Golden City of the East
Bokhara Uzbekistan 2013
Geometry. It’s “key” as Cartier-Bresson might have said. Here we have those difficult to photograph towers (cylinders), plus square shapes, arches and triangles. A surfeit of geometry. Did I think all that when I shot this photo? No. But my subconscious did.
I wanted to represent the picture my 9 year old mind formed when we learned about Kublai Khan and Cathay in geography class back in St. Anne’s school. I was entranced if somewhat mystified about just where Cathay was. I had an inkling that it was China but didn’t dare ask the nun for fear of being ridiculed in front of the class. Maybe that is why I’ve never forgotten about Cathay.
I used Alien Skin Snap Art 3 to stylize the photo. I like the posterization of the sky and the darkness that shades the steps to the entrance to the Ark. (The Ark is the name of the seat of government in Bokhara.) The shadows represent something sinister and fearful. I think those adjectives describe the goings-on in those days quite well.
For more information on Uzbekistan contact Penelope at www.uzbekjourneys.com