Golden Coran Photo

Photographer’s Note

This bookshelf with the Coran is inside the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.

This mosque, called also the Grand Mosque of Damascus, stands at the heart of the Old city at the end of Souq al-Hamidiyeh. It was built by the Omayyad Caliph al-Walid ibn Abdul Malek in 705 A.D. when Damascus was the capital of the Arab Islamic Empire.

It's built on a sacred ground which was occupied by temples of different religions, that's why the history of the mosque itself represents the whole history of Damascus.

paololg, maglex has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (11602) 2009-05-26 23:11

Ciao Maria,

just visited the Omayyad Mosque as well and I was also "captured" by those golden decorated books.

nice close up....you managed the difficult light there very well

well done
silvio

lousat (14984) 2009-05-27 10:04

Hi Maria,there is a magic light inside this pic..a different and intelligent way to show the aspects of siryan life....and i like a lot this work because new ideas are always welcome,especially when very intelligent like your.My best compliments,have a nice day,LUCIANO

marietom (31772) 2009-05-28 14:08

hello Maria,

Jolies couleurs, et beau graphisme dans cette image.
Bonne soirée
Marie

karthikcs (269) 2009-05-29 1:35

What a lovely capture. Very nice details. I tried a workshop to brighten the bottom portion. Hope you like it

[workshop] [compare]

delpeoples (5380) 2009-05-29 21:46

Hi Maria, I was just going to ask you whether you travelled with Silvio (Jeppo) as he has taken some wonderful photos of this mosque too - including the magnificent Koran books!! But I have since seen his comment. Excellent details here, the books are truly beautiful. I like how you have cropped the photo and used the vertical framing. Excellent work, Lisa.

dvlazar (6468) 2009-06-02 19:23

Nice idea to capture these artistically bound books in full frame like this.
Good work,
Dave

paololg (13172) 2009-06-04 13:20

Ciao dear Maria,
excellent idea, marvelously realized with a good definition of the details. Every book is a work of art of graphics, with the mixed colors as in a kaleidoscope. Really an excellent work, compliments!
Ciao, have a beautiful day!
Paolo

Felip (3905) 2009-07-06 8:46

Very interesting shot Maria, but what I cannot understand is why with an exposure of 1/5 sec and f/3.3, the light is so weak, when it should be much stronger!
Misteries....
Warm regards

Felip

ryno (4576) 2009-07-19 23:51

Hi Maria, even on the thumbnail this one stood out. The pattern and repetition of the book spines, as well as the golden glow and subtle variation of colours, all contribute to make this shot interesting and visually appealing. Well done!
Ryno

Glint (3005) 2009-07-28 23:50

hello Maria,
I like the richness of colours and patterns here.Each volume is beautifully and individually bound. You have filled your frame with such wonderful bookbinding artistry.
regards,
Bev