IMG_0609A.jpg
November 23, 2011 – Sakkara (Step Pyramid), large pyramids (and Sphinx) at Giza.
Pyramids of Giza.
This photo was taken facing east (as were several of the ones that follow). That is effectively a southern suburb of Cairo in the distant background. The sky over the city was very hazy (probably largely pollution).
The various autofix options in the photo editor program were used to "improve" the colors and light levels in this photo (and in many of the ones that follow). Because of these adjustments, you may see variable (and unrealistic) colors in some cases.
I may have overdone some of these color corrections. I think most individual "corrected" (or adjusted) photos look better than the originals do. However, when I look at the collection of them (as they are grouped together in this gallery), the differences in colors AMONG the photos is disconcerting (to me).
We got here in the afternoon. We are west of the pyramids, with the sun behind us -- the best way to take photos of these photos in the afternoon.
I later saw some photos taken from the other side (standing east of the pyramids). I wondered if there was a second view point where they typically take people who visit in the morning.
All of these are originally believed to have originally had a smooth marble outer casing. Almost all of these outer stones have been removed (and probably used in buildings in current-day Cairo). There is a remnant of the the original casing stones near the top of the second pyramid from the left. (IMG_0609A.jpg)
