Friday, June 17, 2011

Closeups from Halebidu

Carvings of the dancers on the walls of the hoysaleshwara temple in Halebidu. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Close up shots of the carvings of musicians and their band on the walls of the hoyslaleshwara temple. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Some intricate carvings on the walls of the temple. Most of the walls look like this. Photographed on 12th December 2010

Carvings of various events of the hindu epics. Each row represents different set of events. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Marvelous work! Those sculptors brought these soap stones alive during their period. Here is the musicians band performing for us. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Many such stories told just by carving on these walls. The perfection of those sculptors leave us to wonder in awe! Photographed on 12th December 2010.

Here is the war scene carved on the soap stone. We can feel the war just by looking at them. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Carving of 'He and She'! on the walls of hoysaleshwara temple in Halebidu. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

The valee-sugreeva war scene of ramayana on the walls of the temple. These stories are still alive here. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

An elephant assisting the lords. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Another scene of the Ramayana war beautifully carved. I am amazed at the symmetry and perfection in the work. Photographed on 12th December, 2010

Beautiful Shilabalike carved on the walls of the hoysaleshwara temple in Halebidu. Photographed on 12th December, 2010
(C) Srikanth Amalladinna

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Frames from Belavadi

Pillar to life at Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th.

Carved ancient life forms at the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th

Many lives framed in one! Carvings on the walls of Veera Narayana Temple at Belavadi. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th 

View from inside while the light coming from outside. Photographed at Belavadi on 2010 December, 12th

Kids pumping water from the borewell at Belavadi. It is hard to find such borewells in cities like Bangalore. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th

A wooden chariot rested aside on a lonely street at Belavadi. It is a typical village scene in India. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th

Innovation is the key. A village kid innovating her ways of drinking water from the borewell. Photographed on 2010 December, 12th

Ay! hoy! A boy at Belavadi trying to have some fun while he pumps out water from the borewell. Perhaps he was trying to give me a pose, who knows? Photographed on 2010 December, 12th
(C) Srikanth Amalladinna

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Lalbagh

A boy demonstrating his livelihood in Lalbagh. By doing this, he used to attract not just customers, but even photographers like me. Photographer on 2010 November, 28th.

Bubbles in the air. Photographed on 2010 November, 28th.

Many such compositions evokes different feelings. The difficulty is that to see it through a frame of mind that tells me a story. Photographed on 2010 November 28th.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Thamel, Kathmandu

Shop of caps on the streets of Thamel, Kathmandu. Nepal tourism is in such a aggressive state that the name of the country is almost printed on all the products. Mt Everest is the logo in most of the products and its their pride. Photographed on 2010, October 12th.

Nepal is culturally rich. This vendor on the streets of Thamel area of Kathmandu sells some of the finest handicrafts of Nepal. It is a delight to even see them. The man's face looks as if it is camouflaged amidst many faces in the shop. Photographed on 2010, October 12th.

A street vendor in the Thamel are of Kathmandu selling the hand crafted bedsheets. The person stares at me while I capture him on my lens. Photographed on 2010, October 12th. 

Set of Nepali knives on the streets of Kathmandu. Almost every visitor to Kathmandu will be very certain to buy them. Photographed on 2010, October 12th.

A taxi stand in Thamel area parked with motorbikes all over. Photographed on 2010, October 12th.

A huge hoarding on the Thamel street talks about the brand - "Tested by Sherpa, Worn by Everyone". Signifies the strength of Sherpas and their mountaineering skills. Photographed on 2010, October 12th.

A street vendor in Thamel arranging the dolls ready to sell. Photographed on 2010, October 12th

Many such people traveled from all around the globe can be seen here. Perhaps these mountains in Nepal call them frequently. Photographed on 2010, October 12th. 

Many such visitors with their rucksacks, cameras on their shoulders wondering at these tiny streets of Thamel in Kathmandu. Photographed on 2010, October 12th

A surely rare sight of a rikshaw-wallah on the streets of Thamel, Kathmandu. One of the cheapest and oldest modes of transport. Photographed on 2010, October 12th
(C) Srikanth Amalladinna

Monday, February 14, 2011

Frames from the Mt Everest Region [2010]

Namaste! is the greeting you get while walking on these mountains from every person with all age groups. Photographed during my trek from Lukla to Phadking on 28th September, 2010 
Tibetian Chantings! This is the usual sight at every village one would encounter. Photographed in the Solu Khumbu district of Nepal on 27th September, 2010

Smile from the mountain! Photographed this smiling boy near the village Tengboche on the way back from the Mt Everest Base Camp on 10th October, 2010.

One of such profession on mountains. Many people chose to be porters or graze yaks or goats. Photographed this person on 27th September, 2010. 

Baby photographed on 27th September, 2010. The future of most of the babies are decided. If it is a girl, she would manage the restaurant and if it is a boy, he would become a porter or a guide for trekkers. 

Unforgettable expressions! Face is the index of mind as they say. One can deeply understand the challenges behind these mountain people once you look at their faces. Photographed on 28th September, 2010

A porter for life. A strong Nepali man posing to my lens at his few-minute-break for rest on the mountains. They are almost comparable to the yaks in carrying the loads of the trekkers in these mountains. Photographed on 9th October, 2010

Playful boy captured while returning from the base camp near the village Dingboche on 9th October, 2010.

Limitless Porter! People are so strong that whatever they carry is a mountain for us. They do it so well and they have accepted their role as porters and hence they depend on such limitless work. Tough looking porter carrying plywood sheets on the mountain. Photographed on 27th September, 2010

Perhaps the kids are training themselves to be strong porters or the guides. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Its a world wide web for sure. Connectivity is everywhere and even in this tiny village of TokTok at an altitude of 2850m. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Bye-Bye is what they said when they looked at us returning from the mountains. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Monday, February 7, 2011

Samanyu

I loved his smile. He is my friend's son and was very friendly while I was clicking his pictures. Photograph taken on 2nd September, 2010

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Eastern Ghats - Veerappan's Land

Village women working under the sun with the back drop of the wild scrubby forest of Eastern Ghats. The photograph is taken in a village near MM Hills on the way to Palar.  Photographed on 14th August, 2010.

Village boys curious to see photographers on the streets. They were ecstatic to look at their pictures after showing it to them. Photographed on 14th August, 2010.

School girls of the village posing at the cameras. While others were posing for my friend's lens, this girl was excited to turn towards me. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

Many children in this area walk a huge distance to go to the Government School in MM Hills. In spite of they going to the school, education remains a major challenge in these areas. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

Trying a different pose. This girl was coming back from the school and was super excited to pose for a single portrait. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

What's happening? is what they are trying to understand after looking at me taking such a long time to click their picture. They were really close to the lens and were curious to see this picture. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

and the joy! children were very excited and cheerful after the photo session in this village. They had good fun with the cameras around. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

The typical village scene. A woman working hard under the sun to separate the grains from the harvest. Photograph taken on 14th August 2010.

MM Hills is a holy place and there are many devotees of Mahadeshwara (Shiva) in this region. It happens to be a very spiritual place for such saints to have their establishments as well. Naagamale [Hill of Snake]  is a place near to MM Hills which has a big temple of a Snake god. This saint was photographed at Naagamale on 14th August, 2010.

Naagamale is a place where many people come to follow their traditional beliefs. One such belief of offering bangles to the god is captured. Many such beliefs happens to be around this place from a very long time. People follow them religiously. One has to walk up to this temple for about 10 kms from MM Hills. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010. 
(C) Srikanth Amalladinna