Dwarfed by the Lofty Gate Photo

Photographer’s Note

Buland Darwaza or ‘The Lofty Gate’ was built in the 16th century by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar as a gateway to his newly built city of Fatehpur Sikri, some 42 Km (26 miles) from Agra.

Towering over the city up to a height of 53.63 meters, the Buland Darwaza is one of the largest gateways in the world and is also called the Gate of Magnificence. Akbar built it to celebrate his victory over Gujarat. According to legend, Akbar received a blessing in the form of the birth of his heir Jahangir after praying to the Sufi saint Sheik Salim Chisti and built his new capital in his honor. It served as the Mughal capital from 1571 to 1585. Legend also has it that Akbar was forced to shift his capital to Lahore due to a chronic shortage of water.

Buland Durwaza is the most magnificent arch of its kind among Mughal architecture in India, and the most Islamic structure in the Fatehpur Sikri complex. It reflects early Mughal design with designs such as simple ornamentation, carved verses from the Quran, and soaring arches. The entire complex reflects a mix of Hindu and Jain design as well as Islamic influences. Rising to a height of 53.63 m (175 feet), the semi-octagonal Buland Darwaza is easily spotted in the complex. It is approached by a flight of 42 stairs & visitors have to pass under its magnificent arch to enter Fatehpur Sikri. The gate is an outstanding example of Mughal architecture. It is built entirely of red and buff sandstone and decorated by carvings and inlays of black and white marble. A Persian inscription on the eastern archway of the gateway records Akbar’s conquest of the Deccan in 1601. There are thirteen smaller domed kiosks on the roof, stylized battlements, small turrets, and inlay work of black and white marble. Buland Darwaza has many inscriptions, one of which is witness to the secular mindedness of the emperor – it is the words of Jesus Christ – "The world is a bridge; pass over it; but build no house upon it. The world endures but an hour; spend it in prayer; who sees the rest? Thy greatest richest are the alms which thou has given. Know that the world is a mirror where fortune has appeared, then fled; call nothing thine that thy eyes cannot see."

Rather than take a straight shot like this, I tried to do something differently with this much photographed structure. Hope you’ll like it!

albertojr, edytungkal, bostankorkulugu, bukitgolfb301, carper, pierrefonds, josepmarin, emjleclercq, pablominto, Bluejeans, Floydian, AiresSantos, Didi, axiotea, Atousa has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

albertojr (738) 2009-04-17 5:57

I like the way you fill the frame with the only portion of the structure, i think this image is more interesting to viewer than the classic shot like you have in the workshop which most are already familiar with. Very fine architectural detail that deserves to be highlighted, well done Angshuman, very well done.

sevy (13952) 2009-04-17 6:05

Hello Angshu,

Very good idea this bottom to top point of view to put the walls and the building on the blue sky.
Moreover, the gate seems even higher like this, this effect is also increased by the people on the corner.

Yves.

npecanhuk (14600) 2009-04-17 6:07

Hello Angshuman!
That's an interesting and beautiful picture1
The low pov was a great choice for this great composition!
Sharpness is adequate to the image, exposure is correct, colors are natural and very nice!
I really like it!
TFS - Congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

sayantan20023 (164) 2009-04-17 7:26

Hi Angshuman.

Excellent perspective and good exposure, I like this perspective with blue background. Although the two people at left corner do not add to the composition and could have been left out, but I understand one cannot control others :)

Nice shooting and keep sharing.

Regards,
Sayantan Mukherjee

HimalAnda (1072) 2009-04-17 8:35

Hello Angshuman,

At first glance, I thought it was Humayun's tomb in Delhi.
Your point of view and your composition are originals and very good. That's a very beautiful picture !

Stéphane

edytungkal (4519) 2009-04-17 9:17

This one is a superb presentation and the ws's picture make us easier to undestand this historic place and for sure your pictures will added the good documentary from your country. Well done Angshu....thanks for the shots.

daniel

bostankorkulugu (33962) 2009-04-18 21:06

the pov is so cool of course angshu... the framing is a bit too tight on the left may be touching the guys but still a very nice shot... all the best... korkut

sayeed_rahman (2301) 2009-04-18 22:47

Hello Angshuman

Really an impressive composition..using the simple elements....you have produced an image that surely stands out..needless to mention the technical side of it..perfect..

Love it how youve controlled the exposure..neat !

Cheers
Sayeed

bukitgolfb301 (4939) 2009-04-19 2:38

Hello my dear Prof. Angsu

Great framework, composition and sharpness.
Wide focus lens(maybe 16mm) and f16 result in this perfect photo. Color contrast of blue and light chocolate is also vivid.

Best regards and thanks for my sharing.
Takero

carper (65598) 2009-04-19 9:51

very nice photo Anghu,
good contrast and fine light, good details, fine photo job here, well done, have a nice day.
regard jaap

Graal (58688) 2009-04-19 23:54

Hi Angshuman,
another nice presentation, an interesting informations and architecture. Good shot from the frog perspective. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

pierrefonds (26619) 2009-04-20 4:50

Hi Angshuman,

The prsence of the people has an effect of scale. The point of view from the bottom to the top is allowing us to see the details and colors of the Lofty Gate. It is also giving perspective to the photo. The nice blue sky is sending a light which is enhancing the colors of the picture. Have a nice day.

Pierre

josepmarin (34063) 2009-04-20 11:23

Hi Angshuman,
Your so low POV and the perspective are magnificent. I like the dynamism of the lines of this beautiful architecture that escape towards the blue sky.
You have had a great inspiration to create this composition.
Great work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

MarianneS (14402) 2009-04-20 13:41

Hello Angshu,
Your photo gives me vertigo!
I like this framing, it is original and well done.
The colours of this architecture, under this light, is superb.
The inclusion of some persons gives a good idea of scale.
Regards,
Marianne

emjleclercq (14494) 2009-04-20 13:42

Very impressive bottom to top view, and very rich colors. The shadows in the different niches also give a three-dimensional aspect to thee picture, which is very attractive.

All the best,

Emmanuel

jafadabret (40281) 2009-04-20 13:55

Hello Angshu.
La composition est remarquable. J'aime cette belle architecture en contre-plongée avec ce beau ciel bleu et la présence des visiteurs.
Excellent !
Jacques

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2009-04-20 23:37

Hello Angshuman,
In addition to the lights and the colours I really like the patterns and textures of this gate. Very nice perspective too.
Best wishes,
Achim

pablominto (41314) 2009-04-21 0:27

Hello Angshu,

I like the composition, that comes from this bold point of view for photographing architecture!
The result is a dynamic frame with appealing lines, and the human factor is taken care of...
Good colours and details, the blue sky works well with the colour of the building!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Bluejeans (33017) 2009-04-21 5:34

Ola Angshuman ,
Beleza de foto de ângulo de visão baixo , os detalhes de arquitectura são magnificos , gostei muito dos tons de cor de terra das paredes , bom contraste e luz, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Floydian (30970) 2009-04-21 7:48

Hello Angshu,

Creative shot, i love the angle and your pov. Including some people is essentiel and i'm glad you did here. The strong dynamic fallen lines looks great, but also the red against eh blue make this image popping out of the screen....excellent, i like this a lot.

Regards,

Henk

marietom (32076) 2009-04-21 13:05

hello Angshu,

très belle architecture, bien mise en valeur par ta composition et ton tilt.
Bonne soirée
Marie

siolaw (25830) 2009-04-22 0:46

Hi Angshu
Good framing and POV to include the visitors on the left, it gives more height to the monument and the perspective is qite interesting. Polarized colors look strong and healthy!
Greetings
Laurent

aadilj (17950) 2009-04-22 1:22

Hi Angshu, nice one...from an angle I think think off even though I sat there for a long time eating chana!! I like the hues and the massive perspective

AiresSantos (42826) 2009-04-22 2:46

Hi Angshu,
Fine POV and colours in this excellent picture of Buland Darwaza.
Well framed and done
Greetings
Aires

Waylim (11147) 2009-04-22 18:41

Hi Angshu,
This POV really accentuate the height and importance of this monument and structure. Love the contrast between the earth tone of the structure which is nice and warm against the shaphire sky. So blue, you think you can see the end of the Universe. a few people give a sense of scale and perspective. Beautiful light and colors and good composition. I like it very much. Thanks
Way

Didi (36420) 2009-04-23 9:35

Hello Anghsu
Not very simple for making a stitch of several pictures for having the whoole architecture.
Your selective tight frame is well done with interesting vertical perspective.
Best regards.

sagar (2307) 2009-04-23 11:07

Hi Angshumanda,
A very different POV of the buland darwaza. Nicely composed with the wondeful blue sky on top of it.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

axiotea (16263) 2009-04-23 22:44

Bonjour Angshu
Although the straight version gives a better idea of the size, I do prefer the tilted one which looks more original! A dynamic presentation with the good capture of the visitors and lovely colors nicely rendered.
Have a nice day
Marilyn

Atousa (3466) 2009-05-04 4:49

Salam Angshu,

A nice architectural shot with great clear details ..good colour contrast too n I like the inclusion of the persons which has made your way of framing distinct here..in Persian language Buland means tall or lofty n Darwaza means gate!..thanks for the note n WS photo.
Best regards, Atousa