What's Left of Merv Photo

Photographer’s Note

Merv was once one of the most important cities on the Silk Road in Central Asia, and also one of the oldest; traces of Bronze Age (c. 2500-1200 BCE) settlement have been found here. In the XI-XIII centuries, it was one of the capitals of the Seljuk empire, and the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (c. 1140) can be seen here in the background. It, and the building in front, which may have housed carrier pigeons, are among the few structures that survived the sack by the Mongols in 1221 (or 1222). Some bits of the various walls also remain (I was standing on one when I took this photo), giving an idea of the size of the place, which was, briefly, the largest city in the world (200,000 people in 1150). (See also this article.)

worldcitizen, adores, AROBN54, jhm, josepmarin, Dyerco, PixelTerror, magiqa trouve(nt) cette note utile

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gneufeld (14959) 2008-12-13 11:33

Hi Daniel,
A very interesting landscape with those old stone structures. I wish you had shown more on the right side and perhaps a bit closer - would like to see more of those camels. Thanks for sharing this well seen location. Gerald

mjh0077 (7) 2008-12-13 11:43

Hi,

thank you for sharing this intriguing photo and historical background of a country we hear little about. I hope you post some more.

worldcitizen (2181) 2008-12-13 11:51

Hello Daniel,
It's very interesting to see this historical place. I like the landscape, complete with roaming camels. It's great to be able to see this remote site through your photo and learn more about it.

sayat (2941) 2008-12-13 12:12

Hi Daniel!

A really interesting place with somewhat historical feel reinforced with your great note. The ruins are very well captured but I think the frame would be better with the head of the camel at the right :)

Best regards

adores (15225) 2008-12-13 14:27

Hi Daniel!
I really like this wideness!You captured the ruins very well, I like to see them surrounded by camels and the mausoleum in background. The colours are also good. It must be a very impressive region.

AROBN54 (10649) 2008-12-13 18:04

Hey, Dan,
this is a nice shot. I really enjoyed your note, too. It seems, though, there is a lot of empty space around the main subjects that could be eliminated. You have great light and color, nice detail.... I just wanted to see what a crop might do to bring in focus on the mausoleum and the building in the FG. Hope you don't mind. Many thanks and kindest regards,
Shelly

[workshop] [compare] +

Waylim (10645) 2008-12-14 1:01

Dan,
This is an impressive scene and landscape, imagine what it must have been in its glorious days. I like this POV showing wide open lands and its vastness. The mosques in the back suggests what the one in the front could have been like and the camels glazing show us the great desert is near and led one to wonder about those who traveled the Silk Road. Just what that experience that was and how many amazing stories they must had. Excellent shot Dan and thanks for take us there, a place most of us have never even have heard of or dreamt about.
Way

jhm (81561) 2008-12-14 2:20

Hello Daniël,

Very well panorama view with the building in background.
A excellent construction, nice oriental architecture,
The atmosphere is fabled, the lights are splendid.
Composition and presentation are very nice.
Nice done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

josepmarin (33547) 2008-12-14 11:57

Hi Dan,
The Mausoleum in background attracts us the look, but all the elements that we see in the composition, even the camels, they work to obtain a good photographic result.
Good photo.
Best regards,
Josep

Dyerco (8816) 2008-12-16 20:06

Hi Daniel
You have captured the essence of this place that once was. There is a sense of bygone days and the wandering camels add to this feeling although they may indeed be owned by someone.
Phil

sunamoon (5053) 2008-12-20 15:29

Me gusta esta foto de desierto,
buena defición y me gusta la profundidad con la construcción
el detalle de los animales buenos, me gusta la perspectiva,
Buen trabajo!

Un saludo,
Elena

PixelTerror (85994) 2008-12-26 10:08

Hi Dan,
Always nice to see this hidden country, those buildings rising from the desert with the camels trottling around are interesting, would be nice to see it framed closer as well.
Happy Holidays JY

magiqa (1262) 2009-01-12 6:04

This is a great photo of old Merv, which I visited a couple of years ago. It shows the surroundings perfectly, and the camels are there, as they should be!