Chanderi – A Town of Dichotomies
Badal Mahal, a gate leading to nowhere built by the Malwa kings; Kati Ghati Gateway, built to welcome the Sultan of Malwa Ghiyasuddin Khilji, with no door or even no spot for hinges to hold a door. These facts had me rolling my eyes again! - Chanderi - A Town of Dichotomies - Travelure ©
Sanchi and Udayagiri – Of Fables and Faiths
Though the physical distance may not be much, their faiths distance Sanchi and Udayagiri. While Sanchi is a Buddhist holy place, Udayagiri was important for 3 strong cults of Hinduism - Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Shaivism. - Sanchi and Udayagiri - Of fables and faiths - Travelure ©
Orchha – The Hidden Gem
Part of the Orchha Fort complex, Orchha Palace has two distinct sections – Raja Mahal (King’s Palace) and Jahangir Mahal (Palace). While Raja Mahal typifies Bundela architecture, the Jahangir Mahal is a sterling example of Mughal architecture. - Orchha - The Hidden Gem - Travelure ©
Bhimbetka: My Early Days of Photography
The creative-me loved the view. I decided it would be home for some time. As I ventured around the narrow burrows carved by times in those sandstone rocks, I realised those had turned into ortho-quartzite. Little did I know then that they would later call this place Bhimbetka Rock Shelters. - Bhimbetka: My Early Days of Photography - Travelure ©
Capturing a landscape
All the wow elements are there. But the feel is missing. You find the images flat and boring. What went wrong? Before we come to that, let’s just understand that capturing that feel is the biggest challenge when you shoot a landscape. - Capturing a landscape - Travelure ©
Adding the third dimension
‘You can see a photographer’s mastery over his craft in a single shot. Ask him to shoot a white egg against a white wall!’. - Adding the third dimension - Travelure ©
Zoom Burst: Energise Your Shots
The Zoom Burst Photography technique can infuse photographs with a burst of energy or dynamism; lend them an abstract, artistic quality or a sense of mystique; or create a focus or strong leading lines that draw the viewer’s eyes to the core subject. - Zoom Burst: Energise Your Shots - Travelure ©
Have fun with the forced perspective
...a technique that uses optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it is... - Have fun with the forced perspective - Travelure ©
Let us stitch a panorama
I started shooting from one end of the edifice and twisted my upper body and continued capturing the frames. It gave me shots that had an overlapping view of the spread-out step-well - Let us stitch a panorama - Travelure ©
Photojournalistic Technique in Travel Photography
...the biggest challenge to embrace this technique in travel photography is our own sense of aesthetics. - Photojournalistic Technique in Travel Photography - Travelure ©
Simple Steps to Shoot Fireworks
The unpredictability of pyrotechnics makes them an exciting, yet challenging subject to shoot. You seldom know at what height it will burst and release its magnificence. - Simple Steps to Shoot Fireworks - Travelure ©
Cutting the Clutter for a Balanced Frame
Crowds clutter a frame. Not always, but often. When we shoot, our challenge is to keep the crowds out of the frame or ensure we balance the frame despite the crowds. With aesthetic sensibility and presence of mind, you can manage a good frame at most times. - Cutting the Clutter for a Balanced Frame - Travelure ©
Black & White vs. Colour – How to Choose
We like our shots and feel they will look good in Black & White. But not every shot may stand out after conversion. The challenge is ascertaining which shot will look good in Black & White! And thereby choosing the right ones to convert. - Black & White vs. Colour - How to Choose - Travelure ©
How to shoot back-lit stained glass
More often than not, the darkness within a church will force you to pump up the ISO on a wide-open aperture for capturing the details inside. And the back-lit stained glass will threaten over-exposure. This requires a precarious exposure balance. - How to shoot back-lit stained glass - Travelure ©
How to Shoot Illuminated Buildings
After the recce, the window of my fourth-floor Novotel room and the widest lens I had, became the partners for this shot. To capture light trails, I mounted the camera on a tripod for a steady shot. And used a remote to eliminate any camera shake caused by pressing the trigger. - How to shoot illuminated buildings - Travelure ©
Making a shot against the light
There are times during our travels we end up shooting against the light. Few such instances are a wrong-time-of-the-day visit to a landmark, music concerts, sunrises/sunsets, public functions or processions, etc. - Making a shot against the light - Travelure ©
Shooting Flowing Water – At Dawn, Dusk, and Day
While many photographers may propagate the use of Half ND filter, I don’t use it as the horizon line is never straight, but is jagged. Also, it is preferable the horizon line is closer to the one-third level rather than at the exact middle of the frame. - Shooting Flowing Water - At Dawn, Dusk, and Day - Travelure ©
Capturing snow texture – Prayer flags, Khardung la
Modern-day cameras seem intelligent. In reality, they are dumb. No matter where you meter, the camera-meter tries to provide you exposure settings that turn the metered area 18% grey. - Capturing snow texture - Prayer flags, Khardung la - Travelure ©
Capturing the sunset colours and silhouettes – Camels at Pushkar
Around sunset, the sky has intense light. Even more so in a desert. In a photograph, it looks washed out and too bright. As a result, we lose these magnificent colours. The challenge? Get them right in the shot. - Capturing the sunset colours and silhouettes - Camels at Pushkar - Travelure ©
Capturing speed in a still image – Bareback Rider, Kila Raipur
A normal photographic frame is not dynamic. While we may freeze a moment, capturing the excitement and speed eludes us. Besides, to bring alive a story, you need a spur-of-the-moment judgement call on what or who to focus on. - Capturing speed in a still image - Bareback Rider, Kila Raipur - Travelure ©
Shooting Split Second Action – Bicyclist at Mechuka
In Sports Photography, we capture the thrill of the moment, the crescendo of action. Challenge is to get the timing right, get a crisp shot, and capture the drama of the action. - Travelure ©
Red Fort or Lal Qila Delhi India
48,000 people once lived within these walls. Shah Jahan built Lal Qila as a city unto itself — palaces, mosques, markets, and a stream of paradise running through it all.
The Taj Mahal Agra India
A water channel with fountains that opens out into an enormous reflecting pool, leads you from Darwaza-i-rauza to the Taj. This pool does what humans couldn’t - duplicate the beauty of Taj in its reflection. - The Taj Mahal Agra India - Travelure ©
Varanasi – The Grand Dame of India
For Hindus, Varanasi is a teleport to heaven. The belief is when you travel from here, you carry no baggage of Karma. You also achieve Moksha or freedom from the cycle of life and death. Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are the portkeys. From here, the cremated rise to the heavens to join their ancestors... Varanasi - The Grand Dame of India - Travelure ©
