Incredible India thru my Lens

An Early Morning Visit to Kolavai Lake, Chengalpattu (Jul ’11)

This was rather a quick trip to the lake, which is around some 60km from Chennai. I have been hearing about this place quite a while and planned to pay a visit this weekend. Spoke with couple of friends and finally 5 of us from different parts of city decided to assemble just after Tambaram. It rained last night and I am bit worried about making it to the place and also worried about sunrise as the condition seemed overcast. When inquired about the condition in Porur, my friend confirmed it’s not raining in Porur and decided to start as planned.

This place lies on Chennai – Trichy highway and can be reached easily in an hour from Chennai. If you are interested to see sunrise from different places around Chennai, then this is just another perfect place. We all assembled at the place just after Tambaram around 4.40 and from there we reached the lake around 5.20. Parked our vehicles and went to the spot around 5.30, perfect time for shooting.

While my friends were checking out different vantage points around the lake, I tried to venture out another point, which is just opposite the lake. But you need to climb a rocky hill. I told my friends about this and started to climb the hill. When climbing, I got a very good view of the entire lake and a shot which will show the ‘S’ curve and the lake together, where morning trains will pass through quite frequently. A passing train on the ‘S’ curve will be a nice shot. But as expected, we couldn’t witness the perfect sunrise but it played cat and mouse with the clouds and we got some superb sun rays shot. Also, got one of my favorite shot of a train passing the ‘S’ curve.

Overall, a very satisfying outing with my friends….

Now enjoy the pictures and post your valuable comments 🙂

Around Kanyakumari – Eraniel Palace – Colachal Port – Muttom Beach – Kovalam Beach (Jun ’11)

Sunrise-Sunset Pictures from Kanyakumari (Jun ’11)

This was rather an unexpected trip, as I was supposed to be in Jammu & Kashmir these days. But then, sudden change of family commitments, I had to drop the plan and cancelled flight/train tickets.

Don’t want to waste the leaves already booked – decided to head a place where I haven’t been. Idea of Kanyakumari stroke, as my wife headed to Srinagar.

Wouldn’t it be nice to think of us both at the far ends of India at the same time?

Driving/Riding was not an option as the distance is too far, and I have only 2 days with me to explore. Hence booked return tickets from SRM Transports on a Multi-Axle Volvo from Chennai to Nagarcoil.

It was a different experience for me, as I mostly prefer to travel on my own vehicle. Though I have rough idea of the places I planned to visit, it was quite difficult to carry out the plan with public transports (read bus).

The journey on Volvo was quite good and it reached Nagercoil at 5.45 AM. That’s pretty quick and I immediately took a bus to Kanyakumari to capture Sunrise. But then the climate was little hazy and couldn’t get what I wanted and also Sun was already out and it’s not worth spending time there for capturing Sunrise. So, went back to Nagercoil to catch bus to other places in my to-do list. Details of the places I visited will come in my next post.

After visiting as many places as I can, it’s time for lunch and I couldn’t find a restaurant in Muttom Beach. It’s a shame that they haven’t developed the place as this was the beautiful place among the one’s I visited on Day 1. So, headed back to Nagercoil and had lunch there. Unfortunately charge of the camera battery has gone down and I had to recharge it before Sunset.

So, took a bus to Kanyakumari and hunted for an accomodation. To my surprise they all denied accommodation quoting I am single and they are not supposed to accommodate single. I was very much annoyed and got the same answer from other 4 hotels I enquired (this includes TTDC, Hotel SeaView, Hotel TriSea). Finally, managed to get an accommodation in a hotel showing my return journey ticket and business card.

An hour passed by and the Sun was already in descent. Took quick shower and left to capture Sunset, but then it was all over before I reach the place. So, waited for the lights to lit up and captured some night shots of Vivekanda Rock & Valluvar Statue. It was quite difficult to get long exposure shots, as I didn’t carry a tripod with me. So, had to use pillars around to capture the beauty.

After an hour of shooting, went back to hotel and dozed off with plans of capturing Sunrise the next day. Sunrise was amazing even though there were some clouds around which ruined the possibility of capturing Sunrise from Horizon. After an hour of shooting, left the place with satisfaction and headed to Kovalam in Kerala, after which, I took bus back to Chennai.

Quick Drive to Palamathi Hills (Jun ’11)

Quick Visit to Dakshina Chitra (May ’11)

This was a quick trip to Dakshina Chitra without any plans. It’s hard to ride on this scorching Chennai heat and an additional layer to protect my tees doesn’t help the cause. Started off around 10 AM and tanked up the bike and quickly off the road. The traffic from CMBT till Guindy was pretty hectic due to the Metro Rail construction and after that the ride was as good as anything. Stopped over for a breakfast at Hotchips around Palavakkam and quickly filled my tummy and reached Dakshina Chitra at 11.15 AM.

In a nutsheell, this is an attempt to showcase the bygone era of some southindian living by setting up traditional homes of South India (Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala & Andhra Pradesh). Tamilnadu section possess Chettinad House, Ambur House, Potter’s House etc., & Ilkal, Weaver’s House in Karnataka Section, ILkat Weaker’s House, Coastal Andhra Thatch House in Andhra Section & Hindhu House, Syrian Christian House from Kerala Section. You can easily spend couple of house visiting the various houses and try your hands on the activities (pottery, painting, weaving etc.,) setup in various points.

After visiting these sections, finally visited Mask Exhibition where famous sound indian masks were on display. Had a quick visit at the exhibition and moved on.

There are few shops setup in the premises for the people who are interested in purchasing handicrafts & souveniers. There is a craft shop as well and unfortunately it was closed for lunch when I reached there. After you done all these activities, I am sure you will be hungry enough and there is an restaurant right inside Dakshina Chitra and they serve Veg/Non-Veg.

After spending quiet few hours in Dakshina Chitra, left the place with no heart. This is a must visit place if you are looking for some quite and calm place to spend your weekend.

Sky Watch – Night Shots @ Chennai Bypass (May ’11)

It’s been quite a while that I went out for a photo shoot. So, decided to checkout Maduravoyal-Tambaram bypass where there is a possibility of shooting sunset. But I started bit late and missed out the sunset, then thought of checking out points along the road where I can capture sunset shots. Got a very good point mid way between Tambaram & Porur. Sun was already down and had to use a bit of high ISO and hence the pictures are little bit noisy. Shot couple of night shots as well @ Porur & Maduravoyal junction.

Photoshop Experiments – Tilt Shift Photography

Not a perfect subject for this experiment. But still tried to see the effect on it.

New Pets @ Home

Never thought of having a fish tank @ home, but then suddenly last weekend brought a new fish tank with few variety of fishes. It’s fascinating to watch these small creatures roaming around the water. Had to learn quickly about them and their habits.

Sharing few pictures taken today…Hope you all like them !!!

Super Full Moon… (Mar ’11)

There was so many discussions going on for the ‘Super Full Moon’ on 19th March 2011. I decided to check out the ‘size’ of that as they are supposed to be 14% bigger and 30% brighter. But I didn’t notice any change at all (may be I am using my humble 55-200mm lens at its maximum). But anyway, it was good to watch moon on the three consecutive nights. I didn’t feel any change, but then it’s only me. So, I am sharing here the pictures taken between 18th March & 20th March.

A Day Out with Fishermen – Alamparai Fort (Mar ’11)

As I was going around the fort one young fishermen approached me and asked if I am willing to go for a sea ride. Initially I was reluctant to go but then when I asked him to take me along with him while he goes out for fishing and the moment he agreed, I decided to go with him. So, immediately he asked me to follow him and in next five minutes we were into the water. Already there were 7 people waiting and with the young chap & myself the count grown to 9. We all jumped into the boat and I sat on the fishing net and positioned myself comfortably for shooting.

The navigation through backwaters was a breeze and when we are about the enter sea; the waves are furious enough to wet our feet inside the boat. It was a see-saw ride until we are deep into the sea. The ride was an awesome experience and the photographs can’t do any justice to what I experienced there. After travelling couple of km, we were into a beach area and they said they had to pick up another 4 members who would be waiting on the shore. So, we went to the shore and picked up 3 people and one member was gone missing. The other fishermen’s lost patience and started shouting for sometime and finally the last one turned up and we all boarded the boat.

Back to sea, they were searching for a point to throw in the net. Initially I thought they would be doing it in mid sea but it seemed they had different methods. Finally they spotted one place and took the boat near the shore. Around 4 people got down from the boat and took one end of the fishing net and headed towards the shore. When they are done, our boat started its ride again into the sea and in the mean time couple of people in the boat started throwing the fishing net. They did this process and formed a ‘U’ and at the other end another 4 people got down and took the other end of the fishing net. Now, they asked me to get down and wait there until they are done with the job.

Then people who are in both the ends starts pulling the net according to the wave pattern. It’s a difficult job and need lot of technique. Everyone had to pull simultaneously, which will bring in the net about 4-5 cm to the shore. The last one standing and pulling the net will go to front after sometime and this will be done (shifting of pulling position) until they pull the net completely out of the sea. The process took almost 40 mins and another 20 mins went to collect the fishes & another 20 mins for folding the net back into the boat. The final outcome was a bucket full of fishes. I didn’t expect such a small quantity of fish but then they are used to it and didn’t complain.

Lady with the bucket took the fishes and started walking towards the fish market to sell them, which is located about a km from our location. 4 people boarded the boat and rest of us started our walk back to the original location. Suddenly the people in boat changed their minds and planned for a second attempt. So, they called us and did the same process. I told the young chap that I will take a walk back to the fort for as I don’t want to disturb them further, for which he denied and asked me to wait for 30 more mins and he would drop me in the fort. I agreed and watched the process again while shooting around the place.

After an hour they are done with the fishing and again got a bucket full of fishes. Then couple of us boarded the boat and rest of them started walking. The ride back was again an awesome experience and the young chap left me near the fort and headed to sea again. The ride comes to an end with some everlasting memories.