A World In Focus

  • Home
  • Galleries
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Connect
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
96 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • As the largest religious structure ever built and proprietor of some of the world’s most magnificent stone carvings, Angkor Wat is considered by many to be one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. Divided into the three main levels of the Hindu cosmos, it features an 800 meter long gallery of magnificent bas-reliefs depicting epic stories from Hindu mythology, four stone block swimming pools and five central towers. These towers depict the peaks of Mount Meru, home of the gods and the center of the Hindu universe. At over 180 feet high, they can not only be seen from the town of Siem Reap six kilometers away, they can also be seen all over the country as the main symbol on the Cambodian flag.<br />
The Wat is the crowning achievement of the Khmer civilization which, in it’s prime, ruled over most of Southeast Asia. It was commissioned by and built for the god-king, Suryavarman II who was worshipped as an incarnation of the protector god Vishnu. The only temple in the Khmer empire facing West into the setting sun, a symbol of death in Hinduism, it is an accepted belief that it was built as a mausoleum for Suryavarman II. The fact that it took 50,000 artist and laborers nearly 40 years to complete is a testament to the Khmers power, wealth and devotion.<br />
To make this photograph showing all five towers, I walked off of the main causeway and joined the cattle that still graze in the fields contained within Angkor’s vast complex. Taken just before sunset, it illustrates why we photographers refer to this time of day as “golden hour”. Taken at any other time of the day, the wat wouldn’t have this beautiful golden color of the sunset, but rather it’s natural stone-grey color.
    AngkorWatAtGoldenHour.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
  • 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
  • During it's heyday 11 centuries ago, the city of Angkor was at the center of the Khmer civilization. The Khmers were not only a powerful empire, they were also one of history's most creative and artistic. They created hundreds of buildings and temples that are as magnificent as they are massive. After the empire fell to the Siamese in 1431 the city was left to be devoured by the dense jungle of Northern Cambodia. It wasn't until the French explorer Henri Mouhot wrote about his discovery of the fabled "lost city of Angkor" in the 1860's that the modern world was introduced to one of humanity's greatest architectural achievements.<br />
This former Buddhist temple, Ta Prohm is one of the most popular sites at Angkor because unlike it's famous neighbors Angkor Wat and The Bayon, Ta Prohm was left exactly as it was found, so you get a real sense of what it must have been like to rediscover this majestic city. Most experts believe that these voracious trees that have overtaken the site are the very thing holding it together and if archaeologist were to remove them, Ta Prohm would simply crumble.
    TaPhromDoorway.tif
  • The famous crown of Our Lady of Guadalupe church in historical Puerto Vallarta.
    LaCaronaDeLaIglesia.tif
  • Buddha Statue Near Mae Hong Son, Thailand
    PaintedBuddhaNearMaeHongSongThailand.tif
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-56.jpg
  • Temple of the Dawn at dawn!
    WatArunAtDusk.tif
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-143.jpg
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-68.jpg
  • 20141004-Ethiopia-Aksum-59.jpg
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 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
  • 20140927-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-Holy Tr...jpg
  • 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
  • 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
  • Sunlight pours through the windows of the South Gallery.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-765.tif
  • 20141001-Ethiopia-Harar-168.jpg
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-774.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-770.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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-783.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-766.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
  • High in the apse of the church is this stunning 'Virgin and Christ Child' mosaic.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-648.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
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-784.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-776.tif
  • Sunlight pours through the windows of the South Gallery.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-762.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
  • Ancient frescoes adorn Aya Sofya’s massive ceilings.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-691.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
  • 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
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-55.jpg
  • 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
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-2.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-26.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-49.jpg
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-35-Edit.jpg
  • 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
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-729.tif
  • 20140926-Ethiopia-AddisAbaba-33.jpg
  • This old church has long since lost it's dome and roof.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif
  • The colorful pagodas of Wat Pho
    PagodasAtWatPho.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-162.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-88.tif
  • 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
  • The large, Western entrance to the Blue Mosque is a popular place for snapshots.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-622.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-128.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-145.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-79.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-72.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-57.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-156.jpg
  • PoLinMonasteryShuffle.tif
  • AvalokitesvaraInTheMist.tif
  • 20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-449.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-74.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-36.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-8.tif
  • StaircaseTempleInHongKong.tif
  • A woman takes a siesta on the steps of Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced.
    20140407-UAEAbuDhabiLiwaMoreebSandDu...tif
  • The largest Buddha statue in Thailand!
    ReclingBuddhaOfWatPho.tif
  • A feral cat pops into the frame for a photo bomb. 1/5 sec @ f22, ISO 80
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-791.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-132.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-68.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-60.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-59.tif
  • Tourists and Worshipers alike pour into the Western courtyard of The Blue Mosque.
    20141212-Turkey-Istanbul-589.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-128.tif
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-81.tif
  • Intent.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
  • 20170518AinsleeBaptism-114.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
  • Phuket Sunset.tif
  • The incomparable beauty of Koh Phi Phi
    KhoPhiPhiDon.tif
  • I can vividly remember as a child seeing a photo similar to this in an elementary school geography book and thinking, someday I must see this in person. It is one of my earliest memories of experiencing wanderlust, a diagnosis that would become a driving force throughout my life. Only later as an adult did I come to find out that this is also the birthplace of Bossa Nova, the bikini, and of course, the world’s largest party. It is also home to over seven million Cariocas, as the locals call themselves, a colorful mix of some of the most beautiful people in the world all packed into the most beautiful urban setting on the planet, Rio de Janeiro.<br />
The geography and people of Rio have created a unique urban sprawl, whereby some of the wealthiest people in Brazil live next to or even beneath some of the poorest. The poor have taken to illegally building favelas or shanty towns on any available space that clings to or straddles Rio’s magnificent mountains. The irony of course, is that it’s the people of the favelas that have the most magnificent views of their Cidade Maravilhosa or Marvelous City. Constantly watching over this marvelous city and all who inhabit it is the enormous statue ofCristo Redentor, Christ the Redeemer. Perched on the tip ofCorcovado, or Hunchback mountain at 2,329 feet above the city, it can be seen from just about anywhere and offers a breathtaking view from it’s base.<br />
Even though this image is on postcards all over the city, I wanted to fulfill my childhood vision to see it and photograph it for myself. After experiencing a week of Carnaval and a month in Rio I hadn’t had the opportunity to get my photo on a clear day. Miraculously, on my last morning in Rio I woke up to this heavenly, clear, blue sky. Risking missing my flight, I raced to the helicopter pad and fulfilled my vision.
    ChristTheRedeemerWatchingOverRio.tif