Travel Photography: Sri Lanka’s beautiful people, caves and Buddhism culture, the story behind the photos.
The Journey continuos in Sri Lanka...
Dambula Rock Caves, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
This is the final part from my last journey to Sri Lanka and Central India; well Sri Lanka was actually the first part of my trip, don’t ask me why this became last, I honestly don’t know.
I have selected just a few photos for this short but rewarding Journey and if you like to see more please feel free to check out all the other photos from Sri Lanka on my PhotoShelter Archives and Galleries.
Paintings and statues inside the Dambula Rock Caves, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
I left from Manila with my friend Hubert Weber via Bangkok and arrived just after midnight in Colombo, a long day indeed.
After an hour drive we got to our Hotel and managed to get a few hours sleep, but it was more like 2 hours since we had to hit the road to the Dambula Cave Temple in the morning…oh my gosh it was morning already.
Tiered but the adrenalin was doing a good job, it was after all my first visit to Sri Lanka, and right from the arrival I had a very good feel about it, the people seem to be very nice, actually super nice as we discovered during our entire trip.
On the way to the Dambula Caves there were lots of photo opportunities along the road, from Rubber plantations, handcrafted Batik, the famous Ceylon Tea,and so many other interesting subjects including a snake charmer with a huge Python and Cobra and of course Dambula which had been on my agenda for many years.
Dambulla is a part of the Cultural Triangle declared by UNESCO is on the main road from Sigiriya to Kandy about 19Km from Sigiriya. There are over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by monks as meditation locations.
Buddha statues inside theDambula Rock Caves, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The Corridor outside the Dambula Rock Caves, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain the statues and the paintings. Since it's founding in the 1 century BC by King Valagamba, many improvements and additions have been carried out to the sculptures and paintings over the years. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century. The temple is a perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts.
We reached Dambula mid afternoon…by now we felt the long hours without sleep, only to be told by our charming Guide that we had to climb (a lot of steps) to the Temple Cave.
I almost collapsed half way up…my energy was fading fast from lack of sleep and long hours on the road, puffing… I had no choice but to hire a friend of our Guide who just happen to be there to help me and carry my backpack …or was this planned?
Uhhh… we made it, just in time for the nice afternoon light which blessed us for the remaining few hours before sunset, and what a sunset it was…all the hard work paid off.
Sri Lanka another place I have to return too, not only for its amazing culture, but also for its Landscapes and rich Wildlife. As a matter of fact we’re having a GD Photo Workshop in 2012 to Sri Lanka and Central India - discovering the undiscovered, for example the not so frequently visited Rock Cave Temple Aluviharaya near Matale.
Aluvihara cave temple Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Aluvihara cave temple is surrounded by hills, 30 km south of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road is having a great historic importance. The history of Aluvihara is traced back to the 3rd Century B.C. in the reign of King Devanampiyatissa.
Aluvihare is one of the most important cultural sites in Sri Lanka.It was believed to be, Buddhist doctrines were first recorded on Ola leaves after passing through orally, here in the 1st century BC, during the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya.This Dhamma record is known as 'Thripitakaya' and to day it is concern as main guiding Dhamma book of Theravada Buddhism.Aluvihare is significant for the huge rocks which leads to classified it as a rock temple.
People of Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
People of Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
People of Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Of course Kandy was on our itinerary, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka that is now a major tourist destination. (115kM from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level). Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples, the city could be called the cultural capital of the island.
I short…Sri Lanka is an amazing place with its friendly people, rich culture, amazing landscapes and unique wildlife, truly inviting for many more visits.
Batik handycraft, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Meditation at the temple of the Tooth, Kandy Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Worshiping and meditation at the temple of the Tooth, Kandy Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Just one more...
Young boy with incense, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Oh did I forget to mention all the Elephants? But that is another story…my next post will be from Bangkok, Thailand, so please stay tuned.
GD
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of
a 20-meter ravine, Ajanta, India.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the caitya pillars
is in very fine details and well preserved.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Amazing sculptures through out the caves.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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..
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Ajanta Caves, India.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
