Photos: Earth >> Asia >> India >> North >> Delhi >> Jama Masjid

Register

  << Previous Next >>

Taking Flight


Taking Flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Angshuman Chatterjee (Angshu) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4789 W: 166 N: 7332] (23852)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-23
Categories: Nature, Architecture
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT 36 - 432mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Mosques around the world (II) (Asia), Historical Monuments of Delhi [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-04 8:11
Viewed: 465
Points: 82
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Built of Red-stone, Jama Masjid, also known as Masjid - e - Jahanuma, is the largest mosque in India. The splendid mosque was built by Shahjahan in 1656 in the typical Mughal style with two minarets and three domes. The three onion shaped domes are made of white marble and are inlaid with stripes of black slate. Though Shah Jahan has the credit of building a number of mosques in Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Lahore, the Jama Masjid is by far the best and an outstanding symbol of Mughal architectural brilliance in India.

The architect of this magnificent mosque was Ustad Khalil. This great mosque of Old Delhi is both the largest in India and the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees.

The mosque is also home to a big flock of pigeons. Devotees scatter food, mainly grams & grains in the courtyard, which attracts the pigeons. Flat pottery bowls filled with water are also placed for these birds.

The pigeons peck on the grams, and then, as if driven by the movement of an invisible baton of an orchestra conductor, take flight in unison. Gracefully rising to the air, the flock flew in a sweeping curve as they soared around the Southern minaret and the domes of the mosque, before coming back to the same place again. A delightful and graceful sight....

Here I tried to capture the multilayered flight of pigeons against a backdrop of the Southern minaret, the arched entrance covered with marble and one of the marble domes. Note also the pigeons sitting on the dome...they appear like small dots.

Sanderson-Brown, Paolo, axiotea, edytungkal, ribeiroantonio, siolaw, pboehringer, robertosalguero, papagolf21, pablominto, John_F_Kennedy, bakes888, plimrn, kiwi_explorer, pierrefonds, leo61, ramesh_lalwani, josepmarin, emjleclercq, patdeph, vinicio, jhm, noborders, adores, jmdaoudal, Felip has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To everlasting: Your shot of Jama MasjidAngshu 1 07-06 01:50
To Stepan: Come in August..we'll definitely meetAngshu 3 07-06 00:43
To Sanderson-Brown: Thanks Paul for the WSAngshu 1 07-04 08:28
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Angshuman,
Great shot, really good sharpness and focus on the birds!
All the colours in the photo blend well.
I did a small workshop for I thought it could be slightly more colourful with a small touchup. Hope you dont mind.
Many Regards
Paul

  • Great 
  • Paolo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4701 W: 146 N: 9010] (39613)
  • [2007-07-04 8:18]

Hi Angshuman, excellent one with a perfect exposure to catpure all that pigeons with the Mosque in the back.
excellent shot...it should be took in Venice!
thanks, ciao

Hi Angshuman, What a very well captured photo, the timing is excellent & the detail first class, superb light & brilliant colours, wonderfully composed, kind regards Wilson.

Hi Angshu
I like the way you have captured the pigeons creating a kind of pattern in front of the impressive mosque. Very nice architectural details with great sharpness, colors and a good framing. The blue sari is an eye catcher and adds a touch of color.
Cheers
Marilyn

  • Great 
  • partha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1488 W: 85 N: 1293] (12832)
  • [2007-07-04 9:53]

Hi Angshuman ,
Photographs with full of joy.Excellent selection of shot and the flying birds give wonderful effect here.
Regards.
Partha

Hello Angshuman,
This is a fine shot! Although obviously a lot of movement, your shot is sharp and clear. I love the colours as well. It is a very busy picture, but it works well!
kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • jasmis Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2849 W: 611 N: 3031] (36627)
  • [2007-07-04 10:56]

Fine scenery amazing moment to push the shutter.
Regards.

I thought this was going to be good from the thumbnail and I am not disappointed. I love the way you have managed to freeze the pigeons in flight without too much motion blur to spoil the lovely architecture behind. You have created a 3D appearance with the background as sharp as the pigeons. Very good work
Kath.

Hi Angshu - for some reason this reminds me of San Marco piazza in Venice, it's probably the pigeons and the domes, nice architecture, the frame full of birds makes the shot work.

hello Angshu
sometimes we can see on TE photos with a lot of birds, but it's chaotic, not in this one as we can see the pigeons all flying in the same direction, with the beautiful BG it's a very good looking composition, light & colours are good, good timing ;)
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • Gerrit Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4025 W: 85 N: 4868] (23801)
  • [2007-07-04 16:46]

Hi Angshu,
very well framed pictue in pleasant colours. The subject is very strong.
Regards,. gerrit

Hello Angshuman,
It's a great moment to capture the pigeons's flight, The Jama Masjid architecture as background looks beautiful, maybe you have a full image of the masjid. Great job, Angshu. tfs

greetings
daniel

It is a fantastic sense of life and movement in this shot. The birds are very sharp and the f8 & 1/400 worked very well to freeze the moment. Well done.
Antonio

  • Great 
  • siolaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3801 W: 393 N: 6242] (21390)
  • [2007-07-04 19:39]

Hi Angshu
I like the tight framing, concentrating more on the flight of pigeons, than on the monument itself, still with a good view at it... Colors and sharpness are fine... A pleasant image
Laurent

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4629 W: 120 N: 429] (40717)
  • [2007-07-04 23:34]

Hi Angshuman,
good shot, great view with pigeons during the fly, interesting architecture in BG and Your note. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

The architecture in India is beautiful. I find so many different styles by looking at pictures of this great country. Your picture shows a very nice daily scene. The pigeons flying on a plaza against the fine details of the mosque on the back add a nice touch to the image. Nice light and colours. Thanks Angshu.


Roberto

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Apparemment, il n'y a pas que Rome, Paris et autres grandes villes où les pigeons s'en donnent à coeur joie.
Cette envolée de volatiles valorise davantage l'ensemble de la composition, les édifices prennent une autre dimension.
Félicitations.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Hello Angshu,
I wonder why pigeons have adapted so well to city life, as I know no other birds have managed that!
A fine capture with pleasant motion blur, well framed with good colours and details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

A great architectural photo! I like the POV and the contrast of colours and styles!
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Angshuman. Great photo. The colours give this shot a “hand painted B&W photo” look. Well timed and composed. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3605 W: 226 N: 4778] (15209)
  • [2007-07-05 2:29]

Hi Angshu,
good work to capture detail in both the flurry of pigeons and the dome. Everytime I try this on or the other is too blurry. HLJ, Pat

  • Great 
  • faubry Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3504 W: 352 N: 4203] (27199)
  • [2007-07-05 2:37]

hello Angshuman, very beautiful shot,superb focus on birds,i lke Mosque on the back,nice details,
great picture
francine

Hi Angshuman,
That is a well timed shot ... brilliantly captured. I like the overall dynamism of this photo. Well captured ... excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

Hi Angshuman,

A good POV of the pidgeons taking off and of the buildings, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Dear Angshu,
Beautiful impression, really fascinating moment. Composition is excellent, perfect timing. I like the spectacular and decorative details in the background. Full of life and creative work, Congratulations. Have a nice day
George

  • Great 
  • leo61 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3560 W: 316 N: 6987] (29738)
  • [2007-07-05 4:25]

Hi Angshu!
A great Jama Masjid photo.A nice view at the big dome and the pidgeons give a great effect.Good sharpness and fine details at the mosque.
Regards,Leo

Hi Angshuman
Pigeons have become part of Jama Masjid courtyard.Lovely shot with red stone background.TFS
Ramesh

Angshuman,
I love this shot a lot and all the pigeons, people and arches reminds me a lot of a very similar scene at the most well known Piazza San Marco in Venice. It could be the the indian counterpart of this more than romantic place.
TFS, Peter

Hi Angshuman,
the thumbnail of your photo, at first sight, has seemed me that he was of the Piazza di San Marco in Venezia. When opening the image I have seen that the architecture is different, and that I was mistaken.
But I like the photo, the doves raising the flight in the middle of people create a great dynamic effect.
Beautiful photo, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

Very nice view of this flight of pigeons in front of the minaret. Nice colors, good sharpness, but perhaps a little tilt on the left.

All the best,

Emmanuel

  • Great 
  • Stepan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4872 W: 93 N: 3789] (24858)
  • [2007-07-05 22:53]
  • [+]

Unusual crop where everything is cut : the mosque, the walkers, the pigeons... Makes it strange and I'm interested in thinking at such a choice. Thanks for that...
Stéphane
PS : I should be there in August. Would be fun to meet !

  • Great 
  • prumod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1143 W: 149 N: 297] (8223)
  • [2007-07-05 23:58]

hi angshu.....
it's a great shot... i'll remember you always for this... here is doha also an old masjid is with full of free pegions... i thought to make shot of them....
congrats for a nice one....
greetings...

Hi Angshi, I had to think of my first morning in Delhi seeping in the atmosphere at the Jama Masjid, trying to beat off jetlag, you may remember my upload. The flight of pigeons layers the frame nicely for you.

hello Angshuman
I like very much this tight view on this part of the mosque.I like this flight of pigeons,with a great sharpness,it's wonderful!The colors of the people are the same than the colors of the mosque,except one blue sari.It's really nice!
best regards.
Pascale

Beautiful fly of pigeons, Angshu, this maybe also Venice of some other famous city in the world, also beautiful the mosque, its architecture is really nice, compliments.
Ciao
Vinicio

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12338 W: 246 N: 16219] (64846)
  • [2007-07-07 0:38]

Hi Angshu,

It's chaotic in every city the doves, but u make a very well picture with in background the dome and to the right the entry with the lovely decorations, very well done. TFS.

Good weekend,
John

Interesting view, with architecture, people and animals competing for our attention... The movement of the doves is lovely,
TFS,
Cath.

  • Great 
  • crckt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1341 W: 68 N: 1268] (6435)
  • [2007-07-11 5:44]

Hi Angshumanda,
The flight of the pigeons is wonderful to watch. I also like the backdrop of Jama Masjid here.
Regards
Shaeri

  • Great 
  • adores Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2544 W: 48 N: 3517] (11345)
  • [2007-07-19 17:40]

Hi Angshuman!
Great composition showing a very beautiful monument and all those pigeons in the foreground.Very nice colours and details!

An Venice side from India.. A good situation in frot of the monument. Good colors, true ones, for this place.
I like it
Jean Michel

  • Great 
  • Felip Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 279 W: 14 N: 321] (1551)
  • [2008-04-15 15:20]

If it wasn't the India, I could say that this scenery is Venice, Italy...that mosque that reminds in some way to San Marco Basilica, and the doves flying...is how to say?...Venetian Image.
I like it, Angshuman.

Have a nice day.

Felip

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF