Naos of the Temple of Dakka

Seen from a corner view, the contour of this stone structure is clearly defined, and—along with the deep shadows—communicates a powerful sense of volume and mass. Architectural photographers are confronted with a myriad of choices in their practice. Considerations of perspective, lighting, and framing all contribute to the visual interpretation of physical three-dimensional structures. In photographing this Greco-Roman temple, Maxime Du Camp focused on the naos, the innermost chamber of a shrine or temple complex. Individual photographs such as this were often part of larger projects to survey building types or geographic areas broadly. "Naos of the Temple of Dakka" was included in the first French photographic album that was published: "Egypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie" released with 125 plates in 1852.