Water village Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is Kampong Ayer, the Water Village of Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei on northern Borneo. The picture was taken from a minaret of the Ali Saifuddin-mosque, the only mosque where I've gone to the top of the minaret with an air-conditioned elevator.
In a workshop you can see a view from down below.
These pictures from 1976 were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

mafegan, saxo042, fanni, macondo, pastadog, noborders, Deepforest, mikolaj_kawa, hispic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mafegan (4093) 2008-08-24 1:45

Hello Gert
Another good scan. Quite a bizarre sight with the contrasting architecture. I am wondering how this scene looks today. TFS, Marlene

saxo042 (15428) 2008-08-24 1:55

Hej Gert,
Fine and interesting photo with many details. I get the impression that the foreground water is at a higher level than the background, but it might be an illusion. Nice boat anyway.
Hälsningar
Gunnar

fanni (8733) 2008-08-24 2:10

Hello Gert,
it's like "the water world"! interesting perspective! roofs, roofs, roofs....
Thank you for the workshop photo: it also gives interesting additional information... to complete the impression :) No roads - just wooden boards!
thank you, and best regards,
Elena

nirvana73 (8598) 2008-08-24 4:03

Hello Gert
great place
good shot was taken from a minaret
good POV and composition
thanks for sharing and explanations
regards
Ozhan

macondo (13063) 2008-08-24 4:28

Hi Gert.
Excellent scanning job to show us this interesting village and boat-like 'island'. It's quite a panorama. It does seem like the water in the foreground is higher. I believe there is enough oil money in Brunei to accomplish any kind of engineering feat. Yet the homes look very modest, if not poor. A good upload from 'long ago'.
Regards,
Andrew

Kielia (8367) 2008-08-24 5:10

Hej Gert,
thanks for this impression of the water village. I have recently studied the photos taken by Aloysius (aloyho) and the comparison is really amazing! I like the colours of this excellent scan and the management of the light is great! My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

pastadog (12821) 2008-08-24 6:58

Hi Gert - I didn't know about this place, and it looks strange, unusual, fascinating, so thanks for sharing... Generally good quality in the scan, maybe the sky area a little strange... as for the compo I esp. like the wonderful structure on the water (probably a temple) and the reflection... and that intriguing causeway that seems to go all the way up to the minaret on the bottom... regards, Daniel

[workshop] [compare] +

noborders (14199) 2008-08-24 8:06

Absolutely incredible, I guess that there is much more luxury there now... I was working as a tour guide in nearby Sarawak and heard some amazing tales from that place ; the sort of Chinese boat fantasy is fun and at the back, the maze of narrow alleys on stilts connecting the various little houses with corrugated iron must have been dangerous at night (better not to be drunk !)
I'd like to see a photo from the same minaret taken nowadays, your had found an ideal POV !
Very interesting like all your photos,
TFS,
Cath.

molla (6883) 2008-08-24 22:15

hej Gert,
It is something about those S-E Asian towns and willage that always makes me longing for them, the thick humid air, the corrugated sheet metal and the low key intence, would be interesting to se this view today in this one of the worlds richest countrys.
Anders

kschanna (2632) 2008-08-25 5:56

Hello Gert,

The architecture is unique, where the muslim art from the middle east meets the truly eastern art. This perspective is very impressive.

Thanks for sharim
Kamran

Deepforest (8813) 2008-08-26 14:56

Hi Gert,
Brunei is one of of my future destinations and dreams... Fantastic view and good point of view. This water settlement looks so amazing and unique for me... Good composition and nice colours. Good quality.
Best regards,
Andrzej

mikolaj_kawa (29738) 2008-08-28 0:50

Hello Gert! Fantastic place. Good perspective. Very good capture. Wonderful effect. Good luck!

scroller (2883) 2008-08-29 12:57

Hej Gert a great view over this water village. The calm sea in the bottom creates a super reflection!
Hälsar
/Stefan

mikeo (12113) 2008-09-03 1:26

Hello Gert,

Superb work with scanning. Quality is really good and if the date of taking this shot was not given I would never say it is dated so long ago...
The view is great, so exotic and well framed.
TFS,
Greetings
Mikeo

horatiuTT (4566) 2008-09-22 5:26

wow,this is quite a view,it looks like an asiatic Venice :D.
The tones are also very original.
Regards,
Horatiu

hispic (7399) 2008-09-29 2:27

Hello Gert,
Remarkable journalistic shot. This shot brought the contrast between the gorgeous ceremonial ship and the humble water village into sharp relief. Strange clouds floating in the sky soften this contrast.
Have a nice day, Hisashi

asl (246) 2009-05-20 6:38