One from the past

When i started shooting it began with wasps, spiders and some other creepy crawlies.

Lajja ३ (लज्जा ३)

Bundelkhand is famous for its ground nuts or monkey nuts, what ever you choose to call them. On a visit to this, the most beautiful part of my home state we were guests at a remote village where the locals had recently harvested the seasons bounty. Not far from the village square this little girl who refused to tell me her name had just had her bath and was ready to play in the sun. Sitting on the ground playing with the nuts she kept smiling at me all the while.

Everything changed the moment the camera came out, she was quick to drop her head and avoid the lens. I was disappointed that I missed that smiling face but later looking at the photograph on the computer I realized that I was still luckier with the catch I got.

Pushkar revisited

Pushkar has been and will remain a yearly pilgrimage for me and several posts on this blog have come from my trips to the holy town. This one is from the touristy part of town with, for the first time a tourist, as the focus of the photograph.

While the Banjara family, got ready for their act waiting for another event to end, an eager tourist thought he’s give their tight rope a try and managed to make it to the other end.

While all the cameras fired one after the other to get a piece of the pie at the main event I had this prize catch all to myself. (For once I was happy I was late.) Within minutes ofcourse my colleagues too realized that this was something not to be missed.

After a few minutes the poor chap was forced up the rope again to pose for the next days papers, he didn't make it to the other side this time round but I sure hope he made it to the first page the following day.

Humayun's tomb

Okay no, i did not get lucky here. I wish, but I am sure any one living in Delhi knows that we never see ducks fly-by at sunset. The ducks are from Gujrat.

Jumbo

This is another one from the Andaman trip I have written about before. Taking the photograph was the highlight of the trip for me.

And if you are wondering, why ….

We were driving back from a visit to some village when I saw this elephant at work. Initially I was just excited to see something I had never seen before but had both read and heard about. As I watched the master speak to elephant that seemed to comprehend every little word that escaped the masters mouth I took some casual photographs.

After about five minutes I gave in and found the courage to climb to the drivers cabin (only to burn my hands on the scorching metal). Took some photographs, then crawled under the truck to see if it was better there, though every one at tried to dissuade me. Finally I decided the space between cabin and the wooden separator was the best.

With some difficulty I slipped in and waited for the right moment. (I am constantly told I need to loose weight.) Braving the heat I took some photographs till I finally got the timing right and was able to take this shot.

On my way back to the rest-house I remember thanking both Dr. Amrit and Dr. Chabra for helping me walk again, tank you once more.

Aaaahhhhh YAWN!

I think it was ‘Blink’ but it might be ‘The Tipping Point’ in either one of these books Malcolm Gladwell had written something about yawning. Although the entire story escapes me right now, I do remember him describing how contagious yawning was. He had cleverly predicted that while I was reading the paragraph about yawning I too would yawn, and I did.

I am not so sure if any one of you is going to yawn on seeing this photograph but if you do it’d be nice to know.

Ek Kadam (एक कदम)

Happy New Year!

This is one of my favorite works from the year gone by, taken at some village in UP. Here's hoping that 2010 is blessed for us all, may the cameras keep clicking and the photographs improving.