Nyola Yangti

The Nyola Yangti river flows down from the Phanchuli glacier between the Dugtu and Dantu villages of Uttarakhand.

Most people only get a view of Panchachuli from the western side i.e. Munsyari/Kausani/Choukori and similar hill stations. The eastern side, i.e., Darma Valley is untouched territory mostly for hiking parties. Till recently there was no road and it required a multi day trek from Tawaghat to get there. I rode down from Nainital to Darma Valley in the autumn of 2019 and spent two days at a home stay in Dantu. The villages were mostly empty with the inhabitants on their way down to Jauljibi to camp for winter.

This picture was taken early in the morning when I woke in the bitter cold to watch the run rise on the peaks. For months I had visualized this image – a dark valley shadowed by towering snow capped peaks and a glistening river meandering through the center. The picture is a double exposure with the first exposed for the mountain peaks and other for the river.

Here is a color version of the same: (https://lslightpaintings.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bikeride_dharmavalley_849x2400.jpg)

Technical details: Pen-F + 12-40mm | F/4 | 1/400s | ISO200
Date: Oct 19, 2019 | 0620

Despair

A woman sits lost in thought outside a tea shop in Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore.

Tea shops are a congregation of people and thoughts. People come with friends, to meet friends and then some come alone. The purpose is not just to drink tea. It is to converse. The ones who come alone, they converse with their thoughts.

This picture was taken outside a crowded tea shop. Having finished my tea and my thoughts of returning home, I noticed this woman slowly walk up to the tea shop. She did not buy tea, but a couple of biscuits. Wrapping them up in a piece of plastic wrapper, she carefully tucked them in the fold of her dress. Probably for a grandchild I thought.

Then she sat down. Her gaze disappeared into a far off world, oblivious of the din around her. A look of deep despair on her face. And there she sat sharing her presence with every one and his thought with no one. I crossed across the street looking to make a frame and at the same time feeling guilty of intruding her space.

Technical details: OM-5 + Panasonic 20/1.7 | F/4 | 1/15s | ISO500
Date: Apr 20, 2023 | 1911

Essential

A cleaning woman diligently sweeps the courtyard of the Sri Vidyashankara temple in Sringeri, Karnataka.

Sringeri has two major temples. One is dedicated to Shiva and is called the Vidyashankara temple. The other is dedicated to Saraswati and is called the Sharada Amba temple. The Vidyashankara temple is a magnificent temple built entirely of stone combining both Hoysala (Chalukya) and Dravidian architectural styles.

On way back from Goa, I choose to ride thought the Agumbe ghats and ended up staying the night at Sringeri mutt. This picture was taken when I was trying to capture the early morning light illuminating the temple from the east. The stone glowed brilliantly in the orange light. As I was composing the frame, I heard a “hooshhhh” directed at me. Looking back, this cleaning lady wanted me to get out of her way and let her clean the place before the rush of devotees. An essential activity in the morning in a place where it does not take long for the place to get dirty. While I did not understand rest of her diatribe, I understood I was wasting her time by getting in between. And I obeyed, hastily getting out of the way.

Technical details: Canon G7Xii | F/5.6 | 1/500s | ISO400
Date: March 08, 2024 | 0713

Splash

Muddy water splashes all around a rider and his buffaloes at the Kambala race in Vamanjoor, Mangalore

Kambala is a traditional sport of Buffalo racing mostly practices in coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, Udipi and Kasargaud. Kambala is derived from ‘kampa-kala’, where the word ‘Kampa’ is related slushy, muddy field. The Dravidian origin of the word Kampa is kan+pa and ‘kala’ means field, where it is conducted.

This picture was taken in Vamanjoor, Mangalore which I had visited to witness the event. While the race is the main attraction of the event, the festive atmosphere is what I really loved. The races are held all day on Saturday and Sunday with ample opportunities to photograph the riders.

Technical details: OM-5 + 12-200mm | F/6.3 | 1/500s | ISO5000
Date: Feb 17, 2024 | 1849

Victory

A kid flashes me a victory sign after scoring a goal in a game of football.

In the middle of nowhere, towards the north-western borders of Karnataka lies the Doeguling Tibetan Settlement near Mundgod. It is one of the few places where the Tibetan people were settled in India around 1966. I happened to pass this place in one of my driving adventures with Lily. Since then, I always thought I would spend a little more time at this place. The opportunity came when I was returning from a ride to Konkan coast. Crossing Doeguling, I decided to stay at one of the guest houses and spend the day roaming around the settlement.

This picture was taken when I was enjoying a cool breeze under some trees across the road from a school courtyard. Behind the closed gate, some kids were playing football. Once in a while their ball would sneak out from the gaps and out they would rush to collect the ball. On one such occasion, this kid flashed a “victory” sign to me indicating the goal he had just scored.

Technical details: OM-5 + Oly 12-200mm | F/6.3 | 1/200s | ISO200
Date: Aug 15, 2023 | 1332

Sunrise

Sunrise on the Narasapura Lake

An old picture of the sunrise over Narsapura Lake near Kolar. Occasionally after good rains, the lake fills up. As the sun rises over the boulder filled hills beyond the lake, the reflections make sure a beautiful landscape. Over the years the place is changing. First the narrow highway became a 4 lane divided highway. Now a flyover is coming up. Across the road an industrial park is coming up. And there are hotels, restaurants and shops to cater to the people working in the industrial park. I hope the lake survives all this development.

This picture was taken when I drove on a narrow trail that took me close to the water’s edge. I sat there on a rock, amidst wild flowers enjoying the sunrise with the chirping birds playing their melody. It was a beautiful morning.

More pictures from that ride: https://lokeshshah.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/bike-ride-narsapura-sunrise-pictures/

Technical details: Pen-F + 15mm bodycap | F/8 | 1/20s | ISO200
Date: May 26, 2019 | 0537

Staying Warm

Exercising to stay warm and active in the cold Icelandic winter.

On my last morning in Iceland, I waled around the downtown enjoying the relatively calm morning. There was a lot of activity going on deliveries being made, locals on errands, tourists waiting for buses/taxis and people just going around day to day life. For someone like me it was quite cold. I dived in to cafe and bars a few times to sip on warm and warming drinks, just enjoying the local hospitality.

This picture was taken as I crossed the park below the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson – the Norseman who founded the city in 874 AD. A group was exercising under the lead of an instructor. It was a good way to stay warm in the cold noon. The brought colors of their clothes stood out against the white group and dull grey building.

Technical details: OM-5 + 12-40mm | F/5 | 1/80s | ISO200
Date: Jan 30, 2023 | 1209

Rock Patterns

Patterns on the wall cut by water and flash floods at the Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona

A picture from another life long ago – a visit to the desert of Arizona and Utah. Ever since I have been reading about the American west, I wanted to visit Monument Valley. More so because of the western movie. As a tourist if you search for Monument Valley, you also get to know about nearby Antelope Canyon, which is even more fascinating from the photographer’s perspective.

This picture was taken when we had descended into the Lower Antelope Canyon. Deep inside, there was no direct light of the sun. Light falling on the upper rim reflected down accentuating the patterns on teh rocks.

Technical details: Canon D300 + 18-55mm | F/8 | 1.3s | ISO100
Date: Mar 29, 2005 | 1008

My Picture?

A resident of Pottery Town sits at her doorsteps, curiously wondering if we will take her picture or not.

Bangalore’s pottery town is a mixture of old and new. One one hand are the artisans making pottery from generations and on the other newer buildings are coming up with people from outside. There even a large metro station coming up at one end.

Few weeks back I went on a photo walk with the Fuji group. Yes an Olympus camera amidst the Fuji gang. The Fuji folks were nice enough to let me join and even let me borrow an XT30ii for a while.

This picture was taken when we were assembling towards the start of the lane. This woman, stepped out and curiously looked at a bunch of people carrying all sorts of big cameras and lenses. One of us took her picture. Seeing that she disappeared inside, only to appear a little later with combed hair and sat down on the porch. I think she was wondering, now that I am ready will they take my picture. Our eyes met, I lifted the camera slightly and gestured with my eyebrows to seek permission to take a photo. A slight nod of approval and I clicked away.

Technical details: OM-5 + Rokinon 85mm | F/? | 1/125s | ISO160
Date: Jan 07, 2024 | 0741

The Lone Shepherd

A lone shepherd takes his sheep for grazing in the dry landscape below Chang La near Leh.

The mountains around Leh are dry with little rain. Whatever rain that falls, runs off quickly due to the rocky terrain. Keeping sheep is a tough business. One has to walk them miles to graze and down into the valleys to drink.

On this day, I had started early from Pangong hoping to get a head start on the ride towards Manali. Crossing over Chang La, I ran out of water. Down below, this herder was walking his sheep on a path that would cross the road. Hurrying down, I timed my way to match his as he cross his road.

I asked for a nearby stream where I could fill my bottle. Rather than pointing me in the direction, he and his two dogs walked me to the stream which was around a few hundred meters back towards the direction he came from. From the hoof marks I could see his sheep also had drank from the same stream. I filled both my bottles, and we walked back talking.

This picture was taken when I was still back up the road and saw him take a path which would intersect our paths ahead.

Technical details: Canon G1X Mk2 | F/8 | 1/320s | ISO160
Date: July 20, 2015 | 1114

Dinner is Ready

Young monk students start distributing food prepared in a common kitchen to various dining halls at the Tibetan camp at Mundgod.

Riding back from Karwar, I crossed the Tibetan camp at Mundgod. On impulse I checked if there is a place to stay. Years back, I had stayed similarly at Bylakuppe. I had enjoyed the peace there and was hoping for something similar. Finding a room at the guesthouse, I was happy to dump my luggage there and call it a day for riding all long before noon. The rest of the day was spent wandering along the lanes and closed monasteries. It was Aug 15th.

In the evening when I was wandering around the grounds of Thodhing Monastery, I happened to see a group of happy students pushing these carts with food containers loaded. Following them, I found the common kitchen, buzzing with activity.

This picture was taken a little later, when food was filled in the containers and the delivery started. It was heartening to see the kids, happy and eager to put in their share of work in distributing food.

Technical details: OM-5 + Oly 12-200mm | F/6.3 | 1/60s | ISO200
Date: Aug 15, 2023 | 1705

A Fishy Conversation

A fishmonger and a customer haggle over the price of a basket of fish at Shivaji Nagar Bangalore.

The Streets of Bangalore. especially the old town is fun to walk with a camera. The people are friendly and mostly eager to pose for a click.

A few days back I went on a photo walk with a group of Fuji owners. In addition to my interest in Shivaji Nagar, I was hoping to feel the Fuji cameras in flesh and metal especially the X100V. Its a lovely little camera, but not so much better than Pen-F with a pancake. For now I will keep the Pen-F.

The above picture was taken in the fish market section. I was there at the peak of activity. Few vendors has the time to pose. The vendor in this picture caught my attention due to a heated conversation with a customer. Voice were loud and aggressive. Then the gentleman in the coat stepped in to calm everything down. Here he is giving a piece of advice to the seller.

Technical details: OM5 + 20/1.7mm | F/2.5 | 1/100s | ISO200
Date: Dec 10, 2023 | 0713