Western side of Turkey’s Mt. Nemrut
Eastern Turkey 2008
The majestic heads guarding the tomb of Antiochus I no longer lie helter-skelter amid the rubble atop Mt. Nemrut in Eastern Turkey.
When I first saw photos of Mt. Nemrut, the heads had fallen from their thrones and lay where they landed, some on their side some still upright. It seemed a magical and mysterious place and I longed to see it for myself.
When I finally did see it, the heads had been placed in a neat row in front of the thrones where they once gazed out over the lands that Antiochus ruled. A chain barred tourists from climbing over them and at the same time limited photographers to a few viewpoints. I did my best to find my own viewpoint. But others have this exact shot.
I tried to make it mine by using color and texture. I like this Technicolor view but it misrepresents the actual place. If you were to visit Nemrut thinking that you’d see these red-gold colors, you’d be disappointed.
Here’s the reality.
Sunrise on Nemrut Dagh
Hmm. Maybe the colored one is over the top? This photo represents the windswept, icy- cold mountain top. I can remember being there when I look at it. But one more in black and white. See what you think.
Atop Nemrut Dagh
I have to say that I prefer the original shot with no embellishment. Do you have an opinion?
To read more of my morning on Mt. Nemrut click the link.