in Camera

Big Temple in twilight

2011-12-15T21:57:00.003+05:30

Owl Encounters

2011-08-21T02:30:00.005+05:30

One day we had a surprise visitor to our house. This guy, a Scops Owl, say bird watchers, landed up on our door step and spent the day perched on that gate. He kept an eye on me as I took the pictures and then seemed to doze off.

This one is a Great Horned Owl, photographed at Nanmangalam, the scrub jungle in the southern part of Chennai.

A shikra

2011-04-01T00:18:00.001+05:30

At Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai

2011-03-22T01:10:00.004+05:30

A purple heron at the Pallikaranai Marsh

Pheasant Tailed Jacanas

Jacanas and egrets share space at Pallikaranai

A Darter Hunts

2010-12-07T22:37:00.000+05:30

Pictures taken earlier this year at Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.

Roller on Nandi

2010-11-22T22:26:00.001+05:30

A blue jay/Indian Roller sits on a Nandi. Picture taken at the Big Temple - Brihadiswara Temple -- in Thanjavur.

Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai

2010-04-16T09:37:00.004+05:30

Pheasant tailed Jacana and egret at the Pallikaranai marsh. Picture taken earlier this year. Lumix FZ35.

Cormorant takes off

2010-03-27T07:14:00.001+05:30

A vedanthangal scene

Pallikaranai - Coots and a Grebe

2010-03-15T19:03:00.002+05:30

A flock of coots seem to be eyeing a grebe. Picture taken a few weeks back at Pallikaranai Marsh to the south of Chennai. I used a Lumix FZ35 to take this shot.

Shovellers

2010-03-15T01:06:00.001+05:30

A pair shovellers at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.

Rollei 35

2010-03-05T12:08:00.002+05:30

The Rollei 35 -- a gem and a classic from the makers of the more popularly known Rolleiflex TLRs. It was first made in the mid-1960s first in Germany and then in Singapore. This particularly piece was `Made by Rollei' in Singapore. At the time it was designed and to this day according to experts the Rollei 35 is the smallest full-frame, mechanical, 35 mm camera ever made. But the prints made from its negatives can be really blown up to match that of any 35mm professional cameras. A novel feature is the `collapsible' lens which can be retracted into the body of the camera to make in more compact.

I suppose the compact design called for a radical change in the layout as compared with the cameras of its day. The frame forwarding lever is to the left of the camera (from the photographer's point of view), the film rewind lever is to the bottom right, and the two dials in front are for setting the aperture and shutter speeds and the flash bracket is at the bottom of the camera!.

The back of the camera can be drawn out fully to gain access to the film chamber. When you get the negatives you realise that the figures are `upside down' relative to the film makers' markings like frame number and film brands.

But for its smallness, the camera feels really sturdy and you know it is built to last. This piece is still continues to work except for the light meter. Even if this was one of the pieces made in mid-1970s it is now about 35 years old.

Purple Moorhen

2010-03-02T00:20:00.003+05:30

A random post. Been away for quite sometime.
Pics taken with a Lumix FZ35.
A purple moorhen at the Pallikaranai marsh in Chennai. Managed to catch something interesting. This time I saw a lot more purple moorhens than I have on the few occasions I have been there earlier. Here is one in the evening light.

I saw a group of purple moorhens when suddenly two of them faced off. I realised something was going to happen, released the shutter and in a fraction of a second...

it was over.

Voigtlander Perkeo

2008-06-02T01:45:00.003+05:30

A vintage folding camera - a Voigtlander Perkeo from the 1950s. An example from a type commonly described as a `folder/folding' camera. With a simple push of the buttons on the inside of the door the lens recedes into the body of the camera making for a compact, pocket-sized pack. These are bare-basic photo takers. None of the auto or program settings that you find on modern cameras - you take one of these out, you do everything - set the aperture, shutter speed -- no metering, gauge/guess the lighting -- wind frame, focus, cock the shutter, compose and... yes, click to take pic. You really need to concentrate.
... And they are great conversation starters. Take one of these out of your pocket at any place... surely a bunch of people will want to know about these beauties or occasionally someone will recall with nostalgia the fun they themselves have had using these gems.
This one takes a 6cm/6cm pic on a 120 mm film.
Nothing like one of these fully manual cameras to help you unwind.

VEDANTHANGAL OFF SEASON

2008-05-16T02:11:00.004+05:30

A few days back I landed up at the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary - not really the season to visit the place. But without the usual weekend crowds it is quite except for the sound of birds calling, the rustle of wings fluttering...

Here a flock of painted stork chicks seem to be taking their flying lessons...

A couple relax...A spotted owl - I think we disturbed this guys sleep

Bylakuppe and Dubare

2008-03-06T01:38:00.002+05:30

Some more pictures from the trip to Nagarahole, Coorg and Talacauvery...
Here is the meditation hall at the Namdroling Monastery at Bylakuppe, a settlement of several thousand Tibetans.
The next pic gives some details about the hall...

A picture worth a thousand words...
A distracted monk in a prayer hall at the monastery...
...distracted

These pics were taken on an earlier trip. At the Dubare Elephant camp, where tourists get a hands-on experience of bathing and feeding the elephants. Gopi, the tusker. No one was allowed near this guy.

Crows

2008-03-06T00:40:00.003+05:30

The common crow -- that is the name of this variety of butterfly. I think I took this pick at the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary earlier this year.

WERRA

2008-02-24T01:12:00.003+05:30

The Werra -- a 35mm viewfinder from the 1950s/60s. I believe this is one camera that must be among the top of a list that includes novelty in design for any period and at the very top for a deceptively simple look.

Just look at it... except for the shutter release on the top plate - that too, placed flush and very unobtrusive -- there is nothing of the usual lever for film winding, a window for the frame counter or a any of the usual controls that we would expect to see.

The back too -- nothing except for the viewfinder window...
Carl Zeiss, Jena, the legendary lens makers for cameras of that era decided to make a camera of their own and this is what they achieved.

You reverse the front cover and thread it on to the front of the lens to get a hood... and all is revealed. The shutter and aperture settings and the control for the advancing the frames. At the base of the lens, the ring with the ridges turns about a third of a circle to advance the film... no lever.
The rest of the stuff is tucked away neatly a the bottom -- the frame counter and the film rewind.

That is one Werra different camera.

Irpu Falls Coorg

2008-01-10T10:20:00.000+05:30

The Rameshwara Temple, a shrine with a sivalinga believed to have been installed by Rama. This temple is at the base of the hill that has the Irpu Falls, a cascade also known as the Lakshman Tirtha, a major tourist attraction at Coorg, Karnataka.

A section of the track leading to Irpu Falls.
The Irpu Falls as it cascades over 150 ft down the hillock.

The falls further downstream of the main cascade.

At Nagarahole

2008-01-10T10:03:00.001+05:30

A couple of weeks back I visited the Wynad and Nagarahole forests - both are contiguous forests and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Wynad is in Kerala and Nagarahole in Karnataka.
December is actually not a very good time for wildlife sighting. Immediately after the monsoons the greenery is thick, water is available in plenty for the animals and they stick to the deep jungle. People do not often get to see the large animals. But we were lucky - here are some pics...
They are a random mix from Wynad and Nagarahole taken at dawn and late evening.

The forest trail in Wynad. It is about 7.30 in the morning and mist is yet to lift...

An Indian Gaur in the mist - at Nagarahole
A view from a boat at Kabini. Young darters, also called Snake Birds sit on the branches
More darters
A rare sight... at Nagarahole, it must have been about 6.30 pm, I have to thank the ultra zoom and the image stabilisation features on the FZ18 I used to take these pics. It was at full extension of the zoom at 23X (more than 750mm equivalent on film camera) and shutter speed was less than 1/50. The real life sight was actually not as clear as this... managed to catch this guy napping
the leopard in the glow of the setting sun...

fully awake

and glares at the intruding tourists

Lost in admiration

2008-01-06T02:24:00.000+05:30

A red vented bulbul - is it just admiring itself or wondering how to free the one trapped in the glass cage... Picture taken at Coorg last week. This guy would turn up in the mornings and peck away at its reflection in the car window or just sit and stare for minutes together before getting tired and fluttering away.

Talacauvery

2008-01-06T01:40:00.000+05:30

At Talacauvery, the source of the River Cauvery in Karnataka.
Devotees seek the Cauvery's blessings

Mamallapuram

2007-12-23T09:23:00.000+05:30

Pelican again

2007-12-18T00:48:00.000+05:30

Flamingoes at Pulicat

2007-12-15T23:53:00.000+05:30

After days of going through the FZ18's manual, I thought it was time to try it out in the field -- last Sunday my friends and I landed up at the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, near Sullurpeta.
Before getting into the sanctuary we had decided to check out the Shar Road (the road leading to Shriharikota) because the best time to sight flamingoes here is early in the morning before the traffic starts.
That was not to be -- we planned to leave Chennai by about 5.30 in the morning to be on Shar Road, about a 100 km from here by about 7.00. We were about an hour behind schedule even before we started. By the time we reached Sullurpeta the flamingoes had retreated and were a distant white patch on the horizon. We noticed a group of fishermen with their fishing boats by the roadside. Pretty lucky for us and quite unusual -- I have never seen boats by the roadside in this place. It just took us a moment to decide to go out on the boat. We asked the fisherman, and for four hundred rupees, he agreed to take us out to the birds or at least as near as they will allow us to come.
The sun was pretty high in the sky and there was quite a glare, the water vapour lifting off the surface of the backwaters added to the haze. But the Lumix FZ18 with its 504 mm reach -- with extended zoom I think it goes up to 700mm (not sure) -- was great. The images needed a bit of tweaking on photoshop to bring out the contrast and colour. Here are the results.

These birds just would not let us anywhere within a couple of hundred metres. They would just stride away from us as the boat neared them and moments later they would take off in a flurry of wings. There must of been a few thousands of these flamingoes and it was a sight none of us will ever forget.
All these pics were shot at the full extension of the FZ18's reach.

This was the closest we came, I thing these three guys below were about 100 metres

A pelican at the Nelapattu bird sanctuary.

GONE DIGITAL

2007-12-07T23:01:00.000+05:30

in Camera is expanding to digital photography. After years of thinking about taking up digital photography, I finally decided to take the plunge - bought myself a Lumix FZ18. This little gem is an ideal fit for amateurs - affordable and has the features of a higher end camera. With a lens by the legendary Leica brand, it offers an optical equivalent of a 28-504 mm zoom that lets you stretch from table top to wildlife photography.

Of course there is the convenience of the digital tech -- the above photograph of a few samples from my vintage camera collection was taken just a few minutes back and I am now posting them here. No more waiting for the film to be processed and scanned, not to speak of the expense involved.

On the cameras in the pic above -

from left: Linhoff Technika, Graflex and Mamiya Universal. These names too were legends in their own time. These types of cameras were known as Press Cameras because they were popular with the journalists. This was before the 35mm versions came into being and despite their size these press cameras were more portable than the earlier versions.

But I think I will continue to use my film cameras also, after these last few days of experimenting with the FZ18, I do not think I can give up the fun of film photography... at least occasionally.

That Mamiya Universal brings back a fun memory.

As you can see, these cameras are massive and produce negatives 6cmX9cm on 120mm film. I had taken the MU to Mahabalipuram a few years back. At the shore temple, where only still cameras are allowed and you need to take advance permission before using movie cameras, the security guard could not believe that the Mamiya was only a still camera. It took some minutes of intense explaining, cajoling and downright begging before he would let me use it. That too, he followed me around to ensure that I was taking only `stills.'

Some of the pics I have posted in the Mahabalipuram collection were taken with the Mamiya. I think I have mentioned it there.

Pacha Gundu

2007-10-06T02:24:00.000+05:30

Last week I was at the Government Estate, on Anna Salai, where I saw these kids playing a game of marbles. They called it Pacha Gundu. The play area is that square, about three feet by three feet, drawn on the ground with 20-25 shallow pits dug randomly within it. One player stands about 10 feet from the square and tosses in three marbles so each drops into a pit. An opponent then asks the player to hit one of the marbles with a fourth -- the trick is not only to hit the chosen marble, but to hit it without displacing it from the pit.
The Government Estate is a huge wooded area with old and interesting buildings such as the admiralty house, banquet hall... During weekends the whole place comes alive as scores of kids gather here for fun and games.
Soon the State Government plans to build a modern assembly hall here. The fun and games and pacha gundu will be displaced and the kids will lose.

Serpent Eagle at Kaziranga

2007-09-29T00:39:00.000+05:30

A serpent eagle at Kaziranga, Assam.
I think I used a tamron 200-400 mm lens at full extension to take this pic. (I was at Kaziranga earlier this year - check out the pics in the wildlife category). Then I cropped the picture to get the bird full frame. Never really expected to get even this result - bird almost merged with the brown background, low light. But it was the first day of the trip into the sanctuary and I could not resist exposing a few frames. Glad I did it.

Panan-g-kadai

2007-09-18T00:23:00.000+05:30

I took this picture a few months back on the outskirts of Tiruchi. I was travelling in an autorickshaw when I saw this beautiful pair on a wire. I did not have my long lens with me but decided to use the 210mm anyway. The guy with the grasshopper in his beak was jittery and took off when I tried to get closer.

This post is not just about the pic but the short conversation with the autorickshaw driver that followed.

The auto-driver told me they are known as `panan-g-kadai.'
(Panai: as in `panai maram' (palm tree) and `Kadai' as in quail.)
Then...
Do you like birds, he asked.
Yes, I like to take pictures of birds, I said.
I too like birds. They are very tasty, he said.

Car and dance

2007-09-09T23:54:00.000+05:30

A couple of pictures from an event - a car company setting up a facility near Chennai. I had taken the camera with me hoping to take photos of some new models but the subject turned out to be more interesting than I had expected.

STAMP OF CHENNAI - 11: Madras Day 2007

2007-08-26T22:12:00.000+05:30

A special cover released by the Postal Department on August 22 to commemorate the 368th Madras Day. It is on August 22, 1739 that the East India Company received a piece of land from the Vijayanagar Kingdom to set up a trading post. Fort St George came up at the place and was the root from which Madras city grew.
Check out more details in Stamp of Chennai - 9, the Madras Day 2006 special cover.
The special cover this year carries a map of the Fort St George and a cancellation with a drawing of the flag mast -- the tallest in India -- in the fort.
A nice cover, though a very cluttered design. Last year's was definitely more simple and elegant.
The back of the cover carries ten black and white photographs of various locations in the Madras of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

I just thought I would add a picture of the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the City's administration. The Corporation of Madras, the oldest in India, came into being through a charter of September 29, 1688. It was decided that Madras Corporation would the area up to a distance of 10 miles (16.09 km) from Fort St George. Madras city, Chennai now, has grown several miles past that limit but the boundary remains the same.
In another two years the Ripon Building will celebrate its centenary.
(Check the Chennai Corporation's official website for an interesting history of the City.)

Aadi Maasam

2007-08-09T02:01:00.000+05:30

July-August -- the tamil month of `Aadi' -- is an auspicious period for all the `amman' temples in Tamil Nadu. It is during this time you can run into these colourful processions vending their way down the Chennai streets. These pics were not taken this time but I think about two years back.

This little guy was all smiles before the procession started... one look at the pierced cheeks, he started screaming his head off. He did not want any part of it... I think they left him alone.

More Butterflies

2007-07-22T00:42:00.000+05:30

Butterflies in the stomach

2007-07-20T00:05:00.000+05:30

Caught...

... on camera

Srivilliputtur

2007-06-26T01:43:00.000+05:30

A few pics from Srivilliputtur Vadabadrasayee temple and Andal temple.
I happened to visit the place a couple of weeks back.
An interesting detail about the temple `gopuram.' This is the gopuram that is featured on the official State Government emblem/seal.
Wonder why this particular temple tower was chosen - I have not been able to get the details yet.

A corridor at the temple. Vishnu is in the form of Vadabadrasayee, a representation of which can be seen in the painting at the left hand top corner of the frame.

The following two pics were taken at the Andal temple. The inside was poorly lit and I managed to get a few pics.

SEEDS AND FLOWERS - from USA, soon in India

2007-06-12T22:35:00.000+05:30

Krea, a nonprofit, theatre group from the Bay Area, USA, plans to tour India in July.
They will stage an English play, Seeds and Flowers, in Chennai (July 7), Bangalore (July 12) and Mumbai (July14).
Check out their blog for more details - http://blog.seedsandflowers.net/. The proceeds of the play go to support other nonprofit organisations.

BEST OF LUCK KREA

Kapaleeswarar Chariot

2007-06-07T00:15:00.000+05:30

Two images - a close of the Kapaleeswarar Temple chariot. I liked the way the evening light brought out the colours. The second a black and white version converted digitally.

Two pics of the Kapaleeswarar Temple Chariot - in colour and Black & White
- digital conversion of the colour pic. It was just a few days after the temple festival. The chariot was at rest, awaiting the next year's festival.
I liked the colours brightened by the evening light and the two kids playing among the idols provided a bit of relief...

Stamp of Chennai - 10

2007-06-06T00:18:00.000+05:30

A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar - a member of a family with a history that can be traced back more than a century and a family whose links contributed to one of the most famous and well known names in the City - Parry's Corner.
India Post released a stamp of A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar in October 2005 to commemorate his centenary.
From the information sheet published on the occassion: Son of Dewan Bahadur A.M. Murugappa Chettiar (the founder of the Murugappa Group, which is now headed by the fourth generation), A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar was born on January 22, 1902 at Pallathur in Ramnad District, Tamil Nadu. His vision resulted in teh establishement of the well known Tube Investments India Ltd in collaboration with the famous British Group, Tube Investments Ltd, Birmingham. Along with other companies in the group such as TI Metal Sections, Wright Saddles of India, TI Diamond Chain Ltd and TI Miller Ltd the group produced world famous brands of cycles -- Hercules, Phillips and BSA.
He was also responsible for developing Carborundum Universal in collaboration with the Carborundum Company, UK.
He set up a charitable trust, A.M.M. Charities, now A.M.M. Foundation which established A.M.M. Hospital, Murugappa Chettiar Memorial Polytechnic, Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secondary School, Vellayan Chettiar Higher Secondary School, and Sir Ivan Stedford Hospital...

Here is an extract of the history of Dare House, the headquarters of the Murugappa Group, from the Group's Website.
"History of Dare House
The foundation of Dare House was laid in 1938 but the need for the building was felt as early as 1915. The existing building was inadequate spacewise for Parrys and architecturally better looking buildings were coming up in the vicinity. This contrast it was felt was not good for business. However the London office did not share similar views. Due to pressing demand for space the tenants in the lawyers block were turned out in 1919 but this did not help much and the need for a a new building become imperative. William Wright, the then chairman wrote to the London office that Parry's dingy approach and entrance would not fail to give the impression that the firm was out of date. Finally in 1938 the requisite money was mobilized for the new building and the foundation stone of Dare House was laid. With Parrys expanding year after year, Parry House was built behind Dare House and Parry Annexe came up in Moore Street.
Dare House is today one of the finest landmarks in Parrys rooted in a rich heritage and housing one of the futuristic conglomerates in the country - Murugappa Group."

Healing sands?

2007-06-03T23:12:00.000+05:30

Do you believe Chennai's beach sands have healing properties. Many do... and not just the morning walkers. People in the local areas with children suffering from nervous or muscle disorders believe the sands can heal. They bury the kids hip-deep in the sand and pour water around them to pack the sand tight. A session seems to last for about 15-20 minutes. This is supposed to help strengthen the bones and muscles.
I don't know if it cures the kids but they certainly seem to enjoy it.

Triplicane Parthasarathy Temple - B&W

2007-05-23T01:22:00.000+05:30

After quite a long time tried my hand at black and white photography -- not the digital version but good `old' black and white film photography (stress on old because what got me going was a roll of neopan that had been in the refrigerator for several years and was well past its best-by date) followed up with processing at home with D76 chemicals.
Digital came in handy for scanning and getting the image on to CD.
The topic is ofcourse an old favourite -- the festival at the Parthasarathy Temple Triplicane. Last month when the festival was on I decided to use the film just on a whim and rediscovered the joy of b&w processing.

Blessing

2007-05-09T01:38:00.000+05:30

Here are a series of pics that I took at the Kapaleeswarar Temple festival. Initially, I did not want to post them on the blog as they were of no particular interest. In this ritual parents let their babies be placed near the deity to seek the goddess' blessing.
As I was going through the images I noticed an interesting aspect I had captured unintentionally... There was this kid sitting at the base of the deity assessing blessings in a more tangible form. His interest in the `hundi' (donation box) I found quite amusing...

Vadapalani - Aeroplane Kavadi

2007-05-08T00:32:00.000+05:30

Talking of aeroplanes in the previous posts, I happened to see this sight a few days back - I realised it was what is nowadays referred to as the `aeroplane kavadi.' A rickety structure of casuarina poles tied together to form a frame from which people were suspended by hooks. These were devotees fulfilling a vow to the Vadapalani Murugan -- the temple gopuram can be seen in the background. Luckily for me, I happened to have the camera with me...

It was a hot afternoon with the air around shimmering in the heat.

... and these two guys were dragging the cart on which the frame was built...

... the whole thing was hooked to their backs... the road was so hot they had to stand on a piece of sacking to avoid blisters...
...that they had some help in pulling the cart was no consolation... the whole structure was swaying and there were two-three chaps on the cart to stop the frame from keeling over...
...I do not know about them but I was certainly relieved when the group reached the temple and people helped get the devotees off the hook.

Life

2007-05-06T00:12:00.000+05:30

Did You Know?
Air India was the world's first all-jet carrier. So says this ad marking its 30th year of operations. Just picked it off an inside page of a Life magazine from the late 1960s or early 70s.

At the Beach

2007-05-03T00:05:00.000+05:30

The Chennai beach never ceases to offer variety - each time you land up there it has something new on offer. About ten days back it was a special occassion - the Indian Airforce was putting on a special show.
Just minutes before the show was to start, the beach was getting crowded and I saw this group serenely going through their prayer. I kneeled down to one side and waited to catch the eye of the guy leading the prayer - got his go ahead - and started clicking away. What caught my eye was the unhurried way they went about their ritual without being bothered by the crowd... like I had mentioned in the Kapaleeswarar Temple posting earlier... this too was an island of concentration in the midst of the hurry and bustle of the crowd.

Minutes later they packed up and left and the crowd was treated to a cloudburst, I think that is the term to this particular move, by the Suryakirans - the aerobats of the IAF
...and this...

Kapaleeswarar Temple Festival

2007-04-23T01:32:00.000+05:30

Just for effect - Tried sepia toning on photoshop a pic I have posted earlier on the topic.

Chennai Beach fishing

2007-04-21T00:31:00.000+05:30

Fresh fish being fried on the Marina -- Chennai Beach.

But for that to happen the fishermen need to leave at dawn.

Here is a style of fishing at sea that one can watch from the shore. I think this net is called the `peruvalai' (big net). Beach goers can usually see these nets piled up in a big mound on the sand. It is loaded on to the catamaran first, in a carefully arranged layer...
then with one end trailing the fishermen set out to sea...
setting out... the catamaran goes following a big U route, and the fishermen trail the net out in a big `U' and come back to the shore with the other end... I would guess the net would be a few hundred metres long...
Once on the shore two teams of fishermen drag the net in, a process that takes more than an hour.
And well on time to keep the snacks ready by the time we hit the beach later in the day.

Kaziranga again

2007-04-14T01:58:00.000+05:30

A camera shy rhino darts for the cover of the tall grass.

Here are a few more shy types -

An elephant runs across a forest track for cover. Check out the comments section in the previous Kaziranga elephant pic for an explanation,

An irritated elephant - does not like being photographed.

Another takes cover in the grass.

A rhino mother and calf. Kaziranga, I guess, is a rare success story in conservation. My friends and I saw quite a few mother and kid pairs.

More Kapaleeswarar festival images

2007-04-12T00:12:00.000+05:30

The chariot drivers bringing up the rear.

As the devotees pull the chariot from the front there is another bunch - quite jolly and boisterous -- bringing up the rear. If you are wondering what the poles are for...

It is to balance themselves on the beam they use to lever the wheels around corners and out of potholes... (And a foot note: Objects in a 20 mm lens are closer than they seem to be. When that beam thudded down as I tried a tighter shot, the shock of the weight hitting the ground was too close for comfort. My toes cringe each time I recall that sensation.)

The wheels...

Like I had mentioned in the previous set of pics, an island of concentration in the midst of the milling crowd.

Kapaleeswarar Temple Festival

2007-04-11T23:49:00.000+05:30

The Kapaleeswarar temple car at the `Arubathimoovar Thiruvizha.' I managed to visit the festival only on the day of the temple car procession. (Check out some of the previous years' pics under the same labels.) The first is a wide angle shot of the temple car with the crowd.

A devotee offers a prayer. You can see many doing this, each an island of concentration in the hurry and crush of the crowd.
Hands go up in prayer, others applaud, the crowd screams `Kapali, Kapali' as the car starts moving.
A close up view of the temple car a representation of a horse drawn chariot driven by `Brahma' the creator. I wanted to crop out the name board of the Internet cafe in the background, but let it be - some vague notion of Chennai being a mix of the modern and traditional.
The ornamentation at the rear of the temple car.

Kaziranga

2007-04-05T01:10:00.000+05:30

It was a misty morning at Kaziranga Sanctuary, my friends and I were on elephant back, when we came on this pair. The mist, the trees in the background, the greenery, the mother and calf... it was so peaceful.

This one below, a cow elephant in the swamps at Kaziranga. She had just finished a big meal of the grass and was getting up to leave. The egrets around her were feasting on the insects that were exposed by all the grass she uprooted. The mynah on her back was busy pecking away at the dirt on her back.
She would grab a clump of grass with her trunk, swish it around in the water to wash away the mud and before putting it into mouth. We were in a open-topped jeep on a track about 50 feet away.

Rathas, Raattai and wheels in Lithuania

2007-02-28T00:53:00.000+05:30

A tourist touches the feet of `Ardhanarishwara,' form of shiva at the five `rathas' complex at Mahabalipuram.
I happened to strike up a conversation with a tourist from Lithuania who was also interested in photography.
Here is a bit I thought was interesting.
What is a ratha, he wanted to know.
Chariot, I said.
In Lithuania, `ratha' means wheels, he said.
Wow. We have a word`Rattai,' which means a spinning wheel, I said.
In Lithuanian, ratha stands for all sorts of wheels. Also, the similarity could be because the root of Lithuanian is believed to be sanskrit, he added.
WOW.

Kaziranga, Assam

2007-02-22T00:01:00.000+05:30

What are you staring at me for? He seemed to ask.

At Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary, Assam, my friends and I saw this guy -- wild buffalo -- munching on the greenery. As soon as he saw us he froze, stared at us for nearly a minute, giving us time to take as much pictures as we wanted, before moving away.

But not all the natives of Kaziranga were that considerate.

This pair below -- Red Jungle Fowl -- were strutting sedately along the forest track, a few feet ahead of our vehicle...

when suddenly one guy seemed to blow his top... the action was over in a flash.
It was lucky that I was just getting them into focus when the action happened. Sadly, I did not have time to fine tune the focus. Decided to post the pics anyway.
The two frames below happened in less than a second...

For those interested, the Red Jungle Fowl are the ancestors of the domesticated versions we see today.

Birds in Pallikaranai

2007-02-05T00:24:00.000+05:30

This year there seems to be more than the usual numbers of birds -- especially pelicans and painted storks -- at the Pallikaranai Marsh. Here, flocks of grey pelicans and painted storks, are perched on the towers that carry power lines across the marsh. The grey background is the early morning mist and smoke from the garbage being burnt there.

Gotheborg in Chennai

2007-02-01T00:37:00.000+05:30

The Swedish vessel, Gotheborg, moored off the Marina in Chennai.
A lovely sight awaited beach goers on Wednesday morning. This tall ship, a replica of an 18-century vessel, was anchored a few hundred metres from the shore. The view seemed to show an idea of what Madras Beach must have looked like a few hundred years back.
Took this pic at about 6.30 in the morning.
As I kept clicking away, the words from the song in Puratchi thalaivar's movie, Ayirathil Oruvan, `Adho andha paravai pola vazhavaendum...' came to mind.
Check out this interesting site for details about the ship and the voyage - http://www.soic.se/engelska/inenglish.4.1e228bcf782be0db97fff408.html

For a Great Site and a Thank You

2007-01-06T01:02:00.000+05:30

A Post dedicated to a great site I enjoyed visiting. Thank you, Sticky in Chennai - http://stickyinchennai.blogspirit.com/

A picture of the meditation hall at the Namdrolling Monastery, near Coorg, Karnataka. The meditation hall has 60-foot tall, gold plated statues of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Sakyamuni.

The Buddha...
Padmasambhava...
and Sakyamuni

Birds in Pallikaranai

2007-01-04T00:03:00.000+05:30

City folks... ...and the country cousins.

Actually, these are the same flock of Rosy Pastors taken at Pallikaranai Marsh to the south of Chennai. They were flitting around busily... perching on the tower for a few seconds, flying away to land on the trees only to flit back to the tower moments later. Bird watchers say these are migrants from Europe.

2007

2007-01-01T09:12:00.000+05:30

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Pic: Three drongos at the Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai.

The Other one

2006-12-16T01:18:00.000+05:30

A pic taken at the Other festival - A performance by Navtej Johar and Ajay Panchal (in the air) - Abhyas Dance Ensemble.
I had been wanting to take pictures at a dance performance for a long time - tried one or two and never got the lighting right. This time, thanks to a friend, got a front row seat and this is one of the few pics that I liked. The focus is off but this was the best I managed.

A Butterfly

2006-12-13T00:40:00.000+05:30

(A post just to assure myself blogger beta is working.)
Saw this one recently in Coorg - the butterfly must have been nearly a foot across wingtip to wingtip. Big enough to occupy the frame even when I used a 20mm wideangle lens. I waited until it started fluttering its wings to make sure it was for real!

Finally!

2006-12-13T00:32:00.000+05:30

Thank You all for the suggestions. Finally managed to get back on line with a post. Thank You all once again.

Stamp of Chennai - 9

2006-12-12T23:59:00.000+05:30

A post I planned to do on Madras Day - but finally managing to do now - a belated birthday post.
The special cover above was released by India Post on August 22, 2006 to commemorate the founding of Madras on August 22, 1639, the day when the Nayaks of Vijayanagar Empire granted a piece of land to the East India Company - the land on which the EIC built Fort St George, which even today is the seat of power.
A great special cover - one because it is nicely done - senior philatelists say that the Postal Department decided to release this cover in the last minute and the cover was designed and readied in about two days.
But the other important reason is the great stamp that they decided to put on it - a stamp released in 1986 to mark 200 years of General Post Office in Madras. That made the cover a double treat for stamp lovers.

So I decided to include the first day cover released in 1986 and a special cover, which has another painting of the GPO released on April 26, 1984, to mark the centenary of the GPO building. Before I get on to the topic of my post, here is a related material, a special cancellation of the Fort St George with a painting of the Fort and the beach front in the days of the East India Company - the cover was released on February 5, 1978 - I think on the occassion of the Tamil Nadu Philatelic Exhibition.

Finally, to the topic at hand: Why a stamp of the General Post Office on Madras Day cover? Often the Postal Department does not always stick a related stamp on a special cover - it could be any stamp on any cover.

But here is some info from the information sheet released along with the GPO stamp.

"It (Madras GPO) was opened on June 1, 1786, in a building on the beach in Fort St George Square. It was shifted to a building in Fort St George on October 1, 1837, commonly called the Old Bank near the North Gate (vide notification in Fort St George Gazette dated September 20, 1837."
Above are two pics - it is nearly impossible to replicate the view we see on the stamp. First Line Beach Road is crowded and the road too narrow to get a full, head-on view.

But back to the subject of the GPO - "Madras GPO is one of the three unique offices in the country called as Presidency Offices, the other two being Bombay and Calcutta." The GPO moved to this building in April 26, 1884.

Subsidiary post offices were opened at Vepery and Royapettah after a gazette notification dated March 25, 1834 for "transmission of letter to Madras GPO on payment of 1/2 Anna over and above the regulated postage.

Madras GPO was from the beginning a pioneer Post Office in providing better postal facilities to the public. The postage rates in Madras Presidency were cheaper than at Calcutta up to 1837 when uniform postage was introduced all over India."

On its working: "There was a boat contractor to bring mails from steamer to harbour. No other person except one Postal Official on duty was allowed in the boat. The mails were carried from harbour to GPO in bullock cart with 3 `Coolies' accompanied by a Postal Official.

On opening on June 1, 1786, the staff at Madras GPO consisted of Postmaster General, 1 Deputy Postmaster General, 1 Writer or Native Assistant, 5 Sorters (Clerks), 1 Head `Peon' and 10 `Peons' (postmen) for distributing letters. A Deputy postmaster was appointed from Masulipatnam, Ganjam, Tanjore and Anjango. The Postmaster General had the control of the whole establishment.

The present site of the GPO building was actually a site of warfare and it was called as `Aber Cromble (Crombie) Battery."

2006-12-10T01:35:00.000+05:30

I give up.
Tried all the suggestions on blogger help and have not been able to post images on blogger beta. Guess I will just have to wait it out till the thing is debugged.

MADRAS IN STAMPS - 1

2006-10-06T02:35:00.001+05:30

Madras in Stamps - 1

Stamps and year of issue (L to R) ROW 1: University of Madras - Centenary of Indian Universities, 1957; Thiruvalluvar - Philosopher, saint, poet 2nd-1st century BC, 1960; Subramania Bharati-Poet, freedom fighter, 1960; High Court of Madras - Centenary of High Courts, 1962; Srinivasa Ramanujan - Mathematician, 1962; Dr Annie Besant - Theosophist, 1963.
ROW 2: St Thomas, 1964; Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - philosoper, educationist and diplomat, 1967; 2nd International conference and seminar on tamil studies - 1968; Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao - journalist, 1969; C.N. Anna Durai- politician, 1970; V.S. Srinivasa Sastri - educationist, 1970; Sir C.V. Raman - educationist, 1971; Tanguturi Prakasam - freedom fighter and the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, 1972.
ROW 3: Church on St Thomas Mount, 1973; C. Rajagopalachari - Statesman, 1st Indian Governor General of India, 1973; Kandukuri Veeresalingam - social reformer, 1974; V.V. Giri - 4th President of India, 1974; Theosophical Society Emblem - centenary, 1975; Bicentenary of 16th light infantry (Vijayanta Tank), 1976; K. Kamaraj - politician, 1976; E.V. Ramasami - Social Reformer, 1978.

Madras in Stamps - 2

2006-10-06T02:35:00.000+05:30

A series of five images that show a collection of commemorative stamps on topics that directly relate to Madras and Chennai. Starting from 1957 with the stamp of the Senate House of the University of Madras (Check out Stamp of Chennai - 8), which I think was the first on a Madras subject post-independence, up to the stamp on L.V. Prasad, the founder of Prasad Studios.
They are all here - Educational insitutions, academics, religious leaders, philosophers, politicians, actors and industrialists, and stamps of statues, buildings, monuments and industries - and the list will grow.
Apart from this there are also the special commemorative covers, which I will post at some later date.
If any more stamps need to be added please point out the ones left out.
These images will be the topics I hope to post in the Stamps of Chennai series with pics and additional information.
Madras in Stamps - 2

Stamps and year of issue (L to R). ROW 1: C. Rajagopalachari - taking oath as Governor General, 1978; Rajah Annamalai Chettiar - banker and educationist, 1980; Bicentenary of Madras Sappers, 1980; Map of South East Asia showing Madras and Penang linked by the Indian Ocean Commonwealth Submarine Cable, 1981; Durgabai Deshmukh - Social Reformer, 1981; Madras Medical College, 1985; Bicentenary of Madras General Post Office, 1986.
BLOCK of four stamps shows early congress leaders.
ROW 2: S. Satyamurti - Congress leader, Martyr, 1987; Madras Christian College, 1987; J. Krishnamurti - philosopher, 1987; Rukmini Devi & Dancer - exponent of art and culture, educationist, 1987.
ROW 3: Dr Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar - educationist and philathropisy, 1987; B.N. Rau - architech of Indian constitution (and a genius mathematician), 1988.

Madras in Stamps - 3

2006-10-06T02:34:00.001+05:30

Madras in Stamps - 3

Stamps and year of issue (L to R) ROW 1: Bishnu Ram Medhi - politician, 1989; Dr S. Radhakrishnan, 1989; P. Subbarayan - patriot and politician, Founder President Indian Cricket Control Board, 1989; M.G. Ramachandran - actor, politician, 1990; Dr S.R. Ranganathan and Madras University Library, Father of Library Science, 1992; Bicentenary of 4th Battalion (Wallajahbad Light Infantry), The Madras Regiment, 1994; Bicentenary of the Institute of Mental Health, Madras, 1994.
ROW 2: 200 years of College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras (It is now Anna University), 1994; Field Marshall Cariappa, 1995; Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar, 1995; Muhammad Ismail Sahib - politician, 1996; Chemabai, Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar - musician, 1996; St Andrew's Church, Egmore, Madras, 1997; Rukmini Lakshmipathy - patriot and Social Reformer, 1997; Kotamaraju Rama Rao - Freedom fighter, journalist, 1997.
ROW 3: Dr Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya - patriot and journalist, 1997; Jerome D' Souza and Cathedral - educationist and statesman, 1997; Dr C. Vijayaraghavachariar - patriot, lawyer and social reformer, 1998; Centenary of Connemara Public Library, 1998; 40 years of Defence Research and Development Organisation (tank in stamp is Arjun - Main Battle Tank manufactured at Avadi, Madras), 1999; P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja and Gandhi Kala Mandiram - politician, 1999; Kalki R. Krishnamurthy - patriot and tamil writer, 1999.

Madras in Stamps - 4

2006-10-06T02:34:00.000+05:30

Madras in Stamps - 4

Stamps and year of issue (L to R). ROW 1: Musiri Subramania Iyer - Modern master of music, 1999; P. Kakkan and symbol of agriculture, 1999; Potti Sriramulu - activist, 2000; Dr Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao - actor, politician and reformer, 2000; Diwan Bahadur R. Srinivasan - leader of depressed classes, 2000; C. Sankaran Nair - lawyer, 2001; Sivaji Ganesan - Actor and cultural ambassador, 2001.
ROW 2: Bharathidasan - Tamil Poet, 2001; Bicentenary of Indian Ordnance Factories (tank Ajeya), 2002; T.T. Krishnamachari - economist and social reformer, 2002; Palace of Chandragiri Fort, 2002; Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao - freedom fighter, playback singer and music director, 2003.
ROW 3: 151 anniversary of Madras Museum, 2003; Tricentenary of the 9th battalion of Madras Regiment, 2004; Murasoli Maran - writer and statesman, 2004; Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan (S.S. Vasan) - film maker and media baron, 2004; K. Subramanyam - film maker, 2004; A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar - industrialist, 2005.

Madras in Stamps - 5

2006-10-06T02:33:00.000+05:30

Madras in Stamps - 5

Stamp and year of issue (L to R) ROW 1: Dr. T.S. Soundaram, 2005; M.S. Subbulakshmi, 2005; Kavimani Desiga Vinayagam Pillai, 2005; Integral Coach Factory, 2005; Vi. Kalyanasundaranar, 2005.
ROW 2: State Bank of India, 2005; N.M.R. Subbaraman, 2005; AV. Meiyappan, 2006; Devaneya Pavanar, 2006; Dr U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, 2006.
ROW 3: Tamilavel Umamaheswarar, 2006; Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar, 2006; Gemini Ganesan, 2006; M. Singaravelar, 2006; Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, 2006; University of Madras, 2006; L.V. Prasad, 2006.

2006-10-06T01:15:00.000+05:30

At Srirangam, Tiruchi.

2006-09-26T00:26:00.000+05:30

Sambhars at Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary, Rajasthan.

2006-09-20T02:11:00.000+05:30

A family of langurs at the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary.

Stamp of Chennai - 8

2006-09-09T01:39:00.000+05:30

The University of Madras is into its 150th year. Set up in 1857 -- a year more popularly known for the first war of independence, the sepoy mutiny -- along with the universities in Mumbai and Kolkata this year also marks the start of the western system of education in India.
India Post brought out a commemorative stamp to mark the occasion. It shows a section of the Senate House, the building from which the University started functioning. It is being renovated after it lay disused and dilapidated for over two decades.

2006-09-09T01:36:00.000+05:30

The stamp brought out in 1957 to mark the centenary of the University of Madras also featured the Senate House. I think despite the monotone print this stamp brings out the Senate House's grandeur better than the recent colourful version.

2006-09-09T01:34:00.000+05:30

A view of the Senate House as it is today. I could not get a fuller view of the building as the renovation work is still on and a portion still has scaffolding around it.

2006-09-09T01:31:00.000+05:30

A First Day Cover and special cancellation to mark the 150th year.

2006-09-09T01:30:00.000+05:30

A minaret of the Senate House. A view similar to the one depicted on the First Day Cover.

2006-09-09T01:29:00.000+05:30

A view of a section of the university buildings reflected in the waters of the Cooum. To the left are the arches of the bridge built a few years back as a mirror image of the older Napier Bridge that runs parallel to it.

2006-09-09T01:27:00.000+05:30

The statue of Dewan Bahadur Sir S. Subrahmanya Ayyar the first Indian Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras.

ON WHEELS AND A PRAYER

2006-08-29T01:23:00.000+05:30

If you are planning to ride like this...

2006-08-29T01:22:00.000+05:30

...I suppose it makes sense to start with a prayer,...

2006-08-29T01:21:00.001+05:30

break coconuts,...

2006-08-29T01:21:00.000+05:30

light incense sticks and...

2006-08-29T01:19:00.000+05:30

Yesss...

2006-08-19T00:20:00.000+05:30

Birds on a wire. Pic taken near the Nelapattu bird sanctuary, in Andhra, about two hours from Chennai.

2006-08-14T01:53:00.000+05:30

A pilgrim. I liked the very human pose that this guy struck. Pic taken in Ranthambore tiger reserve, Rajasthan. This place is called the 36-pillared `Chathhri'* (Chathram/rest house, I guess) inside the Ranthambore Fort.
NOTE: * Rest house... blogger ezee123 explains more accurately. Please check out the comment section in next pic.

2006-08-14T01:50:00.000+05:30

Inside there were more of them. It was about noon and quite hot, these guys just lay there sleeping -- some of them had their eyes open but seemed to be dazed. I was able to walk right up to them and click away.

VISITORS

2006-08-12T23:29:00.000+05:30

The `Hagalu Veshagarlu' (check out April 2006 folder for more info) landed up again. This time Ram and Hanuman were together. Ram, if you can recognise, was here earlier as Arjuna and before that as hanuman. I have a feeling these guys will land up frequently. Ram asked me for the Arjuna pics and I heard him tell Hanuman that if he comes to this house he can be sure of getting a few rupees, a photo session and a free copy of the pic on the next visit.
Maybe, I should discourage these guys the next time. Just to break the habit.

2006-08-12T07:58:00.000+05:30

Little red bugs having a ball... of manure

2006-08-08T01:59:00.001+05:30

A Sambhar stag in the bush. Pic taken last year in Ranthambore, Rajasthan.

2006-08-08T01:59:00.000+05:30

Another one...

2006-08-06T00:11:00.000+05:30

Guess what this guy is using to take a ride in the sea?

2006-08-06T00:10:00.000+05:30

Bullocks. You can ride them on land too.

2006-08-06T00:09:00.000+05:30

Most mornings you can see them by the beach opposite Triplicane, Chennai. The bullocks are brought to the sea for the daily wash.

2006-08-06T00:08:00.000+05:30

They make quite a splash.

Pondicherry soon to be Puducherry

2006-08-02T01:26:00.000+05:30

Pondicherry, that former French Colony about 150 km south of Chennai (Madras) on the East Coast Road, will soon be renamed Puducherry. Sad. I believe each time we change names of places of historical significance we erase a bit of our past.
But this post is not about the name change.
A trip to Pondy by road, especially the East Coast Road is a great experience (if you drive carefully and manage to stay out of the way of the numerous maniacs who use that road like a race track.)
The best part of Pondy itself is portion close to the seaside. Here are a series of pics of places in Pondicherry that make the place interesting for me.

2006-08-02T01:22:00.000+05:30

India Post commemorates the `De Facto Transfer of Pondicherry.' -- A first day cover and stamp to commemorate the golden jubilee of the independence of Pondicherry from the French who ruled Pondy between 1673 and 1954.Stamp issued in December 2005.

2006-08-02T01:18:00.000+05:30

Sri Aurobindo - India Post commemorates Aurobindo Ghosh, a revolutionary, freedom fighter and later a poet, philosopher and prophet who settled down in Pondicherry, founder the Aurobindo Ashram - one of the primary reasons that this little seaside town in known internationally.

2006-08-02T01:15:00.001+05:30

Also, a Rs 2 coin to commemorate Sri Aurobindo.

2006-08-02T01:15:00.000+05:30

Just a view of the other side of the Rs 2 coin.

2006-08-02T01:14:00.000+05:30

The Mother - India Post commemorates the founder (along with Sri Aurobindo) of Auroville the international commune at Pondy. Sri Aurobindo was her mentor.
Here is an extract from the Auroville website:
"It was the Mother, as Sri Aurobindo's 'Shakti', who organised the growing group of followers around him into the Sri Aurobindo Ashram from November 1926 onwards, and who in 1952, after his passing in 1950, created the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education to fulfil his wish to provide a new kind of education for Indian youth. In 1968 she founded the international township project of Auroville as a yet wider field for practical attempts to implement Sri Aurobindo's vision of new forms of individual and collective life, preparing the way towards a brighter future for the whole earth."

2006-08-02T01:11:00.000+05:30

The Matrimandir at Auroville.

2006-08-02T01:08:00.000+05:30

An Iyyanar Temple on the East Coast Road.