—Categories: bhutan

11 Images of Bhutan — Happiness is being behind the camera

Bhutan

Originally published on medium.com: 11 Images of Bhutan — Happiness is being behind the camera

Bhutan
Images of Bhutan

Bhutan has been known for its focus on nurturing a happy society. With its idea of ‘Gross National Happiness’, a focus on nourishing its cultural roots and a policy towards sustainable economics, the country has attempted to tread a path of balance between embracing a modern way of life and traditional values.

I have been travelling to Bhutan for five years now, trying to understand its pulse and learning from its composure, while also enjoying the country’s beautiful mountainous landscapes.

Every year, I lead a week-long mentored photography tour Bhutan, which gives you an up-close glimpse and understanding of country’s rich culture and heritage. The tour is a excellent window to the life and landscapes of the Himalayan region. The mentored photo-journey equips you with a keen understanding of life and takes you through the art of telling stories with your images. Discover what it takes to create unique images that stand apart from cliche, have your own unique signature and makes a strong visual impact. To be a part of this unique photography tour, visit “Travel Photography Tour to Bhutan” to know more details and sign up.

In these years, I have photographed many aspects of Bhutan — the genial monks, smiling people working hard in the fields, ebullient children in the villages and monasteries, mountain slopes fluttering with prayer flags and beautiful stupas, fortresses glittering with flood-lights in the evening sky and dazzling snow-covered peaks in brilliant morning light.

Bhutan
Beautiful sunrise over the mountain landscapes at Dochula, Bhutan

I have immensely enjoyed freezing these facets of Bhutan. It’s a meditative experience observing the country’s pace of life that attempts to harmonize with material and spiritual wealth. These are images of everyday Bhutan, it’s beautiful people juxtaposed against the majestic Himalayas landscapes.

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—Categories: photos

Prayer Flags from Bhutan

I saw this thick assembly of prayer flags at a small temple in rural Bhutan. My first instinct was to walk into them and photograph them with the camera facing up.

Prayer flags in Bhutan

I used my phone camera to make this image. Sometimes when you know what you are shooting and the subjects are not complex, it doesn’t matter what equipment you have. Nonetheless, I do not subscribe to the generally outspoken idea that your equipment doesn’t matter at all in making good images. Good equipment that can handle challenging conditions can be crucial to bring a photographer’s idea into life.

—Categories: Uncategorized

Travel Photography: Working in the Paddy Fields of Bhutan

I was in Bhutan last month photographing its cultural heritage and the lives of its people. During the fourth day of my week-long trip, I had a chance to visit a small village surrounded by paddy fields in a wide mountain valley. Walking through the fields and enjoying the salubrious mountain weather, I struck conversation with the women working in the fields with an intent to understand the work they were doing and also make photographs in the process.

People of Bhutan

The month of May is a transition period between harvesting and sowing new crop. There were sections of the fields where a full-grown crop was waiting to be harvested, and at some places, they were already taking the winnowed crop home. The women I spoke to were a step further ahead preparing for the next season, spreading manure in the soil before the upcoming monsoons allowed them to plant fresh saplings. They were friendly, and were more than willing to be photographed, except that they posed a condition: I must give them prints of the photos that I made. I gladly agreed and we were on a roll.

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