The Great Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Kairouan is a city in Tunisia, about 160 kilometres south of Tunis. In 2003 the city had about 150,000 inhabitants. Founded in about the year 670, the original name was derived from Arabic kairuwân, from Persian Kârawân, meaning "camp", "caravan", or "resting place".
Kairouan was founded in about the year 670 when the Muslim general Uqba ibn Nafi selected a site in the middle of a dense forest, then infested with wild beasts and reptiles, as the location of a military post. It was to keep in check the Berber hordes and was located far from the sea where it was safe from attack. A city soon developed, with luxuriant gardens and olive groves. Ibn Nafi was killed in battle by the Berbers about fifteen years after the military post was established.
The city was soon recaptured and remained for four centuries the "holy city", the Mecca of North Africa. In the tenth century, the city was embellished by the Aghlabites. It was the capital in the eleventh century, and was famous for its wealth and prosperity. About the middle of the eleventh century, the Fatimites of Egypt instigated the Egyptian Bedouins to invade this part of Africa. The city was so utterly destroyed that it would never regain its former position. Then Mahdia became the capital under the Fatimites. Under the Ottomans, Tunis became, and remains, the capital. In 1881, Kairouan was taken by the French, after which non-Muslims were allowed access to the city.

From Wikipedia

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In the picture, the Great Mosque.
Kairouan is part of the UNESO World Heritage.

*Scanned image*

efigesta, isabela_sor, capthaddock, Cricri, john_c, huynt, tjanze, Steft, AiresSantos, Ramy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bantonbuju (48796) 2005-12-27 4:07

ciao paolo, somehow the muslim architecture is something tempting to me, i like it , i feel it, i appreciate it;
this type of shapes as on the image are characteristic for the maghreb countries, and for tunisia in particular, actually - you hardly ever find round mosques (if any) in that country;
good representation of that archi, paolo, although i'd personally would love to see more of the bottom;
have a nice week, jerzy

jinju (14265) 2005-12-27 4:13

This shot looks more like a cartoon animation cell than a photo. Maybe from Aladdin? The compo is very nice, as Jerzy said a bit more at the bottom would be nice. I have no idea about the architecture in Tunisia but it strikes me as sort of having a bit of European influence. Though perhaps its the other way around and the influence went Europe's way.

efigesta (12181) 2005-12-27 4:36

Ciao Paolo

Great sky, i love this composition with a great colors and a nice POV

tks
manuel

Zepi (22848) 2005-12-27 5:10

Hello Paolo,
Belle image.
J’aime cette architecture, mais ce qui fait marcher la photo ici à mon avis, c’est ce magnifique ciel bleu et ce gros nuage !!!
Toute une atmosphère !
Beau travail
Merci pour le partage
Amicalement
Sébastien

eleparc (24059) 2005-12-27 6:28

Ciao Paolo! mi piacce questa foto! molto simplice ma bella con un bel cielo!
Eric

fayeulle (26547) 2005-12-27 9:58

Hi Paolo
Althrough some underexposed parts in this shot, I like it because archtecture and cloudy sky.
As each days a great note !
Cheers
JP

isabela_sor (42471) 2005-12-27 10:02

I like the angle and composition very much. Great colors, contrast,fantastic combination between light-shadows.Very beautiful arhitecture here and interesting history.
Regards,
Isabela

capthaddock (28640) 2005-12-27 10:05

Hi Paolo - inetersting architecture, something between egyptian and moroccan, which makes sense given its geographical location, the sky also looks impressive.

arindam_thokder (3946) 2005-12-27 11:51

Hello Narayan,

I missed this, Nice shot and story, everybody has already said this :) I like the distance view, the loneliness, rather emptiness in this picture, the landscape.

Arindam

[workshop] [compare]

Cricri (43762) 2005-12-27 13:01

Bonjour Paolo,
Belle architecture de forme carré, joli contraste avec ce beau ciel bleu, bon POV, note interessante.
Amitiés
cricri

john_c (24635) 2005-12-27 13:44

Hi Paolo,
A well composed shot of this interesting tower. I like the lighting, exposure level, and silhouettes you have captured here. The contrast and detail are superb, and your careful framing and cropping ensure high impact and good ambience. All the best of the holiday season to you, Paolo.
John

Fis2 (46429) 2005-12-27 14:40

Witaj Paolo!
Super sky and interesting object. I like the colours and composition. Good sharpnes. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

Quentin (5278) 2005-12-27 20:55

Salut Paolo
This big minar is very impressive on this beautiful sky! The composition is simple and classic but very efficient. Interesting note too. Best wishes and take care
Quentin

huynt (5077) 2005-12-28 4:20

Ciao Paolo
Wow a very nice sky with a invaluable old building. Well done. Thanks. Best wishes. Huy

jemaflor (39759) 2005-12-28 12:08

Salut Paolo,
Belle mise en valeur avec cette présentation, bon cadrage et bonne utilisation de la lumière qui donne de beaux contrastes.

tjanze (5674) 2005-12-28 14:42

Hi Paolo!
Nice captured part of mosque.I been there,but they didn`t let me in.Turists cant see inside of mosque in Kairouan.Well,outside is very pretty too,with many towers and those red bricks. Wish you Happy new year. Vlado!

Steft (5962) 2005-12-30 7:35

Nice photo, Paolo, but it is a bit unsharp and some parts are a bit dark, I guess that happened during the scanning process.

But I like the composition and they way you composed the building against this beautiful sky.

Thanks for sharing + happy 2006!
Stef

devimeuxbe (56370) 2005-12-30 17:54

Hi Paolo
Nice frame on this tower and the sky of clouds.
Nice light and colors.
Well done
Bertrand

greg64g (11193) 2006-01-02 4:11

hello Paolo

excellent shot and colors for this one i like a lot the blue tone here.
let me wish you a happy new year.
cheers
greg

anavazao (5592) 2006-01-05 6:26

Hi,

Very nice shot with great POV.
Colors are good.
Ana:)

AiresSantos (42924) 2006-01-05 13:04

Hi Paolo,
Gorgeous composition with strong colors.
I like this perspective and the enquadrement.
Very good colors and POV. Lovely clouds.
Thanks for sharing. Best Regards, Aires

sway (360) 2006-01-07 16:59

HI Paolo,
Nice shot. You have given a nice feeling of perspective with the wall.
Good use of Thirds with the tower and wall composed well.
The contrasts in the sky are nice with the clouds and blue.
Well done
:)

alekpet (4659) 2006-01-09 8:22

Ciao Paolo.

This is simple and effective.
Clouds and the Mosque combine pretty good to make a nice composition. You used nice angle with the direction of the sun.
Excelent!

take care, Aleks

colibriav (1568) 2008-08-30 13:27

Hola:
Magnifica la mezquita de Kairouan, ena ciudad llena de bullicio.

Un saludo.

Pablo