Children in Stone Town, a photo from Zanzibar, East

Photographer's Note

The heart of Stone Town mostly consists of a maze of narrow alleys lined by houses, shops, bazaars and mosques. Since most streets are too narrow for cars, the town is crowded with bicycles and motorbikes. The seafront has wider streets and larger, more regularly placed buildings.rnrnStone Town's architecture has a number of distinctive features, as a result of Arab, Persian, Indian, European, and African traditions mixing together. The name "Stone Town" comes from the ubiquitous use of coral stone as the main construction material; this stone gives the town a characteristic, reddish warm colour. Traditional buildings have a baraza, a long stone bench along the outside walls; this is used as an elevated sidewalk if heavy rains make the streets impracticable, or otherwise as benches to sit down, rest, socialize. Another key feature of most buildings is large verandas protected by carved wooden balustrades. The best-known feature of Zanzibari houses are the finely decorated wooden doors, with rich carvings and bas-reliefs, sometimes with big brass studs of Indian tradition.
UNESCO Heritage site. It was such a joy to wander around these alleys. Many buildings are in a rather dilapidated state but very picturesque.

jemaflor, ikeharel, Royaldevon, jhm, pierrefonds, burmaman, clic, adramad, ktanska, jean113, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, macjake oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (147300) 2021-02-11 23:18

Hi Malgo,
Well photographed, well presented with your note, interesting perspective with this narrow street with children, good light management and capture, tfs.

ikeharel (113501) 2021-02-11 23:47

Hello Malgo,
Children play together in any place. A well taken photo in the alley where one side was under shadows and revealed the ancient architecture, once had its grandeur.
Enliven and has good depth on the scene.
Have a nice friday,
Ike

holmertz (102846) 2021-02-12 0:51

Hello Malgo,
It's a nice nothing special of the kind I like. This time you didn't have that problem of too strong contrast. This might not be seen as the best playground for small kids, but I am sure they would always find something to amuse them even in these rather dreary streets.
Kind regards,
Gert

ChrisJ (171888) 2021-02-12 1:44

Hi Malgo,

The bg wall looks like it is being propped up with some sturdy diagonal support beams. The child in the distance adds depth and layering. The wall at left has seen better days. Good sharpness and framing. Tfs!

Royaldevon (85932) 2021-02-12 3:08

Hello Malgo,

This immediately reminded me of photographs which have recently been show on FB of the area where I live, taken 80+ years ago! The houses are not the same in design, but their general sense of unsophistication and the unchaperoned children, happily playing in the street are exactly the same.
It must be great fun to have games in the street, outside your home, without fear of being run over by a car or lorry! Now, places have to be specifically made for children to meet up, instead of liaising with their neighbours on the street!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

everlasting (19680) 2021-02-12 8:10

a fine tableau of the old town, the old textures walls grab my attention. I think you could also make another photo by cropping the new white buildings bringing the group of kids of the left closer to the eye and still retain the child in the depth under the arch

jhm (211736) 2021-02-12 8:28

Hello Malgo,

It seems or we are back to 1900, but maybe are the cloths now modern
You create nice depth view with the look through
Excellent how you addition the people.
Nice composition and presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

pierrefonds (114608) 2021-02-12 9:24

Hi Malgo,

The presence of the children is animating the scene. The point of view is showing the details of the buildings. The light is giving good colors output. Have a nice day.

Pierre

burmaman (1336) 2021-02-12 10:24

Hello Malgo!
This reminds me to some places in Cape verdian towns.Old vs new facades and a lot of children around.
A good street shot!
I hope the building in the distance will be restored before it collapse.
Regards,Ronny

jmdias (115342) 2021-02-12 11:10

malgo

looks like the building ahead is falling down. nice sample of the local architecture and beautiful presence of the children.
my father was vaccinated today

jorge

clic (76) 2021-02-12 11:11

Witaj Malgorzata
You surely know well the European GEO Magazine which shows interest in the customs and traditions of the locals without judging them.
You show today a true-to-life picture and note that could draw their attention for a coming publication.
I wish I could travel allover the world as you do!!
Pozdrawiam

adramad (73030) 2021-02-12 12:23

Hello Malgo.
A photo that undoubtedly shows us the deep Zanzibar, with its poor neighborhoods judging by the deterioration of the houses on the street, the children put the charming note with their innocence and good conformity.
Very effective coloring, which highlights the details of the image.
Good management, both in terms of brightness and sharpness.
Very well done. I like.
Enjoy the weekend.
My best wishes for you.
Luis

lousat (139362) 2021-02-12 12:23

Ciao Malgo,there are childrens everyhere,especially on the beaches,but the capital too is full. Very nice capture of childs in the street and a nice contrast between the old facades on the left and the new on the right,well done! Have a nice and cold weekend,Luciano

ifege (48253) 2021-02-12 20:15

Hi Malgo
You've captured how I have imagined Zanzibar being after many post colonial years - the narrow streets, rustic buildings and children running on the streets.
Great one.
cheers
Ian

pajaran (116065) 2021-02-12 23:53

Pozdrav.
Lepo mesto i stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i dobrim tekstom.
Lepa fotografija i uhvaceni trenutak sa decom.
Deca su nase najvece bogatstvo i buducnost.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.

ktanska (44838) 2021-02-13 2:07

Hi Malgo,
Wonderful picture of these kids minding their own business. Signs of time give very picturesque feeling to this old town corner. Extreme contrast is rather tricky on the right side.
Kari

PaulVDV (63024) 2021-02-13 15:15

Hello Malgo,
I've often heard of Stone Town but now I also read why the city bears this name.
This is an interesting picture of what is probably the biggest town in Zanzibar. Beautiful with the children on different spots in the photo.
I can hardly explain why but this photo reminded me of Cuba even though I was never there. You will probably know whether there is a resemblance or not.
Best regards, Paul

COSTANTINO (116674) 2021-02-13 23:12

Hello my dearest Malgorzata
your photo touched my heart....
the childhood is always...childhood...
I red carefully your useful notes
in order to understand better
what this photo presents here...
I like your explanation that the
name Stone Town comes from
the ubiquitous use of coral stone
regards
Costantino

macjake (98486) 2021-02-21 1:12

Hi Malgo
I don't understand how you still travel during the Covid Pandemic??? How is that possible or legal? I'm very jealous, this is a wonderful place to visit with the camera in hand...so many photo opps of locals and interesting buildings. great shot here, I enjoy this very much. cheers
Craig