Temple of Khnum, Esna, Egypt – The Ram-headed God
This temple is dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed creator, who shaped humans on his potter’s wheel. Ancient Egyptian mythology considers Khnum androgynous, its male manifestation being Khnum, and the female, Neith. - Temple of Khnum, Esna, Egypt - The Ram-headed God - Travelure ©
Temple of Isis at Philae, Egypt
Isis is associated with funeral rites, but also as the giver of life, a healer, and a protector of kings. Little wonder they represent her with a throne on her head. - Temple of Isis at Philae, Egypt - Travelure ©
Pompeii – A Prehistoric Frozen Moment
It was a hot summer day, the temperature hovering around 35°C. When a fellow traveller complained of the heat, our guide was quick to point out the residents of Pompeii faced 20 times the heat on a fateful day in 1st century CE. - Pompeii - A Prehistoric Frozen Moment - Travelure ©
Florence – The Birthplace of Renaissance
Florence has more. A lot more. Keep walking around this historic district, and at every turn, you will make an eye-popping discovery. Even walking the same route will throw up newer surprises you would have missed during your first or even second walk. - Florence - The Birthplace of Renaissance - Travelure ©
The Vatican – A Country Within a City
The Vatican is also a world leader in per capita wine consumption. And then there is the ‘Popes per square kilometre’ statistic that works out to over 2 since the area of the state is less than half a square kilometre. - The Vatican - A Country Within a City - Travelure ©
Rome Was Not Built in a Day
Roman history dates back to 753 BCE, but, according to archeological evidence, humans have lived in the city for the last 14,000 years. So much so the 1st-century BCE Roman poet Tibullus called it an eternal city. - Rome Was Not Built in a Day - Travelure ©
Udaipur City – An Oasis of Calm Grandeur
Remember Panna Dhai - the legendary nanny of Mewar royals? She had sacrificed her child when Banbir, an illegitimate son of Prithviraj, came calling to kill the royal child? But for her, Udaipur would have not existed today. - Udaipur City – An Oasis of Calm Grandeur - Travelure ©
Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
As a living fort, it has seen a huge influx of tourists savouring pre-modernist lifestyle. They come to live like locals but seldom stay true to the cause. - Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan - Travelure ©
Amber (Amer) Fort, Jaipur
Today, it may be the crowning glory of Jaipur, but let us not forget that Sawai Jai Singh founded Jaipur only in the early 18th century, while Amber existed since the latter half of the 9th century! - Amber (Amer) Fort, Jaipur - Travelure ©
Khajuraho – Eroticism or Spirituality?
These sculptures have attracted epithets like erotic, pornographic, sensual, and more, but their presence around the temple walls reflect a basic human instinct. These depictions embrace the basal, natural, and sometimes, the unnatural acts as part of human existence. - Khajuraho - Eroticism or Spirituality? - 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 ©
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 ©
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 ©
Shooting Architecture without Distortion Part-1
The only way to shoot any structure distortion-free is to keep the camera parallel to the ground. For that, you need a vantage that brings you up midway to the height of the building. But the ground realities do not always allow us to keep the camera parallel. - Shooting Architecture without Distortion Part-1 - 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 ©
Shooting Grand Ceilings – Cathedrals, Tombs, and Palaces
These ceilings pose a different challenge. The distance between the floor and ceiling is not large enough for normal lenses to capture the entire grand ceiling or the dome ceiling. Also, these structures are not well-lit. A camera shake blur could also be a concern. - Shooting Grand Ceilings - Cathedrals, Tombs, and Palaces - Travelure ©
Composing spiral staircases – Cathedral of Our Lady, Kutna Hora
You may recall the Fibonacci spiral or the golden ratio/spiral gives photography the rule of thirds but is better than that rule. - Composing spiral staircases - Cathedral of Our Lady, Kutna Hora - Travelure ©
Unmasking Ibiza – Dalt Vila and More
Ibiza was the first line of defence for mainland Spain against the seafarers! The original Acropolis had low and narrow walls. Suited for the mediaeval warfare of spears and swords. - Unmasking Ibiza - Dalt Vila and More - Travelure ©
Auschwitz – Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims
‘The plunder of human beings was complete. They chose the healthy ones for a slow death through overwork, exhaustion, and starvation; while the others were straightaway shot, or gassed.’ - Auschwitz - Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims - 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.
Gobekli Tepe Turkey – World’s oldest temple?
Göbekli Tepe is the most ancient site of humans practising religion. Schmidt called it the first human-built holy place. The religion originated here. - Göbekli Tepe Turkey - World’s oldest temple? - Travelure ©
Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad
With no water supply, no heating facility, and no provision for cooking, these tiny houses advocate traditional simple living. This spartan lifestyle continues to define the Church Town, even now. - Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad - Travelure ©
The Great Wall of China
Snake-like, it slithered along the undulating mountain ridge. Between relentless long stretches, watchtowers provided relief. But, only to the eyes. Not an easy stroll. - The Great Wall of China - Travelure ©
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 ©
