Prayer hall of Ribat, Sousse Photo

Photographer’s Note

Prayer hall of Ribat, Sousse

This is one of the finest and best conserved buildings of the series of “fortress-monasteries” that dotted the North African coastline to serve both as defences against assailants come from overseas and as a place for spiritual retreats.

Around the courtyard, cells for the soldiers are found on 3 sides. The 4th side, the one closest to the entrance, was the prayer hall. However archaic it might appear, it is generally considered to be the oldest mosque of North Africa.

The Sousse Ribat was built at the end of the VIIIth century. Its architectural style is broadly inspired by the style of the Byzantines who preceded the Arab conquerors on African soil. In fact, building materials reclaimed from Antiquity were extensively used in the construction of the monument.
Behind the sturdy crenellated walls surmounted by a watchtower that also served as a minaret, the building is built on two levels opening on a courtyard entirely bordered with arcaded porticos. The upper level contained the austere cells of “solider-monks”, while the entire southern wing is occupied by the vast prayer room.

Sousse

Sousse (Arabic سوسة Sousa), is a city of Tunisia. Located 140 km south of Tunis, the city has 173, 047 inhabitants (2004). It is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The name may be of Berber origin: similar names are found in Libya and in the south of Morocco (Bilād al-Sūs). It is the capital of Sousse Governorate with 540,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate). The main economic activities of Sousse are tourism and fishing. Industries produce transport equipment, canned sardines and other sorts of processed food, olive oil and textiles. The port is involved in exports and imports and Sousse serves as a commercial center. The surrounding area produces olives and esparto grass on a large scale. It is home to the Université de Sousse (or Université de Monastir). Sousse is the most important junction for overland communications in Tunisia, both by road and rail. The city shares an international airport with Monastir.
The landmark of Sousse is the Great Mosque and the ribat, both from the 9th century. Sousse is extended to the north with a touristic zone, the Port El Kantaoui, which stretches for several kilometres along the beach. Source: Looklex /Tunisia & wikipedia & patrimoinedetunisie.com)

snunney, Royaldevon, ciakgiak, paura, Buin, jlbrthnn, ChrisJ, leonorkuhn, Cretense, Bluejeans, vasilpro, AiresSantos, amaryllis, Angshu, bona trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

snunney (35376) 2009-09-10 2:35

Hello George,
A very good capture of this cloister like building. I like the deep perspective and the light and shadow play. The exposure is well managed in difficult circumstances. Lovely warm tones and good clarity. Thanks for sharing.

pauloog (6825) 2009-09-10 3:00

Hello George,
Delicate shades and colour tones in thsi graphical view with its repetitive arcades.
Regards,
Paul

Royaldevon (5938) 2009-09-10 3:01

Hello george,

I love your pov which uses the first arch to frame the shot and gives an anchor-point to create a fine sense of perspective from the receding arches.
The colours give a sense of warmth, not usual in very old buildings.
I would imagine it was a difficult place to shoot but the sharpness and details are fine.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

ciakgiak (11154) 2009-09-10 3:02

Hello George,
I'm really impressed about this splendid image.
I like a lot the geometry and the perspective of this place, and the perfect POV and the management of the light. Congratulations, a really great photo.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

mauro61 (16196) 2009-09-10 3:47

ciao George,
uno splendido scatto che mi fa pensare a quelli dell'amico Aadiil...
Perfetto il dosaggio della luce ed eccezionale monocromia compositiva,
un caro saluto amico mio
maurizio

portmanndominic (2388) 2009-09-10 4:15

hello Georges

very good manage of the lights , colors are warm and natural
good job today
Regards
Dominic

paura (39052) 2009-09-10 5:01

George,
The lighting / shadows visual effect are great in this well composed photography. Very well done, dear friend.

Regards

Paulo

Buin (38144) 2009-09-10 5:03

Hallo George!
This is a most impressive and interesting architcture photo. You show the absolute "simpleness" of this architecute in a wonderful way and the light helped you to "chisel" all details here. This simpleness creates the great beauty of this hall. An outstanding picture - I think!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

francio64 (11608) 2009-09-10 5:14

Ciao George,
una foto questa che mi fa pensare molto all'amico "aadilj" in quanto lui è un amante di questo genere di foto.
Bellissime la prospettiva, il DOF e la tonalità di colore.

Complimenti my friend!
Francesco

jlbrthnn (38775) 2009-09-10 5:34

Hello george,
The prospect deep, is coloured, pleasant and photographed very well. You gave to the stone his austerity and his force. Very pretty work.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

ChrisJ (70443) 2009-09-10 6:15

Hello George

I like the warm, earthy colours & sidelighting as well as the splendid repetition of the arches & columns. Excellent linear perspective, also. Tfs!

jurek1951 (26076) 2009-09-10 6:21

Hi George,

Very interesting architecture. Original POV and composition. Very good shot. Well done
Georg

leonorkuhn (13957) 2009-09-10 7:43

Hi George,

Beautiful picture of the monastery arches. Good idea to have decentralized the image. Excellent light, great colors, and perspective.

Greetings
Leonor

Cretense (56888) 2009-09-10 8:16

Hello George!

One of the most impressive architecture photos I have seen lately, with fantastic perspective, excellent framing and compositon, beautiful graphistic result! Flawless light managment, too, great succesion of light and shadow! Congratulations!

Hercules

Gerrit (36157) 2009-09-10 8:18

Hi George,
beautiful place and great POV. Excellent definition of the material and wonderful perspective.
regards, Gerrit

Morac (20789) 2009-09-10 10:47

Hi George
Excellent work with light and shadow.
I like the effect of depth and perspective.
Regards
Marc

Bluejeans (32945) 2009-09-10 11:05

Ola George ,
Bela foto neste lugar bem histórico com estes arcos , gostei do ponto de visão , bons tons de amarelo , boa luz, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

vasilpro (9302) 2009-09-10 12:08

Hello George,
Wonderful arches, great light management, an excellent composition with lovely warm colors.
Have a nice evening, Vasilis.

ophelcia (5498) 2009-09-10 14:20

Arches are difficult but grateful theme to be photographed, here a pinch of good light and we have got a brilliant composition:)
Well done:)
G.

cebe (164) 2009-09-10 14:30

Hello George,

A very photogenic place that was very well photographed. I guess the exposition was challenging due to the bright door and window. You did it well. Interesting note too.

Regards,
Claude

hay_kes (28562) 2009-09-10 15:49

Hi George,
Very impressive place vith superb POV, light and perspective.TFS.
Cheers,

hAyAti

gneufeld (15233) 2009-09-10 18:31

Hi George,
This is really nice. Excellent clarity, sharpness, and depth. Warm rich colors and interesting repeating shapes. Well done and TFS. Gerald

Graal (58616) 2009-09-10 23:35

Jó napot George,
amazing arcades, fine presentation. I like the colours and perspective. Good note also. Well photojob.
Gr., Aleksander

AiresSantos (42760) 2009-09-11 2:03

Hi George
Excellent perspective of this cloisters.
Fine colours and depth
I like a lot the play of light and shadows
TFS and have a nice weekend
Aires

delpeoples (6634) 2009-09-11 5:46

Hi George, when I first saw this shot, I thought of Aadiil and his magnificent Gallery. This is an excellent shot, with fantastic DOF and management of light. I have tried this type of shot before and failed miserably, so appreciate the skill that went to making it. Beautiful symmetry, congratulations, Lisa.

jaywalker (12276) 2009-09-12 5:01

Hi George, A wonderfully managed picture, well composed with great light & excellent prospective, fabulous textured wall nicely detailed, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

TopGeo (22145) 2009-09-12 8:19

Hi George!They is interesting picture of architectural detail Important frame perspective and contrast Excellent colour
Georgios

amaryllis (17725) 2009-09-14 6:22

Bonjour Georg
ce cadrage de ce hall est celui d'un pro...ces colonnes sont épaisses et un beau jeu d'ombres et de lumières et une belle architecture
nice week also
juliette

Angshu (34027) 2009-09-14 20:51

Dear George
Excellent perspective & fine exposure control, as our eyes are sucked in by the linear perspective created by the arches & columns. Fine earthen colours as well!
Regards
Angshu

bona (2457) 2009-09-24 9:36

My dear friend! How are you? Sorry about the late to come here. YOur photos of Tunisia are amazing, it is a place that I really want to visit someday.
That one call my attention. I like this kind of perpective and the lights are nice and the place has a good mood.
Thanks
Andre

macjake (2278) 2009-09-30 23:09

Hi again George

another great shot from Tunisa.

These shots are always difficult to master due to the lighting, shadows, and exposure. but you were able to capture it very well.
impressive!
Thanks
Craig

Photo Information

Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman) (42694)
Genre: Lieux
Medium: Couleur
Date Taken: 2009-07-10
Categories: Châteaux, Architecture
Camera: Pentax K10D
Exposition: f/4, 1/45 secondes
More Photo Info: view
Versions: version originale, Workshop
Thème(s): francio64 (My favourite/5), Symmetry, Discovery of Sousse [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-09-10 2:32