Grand mosque
This magnificent building was my main incentive for taking a trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Situated on a huge site to the north of the country’s capital, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque can accommodate 41,000 worshippers and is an opulent feat of architecture, completed in 2007.
But my visit, under the piercing blue of an Arabian Gulf sky, was less about religious observance as tourists from all over the world flocked to see this impressive complex. It’s a myriad of pillars, windows, arches and domes, while the interior is studded with gems and cut glass.
With tourists come phones, selfie sticks and iPads in a building where photography is thankfully allowed. It feels almost impossible to take an original image. But with this wealth of lines, symmetry, colour and majesty, you just have to go with your instinct and capture what enthralls your own eye.
This isn’t the end of the story with the mosque. There is even more to come…
Click first image to view the gallery
mikeosbornphoto 
This is an extraordinary building and I can see why you were drawn to it. I saw the first image on Instagram and wondered where it was. You’ve done this building proud, Mike.
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Thanks Andy, it’s a thing of wonder and cries out for some camera love – and was getting plenty! I’m pleased to note that Instagram brought you back here.
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I’m also surprised and pleased that photography was permitted in such an environment.
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Well the place was bristling with devices – I think it was designed partially with tourists in mind, Andy.
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Fantastic series Mike, “Shoes and Snapshots” is a brilliant image. I love mosques, they are so elegant and photogenic.
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Many thanks Mark, I’m glad you like the set. This was pretty much architectural nirvana, although less convinced about some of the interior fittings.
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Your reduced images simplify the garish beauty of this overall structure. The overall complex (I assume) is suggestive of power and wealth that few of us can comprehend. [Any of us? Most of us? Whatever.] By reducing the parts, however, I see a stunning artistic understanding and replication of nature’s finest forms. Well done, Mike. Well done.
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Raye, thank you so much for coming by and sharing your thoughts. Yes, it’s a testament to power and wealth, not to mention a very compelling reason for visiting this city. Some of it is rather overdone, but other elements are beautiful. The sense of space and symmetry – if it isn’t cluttered up by visitors – is wonderful to capture.
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Reblogged this on My Choice and commented:
Great compositions!!!
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Thank you Herman, much appreciated. A must for all photographers.
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:D
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Perhaps a little flash in some instances but still incredibly elegant.
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Oh that’s interesting, Noeline. The main problem on the ground was the light flooding in all directions! It was a battle to create some more subdued palettes out of all this glitz :)
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Oh and I’m incredibly stupid! Flash as in OTT. I thought the notion of using flashlight in these conditions seemed a little odd :)
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:D English is a wonderful odd language is it not?!
… see you’re still having trouble with your ‘fs’ – very strange!
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Yes, a few people are reporting it. But it seems they appear after a comment is published which is even more confusing!
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A beautiful place to visit, and I can see why you made the trip specifically for it! There’s something a bit garish about it, but the architecture is stunning! :)
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Thank you Richard, it’s been on my hit list for a while. And yes, some of it is truly overdone. The other side – which I’ll share at a later date – was much more compelling.
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I await with interest! :)
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Lots of gold and white with few details of colour. In The Netherlands we call it ‘kitsch’ (shoddy according to Google Translate), beautiful but a bit too much ;)
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Well funny you should say that, Koos, I recoiled in horror when I set eyes on the chandelier. But the lines and shapes are second to none.
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That’s true, Mike. I would probably shoot lots of photos of the mosque too if I was there. Yes, I’m only human and the flesh is weak :-D
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Hey, are you also having trouble with your f’s? Mine keep disappearing here! And yes, it was irresistible!
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Yes, same here! The f in flesh is disappearing…
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How weird! I thought I’d hit the insert button by mistake…
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WordPress has a mind of it’s own. It’s a strange mind…
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I’ll say it has. I noticed another problem with ‘related posts’ showing the latest photos. Gah!
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