whirling dervishes ceremony II Photo

Photographer’s Note

Being pulled out by some surprised critics on one of my first's posts of the Dervishes ceremony,

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Turkey/photo233402.htm

and the recent post of the same theme, by the member Keribar,

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Turkey/photo286639.htm

I had the hurge of re-share this impressive event.

We were not allowed to use flash while taking photos, which worked for the best: the long exposure gives a sensation of movement that would be gone had I used a flash, and the photos turned out a lot nicer this way.

On ws, I share one example of shot with flash (an accident!) for you to see the difference of the motion captured and another with more contrast and saturation, not so nice in my opinion.

----------------------------------------------------
And now, the explanation of the ceremony:

While we were in Istanbul, we had the chance to watch a whirling dervishes ceremony, at the Galata Mevlevi Temple. This is not a show, but a religious ceremony of the Mevlana sect of Sufi Muslims. It takes place only every 2 Sundays, and we were incredibly lucky to be there on one of those Sundays. It was without a doubt the most beautiful, and most moving, religious ceremony I’ve ever watched. The whole ceremony is filled with symbolism, most of it having to do with the abandonment of ego, and the surrender to a state of pure love and peace. The dervishes wear white dresses symbolizing the ego’s death shroud (coloured for women), a special hat symbolizing the tombstone and a black cape the grave. While they are whirling they lean their heads, as if they were severed, so their egos are not present. The palm of one of the hands points to the sky and the other one to the ground, so as to say “We receive from God and give to the humanity. We keep nothing for ourselves.” The whirling works as a type of meditation and the dervishes enter a state of abandonment and peace. I thought I was going to see a bizarre and visually interesting religious cult. Nothing prepared me for the incredible beauty and intensity of the ceremony.

Paolo, ChrisJ, fabio_ts, jkos, feather, Clairedelune, gilbriones2002, PJE, berek, efigesta, sarju, Luan, bcprado, joseelias, Tue, sergio1, axiotea, aznegrao, manatee, paura has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MiguelP (14338) 2005-12-23 6:16

An interesting point of view of this dance. There´s some photos in TE with the same subject but this one it´s one of those that make more understandable what´s going on. I like the sense of mouvement. Thanks for share Ricardo.

Paolo (40775) 2005-12-23 6:16

Hi Ricardo, amazing and colorful image!
i saw the Dervishes some years ago in Milan during an exibition. a great exsperience.
that image confirm that.
excellent POV and colours, good focus, light and exposure.
great note too.
thanks, ciao and merry Xmas.

ChrisJ (70569) 2005-12-23 7:01

Ola Ricardo

Good use of repetition, bright color, & motion blur, to enhance the composition.

Parabéns e um Bom Natal para si e família.

fabio_ts (13674) 2005-12-23 7:24

A high impact picture Ricardo, really well taken and composed, BRAVO+++

Merry Christmas and happy New Year,

Fabio.

sarhanp (122) 2005-12-23 7:40

Hello Ricardo,

You and we ( TE members) are very lucky that you have attanted a dervish ceremony.

Very good photo.

Sarhan.

jkos (981) 2005-12-23 7:43

Every time I see a shot of whirling dervishes I feel like visiting Turkey.
Thank you for the very good note.
TFS,
Joel

feather (50588) 2005-12-23 10:36

A fantastic image Ricardo. I agree with you about the use of flash taking something away from the image; this is better with the motion blur. It reminds me of French Impressionist painting, although I can't think who by as I'm not that knowledgable, probably Degas or Lautrec.
Kath

Clairedelune (4885) 2005-12-23 11:05

Hi Ricardo,
This is something I would like to see! I envy you for that! :) I agree about the fact that it is a lot better without flash, giving us the feeling of the movement, of the turning. I like the colors (included the "white") of their dresses. Very beautiful picture! I really like also your note, very touching one since you explain what effect that ceremony made on you.
Claire

jasmis (51339) 2005-12-23 11:15

Extraordinary idea and good work. I especially like the dynamic blur of dancers.

gilbriones2002 (930) 2005-12-23 11:26

nice capture ric, i like the blurry whirling motion effect, makes you get into the picture and be part of it, it looks dizzying.

xavshot (63373) 2005-12-23 11:55

Bonsoir Ricardo
j'ai fait un commentaire sur la précédente tardivement car je l'ai découverte récemment et je réitère mes félicitations car je trouve les mouvements très bien pris
j'aime beuacoup ce cadrage
Bravo et joyeuses fêtes
Xavier

Gerrit (36615) 2005-12-23 13:15

Dancing Derwishes, great stuff

Merry Christmas Ricardo, till next year, Gerrit

Graal (59144) 2005-12-23 14:19

Hi Ricardo,
very interesting photo - here and in WS. Good capture. I like the colours and poses in motion. Well done.
Rgs, Aleksander

coco (28328) 2005-12-23 16:25

Hola Ricardo.
It could be better with more sharpness a bite, also, of contrast.
Anyway, a nice an interesting picture.

Thanks for share.

Galmeida (12559) 2005-12-23 18:51

Olá Ricardo,
Não sendo o Pai Natal nem o Menino Jesus tenho que lhe agradecer a sua inovação em publicações fotograficas de autores fotografos amadores Portugueses nesta WEB, isto da minha parte e concepção pessoal nesta área e que penso que partilha da mesma forma, o que é salutar. Excelente captura e composição e como sabe o tempo de natal é rápido mas também ocupante para maiores comentários. Bom trabalho e vou comentar mais uma outra sua que bem o merece.

Parabéns e um excelente Natal para si e família.
Um abraço
Fernando

PJE (19575) 2005-12-23 20:27

Racardo a beautiful capture of movement in dance. I love the details in your comments too. Very helpful and enlightening. I love the blur effect too. Good work!

berek (29115) 2005-12-24 0:25

Hi Ricardo ,
i like your meaningful picture. İts Great.
İ think you know Mevlana's speech.
"Come, come again, whoever you are, come!
Heathen, fire worshipper or idolatrous, come!
Come even if you broke your penitence a hundred times,
Ours is the portal of hope, come as you are."
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
B.Erek
Sharpness:8 **Light:7**Colour:8 **Compo:10
**Idea:10**POV:9**Note:10
PS:Evaluation rate is max:10

gaby (19793) 2005-12-24 1:46

Ricardo bonjour - I like this fantastic movement and the soft tones of the dancers clothes - very nice and colorful shot -
Merry Xmas and all my best wishes to you and your famliy for the new year, my friend -
Thank you very much
Regards
Gaby

efigesta (12181) 2005-12-24 6:57

Ola Ricardo

fantastica foto lindas cores e linda perspectiva
adorei amigo
feliz natal para si e toda a familia
manuel

pitai (3925) 2005-12-24 20:23

Ola Ricardo, tenho perdido muitas fotos estes dias. Wow! Que vestimentas tão coloridas. Que bom ter tirado uma foto com flash. Porque assim podemos comparar melhor. Sem duvida que o flash congela a imagem e tem melhor definição, mas perde as cores. Gostei do efeito de longa exposição. Sem duvida uma foto muito difícil de tomar, mas bem conseguida. Parabéns!

lestans (15550) 2005-12-25 12:26

I saw your last one about this subject... and I run here to see the aother ones great!! wonderful colors, shapes and expecially you captured movement so well! I enjoy a lot looking at this pic, so well done, so nice!
Livia

keribar (42760) 2005-12-25 12:50

Dear Ricardo,
I am sorry >I missed you where you were visiting Istanbulk, so please let nme know next time you plan to be around.

This is really nice, because I kow how difficult it is to get nice ones during the performance. They really turn fast, and the scene changes so quickly that you have to anticipate it well before it come sto life. Well done Ricardo.

Do you have a cat ?

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - Izet

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-12-25 13:48

Fantastic, and very spectacular, this is the kind of composition that gives a good result for these moving subjects.
All is good and there is also a red one that is very well placed in the frame.
Compliments
Jean Michel

john_c (24635) 2005-12-26 13:03

Hi Ricardo,
What a dynamic, enervating shot! Great flashing action, superb colours and contrast, and indeed a vivid sense of whirling dervishes. The exposure level seems just right. Well captured.
John

Steft (5962) 2005-12-29 14:16

Hi Ricardo,
Very nice photo - very original. I like the dresses, you really captured the movement very well. Very festive.
Thanks for sharing,
Stef

jbweasle (9294) 2006-01-03 14:18

Hello Ricardo, it's good to see some more shots of these spinning dancers. Your exposure is just right to give a good balance between a sense of movement but still capturing enough detail.

Luan (15935) 2006-01-06 8:57

Hello Ricardo,
this picture serie about the performance is incredibely dynamic and aesthetic. I like this one, because there are so many people on the frame.
A good one
Luan

Furachan (0) 2006-01-14 5:34

Bom Dia Ricardo:
This image renders the whirling feeling best among your series - not an easy scene to capture well. I like the softness the continuus movement and the way the colors seem to melt a bit.
Wekl dne!
Francis

colinbrenchley (6133) 2006-01-15 4:59

Miguel
Considering the lighting conditions together with the effect you were trying to achieve to show the blurr of the speed of the dancers - you have produced a superb image
Regards Colin

joseelias (367) 2006-01-23 8:52

Já assisti a uma cerimónia destas no festival de musica tradicional no Seixal à uns anos e é algo de bastante interessante. O efeito da longa exposição resulta muito bem ao criar a sensação de um movimento suave, o que combina perfeitamente com os tons pastel das roupas…. tirando o de vermelho…

O formato panorâmico acentua esta sensação de movimento e só é pena é a quantidade de pessoas no fundo mas isso é algo que não se controla.

Tue (25608) 2006-01-23 18:50

Hej Ricardo,
Very nice and colourful picture of this ceremony. I like the blur of the people that shows the motion. Very well captured!
Hilsner,
Lars

gebala (0) 2006-02-03 15:22

hello, really nice shot, I like how are they dancing:) exellent colours, well done:)

thaprem (2500) 2006-02-15 7:19

Absolute Eye catcher...
I am torn between each spin1.
Wonderful Ricardo!.
Cheers,
Prem.

elmec (12194) 2006-02-20 17:03

Hello Ricardo!
Great dancing photo!
I like the colours and move frozen on your photo!
Very good composition!
Best greetings!

sergio1 (12150) 2006-02-22 5:36

Hola amigo Ricardo
Interesante toma aqui de los bailes tradicionales. La nota esta muy bien para entender el momento y la ejecución muy agradable.
Saludos
Sergio

nika (0) 2006-05-17 6:28

Hola Ricardo!

It's a really amazing well done photo of this ceremony. I appreciate a lot your note. I've never heard about it. And I agree with you, the long exposure worked in this case very well and the colours are so beautiful!
Muchas gracias y hasta muy pronto!
besos,
Anette

axiotea (16359) 2006-05-25 12:22

Hi Ricardo,
A good capture of the movement of the whirling dervishes and a good POV...Ur note is very informative...before I thought that dervishes were only men...
All the best,
Marilyn

aznegrao (10246) 2006-06-29 11:52

Fantastica sensação de movimento e alegria neste momento colorida oportunamente captado por voce meu amigo Ricardo, parabens pela excelente composição.
aznegrao.

manatee (4301) 2006-07-07 3:25

Exelent picture. The movility in this give it more aination to the picture, the colors of the dresses give it a extra beauty, I would like to earese all this guys tking pictures in the backgroun but this can be so difficult to do it, however is a nice picture. Is funny yesterday I was doing the same just plying and is so diffiuclt not to loose your equilibrium. I think makes circles, give you a concentration and you can be in trance in this kind of ceremonies.

Good job

ryno (4627) 2006-08-30 7:14

Hi Ricardo, this is a great shot of the Mevlana - it looks like the inside of the Bektashi Tekke in Istanbul if I'm not mistaken (probably also known as Galata temple). There's a great balance in the spacing of the figures in this shot, and the blur of movement helps to capture the mood of the event. Nice one! Regards,
Ryno

NicoleP (520) 2007-03-17 17:47

belle photo trés esthétique
Nicole

paura (39632) 2008-07-12 5:48

Ricardo,
Muito bem composta, analisanda pelo fito de imprimir um aspecto dinâmico á dança. bela composição. Lembra alguma coisa como flores em um jardim.

Abraço

Paulo

nszeretlek (616) 2009-08-08 9:28

The picture has something magic . A pity all those shooting and breaking the spell of the dance . This kind of has become quite touristic lately , even religion rituals can be like this ...

Nice weekend ,

M.