Ten Images from 2011

It is almost time to say good bye 2011. It has been a good year for me when it comes to travelling – there is not a thing I can complain about. Most importantly, we created Darter Photography, which allowed me the bandwidth and ability to travel wherever I please, whenever I want to. Here is a quick compilation of ten images I made in 2011. They aren’t exactly in any order and or not necessarily my ten favourite images from the year, but ten of the many images I liked, and enjoy photographing.

hampi

In January, I travelled on the first Darter Tour to Hampi, which will remain an experience that I will cherish for a long time. Here is an image of the hills of Hampi, photographed during the tour.

chadar trek

Soon after the Hampi trip, I was braving a -250C in Ladakh, walking on the frozen Zanskar River. The landscapes I saw there are something probably not to be seen anywhere else in India.

hampi

I was back in Hampi in February again, this time photographing the heritage sites and wildlife and focusing less on the landscapes.

munnar

I do not remember travelling anywhere in March. In the month of April, work took me to many parts of Kerala. I dreaded about facing Kerala’s sultry weather in summer, but untimely rains helped keep the days pleasant. Here is an image from Munnar photographed during this trip.

chinese fishing nets in fort kochi

Here is another image from the same trip, at the well known Chinese Fishing Nets of Fort Kochi.

tso moriri

After a lull in travelling during May and June, I headed out to Ladakh in July. It was an eventful trip, but not being on the top of my health prevented me from actively seeking to make many images. Here is one of the few photographs I took, at Tso Moriri Lake.

dhankar

I was back in the mountains again in August, this time at Lahaul and Spiti. For me, this was the most eventful trip of the year. Here is an image of confluence of Pin and Spiti Rivers, taken from Dhankar Village.

balaramapuram

After another break in travelling during the months of September, I headed out, once again to the mountains. To Manali, this time without the camera. In the first week of November, I was back in Kerala for a short trip on work, visiting Trivandrum and Kochi. Here is an image of a handloom house that makes saris and dhotis, near Trivandrum.

kalbelia dancers, jaisalmer

jaisalmer desert

In later part of November, I travelled to Rajasthan, which was a very productive trip in terms of photography. We made a long tour on two weeks, through Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. A few images from this trip, from Khichan and Jaisalmer.


Categories: meta

Random Updates – Winter Travels

A busy October is just behind me, now it is time to look forward to a winter full of exciting journeys. November is a month for me to attach wheels to my shoes and keep going from place to place. After a week of lazy holiday in Manali in October and exploring the beautiful mountainsides around the town, it is time for me to head to my annual pilgrimages to Hampi. Hampi is nothing short of a pilgrimage for me, as it is one of those places where I keep finding new opportunities for photography, new sites to see within the places I keep wandering and a new beauty in the river and its landscapes. It is going to be a short three-day visit, but I can’t complain as no amount of time is enough for this beautiful place.

landscapes of Hampi

Soon after coming back from Hampi, it is going to be another short visit to Kerala, where I will be savouring the pleasures of watching Kalari and Kathakali performances, and photograph fishermen and weavers at work. Soon after I come back, there is another trip waiting to the forests of Gir National Park and then a long tour in Rajasthan. There is plenty of work for my camera for next one month!


Categories: calendar

November 2011 Desktop Calendar Wallpaper

This month’s desktop calendar is an image of Vijaya Vithala Temple in Hampi. Download this for your desktop in resolutions 1336×768, 1280×800 or 1024×768

november 2011 desktop calendar wallpaper