I have a camera, and I take photographs. What use are they just sitting on my hard drive? Take a look.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Tailored
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 50mm f/1.4 (80mm equiv) Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/1.8, ISO 800
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 50mm f/1.4 (80mm equiv) Exposure: 1/30 sec at f/2, ISO 800 Next :: Current :: Previous
The two characters worked a few stalls up from where my girlfriend and I bought our clothes in my previous post. I remember the man in the first shot was so keen for me to take his photograph, he told me his name, and I'm sure it's not correct but I pronounced it as 'Sammy'. People are so friendly in India it's great, moreso than any other place I've been (noting that this was my first trip outside Europe...).
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/15 sec at f/8, ISO 800
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/13 sec at f/6.3, ISO 800
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 19mm (30mm equiv) Exposure: 1/13 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/25 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800 Next :: Current :: Previous
I can't decide what photographs to post and what not to, but I think four in one day is pushing it a bit. I could just drag it out, but it would be 2007 before I finish showing off all my India shots!
Anyway, these shots show just a few of the taylors which are based in the massive Sri Meenakshi temple complex. It's a fun but tiring experience, and I think the Lonely Planet guide was correct when it mentioned the quality of the tailors varied wildly along with the prices. On our first day there (when these were shot) we had a quick look around and then picked some fabric and were measured up for our new clothes. I ordered a couple of shirts and my girlfriend bought some Salwar Kameez (about Rs. 220/- and Rs. 400/- respectively). We went back in the evening and picked up the finished articles, we left pretty pleased.
The next day we went back feeling pretty chuffed with our purchases the day before, and thought we'd have another look around... but we were ultimately sucked in by the cheaper offers of another tailor (notice the red and white striped t-shirt guy who was strangely hanging around the day before in the shots above...). What a waste of time. To cut a long story short, when we went to pick up our new clothes we ended up being so disappointed that we had to have a big argument with the fabric shop owner about the abysmal quality of the clothes. The money involved wasn't a problem by UK standards, but no-one likes being ripped off. So I took just one shirt and ended up paying about double what I had the day before for two shirts, and my girlfriend argued well enough to get all her money back.
My top tip - make sure the fabric shop owner has his own tailors working there right in front of him.
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/80 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400 Next :: Current :: Previous
I love how most of the Indian locals don't even blink an eyelid when there's an elephant walking down a busy shopping street. I say most, because it's still an event for some of them.
After it had finished raining in the previous shots, we continued down the street only to find this guy and his elephant walking from shop to shop. The shop owners were coming out and giving something to the elephant, then it would reach up with it's trunk and pat them on the head as a type of blessing, or thank you I think. So being the silly tourists we were, we started looking in our bags for some biscuits or something to feed the elephant... We soon worked out and the locals weren't feeding the elephant, but giving it money!
So I got my couple of Rupees out and over came the elephant. I dropped the coins in the trunk and up it came to pat me on the head. I'm a bit taller than the average Indian, so I didn't so much get a pat on the head as a thump on the noggin. I went away happy though, but we never did work out where the hell the elephant put all the coins...
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 33mm (53mm equiv) Exposure: 1/25 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 33mm (53mm equiv) Exposure: 1/25 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm (64mm equiv) Exposure: 1/13 sec at f/9, ISO 100 Next :: Current :: Previous
We wondered the streets of Pondicherry on our last day in the city looking for some padlocks and chain for our first Indian train trip (we didn't realise that it was a sensible idea to lock our bags up whilst we slept... travel virgins eh?). It then started to rain, and in India this was ony a little tiny shower, for us it was massive - so we took a break and sat on the entrance steps to a shop. It didn't take long before the shop keeper and his sons, brothers, uncles, cousins and friends were there too looking over my shoulder to see the screen on my camera.
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm (64mm equiv) Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/8, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm (64mm equiv) Exposure: 1/500 sec at f/8, ISO 400 Next :: Current :: Previous
These shots were taken in the blazing hot sun of the botanical gardens in Pondicherry, India. It was ok until we suddenly walked into a cloud of mosquitos and were getting bitten like crazy... We left, quickly.
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/4 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 0.4 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/200 sec at f/9, ISO 100 Next :: Current :: Previous
This is the Sacred Heart Jesus church in Pondicherry. We didn't see many christian churches in India (not because they're not common, just because we weren't that interested - there's plenty to see here...). But still this one was pretty nice and well kept by Indian standards.
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 70-200mm f/4L @ 200mm (320mm equiv) Exposure: 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 100 Next :: Current :: Previous
Auroville is a small community which has been set up just outside Pondicherry. I'll let you read the blurb in the link, but basically it's a group of people from all sorts of nations all over the world who want to live in a place without religion but with respect for others. Unfortunately the only day we could go was a Sunday so a lot of it was closed, but we did get to see this place - the Matrimandir and Amphitheatre. There was some work going on to repair the Matrimandir so we didn't see it in it's full glory.
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/13 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm (64mm equiv) Exposure: 1/13 sec at f/4, ISO 800
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 50mm f/1.4 (80mm equiv) Exposure: 1/40 sec at f/4.5, ISO 1600 Next :: Current :: Previous
We were posting Christmas cards home. Funny how the little things stand out as being different - like the fact that not all stamps come with glue on them that you lick. I'm not sure what I prefer, licking glue, or getting my fingers covered in this green paste...
Oh and for those of you who have Google Earth here is a link to the rough location of where this was shot. I say rough because the satellite coverage in India is very poor so I can't find it exactly. I spotted this idea on another photoblog somewhere (I can't remember where, so if it was you - sorry!).
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/40 sec at f/4, ISO 200
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/160 sec at f/4, ISO 100
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ mm (64mm equiv) Exposure: 1/40 sec at f/7.1, ISO 200
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/60 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100 Next :: Current :: Previous
Driver: "Meter?...no, no, no sir!" Me: "Look ok, 40 rupees?" Driver: (shakes head and smiles) "Please sir, petrol is expensive!" Me: "C'mon, I'm not a stupid tourist..." (beckons another auto) Driver: "ok, ok" (gestures toward the seat, my girlfriend and I get in) (Auto arrives at destination, I get out and pay) Me: "You're ripping me off" (thinks, well it's only about 50p) Driver: "..." (massive grin and customary head wiggle)
The bartering with the auto drivers and shop keepers was endless, 99% good natured and I enjoyed it so much. But it really wears you down after a while if you're in a crap mood and things aren't going your way. My starting bid was normally about 20% of 'the price', my girlfriend was much more generous and normally started at about 50% (tourist!).
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400 Next :: Current :: Previous
My girlfriend and I were just walking along the street when this place blinded us from the 'pavement'. Note: in many places in India there isn't continuous pavement along the street, you'll have to dodge piles of rubble, rubbish, cars, lorries, etc. It's strange actually, at first when you have to walk along the side of a busy road with your back to the oncoming traffic it's quite scary. Then by the end you don't mind at all as you realise that the drivers seem to be much more vigilant over there and used to driving very, very close to things and can judge distances!
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/100 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400
Camera: Canon 20D Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm (27mm equiv) Exposure: 1/100 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400 Next :: Current :: Previous
Happy new year to you all and I'm glad we all made it to the other side! I'm just about recovered from my month in India... It was fantastic, such interesting people, mad trips in auto rickshaws, brilliant food and wonderful scenery. Just go. Book it now.
I could ramble on here for ages about the whole trip, but hopefully the journey should explain itself as I post the photographs over the coming weeks.
This was shot in Chennai, my first destination. My girlfriend and I spotted these guys who were weaving flower garlands just off the street. Everyone uses flowers in India... Women put them in their hair, garlands get draped over doorways and over cars, trains, etc. It's great really, fresh jasmine in the air wherever you go. Well ok, not everywhere... some places stink like you wouldn't believe. Anyway these guys were pleased to have their picture taken.
This photoblog is an outlet for me to publish my work and hopefully receive constructive feedback (good or bad). I'm not a diary writing type of person, but I'd like to share the images that I stumble across every now and then. Before September 2005 you can assume all the pics have been taken with a Fuji S7000. My current gear consists of a Canon 20D and various other bits and pieces.
So again, I really appreciate constructive comments, if you love or hate a pic then say why!
