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Lalibela rock hewn church

Dr. Mhuni
Posted 27/10/2009 - 17:33 Link
Been going through some old shots from Ethiopia that I didn't get the opportunity to PP properly while I was there. These are of Lalibela. It's a stunning place, worth going to Ethiopia for (not the most obvious holiday destination, I know, but rewarding nevertheless) on its own. It has two complexes of churches carved out of solid rock in ca. 12th century. This particular one, Bet Giorgis (St. George's), stands alone and is probably the most remarkable of them all.

C&C appreciated.

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Pictures taken on a Sunday (hence the worshippers) around dawn with the K20D & a DA17-70.

Looking at them here, I think they're perhaps a bit oversharpened. Still having re-sizing issues. Boy, do I need that new monitor!
Mhuni

500px
Edited by Dr. Mhuni: 27/10/2009 - 17:37
womble
Posted 27/10/2009 - 17:38 Link
Amazing church. I am always taken aback when I see photographs of it. Lovely shots, all three, but I think I prefer the second one as the light gives it a little more contrast and interest than the first, although I like the composition of the first. Let's be honest, I cannot make my mind up but I like them all anyway!

Cheers, Kris.
Kris Lockyear
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paulyrichard
Posted 27/10/2009 - 18:02 Link
I really like the second and third images Mhuni, especially the second one. They appear oversharpened to me too.

Both would look great in B&W too.
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Edited by paulyrichard: 27/10/2009 - 18:13
thoughton
Posted 28/10/2009 - 09:12 Link
The 2nd one is great, I think the windows and the people really add to the sense of scale. For some reason the lady in the first one doesnt

Amazing location. I'd never heard of it before. In fact I didn't know anything about Christianity that far south that long ago.
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Edited by thoughton: 28/10/2009 - 09:14
goggalee
Posted 28/10/2009 - 09:18 Link
Like them all, especially #1.
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Dr. Mhuni
Posted 28/10/2009 - 13:50 Link
Thanks Kris, Paul, Tim, Goggalee.

Paul - I actually tried the third one in B&W as I'd come to the same conclusion. However, in the end I felt it worked much better in colour (though this may have something to do with my rudimentary B&W conversion skills). Hadn't tried with the second as I like the colours, though perhaps I should.

Tim - Amazingly, the Ethiopian church is actually older than that in the UK, dating back to the 4th century. It's an offshoot of the Egyptian Coptic church.
Mhuni

500px
pschlute
Posted 28/10/2009 - 14:14 Link
All of them are wonderful. I dont think they are oversharpened, they just need to be opened in a separate window so they display at proper size.
GivingTree
Posted 28/10/2009 - 14:35 Link
I really like #1. They're all good tho.


I'd be tempted to "clean up" that hill behind the church, i.e. the white areas (rocks?) and there's a bright blue spot at the top of said hill. (and some hot pixels on the right side too?)
I tried it and I think it improves it. I also lifted it a bit in curves and dodged the white robe.
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Edited by GivingTree: 28/10/2009 - 14:41
Dr. Mhuni
Posted 29/10/2009 - 12:32 Link
Thanks Peter, Emily.

They're not hot pixels - was wondering if someone would pick up on this. The smaller ones are rocks and the largest (in the distance) is actually another worshipper. I love the triangular relationship that the three worshippers have in this shot - like they're involved in some arcane positional ritual. The problem though is the third one is too small to see properly and does look like a hot pixel, so I probably should remove them!

You other points are good Emily. I'll work on tidying up the b/g.
Mhuni

500px
darlene
Posted 29/10/2009 - 22:56 Link
#1& 2 are very unusally pictures...somthing like bible times...#3 I like the little boy who taking a sceond look.

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