Meeting at the Blue Mosque... Photo

Photographer’s Note

After the wonderful first day in istanbul, (one of my sisters described it as a day with a golden edge, I would prefer to call it a golden day, look here), we came back to our hotel which was in the vicinity of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, I spotted this scene at the blue mosque. Both silhouettes stood out so gorgeous in front of that beautiful lit mosque.
The mosque is called 'Blue mosque' because of the blue tiles in the inside.

The nice thing is that I did not know what they were doing, were they workers, still out at night, were they lovers. meeting at a beautiful point?
Anyway, I enjoyed the scene, like I enjoyed istanbul.

I did not carry a tripod, which I more or less regretted, but of the couple of pictures I took, this one came out quite sharp.

leo61, nwoehnl, MiguelP, Galeota, designsoul, Isabelle, Angelillo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (43398) 2007-02-21 15:04

Hi Rinie!
This is a very diferent image of a mosque,and I like your composition.The contrast of the golden facade and tower with the totally black surrounding is a mazing and the silhouettes of the two workers makes the composition perfect.
Regards,Leo

rleclercq (628) 2007-02-21 15:11

Bonsoir Rinie,

Très jolie composition,très bel effet procoqué par ce contre jour et l'echafaudage qui est certainement disgracieux le jour devient un des points clef de la réussite de ce cliché.

Salutations.

Rodrigue

nwoehnl (120) 2007-02-21 15:22

Hi Rinie, I hope all is well. This is a nice photo of the mosque, with an original framing and a good golden/ochre tonality in the details of the illuminated architecture. The people silhouettes outside the grand edifice bring a fine storytelling element to this scene.

MiguelP (14324) 2007-02-21 15:30

Hi dear: Being harmless selfish, one of the best thing about your travel to Istambul is my pleasure to see you around more often.
I do agree with you about Istambul, I have to comeback soon, you portrait here this mood very well, it´s a misterious photo with a strange framing with all the black at the left but working perfectly well... Take care.
PS: Just moving from one house to another in these days. Kisses.

Luan (15935) 2007-02-21 16:04

Hello Rinie,
there is something similar with my picture, empty space, night, silence and a couple.
Mine is blue yours is gold, there are a lot of details visible for a night shot. A very sharp picture for and handled one.
Good very good.
It's true that we never made comment to each other pictures and may be I never take the time to stop by your nice gallery in fact !
Warmly
Luan

Galeota (10334) 2007-02-21 16:17

Hi Rinie, I'm not entirely convinced. Beautiful light on the mosque as well as an excellent idea to play with those shadows. But really too much dark on the left side; seems rather unbalanced. I'm happy to see you posting though. Be well.

TravelerNL (2951) 2007-02-21 17:05

Hallo Rinie,
Mooie contrast foto waarin de Blauwe Moskee heel erg mooi afsteekt. De twee silhouetten steken vervolgens weer erg mooi af tegen de moskee. Erg mooi scherp ook. Mooie verdeling van lege ruimte en gebouw over de foto.
Groet,
Harko

cengiz (3581) 2007-02-22 2:39

Hi rinie, different comp. and shown a misterious atmosphere
welldone
cengiz

Furachan (0) 2007-02-22 3:36

Stunnig sihouette shot, Rinie, I've never seen the Blue Mosue represented like this before. Well spotted. We Nikonites have to stick together, eh?
All the best,
Francis

eleparc (24059) 2007-02-22 6:51

Hi rinie, i also stayed in a ghesthouse close to the blue mosk... so long ago though... i'll say there were lovers, it sounds more romantic, doesn't it? pity they were some works on the mosk for this photo...but i understand the boredom and weight to carry a tripod. nice shot!
Eric

designsoul (21394) 2007-02-22 8:15

You are brave, Rinie, the shot works so well, leaving the left so almost totally pitch black with only the black silhouettes of the workers/lovers/friends manifesting before the spectacle of this golden-hued facade of the blue mosque. I can imagine how you must have loved Istanbul; I have never been but heard a lot about it from family and friends. Sounds like a very interesting city... and am so glad you are posting again!
Good luck with the Bach motets in the weekend... wish I could be there in the audience!
take care,
sasa

faubry (32281) 2007-02-23 4:22

Bonjour Rinnie, very nice light.... and silhouettes contrast very well on this light... great shot
take care
francine

RGatward (19737) 2007-02-27 15:58

Effective use of dark space here, and I like the use of the detailed silhouette.

Isabelle (9014) 2007-03-01 19:00

bold composition, Rinie, and aesthetically rewarding, with a very good use of negative space.
being workers, lovers, dunno if it matters, but surely they give the image a new dinamics.

pamastro (7213) 2007-07-05 20:35

It's very sharp for handheld at that focal length and that shutter speed. The image does give us a story to question. Who are they? What are they doing and so on as you say. The composition also gives us that endless darkness beyond as an area to think about and one that joins with them as the dark silhouetted forms that they are. Perhaps I might be tempted to crop just a little more on the bottom, but still keep blackness along the bottom to get the mosque to "float" as it seems to. But again I have to go back to the blackness. I keep going to that every time I scroll back up to look at the photo and I become mesmerized by it. Of course just black wouldn't do it but with the mosque and people on the edge I get lost in the darkness as perhaps the two people are.

keribar (42748) 2007-08-11 11:51

Hi Rinnie,
and so nice to have you back in TE. I enjoy this one although perhaps (Personally ) I would not leave so much room onm the left side. Anyway it is nice to see your pictures again - Keep going - Friendly regards to you and your sisters - Izzet
Soon you will see some picture from Ireland

Angelillo (9065) 2007-08-11 13:50

Hi Rinie,

There are many shots in your gallery I haven't seen... and this is too bad! This one, for example, is really extraordinary. The composition is magnificent, the light of the mosque incredible, and the men's silhouettes, a real treasure. It's terrific! Thanks.

Have a nice Sunday,
Angel.

PS: Miguel is really happy in Ngorongoro crater... very much animals in its natural ambiance! Kisses from him (and from me).

Rhiannon (1726) 2008-02-27 3:15

Wow! Love this one. You really did it. The composition and contrast with gold against black is amazing. Daring to leave more than half the picture black but very effective and artistic.
Good job.