Lens: Canon EF :    17-40mm L USM

Aperture Value:       13.0

ISO Speed :            500

Shutter Speed :       0.4

Tripod

(2) Context :  

This photo was taken in Vakil Mosque in Shiraz, Iran. The overall area it covers is 5 thousand square kilometers, and it has 48 repetitive columns. This building is one of the most astonishing architectural structures from Zandid era.  From long time ago, in Iran, religious women often wear chador (veil ) which is usually black or white, before entering the mosque, and sometimes they wear sketchy chadors, colorful and beautiful. 

(3) The Picture :  

I moved towards this mosque in a rainy day, which is located in a busy traditional area of the city of Shiraz. Arriving there, I started looking for a suitable place for presenting what I had in mind. The mosque in this photo is located in Shiraz, my hometown. This is a tourist center and since lots of people travel here, I had to wait wait around an hour so it would be empty enough and local people also go there for prayer. This lady is also one of them. After all people were gone; she just stood over there all alone making this stunning situation for me to take this photo. Having had my equipments all ready, the moment just came when the sunlight started shining through the clouds, and I just took my picture from the girl in veil who was praying there. 

I always try to be careful about camera setting before taking photos; thus, I usually take raw pictures. Since, my camera is not full frame and I could not have the whole building in my frame with 17-40 lenses, I had to take panorama picture, which is why this attractive photo actually is made up of 3 pics. After taking them by Tripod (because of the panorama), I turned the photos into one using PTGUi. Then; I entered this photo into Photoshop CS5, making very minute changes in contrast, light settings and the sharpness.  After that, I used Plug in nik Software Silver EFEX Pro in order to reach my favorite result, making it black and white.

The Presence of that woman in Chador, the half cloudy sky and that stunning light, the repetitive columns, all of these made a wonderful day for me, making me even much more interested in taking this kind of photos. 

(6) Hints : 

 

1- Always have a Tripod if you are going to take a photo of ancient ruins. 

2- Be careful in your camera setting (Diaph, ISO, Shutter Speed) 

3- Try to complete your ideas before presentation 

I am Arash Ashkar, Born 23 years ago in the capital city of art and culture; Shiraz. I started photography when I was 17, and I have pursued it professionally since I was 19, and I'm truly exited about this kind of art; trying to look for a different outlook. I do suppose I am still a beginner.  

I think this is an excellent tutorial, I learnt a lot thanks to you, and I am amazed at what one can do using several pictures in order to make a panorama, I never tried this, and since I love the result I'll have a go as soon as I have the opportunity.

Take care,

Marie-Claude C.

thanks for your tutorial. greetings from india.

Thanks for sharing

Cheers

Suresh