Zaanse Schans is a beautiful neighborhood to the north of Holland.
FIN
Tag Archive for 'life'
“YES – pulling – like that pulling – come! come!” cries the fisherman. It is an invitation to the tourist(s) to hop aboard the Chinese Fishing Net (that) he toils on. And experience the process. Seldom is he turned down.
And once on the platform:
“This is Chinese technology fishing net – the framework weighs eight hundred kilos – pulling then net comes up – release it then goes back down in the water – it is hard work: and at this time of the year, very little fish…”
Continue reading ‘Aboard the Chinese Fishing Net at Fort Cochin’
‘Digital Monochrome’ has been around for a good three or four years now. Maybe I should switch to it.
I enjoy the experience of using film – the 35 minute train journey downtown to Rajubhai’s shop where I purchase the film and then a rickshaw ride to Bandra to get the film processed after I have exposed them. And then the scanning – at home on my EPSON V600. I’m not so sure about 35-millimeter film anymore. Firstly, it isn’t easily available. Fuji Neopan is the only film easy to find but something seems to be wrong with it. Maybe they don’t store it right. And secondly, scanning is a pain. The dust, spots and scratches are difficult to negotiate. I still enjoy medium format 6×6 photography (120-millimeter film on my Yashica Mat). And medium format negatives are a lot easier to scan. I shot this photo at a Kathakali performance at Fort Cochin in the last week of March. I didn’t particularly enjoy scanning it. So I’ll put my Canon AE-1P away for the moment. Perhaps.
FIN
Britona sits along the Mandovi River, close to Panjim in the once Portuguese state of Goa in India. Britona is a quaint Goan village. In the mornings, the river is still and the air is clear. It is quiet and peaceful. Kingfishers keep a close eye on the river from treetops and mangroves. R. Mandovi bends and branches out into smaller tributaries. As a result you’ll see layers of mangroves along the edges of the bending tributaries. And more birds. Eagles, Herons and Egrets. Flocks of Asian Openbills reside deeper in the mangroves.
I shot this photo at Britona. Limited edition archival prints are available. If you’d like one, please leave a comment. I’ll then get back to you.
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On a winter afternoon, Rahul Alvares, Anne Ketteringham and I did a boat trip in sunny Goa through the backwaters of the River Mandovi. Amidst the narrow canals and mangroves that are rich in bird life, the motor gave way.
Continue reading ‘Of Snakes and Sausages’
In Bombay, the cinema, the mall etc. prohibit photography within the premises. Government buildings &the railway station, the post office etc. Inside buses &trains too.
Some student volunteers take time off to shake a leg on stage in between events at St. Xavier’s auditorium during Malhar on the 30th of August, 2009.
&the rationale: political &commercial insecurities.
&at concerts too. Cameras are not allowed into gigs at MMRDA Grounds unlike Wembley &Madison Square Garden.
&the auditorium too. NCPA etc.
&the rationale: political &commercial insecurities.
Continue reading ‘Malhar in 2009′
In this day and age, I can recommend only the one professional film lab that processes black and white film in Bombay – Studio Mull Herr. It wasn’t the case five years ago. I had options. 4 or 5 of them. I’d use Mazda most oft.
A bunch of juveniles engage in outdoor sports whilst high tide during the monsoons at Juhu Beach in Bombay. 2009 brought the tallest tides in over one hundred years.
Contact prints are expensive &indecisive. I prefer low resolution scans instead. I can then check focus, composition etc. &get the better frames scanned at a high resolution thereafter.
Paritosh and his brother are poor. But skilled. Paritosh and his brother have one, a God-given gift. Paritosh and his brother are darkroom specialists. Black and White film. Processing and prints. Good job. Comparable to the best photo labs in the city.
Pre digital photography times, the one-room-kitchen apartment at Prabhadevi served as shop. Or should I say, darkroom and waiting area. Prabhadevi isn’t the cheapest neighborhood in Bombay. But Paritosh and his brother could afford the rent. Just about. Give thanks to the Rent-Control Act.
Everybody loves Paritosh. And his brother.
Continue reading ‘But this one skill.’
These were to be the tallest waves in over one hundred years.
“..stay indoors if you can. Stay back at the office, should things get out of control. Avoid outings during the 23rd, 24th and 25th, of July, 2009.”
“WOW! High tides! Waves! Let’s go!”
Crowds of people assembled, in anticipation, along Marine Drive. Numbers grew. Bombayites, old &young, fat &thin, healthy &unhealthy and uncle &aunty. Some 5,000 of them.
Close to 13:00 hours, the tides got taller and stronger. Strong winds blowing.
Continue reading ‘Monsoons and high tides. Bombay 2009.’
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