Brunch with Battutah
Portuguese Fort - Bahrain
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 25 September 2008 in Architecture and Portfolio.
The fort dates from the 1500s when the Portuguese military occupied Bahrain which is 25 km. off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The fortress sits on top of an earthen mound which archeologists have excavated to find ruins and artifacts dating from as early as 3,000 BC when the island was the center of the Dilmon civilization which traded with Mesopotamia.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Love the textures and repeating patterns in this shot. The history of the place is fascinating.
25 Sep 2008 5:12am
@Steve Rice: Thank you very much, Steve.
Zygene from morlaix, France
Un très bel endroit joliment photographie dans cette ravissante lumière.
25 Sep 2008 5:14am
@Zygene: Merci, Zygene.
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
Fabulous composition...I love the bit of blue sky peeking through. Great shot.
25 Sep 2008 5:34am
@Margie: Thanks so much, Margie.
Angelique from The Netherlands, Netherlands
Lovely composition.
Love the angle and colors.
25 Sep 2008 6:07am
@Angelique: Thanks so much for commenting, Angelique.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Another capture of incredible architect. Great symmetry, angle and lighting here Michael. Also really enjoy the history lesson that goes with this fabulous picture.
25 Sep 2008 6:15am
@Marion: Thanks, Marion. Your comment is delightful.
Cat from Tel Aviv, Israel
The Portuguese made an effort, didn't they - the arches look very Arabic to me. I like how you've captured them, they look amazing...and I can feel how hot it must be there.
25 Sep 2008 6:40am
@Cat: Yes, it was stifling hot. Many thanks, Cat.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
just splendid forms! wow! love the textures and the brilliant pieces of blue sky that peek through!!
25 Sep 2008 7:10am
@dj.tigersprout: Thank you very much, Jaycee.
@Saeed: Many thanks, Saeed.
@hesam: Thank you, Hesam.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
The rock work is just incredible. Love this composition! Well done!
25 Sep 2008 9:53am
@Betty: Thanks so much, Betty.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Those arches are not of Portuguese origin. We don't have such shapes in Portugal even having the south of the country been under Moors rule for more than four hundred years. It seems that they adopted local traditions in this fort in Bahrain. On the other hand it looks like those arches have been rebuilt, presumably maintaining the original shape.
Thanks for showing.
25 Sep 2008 10:08am
@António Pires: Yes, the fort has been renovated so these may be like the original or the Bahrainis rebuilt in their own design. thank you, António.
@Viewfinder: many thanks, VF.
Marcie from United States
Love your point-of-view and how you've composed this. The series of arches are wonderful!!!
25 Sep 2008 12:34pm
@Marcie: Thanks so much, Marcie.
Lorraine from Canada
I would - after the shock of taking such an outstanding photo - print it, frame it and hang it in my living room, and sigh a lot lol Bravo Michael!
25 Sep 2008 1:03pm
@Lorraine: A wonderful comment, made me chuckle. many thanks, Lorraine.
Melissa from Ogden, United States
Beautiful composition and textures. I especially like the blue sky in contrast with the stone.
25 Sep 2008 1:15pm
@Melissa: Many thanks, Melissa.
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
I really don't know whether I can add to anything that's been said before - except to say that this is one of my favourite images.
25 Sep 2008 1:42pm
@dobbino: That's a great compliment. thank you very much, Rob.
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
I love the arches of diminishing sizes, with the view of the wall beyond - incredible architecture, no matter the origin.
25 Sep 2008 1:59pm
@Judy: I agree. thank you, Judy.
@claire: Thank you, Claire.
Radel from Netherlands
lovely piece of architecture. I like how those arces makes concentric curves leading deep into the frame. Looks like you travel a lot! :)
25 Sep 2008 2:47pm
@Radel: I live in the middle east so this is not far from my home. Thanks, Radel.
Rags from Plano, United States
It is a well balanced image. The makers of this structure were truly skilled.
25 Sep 2008 4:41pm
@Rags: I agree. thank you, Rags.
@Veerendra: thank you very much.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
It never ceases to amaze me how ruins like this survive so long and still look beautiful. Love the light, shapes and textures in this shot Michael.
25 Sep 2008 4:54pm
@MaryB: Thank you so much, Mary.
@Robin: Thank you, Robin.
Wolfgang - vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
Portuguese Fort, but Arabian architecture.... Superbe perspective & repitition!
P.S.: I'll be absent for the next two weeks, but Gilles M., Gilles D. and Alain B. will continue to visit your blog and answer your comments on our blog. (going to Turkey)
25 Sep 2008 5:26pm
@Wolfgang - vu@granby: Thanks, Wolfgang. Have a great time.
@Cia: Thank you, Cia.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
A nice 'time tunnel', seems to be still in a very good condition. I guess it was not easy to take this shot at full sunlight, but you managed it very well!
25 Sep 2008 5:57pm
@MadScientist: Thank you, MS. yes, it certainly was during the full heat of the day.
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Well, I love the perspective and the architecture.
25 Sep 2008 6:16pm
@Ana Lúcia: Thank you, Ana Lúcia.
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
I love the rhythm you have captured here!
25 Sep 2008 7:37pm
@Craig: Many thanks, Craig.
Jasp from Plymouth, United Kingdom
I once had to do a photo project on triangles and now I see them everywhere . The more I look at this the more (is that a pun ?) I see... the arches that look like hands ... the textures of the walls. One to stare at.
25 Sep 2008 8:06pm
@Jasp: Thank you, Jasp. That's a kind comment.
@Marie: Many thanks, Marie.
Terry H. from Azle Texas, United States
Fun facts and great photo to go with it. Great composition, love the stone work and arches.
25 Sep 2008 8:56pm
@Terry H.: Thanks so much, Terry.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
what an awesome shot - love the textures and the repetition!!!
25 Sep 2008 9:19pm
@Mandy Provan: Thank you very much, Mandy.
baobab from Cambridge, United States
great light and texture and pattern here. it feels flat and three dimensional at once, as if it's an optical illusion.
25 Sep 2008 10:37pm
@baobab: Thanks, Baobab. Arches lend themselves to interesting illusions.
amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Love shots like this one... most especially when they're done right.. Excellent, Michael!
25 Sep 2008 11:22pm
@amy: Thank you, Amy. I appreciate that.
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Very nice perspective Michael. And textures too. Good work
25 Sep 2008 11:26pm
@Rui: Thank you very much, Rui.
@Denise: Thank you, Denise.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Wonderful pov Michael, and a brilliant image.
26 Sep 2008 2:15am
@Observing: Many thanks, Mike.
@JMS: Merci, Jean.
Anita from Quito, Ecuador
I agree with all the other comments,... BEAUTIFUL picture!
26 Sep 2008 4:23am
@Anita: Thank you so much, Anita.
bisha from Saitama, Japan
Wonderful composition. I love the bits of blue sky showing between the arches.
26 Sep 2008 9:45am
@bisha: My favorite part too. thanks for visiting, bisha.
@Twelvebit: Many thanks for your visit, 12bit.
@R.: Thank you, R.
Sony DSLR-A300
1/160 second
F/13.0
ISO 100
52 mm (35mm equiv.)