What I Did On Independence Day

Pan shot of an auto with the Indian tricolorPan shot of an auto with the Indian tricolor

Pan shot of an auto with the flag of KarnatakaPan shot of an auto with the flag of Karnataka

Having visited the Independence Day Flower Show at Lal Bagh a day in advance, I decided to try some street photography.

Traffic on most roads was light. A lot of autos were decked up with the India tricolor, while a few threw the (unofficial) Karnataka flag into the mix. The shots above were taken while walking on Residency Road.

August 29, 2008

O Sujan Majhi Re

O Sujon Majhi ReO Sujon Majhi Re

I will not even try to conceal the fact that the stylistic treatment” (big word eh!) of this picture has been inspired by Chromasia. As for the title, it’s a straight lift from The Bong Connection’s soundtrack. The first two lines of the song go like this:

O Sujan Majhi Re Kon Ghate Lagaiba Tomar Naab

I studied Bengali for two years in school, and learned about as much as someone in Kolkata would learn in kindergarten. So my translation should be treated as highly suspect, but it should convey the gist of things:

O Boatman! Who shall take your boat across (to the other bank of the river) [as suspected, I messed this one up] To which bank shall you take your boat

Yes, baul” gets butchered when translated to English. Anyway, given the condition of this boat, I hope that the Majhi has already abandoned it - if nothing else - in the interest of public safety.

Multiple sources of inspiration should make this post a mash-up” - really the in thing these days.

August 27, 2008

The Reluctant Poser

The Reluctant PoserThe Reluctant Poser

Same time, place, lens and subjects as these.

August 25, 2008

The Lion King

The Lion KingThe Lion King

Not related to the Disney movie or musical in any way. Spotted at a random building somewhere around Reagent’s Regent’s Park in London.

August 23, 2008

Green Fuel Anyone?

Green Fuel Anyone?Green Fuel Anyone?

Either this picture foretells of a the future that awaits us all or it is goading us to go green. Spotted at Kochi in June this year.

August 21, 2008

Testing 100…200…300…

Testing 100…200…300…Testing 100…200…300…

I was at a camera shop trying out the Sigma 100-300 lens, when this boy passed me by on an improvised tricycle cart. Unlike the Canon telephotos, the Sigma wasn’t white, but with a lens that big, it doesn’t take too long for someone to know that they are being photographed - even if they are 50 yards away from you. The boy’s face lit up and (who I presume to be) his dad joined in. Our lives crossed for a quarter of a second and we moved on.

August 19, 2008