Defterdar Mosque, a photo from Dodekanisos, South Aegean

Photographer's Note

One of the major tourist attractions of Greek Island Kos is the Defterdar Mosque on the Eleftherias (Freedom) Square of Kos Town.
I always say that we are travelling not only in space but also in time. I mean that after years pass by things change radically. The most visible examples are when one of the most important Christian churches (Hagia Sophia in Istanbul) is turned into a mosque or one of the most beautiful mosques (Mezquita in Cordoba) is turned into a church. I have also mentioned other metamorphoses like turning a church into a restaurant or a tourist information centre (both examples from Dublin City Centre). As much as it sounds sad for the believers, I think it is great that someone takes care about the historic architecture and preserves it for future generations in this or another way. Defterdar Mosque is I believe a very good cafe. I cannot judge because I sit in another one across the square to be able to admire beautiful view of this structure.

danos, Sonata11, williewhistler, macjake, Budapestman, timecapturer, ikeharel, tyro, Didi, Graal, maria-v1981, jlbrthnn, adramad, josepmarin, Royaldevon, bukitgolfb301, kordinator, delpeoples, Highmountains, nikkitta, Angshu, gervaso, s_lush, adores, aliabazari, Romano46 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (68036) 2012-10-01 12:27

Hello Mariusz,
Very nice capture from Kos with perfect pov !
Kos is very close to us and is one of my favorite Greek islands.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

danos (74064) 2012-10-01 12:37

Witaj Mariusz,
i was too in Kos island from 12-16 Sep and i strolled too some times Eleftherias Square.The last day i visited Nisyros island with its famous crater and i can say that it was a great experience.
Beautiful scene with the brilliant light to enhance the vivid colours of the place with the well chosen POV to makes the image even more attractive.

Regards,danos

Sonata11 (28391) 2012-10-01 13:03

Witaj Mariusz,
Co za piekny romantyczy zakatek. Na pewno z przykroscia musieliscie opuscic to urocze miejsce. Pieknie wykonane zdjecie. Podoba mi sie Twoj punkt widzenia. Fantastyczne zdjecie pod kazdym wzgledem. Super. Wspaniala praca.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Barbara

williewhistler (7317) 2012-10-01 13:18

Hello Mariusz,
the view through the archway is most inviting,the clear blue sky contrasts perfectly with the buildings whilst the empty chairs await our arrival.
A fine well composed photograph,sharp and clear it`s lovely.
Best regards Les.

ciakgiak (30331) 2012-10-01 13:52

Ciao Mariusz,
gran bel POV, perfetto, immagine molto ben composta e perfettamente gestita nella luce, nei colori e nella qualità. Bello l'arco naturale che inquadra la scena.
Un caro saluto
Giorgio

lousat (57724) 2012-10-01 14:16

Hi Marius,in Greece you too in September as i can see.Magnificent view of Kos whit a nice choice of point of view to create this natural border made by the arch,the mosquee looks like the mosquee of Rhodes,perfect details,colors and great exposure.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

mauro61 (52527) 2012-10-01 14:22

ciao Mariusz,
scena ben vista e ben riportata con il tavolino e le sedie sotto l'arco.
Sullo sfondo architettura e bel cielo azzurro in un mix perfetto,
saluti
maurizio

macjake (39235) 2012-10-01 14:56

Hi Mariusz
its always a successful photo when you can get the underside of the arch to illuminate! and looking at the scene, the lighting is horrible for optimum photography, so the final execution is A+.
well done my friend
cheers
craig

Budapestman (82620) 2012-10-01 16:05

Hi Mariusz,
a beautiful photo of this place with splendid composition and attractive details, great mediterranean lights and the POV is excellent, Tfs! Have a nice week! Kellemes hetet kívánok!
György

sabermonajati (7603) 2012-10-01 22:48

hi
you captured illustrated composition from under archway.
people,and mosque captured very well.
regard
saber

abmdsudi (26311) 2012-10-02 3:02

Hi Mariusz
Great shot with the mosque and its tower being the main focal of interest, while the arch adds the natural framing. Well composed and superbly exposed in bright light and deep colors, with more supplementary elements to draw attentions. Well done, TFS
Kind regards

timecapturer (30394) 2012-10-02 5:36

Hi Mariusz
a great POV and composition that is so inviting and tantalising. Your light management here is superb, with no loss of detail or colour rendition. A flawlessly executed shot and magical presentation.

Regards - Brian.

Sergiom (39336) 2012-10-02 6:07

Bonjour Mariusz,

J'aime beaucoup cette composition. L'arche forme un superbe cadre pour cette tour qui se dresse dans le ciel d'un beau bleu polarisé. Le dôme rose est magnifique.

Amicalement

Serge

ikeharel (37424) 2012-10-02 9:44

Good evening Mariusz,
Maybe you have to be careful nowadays telling about mosque turned into cafe'... never know who reads this...
Good idea applied, with the main subject under an arc, and daily-life shown in vivid colors. The place I heared is outstanding recreation area.
Fine taken photo,regards,
Ike

tyro (13149) 2012-10-03 2:31

Hello Mariusz,

This is a stunningly beautiful view across the square to the Defterdar Mosque with wonderful sharp details of its red domes and its tall spire. Your composition is excellent too, the row of cafés and canopies on the left leading the eye perfectly toward the mosque. But what is really wonderful is that you have framed the picture perfectly by including the near archway and its little table and group of chairs, giving us a much more "personal" view of what you actually experienced at the time.

From the technical point of view, I find your exposure very interesting and, indeed, excellent. You have retained a perfect exposure for the distant view which is brightly sunlit and yet we can see all details in the dark shade within the place where you were sitting - that is amazing!

Excellent composition, perfect exposure, lovely colours and exquisite sharpness throughout.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

Didi (48938) 2012-10-03 10:01

Hi Mariusz
Well done for the lights management, you avoided overexposure.
Your point of view is very good
Best regards

pajaran (36282) 2012-10-03 13:45

Dobro vece.
Lep pogled i trenutak ...
Dobra ostrina snimka, kontrast i perspektiva, lepe boje.
Dobar tekst i kompozicija, lep prikaz.
Lep restoran i dzamija sa minaretom.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good evening.
Nice view and a moment ...
Good image sharpness, contrast and perspective, beautiful colors.
Good content and composition, beautiful view.
Nice restaurant and a mosque with a minaret.
Good evening and all the best.
Paja.

Graal (88982) 2012-10-03 23:41

Czesc,
dobry pomysl na takie spojrzenie na meczet poprzez arkade. Bdb jakosc zdjecia. Interesujace informacje. No to pogrzales sie na tej greckiej wyspie, pozazdroscic.
Milego dnia.
Aleksander

maria-v1981 (10403) 2012-10-04 3:35

Hello Mariusz,
Excellent shot. Very fine clear and vivid colors. Splendid clarity and very fine handle of lighting. I like how you use the arch as a natural frame at the foreground. You capture excellent the idyllic atmosphere of the place.
Have a nice day,
Regards,
Maria

madhumita_roy86 (2150) 2012-10-04 8:22

Hello Mariusz,
nice catch...good scene...
beautiful colours...great sharpness...
very nice POV.... lovely composition..
Tfs! regards,
Madhumita.

SWEETFREEDOM (18423) 2012-10-04 22:33

Hi Mariusz,
Very nice the view through the arch. Good colors and light management. I have been there few years ago. I remember this mosque very well.
Regards
Alessandro

jlbrthnn (79773) 2012-10-05 1:41

Hello Mariusz,
The picture is carefully composed, the framing is accurate. The quality is obvious. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

adramad (27556) 2012-10-05 4:34

Hello Mariusz.
Impressive POV, for this wonderful composition, ideal as part arc, the charm of the place, with the beautiful image of the mosque in the background, this empty table in the foreground, is an invitation to indulge in the beautiful surroundings and is ideal frame.
Wonderful color and brightness. Lovely work, very well done.
Have a nice weekend.
Best regards.
Luis.

josepmarin (55063) 2012-10-05 5:46

Hi Mariusz,
you have used skillfully the arch in order to create an architectural frame for the small and elegant mosque in background.
The management of the exposure is magnificent, I think that you have reached a great balance between the areas under the shade and the sunlit areas.
The composition is attractive and with a nice harmony between its elements.
An excellent work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

Royaldevon (17811) 2012-10-05 13:58

Hello Mariusz,

What interesting and thoughtful notes. To my shame, I do not remember this mosque, though I was not interested in photography when we visited Kos. If I was to return, it would be at the top of my list!

I love how you have used the shadow and the arch of the f/g to give an interesting frame to the mosque. You have coped very well with the differences in the light, the very strong light.

Have a lovely w/e,
Bev :-)

bukitgolfb301 (30111) 2012-10-05 14:42

Hi dear Mariusz

Another impressive shot as your taste and sense.
Very artstic and also elegant image indeed.
Perfect framework(I like your strategy very much) and stable composition as usual.
Wonderful and tasetful vivid color touch too.
Thank you for your sharing and have a good weekend!

Takero from Tokyo

kordinator (13411) 2012-10-06 0:40

Hello Mariusz
Nice view and excellent natural framed Defterdar Mosque .
Colors and clarity are perfect.
Nice play of light and shadows.
Great job.
Kind regards
Saša

delpeoples (45018) 2012-10-06 0:46

Hi Mariusz

You make a good point, indeed one which Noel Byrne made about the conversion of churches to apartment/office blocks. Here we see it alot with (as I said in a previous photo) historic treasures, old churches and even old pubs. "Progress"eh, I don;t always like it. But I like your photo and the view ofrom the cafe is very inviting. You managed the light and shade here really skillfully, managing to retain the details in the shade, aswell as evening out the BG sunlight. Nice work, I hope you enjoyed Greece.

Cheers
Lisa

nikkitta (5904) 2012-10-06 16:18

Hola Mariusz
So, finally you three went for holidays and to a very atractive place
Your note as always add interest at the capture, quite agree with you ,(Cordoba is a true horror)
About the capture, great POV and frame for mosque-cafe
I saw, years ago, in Nauplio a church transformed in a cinema

Congrats, well done

Maria

andywo (4689) 2012-10-07 6:16

Czesc Mariusz
Swietny pomysl na oryginalny kadr, wiezyczka i kopuly meczetu w glebi idealnie komponuja sie z caloscia. Bardzo dobrze poradziles sobie rowniez z technicznej strony.
Wartosciowa i ciekawa praca.
Andrzej

fabbs99 (5533) 2012-10-08 8:07

Hello Mariusz,

Great shot of the mosque.Fine natural colours and good composition.The light management and shadows are awesome. well done.

Keep sharing and exchanging views.
Best wishes and warm regards
Farhat

Angshu (51174) 2012-10-10 2:12

Hello Mariusz
I see you've started travelling again :-)
The best part about this picture has to be the framing with the fine arched doorway in the FG. The blue sky, polarised as well, createsa fine topping for the mosque, the structure of which seems similar to the ones in Turkey. Well handled exposure as well. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

gervaso (8043) 2012-10-11 6:55

Hello, Mariusz!

The framing is excellent with the inclusion of this arch, and so is the light, which you've captured perfectly! And the beautiful architecture on the background really stands out in this wonderful composition! Very good job!

s_lush (15592) 2012-10-13 23:27

Hello Mariusz,
You have shown, how important pieces of architecture are preserved and used in Greece, in highly artistic manner, with, as usual, a very interesting foreground, elegant compositional framing and many amazing compositional elements in the middle and back grounds. A very good presentation of this picturesque place both visually and textually!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Waylim (22357) 2012-10-17 11:34

Hi M,

You really go around, here we are in yet another country. Great shot as always, but what I love most here is the POV looking through the arch way. great management of the light between the shade and light.

Perfect shot with hight quality and composition.

Way

adores (28248) 2012-10-30 17:21

Hi Mariusz!
It seems you really found a good pov!The arch is a good frame, the light and colours are very good. Even the table and chairs are very well placed in foreground.I like it!

aliabazari (10105) 2012-11-24 20:29

Hi Mariusz drogi
Składniki tego obrazu są dobrze ze sobą połączone. Naświetlania i głębokość są doskonałe. Istnieje także moim przyjacielem.

w stosunku

Romano46 (4996) 2013-03-12 11:30

Ciao Mariusz
questa tua foto l'ho scoperta casaulmente e mi piace molto, sia per il punto di ripresa che ti permette di fare un'ottima composizione, ma anche per i colori brillanti che offrono una visione molto piacevole, della moschea e del piccolo locale che occupa la piazza antistante.
Una ripresa simpatica e molto ben realizzata.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona serata
Romano