Looking towards the shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar.

Posted by Phil Sparrow (Perth, Australia) on 1 January 2008 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.

I took a short trip up to Mazar. The old stadium street has been widened, and the view towards the shrine is compelling.

VFXY Photos

Comments (18)

danthro from Davis, United States

wow. really cool cityscape. love it. so much going on. where is Mazar?

1 Jan 2008 12:20am

@danthro: Thanks Danthro. Mazar is the major northern city in Afghanistan. About 300,000 people. I lived there for 4 years.

Aaron Schmidt from Auckland, New Zealand

Excellent shot ... love the focus on the children with the shrine still maintaining a prominent position.

1 Jan 2008 4:22am

@Aaron Schmidt: thanks Aaron. Its one of my favourite shots. I used to get my haircut from a filthy barber shop, just beside where the kids are playing.

aggie from Singapore, Singapore

Superb black and white. Great composition with foreground focus and the background not losing it's impact. Happy New Year.

1 Jan 2008 8:43am

Phil from Perth, Australia

Thanks Aggie. I'm planning on printing a good large print of this shot soon, I think it will be nice. Happy New year to you too.

1 Jan 2008 8:49am

Daniel from stranded in kenmare, United States

great street scene. looks dusty!

1 Jan 2008 10:28am

@Daniel: Thanks Daniel... and, yeah, you wouldn't believe the dust in Mazar... I used to call it the City of Mud and Dust.

krummenacker from France

very nice picture, the field and the atmosphere are great ! Very nice composition

1 Jan 2008 11:25am

Steven from Montreal, Canada

It looks otherworldly. Great shot!

1 Jan 2008 12:46pm

Michael from Wuppertal, Germany

Great and impressive bw shot!

1 Jan 2008 12:50pm

Will from Gainesville, United States

great shot...hope you have a great new year!

1 Jan 2008 8:41pm

danthro from Davis, United States

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the significance of the shrine? ...Hope you have a Happy and safe 2008!

1 Jan 2008 8:54pm

@danthro: Hi Dan. Hazrat Ali, a major leader in Shia Islam is reported to be buried there. I say reported, because he has another Shrine in Iran. Both Shrines are important pilgrimage places for Shia (and Sunni) Muslims, and many miracles are said to have occured here in the Shrine in Mazar. Inside it is very beautiful.

Nick Edens from Toledo, United States

Excellent shot. Love the dof you have going here.

3 Jan 2008 9:14am

Sandrine from Cincinnati, United States

Great street shot! You were featured on aminus3 homepage http://www.aminus3.com/

3 Jan 2008 11:36am

@Sandrine: thanks Sandrine. I'm glad I was featured. I am now in a dialup zone, so its a bit surf.

KMF from Kerala,Kalpakanchery, India

nice

4 Jan 2008 1:39am

lasiate from Philippines

bien vu le focus sur les enfants bien qu'il me semble un peu trop artificiel . En post traitement je suppose

5 Jan 2008 9:38pm

@lasiate: ok, translated this now.. no, it was not post focussed. originally it was slightly wider angle, I cropped it and renderd it in black and white. I don't manipulate images, as a rule - if I do, I describe what I have done. I think that is honest to the viewer.

maziyar from tehran, Iran

good shot but composition isn't very good but photo have clear sense.b/w is good for this shot

6 Jan 2008 6:24am

@maziyar: thanks - what dont you like about the composition?

Sojourner from Aqcha, Afghanistan

Hi P. Nice to know you're also on Aminus. I really like this shot; almost makes me want to go to Mazar although it's (frozen) blubber season now.
Really engaging depth of field, makes you want to look for a while what's going on and what's to see.

7 Jan 2008 1:59am