Baghdad Sunset, a photo from Baghdad, North

Photographer's Note

From the Palestine Hotel, looking West over the Tigris River, you can see what used to be known as Saddam Tower - a revolving restaurant that went virtually unused since it overlooked the Iraqi Intelligence Compound. Adjacent to the tower is the bombed out remains of the Al-Mamoun Communications Center and the reason for my being here - to help restore Iraq's International telephone communications. The end of this clear and sunny November day was marked by the now familiar but, in this case, distant explosion, the resulting mushroom cloud and another one of those awe inspiring yet gut wrenching memories caught on flash.

Burnham, bazal, jrzufferey, digi-mom, pamastro, Tim, green, Olienka, ngythanh, benkrut, saabwy81, fadingstar78, marieaude, ewasting, borka, serrano oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

cleal (32) 2004-06-03 8:46

I like the overall atmosphere. The mushroom cloud puts the image into perspective or reality wich adds something else to the image. If it wasn't there it would still be a quite good image but with a completely different reading. I see here a peaceful image in time of war.

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Burnham (2428) 2004-06-03 9:24

Really intense note, te is a great place for everyone to be able to read about the situation in countries such as Iraq from other than our state leaders. very good picture, and that mushroom cloud is just frightning.
Hope you are doing allright with the phonelines and everything else.
All my best.

[2]

bazal (7900) 2004-06-03 9:52

It's a really impressive picture and your note increases this feeling. I think that such contribution will bring strange and sad emotions, and I can't say I like this one, but it's a great contribution !

RGatward (20108) 2004-06-03 10:06

Well I guess you can't get more in the TE spirit than shots from a war zone, and this is both poignant and nicely composed. Graininess working well to add atmosphere. Oh, and a first posting, welcome to TE. Hope we'll be seeing more Iraqi shots soon, there's so few on the site, and only one other since the war started.

[2] +

desman (2222) 2004-06-03 10:31

Une parfaite synthčse dans ce cliché, bravo !

tonyeden (0) 2004-06-03 11:06

Dear Bill,
An intriquing picture.I feel that the sky area is just a bit too much and would have suggested that about a fifth of it be cropped - from the top of course!
Regards,
Tony Eden

Gatis (925) 2004-06-03 12:17

This is extremely interesting picture!!! Why?
1st - did not know about such high building in Baghdad... but why not - it is large metropolis
2 - it is simply nice
3 - the situation is exceptional at the moment.

jrzufferey (7305) 2004-06-03 15:19

Superbe et terrible image de smog et de guerre. Amicalement/jr

nickthegreek82 (1708) 2004-06-03 17:44

Very interesting shot!
It creates very strong feelings.First of all it the color of the sky,the gray buttom , the mushroom from the explosition.This huge building.It's like jumping into an orwell story.Very strong ,dramatic and gloomy picture.If only it was not reall ...

pamastro (7296) 2004-06-04 1:38

Very interesting shot. And good capture here with the cloud from the explosion. I like the graininess and the lighting in this shot. t gives it a good mood. The mood that this is a large city with the tower and building but also that it is in the midst of hostilities. The haze hides the problems. Like the building there, the communications center, has that damage to it but not clearly visible. Signs that things are trying to move forward but still being bogged down. Nicely done. And welcome to TE.

philip_coggan (11) 2004-06-04 10:10

Ok, I've now read your bio and know why yr in Iraq. Keep your eyes open and your head down! There must be lots of good street photography opportunities there, but dangerous, too.

dominique (11414) 2004-06-04 18:06

This environment on the photograph is really special and very strange, framing is perfect and likes the colors, well considering.

mustafaa (610) 2004-06-14 13:13

Very good view and good composition. Well done.

Cat (0) 2004-07-13 19:57

Quite an interesting mood you have captured here Bill! The somber colors and the graininess from the low light make up the total effect. I must say that the size of that mushroom cloud appears to be huge! I'm wondering if a tighter crop could enhance this. Would you mind if tried?

Stay safe!
Thoughts and prayers!

ngythanh (8458) 2005-09-11 21:06

This is the most meaningful sunset photograph I have seen.
Your work made my comment the worst surplus. I better be quiet and take my hat off.
Thanks for sharing. Bill!

barattolina (4) 2005-12-02 11:38

profondo e surreale

giovannab (131) 2005-12-04 16:08

Impressive. Is not easy to give an aesthetical comment.

fadingstar78 (420) 2006-01-10 12:29

great light, impressive picture. and good note. thanks for sharing.

DarkoG (8) 2006-01-10 12:37

VEry good photo.
Excellent gloomy atmosphere, and that cloud that remind of hursh reality in Bagdad
Good work
Regards
Darko

marieaude (1196) 2006-03-10 8:42

Hello, Terrible and scaring feeling. Great testimony of a very sad event. I feel like crying as I look your photo. Hard reality.

ruisc_pt (11594) 2006-08-21 6:22

An impressive view of a constant anxious DAILY LIFE.
A strong picture with an unusual description and exposure.
TFS

serrano (176) 2009-01-05 16:50

Hi Bill,

The mushroom cloud you have captured (with the lovely sunset colors gloomily mixed up with it in the background) instantly reminded of some pictures of Gaza I saw on the internet today.

I know they're different situations, but it is kind of weird to see the human race going through the same path over and over. Anyway, a great contribution!

Cheers,
Cado