Photography: Two minutes interval and a split second, the beauty about natural light.
“I love the simplicity in Nature” - GD
One afternoon during my recent trip to Cambodia (March 2013) I spotted this old, almost forgotten boat at the outer moat at Angkor Wat.
It was getting late and it didn’t look like to be a great sunset at this amazing historical site, but then I caught a glimpse of this old boat resting at the edge of the outer moat that surrounds Angkor Wat.
Subtle clouds and sky reflecting in the water, surrounding the boat in an ever fast changing light.
It didn’t take very long before the afternoon beauty had disappeared completely, but I got my images in an ever changing natural light.
I guess visitors to Angkor Wat that afternoon left disappointed since there was no real magic sunset over the main Khmer Temple, everybody walked right past the real beauty, except for me.
"I am blessed since birth with the very best and most technologically
advanced camera on earth... my Eyes." - GD
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Time: 5:48:27
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Time: 5:50:39
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Time: 5:52:09
Split second…
“Be ready when the Light is right…you have only seconds,
but this is the moment that counts.”
- GD
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The image above was taken on the way to Battambang, Cambodia about a year ago when I spotted these children playing in the rice fields.
It was very late already and the sun was just about to disappear, we stopped the car and I managed to get a few frames catching this boy playing with a ball in the last light of the day.
A split second…and one frame only.
"Light is Photography… photography is light." - GD
Fine art and signed limited edition high photographic quality prints are available upon request or via my Photo Shelter Gallery (see the LINK below) perfect for office or home decor.
View more images here taken in natural light and amazing reflections on water or land.
Photo Workshops Asia: Discover the undiscovered with us, Myanmar February 2013
Discover the undiscovered with us in
Myanmar - February 2013
MYANMAR/Burma Only two (2) more spots available - first come first serve.
Our Adventure Travel Photography Workshop Tour will take us to: Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Inle Lake - Yangon - Mawlamein and Hpa An - Yangon.
Feb. 19 - Mar 03, 2013
"This is quite unlike any place you know about" wrote Rudyard Kipling
Letters from the East (1898)
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At the temple of the Maha Muni Mandalay, Myanmar
The few images on todays post are just a glimpse into this truly exotic destination. For more information and direct bookings please contact me at: gdeichmann@mac.com or go to our GD Photo Workshop Web site for all the confirmed destination in 2013 including Myanmar.
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Bagan sunrise, Myanmar
I have traveled around Myanmar since 2004 and I could not agree more with Rudyard Kipling; Myanmar also known as Burma is such an amazing place… but it is changing rapidly now.
A fascinating and unique destination filled with the spirituality of Buddhism, not to mention its warm and friendly people. Now is the time to visit this truly amazing country before to many changes take place.
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Myanmar colors and friendly people
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Traditional ceremony at the Maha Muni, Mandalay, Myanmar
Experience the rich and unspoiled culture and discover the undiscovered. Myanmar also referred to as Amarapura, the Land of Immortality, but today it is known as Suvanabhomi, the Golden Land with its pagodas and thousand of temples through out the country.
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Inside Monasteries, Yangon Myanmar
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Monasteries life, Yangon Myanmar
Myanmar is so different compare to its other Asian neighbors due its-long isolation for so many years, it is truly a photographers paradise just waiting for you to discover the yet undiscovered.
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Offerings at the Maha Muni in Mandalay, Myanmar
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Ancient wall decor near Inle Lake, Heho - Myanmar
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Thousands of stupas near Inle Lake, Myanmar
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Monastery near Inle lake, Myanmar
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U Bein bridge near Mandalay at sunset, Myanmar
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Port worker Yangon ,Myanmar
Just one more…
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Surprised… Yangon railway station, Myanmar
GD
Travel Photography Asia: Patience, a bit of luck and magic Light in Cambodia
The Monsoon season can produce
some real magic light in Cambodia.
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Reflections on the way to the Tonle Sap, Cambodia
I keep my text brief today and rather let my images do the talking… taken over a three day period these photos are from some remote temple ruins and around the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia.
While going through my archives recently, preparing more images for PhotoShelter, I came across these photos from Cambodia taken in 2006. It was again during the Monsoon season when rain is never far off, but it is my favorite time for traveling in Cambodia when everything is lush green and so fresh after earlier rain showers during the late afternoon.
I like to mention also the photos of Buddhist Monks are NOT set up, I saw them wondering around in the Temple ruins, so I just waited at the right spot outside where the light worked well for me. My patience payed off… luck was on my side. It certainly helps if you know those places well and I could almost predict where they would reappear… lets face it, they could have also walked out at the other end and that would have been bad luck for me.
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Scooping up Algae for Duck feed on a small Pond near
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
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Simple life on the Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia
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The Tonle Sap bathing in the late afternoon light, Cambodia
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Buddhist Monk exploring the ruins from the ancient
Khmer Empire, Cambodia
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Late afternoon light in the temple Corridors, Cambodia
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Magic light at the Temples, Cambodia
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Patience payed off… Cambodia
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Remote and hidden ancient Khmer Temples, Cambodia
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The last light at ancient Khmer Temples, Cambodia
BTW…Non of the Images have been manipulated in Photoshop except for RAW conversion, straightening and some minor cropping within Aperture 3. These Photos and more now @ PhotoShelter
GD
Travel Photography: Festivals, cremations, Sadhus and animal sacrifice plus updates on our Photo Workshop Tours in 2012.
The story behind the Photos… Water and a full moon festival,
cremations, Sadhus and animal sacrifice in Nepal.
After Sri Lanka and Bhutan I just finished my editing from my last trip in April 2012 to Nepal; I fell a bit behind with this one due to other urgent matters, but now the latest photos from this destination are in my PhotoShelter archives and galleries.
These are only few images on today’s post, all other photos you can view at my PhotoShelter site. I might also mention the Photos have been processed and edited using Aperture 3.3 using only the basic RAW conversion and adjustments with no other manipulation.
My recent visit to Kathmandu coincided with the full moon festival at the Boudhanath Stupa, the Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival and at Pashupati a lot of cremation took place at this time. Not to mention a visit to the “bizarre” and strange animal sacrifice rituals held twice a week at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana.
There is never any shortage of things to shoot in this part of the world, when it comes to color and subjects. Sometimes it can be quiet difficult to decide and isolate your subjects, be it for a story or just for this one great image, there is always so much happen all around you and a lot of patience is required.
___________________________________
Lets start at Pashupati the local cremation area, a place I have visited many times before, there was a lot going on this time with scores of monkeys roaming around amongst the many cremations on this particular day.
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Cremations at Pashupati, Kathmandu, Nepal
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A Sadhus Mirror, Pashupati
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A body is prepared for Cremations at Pashupati,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sacrifice at Pashupati temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
Then there was the Balaju mela Hindu bating festival were thousands of people worship all day long, passing along the water spouts offering rice, flowers and other items, creating an almost carnival atmosphere, yet another colorful spectacle.
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The long line at the water spouts, Balaju mela
Hindu bathing festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
At the full moon festival at the Buddanah stupa; the area also know as “Little Tibet”, here hundreds of Buddhist Monks from surrounding Monasteries gathered that day, a beautiful atmosphere and by nightfall the whole area was lit by butter lamps and candles.
Challenging photography but yet so very rewarding, especially when I got permission to get very close to the main prayer area at the base of the Buddanah Stupa with all the Buddhist Monks.
Later I wondered around through the ally's; vendors selling candles and other offerings and exploring in low light the base of the Stupa where the Butter Lamps been blessed and kept alight. A wonderful experience, a great evening with the pleasant smell of incense all around.
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Buddhist Monks at dusk, beginning of the full moon festival at the Buddanah stupa,
the area is also know as "Little Tibet" Kathmandu, Nepal
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Spinning the Prayer wheel just outside the Monastery
opposite the Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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During the full moon festival
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During the full moon festival, Butter Lamps and candle light at the
base of the Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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In the ally's during the full moon festival, near the
Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Preparing the candles, Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
A more bizarre and not for the faint hearted, a strange ritual (not strange for the locals mind you) is been held twice a week about 2 hours drive from Kathmandu (all depends on traffic on this winding road) at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana the animal sacrifice temple which is truly a “bloody” event.
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A chicken waiting for it's "turn" Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana
the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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A Goat is sacrificed at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokana the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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Worship at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokana the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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After the worship and sacrifice a goat is prepared
in boiling water at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana
the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal
___________________________________
All this happens during our last Photo Workshop: we arrived from Sri Lanka with a stop over in Nepal on the way to Bhutan. Then on the way back I did spend a few extra days in Kathmandu to intercept all those festivals, these extra few days were well spend and rewarding.
Of course I might as well mention all those other interesting places like: Bhaktapur (love this place) or the daily life in and around Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square, the traditional villages of Bugmati/Khokana Lolitpur or for just a warm-up on your first day you could stroll around the Thamel area with it's bustling street live, shops and restaurants.
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Colored powder used for rituals at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokanathe animal sacrifice temple, Nepal
___________________________________
Our next trip to Nepal and this one will be very special in 2013, is an Expedition and Adventure trip in late March - mid April 2013, you have to reserve this one early as we take only 8 participants on this tour.
Note: This is NOT our normal workshop...this will be an Expedition into some very remote and seldom visited parts of Nepal, traveling on horseback and camping, this is by invitation or upon request only. The final itinerary will be available by 3rd quarter 2012.
For more details please contact Gunther Deichmann
See below also some of our other upcoming Expedition Adventure Photo Work Shop Tours in 2012 and you don’t have to be a pro to be part of this, we except all levels of experience.
LAOS - VIETNAM - CAMBODIA – Myanmar 2012 starting on September 8th. You can choose either one of these tours or combine them, for more info and the complete Itinerary please contact me.
Or check our GD Photo Workshop calendar for 2012
Note: Please make your reservations early for Myanmar; due to the recent positive changes in the Country we have to make Hotel bookings way in advance.
Tour starts on October 05 - October 16, 2012 - 11 special days of pure adventure and amazing photography. Max. of 10 Participants on all Tours unless stated otherwise.
Please do not hesitate in contacting me if you have any special request or queries.
On this special journey through Myanmar we will explore the remote parts of the country but also some of the known places. We promise that this will be a very special trip.
This photographic tour of Myanmar takes guests from the captivating capital of Yangon where the sparkling Shwedagon Pagoda glistens at sunset. From Yangon guests take a short flight to Bagan where it's difficult to ever put your camera down.
Countless temples and pagodas are scattered across its desert like plains. Crumbling architecture adds to the inherent beauty of the place.
Visit Tayokye Pyay, an elevated temple with sweeping panoramic views of the plains below. Then Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Ananda Temple, one of the most impressive masterpieces.
We also head to Myinkabar and Old Bagan to discover lesser-visited sites with unusual stone inscriptions. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset from the terrace of a temple.
For Testimonials from previous participants, please Click this LINK.
Details and bookings/reservations, please Click this LINK
GD
Travel Photography ASIA: In stark contrast to Sri Lanka & Bhutan, the Journey continuous through Nepal
I love contrast... and this was certainly an extreme
if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka and Bhutan
A Sadhu during the Hindu bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka and took the flight to Delhi en-route to Kathmandu, Nepal our second stop before leaving for Bhutan.
I love contrast and this was certainly an extreme if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka (my next post) and Bhutan. I visited Nepal many times before, but every time I find something more unique or bizarre, I just love this place, its mix religion, people, culture, tradition and of course awesome colors.
Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple, the oldest Hindu
temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
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In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Oh…those Eyes, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Boy selling sugar candy Durban Square, Kathamndu, Nepal,
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Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal,
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Yes, it can be a bit chaotic at times, and the traffic especially during festival times is a nightmare, but it is also very rewarding for photography a constant challenge isolating subjects amongst the crowd.
We made another stop over for a few more days on our way back from Bhutan and intercepted two festivals before hitting back home, this was a welcome change after the higher altitude from Bhutan, a sort of R&R.
The cool one...In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Child playing with large Prayer Wheel at one of the
Monasteries, in "Little Tibet" Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal
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A pilgrim during a Chaktsal prostration, a powerful way of
showing devotion at the Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Nepal
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One of my favorite places I keep returning to when visiting Nepal is the Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, and my recent visit here coincided with the full moon festival. This ancient Stupa is one of the largest in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan Compas (Monasteries) around Boudhanath. It is a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1979, the Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. This area is also know as little Tibet.
Right next to the Boudhanath Stupa, this is where the Butter lamps
are kept during the full moon festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Movement… start of the full moon festival at the Boudhanath
Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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This is only a small selection of images on todays post, there will be a lot more once I am done with my editing and have uploaded them on to my PhotoShelter site, I keep you posted when that is ll done. I hope within the next few days, cross my fingers.
I might add Aperture 3 performed absolutely flawless, all photos have been processed using only Aperture 3 and only basic and RAW adjustments have been applied.
The ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple)
is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine.
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Above: I waited a long time to get this shot, standing in one corner for ages, trying to capture a Monkey just in between those Eyes, the original image is only cropped, with no other adjustments except for the basic RAW conversion and a tweak on the color temperature.(Aperture 3)
Perched atop a hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, the ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple) is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal.
When this temple was founded about 2,000 years ago, Kathmandu Valley was filled with a great lake. According to Buddhist legend, a single perfect lotus grew in the center of the lake. When the bodhisattva Manjusri drained the lake with a slash of his sword, the lotus flower settled on top of the hill and magically transformed into the stupa. Thus it is known as the Self-Created (swayambhu) Stupa.
The earliest written record of the Swayambunath Stupa's existence is a 5th-century stone inscription, but scholars believe there was probably a shrine here as early as the 1st century. Even before that, it is likely that animist rites took place on this hill. Swayambunath is one of Nepal's oldest Buddhist temples and it has an ancient atmosphere, especially when one approaches on foot with the pilgrims.
Bizarre and strange faces…Kathmandu, Nepal
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No explanation needed…street scene Kathmandu, Nepal.
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Hard working…Kathmandu, Nepal
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Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Women with her heavy load in the streets
of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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The Pashupatinath Temple the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, The deity here gained great fame there as Pashupati, the Lord of the Animals. Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D.
The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'.
Wicks are mixed with butter and then set alight, burning for hours during animal offering at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Worshiping at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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The full moon day of April, Lhuti Punhi, is important for both Hindus and Buddhists the full moon festival took place in the evening at the Boudhanath stupa the other festival on the same day but in the morning was the Balaju Mela or Lhuti Punhi
Hindu worshiper during the bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Here Devotees celebrate the festival by visiting Balaju (or Lhuti), about 3 km north of downtown Kathmandu, to take holy baths under the 22 dragon-headed stone water spouts and pay homage to the reclining image of the Hindu deity Budhanilkantha. People also climb the nearby Jamacho hill to worship the Buddhist stupa located at the top.
The hill is held sacred because ages ago, when the Kathmandu Valley was a lake, it was from this summit the the Bipaswa Buddha had cast a lotus seed into the water which blossomed into the flaming holy lotus over which the Swoyambhu stupa now stands.
Near the Nepal traditional vilages of Bugmati/Khokana, Lolitpur
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Did I say in my first sentence…We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka… yes that is correct, but I was also extremely happy when I arrived in Nepal…the contrast was just awesome.
Please stay tuned for the next and last part…amazing Sri Lanka featuring some awesome landscapes and wildlife, another very contrasty piece.
Also as a reminder we still have a few spots available for our next Journey with the GD Photo Workshops into Myanmar starting June 29, 2012, book now this workshop is filling up very fast and final bookings have to be made by latest May 20th, 2012.
I am going to announce once I have updated my main website and my PhotoShelter with the latest, more images from Sri Lanka - Nepal and Bhutan.
I hope you enjoy the images from Nepal today, until soon from Sri Lanka…and the contrast continues…
GD
Travel Photography ASIA: Amazing faces & places discovering Yangon, Myanmar.
Exploring and discovering Yangon, Myanmar…
the faces and places.
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Photo above: This old Buddhist Monk in the market of Yangon is probably suffering from a skin condition called Vitiligo, a condition in which white patches develop on the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes.
Yangon also known as Rangoon, is a former capital of Burma, Yangon as it is called now has a population of over four million and continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial center.
Interesting to note is that Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia today, a Photographers haven with its busy markets and very interesting Dock/Harbor area.
But most impressive is the Shwedagon Pagoda that has existed for more than 2,500 years, making it the oldest historical pagoda in Burma and the world.
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, the stupas during a full moon, Yangon, Myanmar
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, Buddhist Monk meditating near very large Bell, Yangon Myanmar
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, gathering of visiting Buddhist Monks
Yangon Myanmar
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A teenage girl worshipping at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon Myanmar
According to some historians and archaeologists, the pagoda was built by the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries CE.
The gold seen on the stupa is made of genuine gold plates, covering the brick structure and attached by traditional rivets and the crown or umbrella is tipped with some 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies.
But if you like action and watch hard working-man then a trip to the Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River is a must. Here is where the real hustle and bustle takes place, dock-workers unloading small and large boats with all types of goods.
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Hard at work, Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River, Myanmar
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Hard at work, Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River, Myanmar
Another interesting place for a visit is the Yangon Circular Railway the local commuter rail network that serves the Yangon metropolitan area. The 39-station loop system connects satellite towns and suburban areas to the city. The railway has about 200 coaches, runs 20 times and sells 100,000 to 150,000 tickets daily.
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Boy playing inside the Railway Carriage, Yangon
Circular Railway, Myanmar
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Railway station in Yangon, Circular Railway, Myanmar
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On the way to Insein inside the Railway Carriage,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
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On the way to Insein inside the Railway Carriage,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
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Young child on the Yangon Railway station platform
During our last GD Photo Workshop we took a short but memorable trip for about an hour, passing by villages and observing the lively and colorful life of the rural Burmese people en route.
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At the Insein station about 45 min from Yangon,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
We disembarked at the small town of Insein, meet with the friendly locals before returning to Yangon to explore the amazing downtown of Yangon exploring Chinatown and Little India.
But Yangon has so much more to offer besides the sights mention above, an amazing city, with its Buddhist monasteries, shrines and temples, I continue soon and talk about this another day.
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Sisters at their small store in Little India, Yangon, Myanmar
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Red teeth from chewing Beetle nut, shoe vendor in Little India,
Yangon, Myanmar
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Muslim Boy in downtown Yangon, Myanmar
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Street scene in down town Yangon, Myanmar
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Street scene in down town Yangon, Myanmar
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Chicken feet…market in downtown Yangon, Myanmar
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Slippers in the down town market area, Yangon, Myanmar
So why you don’t join us in June 2012 for an incredible Journey to Myanmar where we discover the undiscovered and explore other unique places seldom visited by others.
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A very happy Nun at a Monastery, Yangon, Myanmar
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Amazing faces…Yangon, Myanmar!
Our June 2012 GD Photo Workshop is very special indeed, we’re not only cover the know areas but venture to more remote and seldom visited places in this amazing Country.
For all the details and Itinerary please follow the LINKS.
http://www.exotissimo.com/travel/myanmar/tours/myanamar-through-the-lens/
Travel Photography: The story behind the Photos: A challenge at Ajanta Caves, unsurpassed in Indian art.
A challenge at the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO
world heritage site & unsurpassed in Indian art. 
Movement - a person adding scale to one out of 30
massive caves at Ajanta, India.
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In preparation for Laos-Cambodia and Myanmar…oops this should read... Sri Lanka and India, I am going to post a series of articles within the next few weeks from my recent trip to Sri Lanka and Central India, our next destination for the GD Photo Workshops in early 2012.
September is only around the corner for our last trip in 2011 to Laos-Cambodia and Myanmar and in between a short trip to Thailand…Time is flying so fast and I don’t have much of this “commodity” at the moment, only a few more month left to introduce you to some stories behind the photos before reporting direct from our locations in Laos and Cambodia, unfortunately no live reports from Myanmar.
Blog post’s from amazing Sri Lanka, or the totally mind-blowing caves in Central India carved out of solid rock, a marvel in history and human engineering. After seeing this amazing place I came to the conclusion, that if anyone comes to me these days and said, I am sorry I can’t do this…I shake my head, smile and say…my good friend, you have no Idea what can be done!
I guess that is why they call it “Incredible India.”
Lets start with the Ajanta Caves; it was my dream for many years to visit these caves in Central India, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves in my pursuit of ancient Buddhism culture through out Asia.
Ajanta Cave system, India.
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Temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of
a 20-meter ravine, Ajanta, India.
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This painting depicting the Birthplace of Buddha,in Lumbini which is now
part of Nepal. Fresco-type paintings that are the chief interest of Ajanta.
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A Photographers paradise and a nightmare at the same time…you’re not allowed to use a Tripod and any kind of strobes (flash) or other lights; a real challenge but with experience a lot of patience and a steady hand, remarkable images can be created.
The reasons for these restrictions are obvious, it is the fresco-type paintings that are in fantastic condition and need to be preserved for generations to come.
Temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of
a 20-meter ravine, Ajanta, India.
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It maybe an obstacle for some visitors/photographers but for me it is a welcome precaution for the preservation of this unique treasure cove and in line with my Philosophy; “sometimes it is better to take home the memory instead pursuing the image.”
This location will certainly be challenging during our GD Photo Workshop in 2012 but also an experience and an excellent learning curve in low light condition; working with a minimal amount of equipment. An amazing place, one should visit in a lifetime to "discover the undiscovered."
All photos have been processed with Aperture 3 only, using in most cases only the basic RAW file adjustments, however in some of the cave images additional adjustments were required, mainly adjusting the White Balance using also Aperture 3 due to the extreme mix light conditions in these caves. No other software or other manipulations has been applied. I used the Nikon D700 and for all the interiors the Nikkor 12mm to 24mm lens.
Please stay tuned or subscribe to my RSS feed for more on this amazing area, soon to follow; the Ellora Caves, Aurangabad and Sri Lanka or join our GD PhotoWorkshop in 2012.
GD
These paintings depict colorful Buddhist legends and divinities with an
exuberance and vitality that is unsurpassed in Indian art.
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The sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the caitya pillars
is in very fine details and well preserved.
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Amazing sculptures through out the caves.
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Ajanta, a UNESCO world heritage site, is famous for its Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries with their extraordinary wall paintings. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 20-meter ravine in the Wagurna River valley, 105 km northeast of Aurangabad, at a site of great scenic beauty.
About 30 caves were excavated between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE and are of two types, caityas ("sanctuaries") and viharas ("monasteries"). Although the sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the caitya pillars, is noteworthy, it is the fresco-type paintings that are the chief interest of Ajanta.
These paintings depict colorful Buddhist legends and divinities with an exuberance and vitality that is unsurpassed in Indian art. - Adapted from Encyclopedia Britannica-
Just one more..
.
Ajanta Caves, India.
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