Quran class interrupted, a photo from Madhya Pradesh, Central

Photographer's Note

I remain in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. Today's three photos were all taken in the city's largest mosque, and both WS photos are technically much better than the main photo.

So why on earth do I use the worst photo as the main upload?

Beacuse I think it is much more interesting than the others. There are thousands of photos of buildings and cute kids on TE (see WS), but I don't think there are many showing a Quran class in a mosque being interrupted by the photographer.

This is from the Taj-ul-Masajid (a.k.a. Taj-ul-Masjid), not just the largest mosque in Bhopal but in all of India and one of the largest in Asia. Construction started in the mid-19th century, but it wasn't completely finished until 1985.

It's not the most beautiful mosque I have ever seen, but it was worth an hour. On the day of my visit a large area of the interior was used as a school for students of all ages up to late teens. I guess Islamic studies were at the center of teaching here, but maybe other subjects were also on the schedule.

I noted in my diary that I liked the light inside the mosque, but it wasn't very strong so I had to use a long exposure, 1/15 second, for this photo in the primary school section. Hand held of course, in case the not perfect sharpness bothers you.

Before I even had time to press the trigger, most of the boys had lost interest in their studies and turned their attention from the teacher to me.

In the WS is a building and a cute kid. All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

ikeharel, papagolf21, Fis2, pierrefonds, jhm, ricardomattos, Royaldevon, ChrisJ, PaulVDV, alvaraalto, adramad, PiotrF, macjake, dale54, jean113, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (114915) 2020-10-10 0:41

Greeting.
Nice place with kids, well shown with nice colors, contrast and a well captured moment.
Beautiful architecture and photos in the workshop.
Good work, nice memory.
I wish you a nice day, all the best for the weekend.
Paja.

papagolf21 (152605) 2020-10-10 0:51

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Merci pour ce reportage relatif aux cours dispens廥 � l'int廨ieur de la Mosqu嶪 !
Les diff廨entes photos sont toujours int廨essantes � d嶰ouvrir gr歊e � vos notes pr嶰ieusement conserv嶪s.
Amiti廥.
Philippe

Fis2 (169731) 2020-10-10 0:58

Witaj Gert my neighbour today again:)!
Another interesting set of photos from your archive.
Curious place, view makes impression.
Good reportage shot.
I like POV and colors.
Well done.
Nice weekend.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (112439) 2020-10-10 2:02

Hello Gert,
Most of the pupils were drawn from their studies and looked at you with the camera. I can assume it was a welcomed interuption for them...
Well placed the group in the middle and managed to include the hall they were gathered with its humble yet attractive architecture in sight.
Nice the complementaries WS's added.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

Tue (91574) 2020-10-10 3:29

Hej Gert,
Et meget godt billede med de mange b鷨n der m廛ke var glade for at blive lidt distraheret fra undervisningen (i mods犚ning til l熳eren) og som alle s� op og omkring s� snart som du blev set af en af dem. Den store og gamle mosk� danner en god baggrund med ogs� fin belysning.
Lars

jimmyjimmy (6164) 2020-10-10 3:51

Hello Gert

Ahhhhhh....a break from the daily rigors of studies. I would have been the first to turn. Not much rules and regulations as a child. But anyway, I like the three images to complete your observation. Sharpness is for picture geeks. Your images give us life. thanks for sharing

Jimmy

Silvio1953 (220605) 2020-10-10 4:40

Ciao Gert,lovely composition with a lot of people, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (113590) 2020-10-10 4:47

Hi Gert,

The presence of the photographer probably interrupted the class. The point of view is showing the details of the interior pf the school. The surrounding light has a good effect on the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211734) 2020-10-10 5:59

Hello Gert,

You have the class interrupted but the children are not unhappy.
A nice daily life picture, with the koran lessons.
Excellent depth and perspective image too.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

GyurMaster (24668) 2020-10-10 7:38

Dear Gert,

I have to approve your decision on the main photo. Its quite unique and certainly more interesting than the others. As you wrote, its easily the first on TE in this 'class'. I like the little guys in the front and in the bg. wearing the vivid clothes, while all the others have dull ones, just like the environment. Composition-wise its also good and I wouldn't bother about the sharpness. If you never mentioned, I wouldn't even notice it.
By the way, weren't you instructed my the keepers of the place that you shouldn't distract the boys from this important lesson? I once was escorted out of an Italian church, because I shot a frame during the holy service.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

PS: This scene made me remember the conversion I read in your book between Arvid and the keeper of the mosque (which as you noted happened with you). By the way, I finished your book this week. I will write you an email about my thoughts on it during the WE.

ricardomattos (17408) 2020-10-10 8:37

Hi Gert,

I agree with you on this one for the main photo. This would go straight to the page of a good documentary magazine. It was wonderful this flagrant of the children looking at you. The colors, the faces, added to the peculiar and beautiful environment of this mosque is something that evokes a National Geographic report. I like a lot.

Congratulations my friend

Ricardo

Royaldevon (85606) 2020-10-10 8:49

Hello Gert,

I have to agree with you, subject wise, this is the most interesting! I can only think comparably if, as a child, my Sunday School Class had been interrupted by a photographer, I would have quickly lost interest in my class, too! What a mixture of expressions there are to observe, too; some curious, some delighted by the interruption, some a little guilty!

I cannot quite decide how the little boy in your w/s is feeling! He's not happy, he's not pleased ... just not sure!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-10-10 9:06

Gert, that quranic classroom is installed inside the Taj ul masjid. The pupils are distracted by the photographer. All wear the traditional muslim hat. That ancient monument has a sumptuous architecture. Bhopal old town is occupied by a majority of muslims and it is common to see ladies in integral black niqab in that area of the city. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

lousat (138609) 2020-10-10 11:00

Hi Gert,3 very nice memories from this beautiful mosque of Bhopal,the main is very funny and i like a lot the choice of title. Excellent capture of the architechture of entrance in the WS and nice too the alone guy in pose just for you. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jmdias (114278) 2020-10-10 12:24

gert

I presume the teacher wasn't so much happy with you disturbing the class.. nice the WSs to show us as the mosque is and the boy in the portrait looked so severe. nice flagrant of local daily life.

take care

jorge

CMJC (5095) 2020-10-10 13:05 [Comment]

Show Comment

kasianowak (17672) 2020-10-10 13:05

Hi Gert
I wish I could get this sort of sharpness shooting handheld at 1/15 sec! I can't see the imperfections you are talking about and if there is anything soft about this image it just gives it a bit of a painterly feel. But it is sharp enough.
I love the way the kids are looking at you and their poses, even the one standing in the background is in a perfect place.
The WS photos are beautiful but this is clearly a winner. Ah well, just another one for my favs collection. It brightened up the long wait for the next train (after a long wait for a rail replacement bus).
Have a nice Sunday
Kasia

ChrisJ (171222) 2020-10-10 15:01

Hello Gert,

This particular part of their Islamic studies might not have been all that interesting, but children have a natural curiosity towards strangers. I might have sharpened a little more. Good interior lighting and exposure. Tfs!

ifege (46951) 2020-10-10 21:00

Hi Gert
Film cameras in 1991 didn't have the shake reduction features that modern digital cameras have (1/15 sec is no problem for my camera). That said when you take in the large view the sharpness is quite reasonable.
It is the interesting photo of the 3 with nearly every one except the instructor/teacher checking you out.
cheers
Ian

emka (157280) 2020-10-11 0:12

Hello Gert, As you write, this is not the most beautiful mosque. But here the interior is lovely. Strange that there is a primary school inside it. We see the sign in English Probably Hindi and Urdu. I wonder what language learn the children. The photos in Workshop are nice but this one is the best. The teacher is not interested in the fopreighr, or maybe he is pretending it, but of course almost all kid look at you. Fantastic oldie as usual.

Best regards Malgo

PaulVDV (62802) 2020-10-11 3:18

Hello Gert,
You have gotten everyone's interest except that of the Quran teacher. Maybe he just continued with the lesson.
So the largest mosque of India can be found in Bhopal, a city that was only once in the news. Because of your photo series, some will now look at this city with different eyes.
Very cute little boy in the WS.
Three very interesting pictures of the Taj-ul-Masajid.
Best regards, Paul

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-10-11 7:33

Hello Gert,
I agree with your choice. Not the technical quality of the picture needs to be decisive, but also the story that the photo tells us, as of course there is a lower limit to the quality. But thanks to your excellent scan performance, the colour and sharpness is fine.
At first glance, the photo reminded me of a school class on a school trip waiting for the bus.
Excellent presentation
Have a good week, groet Rob

adramad (72562) 2020-10-11 10:45

Hi Gert.
A splendid photo of this group of children attending their Koran class in the mosque, although at the moment they are more aware of you with the camera taking the photo than the studies, good photos also those of the WS.
Excellent POV, with very good lighting, color and sharpness to enjoy the details.
Very good work. I like it
Enjoy a happy Sunday.
Very best regards.
Luis.

PiotrF (54246) 2020-10-11 12:49

Hello Gert,
A very nice daily life scene from Bhopal.
Great picture from your archive.
Picture with good composition and good quality.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

macjake (98262) 2020-10-11 15:33

Hi Gert
at first glance I wondered if that was a large black screen TV, then I noticed you took this in 1991 - so that would be an easy NO haha. almost everyone in the scene is looking at you, you're very popular haha. and how perfect that the boy standing is wearing an eye catching color too. fun one
cheers
Craig

dale54 (17750) 2020-10-12 7:51

good evening gert and hello..nice little shot,capturing this boys looking your way,nicely seen and timed out perfect! tfs dale

CLODO (45116) 2020-10-12 8:56

Hi Gert

WS2: it's just a mosque, but if it's the first time you see and take it in picture, it's a good remembrance of that moment
WS 1: Nice but posing, not a natural behaviour
MAIN POST: there is a story, the teacher is still occupied and almost all the boys are looking at this stanger, with different cloth and having a camera in hand. Interogation: why is he there, who, is this man?
So it's definetly the GOOD choice!
I don't see a lack of sharpness though it has been taken with a low "speed" and we have also to remember that slides taken with argentic film are less sharp than the electronic pictures.
Have a good night
CLODO

jean113 (27637) 2020-10-13 13:41

Hello Gert, how did I miss this?
A lovely scene of life in the mosque. Obviously the boys weren't used to a stranger coming into their class area, especially one with a camera.
It seems that only the teacher is unaware of you.
I notice too, that behind the pillar there is another class taking place.
Lovely surroundings with the decoration in the mosque.
Thank you for the w/s shots too, they enliven your story.
Kind regards, Jean.

worldcitizen (15956) 2020-10-28 14:13

Hello Gert,
It's always a pleasure to come across school children, and even more interesting to see them in a foreign country. I visited a primary school in Japan many years ago, and the children sang songs for me. It was so sweet. :-) Getting back to your photo, I like the faces of the boys, and the way they are seated in a tight circle. There are also some nice, artistic details in the mosque. Take care!

mcmtanyel (67657) 2020-12-14 12:54

Hello Gert,
Another set of photos that look originally digital. Perfect exposure, great scanning. I bet you some of those students have replaced their teachers by now. I hope they are emphasizing the more peaceful portions of their book when they teach.
Regards,
MT