Architecture of the Medina, Sfax Photo

Photographer’s Note

Architecture of the Medina, Sfax

Unusually, the streets of the Medina are mainly laid out on a rectangular plan, presumably inherited from the Roman town.
Rue Mongi Slim runs through the Medina from south to north. In Rue de la Driba, which goes off on the right, are a number of houses with handsome and imposing doorways; and in a side street opening off it on the left is the interesting Folk Museum.

The medina even got special quarters for old trades like locally-made jewellery and iron products.
Even better, the place is really friendly. Sfaxians are said to feel above the needs of alluring foreign visitors, but that doesn't mean that they are unfriendly. On the contrary, Sfax medina is a place where people show genuine hospitality to its guests.

The medina is of such a nice quality that it has been used as a location for international movies, like The English Patient.

Sfax

Sfax (Arabic: صفاقس‎, Safaqis, or /sfa:qs/ in Tunisian Arabic, whence the French name) is a city in Tunisia, located 270 km (168 miles) southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax governorate, and a Mediterranean port on the Gulf of Gabes. Sfax has population of 340,000 (2005), and is an industrial center for processing phosphates. The city is often described as Tunisia's Second city, because only Tunis has more inhabitants.

History

By the end of the 10th century Sfax had become an independent city state. The city was conquered by Roger of Sicily in 1148 and occupied until it was liberated in 1156 by local forces, and was briefly occupied by European forces again, this time by the Spanish, in the 16th century. Sfax became an integral base of the Barbary piracy, prompting an unsuccessful invasion by Venice in 1785. In the late 19th century Sfax and the rest of Tunisia were conquered by France and incorporated into the French empire. During World War II, the Axis powers used the city as a major base until they were defeated by British forces. After World War II, Tunisia was returned to France only to gain independence in 1956. (Source: patrimoinedetunisie.com & wikipedia)

KLB, portmanndominic, snunney, vasilpro, saxo042, jlbrthnn, bakes888, mikolaj_kawa, JCG, bona trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

KLB (18245) 2009-09-24 2:13

Hello George

An other great street shot !
I really like the very special atmosphere in a medina...
And the old facades telling a story.
You retranscribe this feeling throughout your marvelous series.

Once again, fabulous colours and light, and a striking quality.

Regards
Karine

AiresSantos (42750) 2009-09-24 2:15

Another great picture from Sfax, dear George
Amazing details and colours
Fine details and excellent light management
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

gildasjan (24049) 2009-09-24 2:36

Bonjour George
Beau mélange de couleurs entre cette porte bleue et les couleurs ocres des murs.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

mortijo (12364) 2009-09-24 2:36

This is a colorful beautiful street scene. Sharpness and light management is perfect.
Regards
John

mauro61 (16152) 2009-09-24 2:39

ciao George,
splendido questo taglio con la presenza del lampione sulla facciata della case.
Bello il variare delle tinte.
ottimo scatto
buona giornata
maurizio

npecanhuk (14492) 2009-09-24 3:00

Hello George!
Excellent and beautiful picture!
The vertical format was a very good choice!
Sharpness is perfect! Exposure is correct! Colors are so beautiful! Smart composition with effective and attractive visual results! The local architecture details are so nicely presented, with shapes and textures that can be neatly seen!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

dta (5879) 2009-09-24 3:03

Hello Georg ,
Superb perspective and framing . I like a lot the textures and colors of these old walls . The lantern is really well placed in the composition .
Regards

smarcell (14541) 2009-09-24 3:04

Hello George,

warm colors and warm light, withthe nice contrast of the blue spots (the house and the sky).
I like this strong light, which gives the sense of heat of the place
Regards Stefano

Dashab (1147) 2009-09-24 3:30

Hello György,
A wonderful street scene, very nice POV and good composition with a good placement of the lamp. Very nice soft light and colours. Greetings from Prague, Dasha

portmanndominic (2388) 2009-09-24 3:57

Hello Georges

un bon POV bien choisi , la digonale de la perspective est bien utilisé , belles couleurs et contraste, la maison avec la porte bleue donne un plus
bonne fin de journée
Amicalement
Dominic

snunney (35350) 2009-09-24 4:03

Hello George,
The sort of architecture with character that I like. The vertical is well chosen and I like the presence of the lamp and its shadow and the placement of the blue and white house between the others. Excellent tones and textures. Thanks for sharing.

pauloog (6811) 2009-09-24 4:27

Hello George,
The almost vertical sun strikes wonderfully agaionst these houses with their distinct pale colours.
Well done.
Regards,
Paul

Morac (20761) 2009-09-24 4:52

Hello George,
Another great picture from Sfax with amazing details and colours.
Sharpness and light management is perfect.
Regards
Marc

amaryllis (17701) 2009-09-24 5:02

bonjour Georg
cette architecture de cette médina et sous le soleil est superbe; ces maisons anciennes, fissurées, de couleur, c'est sublime
beau cadrage à la verticale
juliette

francio64 (11588) 2009-09-24 5:08

Ciao George,
penso che tu stai facendo un bel reportage sulla Tunisia.
Belle foto e ottime note.
Mi piace questa foto, tipica e caratteristica strada della Medina.
Ottima la gestione delle luci.

Well done!
Francesco

vasilpro (9258) 2009-09-24 8:22

Hello George,
Interesting architecture with many details, very good POV, excellent diagonal composition.
Have a nice evening, Vasilis.

ymrk (9059) 2009-09-24 9:01

Tunusia really have interesting homes and attractive architectural beauties as much again...Perfect capture George...Greetings!

Yağmur

cherryripe (19151) 2009-09-24 10:35

Hi George
Good angle to show of these interesting facades. Good depth, colour and texture.
Regards
Nikki

saxo042 (16164) 2009-09-24 11:21

Hi George,
A strong perspective and the street lamps is a part of particular interest. the turquoise colour around the doorway below is also of this particular interest. A very pleasant street scene!
Kind regards
Gunnar

jlbrthnn (38727) 2009-09-24 12:09

Good evening George,
A beautiful image of quality which translates the seniority of this habitat. All is joggling, and full with charm. I appreciate the low-angled light which reveals the details of the frontages. A pretty perfectly built work. Cheer.
Have a nice evening.
Cordially.
Joël

COSTANTINO (23105) 2009-09-24 12:53

Hello
thanks for your useful notes,thanks for sharing with us
all those information,that s why I love T.e.
Fine details and excelent light management
regards and compliments
Costantino

xavshot (62991) 2009-09-24 13:24

Bonsoir George
excellente lumière qui met en valeur ces murs et leurs couleurs. Le cadrage vertical est bien vu.
Xavier

ifanik (20542) 2009-09-24 15:50

Hi my friend
Very beautiful photo with nice colours and POV
Well done
Best regards
Nick

jjcordier (25104) 2009-09-24 22:40

George
Excellente photo de la médina de Sfax. Un très bon cadrage et de très beaux tons d'image. J'aime beaucoup!
Amicalement
JJ

hay_kes (28562) 2009-09-24 22:46

Merhaba George,
Very beautiful architectural view.Great POV, colours and lighting.TFS.
Cheers,

hAyAti

bakes888 (18327) 2009-09-25 0:29

Hi George. Great photo, wonderful colours and textures. Well seen and composed to accentuate the depth and detail. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

mikolaj_kawa (30985) 2009-09-25 0:36

Hello George! Amazing houses, wonderful street, very original street lamp, good light and colours, very good composition. Ideal frame. Well done!

carper (65448) 2009-09-25 22:53

very nice one George,
good quality job here, fine composition, good colors fine contrast very good photo job, have a good weekend.
regard jaap

Graal (58577) 2009-09-25 23:40

Jó napot George,
an interesting architecture, good composition and perspective. Nice documental photojob from Medina. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

JCG (25687) 2009-09-26 4:46

Hello George,

Beautiful harmony of colors on this photograph and a pleasant light. Interesting this kind of sheath for the passage of electric wires, well for the photograph !!! I think that it is necessary to have a good sense of the orientation to circulate in Medina… Well done George.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

bona (2439) 2009-09-27 14:37

I love this old kind architecture, It looks the place is stoped on time.
Great POV George!
The color are nice too.
thanks
Andre

macjake (2240) 2009-09-30 23:07

Hi George

Nice work! I"ve been to Tunisia as well, but i didn't get to make my way to Sfax.

Great shot of 'everyday life' in Tunisa, nice array of colours, pastels.

thanks for sharing
Craig

Greg1949 (8513) 2009-10-20 3:19

Nice detail George, shows off some of the "timeless" construction of this ancient capitol. Nice details and a great composition.

Greg