity throughout.

molla (6881) 2008-04-01 2:35

hej Alexander
This is certainly one of Top 10 list of countrys, regions I have to visit, and your picture doesn't change that wish.
good POV. both the laundry the old house and the magnificent landscape in BG
Anders Mohlin

anes_lc (14766) 2008-04-01 5:57

such clarity ..and amazing depth ..how you manage this ?
congratulation dear
thanks sharing
anes

Nicou (44641) 2008-04-01 6:32

Hello,

mangigique image de cette vielle maison, avec le linge pendu, de belles couleurs, un format qui colle parfaitement au sujet avec la mise en valeur de ce beau ciel bleu.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

feather (49858) 2008-04-01 8:20

Your high POV works very well to show the house in its surroundings. The colourful washing on the line catches the eye. The gentle light and almost pastel tones make the image very easy on the eye. Good work
Kath

MayaG (2393) 2008-04-01 10:14

Yes, I can imagine the scenery, must be wonderful..
A lovely photo, Aleksander. The lively colours of the clothes are a nice counterpart to a bit gloomy sky and the almost graphical patterns of the mountains in the bg. Simple life, simple people...who obviously like turquoise doors!
A very nice take.
regards
Marija

everlasting (10898) 2008-04-01 12:47

Nice gentle light Alexander, the colourful washing stands out well in this daily life shot.

jonathan_hart (22570) 2008-04-02 3:42

light is well managed, good natural colours, the landscape in BG is very good looking, nice vertical framing, amazing sharpness
regards
jo

PixelTerror (86058) 2008-04-03 1:26

Privet Alexander,
A very luminous image showing the rural housing and environment of this rarely featured country, but I least I know why and how you landed there ;-)
Tebya nyeto vremia dlya Lille, 31.05 ?
Have a nice day JY

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-03 7:15

Alexander,
it seems that you really got to the most remote place of this world and not only that but in a time machine back to a time were zoroastrism was a leading form of religion. Despite thousands of years since Zoroaster it seems that this is still alive in certain places and within certain people. I once met an iranian in Switzerland that stated that he isn't an iranian, not a persian but a zoroastrian.
Peter

bostankorkulugu (33518) 2008-04-03 10:00

your note is very intereting alexander... the word "Xınalıq" sounds very turkish though, very much like the words "Kınalı" or "Kınalık"... as the azerians use the letters x and q for k, it must be the same word... anyway, this is a nice shot in vertical format and in natural colours also... the hanging clothes add life to it somehow... my compliments...

korkut

Budapestman (41686) 2008-04-03 12:45

Hi Alexander,
Suggestive daily life shot with talkative details. The composition is spectacular, clarity and colours are excellent. Note is informative, superb reportage for this place, Great! Have a nice evening
George

capthaddock (28640) 2008-04-03 17:34

Oh my, excelent documentation of a rarely visited place, far from the oil money of Baku, it looks more like an afghan village. It reminds me of the book I'm currently reading, Ab$urdistan by Gary Shteyngart, which takes place in New York, St Petersburg, and the fictional republic of Absurdvani. It's quite funny so far, this looks like Absurdvani.

barni (14501) 2008-04-08 11:10

Hello Alexander
Joli point de vue. Une image présentant bien ces cultures différentes des notre.
Regards
Christophe

johnfreeman (2220) 2008-04-14 8:33

Hi Alexander,
This is a fascinating image, it looks so remote. I like the vertical framing and the way the colourful foreground gradually gives way to the distant grey peaks and sky, which I think enhances the sensation of an island of human settlement in the midst of a harsh natural environment.
Your note is really interesting too. It sounds almost like an imaginary land invented by Borges. A language with 77 letters and 14 cases!
Very nicely composed and pin-sharp from top to bottom.
John

Merline (6574) 2008-04-15 4:37

Really interesting, Alexander, both the note and your picture which gives a great view of this place, with lots of details, well chosen POV that shows us the mountains in the background, enhancing the feeling of a lonely place...lovely colors fine-tuned. A rarely seen area, thanks for this excellent work!

Kind regards
Michèle

mattson78 (59) 2008-05-08 5:30

A very well constructed note. The picture provides an interesting perspective on this tiny Azeri town. You have truly captured an interesting slice of a unique Azeri subculture. P.O.V is great!

Craig

daddo (11324) 2008-05-10 17:01

Hi Alexander. this place you visited has a unique charm and beauty. It must be a privilege to see such places and make contact with the local folk. great shot that shows the topography and something about the lifestyle.Regards. Klaudio.