tolerance in architecture, a photo from West Midlands, England

Photographer's Note

Everywhere I travel or live my target is always the same - to take one photo that would represent the whole city.

I currently live in Birmingham, UK that is famous for its cultural diversity. Birmingham is (even though in few year we may say "used to be") the centre of automotive industry in the UK. During the 50's they needed more work force so they brought many people from their ex-colonies (Jamaica, Pakistan, India, etc.)

That's why I chose this to be my Birmingham photo. Mosque and church next to each other. How much more tolerant can this get?

Anyway, some technical stuff about taking this photo. This place is next to a motorway bridge I use to go to work. One Friday after work I parked under the bridge and climbed on a block of concrete in order to capture if from the best possible angle. I may try it once more as I am not 100% happy with the DOF but until then we'll have to live with this one :-) Tell me what you think.

One more remark about this photo - it came up from Becky's comment. The original name of this mosque was Saddam Hussein Mosque because the ex-Iraqi donated money for it in 1988 but it changed its name few year ago.

rigoletto has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

berseph (1758) 2006-12-04 17:03

Great symbolism here. I like the inclusion of both places of worship, with the peaceful sky in the back. I wish the top of the church was more in focus as well, but I can see that it would be difficult to get both in focus. But otherwise, well done and well seen!

Becky (334) 2006-12-04 17:32

I like it. What style of mosque is it, Pakistani? It's only a shame that you can't see the church on the steeple since the cross is at the wrong angle. Otherwise, great shot, great angle.

rigoletto (34279) 2006-12-04 19:39

Hi Ondrej,
How nice of you to send a photo of tolerence! We need it those days more than any and you tried a good effort (by climbing lol!) to share what you could share with us here in TE. My city (Istanbul) is also an ancient metropolis full of such scenes: crosses and crescents in a single vicinity, and here in Turkey we also fight our lives for more tolerences; only for enough tolerences just like in the old days. I like your open-mindedness. Thank you for sharing this technically nice geometric compo and for your nice note.

PS: Next time climb up to somewhere with a better view in order to get a more proper POV, seeing the cross would add much to your photo :))
(hope you don't mind my pecking words)

Best regards,
Deniz

rafid76 (0) 2006-12-05 14:28

this is a great point and you showed it in your picture well, i totally agree with you. the photo needs a bit more sharpning also unless you told us i would have not known that the other atructure is a church i would have thought it was part of the mosque, no crosses.

serp2000 (47063) 2006-12-10 2:04

Privet, Ondrej.You touch big problem of tolerance in the World.Beatiful point of view.
Best wishes,
Serghei