Fishing Idleness

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Fishing Idleness

Sunday Afternoon - Its nothing less than a gala celebration every sunday for these fishermen living in and around the Old Worli fort. The Fort now being used for brewing local "desi" wine... and mostly consumed by the immediate locals around. When I shot this picture, most of the drunk were in a belief that I am from some government news agency on something of those sorts. They hid their faces under their palms, I managed to get their postures gleaming under the quick receding golden sun.

Ladakh Exposed in HDRI

Ladakh Exposed

Nothing can beat the raw beauty of Ladakh's landscape. This shot was taken on my canon 1000D while in Ladakh. It reminds of how fragile the nature's beauty is, and prone to the extremes of the weather conditions. Eve then the local ladakhis fight out the battle between life and climate. The place remains one of the must visit place for a global traveler. A heaven on Earth, Ladakh.

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Story of Kings and Queens - Puppets speak them all

Raja Rani ki kahani, khud unke jabani

The "kathputli" as they are called, or the puppets as we know them better is a traditional art of Rajasthan, India. Vibrant in colours, bizzare in forms and designs, they depict the true stories, legends or folklore through the medium of the puppet-show. The expert puppeteers with their magical moves of fingers and combined synchronization of left and right hands, make the stories come live. The puppets seem to get lively, with souls infused into their wood and paddy. The garments erstwhile of low cost cotton, start reflecting the royale shine, the prints become shimmer, the painted jewelry gets the gold soul, and the facial expressions come to life. Kings will have a curvy mustache and a long beard to be proud of and the queens will be shy strong lady on honour under the saree veil. They will talk of all that has happened in-past. They will leave you astounded if not spellbound. With these puppets being the very true reflection of just another facet of our Incredible India, the art and the craftsmen play an important role to keep India's Incredibility ticking. They will continue to amuse the world on and ever.

Ladakh - Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery

The magnificent view of the monastery made every spectator speechless. Lying in the heart of Ladakh valley, Thiksey monastery is centre of Buddhist worship and meditation. Its also a seat of learning for the buddhist monks. Faith flourishes in the Ladakh valley as does the beauty of the unending magnificent landscapes. Its a real treat to eyes to be be in the valley. What heaven would probably be can be felt in the valley of ladakh. Long stretching high rising mountains, with hues of blue, whites and greens. And lies beneath the encapsulated flat lands, a vastness unbound, a playground of freedom, a abode of God. The natural pallete is only broken by the sweet warm colour of maroon clad monks, and the red brick monasteries. No place stands a better chance to be called heaven.

God said - Let there be Light

Golden Sun Rays

This couldn't have been captured better than on this format. For me its was like painting a canvas in oil. One of the perfect evenings partly filled up with cloud but  only to be pierced through the stark bright golden rays of the setting sun. 

Indian

An Indian Lady with a child

I was waiting for my safari ride to start at Muddumalai Tiger Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu. While there was still some time for the vehicle to arrive, I took a stroll around the local area and came across this small house.  The lady was sitting in front of the door with the child. The idea of dark Indian colours of the skin against the bright stark blue background hit me. And I got this shot in one go.

Basket

Colours, Colours, Colours

This is all I could see while I framed this little plastic basket tied to a thin tree trunk. The place is used by some people as their bathing place in a village in outskirts of Bangalore. The day was bright and sunny and th scorching sun made it even worse. The background blue was a tar-pol used to make an enclosure for some work purpose. 

Beautiful Nature

Encounter with Nature

Most feeble and least looked upon elements of nature sometimes stands up in face and prompts you to displays a similar old grin, one that you had in early childhood while roaming around in outside of playground or along the borders of a farm. This little shrub is very familiar across countryside. I feel the wind gushing through the thin fibers of the plant, shrugging it and shaking it hard as it stands back only to prove its strength. So feeble, so meek, yet so strong and so expressive.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Gopali - The Rajasthani girl

Gopali in her own world. 

She is a Rajasthani girl belonging to one of the Banjara tribes. Traveling from one city to another and then another is what this tribe does. Depicting true colours of the Incredible India, the tribe wears bright hues of Reds, Blues, Yellows and Greens. Gopali is just one among them. I shot this picture of hers at a local Durga Puja festival mela (fair) while she was sitting idle after selling some of her merchandise ( the tribe sells handicrafts like hand made jewelry etc for livelihood). She was perhaps waiting for turnover of more customers. Her beautiful eyes were filled with some dreams, is all that I could see. She had hope, and despair both. Stricken by the poverty and yet burdened with the responsibility to earn for her family at an age less than 10 years. These situations sometimes make me think twice and over again. Are we really a developing country? Are we really an 'Incredible India'.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Usha - The Ray of Light

Usha - The Ray of Light, 

Kindling hopes and bringing smiles to in-numerous, to them who live in darkness, in treachery, in misery and in utter state of despair. Spending mornings and evenings with the poor and bereaved. When world celebrates with lights, crackers and sweets, she is out in some far off slum or to the house of poor extending help and spreading this contagious smile.  A step taken can bring about a whirlpool of change. She dedicates her time and energy to 'Katha' http://www.katha.org A story of change, a ray of light, Usha.

This image was shot in New Delhi.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

The Indus-Zanskar confluence

Confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers, Ladakh

The view from mountain top road is just beautifully eye luring. Memory of this place will last for ever for every  human who visits the place even once in a lifetime.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

TRULY INDIA

The Angry Bhaava (pose)
Incredible India

The Dramatically poised Bhaava

TRULY INDIA - Where else do u find such DRAMATIC EXPRESSIONS...!!!
The Dancer on move during the Ganesh Idol procession for submersion. The special expressions portraying anger in one of the BHAAVAS of Goddess Kaali ( as she was slaying the demon Daarikan in anger )is seen only in these masked dancers. The dance is a part of Theyyam practiced in parts of Kerala. This is one of the choicest themes of the dancers and the drum artists. It happens only in our Incredible INDIA.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Being Together

Happy Being Together

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Sea-side Radio Centre

Chunnambar Beach, Radio Centre

This was an old dilapidated yet I guess working radio centre. Shot at the Chunnambar beach or the famous Paradise beach of Pondicherry. The beach ( 8 km further south) can be reached by a ferry that charges around 25 rupees to 50 rupees. The beach is quite serene and small. Only limited crowd is seen there. Some beach sport can also be done there like volley etc. The sea is a bit rough, so it is advised not to go far in water. 

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Howrah Bridge

Howrah Bridge

This shot was taken from the Howrah Station Ghat, The bridge posed a beautiful frame. The mighty cantilever bridge, one among the 8 cantilever bridges of the world connects the twin cities of Howrah and historical Kolkata over Hoogly.  A marvel of great architecture and symbol of the so called "Aamar Shonar Bangla", Bengali culture, the bridge is a pride of India. Shot at  Av3.5, and Tv 0.3sec and ISO -1600 as it was too dark otherwise.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Howrah Bridge

Howrah Bridge

It looks as beautiful as it was even made, even till date holding its steel and concrete together. Hanging over river Hoogly, one of kind ( the cantilever bridge) among world's 8 bridges of its type. This was built by Britishers in year 1937-1943 to move their Military, vehicles and cattles. Out of the total 26,500 tons of steel used, Tata Iron and Steel Company supplied 23,500 tons of steel and fabrication was done by Braithwaite, Burn and Jessop Co. at four different shops in Calcutta. Even today it carries over 80,000 people walking over it every day.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Hold On

 Hold On

Shot taken inside a bus in Kolkata. The blue back of another bus standing in front provided a solid background to these bright yellow hangers waiting for its first traveler to board on. 

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond. Shot at tele end of my 300mm lens.

Still Life

Statue

I shot this beautiful piece of art at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata. This was one among the many marble statues that adorn the facades and throughway's of the magnificent British era architecture. 

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

Taala

Locked, not yet..!

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.

When Hunger Strikes Again

Waiting for his turn 

Shot this kid, who was waiting for his turn to get his plate refilled at the small inaugural function at my brother's farm. The kid was a part of small naught gang who had vagabondingly discovered our site and we were happy to serve them tummy-full. They ate and enjoyed and rejoiced the moment while I had fun clicking them in various moods of their ecstasy.

All photographs are copyright and sole ownership of Gaurang Gaurav aka Just Vagabond.