Persian King
Their Little Mansion
Posted by Amir (Tehran, Iran) on 26 October 2007 in Architecture and Portfolio.
Fort Worth, TX
This image actually consists of 10 individual exposures (5 images per HDR) and then attached together to form a Panorama/HDR shot. It's wider than what my little camera can do on it's own.
It's a shot of typical and rather large Texan house. Few days ago I posted a photo (Private Backyard) of some apartments and their not very private backyards. And today I decided to show you the other side of the equation. The houses of those that have so much privacy that sometimes during the week its residence experience life as if they live in a newly colonized planet.
Usual visitors of my blog recall that the aforementioned image had some heated debate regarding wealth, private space and fare share in a given society. Obviously people who live in such houses are not that much different from those that live in cheap compact apartments, the only difference is that due to some life circumustances one has more and therefore one gets little.
You be the judge of that.
See the original at Flickr
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ColNed Pictures from Amersfoort, Netherlands
Stunnign work dude.... absolutely great HDR work.
26 Oct 2007 6:15am
@ColNed Pictures: Thanks dear, it's just another HDR
@Quintino: Thanks a lot
@Dimitrios: Thanks
@Mandy: Thanks Mandy
Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, Québec, Canada
Great work, and for the social comment, I say we as the citizens of our countries have the power to make things better and more just. I also feel we are getting there, although to slowly for my taste. We must look at human conditions over a long period of time.... The first and most important steps are getting the neccessary knowledge and then voting!!!
26 Oct 2007 1:24pm
@Wolfgang Prigge: You are absolutely to the point. Thanks for visiting my photoblog
@aggie: Thanks a lot
Brian from West Lafayette, United States
Lovely HDR image! My perspective on very large houses is that all they prove is that some people can get into more debt than others! :)
26 Oct 2007 2:11pm
@Brian: You are right about debt forever, but there are people around who can buy this house with no further payments.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
You're gonna have to change your name from PersianKing to HDRKing. But I have to correct one misapprehension you have about Texas: this is just an average size Texas house. This is probably where some rich guy's maid lives. Just kidding of course, but that's the image some people like to project of Texas.
Maybe Wolfgang can feel optimistic because he lives in Canada. However, in this country, greed has never been more rampant, the government has never been more corrupt, and the disparity between the rich and everyone else has never been greater. There has always been corruption, but I've been around for awhile, and I have never seen it more open and in your face than it is now.
26 Oct 2007 2:28pm
@Twelvebit: You are right, there are houses 10 times this one, but this one is pretty big as well, I would say 4-5 bedrooms.
I don't know who's side should I be on, yours or Wolfgang's. What I know is in Canada where my sister lives, people have better lives because of smaller population, therefore lesser competition, less aggressive and militaristic government, less social divide, and more peaceful society.
From Wolfgang's point of view representation and election might be the way to go, but in this country, at this time, corruption has taken hold and with election and selection nothing gets better. Because power and too much of it corrupts any kind soul. And people that make big decisions, make them in their own favor.
It's a complex question and requires comprehensive answer and this is not the place, so I'll leave it at that.
Reza from Montreal, Canada
This a great HDR image Amir. I like the colors of buildings and the sky. Very well done indeed.
26 Oct 2007 3:33pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Yes, this is perhaps not the place, but I'll add one more relevant remark. In the long run, the English speaking countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with similar cultures to the US, are not likely to escape the problems we experience here. This country is extremely influential in everything cultural from policing to movies. More importantly, this country also has enormous economic reach, and immense global political power as a result. This country can't be powerful and corrupt without affecting countries like Canada and Britain. Ultimately, it isn't going to be a matter of "sides," because those of us who aren't sipping martinis on the Yacht with the elites are all going to be in the same leaky lifeboat.
26 Oct 2007 3:35pm
@Twelvebit: Thanks dear 12bit,
But as you can see VF has taken this personally and very much offended. Hope we can stay away from politics, however hard would that be.
I certainly have great respect for you. Thanks again
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Photography is certainly a medium for making a statement on things -- things beautiful and things that should be looked at carefully and with discernment. That Amir has once again ventured into "dirty politics" by venting on the ethics and morals of the unknown occupants of this particular home is problematic from my point of view. Commenting on the social conditions of Western society from the perspective of an Iranian (obviously living in our culture) worldview is not exactly working from level ground. And it opens up Iran and similar nations and peoples up for critique from a variety of Western perspectives, which will only lead to division and the demise of the community that has been Am3.
Is this really what we want? Let's all take care. Freedom of speech can be a sharp, two-edged sword.
26 Oct 2007 3:45pm
@Viewfinder: Dearest VF,
Till this moment I had never talked about this and had no intention to do so, but your comment left me with no choice but to let my audience know, that by choosing my Country as "Iran" (which is my beloved homeland) I just want to contribute to that part of Animus3 community. I am by the way the translator of Persian section of this community to be added in the near future.
I have lived most of childhood life plus all of my adulthood here in the States. I am more of an American than many of those new emigrants you see around. I have assimilated to this culture, speak the language fluently and have attained higher education in this country. So calling me an Iranian in America and therefore questioning the relevancy of my statement is not fare.
I am no politician and despite what you accused me of in your later comment, have no desire to create destructive argument among my fellow Animus3 users. What I just said about the great social/economic divide was not to point finger at this country (US) in particular, but to bring awareness across international boundaries. For the matter of fact, when it comes to social divide, Iran has to be placed at the top for its socio/economic gaps; but since live here among you (as you put it), I have no chance of talking photo of my home town and make the same statement, so please forgive me for that (Irony).
By mentioning people in that house, I did not mean to point finger at them, as I don't know them. But to make a comparison between two ways of life. I never disrespected people who happen to live in mansions or praised those that take shelter under bridge overpass.
We are creatures of choice and therefore play a great deal in our own destiny, but one can never dismiss environmental factors. and again it was not me who brought the political aspect to this discussion but another Animus3 user. One might not share his point of view but again we are free to think as we please and respect those opinions that are not necessarily in line with ours.
We shall not attack others for expressing their views. If me and you can tolerate each other then we will live in a much more peaceful world, believe me my friend.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Actually, pardon my mis-statement. Amir, you did not open with venting, but merely by presenting the opportunity for this to begin. Of course, it did.
26 Oct 2007 3:48pm
@KMF: Thanks a lot
Mingo from Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
Impresionante tratamiento que le has dado, un HDR espectacular. Saludos!
26 Oct 2007 5:00pm
@Mingo: Thanks a lot dear
lissa from New York, United States
Those HDR shots are always a delight to see. It's nice to know you put so much effort in your photography. I have learn quite a few things from you so thanks!
26 Oct 2007 6:38pm
@lissa: You are very welcomed lissa. I am thankful
@MaryB: Thanks a lot
Lost Valley from Gorgeous Sunsets, Canada
What an incrediable image! So amazingly sharp I still am working toward the day that I can master HDR it still alludes me...
26 Oct 2007 11:50pm
@Lost Valley: Thanks dear friend, with hard work I am sure you will do way better than me
Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom
Dear Amir, dear friend, Your posts and comments are always thoughtful, and I appreciate that so much. This is another truly outstanding piece, in terms of both photography (in a league totally way above mine - WOW!!) and subject matter. I think you have probably heard enough for the day on the subject matter, and you likely already know my sentiments on this issue. I will just say : that all people are equal in the eyes of God is a truth that is very close to my heart, and it is true that one of the things that I find most heartbreaking in the world today is how this sense of equality has become so distorted in our world, that one person or group of persons can see and treat themselves as superior to others for whatever ridiculous reason, be it wealth, social status, country of origin or residence, ethnicity, history, culture, knowledge, education, life experience, talent, looks or whatever. The huge gap between rich and poor in many parts of our world is but one of the obscene manifestations of this ugliness, just one, there are so many, and yet on its own it is already so grievous. You have pointed out rightly before, dear friend, there is much ugliness and cruelty in our world. That is so true; if not for all that is good and beautiful that is still here for us to focus on and be encouraged by, we would all indeed be doomed. Thank you once again, my friend, for your courage, honesty and thoughtfulness in the face of so much that could discourage us. May I say thank you so much too for your very kind words at my blog today. I always appreciate your friendship and support too, dear Amir; whether you're able to visit my blog regularly/daily or not is absolutely fine too. You are an exceptional person, and I am so privileged to be able to call you my friend. :)
27 Oct 2007 1:20am
@Rebecca: Dearest Rebecca,
As long as there are good people like you in this world, life worth living. I am honored once again to have a wise, kind and righteous friend like you.
What you said is absolutely right, unfortunately 90% of people would disagree with me and you and rather live in the confinement of their house and praise themselves for nationality, race, religion and so many other ugly attachments. Are not we all suppose to be equal, but that's a long journey for this incomplete Homosapien.
Thanks a trillion my dear friend and have a great weekend
digital photography from Milano, Italy
this is very nice! I love composition and post-processing is cool.
27 Oct 2007 3:31am
@digital photography: I am very happy you liked it
M.E. from Encino, United States
well done on the pp and thank you for the commentary. i agree with you, people are different but the same... we're all just trying to make a good life while we're here.
27 Oct 2007 10:52am
@M.E.: Thanks for understanding, unlike some accused me of, I have no intention of creating divide. Thanks once again
Canon PowerShot A640
ISO 80
13 mm