Taj Mahal Reflected in the Pool

Sunrise warms the Taj Mahal above a long garden pool. The central dome and minarets appear again in the water, between rows of cypress trees and red sandstone paths. Small flower beds border the lawn near the marble platform. Light clouds cross the pale sky, while the darker reflection below is interrupted by a few ripples and the edges of the pool.

Marble arches and the large dome give the picture its first solid anchors. After that, the tall cypress shapes can be matched against their darker reflections, while the stone paths form strong lines along the pool. The reflected building is quieter than the monument above it, so ripples, finials and broken cloud shapes become useful clues near the end.