Ten Minutes of a Black Kite’s Life
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.
People of Melukote
Join us on a photography day outing to Melukote on Saturday of Aug 25th, 2012. See details – photography in Melukote.
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.
Fort Kochi – Chinese Fishing Nets
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.