In the mirror mosque, a photo from Fars, East

Photographer's Note

I couldn't make a decision which picture should be the main upload and which Workshop, so I show all three of them at once.
Visiting the SHAH CHERAGH MOSQUE IN Shiraz, Iran can be a somber and, for lack of a better word, religious experience, yet the interior of the central temple looks as though a disco ball exploded, covering nearly every surface with glittering shards of glass and mirror.

The site began as a funereal monument with a mythic past. As the story goes, around 900 CE a wanderer caught site of a mysterious light shining off in the distance and went to investigate. He found a luminous grave that, when excavated, was found to hold the armored corpse of an important Muslim figure. Thus the site became a popular pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims, and a domed tomb structure was created to house the grave. The site was improved and expanded over the centuries with religious schools and other facilities being added to the complex. In the 14th century the site’s signature mirrorball decoration was ordered at the behest of Queen Tash Khātūn who wanted the mosque intensify any light a thousand times over, the name “Shah Cheragh” roughly translating to “King of the Light” in Persian.

Despite being damaged by human hands and natural disasters over the centuries, the mosque has been maintained and repaired and shines brightly even today. The increasingly sprawling site is still an extremely important pilgrimage location for Shia Muslims, however visitors of any faith are likely to marvel at the sheer beauty of this glassy wonder.

As I have already written, we were allowed to go inside the holy place but the women could just look from the side. In the upper picture, you can observe that all women had to be clad in a kind of sheet. I also wore it. It was fun, we looked liked ghosts.
Personally, I found it a bit exaggerated all these mirrors but original, anyway.

Better see in large format, then there will be just three pictures instead of Workshops.

The group enters the mosuqe here:

https://www.trekearth.com/workshops/1587087/photo222493.htm

holmertz, PaulVDV, Royaldevon, jhm, pierrefonds, ikeharel, jean113, ktanska, worldcitizen, papagolf21, adramad, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (221493) 2020-08-16 1:20

Ciao cara Malgo, beautiful collage with fantastic interior, in each photo excellent exposure, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, splendid light and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

lousat (139198) 2020-08-16 1:58

Ciao Malgo,this time too there is somethign of similar to the Uzbek mosque,but only in the upper pic of your collage.The others 2 are fantastics,what a lights,reflections and decorations,surely a great show to see,very well done! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (102636) 2020-08-16 3:32

Hello Malgo,
I am glad to see that you found this exaggerated, because that is also my impression. It's like a hopelessly overdecorated Baroque church. It's more amazing and original than truly beautiful. But the photos are good. They all combine decorations and people in good proportions. My favourite is probably the one at the top, where the decorations seem the most restrained and there are only the silhouettes of four persons watching them (and one lying on the floor). You managed the light surprisingly well.
Best regards,
Gert

PaulVDV (62846) 2020-08-16 3:38

Hello Malgo,
The glittering of the thousands of tiny mirrors was an unforgettable experience. I remember how often I was guided around in a mosque or a shrine by an Iranian visitor who saw I was a foreigner.
There was always someone who thought it was his duty to show me around. Without any consideration. This was Iran!
In 1996 there were almost no foreign visitors in the country.
The strange thing was that they all saw that I was a foreigner but assumed that I was a Muslim.
Of course, during their tour they found out that I did not know certain things that every Muslim is supposed to know and then they asked me very surprised whether I might not be a Muslim. No worries, however, and they continued with their explanation.
I was welcome in all mosques, shrines and Koran schools.
Only in Qom and Mashhad I had to hide in a larger group of Iranians to slip in the sanctuary.
Your photos remind me with great nostalgia of my journey through one of the friendliest countries in the world.
Best regards, Paul

Royaldevon (85862) 2020-08-16 3:47

Hello Malgo,

This is certainly a place that you will never forget! Its sining, shimmering walls will constantly reflecting and re-reflecting. I think I would have loved to see it but, like you, might have felt it to be too glittery!

Glass was an expensive commodity; can you imagine what the cost must have been to decorate and maintain this mosque!

I agree, it was a tough decision to chose a main post but I assure you, your combined photographs give a very vivid impression of the interior of this shimmering mosque!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

kasianowak (17676) 2020-08-16 4:24

Czesc Malgosiu
Swietny pomysl na tryptyk, a zdjecie w WS wyjasnia ksztalt sylwetek kobiet w gornym zdjeciu. Bardzo pieknie oddane kolory i blyszczace szczegoly, mimo ze sfotografowane w tak skapym swietle.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

jhm (211736) 2020-08-16 4:52

Hello Malgo,

We get get three very nice pictures.
But I prefere your first picte as the most beautiful
I've much respectly for you in Iran as Western lady make pictures of the interior of a Mosque where women not are respectly.
You ve much mood with your sheet over your head.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

pierrefonds (114371) 2020-08-16 5:14

Hi Malgo,

The interior of the Mosque is impressive. You have captured well the action of the visitors. The point of view is showing the details of the interior of then Shah Cheragh Mosque. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jean113 (27819) 2020-08-16 7:20

Hello Malgo, I cannot imagine what the mirrored room must have felt like.
It is an incredible concept.
All three are excellent pictures and give us a very good impression of the mosque.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

ktanska (44738) 2020-08-16 11:40

Hi Malgo,
It is a wonderful trio of pictures from this wonderful mosque. Such shine i have not seen anywhere else. And all the people there makes scenes lively.
Kari

worldcitizen (16048) 2020-08-16 12:16

Hello Malgo,
Great trio of photos showing this unique interior. They really wanted to use as many mirrors as possible! The lighting conditions look difficult, but you did a good job. The bottom photo is my favorite. Take good care!

PiotrF (54572) 2020-08-16 15:22

Cze¶ж Malgo
Ciekawe wnкtrze tego meczetu pokazane na ¶wietnych kadrach.
Bogactwo detali, dobrekompozycje i ¶wietna jakosc.
Ciekawa prezentacja
Pozdrawiam
Piotr

papagolf21 (152607) 2020-08-16 23:08

Bonjour, chиre Malgo,
Outre l'intйrкt manifeste du sujet, j'admire toujours votre йcriture pour dйcrire les moments ressentis lors de la visite.
Que de splendeur !
Amitiйs.
Philippe

jemaflor (147046) 2020-08-16 23:22

Hi Malgo,
Great architecture, so nice decorations, perfect rendering, exposure and golden tones, well photographed and presented with these 3 photos, good effect with the silhouettes for the photo on the top, tfs.

ifege (47993) 2020-08-16 23:44

Hi Malgo
A good collage from this unusual mosque.
cheers
Ian

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-08-17 2:57

Hello, that mosque has a grandiose interior and is an architectural jewel of Shiraz. The floor is covered with superb carpets. Fantastic chandeliers and mirrors decorate the rooms and the walls. The visitors are really captivated by this wonderful monument. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-08-17 6:08

Hi Malgorzata
Tremendous pics combo portraying gorgeous display of sparkling lights and myriad of colours of the interiors with tons of sumptuous detail to to absorb! Mesmerising to witness indeed and you were there at the optimum time to include human activity, and all the other elements inter play so nicely. I think, I could have sat there all day and very much appreciate the "beauty" for how they were constructed. It's well observed & made - delightful, tfs and your very useful notes
Best regards

adramad (72940) 2020-08-17 9:45

Hello Malgo.
Spectacular composition with this trio of images of this beautiful mosque covered with small mirrors and glass, which makes it very bright and gives it a touch of a room for parties, I like the ones with beautiful tiles better.
A great photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Well done. I love it.
Have a good week.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jmdias (115072) 2020-08-18 10:15

malgo

a nice triple view, in vertical these 3 views aren't so small as if they had put in an horizontal format.
I liked the visual effect, not easy to take photos I guess. TFS.

take care

jorge

aliabazari (22099) 2022-02-27 23:39

Hi dear friend Malgorzata
Beautiful views of the shrine (Shahcheragh). A relaxing and lovely place for us Iranians. Clarity and exposure are well done. Beautiful text about its history. Thanks for sharing