I posted an image of this house about a year ago, from a negative taken some time earlier: it looked precarious perched on the rock wall.
Well the owners or government must have though so: the dirt road has been replaced by hard-top and Buttressing added.
Reflections in black & white.
These are growing on the remains of a rather large man-made stone mound, in fact the area has signs of habitation going back 2 or 3 thousand years BCE.
Site is still not loading correctly – it would seem that my provider (Omantel) has taken a dislike to something on WordPress: they are applying some form of filtering.
I am still not able to open WordPress pages without adding (https) in front of every page: a real pain when I wish to view others sites.
My provider has not been much help as it is only WordPress that has the problem ??!! – very strange: the only consolation is that I am not alone with this issue, others here in Oman have the same problem and it started on the same day. Now the worm in the back of my mind says “WordPress new edit page was started about this time ??”
The WordPress ‘Happiness Engineer “rachelmcr” has been a great help – found things in Firefox programme I didn’t know existed 🙂
Quote from: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe – Douglas Adams.
Replace the word Universe with computer…………
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
Normality will resume I hope.
Cannon detail from Al hazm fort.
Problems opening theme page – actually anyone’s WordPress page: very strange as the theme construction is just not there.
Ho well, with luck the ‘Happiness Engineers’ will sort out what is going on: two computers, one win8 the other win7 also a Samsung tab on Wi-Fi, using Firefox or Windows Explorer, all show the same problem.
With luck this post will look ok as preview puts it all down one side of the page, my theme is just not there.
In the meantime here are a few from my favourite mountain:
Nikon F4 using T-Max 400 @ 320.
Misht from lower Shams.
Pushing the limits of film & Photoshop images.
Nikon F4 & Tokina 35-70 f2.8 AIS AT-X, made on Ilford fp4. Negative slightly diffused with Vaseline on old filter.
Playing again – actually I am experimenting with making digital negatives that I can contact print in the darkroom using conventional gelatin silver paper.
For those that don’t know this technique; it involves printing an image onto ‘overhead projection film’ as a negative, then contact printing this ‘negative’ onto traditional photographic paper by sandwiching both under a sheet of glass and exposing under the enlarger.
The negative is created in Photoshop by inverting a fully processed curves adjusted image; this adjustment is needed to compensate for the difference in tonal range between the screen image and the printing paper being used. The image is then printed onto OHP film at any size one chooses and can then be used like any other large format negative.
It has been used by some for a number of years now, but new for me – I am always slow catching up with these things 🙂
Well maintained Falaj.
Bronze age wall – exposed during excavations at Bat.
This column has a lot of work put into the decoration for what is essentially a support.
Spent ages trying to get a position that would show both sides and centralise the arch: gave up !
Door fittings.
The weather maybe hot but it is good for dates….
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” (Scott Adams)
Busy weekend as this was my last trip before I step-off the planet for a couple of days short of a month (holiday time soon 🙂 ) anyway it was 49 degrees C when this series was taken……. enough is enough: mad dogs & Englishmen come to mind !
Red/brown tone for a change.
One of the many doors.
Entrance to Al Hazm Fort. (This one is a bit soft, using manual focus & the sun very bright: my excuse – need to go back! 😉 )
Al Hazm Castle – according to the Ministry guide-book.
Located in Al Hazm town in the District of Rustaq. It was built by Imam Sultan bin Seif the 2nd in ( 1123 A.H.–1711 A.D.) when he established Al Hazm town as a capital of Oman instead of Rustaq. The Castle is distinctive from other Omani Castle and forts by its magnificent shape and massive building. It contains the tomb of its builder – Imam Sultan bin Seif the 2nd.
The builder Imam Sultan bin Seif was the 5th ruler of the Ya’rruba dynasty of Imams; he was the grandson of the Imam (of the same name) who made the Portuguese an offer they could not refuse! they all left, after many years of attempting to subjugate the people.
This Fort is an outstanding example of Omani Islamic architecture and was built for defence against cannon. The roof is built on columns, and contains no wooden supports. Its walls can withstand the impact of cannon balls due to it being at least 3m thick at any point.
It has the outside appearance of being far larger than it really is, helped by tall walls and two towers, one on the Northwest corner & the other on the Southeast – giving almost 360 degrees of cover.
Another interesting fact; it used an advanced form of vaulted arch which was a major departure from the use of straight lines, along with post & lintel construction as had been seen in most of Oman’s earlier defensive constructions.
There are the usual defensive details such as multiple offset doors, pits just after a door (covered with planks of wood, removed when under attack) murder-holes above doors (think boiling oil or fire) along with hidden escape passages.
I have visited this fort on & off, many times as it not only has some of the most friendly and helpful custodians, but its main feature is the impressive collection of cannon.
Very distinctive trunks on these Palm trees – from my garden.
“Would he tell me that this door leads to the entrance?”
Nikon F4 with 50mm f1.8 D AF Nikkor lens.
Printed with the EL-NIKKOR 50mm f/2.8N on Ilford M/G IV gloss.
The black at the top of the arch is from numerous oil lamps being placed on the shelf – think ‘Aladdin’s Lamp’ style.
David A Lockwood 