Sunflower...


The day we started our drive to Goa wasn't all that good. The farther we moved away from Bangalore, we hoped that we'd leave the rains behind. But that was not to be. There were irritatingly intermittent bouts of rain, and it didn't help to see the sun play hide 'n' seek from behind those ominous looking clouds.

But thankfully, ever so often, we'd be greeted by these brilliant patches of bright yellow, popping up on either side of the highway. So at one such section of the road, we stopped and I went over into a sunflower field and took this shot. And believe me when I say this -- those flowers are really really bright and so full of life, the kind that I haven't seen

The accidental shot...


The only reason this picture's here, is because my friend The High Priestess of Kingdom Nutazoid said that it was a good shot. So if you are reading this doof, you know why its here:D

Before I forget, the picture shows a part of the facade of the Bom Jesus church in Goa.

Along the beach at Colva

A boat, what else?!

Somewhere near the hills, after Mangalore...


I took this shot with my friends' digital camera, a pretty looking Nikon 8800. But I kinda like the picture, so I'm putting it here without asking for permission. And if you are reading this, too late man!! its already here. :P

The Se Cathedral

The statue of Shiva at Murudeshwar

Three years to this day. Three bloody years!! The memory lingers on...

Another one...


Of all the times that I walked the long road,
It is now, that I feel so lone.
Many-a-day have I spent beneath the bright sun
with only the length of my shadow marked all along.
Yet it is now that I feel so lone.

And when they came, along life's twisting lane,
and their shadows touched mine,
I wished -
that I wouldn't be alone.

And for all those shadows that slipped away,
and the waves that didn't care to stay,
I realize –
that I am alone.

And for all that I've ever wanted,
Being me is all that was granted,
And as the length of my life stretches on,
This too, I shall walk alone!


-- Moi.

Alone by the sea.


If there was one good thing about the whole trip to Pondicherry, it most certainly was the time that I spent sitting on the rocks, watching the waves crash against them.

Not that sitting alone by the sea would change your perspective in life, usher in new meaning, or any of that new-age jazz. But there is an undeniable calmness to be found by the sea. It's at times like these that one really likes to be alone; To find company even in solitude. So I sat there, under the dark sky, late into the night; just me myself and the sound of the waves for company. And it still feels so nice.

And the waves crashed....

Mary Magdalene


One of the glass painting inside the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" church.

Church of "The Sacred Heart of Jesus".

Church of "Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception".


The Church Of "Our Lady of Immaculate Conception" has a history in these parts. It is one of the oldest Churches in Pondicherry. The old Mother at the church, told me that it was about 256 years old.

One of the main characteristics of this church, lies in its architecture. It has a mix of both the Portugese and French styles of architecture. While the outside reflects Portuguese influence, the innards of the church bear a French identity.

Footsteps in the sands of time

Meditating by the sea


Here was a middle-aged man, meditating along the shores of the sea, at dawn. The calmness around him, the serenity of the sky above and the gentle breeze that wafted across the land was reason enough for me to shoot this picture.

I only wish the details were a bit more sharp.

Dawn in Pondicherry

Lost in thought...

One of the many cyclists, biking along the quaint little streets of the French quarter in Pondicherry.

Another cloud shot


This is another one of my totally senseless cloud shots. I've never tried a high shutter speed, such as 1/4000. This is the first shot I took at that speed. Thats why its here. Period.

Nimbus

Windmills


There isn't another town in Karnataka, that I know of, where windmills have been used to such a large extent, as in Chitradurga. Besides the obvious aim to harness the wind energy and generate power, one does begin to wonder, if the widmills didn't actually improve the beauty of those serene hills. It is quite a sight: long rows of windmills, with their blades moving in the wind, overlooking the valley below.

As one approaches this old city, with many a myth attached to it, one also gets to see these huge rock boulders strewn all over the place, some of which are placed rather precariously. But looking at the bright side -- most motorists, suspicious of the rocks, tend to be very alert along that stretch of road.

While driving back to Bangalore, along the road that kissed the outskirts of Chitradurga, I saw the silhouette of these windmills, juxtaposed against the setting sun. I didn't waste much time, to stop the car and run out, and then shoot this picture. My only regret -- I wish I had a telephoto lens.

The Taj Mahal

Abandoned


It isn't that I haven't seen these carts before. They may not be as ubiquitous on our city roads, as they once were. But many a times, I have managed to see a bullock-cart, and those weary oxen yoked to it; I’ve also seen the tongas, or horse-drawn carriages, jostling for space in the labyrinth of our city’s roads, fighting for every available inch, with the unsympathetic motorist.

But the total isolation of this cart, in the middle of nowhere, caught my eye. Just like the lonely farmer that I was to meet a little farther on, this cart too had that feeling of abandonment and unexplainable isolation attached to it.

I’m sure that this wasn’t the case always. It must have had oxen yoked to it at some point during its life; it must have been owned by a farmer at some point in time who greased its wheels regularly or, tended to a broken rail. But on that day, there were no signs of anyone. Neither the oxen nor the farmer. The cart just stood there, alone, beside the long road that stretched on for miles….

Lonely Farmer


Driving through the seemingly desolate landscapes of north Karnataka, along the road that took us from Hubli to the site of ancient temple construction at Badami, I saw him -- the lonely farmer. There he stood, besides his plow, toying with a piece of rope. The oxen sat nearby, insolated, besides the bullock-cart that they were previously tethered to.

He was the only human that we'd seen for miles, and only the oxen seemed to keep him company. There was something mysterious about him; something eerie about his relative loneliness; something...I just don't know what. And so, I shot this frame. But now, even the image seems to exude a darker-than-usual tone.

The West-side Mosque


This is the Mosque on the west side of the Taj Mahal. We were really short on time and thats why I couldn't get a better perspective.

I took this picture at the Taj Mahal. What you see here is the facade of the Taj, juxtaposed against the streaming rays of the noon-day sun.

Don't blame me for this one. I took this picture from a moving train, as it passed throught the relatively barren landscape of Andhra Pradesh. But the sky had this amazing colour, that I didn't think twice before shooting it. In hindsight, I wish I had used a seperate shutter speed.

Pillared hallway


One of the pillared hallways at the Agra Fort. This place, despite the look, was actually bustling with people; it took me quite a while to frame this deserted look. I managed to get a few stares, when I gestured to people, not to come in the way of the picture. But I guess it was worth the effort.

Birds of the same feather??....


While walking along the road, that lead to the Albert Hall in Jaipur, my friends and I noticed this large flock of pigeons, sitting on the wire. From where we stood, it definitely looked like they were involved in some high voltage socialising.

A spot of green


Tinkered a little on Photoshop, and voila!...I like the look of this one.

Light at the other end...


So, justice is far from us
And righteousness does not reach us
We look for light, but all is darkness
For brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

Another random sketch...

Ruddy


The dancer in his full attire, the colour of the costume and the designs painted on his face have a lot of significance.

Painting a dancers face is a meticulous task. Every line, every design has its own significance. The whole task goes on for about 2 hours.

Two Men in a boat

Piscatorial pursuits...

Fisherman working their way across a rickety old pier, ferrying the last catch for the day.

Speeding prankster...

This lil fellow looked like he was running away from a crime scene of his own making.