DEFORMED WITH AGE II, a photo from Istanbul, Marmara

Photographer's Note

DEFORMED WITH AGE II

Just two centuries after Roman Emperor Constantine established Constantinople as the new capital of the Empire, and Christianity as the official state religion, the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian the Great, commissioned the building of the Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya). Completed in just five years in AD 537, the colossal edifice, supporting a dome 31 meters (102 feet) in diameter and 56 meters (180 feet) in height, immediately became the defining building of Christendom.

Nine centuries later (1453) when the Ottomans conquered the city, Constantinople was renamed “Istanbul,” and the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. Four minarets were added, and immense buttresses were built to support a building beginning to lean. (The huge dome would influence Ottoman architecture dramatically, with the multi-dome design of mosques of Bursa making way to the single-dome designs of mosques of the future in Istanbul.) Finally, just 75 years ago, the 1500 year-old building was transformed into a museum — no longer a church or a mosque — in a tacit statement of universal religious tolerance, and resistance to one religion or another being the sole steward of the building.

In a part of the world where a seismic fault runs through the Sea of Marmara, just south of the Istanbul, the building has been rocked by numberless earthquakes, and has survived them all (notwithstanding one earthquake just 20 years after the completion of the building that caused the dome to collapse and a new dome having to be built to replace it). The building even survived the catastrophic earthquake in 1999 when close to 18,000 people perished within a circle of 80 km radius. I was visiting Istanbul and staying in Taksim, when the last major eartquake struck, and I remember running out on a balcony (foolish thing to do), to see if any of the minarets of the Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque had toppled. They had not!

As one walks around the ancient building, seeing the undulating floors where floors and stairs are worn by centuries of worshipers and visitors, one is left in awe – first of the size, then of the astonishing age. Climbing a gently sloping spiral ramp one arrives at the second floor gallery. On one of the balustrades one can see Norse rune characters, Viking Grafitti, the product of a graffiti artist of 1200 years ago. Visible in this photograph are many of the columns leaning to and fro, distortions, deformations — demonstrated no more dramatically in the receding arches. At one time the arches would have been perfectly semi-circular in shape. The massive buttresses built by Ottoman enginers in the 15th and 16th centuries are credited with keeping the building upright into the present age.

Through the arches is visible one of the most beautiful and most famous mosaics in the world. Of the three figures in the full mosaic the figures of Christ and John the Baptist are visible, but the view of Virgin Mary is blocked by a column. As a footnote, the two eyes in the figure of Christ do not focus at the same point, giving the eerie impression of Christ watching the viewer, no matter where he happens to be standing.

Nikon D200, Nikkor 28-200 mm lens, camera steadied on a monopod. This is a sequel to the photograph Deformed with Age, where the distorted arches appear more prominently.

phwall, yedirenk, ribeiroantonio, isabela_sor, siolaw, snunney, rigoletto, Tezic, windosil, Glint, BWJ, nivaldo, stelli, ahmetgedikli, carper, Wandering_Dan, fulvio52, noborders, dorte_s_t, jean11-3, Charo, pboehringer, AiresSantos, stego, Buin, MLINES, salvator, vixchris, daddo, tomi1, omeryagiz, Suppiluliuma ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

yedirenk (11244) 2008-09-25 16:57

Merhaba Bülent hocam,
derinlik,detay zenginliği ve enfes ışığıyla çok şık bir Ayasofya karesi.malesef bu şaheser yapıda deformasyon ve doku kaybı çok fazla ama hep gözalıcı.sarı rengin etkisi müthiş.insanlarla daha sıcak ve dinamik bir görüntü oluşmuş.bakış açınızda çok etkileyici.ellerinize sağlık.selamlar,saygılar

Cevdet

phwall (6787) 2008-09-25 17:16

Hi Bulent,
When one lives in a country that is barely two hundred years old it is facinating to view buildings that have been standing for thousands of years. This image shows so well the original architecture and the bracing needed to preserve it. I look at the two women walking towards your camera and wonder about the millions of different people from different times who have trod the same path, amazing.
Wonderful photograph and note, thank you for sharing.
Regards
Peter

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-09-25 18:08

This is a wonderful place and it is beautiful that the people took out the religion and made it a very public place and open to everyone.
We can see that the time has produced some effects and, for example, the mosaics have been damaged over the years.
For the picture, it is a very good one and I am glad you did not chopped any people’s feet. The colours are superb as the light is too. Well done.
Antonio

berek (50518) 2008-09-25 22:22

Merhaba Bülent bey,
detaylar harika canlı atmosferi yansıtan güzel bir fotograf. eline sağlık. selamlar
Burak

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-09-25 22:30 [Comment]

Show Comment

siolaw (38294) 2008-09-25 23:20

Hi Bulent
An interesting note to illustrate the picture... I ve actually only seen it from outside, and, strangely enough, never visited the inside... I m surprised to see some christian frescoes still left, were they visible during the building's Mosque days? Light seems to have been quite low, and it prompted you to push up the ISO (?) but the noise lvel is acceptable, and light well managed.
I never knew it was now (75 years!!!) a museum!!!
Greetings
Laurent

mesutilgim (0) 2008-09-25 23:30

Selam dear Bulent,
Just another pov of the famous Hagia Sophia ! A deformed one. Only a good and skilled eye -like yours- can notice this distortions.
Square format fits very well and creates a good compo.
Nice framing and perfect notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

hatti52 (12786) 2008-09-26 0:17

Merhaba
nefis bir iç mekan fotoğrafı
ışık kontrolü,ayrıntılrve perspektif çok iyi
elinize sağlık
saygılarımla

azizbilgili (2111) 2008-09-26 0:56

Merhaba Bülent bey,

Nedemek lazım bilemiyorum, muhteşem bir kare olmuş...

Paylaşımınız için teşekkürler,
Saygılarımla.
@ziz Bilgili

snunney (130967) 2008-09-26 1:03

Hello Bulent,
A splendid capture of this lovely interior with its gorgeous mosaics. The scene has great animation making for a very pleasant mood. Colours and clarity are very good allowing us to fully appreciate the architecture and decorations.

zeynepe (0) 2008-09-26 1:37

Hi Bulent Bey,
I am impressed by your workshop... It is an awful situation that I didn't know the Viking Grafitti ... and I hope that this splendid place will resist the earthquake forces in the future.
Thanks for sharing the beauties of Istanbul with us and please say hello to your lovely wife,Carol :)
Best regards,
Zeynep

rigoletto (34279) 2008-09-26 1:39

Merhaba Dear Professor,
I like mostly the laaaarge square format here, which gives a wide angle taste to the presentation of this magnificent place. It is very impressive to see how people become dwarves under those high columns and arches.
Best wishes,
Deniz

tober (8797) 2008-09-26 2:12

Merhaba Sayın Hocam, sabır ve emekle yazmış olduğunuz ve başka kaynaklarda kolay kolay bulamayacağımız bilgilendirici notlarınızı her seferinde satır satır okuyor, böylelikle fotoğraflarınıza daha farklı bir gözle bakıyorum. Bu fotoğrafınız da öyle. Sütunlar, kemerler, müzeyi gezen ziyaretçiler, herşey çok dengeli ve yerli yerinde. Elinize sağlık. Saygılar, Tolga

TGULUMSER (13252) 2008-09-26 2:38

Bulent Bey merhaba,
Bu guzelliklerin deforme olmasi ve bizim bunlari yeterince koruyamamiz cok uzucu. Verdiginiz bilgilar icin tesekkurler. Bakis aciniz ve kompozisyonunuz cok guzel,
Elinize saglik,
Tulay

Tezic (17867) 2008-09-26 3:56

harika bir ışık ortamı yakalanmış ve çok güzel bir kompozisyon yaratılmış... tebrikler...
iyi bayramlar.... ;)
coşkun

meb (766) 2008-09-26 5:14

Hello Bulent!
I can't believe, I was there at the beginning of August too! Too bad we did not meet. I'm back posting after a long time, and visiting all my favorites to make up for my absence.
As usual, your note is as beautiful and interesting as the picture. I have a picture of the Christ face, I'll try to post it as a WS.
Best regards
Marica

[workshop] [compare] +

setenay (7706) 2008-09-26 6:22

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Müzenin loş ortamında ışık ve renkler detaylar harika,ziyaret edenlerle çok güzel tanıtım karesi olmuş.WS daki portre çok etkileyici.Amerikalı dostlarınız İstanbulu beğendilermi?.Ayasofyayı fotoğraf gözüyle,bütün kış tekrar gezmek istedim bir türlü fırsat olmadı,Bayramdan sonra bir gün sanat tarihçi rehberli turla yeniden gezmeliyim,hatırlattığınız için ayrıca teşekkürler,selamlar iyi Bayramlar
setenay

BWJ (3094) 2008-09-26 13:59

Hello Bulent,
This is wonderful Byzantine splendor. Lighting, colors and details of the composition are beautiful and the presence of people give nice scale. Your note and the workshop including the Viking grafitti are superb.
Warm wishes.
Betty

nivaldo (15417) 2008-09-26 16:58

Yes, Bulent !
I´ve also been there: Hagia Sophia !
( and it was great! )
Tesekkür ederim, Obrigado, um abraço!
Nivaldo :-)
Have you all a pleasant week end!

gunbud (34066) 2008-09-26 20:49

Hi Bulent,
What a busy display of humanity and ancient architecture you have captured here.
The colors are rich and the scene is seen in depth and sharpness.
Your note as usual is enrishing and historical.
Regards, Tom

stelli (3009) 2008-09-27 2:20

Beautiful picture extraordinary note!!! One day I'd like t visit this and other treasures of the city! Thank you for sharing! Regards Stella

dokadak (11518) 2008-09-27 3:42

Sevgili Hocam,

Her nekadar deforme olsa da yillara meydan okuyan cok muthis yapilar... ve bu degerleri korumak icin malesef cok sey yapmiyoruz... harika kompozisyon, enfes detaylar...

saygilar
hasan

keribar (43841) 2008-09-27 3:45

Hello Bulent,
It is nice to see a place I know so well with the eye of someone who lives abroad. I can feel the summer crowds and the way people are dressed. But I also see the beautiful composition featuring the multiple golden arches, the tryptich and the light all over. This pictures really emanates light -
IYI BAYRAMLAR Dostum - Izzet

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2008-09-27 5:36

İstanbul'dan yine güzel bir fotoğraf... Işık, detaylar, canlılık ve not harika...
Ellerinize sağlık, selamlar Hocam.
Ahmet

carper (96) 2008-09-27 9:24

it's a powerfull shot bulent,
the big building, the good pov and the exelent details, very6 good photojob and very interesting read the note, good photojob Bulent, have a good weekend.
regard jaap

Wandering_Dan (3449) 2008-09-27 12:06

Merhaba, Bulent -

When does grafitti become art? That one certainly doesn't qualify, though it definitely has historical interest.

Great shot here, both of the overall image and the people placement. The windows are a bit blown out, but one can't have everything.

How do you like the monopod? I'm thinking of getting one to take to central Asia next month.

Best,
Dan

Greg1949 (9011) 2008-09-27 15:32

Bulent, you do go to some magical places and see things many of us would otherwise miss. Nice note to go with a fine photograph. Not too long ago there was a history channel special on this structure, it is awesome for sure. Your shot has a hint of intrigue in it as well I think, there is a lot going on in the frame. Great capture and presentation.

Greg

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-09-27 15:36

Merhaba Bülent,
splendid architectural shot in every possible respect. POV, colors, and definition are absolutely spot on. And I particularly like the great sense of dynamics provided by the crowd. Truly top notch, my friend.
Also : thanks for passing by lately to visit my "Home Sweet Home", I greatly appreciate.
Have a nice weekend, I'll be seeing you.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

noborders (1010) 2008-09-28 2:32

I had not noticed, very interesting !
But she is still standing proudly, about 1000 years older than the Blue Mosque in front of her... Incredible piece of architecture and nice photo (the mosaic there, I spent long times on several occasion looking at the expression of the Christ, talking to me according to my mood !)
Great idea to have posted a photo of that part of that splendid building !
Ellinize saglik,
Cath.

jhm (211734) 2008-09-28 5:07

Hello friend Bulent,

A wonderful interior shot, I would this never do better, colours and position of tyhe photograph are absolutely very nice.
Colours are nice, you did very well addition the people, this is always very important for the scale.
One tip my friend, I would little cropped to the right, I want the strong white light do disappear, I hope that you my understand

Very wel done, TFS.

Have a nice sunday,
John

dorte_s_t (2287) 2008-09-28 5:17

Hi Bulent .
Once again I am a bit wiser after having studied your photo and the note carefully .
What a gift !
I wish we could find or create more places where there is a place for everyone regardless of race and religion !

Have a nice sunday , and once again :
My sincere compliments and Thank you !!
Have a nice day .

Dorte.

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-09-28 13:44

Hello Bulent,a wonderful picture with excellent notes.
I must plead ignorance,until reading your notes I had no idea that the building was deformed on this way.
Interesting are the people in all their different poses, as they wander about or stand,stare and discuss what they are seeing.
Your POV has enabled us to perceive something of the size and scale of this beautiful place.
Tfs, regards Jean.

Charo (51290) 2008-09-28 15:43

Hello Bulent,
Wonderful image of this ancient site of magnificent columns and decoration. Takes a very dynamic and excellent color and detail.
Nice work my friend.
Best regards,
Charo

pboehringer (770) 2008-09-28 22:28

Bulent,
sweet memories of standing at the very same place of your POV 8 months ago. Your image provides that feeling of beeing there again and taking in the peculiarness of the building and surrounding art.
I wish I would have known back then the possibility of using a monopod. I carried my tripod all over and whenever I was about to use it I got the prohibited to do so.
Peter

Burberry1 (6041) 2008-09-30 10:54

WOW Bulent!!! Your gallery is just incredibly good!!
I love your ideas and effects of pictures.
This one shows a great, old architecture in all it's splendour! Great work anyway!

Kind regards, Agnieszka

anokutan (15097) 2008-10-01 5:05

Bülent bey merhaba,
Işığı,derinliği ve detaylarıyla çok güzel bir kare.İyi bayramlar.

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-10-04 5:19

Hi Bulent
thanks to remember me this wonderful place in the beautiful Istanbul.
Great POV and atmosphere in this very good picture of the Hagia Sophia interior.
Excellent details and colours
Have a nice weekend
Aires

paulinka (122) 2008-10-04 6:13

hello Bulent,
this is really very nice. I like POV, I like people om the pic and colours and the atmospehere of this place.
regards,
paulina.

stego (24132) 2008-10-04 11:26

Hello Bülent,

Wonderful! We see often good photos of this unique masterpiece that impressed so much my son who was only 6 years old when we were there, but we seldom see such achieved compos. You did a great job using the arches and also the people to build the image. At first sight, that man with the red shirt on the right looks disturbing, but I wonder if he doesn't contribute to the balance of the image, as the off centred POV seems to defy the symmetry of the architecture. The pair of women below the axis of the arcade stand out nicely without disturbing the vision of the "more important" things.

The sharpness not being perfect, it is very acceptable and even remarkable considering the situation. The colours are flawless.

As usual, the note is very educative besides being very well written.

Regards, José.

PS: Have you seen this post of mesutilgim? I remembered you as soon as I saw it.

Buin (42580) 2008-10-05 11:52

Hallo Bulent!
An excellent Photo accompanied by an excellent note as well. Isn't it wonderful that people still meet here - after all these centuries ... and that they still esteem this wonderful buildings!? I like that you "combined" today's people with these old arches, columns and vaults (by the way - in a perfect way ;-)
Greetings from Germany - and thanks for you effort!
Frank

MLINES (12516) 2008-10-05 21:40

Hi Bulent, Good to see and hear about so much history on your gallery today. Many crowds distract in photos but the scale of this room and the large domes overpowers the humans. Well cropped and sharp. TFS. Murray.

salvator (19110) 2008-10-09 8:23

Hello Bulent Bey,
The pov and the way you have decided to compose the photo, the yellow of the Hagia Sophia, the sharpness and details look wonderful.
Your notes as always are instructive and a pleasure to read.
Best personal regards. Salvator.

pablominto (53746) 2008-10-16 1:36

Hello Bulent,

I wonder how many millions have passed through these hall since the completion!
I notice some measures that probably is intended to secure the stability of the structure...
But the beauty is there no matter, even if the artworks are worn and in a state of decay!

Greetings,
Pablo -

daddo (28748) 2008-10-16 3:38

Merhaba Bulent Bey. A revealing photo of what the vicissitudes of Father Time and Mother Earth can do to even the most solid of structures. Your detailed description of Hagia Sophia has brought back memories of my visit there and how impressed i was by the size and the age of the building and the signs of wear and tear evident everywhere, particularly the stepping stone that leads inside the building. I noticed that the threshold of the central door reserved for the nobility wasn't as worn as that of the commoners' entrance, making me think that the poor had and still do have more pressing needs and reasons to pray. On the other hand, it could be that like the bees in a beehive, the workers did outnumber the royalty.I missed seeing the runes AND the mosaic of Jesus.Next time! Enjoyed your post. Selamlar. Klaudio.

tomi1 (2200) 2008-10-28 13:47

Oeiras,28-10-2008
Bulent Atalay
During many years I paid less attention to the religious remants but today I am well aware of its great importance. It is so desolating to find monuments like this in such conditions of preservation because important token meanwhile may disappear.. In this picture the holies have almost disappear. By your description the earthquakes are relentless and nobody stops them. Really I would very much like to see the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Fantastic picture anyway. Best regards. Domingos

Angshu (56760) 2008-11-05 19:55

Hello Professor 'A'
I do remember your earlier post & this sequel is a digital picture. While I am amazed at the amount of details of the mosaics, I wonder what a beauty this would have been in it's prime days. The Viking Grafitti is something I never heard of before...and your bit of info. about the two eyes of Christ is also revealing. Good picture with a fantastic note!
With Warmest Regards
Angshuman
PS : If I'm not mistaken your new book is expected to be out this month?

zumoduvas (2069) 2009-01-04 3:18

Hello Bulent.

Excellent image, nice composition and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

banyanman (7797) 2009-01-26 5:30

An excellent exposure in somewhat difficult light, Bulent. I'm guessing that it was a fairly slow exposure given that there is some movement blur on some of the people, but your monopod has enabled you to maintain excellent sharpness on the building. I wondered why you had not pointed your camera slightly to the left to make this a more symmetrical view and include the other column on the left - but perhaps that was to avoid cutting the person in the orange shirt on the right in half. If that was the case, I think that's a good reason because there's nothing worse than having 'half bodies' in the foreground of shots like this. Cheers . . . David

boa (8039) 2009-05-05 13:04

Hi Bulent,
i really like this amazing city. It has so much to offer, including an interesting history and magnificent architecture.
Like this place, wonderful artwork created for so long time ago and still there. Thanks for sharing !
Best regards
Boa

Urs (14082) 2010-05-22 3:23

Hi Bulent

So we are back to history, the Roman Empire, I like it. Some part of the Roman history I had to read in Latin during my years in college. Nowadays I have forgotten most of my Latin, but not the Grammar, what makes it much easier to learn any Western language. Your note as always is very informative and your shot is lively thanks to all these visitors and your perfect light management. Well done

Thanks for your critique of my Kuala Kedah mangrove photograph. No idea from where they moved these strange stones to the bay. Somebody must have liked it. It is strange indeed, because very very few people will wander around the bay, because Asians do not like to sweat. I do not care about that, I will take my "shower" in the sun - literally - just to get the shot I like. All our Asian friends keep on telling me, you can do that ...

Warm regards
Urs