Exuberance in Silver, a photo from Chiang Mai, North

Photographer's Note

In one previous post titled 'Exuberance in White', I showed a Wat or temple in Chiang Rai, which was purely white. In this post, I am showing you a Wat which is glistening in silver...

Located just outside of the walled city near the southwest corner of the moat, Wat Sri Suphan, nicknamed the Silver Temple sits on a small side street just off of Wualai Road. With Wualai being Chiang Mai’s traditional silver-making district, the temple’s claim to fame is unsurprisingly its silverwork.

Not sure about the quality the silver - some of it’s clearly silver plating or even silver paint — but a whole lot of silver there certainly is at Wat Sri Suphan. It’s really very impressive.

The wat itself dates back to the early 1500s when it was built by King Muang Keaw of the Mangrai Dynasty. It was destroyed and looted several times when Chiang Mai was under Burmese occupation and it wasn’t until 1994 that the wiharn was rebuilt by the community along with the assistance of several corporations and artists from countries. Renovations began in 2004 and all that was left of the original ubosot (ordination hall) were the exterior sema stones which form the boundary of the present structure.

The temple grounds at Wat Sri Suphan are not extensive, it’s a medium size wat, but it’s coziness adds to its appeal. Wat Sri Suphan’s wiharn seems diminutive from the outside. Possibly it’s all the red umbrellas, metallic Buddhas, and humongous drums staged at the front entrance that dwarfs it’s size.

I took this picture of the silver ubosot (ordination hall) of Wat Sri Suphan on a dull Chiang Mai day with the pale sun reflecting on the silver...quite amazing a spectacle.

SnapRJW, jhm, pierrefonds, jjcordier, bukitgolfb301, bukitgolfb301, papagolf21, danos, Graal, Kielia ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139982) 2013-08-02 1:41

Hi Angshu,the best way to show us the spectacle offered by this temple,a magnificent capture from the best point of view to create a rich composition,full of colors,things and details,very professional work in PP as usual! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-08-02 3:26

Hello Angshu - I love northern Thailand because the slower pace and beautiful countryside, food and people. I'm not sure if I have visited this wat but one thing is for sure, I shall do on my next visit! It's unusual to see a silver wat but what a glorious over-the-top sight. I love it. A fine shot with layer upon layer of detailed decoration. Is that Ganesh I see the girl praying before? A great little detail. Lovely image a real pleasure for me. Warm regards Rosemary

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2013-08-02 4:04

a nice one dada. Nice architectural details of this temple can be seen here. The stature is nice in one side of it (eta ki Ganesh thakur?)... You composed it nicely with fine light and rich colours. A very good one. Tfs.
Bhalo theko.
S

jhm (211738) 2013-08-02 4:17

Hello Angshu,

Thank you very much for your interesting notes.
This is almost not to believe that we so much see in one picture.
Sharpness and clarity are very nice presented.
Excellent composition, nice captured, this is an splendid picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John

pierrefonds (115518) 2013-08-02 5:26

Hi Angshuman,

The trees are helping to frame the temple. The point of view is showing the details and colours of the architecture of the temple. The good luminosity is making the colours to shine. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Sergiom (117241) 2013-08-02 5:38

Bonjour Angshuman,

Il y a énormément d'informations dans cette image. On n'y vas pas avec modération au niveau de la décoration, mais quel beau document photographique sous une lumière magnifique.

Amicalement

Serge

holmertz (103596) 2013-08-02 12:06

Hello Angshuman,
I have to say I find this garden a bit overloaded for my personal taste, but the impact of all these plants, statues and umbrellas is still very strong, and the colours are great. it's a well composed photo in any case and I like the inclusion of the praying woman.
Kind regards,
Gert

wolf38 (30) 2013-08-02 12:06

Hello Angshuman. The photo and the text provide an insight into a world of
Religiosity and the Spritualismus. The combination of both like it very much.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

jjcordier (79299) 2013-08-02 22:47

Angshu
Remarquable photo de ce splendide temple d'argent. La personne priant est bien placée dans la composition.
Amicalement
JJ

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-08-03 9:43

Namste Angshuman
Wonderful capture of the typical temple architecture as tame grey sky is picking out the delicate carvings of the temple and ideally framed. The fine detail and repetitive effect of the sculptures is mesmerising and I love how you have composed this with the stark contrasty lone prayer adding the vital element there enhancing the overall strength of the shot. Your infor note is always useful guiding us through. This is just breathtakingly captivating and unique, I think and you have certainly captured the spirit of Thailand so well. Excellent shot of high quality.
Best regards

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2013-08-03 16:23

Hi NAMASTE dear Anghsuman, how are you?

Great image full of solemn and also gorgeous atmosphere in one shot. The best exposure with nice light catching makes so fantastic prensentation. Sharp and clear image as usual as yours.

Thanks a lot and have a good Sunday! Takero

papagolf21 (152607) 2013-08-05 0:12

Cher ami Angshu,
Comme il est agréable de voyager avec vous par l'intermédiaire de vos compositions et l'intérêt des sujets traités.
J'apprécie comme il se doit.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Nicou (193814) 2013-08-05 3:49

Hello

quelle vue sur ce temple fantastique iamge et compo quel toit et ces tourelles au sommet une mervielle grandisoe compo et iamge sueprbe.

bravo et amitié
Nicou

Fis2 (171907) 2013-08-05 12:42

Witaj Angshu!
A very curious and beautiful building.
Good frame and colors.
Interesting place.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

pajaran (117033) 2013-08-05 12:53

Pozdrav.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o starom hramu, sa datim podacima ...
Lep pogled na mesto i Hram ...
Dobar trenutak snimka, kontrast, lepe boje.
Dobar rad, lepo pokazano mesto i detalji.
Lepo mesto i Hram.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Greetings.
Very interesting and good article about the temple, with the given data ...
Nice view of the place and the Temple ...
A good time recording, contrast, beautiful colors.
Good work, nice place and the details shown.
Nice place and temple.
All the best.
Paja.

danos (110407) 2013-08-05 13:00

Hello Angshu,
nice the view as the presentation of this glistening Wat in silver.Excellent presentation with the colour of it to be really very original and unique.
I like the details as the clarity and the quality of the image.

Regards,Danos

mkamionka (75113) 2013-08-06 5:26

Hi Angshu,
beautiful place. I like the rich and so exotic to me architecture. You have also included a great foreground where I believe we can spot even a praing person. The light was not optimal we see he sky is grey and featureless but you did great job to rescue it with the processing.
Very well done,
M

Graal (103040) 2013-08-06 7:47

Hi Angshuman,
beautiful architecture and construction of temple here. Good composition, nice bonus - praying woman on left. Also fine colors (yes, silver is ok.)and contrast. Photo I like a lot.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Kielia (24077) 2013-08-06 8:38

Hi Angshuman,
this is a very interesting impression of this fascinating temple, accompanied by a nice note. The composition is outstanding. Once again you are giving me a detailed idea of the architecture and lifestyle in your surroundings. Very good photo work!
Warm regards
Harriet

Urs (14082) 2013-08-06 16:56

Hi Angshuman

Thanks for remaining me that there is a silver temple in Thailand. I had completely forgotten about it. Excellent POV to frame the temple by using the tree as a natural frame. Good light and shadow management. Well done

Warm regards
Urs