Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (1.54mm, f/2.4, 1/2300 sec, ISO25)

A buddhist monument isn’t something special on this website but this one is. It’s located in Lower Austria.

Of course there was a lot of controversy and protests. There aren’t that many Buddhists in this rural part of Austria I guess but I think it is important to be tolerant. There are more than 8.000 churches and chapels in Austria so a couple of stupas, temples and mosques should not be a real threat for our identity.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (5.1mm, f/1.6, 1/12000 sec, ISO40)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (5.1mm, f/1.6, 1/9200 sec, ISO32)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (1.54mm, f/2.4, 1/3200 sec, ISO25)

I visited the first temples in Malaysia and Thailand. Especially the Batu Caves (a hindu shrine) in Kuala Lumpur really impressed me. I later visited many temples in Asia and India and they all had one thing in common. They were extremely colourful. Golden Buddhas, chubby warriors, people with blue skin, green monkeys and elephants.

A stark contrast to the suffering Jesus on his cross wearing a crown of thorns that you can find in catholic churches. Our churches are dark and cold even in the summer.

If asked when I was a young boy I guess I would have chosen Ganesha, Krishna or Hanuman. But of course no-one asks you so you can’t choose.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (5.1mm, f/1.6, 1/21000 sec, ISO32)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (1.54mm, f/2.4, 1/2300 sec, ISO25)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (1.54mm, f/2.4, 1/90 sec, ISO320)

It was very bright inside but there was one very Austrian thing: a big sideboard full of visitor slippers. I even found a pair for my large feet. So at the end this stupa wasn’t that exotic after all.

PS: all Images taken with my iPhone because I forgot my camera in my car. For this kind of images you can’t really tell but I wish I could set a 3:2 ratio for my photos.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (5.1mm, f/1.6, 1/8500 sec, ISO32)