Stairway to the clouds ! Photo

Photographer’s Note

Pura Kehen temple has 43 altars in the inner courtyard, including one 11-roofed meru to Hyang Api. the "God of the Hearth.".

MERUS are one of the most impressive features of Balinese temples. They are wooden pagodas on a stone base and can have up to eleven stepped roofs that are covered with palm fibres called IJUK.
These fibres can be seen clearly in a roof (meru)to the right of the frame.

A meru honors a god or a deified ancestor, depending on what kind of temple it is. It was probably introduced from Java during the 14th century. The number of roofs is always an odd number, up to a maximum of eleven. Merus with eleven roofs are mostly dedicated to Shiva.

This is the 11-roofed meru, the principal one of the Pura Kehen temple, and this is one of my favourite POVs (looking up). All the walls feature wonderful sculptures of gods, goddesses and intricate floral patterns, part of which is visible here. Shot against the grey cloudy sky, I could not but wonder how it would look against a clear blue sky!

Workshop : I've posted a straight-on shot of this grand temple which gives an idea of how the structure looks and also gives a little feel of the surroundings inside the complex.

This is my last upload from Pura Kehen....even though I had taken quite a few photos in this wonderful temple complex, but I’m afraid posting them might get repetitive. So for now, I’ll move on...

pablominto, sabyasachi1212, plimrn, ramesh_lalwani, imrek, riclopes, Henryk_Bilor, pierrefonds, jhm, ChrisJ, josepmarin, leo61, papagolf21, emjleclercq, Cretense, tcht, berek, anavazao, pranab has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-09-13 1:49

Hi Angshu,
Excellent POV, it indeed looks like the stairway to heaven. This is one of the most splendid photos in this series IMO. The grey on the temple walls and in the sky looks identical. The green forms a perfect backdrop to this beautiful architecture.
Best Wishes
Sabyasachi

plimrn (19856) 2006-09-13 1:55

Hi Angshu,
This is an excellent POV; it show excellent detail of the pagoda roofs. Ordinarily I prefer a sky with clouds but I can see your point, the lovely detail of this roof would really be enhanced by a bright blue sky. Thank you for the interesting information about pagoda roofs, it explains them well.
Regards, Pat

ramesh_lalwani (3209) 2006-09-13 2:26

Great shot looking up.I hope you had taken full elevation which I suggest you post in W/S
ramesh

Graal (59090) 2006-09-13 2:56

Hi Angshuman,
unusual tower, interesting composition and note. Great old architecture. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

pablominto (41676) 2006-09-13 3:37

Hi Angshu,
A good point of view and an interesting angle, my friend!
Dynamic lines in this composition, with good details in the architecture...
The typical colours are well reproduced!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Maybe you should clone upper left corner?

:-) BRB! OK-

ribeiroantonio (22056) 2006-09-13 3:37

It must be a very nice temple. I like the way you are showing it but I would prefer to have the base of the building in the picture. Well done.
Antonio

imrek (4) 2006-09-13 4:17

Hi Angshuman,
very well choosen POV and good focus, well exposed shot with a lot of details...well done!!!
best regards,
imre

riclopes (33137) 2006-09-13 4:22

Olá Angshu, I love this kind of architecture perspectives, from down-up, in tight angles. I remember this pagoda from your previous posts and I actually wondered if we would see a closer approach of it. I like the repetitive effect of the roofs (or steps :) and the details of the base. Yes, I agree that it will be nice to have another complementar image of the full pagoda, if you have it. Considering the lack of space, I think that cutting the base, was the best option. I would cut the upper left corner, although that would problably cut the pilar at left bottom and I don't know how would that look like...
Friendly regards,
Ricardo

rosaline (0) 2006-09-13 4:38

Hi Angshu
A well chosen and framed perspective shot. The depth is very good as the stairway effect leads us in and upwards quite dramatically. The detail on the temple is impressive too. Very well achieved.
Aubrey

vincz (19073) 2006-09-13 4:42

That's a wonderful picture Anshu. I happened to discover it scrolling from bottom to top and i was totally amazed wondering when this stairway will ever end. There are beautiful carvings at the bottom and the colours up to a little more thn 1/3 of the picture are excellent. Above indeed you woud get better contrasts with a blue sky. That said this last upload from this place is one the best.

jasmis (51283) 2006-09-13 5:08

Interesting perspective of this fine, exotic shot. Well done. Regards.

simplyoga (5188) 2006-09-13 5:13

Hi Angshu,
Thanks for sharing this interesting photo of Kehen Temple and thanks for introducing Bali to everybody here on TE :).. I agree with you, this place is wonderful.. Good choice of POV.
PEACE,
Yoga

hay_kes (28596) 2006-09-13 5:20

Hi Angshuman,
Perfect shot.Great architecture and composition.Bravo. Best wishes my friend.

hAyAti

feather (50480) 2006-09-13 6:59

The roofing technique is probably similar to what we would call thatching.
This POV works so well and it fits your title admirably. The overcast light is again giving an attractive quality to the image. We often want blue skies, but along with it comes very harsh light at most times of day. Thank you also for the WS which puts the pagoda in its setting for us.
Kath

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2006-09-13 7:00

Hi Angshuman
Nice composition and title for it. Interesting roof of the temple.
Regards

Gerrit (36529) 2006-09-13 7:17

Hi Angshu,
good POV and composition. It makes the tower very impressive.
Regards, Gerrit

pierrefonds (26797) 2006-09-13 7:51

Hi Angshuman,

A good POV of the 11-roofed meru to Hyang Api, a lot of details can be seen. The photo is sharp and clear. It has a good composition, perspective and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

jhm (83742) 2006-09-13 7:57

Hi Angshu,

Perfectly vertical perspective, you show excellent detail of the pagoda roofs, thank you for the interesting information about pagoda these roofs, so we can learn on TE, very lovely picture.

Have a nice day,
John

ChrisJ (70485) 2006-09-13 10:42

Hi Angshuman

Good pov & marvellous repetition of the multiple tiers in the meru. Tfs!

Budapestman (43238) 2006-09-13 11:31

Dear Angshu!
What a fascinating architecture photo! Superb and intriguing POV! Beautiful and particular details! Great atmosphere! Very spectacular shot! Thank you, nice days
George

prumod (8264) 2006-09-13 14:01

hi angshu
its also beautiful with its colors and composition...
take care
pramod

leo61 (44102) 2006-09-13 14:06

Hello Angshu!
Yor POV is excellent here.Good architecture shot of this impressive tower,well composed with the vegeation as contrast.
Regards,Leo

Wanda1 (11025) 2006-09-13 15:20

Hi Angshuman,
I like the angle at which you have taken this.The mood is great with the brooding clouds overhead. I like the colours and details on the temple.
Regards
Wanda

papagolf21 (57003) 2006-09-13 18:02

Bonsoir Angshu,
Ce gros plan nous permet de mieux comprendre les détails architecturaux et la richesse du décor.
Merci, Angshu, de nous présenter également ce temple dans son environnement.
Très intéressante prise de vue.
Amitiés.
Philippe

emjleclercq (14620) 2006-09-13 18:42

The pile of thatched roofs is surprising here and leads obviously to your title. Excellent sharpness of the sculptures again. To bad for the grey sky.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Cretense (57478) 2006-09-14 6:15

Hi Angshu!

Very impressive perspective in this one! Great composition and beautiful clouds, although the sky was cloudy. Very well done!

Best regards,
Hercules

sergio1 (12150) 2006-09-14 7:26

Hi

Angshu

Excellent compo and pov to this asian constructions. I love this shot and sharp.
Nice work
Sergio

josepmarin (34243) 2006-09-14 10:55

Hi Angshuman,
good POV that gives a perspective us towards the sky of this temple with their peculiar form, that it really seems a stairway towards the sky.
The details of their base are very beautiful, and the vegetation that surrounds it creates a pretty and pleasant image.
Nice work.
Regards,
Josep

MIG13 (0) 2006-09-15 0:18

WOW! What a nice and original pic, Angshu! Great sky and details! TFS! Best regards! Miguel.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2006-09-15 3:19

a very nice pic, however there are purple infringements at the top of the tower, but nice one

tcht (7298) 2006-09-15 15:16

Hi Angshu
Wow...what a stunning shot! Superb perspective and incredible atmosphere with those clouds. Very well framed and angled shot with tower always staying off centre. Near perfect pic. If I'm to nitpick,I'd clone out that bit in top left corner.
Beautiful work!
Nice Weekend
Cheukhin

berek (29111) 2006-09-16 0:55

Hi Angshuman,
I like your point of view. interesting architecture and details. good work. have a nice weekend.
Burak
my overall evaluation -> :-))

Stepan (27175) 2006-09-16 3:59

Your title is perfect and inspired. That's right and you compose that idea very good. Good inpiration.
Stéphane

anavazao (5592) 2006-09-16 16:31

Hi freind .... great perspective .... i'am dizzy he he he! Great colours, details and compostion! Take care Ana:)

pranab (5354) 2006-09-16 22:51

angshu,
nice capture again. good use of light and the raised contrast is a plus point here. great pov and the highlighted area of this frame is really brings out the contrast.

edal (6609) 2006-12-06 18:26

Hello Angshuman!
A remarkable pov of this temple roof with a dramatic sky as bg!
anton

daddo (11643) 2007-01-31 1:26

Hi Angshuman. I do like the strong contrast between the 11 roofs and the sky- makes your title very apt.Wonderful details between the roofs andon the carved walls. Excellent choice of PoV. Regards. Klaudio.