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  • This old church has long since lost it's dome and roof.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif
  • This gentleman is the orthodox high priest of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Upon finishing an outdoor mass he approached me and asked if I wanted to go inside to see crypts of Haile Selassie a.k.a. Ras Tafari and his wife which are kept inside, adjacent to the vestibule. He must have thought I was with Nat Geo or something as apparently they usually charge a ‘museum’ fee for that. I’m sure it’s intended to not only, well, raise money for the church, but also as a means to restrict the crowds and prevent the church from becoming a scene like that at Mao Zedong’s mausoleum. At any rate, I took him up on the offer and moments later found myself standing over the auxumite granite tombs of Emperor Haile Salassie (The Holy One), his wife Empress Menen Asfaw and other family members. I took in the significance of the moment. Not so much out of respect for his status as a leader, but more so from being the huge fan of reggae music that I am. I mean I’ve been hearing about this guy from Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and all of my other favorite rasta’s my whole life! The least I could do is bow my head for the inspiration he gave those fellas, right? <br />
As he was escorting me out, I thanked him quietly yet profusely and asked him if I could make a portrait to remember him by to which he gave an approving nod. I and I left that church feelin’ irie I for the rest of the day!
    20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • Pilgrims from all across Ethiopia trickle here to worship at Ethiopia’s holiest church, Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum. It claims to house the actual Ark of The Covenant in a small chapel behind it.
    20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-156.jpg
  • The famous crown of Our Lady of Guadalupe church in historical Puerto Vallarta.
    LaCaronaDeLaIglesia.tif
  • Pilgrims from all across Ethiopia trickle here to worship at Ethiopia’s holiest church, Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum. It claims to house the actual Ark of The Covenant in a small chapel behind it.
    20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-155.jpg
  • Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Aya Sofya is a marvel of both architecture and engineering. It is said to have changed the history of architecture, primarily due to it’s grand dome. It is 32 meters in diameter and 56 meters above the floor. It tops what was the largest church in christianity and even the largest indoor space in the world for over 1,000 years!
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-683.tif
  • Unlike in Christianity, where images of Jesus, Mary and the crucifix adorn the interior of every church, images of the prophet, or any humans for that matter, are forbidden. This lends itself to artistic expression and mosques often use intricate geometric patterns, bright colors and/or text from the quran
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-788.tif
  • High in the apse of the church is this stunning 'Virgin and Christ Child' mosaic.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-648.tif
  • Mikael Cemetery is just outside of town on an adjacent hillside and below the Christian church of the same name. Ironically, unlike the ancient town it serves, the cemetery has no walls or gates. Therefore, you can expect locals to be not only paying their respects, but also grazing their cattle. <br />
On the hillside in the background you can the ancient walled city of Harar, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006.
    20141002-Ethiopia-Harar-36.jpg
  • A georgeous chapel built into the beautiful red rocks of Sedona
    ChurchOfTheHolyCross.tif
  • I believe this woman was seeking consol or solace from this nun. They are sitting on an old whitewash wall that is part pf the church / convent grounds.
    201009_Guatemala_-203.tif
  • The Aya Sofya is considered the epitome of Byzantine architechture and is said to have "changed the history of architechture". It became the paradigm for Orthodox Churches for centuries and then again for Ottoman mosques a thousand years after it's construction.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-686.tif
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • Everything about Aya Sofya was done on a grand scale, including the windows.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-668.tif
  • Sunlight pours through the windows of the South Gallery.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-757.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-774.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-770.tif
  • Sunlight pours through the windows of the South Gallery.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-765.tif
  • Created in 1261, the Deesis (Final Judgement) Mosaic was plastered over in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople to the muslim Ottomans, who converted it into a mosque. They were uncovered the first time in the 1840’s only to be plastered over again until their final restoration in 1936. In this image I secluded Mary who is accompanying Jesus, along with John The Baptist on his other side.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-737.tif
  • This 12th century mosaic has the Emperor John Comnenus II and Empress Eirene flanking the virgin Mary. The Emperor was known as "John The Good" and his wife was also well thought of due to her charitable works.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-707.tif
  • It's not just the size of Aya Sofya that is stunning, it's also the meticulous attention the the smallest of details.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-671.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-162.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-88.tif
  • 20141001-Ethiopia-Harar-168.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-55.jpg
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-783.tif
  • The ‘Deesis’ (Final Judgement) mosaic depicts a Pantocrator (omnipotent ruler of the universe) Jesus asking for forgiveness on Judgement Day. He Is holding a bible in his left hand and giving a gesture of blessing with his right. Created in 1261, it was plastered over in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople to the muslim Ottomans, who converted it into a mosque. They were uncovered the first time in the 1840’s only to be plastered over again until their final restoration in 1936.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-747.tif
  • Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Aya Sofya is a marvel of both architecture and engineering.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-703.tif
  • Ancient frescoes adorn Aya Sofya’s massive ceilings.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-687.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-79.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-57.tif
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-143.jpg
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-68.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-2.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-26.jpg
  • I thought this arch silhouetted would make a nice frame for this composition. It draws your attention to the other arch, that of the dome. Together, they break up the right angles of the architecture.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-766.tif
  • Created in 1261, the Deesis (Final Judgement) Mosaic was plastered over in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople to the muslim Ottomans, who converted it into a mosque. They were uncovered the first time in the 1840’s only to be plastered over again until their final restoration in 1936. In this image we see John the Baptist who flanks Jesus on the right.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-750.tif
  • This is the view out of a South facing window in Aya Sofya. The domed buildings in the foreground are the tombs of Aya Sofya and the former Baptistry in the  South courtyard. In the distance we see the Blue Mosque which bookends the other side of Sultanahmet Park.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-695.tif
  • The stones in this switchback ramp to the upper galleries have been worn smooth from nearly 1,500 years of being walked on.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-681.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-128.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-145.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-72.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-8.tif
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-56.jpg
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-59.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-49.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-35-Edit.jpg
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-784.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-776.tif
  • Sunlight pours through the windows of the South Gallery.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-762.tif
  • Ancient frescoes adorn Aya Sofya’s massive ceilings.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-691.tif
  • Sultanahmet Park, along with it's famous mosque bookends, i.e. The Aya Sofya and Blue Mosque are all beautifully drenched in light come sundown.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-635.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-449.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-74.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-68.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-36.tif
  • A woman takes a siesta on the steps of Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif
  • The ceiling inside the Blue Mosque looks like the world's largest kaleidoscope.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-786.tif
  • Wudu (ablutions) is an important purity ritual in Islam and must be performed before each prayer session. The four acts of Wudu consist of washing the face and arms, then wiping the head and the feet with water.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-785.tif
  • This 10th century mosaic is one of the best preserved. It depicts Mary holding the Christ Child with Constantine (on the right) offering her the city and Justinian offering the Aya Sofya itself.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-778.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-767.tif
  • Created in 1261, the Deesis (Final Judgement) Mosaic was plastered over in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople to the muslim Ottomans, who converted it into a mosque. They were uncovered the first time in the 1840’s only to be plastered over again until their final restoration in 1936. In this image we see John the Baptist who flanks Jesus on the right.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-733.tif
  • Ancient frescoes adorn Aya Sofya’s massive ceilings.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-693.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-132.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-60.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-59.tif
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-9.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-13.jpg
  • The Meskel Festival is Ethiopia's grandest. It celebrates the day Empress Helena (St. Helena) is meant to have found the true cross. In Addis' tens of thousands pack Meskel Square to witness the burning of the "Demera", a giant bonfire meant to represent the one that Helena had made in her quest to find the cross, watch fireworks and burn their own cross-shaped candles throughout the night.
    20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-15.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-19.jpg
  • This is the view out of a South facing window in Aya Sofya. The domed buildings in the foreground are the tombs of Aya Sofya's South courtyard. In the distance we see the Blue Mosque which bookends the other side of Sultanahmet Park.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-715.tif
  • This is the view out of a South facing window in Aya Sofya. The domed buildings in the foreground are the tombs of Aya Sofya's South courtyard. In the distance we see the Blue Mosque which bookends the other side of Sultanahmet Park.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-711.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-128.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-81.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-729.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-114.tif
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-33.jpg
  • Best known of Lalibela’s rock hewn churches, Church of St. George is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has often been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. I feel like there’s probably 100 “Eighth Wonders of the World” but this church definitely qualifies. It was carved downward through the hard volcanic tuff before chiseling out the inside. It’s such a mind-numbing feat, the locals claim all eleven of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches were carved by angels at night while the real workers were sleeping. Whether people 800-years-ago carved out this church with rudimentary tools or they had the power to summon angels to do the work, either way it’s a miraculous achievement.
    20141009-Ethiopia-Lalibela-123.tif
  • Best known of Lalibela’s rock hewn churches, Church of St. George is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has often been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. I feel like there’s probably 100 “Eighth Wonders of the World” but this church definitely qualifies. It was carved downward through the hard volcanic tuff before chiseling out the inside. It’s such a mind-numbing feat, the locals claim all eleven of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches were carved by angels at night while the real workers were sleeping. Whether people 800-years-ago carved out this church with rudimentary tools or they had the power to summon angels to do the work, either way it’s a miraculous achievement.
    20141009-Ethiopia-Lalibela-61.tif
  • Best known of Lalibela’s rock hewn churches, Church of St. George is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has often been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. I feel like there’s probably 100 “Eighth Wonders of the World” but this church definitely qualifies. It was carved downward through the hard volcanic tuff before chiseling out the inside. It’s such a mind-numbing feat, the locals claim all eleven of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches were carved by angels at night while the real workers were sleeping. Whether people 800-years-ago carved out this church with rudimentary tools or they had the power to summon angels to do the work, either way it’s a miraculous achievement.
    20141009-Ethiopia-Lalibela-119.tif
  • This perspective from atop Church of St. George really imagine what it really took to slowly create this intricate monolith of a church out of this solid stone outcropping.
    20141009-Ethiopia-Lalibela-38.tif
  • Detail shot of one of The Church of St. George’s carved windows and lichen.
    20141008-Ethiopia-Lalibela-30.tif
  • This is the small chapel adjacent to the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion. It is said to house the Ark of the Covenant and therefore The Ten Commandments inside. Of course, only a ‘guardian’ is allowed access beyond the fencing immediately surrounding the chapel. I, as a foreigner was only allowed to get as close as this photograph indicates. That was plenty close for me as it allowed me to shoot not only the chapel, but the revelers in front of it all bathed in beautiful golden hour light. Besides, who wants to risk getting their face melted off like a Nazi in Raiders of the lost Ark? The Legend is that Menelik, the son of King Solomon and a beautiful African Queen from Axum named Makeda (Queen of Sheba), brought it back to his homeland of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
    20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-175.jpg
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-186.jpg
  • While I was exploring and photographing the castle and church ruins in the old quarter of Gondar, I crashed this wedding party. Not only did they not mind, they asked for copies via e-mail.
    20141005-Ethiopia-Gonder-20.jpg
  • Many of the 336 columns supporting the terrain above the Basilica Cistern were recycled from churches and other buildings across the Byzantine Empire. This carved head of Medusa being used to raise one of the support columns is the most famous example.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-568.tif
  • A couple of things you are never very far from in Antigua are churches and cotton candy.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif