Temple Mount Ceiling

Angel Criswell:
This is a shot using one of my top photography tips. Looking up! While we were on the Temple Mount during the short few hours allowed ...
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Angel Criswell:
This is a shot using one of my top photography tips. Looking up! While we were on the Temple Mount during the short few hours allowed by non-Muslims for access, I spotted this incredible tiled ceiling in one of the open-air buildings adjacent to the Dome of the Rock church. I looked through my viewfinder and realized I needed to get lower as the full ceiling was not in the frame. I really needed to lay down, but that wasn’t going to happen, out of respect for this holy place. I had already witnessed a situation where the armed security made a mother-sons trio delete a photo for breaking the rules regarding photos while on the Temple Mount. I wanted this shot but didn’t want to disrespect this holy location by laying down on the ground. I was fairly certain that would get me kicked off the monument. That got me thinking, I would just set my timer and lay my camera down on the pavement to capture the shot. I kept playing through my mind whether or not this was against the rules. I placed my camera on the ground and walked away, waiting for my timer to finish. When I grabbed the camera, I realized it was a terrible shot, with all the lines and scale out of proportion. By this time I had attracted an armed guard who was standing nearby. I really wanted the shot so I worked up the courage to ask him if I could take another shot. He half-heartedly agreed to my request. Second shot. Another bad one but better. It took everything I had to request one more shot which the guard allowed and I captured this shot! The detail of the tiled ceiling was just another level of craftsmanship! I was so thankful for that guard allowing me to capture the shot in this unusual way and I was proud of myself for staying persistent through the shot and doing it without getting thrown out.

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