The Doors Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Moulay Ismail was an extreemly cruel ruler when alive, but he had a decent taste in architechture. His mausoleum in the imperial city of Meknes represents Moroccan archtechture at its best. Very simple and clean lines with intricate ornamentation. A very peaceful place save the crows of tour-groups.

These doors are photographed perhaps 500 times each day (a photo of them make up the cover of my Lonely Planet as well). In order to do something just a little original I focused on the ornamentation along the wall in order to get a dramatic perspective. Does it work for anyone but me?

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Critiques | Translate

Aegean (2567) 2003-11-13 7:13

A great shot...I love the way the right wall decorations leads the eye the the end of the picture...Colors and composition are great too...

Edwin (2039) 2003-11-13 7:20

A great angle you have chosen here Mikkel, it surely works for me! :-) Nicely framed as well, just have one little nit-pick here. I think if you would have used the same angle as you did here and bended you knees slightly, you would have captured a more attractive diagonal in the top of the white ornamentation, currently it looks a bit too horizontal...
Nevertheless a very appealing achitectural shot Mikkel! Well done!

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mitternacht (1836) 2003-11-13 8:14

I first thought that the ornamentation took up too much place in this picture, but after reading your comment I think it's an excellent choice. I do miss some DOF though.

Nina (4613) 2003-11-13 8:16

It works for me, it leads the eye to the doors very nicely. Well done.

boof (634) 2003-11-13 8:42

the what should i call it. white thing... creating a line leading your eye to the door is great. fantastic composition. If I was to make edits I might try to lighten it up a little more and maybe make the white line a little more centered horizontaly. very nice pic.

papagolf21 (56749) 2003-11-13 10:08

Les portes ont peut-être été photographiées 500 fois par jour, mais rarement avec cet effet. J'aime beaucoup cette prise de vue.
Doors were maybe photographed 500 times a day, but rarely with this effect. I like very much this recording.

DaveO (119) 2003-11-13 10:54

This is a very good shot. I appreciate the information you give about the location.
Would it have been possible to move just sligthly to the left to include the entire second door and a bit of the wall to its right?
Could you include any exposure information?

avigur_11 (21307) 2003-11-13 12:17

yes, Mikkel, it works very very good! Excellent perspctive. both doors meet in the left side, it add a lot of depth. I'd keep it just the way it is. It is wonderful.

dannyc7 (358) 2003-11-13 14:29

Original angle and perspective of a most impressive place.I like the good balance of depth and sharpness

greg (2835) 2003-11-13 16:21

I think the distant arch was the one I photographed - they do make a good subject! I like your composition here very much - I might only have hoped for a deeper DOF.

Cathy (331) 2003-11-14 4:49

The script is beautifully done and leads you into the picture.

Excellent history as well.

henrye (3498) 2003-11-14 4:56

Great composition. Great colors. Very interesting picture, and your note is good too. This is what TE is all about!

joseelias (367) 2003-11-16 15:18

Yes, it really does work. The perspective is really nice and because "we're" so near the wall, all the textures become very visible. This is a big plus to the photo.

Very good composition.

Clochette (8076) 2004-01-29 5:48

Nice perspective. The ornamentation deserved you focused on it. Of course it reduces the DOF, but it is not a main issue for me.
Good idea, Mikkel.

ninadev (5225) 2004-01-29 7:23

It works for me too. I like the idea of focussing on the ornementation. Might be a little too much though, I would have cropped about 1/4 to the right..
---
Update my point.. somebody made me noticed that I had clicked on a yellow smiley.... this was a mistake that I didn't notice.

dawekato (1988) 2004-08-30 17:25

I love the composition in this shot, with a strong leading line directing your eyes to the doors. The image would be better with sharper focus and greater DOF (depth of field). Have you thought of cropping from the bottom and right side to make the doors bigger, show less of the floor and less of the fuzzy part of the fancy wall panel?

[workshop] [compare]

bantonbuju (48796) 2004-11-26 17:59

s-p-l-e-n-d-i-d

Steft (5962) 2005-02-20 10:09

This photo has really beautiful colours and lines. The shapes look very Arabic, like an fairy tale.

Great job!

camilabessa (114) 2005-02-20 10:20

A really nice shot!!
I luv this arabic buildings...
I would wanna to go to Morocco, and I studied arabic for 1 1/2 year... Maybe one day I can go there.

Salam alaikum!

Traveller (667) 2005-12-20 12:34

Yes, it works for me as well! This is a good idea. This photo attracted my attention by its composition.

photokat (50) 2005-12-20 12:36

I like the symmetry of the wall and the doors. Very good eye that captures the theme of the room. Like you, the wall ornamentation catches the eye as well as leads up to the doors.

efimoore (2126) 2006-02-16 23:29

Good that you focused on the ornamentation along the wall. Bold composition that works well.

eversmile (6439) 2007-02-15 7:10

You have really an eye for inventive compositions and your ability to manage with the light gives an intensity to your shots that I admire. The perspective on this one is excellent... amplifying the details of decoration. With your point of view, symbolically, the power of words seems to direct us to the door, (towards another level of consciousness?)... Strong vision with the other door in the background. Congratulations. Regards, Marine.