Walking in the Karnak Temple Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Karnak temple complex, universally known only as Karnak, describes a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings. It is located near Luxor in Egypt. This was ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut ("The Most Selected of Places"), the main place of worship of the Theban Triad with Amun as its head, in the monumental city of Thebes. The complex retrieves its current name from the nearby and partly surrounding modern village of el-Karnak, some 2.5km north of Luxor.The complex is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. It is probably the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to the Giza Pyramids near Cairo. It consists of four main parts (precincts), of which only the largest, the Precinct of Amun-Re, is open to the general public. The term Karnak is often understood as being the Precinct of Amun-Re only, as this is the only part most visitors normally see. The three other parts, the Precinct of Montu, the Precinct of Mut and the dismantled Temple of Amenhotep IV, are closed to the public. There also are a few smaller temples and sanctuaries located outside the enclosing walls of the four main parts, as well as several avenues of human and ram-headed sphinxes connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and Luxor Temple.
The temple of Karnak is famous for its 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows in the Hypostyle Hall. 122 of these columns are 10 meters tall, and the other 12 are 21 meters tall with a diameter of over three meters. The architraves on top of these columns weigh an estimated 70 tons. These architraves may have been lifted to these heights using levers. This would be an extremely time-consuming process and would also require great balance to get to such great heights. A common alternative theory is that there were large ramps made of sand mud brick or stone and the stones were towed up the ramps. If they used stone for the ramps they would have been able to build the ramps with much less material. The top of the ramps would presumably have either wooden tracks or cobblestones to tow the megaliths on. There is a unfinished pillar in an out of the way location that indicated how they finished it. The finish carving was done after the drums were put in place.Several experiments moving megaliths with ancient technology were done at other locations some of them are listed here. There is a double row of sphinxes leading to the temple of Luxor. There are several colossal statues including the figure of Panejem which is 10.5 meters tall. The sandstone for this temple, including all the columns, was transported from Gebel Silsila 100 miles south on the Nile river. It also has one of the largest obelisks weighing 328 tonnes and standing 29 meters tall.
The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction work began in the 16th century BC. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features are overwhelming. Construction of temples started in the Middle Kingdom and continued through to Ptolemaic times.

ribeiroantonio, JudyR, PaulVDV, BurhanettinMasa, papera, Morac, pauloog, Clementi, paololg, npecanhuk, Floydian has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (21913) 2009-05-25 16:46

It is a superb shot where the repetition of the columns has a great graphic impact and the person adds a propers scale. Well done.
Antonio

mariandrea (973) 2009-05-25 17:24

Hi there, good work here. I have been in this place, and found it kinda of difficult to get a good picture, because of dimensions most of all. You've got a good scale with a local walking there, and great details of the columns. Well done! chau chau,

Maria

gracious (20017) 2009-05-25 17:45

Ciao Luciano,
This is truly gigantic columns in the temple! good to include the human figure to show the scale on this majastic place!
very sharp on the columns with it's craftings!
thanks for the most informative notes as well
ciao
Tony

npecanhuk (13881) 2009-05-25 17:51

Ciao Luciano!
This is an impressively beautiful picture!
You perfectly chose the point of view and then cleverly composed this image, with outstanding level of sharpness, correct exposure, excellent depth of field, wonderful colors and timing! That man was captured in the best position in the frame and added much interest to the scene! All the details of the local and ancient architecture were strikingly captured by you!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

JudyR (831) 2009-05-25 17:52

Stupendous architecture shown all the more massive with the person walking between the columns. The details of the hyroglyphics are very interesting, and the grafitti, unfortunately, universal. Stunning photograph. Thanks you, Judy

delpeoples (6054) 2009-05-25 22:05

Caro Luciano, che posso dire? Questo foto la mia favorite di tutte le sue foto meravigliosi. I toni e strutture sono bellissime. L'uomo in nero e un contrasto perfetto. Mi piace anche la luce alla destra. Complimenti, ancora una volta amico, Lisa.

aadilj (17950) 2009-05-25 22:13

The air is thick with a sense of mystery, the textures, the ambience and the lights adds to that effect. You have captured this one wonderfully well Luciano

PaulVDV (5184) 2009-05-25 22:43

Ciao Luciano,
Good view on the details of the hyroglyphics and in the same time a good overview of the interior of the temple. The picture emphasises the enormous dimensions of the columns very well. Good to have included the person.
Best regards, Paul

Hellas (5123) 2009-05-26 1:10

Hello Luciano!
Everything here is great!
First of all, the exposure which transfers light, colour and fantastic details! The timing was also terrific with the man passing through the columns. The play of the light entering the scene is one more impressive effect!
Thank you very much for the particularity of description of the whole site.

Best regards,
Athanasios.

BurhanettinMasa (641) 2009-05-26 1:26

Hi Luciano,
Colours, composition, patterns, balance is perfect, really excellent photo ... Congratulations, thanks for sharing ...

Regards,
Burhan

RedDevil (1071) 2009-05-26 2:05

Ciao Luciano,
Ben tornato, sicuramente con un bel sacco di ottime foto! Ottimo scatto impreziosito da quella figura umana in movimento. Bravo
Salvatore

ciakgiak (10688) 2009-05-26 3:11

Ciao Luciano, ben tornato,
come vedi abbiamo avuto tutti la sorpresa di questa nuova veste grafica che al momento non soddisfa.
Incredibile la maestosità e l'imponenza di questo tempio. Hai scelto un ottimo POV per mostrarcele, ma secondo me la bravura è stata nell'aver atteso il passaggio dell'uomo, una presenza che arricchisce la composizione in maniera decisiva.
Un caro abbraccio.
Giorgio

papera (5316) 2009-05-26 4:37

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - questa e' una di quelle foto che farei io... a costo di portarmi l'omino in tasca per metterlo qui, tra le colonne, con le mie mani!
=)
bellissima l'allitterazione delle colonne, accentua i colori saturi e caldissimi e mette in scena perfettamente "l'elemento umano", sia dal punto di vista compositivo che cromatico.
tra te e stefano ultimamente non so chi invidiare di piu'... =)
complimenti!
cris

cobra112 (11512) 2009-05-26 4:54

Ciao Luciano. Se questa è l'ouverture della serie egiziana credo proprio che ci sarà da divertirsi. Interessante la propsettiva di colonne e macchie di luce cadenzate con l'eccezionale inserimento del "passante" in nero, anche un po' inquietante. Nell'atmosfera generale è capitato ad hoc.

Roberto

Morac (20397) 2009-05-26 5:13

Bonjour Luciano,

Je te retrouve dans de traitement; j'aime surtout la façon dont la texture de la pierre et les détails sont mis en évidence.
Quant à la présence de l'homme elle est parfaite pour nous donner la notion de grandeur et de puissance de cet édifice.
Bonne journée
Marc

Silvio1953 (41719) 2009-05-26 5:44

Ciao Luciano, inizi alla grande con questa maestosa foresta di colonne, la figurina inserita (l'ha voluto il bakkish?) da l'idea dell'imponenza dell'ipostila di Karnak, tra i più fantastici esempi di architettura e tra i luoghi più imponenti costriti dall'uomo, bravo, ciao Silvio

TopGeo (21789) 2009-05-26 7:48

Ciao Luciano,
This is truly gigantic columns in the temple majestic view on the details of the hyeroglyphics ! They is impressive your last pictures! Very good the place and the subject here Good note! They is pictures that have a lot of good elements!
Bravo
Georgios

stefanocer (10404) 2009-05-26 8:39

Complimenti anche a te Luciano , è vero hanno degli elementi in comune come la presenza umana ed anche il fatto che si tratta di due luoghi di culto di due civiltà antiche , bravo.
Stefano.

pauloog (6483) 2009-05-26 9:29

Hello Luciano,
Not easy to capture the grandeur of this place but you did well by concentrating on the symmetric massiveness of the pillars and including the man to give depth and scale. Nice colours too and details well rendered.
Regards,
Paul

COSTANTINO (22691) 2009-05-26 9:44

Ciao Luciano,
Ottima composizione, con luce e colori fantastici,
complimenti hai ottenuto un bel risultato,
salutoni,

Costantino

bobocortis (14140) 2009-05-26 9:59

Ciao Luciano.
Questa immagine trasuda caldo africano e secoli di storia. Sarebbe stata eccellente anche senza la figura umana. Dieci e lode.
Ciao.
Bobo.

rodgerg (24029) 2009-05-26 11:06

Ciao Caro Luciano,

Una molto bella armonia nei colori ed un'ottima inquadratura. Bella prospettiva anche. Il "desicive moment" ben collecto anche con l'uomo che passa nel immagine.
Buona sera,
Roger

Clementi (44047) 2009-05-26 12:57

Ciao Luciano,
bentornato, ti sei subito messo al lavoro per farci gustare questa meraviglia, composizione magistrale e ottimo lavoro di pp.
10 stasera te lo do
Giorgio

Ninello52 (3334) 2009-05-26 14:13

Ciao Luciano!
Bella materica e solida sta foto! Ormai sei diventato un mago dell'alta definizione! Non so se si tratta di HDR, non ci capisco e devo confessare non apprezzo molto il tipo di tecnica. Qui mi piace l'inquadratura centrale e schiacciata che enfatizza molto l'architettura, belli anche i colpi di luce che escono qua e là, particolarissimo il croma!
saluti, Nino.

paololg (13757) 2009-05-26 14:29

Bentornato, caro Luciano, ci sei mancato! ;-)
Ricordo con piacere questo posto, da me visitato alcuni anni fa, anche se mi viene da mordermi le dita fino ai gomiti per evere optato per la videocamera e non per la macchina fotografica :-(
Intanto ammiro la suggestione di questa immagine, fatta con grande esperienza fotografica ed eccellente dote compositiva. Bravissimo!
Ciao, buona serata!
Paolo

emka (21423) 2009-05-26 15:13

Ciao Luciano, I see you like Arabic countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt now. So I hope I will see splendid photos of Egyptian temples. I like the POV here but I am not sure about the colour. I do not remember them so dark. fantastic comparison of the man and those colossal columns.
regards

Malgorzata

lestans (15456) 2009-05-27 9:40

Bravo, dai proprio bene l'idea di quanto enormi siano queste colonne!
Belli anche i colori e ottimi i dettagli e la nitidezza.
Bravo a fare una grossa nota, che io mi esimo dal leggere però, mi affido al ricordo che ho di questo posto!
Livia

Floydian (30970) 2009-06-02 13:18

Hi Luciano,

Great shot, with a fantastic timing with the man passing by. Without him it would by far not as good as it is now. It gives scaling and a perfect focal point. Love also the strong colours you put on the columns. I've been there a few times, i know that they are not shine golden like this, but i like th pp work you put in to it...very good....i like this a lot.

Regards,

Henk