Beam of Light, a photo from Dushanbe, West

Photographer's Note

All good things must come to an end… Even the most fascinating trips don’t last forever. After two weeks in some of the most remote regions of Central Asia I arrived back in the capital of Tajikistan.

I probably wouldn’t even contemplate taking a photo of this landscape, I would maybe even think “what a shame these uninspiring blocks spoil the view of the mountains”, but the sudden burst of light was so attractive that it made me grab my camera and shoot.

I was going to title this post “Ray of Hope” but decided it wasn’t relevant. The Tajiks I met during my travels seem to be very positive about their past, present and future. During my many travels in the former Soviet Union I often asked The Big Question: “Do you think life is better now than it was under the Soviets” and often heard a negative reply. Many people, particularly the older generation, seem to feel quite sentimental about the times “zah soyoozah” (literarily “under the Union”). Not the Tajiks though. Everyone I asked responded their life was better now.

Moreover, they didn’t complain about the past either. Minutes before this photo was taken… I got stopped by the police. Or rather by one policeman keen to practice his English (much as I would have preferred to practice my Russian). He didn’t really need it, as his English was very good and he was well-travelled too. He told me about his participation in the humanitarian mission in Sudan some years earlier. He found it interesting I had just visited Afghanistan and told me:

“If we hadn’t been a part of the Soviets, we would have shared the fate of the Tajiks living in Afghanistan: the never-ending war, the poverty, the backwardness. And instead, we now have peace and freedom. Look around - all these beautiful buildings, the clean streets, the culture, we owe all that to the Soviet occupation”.

Strange twist of fate indeed.

Two “nothing special” images from Dushanbe in WS.

pajaran, jemaflor, Fis2, macjake, jhm, Royaldevon, jean113, PaulVDV, ChrisJ, pierrefonds has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (223069) 2021-03-18 22:51

Ciao Kasia, fascinating sunset with fantastic light, lovely silhouettes and wonderful warm colors, very well done, my friend, have a good weekend, ciao Silvio

ifege (49573) 2021-03-18 22:58

Hi Kasia
Spot light on what?
A great, well timed photo and interesting discussion.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (148334) 2021-03-19 0:06

Hi Kasia,
Great light, a divine light ! well captured, good contrast management, photogenic result, tfs.

Fis2 (172049) 2021-03-19 1:02

Witaj Kasiu!
Ktos daje znaki z nieba...
Bardzo fajny widok.
Swiatlo i kolory tworza niepowtarzalny klimat.
Ciekawy WS.
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

holmertz (103710) 2021-03-19 1:31

Hello Kasia,
I think a similar photo could be taken in Kabul, where there are also a lot of uninspiring blocks spoiling the view of the mountains. But in Kabul you would hardly find any persons happy with their present lives.
This moment was well worth a photo. The rays breaking through the clouds are quite spectacular, and you handled the light well. Both WS are nice glimpses of a rarely seen city.
Kind regards,
Gert

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-03-19 3:00

Hi Kasia
Beautiful scene and the subject of the sunlight beam is fantastic with just sufficient detail in the shadows of the surrounding scene. Your exposure control is spot on.
Best regards

macjake (98544) 2021-03-19 4:12

Hi Kasia
great to see you again on TE :) As always.
another interesting note...i may be wrong, but usually when people reminisce about the past, they talk positively, but they forget or choose to forget just how difficult it actually was.
as a lover of buildings, even ugly ones, I'd still like to see this view of the city. Scenes don't always have to be 'pretty'. Ugly buildings give the city an atmosphere of its own as well - an ugly one haha...but its true, think about it. Travelling around Poland for example...there are SOOOOOO many ugly large Communist Appartment blocks, and they're ultra Ugly, but that's the cities past, its history, its story. So ya, I'd still like to see it :) you captured this scene well with the golden glow of light beaming down, it would be hard to resist taking it. Looking forward to more of your posts
cheers
Craig

lousat (140058) 2021-03-19 5:58

Ciao Kasia,therefore the Soviet occupation was the lesser evil, without that it would have been worse. Your notes are interesting as always, really useful the little survey you did among the locals to understand when life was better. The photos are very beautiful, a great ray of light on the buildings of the capital really well exposed and detailed. The old newsstand is also beautiful, while the floral artwork is really very kitch..ehehe .. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

GyurMaster (25055) 2021-03-19 6:02

Hello Kasia,

Wonderful shot. Simple, yet amazing. It was a 'divine gift' for you. It goes to my favourites.

Regarding the nostalgia: here in Hungary too, a lot of people say that they lived in better conditions under the former regime. Is it the same in Poland?

Best Wishes,
Gy.

jimmyjimmy (6164) 2021-03-19 6:05

Hello Kasia

What an awesome note. It does make many ask themselves on what the real path of life is and how to find it. I see the slow crumbling of America due to the woke culture as well as the greed of politicians. America is no longer a Christian nation. We have strayed from the path. Anyway the ray of hope comes from somewhere. May it continue. A beautiful note once again to accompany this image.

Jimmy

jhm (211738) 2021-03-19 7:06

Hello Kasia,

The beam to the sky makes your picture attractive
Lovely composition and nice presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Royaldevon (86526) 2021-03-19 9:36

Hello Kasia,

Interesting notes, as usual, which always make me ponder.
You have to ask a range of people to get a complete answer to your questions and, sometimes, I think people say what they think you want to hear.

This is the sort of photograph that a photographer just cannot resist! It's almost like a heavenly message and has been very well captured!

I was interested to see the flower sculpture. Though it's not sophisticated, it seems so cheerful and optimistic, so very different from the sculptures of soldiers and weapons that have been posted from Russia.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jean113 (28325) 2021-03-19 13:51

Hello Kasia, a very brief moment in time that couldn't be missed!
The sun's rays shine so strongly through the break in the clouds. The golden glow is quite special.
Thanks for the extra shots too.
Kind regards, Jean.

PaulVDV (63546) 2021-03-19 16:10

Hello Kasia,
Nice to read that there are also people on earth who think that their lives are going in the right direction.
Even better, you write that the Tajiks seem to be very positive about their past, present and future.
Perhaps these people are always positive in life and still know something that has been lost in many places.
When I saw your main picture, I also thought of a 'ray of hope' but it turns out to be irrelevant.
Anyway very beautiful with the yellow tones surrounded by almost darkness.
Best regards, Paul

vjmite (6706) 2021-03-20 4:55

Hi Kasia,
When you see a phenomenon like this, you have to take the photo even if the foreground is not too inspiring. The buildings are largely in the dark so they don't draw our attention away from the wonderful atmospheric show going on. I like the way the beam of light points straight to the buildings. It's good to hear what the locals think about their recent history.
Vince

everlasting (20040) 2021-03-21 7:46

The beam of light is very well managed and your note makes an interesting read. Lovely golden colours and silhouette of the skyline also.

ChrisJ (172440) 2021-04-05 23:54

Hi Kasia

Missed this one. Well managed lighting with a knife edge between both under and overexposure. The highlights are not blown out and the shadows are not so dark we cant see the city or the mountains. Tfs!

mkamionka (75217) 2021-04-08 11:23

Czesc Kasiu,
bardzo ciekawa notka jak zwykle. Przyjemny efekt na niebie, ja pomimo ze dosyc czesto widuje podobne zjawiska to jednak nigdy nie zdazam zeby je sfotografowac.
Jeszcze bardziej mnie zaciekawil widok kiosku, zupelnie w polskim stylu.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M

pierrefonds (115645) 2021-06-06 16:01

Hi Kasia,

I likw the play between the lighted and shadowed areas. The point of view is showing the details of the buildings and of the mountains. The ray of light is giving nice colors to the sky. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jmdias (116601) 2021-06-07 12:35

kasia

a fabulous moment of nature. I liked it a lot and the other images in WS. I presume the old people have a sentimental attachment to soviet union because they were young in those days, and the memories of youth are mixed with the political and social environment. I guess the soviet ruled "killed" the tribal aspect of this area while in Afghanistan this is bad aspect is alive.

take care

jorge