I went out early in the morning yesterday and came back with this and the pictures below of a black kite getting ready for its day.
Ten Minutes of a Black Kite’s Life
February 26, 2012
People of Melukote
February 9, 2012
Melukote has an old-world charm, with its ancient temples, traditionally attired priests and Sanskrit Academy staff, the ageing population left behind by the younger generation that has fled to the cities, the slow pace of life and a generally relaxed atmosphere. Pilgrims and religious activities add to this charm, especially around the large Kalyani surrounded by pillared pavillions. Here is a compilation of some photographs made recently during a day-trip.
A girl smiles at the camera, at the small market in front of Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple.
A man walking past Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple.
Gang of girls, who shared a short giggly conversation with us at the corridors outside Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple.
A girl looks back impatiently at her mom, who was shouting at her, telling not to go near the water. At Akka-Thangi Kola.
A girl stares at the camera at Melukote Kalyani.
Pilgrims on the steps of Melukote Kalyani.
The evening hour on the streets of Melukote.
In conversation with a man, on the streets of Melukote.
On the steps leading to Yoganarasimha Temple.
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Fort Kochi – Chinese Fishing Nets
January 6, 2012
A long row of Chinese fishing nets are an iconic landmark of Fort Kochi’s sea front. Every evening, small groups of fishermen standing on thick, long dead tree trunks of this curious contraption are seen pulling a bunch of ropes that gently lifts the half-immersed nets, bringing out a handful of fish that seem too small for the size of the net. In the winter months, when plenty of tourists trot the shore in search of amusement, the fish are sold almost as soon as they are lifted. A bunch of restaurants that shout out ‘you buy the fish, we cook it,’ make up all the market required for the little bounty secured from the nets. One summer evening, I walked into one of the very few nets that was functioning even when the tourists were away, and spent an hour taking pictures and talking to ‘P Samuel’ who was happy to show me around. Some images from the visit.
A ship moves towards Cochin Harbour on the shore opposing the Chinese fishing nets.
The nets are pushed into the water when some one walks on the mast and increases the weight on the far end of the assembly that stretches into the water. To bring the net back up, four to five people pull a bunch of ropes attached to the mast, in a way similar to drawing waters from the well using a pulley.
One of the fishermen in the group walks up the pole to push it down the water and returns after the job is done.
Pulling the booty of fish after lifting the nets. The net is usually kept immersed for a duration of ten to fifteen minutes. During the summer months when I was there, an immersion typically brought back a haul of one to two kilos of fish.
The lights of Kochi Harbour on the faraway shore come on after sunset.
Some time after the sunset, fishermen light a lantern that hangs over the water and attracts more fish. The colourful skies, the lights from the other shore and the bright lamp hung with a rope suddenly transform the atmospehere around the nets.
The colours change quickly after sunset, into a deep hue of blue on cloudy days or into deep orange colours in the clear days of winter months.
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Ten Images from 2011
December 28, 2011
It is almost time to say good bye 2011. It has been a good year for me when it comes to travelling – there is not a thing I can complain about. Most importantly, we created Darter Photography, which allowed me the bandwidth and ability to travel wherever I please, whenever I want to. Here is a quick compilation of ten images I made in 2011. They aren’t exactly in any order and or not necessarily my ten favourite images from the year, but ten of the many images I liked, and enjoy photographing.
In January, I travelled on the first Darter Tour to Hampi, which will remain an experience that I will cherish for a long time. Here is an image of the hills of Hampi, photographed during the tour.
Soon after the Hampi trip, I was braving a -250C in Ladakh, walking on the frozen Zanskar River. The landscapes I saw there are something probably not to be seen anywhere else in India.
I was back in Hampi in February again, this time photographing the heritage sites and wildlife and focusing less on the landscapes.
I do not remember travelling anywhere in March. In the month of April, work took me to many parts of Kerala. I dreaded about facing Kerala’s sultry weather in summer, but untimely rains helped keep the days pleasant. Here is an image from Munnar photographed during this trip.
Here is another image from the same trip, at the well known Chinese Fishing Nets of Fort Kochi.
After a lull in travelling during May and June, I headed out to Ladakh in July. It was an eventful trip, but not being on the top of my health prevented me from actively seeking to make many images. Here is one of the few photographs I took, at Tso Moriri Lake.
I was back in the mountains again in August, this time at Lahaul and Spiti. For me, this was the most eventful trip of the year. Here is an image of confluence of Pin and Spiti Rivers, taken from Dhankar Village.
After another break in travelling during the months of September, I headed out, once again to the mountains. To Manali, this time without the camera. In the first week of November, I was back in Kerala for a short trip on work, visiting Trivandrum and Kochi. Here is an image of a handloom house that makes saris and dhotis, near Trivandrum.
In later part of November, I travelled to Rajasthan, which was a very productive trip in terms of photography. We made a long tour on two weeks, through Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. A few images from this trip, from Khichan and Jaisalmer.
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