Brunch with Battutah
Incense burner and water pots - Muscat, Oman
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 14 January 2008 in Art & Design and Portfolio.
Potters have formed jugs like this (but much smaller) in the Omani village of Bala for centuries. These monsters decorate a Muscat roundabout. The traditional incense burner is a massive Muscat landmark perched on a hill.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
I love the water pots and the angle you chose to shoot them from! Sorry to say so....I think the incense burner is an eye-sore, unnecessary in this image! Maybe....by itself, it might make a difference. Of course this is my point of view....hope you don't mind too much my piece of criticism...but the water pots are real beautiful!They deserve to enjoy full attention from the viewers!
Gabriela
14 Jan 2008 5:07am
@Japanalia: Thanks, Gabriela. I don't mind the criticism at all. I included the incense burner because it appeared much smaller but is actually much larger than the water pots. I like it there but perhaps others don't.
paola veneziani photography from Brescia, Italy
Beautiful photos, even if the fountain is a difficult subject to photograph!
14 Jan 2008 8:05am
@paola veneziani photography: Kind comment, Paola. Many thanks.
DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom
Nice shot Michael, well exposed and nice composition!
14 Jan 2008 8:17am
@DaveB: Thanks, Dave. I appreciate that.
@Teresa Durães: Thank you, Teresa.
@badala: Thank you, Badala.
@Hans: Thanks, Hans. In Oman right now it's about 25C during the day. Summer all year round. Except in their summer it's like a furnace.
MGB from Lisboa, Portugal
An image that made me feels the taste of the thirst and the power of the water as source of life. I liked the tepid colours of the terracotta and the in blue sky of the infinite and dreams. :)))
14 Jan 2008 12:24pm
@MGB: Poetically put. Great comment, MGB. Many thanks.
Laurent from Lyon, France
great composition and really nice point of view for this one.
14 Jan 2008 12:35pm
@Laurent: Nice comment. Thank you, Laurent.
@KMF: Thanks, KMF.
kairospix from Singapore, Singapore
wonderful
love the contrast between the blue and sand brown!
14 Jan 2008 1:54pm
@kairospix: Thanks so much, kairospix.
@Hinah: Thanks, Hinah.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
LOL well that's just plain delightful...what a catch, my God are you Everywhere? Love it!!!
14 Jan 2008 3:09pm
@Lorraine: Thanks, Lorraine. Glad you liked the pic. We've lived all over the Middle East so I plan to upload whatever takes my fancy. Tomorrow, it's wintertime in the desert.
@Steven: Thanks, Steven. I appreciate your opinion.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
I love this shot -- it almost looks like something you'd find around Morocco at Disney's Epcot -- but yours is real life imitating imitation, or something... heh. Great work!
14 Jan 2008 3:20pm
@Viewfinder: Many thanks, VF. People in Oman have used these pots for centuries for water and food storage. The pictured pots are bigger versions to emphasize the tradition. Muscat is filled with interesting statues.
alexdpx from Doha, Qatar
There's a similar fountain here in Doha, I mean jars with water pouring out of them, but totally different shape. Very nice composition.
14 Jan 2008 3:49pm
@alexdpx: Thanks, Alex. Places with a lack of water really like pouring fountains, don't they?
Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium
wow crazy - I am slated to go to Muscat next week and was wondering if anyone on Aminus3 lived there or took photos there. I opened up your blog from your comment et viola!
did you enjoy Muscat?
14 Jan 2008 4:00pm
@Jason Kravitz: Muscat is fantastic. I lived there five years. Omanis are friendly and welcoming. It is a great place for photography.
@alla: Thanks, Alla.
@yiannis krikis: Many thanks, Yiannis.
Pedro from Santander, Spain
Great description, I´ve been in the Muscat roundabout for a minute
14 Jan 2008 6:00pm
@Pedro: Thanks, Pedro, for your interesting comment.
Tristan Cocrelle from Quimper, France
It reminds me Muscat indeed, where i've been few times. Keep going, i love it.
14 Jan 2008 6:02pm
@Tristan Cocrelle: Yes, Tristan. It's a great place. Thanks for your comment.
Oswegan from Lake Oswego, United States
Nice capture. It's a very interesting perspective shot.
14 Jan 2008 7:04pm
@Oswegan: Thanks so much for your comment.
Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands
Nice shapes, interesting explanation! I own an Arabic incense burner (of course much smaller) in which I burn sometimes genuine Arabic incense purchased from a R.C. monastery. They assured to me it was genuine and not the cheap artificial incense, they use it only at high celebrations (Easter, Christmas etc.). Delicious! Muslim or Christian, the nose smells the same :)
14 Jan 2008 8:34pm
@Illuci: Great comment, Illuci, as always. I believe you are referring to the incense known as Frankincense which grows in the south of Oman near Salalah. Many thanks.
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Superb composition Michael. Great perspective. I like the colour tones
14 Jan 2008 8:48pm
@standley: A kind comment, Standley. Thanks so much.
Wolfgang Prigge from Canada
I like the compopsition, the colors, especially the bright sky. It looks similar to winter sky in our region.
14 Jan 2008 9:04pm
@Wolfgang Prigge: Many thanks, Wolfgang. The skies are always bright and clear in desert countries of the Middle East. Sometimes having a cloud is a noticeable event.
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
Not a cloud!This is a really superb capture,like many of the am3 friends,i really like the angle from which you have taken the water jars,a wonderfully brilliant shot!And i think not only are your shots beautiful,they are always in my opinion very informative,thanks!:)
14 Jan 2008 10:49pm
@tyan: This is a very generous comment. Many thanks, Tyan.
Camiller from Lisboa, Portugal
We forgive the "Monsters" because you could take a beautiful photograph.
15 Jan 2008 12:10am
@Camiller: Very kind. Thanks, Camiller.
@Reza: Thanks, Reza.
Jen from Alpharetta, United States
wonderful perspective...and angle...impressive fountain
15 Jan 2008 1:53am
@Jen: I appreciate your remark. Thanks, Jen.
@Photographs by M.E.: Thanks so much, ME.
@Nick: Very generous. Many thanks, Nick.
@Rags: Kind comment, Rags. Thank you.
@Frankie: Thanks so much, Frankie.
@Sandrine: Thank you, Sandrine.
@Zahra: You are very kind to comment. Thank you, Zahra.
@eddie: A kind comment. Thank you.
Aayawa from Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Nothing to add except great pic. Sky is a little mottled but that does not detract from the image
19 Jan 2008 8:07pm
@Aayawa: Thanks, Aayawa.
