I took this photo on one of our mentored day trips to Melkote. We spend the day shooting in the town of Melkote, and then climb up to the Yoganarasimha Temple late in the evening. Situated at an elevation, the view of the Indian country side from the Yoganarasimha is always fascinating. While the sun was setting on one side, I took this photograph of approaching monsoon clouds from another side.
We all hated photography at one point of time 🙂
As much as I would have loved to have taken this photo when we left Seema to trek to Har Ki Dun, the prevailing light conditions were not conducive for me to do so. This photograph was taken just after showers threatened to disrupt our trek back from Har Ki Dun. Any reasonably seasoned trekker would know that getting wet in the high mountains makes you feel very cold, much quickly than otherwise. We literally rushed down from 11000 feet to 8000 feet to beat the impending rain. To our luck, we encountered only brief showers. The rain filled clouds had just cleared, and the mountains were a little wet when I took this shot.
Seema is the last village on the trek to Har Ki Dun. Click on the image to view it full size, and look closely – you can see some buildings near the bridge. This is the GMVN guest house. There is nothing really noteworthy in Seema. The twin village of Osla is where the villagers live. The villagers travel between Seema and Osla with great ease. Of course, much to our envy! If only I had their agility and speed, I would have probably been able to make more such images.
Some of the most beautiful places in India are not easily accessible. And perhaps, that is why they remain beautiful. This photograph was taken in the village of Taluka, which is about 2 days away from Deharadhun in Uttaranchal. Generally only trekkers to either Har Ki Dun or Bali Pass pass stop by at this village. We were on our way to Har Ki Dun, and Taluka was our second halt. It was a cold evening, and I shot this in the last light of the day, at 7 pm. The snow clad mountain at the distance is the direction in which we were to head the next day. The structure on the right of the photograph is a mule owner’s house, and I had a few curious mules looking at me when I set up my tripod to take these the 5 exposures that I merged into an HDR.
Sunrise is not something most travelers to Kudle beach are going to witness. Waking up early in the morning after partying late into the night is next to impossible, right? For us photographers, this is good news. We get the entire beach to ourselves. Unfortunately, Kudle being on the Arabian Sea, is good for sunsets rather than sunrises. Hence, for this shot, I turned my camera away from the sea, and towards the mountains that surround Gokarna. I included this neat arrangement of stones in my composition. Credit for the stone arrangement goes to whoever had the patience to do it!
To read my Gokarna travelogue, click here.
This image was made during my third photography tour to Melkote. Summer comes early these days, so during the day I was shooting very little. However, evening presented some beautiful light. We were atop the Yoganarasimha hill as per scheduled, from where I took this photograph of the city of Melkote. See the complete photo feature of Melkote here.
I could have as well called this photograph ‘Departure’. Because this damselfly was arriving and leaving the same spot a zillion times. And now you know the secret behind this photograph. It happened only due to the cooperation of this damselfly. 🙂
A macro photograph of a bee getting out of the stamen of a flower. Shot in Lalbagh.
This old lady was saying her evening prayers in the quaint town of Gokarna (near Kudle beach road). She looked up at me when I held my camera, but continued with her prayers once she realized that I was just being touristy. In this shot, I wanted to capture the inside of the house (which seemed older than the lady here). The postbox in the frame is a metaphor for the traditions that we are losing with time.
The road from Mangalore to Bangalore presents a variety of interesting views of rural India. This shot was made in the town of Mudigere, which comes when one takes the Charmadi Ghat, instead of Shiradi Ghat. This was just after monsoon, and the harvest is certainly looking good.
