At a mere 23 years old, Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji of northern Iran is impressing us with his architecture photography.
Mohammad, a photographer and a physics student, has been taking photographs for about five years, learning most of his skill from talking to other photographers, browsing Internet tutorials and by evaluating feedback on his work. He’s mostly interested in panoramic and architecture photography, in particular using wide angles to try to capture most of a building in a single picture. He seeks to produce a high dynamic range in his work. “For me, light is (a) very special element in photography,” he states. In his descriptions of some of his pictures, for example, he talks about waiting inside a mosque for hours waiting for the light to produce the symmetry so clearly showcased in his work. We should also note, being a ceramics blog and all, that much of the fascinating fractal complexity seen in these photographs comes from ceramic tile.
Below are some of his photographs, with some descriptions of his process. In this issue we also link to a talk about “quasicrystals” in Medieval Islamic architecture, which you can see here.
Above image: Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji, photograph of Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Shiraz, Iran. Mohammad calls this the “little planet view.”
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The Vakil mosque in Shiraz. Mohammad says this 1773 building is unique for its columns and mosaics.
The Vakil mosque.
The Jameh mosque of Yazd in Yazd, Iran.
The Sheikh Lotfollah mosque in Naqshejahan Square, Isfahan, Iran.
Dome of Shah (Emam) mosque.
Dome of Seyyed Mosque in Iran.
The ceiling of Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan, Iran.
The Vakil mosque.
Nasir al-Mulk mosque, known for its use of mosaic and stained glass in Shiraz, Iran.
Another of the Nasir al-Mulk mosque. Mohammad states that the photograph was taken with a fisheye lens and that he wanted to capture the symmetry of the light within the building. He said that the best time to visit the mosque is between 8 and 9 a.m. in the beginning of winter. He said he had to wait for the light to achieve the effect he desired.
Another photograph of the Shah (Emam) mosque.
Twenty-three year old photographer Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji. All images courtesy of the photographer.
I can’t understand how much beauty can come from man, yet still cause so much torture to human beings too. Mankind has the ability to create so much beauty, and at the same time governments torture and harm fellowmen. These Mosques are truly beautiful and a place of prayer to God…I wish it would last all day long and all year long, the peace and good will.
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing your amazing sight!