587 - Diyanet Center of America
It’s time to break some news to you. I’m in a relationship.
Well, I’ve actually been in a relationship for about 10 months now. But I finally feel like it’s time to clear the air- because we’re a thing thing, not just a thing.
Now, you may have seen this coming from a mile away. Her name is Alara, and she’s been the model in my recent Hirshhorn Museum, Devil’s Marbles, and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial shoots- none of which I’ve done write-ups for.
My posting schedule has been minimal this year, namely because of this blooming relationship. We’ve been fluttering around Washington DC like a pair of birds in love- doing everything from dinner dates to comedy shows to escape rooms.
On top of this new relationship, I also decided to try my hand at making money in a couple new photography niches- namely real estate, portrait, and product photography. I figured if I wasn’t traveling, I might as well build some connections. But these shoots have been awfully uninspiring, so I haven’t posted any of them here. Trust me, the last thing you want to see is a ditzy real estate agent posing for headshots in a Maryland “villa.”
The point I’m trying to make here is that this website has been a barren wasteland for almost a year now. So I decided to buy a ticket to Turkey.
As in the country. Now that things have settled down between Alara and I, I decided it’d be fun to take an international trip together. You know, to get the photography muscles up and running again.
It was time to emerge from my gooey love tunnel and get back into photography brilliance.
Which leads me to today’s adventure- the Diyanet Center of America. Since Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, I figured it couldn’t hurt to have a mosque under my belt before I left- and this was apparently the most beautiful one in the DMV area. (Or so I could find in a 15 minute Google search.)
So I whipped my Prius into the parking lot on a sunny, weekday afternoon, got out, and started walking around. And if I’m being honest, I half expected someone to stop me.
But no one did.
Much like the Christian church community, I quickly learned that mosques are open to the general public for prayer most days of the week. I obtained this information in the visitor center of the property, which had an outstanding lobby design:
“= Nirvana”
Taken with Sony a7rIV + Sony 12-24mm f/4 G
[ISO 160 ~ 12mm ~ f/5 ~ 1/320s]
(Want a Print? Get one here.)
Absolutely ridiculous. I’m always amazed by the funding religious organizations get for architecture. My camera thanks you.
I then proceeded to make my way to the actual mosque, which began with a beautiful courtyard:
“🌀”
Taken with Sony a7rIV + Sony 12-24mm f/4 G
[ISO 160 ~ 14mm ~ f/5 ~ 1/2500s]
(Want a Print? Get one here.)
I wish I was able to get this shot closer to sunset, but I made do with what I had. Daylight shots aren’t all that bad. My aim in coming mid-day was to get solid lighting on the interior of the mosque, through the stained glass windows:
“Enrichment”
Taken with Sony a7rIV + Sony 12-24mm f/4 G
[ISO 500 ~ 12mm ~ f/4 ~ 1/30s]
(Want a Print? Get one here.)
“Null Void”
Taken with Sony a7rIV + Sony 12-24mm f/4 G
[ISO 2500 ~ 12mm ~ f/9 ~ 1/40s]
(Want a Print? Get one here.)
And boy did it pay off. The interior of the mosque was fascinating. The golden scripture on the wall caught my eye most of all, and I felt like I’d been instantaneously transported across the Atlantic.
The best part was that I was required to take my shoes off upon entering the mosque, so the whole time I was shooting I was on ridiculously soft flooring. First adventure on carpet, let’s gooooooo!
I realize that this is for the respect of the religion, but I couldn’t help but feel like it was designed that way to make the mosque feel more cozy and “at-home.” That’s how they get ya.
Either way, I had a great time shooting the mosque, and I couldn’t be more excited for Turkey.
MORE PHOTOGRAPHY COMING SOON.
I’m on a mission to explore as much as humanely possible.
Want to see my progress? Check out the Adventure Map.
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