The Taj Mahal (One), a photo from Uttar Pradesh, North

Photographer's Note

The Tāj Mahal (Hindi: ताज महल; Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a monument located in Agra, India, at 27° 10'28.67"N, 78° 2'32.05"E, constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22,000. The Mughal Emperor Shāh Jahān commissioned its construction as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, who is better known as Mumtāz. The Taj Mahal (sometimes called "the Taj") is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic. The Taj Mahal has achieved special note because of the romance of its inspiration. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on many design traditions, particularly Hindu, Ottoman, Persian and earlier Mughal architecture.

The overall design derived inspiration from a number of successful Timurid and Mughal buildings. These include the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand),[4] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and his own Jama Masjid. Under Shah Jahan's patronage, Mughal building reached new levels of refinement; while previous Mughal building had primarily been constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Hindu craftsmen, particularly sculptors and stonecutters, plied trade throughout Asia during this period, and their work was particularly prized by tomb builders. Whilst the rock-cut architecture which characterises much of this construction had little influence on the Taj Mahal (carvings are only one form of the decorative element), other Indian buildings such as the Man Singh palace in Gwalior were an inspiration for much Mughal palace architecture and the source for the chhatris which can be seen on the Taj Mahal.

Doron_L, snunney, deblink, axiotea, stego, evanrizo, alford, mvdisco, SampraS, isa, zeca, tinamunk3, CHInCu_TTHP, Viera, JCG, snowfalken oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Surfer31 (0) 2006-12-29 8:34

Very nice shot of this magnificent monument. This is a classic view and your note is very worthy.
Thanks.

Doron_L (411) 2006-12-29 8:42

Very good composition and very sharp.
the red pavement around the pool is a good instument to create depth in the frame, and enhancing it will add to the "3d feel" of the photo, IMO. I added a workshop to that effect, hope it helps...

Great photo,
Doron.

[workshop] [compare]

gannu (81) 2006-12-29 8:50

Great shot I also posted one like this. But not so clear like the one you had posted.

snunney (130967) 2006-12-29 8:53

Hello Pankaj,
A classic view of this great and wonderful monument with its marvellous reflection in the pool. Very good definition and fine colours.

nursez (1903) 2006-12-29 12:42

Hi Pankaj,
this beautiful monument looks great with the colors and reflectıon,thankyou.

deblink (2548) 2006-12-29 23:54

Hi Pankaj,
What a truly glorious photo. The Taj Mahal and its refection look superb. The building contrasts so well with the perfect blue sky. Beautiful.
Cheers,
Debbie

kafogel (218) 2006-12-31 12:52

nice and crispy image... classic postacard-like compo, but this is TajMahal as known all around the globe

mumek (20226) 2006-12-31 20:55

Hi Pankaj!
Excellent quality of the photo.Looks like a postcard. Nice colours,perspective, contrast and reflections in the water.
Happy New Year to you
ziggy

axiotea (21651) 2007-01-07 23:20

Hi Pankaj,
The famous Taj Mahal always looking good, especially here the monument stands out nicely against the blue sky. Nice reflection, light and colors.
Cheers,
Marilyn

MIG13 (0) 2007-01-08 5:28

Hi, Pankaj! A nice composition, showing this wonderful landmark. Great POV, depht and colours! Well done! TFS! Regards! Miguel.

stego (24132) 2007-01-09 19:01

Hi Pankaj,
Very good photo of this monument, maybe the most beautiful one on Earth. Very clever pov, you managed to stay away from a centered pov and still get a very nice photo, which isn't easy with such symetric subject.
Thank you for bringing me back good memories of your wonderful country, not only with this photo, but also with the rest of your portfolio.
TFS, Regards, José

evanrizo (462) 2007-01-10 11:10

A wonderful building-place is very very good captured.

alford (4063) 2007-01-10 20:00

Hi Pankaj! I've seen this famous structure a lot of times, but until now, I'm still amazed by its beauty! Very well explained notes, very informative. Your photo differs with the other ones I've seen mainly due to the presence of so many people; their presence gives scale to how big the bldg really is! Great colors and sharpness, an eye-pleasing composition! rgds.

dokadak (11518) 2007-01-16 9:10

Hi pankaj,

Perfect reflection, its clear shot... reflection, symmetry is perfect... thanks for sharing...

Hasan

mvdisco (17798) 2007-01-18 0:09

Bonsoir Pankaj,
It a beautiful place,with great architecture, lovely colors and sharness..Great shot..
Michel

Thank for your comment on: It's clouding Over..

vesalius (861) 2007-01-18 22:30

Hi Pankaj, beautifully composed shot. Both the reflections and leading lines work well here. TFP, Don.

excited (143) 2007-01-23 1:20 [Comment]

Show Comment

isa (1986) 2007-01-23 17:13

Fenomenal, prety...a magnificent Love Monument. One of the seven wonders of the World, without a doubt.
Congratulations for the work,
Photographic Greetings,
Isa

zeca (19762) 2007-01-24 23:12

This monument is always nice to see! Beautiful POV with nice reflections and beautiful colours!
Regards,
Zeca

tinamunk3 (6408) 2007-01-26 14:10

Hi Pankaj,

I just never get tired of the view of Taj Mahal. You had a perfect light and a nice blue sky - I just wish you had stepped a bit to the left to have a perfect reflection in the water.

:) Tina

CHInCu_TTHP (34) 2007-01-26 20:13

The details of the diminutive crowd against the huge, dominated background monuments, which certainly reemphasize how magnificent this great very structure.
Very unique & beautifully captured!

sssimon (684) 2007-01-27 0:47

hi pankaj,
nice post,
well composed,
nice pov,
lovely architectural shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Viera (948) 2007-01-27 3:37

Hi Pankaj,
I like this famous building,and on your photo it looks very good.The reflection on the water makes it even more beautiful.
Perfect shot.
Viera

Tibo (1906) 2007-01-27 21:06

Hi!Another very nice shot of an impressive gallery about India history and architecture. The frame, reflection, sharpness and colour quality are all reached on this one. Keep shooting like this and you will make of India an even more opened place to tourist like me :O) Best regards, Tibo

Benedict (7076) 2007-02-10 22:40

hi pankaj,
a gem!
what a perfect capture of one of the world's wonders!
crispy clear and neat!
benedict
ps... i have a colleague here who's son is also named pankaj and if i remember right it means favorite, right?

JCG (35153) 2007-02-12 7:12

Hi Pankaj,

I see that this wonder of architecture is very visited. A beautiful photograph. This prospect is very known but it always made effect. I like very
much the white bursting of the stone which arises magnificiently on this blue sky, it is very pleasant. Beautiful work and thank you for the interesting note.

With my all frienships,

Jean-Charles

jafadabret (56501) 2007-02-24 11:35

Il est trčs difficile de photographier des monuments si connus et tant de fois photographiés mais il faut reconnaître que ce cliché est trčs réussi. Il a pour lui un POV légčrement décentré et surtout une belle lumičre et de trčs belles couleurs. Excellent rendu des lignes et des reflets.
Jacques

donluicu (24741) 2007-03-21 13:09

hi Pankaj
i'm really surprised by the extreme sharpness ad the lovely colors of this (classical) picture..
always a pleasure for the eyes...

regards

snowfalken (1116) 2007-12-04 13:35

Hello Pankaj,

It's incredible how big this monument is! You captured all its grandeur in a well composed picture with great reflections in the water. I think it's almost impossible to capture the Taj Mahal with no people around it. The large crowd just emphasizes the popularity of this monument. Thanks and have a great day!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie