While some are contented with visiting a place once, filling their memory cards with shots, and then moving on to the next spot, I firmly believe that it takes several visits before you can get the shots you want. Condition varies all the time, weather and the quality of light changes on a daily basis. So for the second day in a row I revisited Putrajaya Mosque at sunrise.

Since we were with a friend who was not able to shoot the previous day, I decided to go back to Kelab Tasik. Skies have been gray the previous day and usually rains in the afternoon but we had relatively good weather that dawn.

Seri Perdana

Being there the previous day made me more comfortable with the place. This time I had a good idea of what I wanted to shoot. While waiting for the sunrise I tried shooting a nearby bridge called Seri Perdana bridge. It spans 370 meters across the man made lake, connecting the Putrajaya Lake Club area to the Perdana Putra where the Prime Minister of Malaysia holds office. Just like all the bridges in Putrajaya, Seri Perdana is dramatically lighted. There were fast moving clouds up above but no ripples on the water. The clouds reflected the warm glow of the street lights, making the scene very surreal.

magic hour

Sunrise was again disappointing, the clouds were too thick and covered the sun. But we got very good colors due the "blue hour".

We wanted to see the mosque up close so we walked and crossed Seri Perdana, went around the Perdana Putra building, and then finally to the wide open parking space in front of the mosque. It was so wide it can easily fit several football fields. The sun was up but not quite as it hides behind clouds. We saw several bikers and joggers going round the open space.

Putra Mosque facade

We tried to go inside and shoot the interior but was not permitted. It was just after morning prayers and the floors are being cleaned. Tourists are permitted to enter during specific times only (9:00-9:30AM, 2:30-3:00PM, and 6:00-6:30PM, if I recall the times correctly).

While waiting for our cab back to where we are staying, I managed to take a few snaps from a "permissible location".

shiny courtyard

My fascination with this mosque did not end here. We came back at sunset but was not able to make the 6PM schedule. Nevertheless I was able to take some shots from different POVs. More of this soon.