Vilamendhoo Island Resort In Maldives

A snow white sand bank, tropical lush vegetation, palm trees surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and deep blue ocean - the primary impression of Vilamendhoo proves to be a long-lasting one.

A complex has been engineered by the west beach that contains a occasional look, a sunset bar with sundeck, a billiards space, a gym and a tennis court. The island is fairly massive, as you may see from the on top of image and its interior remains the foremost lush and attention-grabbing of any resort when Sonevafushi. within the cool shade of towering palms most of the country's flora is on show in one hidden corner or another.

If the sand is usually near the tree line, thus is that the reef edge. All along the 2 sides of the island the reef hugs the shoreline. And with the reef life nearly as good because it is, Vilamendhoo tops the table in snorkeling popularity. this is not shocking when seventieth or eightieth of the guests here go diving.

Location 

 Located within the southern a part of Ari Atoll. Vilamendhoo Island Resort is approximately 900m in length & 300m in width, with a gorgeous sandbank jutting out from its western tip. The island boasts with sandy beaches & turquoise coloured lagoon enfolding the total island.

Airport Transfer:

A twenty five minutes seaplane journey to the landing platform and a brief five minute dhoni ride to cross the channel brings you Vilamendhoo.     

   

Airport transfer modes available: ocean plane transfer. 

Accomodation Overview    

    The Indian Ocean at the doorstep, wide open terraces of the deluxe rooms provide an endless read of the spectacular panorama surrounding the island.

There are thirteen customary rooms, 131 Superior rooms & ten Deluxe rooms are designed to the classic sorts of the first 80’s Maldivian resorts with quality fixtures, furniture & facilities that embody with hot/cold water, hair dryer*, IDD phone & refrigerator.

Standard Room - (13 rooms / units)

Standard rooms have an inside rest room with a hot water shower. These rooms are located within the center of the island close to the dive center. they're inbuilt rows of 4 to a block.

Facilities and Amenities:

Air-Conditioned, Ceiling fan, Mini bar, Balcony, Hot & Cold recent water, Twin beds out there, Beach Front, IDD phonephone

Superior Room- (131 rooms / units)

Superior Rooms are located round the fringe of the island and overlook the ocean. These rooms have an outsized, partially open air rest room, which has alittle garden and a hot water shower underneath the open sky.

Facilities and Amenities:

Air-Conditioned, Ceiling fan, Mini bar, Balcony, Hot & Cold recent water, Open-air bathtub space, Beach Front, IDD phonephone

Deluxe Room- (10 rooms / units)

Deluxe rooms have alittle seating space separated from the bed by a picket screen. They over look the ocean and have enclosed bogs that accompany a shower and shower.

Facilities and Amenities:

Air-Conditioned, Hot & Cold recent water, Plasma TV bathtub tub, Housekeeping, Safe engineered over-water, IDD phonephone, Twin beds out there CD + DVD Player net LAN (laptop), Work desk / lamp Cable / Satellite TV, King size bed out there

Facilities & Services     

The reception and alternative public buildings by the most jetty are outstanding. there's a bar with separate lounge and disco , and evenings are usually quiet, as they sometimes are in major diving islands. and lots of excursions and fishing visits are out there, though a minimum variety is needed, and, as a result of it's a diving island, it's not perpetually achieved.

Hotel Facilities include: net dial-up. Restaurants phonephone with modem port, Bar, jewellery look, occasional look, memento look, net desk with laptop, Baby Cot, Darts, Live Music, Badminton, Discotheque, Porters, Banana Boat, Excursions, Beach Volley, Fish watch, Boating, Fishing visits. Scuba Diving, Canoeing, Gym, ocean facet Games, Catamaran Sailing, Snorkeling, Crab racing, Table Tennis, Cycling, Windsurfing....etc..

Resources:

Golden Triangle India, Hotel in Dubai, India Tour, Jeff Adams, Kerala Honeymoon tour

Charlotte Rush-Bailey: Blood & Turmeric

Charlotte Rush-Bailey is a photographer who migrated to the world of photography from a corporate career that covered three decades of marketing and communications positions in a variety of global industries including energy, financial services, media, conservation, technology and professional services. This gave her opportunities to work with people all over the world, and to learn to appreciate cultural nuances and the influences of socio-political forces.

She has just produced her audio-slideshow Blood And Turmeric of her stills and ambient sound recordings made during the festival of the Oracles in Kodungallur whilst participating in my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™.

So hold on to your seats, you'll get sweaty palms perhaps...but I'm certain you'll be bowled over by it.

The festival is called Kodungallur Bharani, a wild and unusual localized religious festival near Kochi. It is here that once a year the so-called Oracles of Kodungallur meet to celebrate both Kali and Shiva. By their thousands, these red-clad oracles arrive in this area of Kerala, and perform self mortification acts by banging on their heads with ceremonial swords repeatedly until blood trickle down their foreheads, and daub the wounds with turmeric.

Dougie Wallace: Road Wallah

Here's a movie -or what photographer Dougie Wallace calls- a "photo film" on Kolkata's unorganized (aka chaotic) transport modes. He has chosen to show us the tram drivers, the rickshaw pullers, the yellow taxis, the passengers, the pedestrian and vehicular traffic that criss-crosses this teeming city along with a soundtrack (produced by Rosie Webb) that just pulsates and throbs.

The buses, the most commonly used mode of transport, are run by government agencies and private operators, and as the photo film describes them, are haphazard to say the least. Kolkata is the only Indian city with a tram network, which I've greatly enjoyed when I was there last October. Almost all of Kolkata's taxis I have seen were old Ambassador cars, with little if any modern amenities. Hand-pulled rickshaws are extensively used by the public for short trips.

 Dougie Wallace is London based but grew up in Glasgow. He lived in east London for 15 years but spends a lot of time travelling abroad. I suggest you view his project titled Reflections On Life which features scenes from the daily commute in a number of cities ranging from Lisbon, Egypt and Eastern Europe, including Sarajevo, Ukraine and Albania.

Wotancraft's Camera Bags

Photo Courtesy Wotancraft Atelier

I'm more of a simple canvas Domke F-8 camera bag (and a cheap canvas shoulder bag from a US Army Surplus store) kind of person, but having chanced on Wotancraft Atelier's website, I have to admit that its camera bags are just gorgeous...and yes, quite expensive.

Its bags are constructed from top quality materials, and manufactured by experienced artisans, their bags are strong, reliable and beautiful. It appears that the Wotancraft products are handmade by only 4 artisans in Taiwan, and are rigorously inspected before they're shipped to buyers.

The smoky photographs on its website are just magnificent. Those that accompany the Urban Classic 005 Safari bag (shown above) feature Leicas, and another rangefinder to impart the sense of quality, Old World attention to details and high quality manufacturing. This is a well thought out pictorial layout; perhaps in the smilar vein as the ads for Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren products, but aimed at owners of Leicas and other high-end cameras.

The Scription blog has a full story on Wotancraft, which makes for interesting reading.

As a footnote, I have a Billingham camera bag which is equally well made, and resembles in some way the Safari bag, and is a classic for many photographers for its durability and functionality...but it also requires a long lead to be broken in, and I just didn't have the patience.

Note: I have no direct or indirect relationship with Wotancraft and/or its distributors.

Mitchell Kanashkevich: Ethiopia

Photo © Mitchell Kanashkevich-All Rights Reserved

“Will I ever come back to Ethiopia?”

A question asked by Mitchell Kanashkevich after spending over four months in that country, crisscrossing it on a motorbike.

He doesn't ask it because of logistics, or because of practicalities...but rather he wonders if he would want to ever come back to Ethiopia. I chose to feature his post to counter balance my earlier post on Holland Cotter's Ethiopian experience because they are so divergent.

I won't go into the details of Mitchell's reasons for his largely negative personal experiences in Ethiopia since you can read it directly on his blog, but these range from onerous restrictions and regulations imposed by authorities to make some money off foreign visitors to "money hungry scheming locals" in Lalibela and other religious towns.

Mitchell Kanashkevich is amongst a handful of travel photographers who are truly intrepid, experienced and who produce consistently excellent imagery, so his experiences in Ethiopia ought to be heeded by independent travelers who want to visit Ethiopia the way he did. I'm not suggesting that travelers ought to be put off by his current mindset, but they certainly ought to pay attention to what he tells us...and prepare themselves for potential difficulties.

It is one thing to travel to Ethiopia (and wherever else) on assignment with The New York Times, and quite another to travel the way Mitchell did. Fixers, hotel accommodations, transportation are a world apart between these two.

As for the obnoxious and puerile comments that Mitchell's post seems to have generated, it's unfortunate. Some people don't realize the service that Mitchell has provided...they may disagree with it, they may not like it...but he related his personal experience, and he's free to express it as he sees fit...wherever and whenever he wants.

I traveled to Ethiopia in 2004, and my experience was different. But that was 8 years ago, and I traveled differently. However if I were to return to Ethiopia, I'd reread Mitchell's post very carefully.

FujiFilm X Pro-1: A Few More Quick Thoughts...

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy- Click To Enlarge

Well, I've shot a couple of hundred images with my newly acquired FujiFilm X Pro-1 so far, and I thought I'd post a few more of my brief impressions about its performance so far.

Firstly, FujiFilm updated the firmware of the X-Pro1 and the three X-mount lenses that accompany the camera. The updates reduce the aperture 'chattering' that was experienced when using the camera. I updated yesterday, and the "chatter" was eliminated.

My pet peeve with the X Pro-1 is this: when I shoot at the 6 frames per second mode, the resulting frames do not appear in sequence on the display. The first frame appears with a small thumbnail of the remaining frames. I consulted the manual and haven't found any mention of this, or how to cancel it so that I can review the frames on the display as in other cameras. From my reading of other reviews, it seems that frames shot in continous mode are numbered differently and won't be directly accessed on playback review. FujiFilm engineers ought to come up with a solution to this crazy irritant.

Note: Magnus H. Amundsen, based in Oslo, was kind enough to tweet me and guide me to page 64 of the X Pro-1. Viewing the frames shot in continuous mode can be seen in sequence by pressing the selector down, then either right or left depending of the order chosen. Problem solved. It's counter-intuitive, and in my opinion an unnecessary step...but it works.

The other possible issue with the camera seems to be the life of a single battery charge. I read that it's sufficient for 350 images, but it certainly hasn't been the case. However, I'll keep an eye on it in the coming weeks. Its auto focus is not infallible, especially when I use the camera to shoot from the hip. It missed on a few occasions but generally speaking, it nailed a lot more than it missed. The click of the shutter is virtually imperceptible.

Something else I didn't like is the placement of the exposure compensation dial. I found that I inadvertently move it with my thumb when I shoot from the hip. I'm thinking of taping it to the -2/3 mark. I am also thinking of ordering the Thumbs Up CSEP-2 for it instead of the Fuji hand grip. I have a Thumbs Up for my M9 and it makes a huge difference.

The Fuji RAW converter (SILKYPIX) that comes with the camera is clunky and sort of primitive. Fujifilm has another so called professional converter which can be downloaded free for a 30 days trial. It's also clunky. I can't wait for Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop to soon come up with an update for the X Pro-1.

I read that some photographers find that having the battery and the SD card at the bottom of the X Pro-1 is a design flaw. However, it's identical to a Leica in that respect. Exactly.

Having now looked at a couple of my good images from the X Pro-1, I believe their quality to be really stellar. I use the Fujinon 18mm f/2.0 XF R lens which I'm very comfortable with. It's the equivalent to a 27mm and fits my style of shooting, especially in the streets of New York City. But I would prefer a lens equivalent to a 24mm f2.0. I explored the various film simulation modes it offers, and was especially impressed by its Velvia-like mode...a vivid high saturation mode. The image accompanying this post was made using that film mode.

So far so good.

The New York Times: Aksum & Lalibela

Photo © Damon Winter-Courtesy The New York Times

Here's what I found to be a very well made (and thoroughly researched) feature by The New York Times titled Aksum And Lalibela: A Pilgrimage with the prose of Holland Cotter and the photography of Damon Winter.

"Lalibela was conceived as a paradise on earth."

Cotter tells us that he had longed to see two holy cities in Ethiopia: Aksum, the country's center of Orthodox Christianity, and Lalibela, a town of extraordinary churches carved from volcanic rock in the 13th century, for a long time and he did visit it recently.

The treat in this interactive feature are the panoramas of Gondar, the monasteries of Lake Tana and Lalibela. I was in Ethiopia in 2004, and these panoramic views brought it all back to me as nothing else could. I wasn't very impressed by Gondar then, but the majesty of Lalibela churches and the beauty of the reclusive monasteries of Lake Tana made my experience in Northern Ethiopia exceptionally memorable.

An exceptionally engaging article by Holland Cotter is here. He has been a staff art critic at The New York Times since 1998. Don't miss Damon Winters' dozen photographs of Lalibela, Aksum, and Gondar which accompany the articles.

And since I mentioned that I've been in that region some 8 years ago, drop by my own gallery Footsteps In Abyssinia. Oh, how I wish I had my multimedia knowledge and tools then!!!

Poll: Which Do You Prefer M9, 7D, 5DMK2, XPro1, GF1?

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Canon 5D Mark II)

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Canon 7D )

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Panasonic GF1 -20mm)

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Leica M9)

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (FujiFilm X Pro-1)

It's been raining in NYC for a couple of days, so I thought I'd have some fun with my photo gear and compare interior shots from the Canon 5D Mark II,  the Canon 7D, the Panasonic GF1, the Leica M9 and the FujiFilm X Pro-1. All of these images have not been processed in any way (except for being resized) and are jpegs out of the cameras.

While all of these have been shot at f2.8 and at an iso of 200 (the exception is the GF1), and at roughly the same time, there's obvious difference in many aspects between all of them. Another factor is that I had a 28-70mm f2.8 for the Canons, a 20mm for the GF1, a 28mm prime Leica lens for the M9, and a 18mm (equivalent to 27mm) on the X Pro-1.

This is hardly a scientific or a technical experiment, or an attempt to portray my preference...but just a quick look at what these different (in quality, price, type, etc)  cameras and lenses can produce, using an off-the-cuff methodology. In particular, take a good look at the images produced by the M9 and the X Pro-1.

So have some fun as well, and take the poll!!!

Kihaadhufaru Island Resort In Maldives

On the plush island of Kihaadhufaru, located in Baa Atoll and surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean, lies the Resort: fully renovated to replicate the philosophy within the truest sense of Joy. 

An oasis of beauty where colours, scents and sounds offer unforgettable emotions.

A small slice of paradise. are you able to image it? Most white beaches, an virtually boundless clear blue sky, and pervasive perfumes that cause you to feel caressed by the wind. it's the start of a brand new world. Here, everything appears to own been created just for you. A Paradise Village is sort of suspended between dream and reality. Listen together with your heart, not your mind, and perhaps you may perceive.

The Village

It lies on Kihaadhuffaru Island, within the Baa atoll, and is created from usually Maldivian thatched bungalows, some set in parkland, some perched over the ocean. Amenities include: conference space, recent water swimming-pool (suitable additionally for children), boutique, a pair of bars and wellness centre.

The beach

A usually Maldivian coral beach, drawn by the hands of Mother Nature: it’s sort of a dream! Reserved to our guests and making certain privacy, it skirts the entire island with its white talcum powder sand. a pleasant pier is that the start line for snorkelling journeys . Free beach chairs, beach umbrellas and willoes (you can simply reach the encircling islets). For beach towels a deposit is needed. 

Rooms

46 commonplace rooms and forty Superior rooms with a read. snug and embellished in ethnic vogue, they're all some steps from the ocean. Facilities include: verandahs, king-size beds, non-public toilet (hot and cold recent water), air-conditioning, phone (national and international calls), satellite tv, hairdryer and mini-bar (for a fee). There also are eight Deluxe Villas and twelve Deluxe Villas with a read, all having whirlpool bathtub and hi-fi with cd player. Most demanding customers will select among ten Water Villas and a pair of Water Suites designed on piles, with mini-swimming-pool and personal access to the beach.

Spa:

Perched over the nice and cozy waters of the Indian Ocean, it offers a large vary of exclusive Oriental massages aimed toward physical and mental well being, and performed by experienced native professionals: Ayurvedic Massage, Thai Massage, Yogic Massage, Balinese Massage, and Swedish Massage. however there also are programs to suit all ages and to satisfy all requirements: anti-aging, targeted slimming, and Spa Club (which involves treatments primarily based on mud, clay, oils, aromas, herbs, and herbal infusions). Moreover, our special ,Beauty Week, Beauty Day and wonder quick programs can assist you recover the well being of your body and mind, in the maximum amount time as you prefer. 

Facilities : 

 Turkish bathtub, whirlpool bathtub with ocean exposure, and an exquisite terrace overlooking the ocean, where you'll relax at sunset sipping tasty and invigorating herbal infusions. All services are extras.

Resources : 

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Veligandu Island Resort In Maldives

 Located in North Ari Atoll, a twenty minute Seaplane ride from the airport, Veligandu may be a four star and offers an ideal tiny island getaway vacation, as well as an All Inclusive arrange possibility. Relax on the magnificent beach, swim within the crystal clear lagoon, snorkel on the superb house reef within the crystal clear lagoon, Scuba dive with Ocean professional, take a massage at the Serena Spa, more! Do nothing the least bit or be a part of the water sports, activities, excursions and entertainment programs.Veligandu Island Resort.

Veligandu Island Resort may be a Maldives Resort located concerning fifteen to twenty minute seaplane ride from the Male’ International Airport.

Enhanced with the gorgeous lagoon and sandy beaches veligandu Island Offers three varieties of villas with a complete of seventy six Villas. They include; Jacuzzi Water Villas, Water Villas and Jacuzzi Beach Villas.

All feature tropical décor with king size bed, wood floors and personal sundeck with to accommodate all of your desires at your vacation in veligandu Island Resort. 

Accomodation:

All seventy six rooms have a sundeck, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, sitting space, DVD, minibar, tea and low machine, net association, telephone, tv and shower.

Beach Villas are set back down the beach and sleep up to three adults with king-size bed, toilet with shower, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, DVD player, net association, hairdryer, minibar restocked daily, 36" satellite TV, tea/coffee facilities, Espresso machine, telephone, nightly turndown service and a personal patio or sundeck.

Water Villas are located on stilts over the water and sleep up to three adults with the higher than facilities.

Jacuzzi Water Villas are located on stilts over the water with facilities as higher than and a partial open-air toilet and Jacuzzi.

Activities:

One sunset cruise, half-day Kuramathi or Rasdhoo island excursion, thirty minute snorkelling lesson (equipment not included), thirty minute windsurfing lesson (equipment included) and free use of fitness centre, badminton, kayaks, windsurfs, soccer pitch, volleyball court, table tennis and darts.

Facilities :

76 Rooms , a pair of Restaurants , Bar, Swimming pool & youngsters pool, Fitness Centre, Snorkelling, PADI, dive centre, Watersports centre, Spa, net Café, Occasional evening entertainment.

Resources: 


south india tourism, Strannix, the orlando hotel, tour of taj mahal, Tourism in South India

The Oracles Of Kodungallur

The Oracles of Kodungallur celebrate their festival in the Bhagawati temple, which usually occurs between the months of March and April. It involves sacrifice of cocks and shedding of the Oracles own blood, to appease the goddess Kali and her demons who are said to relish blood offerings.

"It was one of the most intense photographic experience I've had in a long while."

The festival is overseen by the aging King of Kodungallur where hordes of Oracles (Vellichapads in local Malayalam) stampede around the temple waving their curved swords while chanting abuse at the goddess.

This 4 minutes movie (using SoundSlides for the still photographs and Audacity to edit its audio, and then converted to a movie file) was made of material gathered during my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™. I struggled with putting its audio all together, and it's still far from perfect, and I intend to refine it in weeks to come, but it will do the time being.

It was one of the most intense photographic experience I've had in a long while, even surpassing the intensity of the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2001. The seeming abandon with which the Oracles injured themselves by repeatedly striking their foreheads with their swords was disturbing at first but, in due time, I realized that their companions made sure that it didn't go too far, and took care that in the heat of their trances, the Oracles didn't injure anyone else.

Not for the fainthearted, it was also a draining experience over two long days for all the participants in my workshop, and I admired the women in our group who immersed themselves in photographing and documenting this event...not an easy task in view of the density and raucousness of the crowds. We returned every night to our hotel, exhausted, filthy, sweaty, thirsty and covered with turmeric powder...but exhilarated by what we saw and photographed.

And that's the image of the SoundSlides' interface. I print and use it as a scratchpad/storyboard...jotting down timings etc.

A Walk About With The FujiFilm X Pro-1

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Shooting From The Hip/Crop)

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Shot Thru The Viewfinder)

Well, I've had the FujiFilm X Pro-1 equipped with a Fuji 18mm f2.0 lens for about 48 hours, and I thought I'd jot my initial impressions down in a brief blog post. First off, I only skimmed the manual very quickly so don't expect any in-depth review. These are merely impressions from using it during a walk about on 14th Street in New York City, then a few moments in Washington Square. Some of the photographs were made shooting from the hip, while others were made by peering through the viewfinder.

Interestingly, I had a conversation with a photographer in Washington Square who asked me if it was a Leica. It certainly looks quite similar, but it's not a Leica in more ways than one.  Superficially-speaking, the Fuji X Pro-1 has much more to offer in terms of digital enhancements than the M9. Apart from its auto-focus, it has a plethora of options that purists may not particularly find useful...its shutter is softer and much more discreet than the M9...it's much lighter but is still a handful...its lenses are also much lighter than those made by Leica or Voigtlander.

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Shot From The Hip)

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy (Cropped. Shot From The Hip)

I had no difficulty whatsoever in adapting the X Pro-1 to my style of shooting from the hip. It's as unobtrusive as the M9, and the success rate is much higher with it than with the M9 because of its auto focus, which I chose to keep on single shot mode.

It seems to have a number of (possibly irritating) quirks, but I'll have to work with it a few more days before deciding if these are really camera quirks or whether they are caused by my inexperience.

As for the quality of its images. There's no question the quality of images made with an M9 equipped with Leica glass is really stellar, and their "feel" is different...I guess that's the renowned "Leica feel". The images from the X-Pro 1 are excellent, but they're more akin to the images by the Canon 5D Mark II (as an example). The images I've captured so far are very impressive in terms of quality especially from a crop sensor APS-C camera, but they can't be mistaken for images made with an M9.

Once again, this is not a scientific analysis nor an in depth review at all...just an initial impression when using the X Pro-1 and looking at the images I got from using it for a couple of hours. I did not intentionally choose specific scenes, but did what I usually do when I have my M9 around my neck.

What I didn't particularly like is that the X Pro-1 has the tendency of overexposing, so I dialed down by as much as half a stop and sometimes by 3/4 of a stop. And, there's isn't Lightroom or Photoshop RAW support for it yet.

I have found that I am shooting more and more wide angle, so the 18mm f2.0 lens is just perfect. It's perhaps early to say, but so far I like that lens a lot....it's fast and accurate.

As I said, this blog post is only partially peeling away the first layer of the X-Pro 1 "onion".

I've been asked what will I do now with the M9.  Already! I'm not a Leica fan-boy nor a X Pro-1 fan-boy either, so my answer is simple...I wil continue to use it along with the X-Pro 1. I can easily see myself using both in Vietnam and Thailand in the coming few months.

As I'm fond of saying....cameras are nothing but tools for the photographer. Exactly like a claw and ball-peen hammers are tools for carpenters who use them for different jobs...the M9 and the X Pro-1 will be used for different styles of photography. When everything is spot on, the Leica excels. Otherwise, it's not a forgiving tool. In contrast, I think the X Pro-1 will be much more forgiving.

More to come next week.

Constantine Manos: Personal Documentary

About 12 years ago, I had joined a workshop in Havana with Constantine Manos which, if I recall correctly, was sponsored by the Maine Photo Workshops. It was the second photo workshop I attended, and was quite different from the first in which I learned virtually nothing.

Constantine's (or Costa's) workshop in Havana was centered around the so-called decisive moment in street photography...one of the many photographic disciplines I knew absolutely nothing of. It was in the pre-digital days, and we had to shoot film and have it processed in these 2-hour processing shops. I recall that our group had to show Costa individual portfolios, and having taken a good look at mine (mostly portraits of India and Bhutan), he frowned and told me "...your pictures are too simple...".

This advice still resonates with me....and I worked hard to make my photography more complex since then....sometimes succeeding and often failing. Leading my own workshops now,  that's one of the lines I use the most often....

This short movie, narrated by Costa himself, is produced by Magnum In Motion and Leica. By the way, there's a typo...it's spelled Ku Klux Klan.

The Travel Photographer Is Wibbitz'ed!!!

This is really cool! Click the arrow, and you'll get The Travel Photographer's "Breaking News"!!

Wibbitz seeks to leverage existing text-based content into video and converting readers into viewers. It's Text-To-Video Platform matches the best visual representation for the text, adds voice-over narration and generate an engaging video out of it. 

Using Wibbitz, almost any article, post or feed on the web can be instantly turned into a short video clip.

What does this have to do with travel and documentary photography? Nothing...but it's really cool. I love stuff like that...don't you?

The Travel Photographer's The Vedic Disciples

This is the second of my multimedia (audio slideshows) projects of stills, audio and video made during my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™. It's of the activities at an ancient Vedic 'gurukul' (or training/boarding school; very similar to the Buddhist monasteries for novitiates), where we were treated to a demonstration of this way of teaching sacred Vedic scriptures.

It is an ancient Indian educational system, which is currently being rejuvenated with the assistance of the Indian government. The young boys who populate the Vedic school usually belong to a caste of Keralan Brahmins, who are responsible to carry on the age-old tradition of chanting Vedas during religious rituals or functions. The chanting is learned by practice, and nothing is written down.

The rhythm of the Vedic chants is followed by the young boys' moving their bodies in cadence to the verses, which reminded me how the Buddhist novices recite their mantras, or how the Islamic students recite the Qur'an at their madrasas.

You can watch The Vedic Disciples on Vimeo as well.

645 For iPhone And A Boom Mic

I've had the iPhone 4S since late October, and despite my previous reluctance in having such a device, I'm head over heels with it. Well, this might be an exaggeration because some of my friends and peers have really gone "extreme" with its photographic apps, and I'm not.

 That said, I do like to use the various apps such as Instagram, Hipstamatic, Snapseed and the like that I have on mine. The lastest to appear is 646 Pro for iPhone whose claim sounds interesting. It claims that the app has been designed for professional and serious amateur photographers, and is the first and only iPhone camera app to give TIFF image files that have no in-app post-processing applied and no JPEG compression.

Its JPEGs are enhanced by 645 PRO's seven Film Modes, inspired by classic film stock as used by top photographers. It's still being considered for approval by Apple, but from the claims it makes, I'm sure many serious iPhone photographers will lap it up (subject to its meeting these claims and depending on a sensible price, of course).



 

As for multimedia photographers enamored with the iPhone, here's the iPhone Boom Mic, a small microphone that provides iPhone videos "professional" style sound. The microphone attaches to the iPhone's headphone jack. It's very lightweight, has a broad directional and a super-directional setting for more precisely focused recording.

Note: I have no direct or indirect relationship with either of these manufacturers and/or products.

Embudu Village Resort In Maldives

Embudu features a stunning house reef surrounding it fully. The reef plays host to a good sort of marine wildlife, guaranteeing that snorkeling and even shore diving round the edges are forever rewarding. The water is stunningly clear, particularly round the arrival jetty where giant shoals of fish gather. Watching the many fish that swim beneath the jetty’s lights could be a nightly ritual for several of the guests. As such a friendly setting for each couples and families with youngsters, why not create it your next vacation destination?

Embudu Village - Ansecluded and soothing Maldives resort located half dozen km from the Male’ International airport. The ride could be a couple of minutes from a speed boat, though in an exceedingly ancient Dhoani it's going to take thirty to forty minutes to succeed in Embudu Village.

The resort offers 146 accommodation units created to accommodate differing types of guests. They embrace normal Rooms, Superior Rooms, Water Villas, and Single Rooms.  

Embudu Village additionally offers island hopping, BBQ excursions, indoor and out-door sports, and additionally Diving opportunities for its quests

In Embudu village we tend to, the management forever try and give the simplest cuisines to our guests. Our goal is that each visitor who leaves Embudu village once their vacation, have a contented memory of this resort.

Embudu Village forever sees its guests come back each year once more and once more to pay their vacation, and has become one in every of the well received resorts within the Maldives.

Embudu Village Resort Facilities

The Embudu Village Resort consists of 124 rooms in total that are divided into totally different classes looking on the individual style of every client.  There are normal rooms, superior rooms, single rooms and therefore the breathtaking water villas that are located simply on prime of the ocean and can provide you with a good ocean read from the villas and even through the glass floors.

The Serena Spa located at the resort can provide the guest the chance to relax and revel in the various sorts of treatments that they need to supply.  Massages, beauty treatments, and facials to call simply a number of will definitely become terribly appealing to guests of the hotel that wish to seem as they feel: in an exceedingly state of total bliss.

Embudu Village Resort within the Maldives

The main restaurant at the Embudu Village Resort offers a combination of terribly differing types of culinary experiences which will awaken each sense of style amongst the guests. the most restaurant varies its food and offers the simplest from the west, the east and therefore the oriental; simply slightly of everything for everyone to fancy.  There are occasional retailers and bars.

Embudu Village Resort Activities

Activities at the Embudu Village Resort are definitely terribly attention-grabbing.  They embrace, however don't seem to be restricted to fascinating magic acts, discotheques and excursions to Male the capital of the Maldives.

But, as you'd expect in an exceedingly tropical paradise, the water sports are the foremost vital attractions.  Scuba diving and snorkeling are definitely the most attraction at this resort with a privilege location to access the simplest diving sites at simply ten meters removed from the resort.

Of course there are lots of additional activities to fancy whereas you're staying at the last paradise on earth; together with volleyball, table tennis, darts, island hopping, night fishing, BBQ excursion, ocean plane picnics.

Resources

walking holidays Exodus is well known for offering some of the best walking holidays packages in the world. Wherever you wish to travel, whether it's the peaks of Kilimanjaro or the rugged beauty of the Greek Islands they have packages to suit all tastes.

18 Days In Egypt

A power struggle of epic proportions between various political factions is currently underway in Egypt...essentially a troika of conflicting interests, the power struggle is manifesting itself overtly and covertly. Overtly, the battle for power is over the presidency, and is between the Muslim Brotherhood, (a comparatively pragmatic Islamic movement) the Salafists (a regressive Islamist faction), and the military establishment. The secular forces seem to have been marginalized, even though it was its youth who sparked and carried through the revolution in 2011.

That said, it's not over till the fat lady sings...and there will be more twists and turns to this story as it enfolds over the days and weeks to come.

I thought the 18DaysIn Egypt documentary being worked on by filmmaker and journalist Jigar Mehta is working on a new kind of documentary is especially timely in such a fluid political situation. It's a crowd-sourced interactive documentary project aimed at capturing the history of the revolution in Egypt.

The context of this documentary is simple enough. In the 18 days of Egypt's uprising that began on January 25, 2011 and that ended with the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, thousands of Egyptians turned to their cell phones, digital cameras or social media sites to document the events unfolding in Cairo and across the country.

Tapping into this wealth of material, American documentary filmmaker and journalist Jigar Mehta co-founded 18DaysInEgypt.

Shuchi Kapoor: "Oh My God!"

Photo © Shuchi Kapoor-All Rights Reserved

Shuchi Kapoor is a photographer currently based in Chennai, which is quite a distance from her native Gujarat, and who describes herself as a storyteller minus the frills. She worked for a decade in advertising until she found her calling in photography as well as in writing....so she may also be described as an emerging photography talent.

Some of her stories have been published by Femina, The Sunday Guardian, The Lonely Planet, Spiceroute, and TAXI.

Have a look at her Oh, My God gallery, whose photographs of Dasara, an important festival celebrated in India, is the most compelling of her work. This gallery features this festival as it is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, and during which men dress up as the goddess Kali, and impress the throngs of onlookers with their dance abilities, as well as their make up and costumes.

Shuchi corrected me, as I thought Dasara was Dusshera, but it seems that it's a different festival. It is also different than the Durga Puja festival celebrated in Bengali communities.

Poll: Which Should Go On My Wall?

Living in New York City means that space is at premium, and while my office walls are literally covered from ceiling to waist-level with my photographs, paintings, etc., I still have a spot where a 20x24 inch frame can fit....but it has to be a vertical frame!

People who photograph with me know that I much prefer landscape/horizontal format, but a vertical space is all I can find on my crowded office walls. I like the above photographs equally so I need your involvement in choosing the one.

The top photograph is of a posed full length portrait of a Kathakali artist, while the lower one is of a trio of Oracles who I persuaded to stop their trances, and pose for us. Both were made during The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™.

I plan on having the elected photograph printed commercially on Kodak Professional Glossy paper then in a dark wooden frame...either black or dark brown depending on the photograph.

Anthony Pond: 10,000 Verses

Anthony Pond has just produced another audio slideshow of black and white photographs made at the Vadakke Madham Brahmaswam Vedic Institute in Thrissur, Kerela, India where young novices spend five years learning Vedic chants.

It was made during my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™ when I arranged a photo shoot at this ancient Vedic gurukul (a training and boarding school very similar to Buddhist monasteries for its novitiates, or Muslim madrasas) in Thrissur, where we were allowed to attend demonstrations of this way of teaching and reciting sacred Vedic scriptures.

One of the suggestions I make during my workshops was that essays produced by its participants ought to have intriguing titles. I certainly think Anthony did well with his one.

Anthony worked for more than two decades in the criminal courts in California as an attorney for the Public Defender’s Office. Now pursuing his passion for travel and photography, he travels repeatedly to South East Asia and India, amongst other places, to capture life, the people and the culture.

You can view more of Anthony's audio slideshows on his Vimeo page.

TIME's LightBox: Oded Balilty

Photo © Oded Balilty/AP-Courtesy Time LightBox

“If I see photographers in one corner, I go away. There is no need to take the same picture as five other good photographers." -Oded Balilty

It's no surprise to me that TIME LightBox is, in my estimation, one of the most exciting and interesting photojournalism blogs out there.

It recently featured Oded Balilty's The Art of Storytelling which consists of 35 wonderfully composed photographs of the Jewish ultra orthodox communities, which includes a series on a traditional Hasidic Jewish wedding, as a funeral of a leading rabbis. and the preparations for Passover.

I especially liked this photograph of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathering for the burial of a rabbi in Israel. It's very clever how Oded bisected the scene into two parts; the crowd surrounding the gravesite, and the solitary man presumably on his way to attend the burial.

Oded Balilty is a photographer for the Associated Press, is based in Tel Aviv and describes his work as something between art photography and photojournalism. He also won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2007 for his photograph of a solitary Jewish woman struggling to defy Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

Dhonakulhi Island Spa Resort & Marina In Maldives

The Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives, Spa Resort & Marina could be a new luxury boutique resort situated on the privately owned uninhabited virgin island of Dhonakulhi,in Haa Alifu Atoll.

The resort was opened on first August 2005 with half-dozen sorts of spectacular guest villas. The marina is that the initial of its kind within the Maldives. The Island could be a haven of peace, tranquility and serenity.

The Island could be a physically massive crescent-shaped island. The crystal clear turquoise waters of the shallow waist-deep lagoon surrounding the Island stretch as way because the eye will see. The Island is exclusive in its reef formation, the reef system it sits on having a natural channel splitting it in 2 distinct components, and thereby forming a natural harbour for the marina.

Accommodations

Guest Villas

Designed as an intimate, luxurious resort, with exceptional levels of attention to detail, the resort could be a rustic celebration of nature, with custom-made, hand-finished natural materials used throughout. A keep in these havens of peace and serenity can leave you contemporary, revitalized and rejuvenated! A fine balance between Luxury, Privacy and Nature – terribly distinctive within the Maldives!

Hideaway Palace (Two – Land space of 1420sq.m per villa), represents the epitome of refinement, grandeur and privacy. every Palace, located by a golden natural sandbank, contains of 3 non-public bed rooms with hooked up spacious en-suite bogs and walk-in closets, erected on a timber deck, surrounded by variety of infinity swimming pools. A floating Palace experience!

Jasmine Garden Villa (Five – Land space of 705sq.m per villa), with its own exclusive nine.5m by 4m infinity swimming pool, a floating dining pavilion over the pool and a personal terrace with a tremendous read overlooking the turquoise lagoon. a real favorite for one and all!

Hideaway Water Suite (Two – Land space of 235sq.m per villa), this one-bed area suite, having its own ocean-view medical institution, sauna, steam area and an out of doors spherical bathtub, has a number of the foremost romantic and mesmeric views within the Maldives. A honeymooner delight!

Dhonakulhi Residence (Twenty – Land space of 550sq.m per villa), with direct access to the beach, includes a massive lounge, a separate spacious bed area with an outsized walk-in closet and en-suite rest room, creating it a real “Home aloof from Home” experience! The bedroom French-windows overlooks its own Jacuzzi splash Pool.

Raamba Retreat (Seven – Land space of 385sq.m per villa), the elegantly rustic villas, with their open floor level outside terraces and landscaped gardens, offers the right seclusion for a personal retreat.

Funa Pavilion – (Seven – Land space of 176sq.m per villa), even the bottom class, has its own garden, a separate living area and a bed room with teak flooring, open-air rest room and a picket patio facing the beach.

Services and Facilities

Designed as an intimate, luxurious resort with exceptional levels of attention to detail and repair standards, The Island Hideaway consists of the subsequent key facilities and four Spa Land Villas, a pair of Lagoon Spa Pavilions and a pair of non-public treatment rooms within the Hideaway Water Suites, PADI certified scuba diving in uncharted water, 24-hour in-Villa area service, distinctive butler concept for the complete resort.

The Hideaway Library: books, magazines, games, music CDs, DVDs and Cyber Café, Hideaway Water Sports: Infinity Swimming Pool facing the Indian Ocean; speedboat visits, catamaran sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, canoeing and wakeboarding, Sports advanced with a pair of Tennis Courts, Gym, Table Tennis, Foosball, Beach, Volleyball, Bicycle Riding and Tai-Chi, Pool Table/Billiard Table and a bar, Sunset, Sunrise, Night and Big-game fishing, Cultural Excursions: excursions to vital sites of Maldivian heritage and culture on nearby islands.

The Hideaway Bazaar: gifts, lifestyle boutique, Maldivian arts and crafts, jewelry and hand-made materials, toiletries, “Tender Hearts” Kids’ Club with numerous activities, additionally a playground for the kids at the side of alittle library, board games and bicycles to ride, Desert Island Retreats: picnic visits to nearby uninhabited island or sandbank lagoon, Aerial Photo Flights: non-public chartered photo flights to alternative Atolls or resorts within the Maldives, Laundry and valeting, All major credit cards accepted and foreign currency exchange obtainable on resort Airport meet and greet on arrival and departure

POV: WTF? Will They Change?

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

"...the lack of grace by the surly keepers of the Cheraman Juma Masjid was jarring..."

I can hardly be described as a critic of Islam, since I've always been constructively supportive of its world-class religious traditions and its admirable moral values, and of Muslims in general. 

However, I must say I was spectacularly discomfited by the reception and attitude of the individuals involved in the Cheraman Juma Masjid; the oldest mosque in India and in Kerala's Kodugallur district. On one of the last days of my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™, I decided to take my group to visit and photograph this historical mosque.

We were coming from an indescribable "high" from photographing the Bharaini festival of the Oracles, (not too far away from the mosque itself) for two solid days, and where we had been welcomed by the excitable crowds of worshippers, helped by self-appointed guides, and always smiled at. Not once was I (or to my knowledge, anyone else in our group) treated brusquely or rudely.

Not so at the venerable mosque.

I was brusquely gestured at by the security guard to go to an empty office...directive that I ignored. He wasn't pleased, and was nonplussed when I asked him if he was a Muslim. He wasn't, and the question stunned him long enough for me to continue walking towards the mosque itself....leaving him scratching his head.

The women in our group wore the required head scarves, but were prohibited from entering the main hall of the mosque, and shunted to a dingy side room where there was nothing to see.

Our driver, a Muslim himself, was roughly scolded by a couple of Islamic scholars who were passing through because he was removing his shoes where he shouldn't have. Actually, his "trespass" was about two inches in.

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Now, here's my take on this. The Cheraman Juma Masjid is the oldest mosque in India and worthy of  pilgrimages and visits by Muslims and non-Muslims for its venerable history and status. It's also in dire need of donations and of funding. One would think that the peptic keepers of this moque would exude charm, hospitality and proffer a welcome mat to all visitors alike...in the hope of donations.

But no. Quite the opposite.

So here's what I would tell the keepers of this mosque, and beyond. Fatimah, the favorite daughter of the Prophet of Islam, prayed alongside him in Mecca. His wife, Khadija, was a self made business woman. To treat women of whatever persuasion as inferior is anti-Islamic and in direct contradiction to the actions and values of the Prophet himself. They can disagree all they want...they can risk a collective apoplexy...but that's the truth.

Here's what I would tell the two scholars who chided our driver. I would tell them that God is all forgiving, and it would have been more in keeping with Islamic traditions to be gentle if someone made an unintended mistake. And minding their own business would be even better, since it would avoid having others like me chiding them for wearing unkept beards, and lecturing them on real Islamic values.

How could I explain to the members of my group why we were welcomed with no discrimination at Hindu religious gatherings, but faced with surliness and boorish behavior at the Cheraman Juma Masjid?

I couldn't.

So the question of this post is pertinent. Will these delightful young boys who were so pleased to see us, and excitedly pose for us at the nearby Islamic medresa, change when they get older? Will they also be surly and unwelcoming to non Muslims?

And if yes, why?

MSNBC's Easter

Photo © Darren Whiteside. Courtesy MSNBC Photo Blog

Photo © Darren Whiteside. Courtesy MSNBC Photo Blog

Most of the "big picture' blogs have yet to feature photographs of Easter celebrations, however MSNBC's Photo Blog has done so with a number of images. The two that caught my eye are by Darren Whiteside, and were made at the Church of Holy Sepulcher during Easter celebrations in Jerusalem's Old City. 


I wish the best to all my readers who celebrate Easter and Passover.

My Work: The Fishermen of Punnapra

Here's one my audio-slideshows titled The Fishermen Of Punnapra, which was made during my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition-Workshop in March 2012.

Fishing is one of the main sources of income in Kerala, and the fishing communities are found along its beaches and backwaters. This short audio slideshow features the arrival of the fishing boats on Punnapra beach and the frenetic auction activity which follows.

The light was extremely harsh on Punnapra beach, but that was the time when the fishermen generally returned with their catch, and sold it at what appeared to be impromptu auctions. The men who carried the catch in large baskets were mobbed by young children hoping for a fish or two to fall into their hands.

I had the choice to either convert the stills to black & white and exploit the harshness for contrast, or apply a sort of Lomo-like process to them in Lightroom. I opted for the latter. The audio slideshow was made using SoundSlides and Audacity Audio Editor, then converted to a movie format.

Meeru Island Resort In Maldives

Meeru is one among the foremost fashionable resorts within the Maldives, the award winning selection of the many honeymooners, SCUBA divers and families too! Located in North Male’ Atoll, a 50-minute speedboat ride from the airport, Meeru could be a four star resort and offers a beautiful vacation for smart price, together with an All Inclusive arrange possibility. Relax on the magnificent beach, snorkel within the crystal clear lagoon, Scuba Dive with Ocean professional, take a massage at the over water Duniye Spa, a swim within the pool & kid’s pool and far additional. one thing for everybody together with families.

water villas

Step outside and dip your toes within the ocean in one among the twenty seven water villas whereas the sun comes up. These fastidiously sited rooms afford breathtaking ocean views. Sit on the balcony and hear the breakers crash on to the reef within the distance, or step down on to the deck to sunbathe with the waves lapping gently beneath you. some additional steps take you right into the ocean.

Inside the pinewood lined rooms, a giant comfy 4-poster bed awaits at the tip of the day, or if you wish to relax before surrendering, a sitting space with armchairs and occasional table are provided. get pleasure from the natural heat of a wood floor underfoot. A discreet white tiled, partially open lavatory where you'll shower next to slightly garden, adds the ultimate bit of fashion.

Beach Villas

Fringing the island, and set back behind the beach vegetation, a row of seventy seven villas stretch out along the west aspect of the island to complete the impact of a village. These pine chalets with their wide, shaded verandas supply a cool retreat at the tip of an action packed day. Deck chairs are provided to sit down on as you watch the sun go down, or relax and skim in an exceedingly quiet moment.

Inside, the chalet rooms are spacious and ethereal. A ceiling fan whirrs gently, and therefore the space features a sitting space by the complete window overlooking the veranda. A bed and aspect tables with Tiffany-style reading lamps add slightly of sophistication. A dressing space with wardrobe leads into an open air, totally fitted, white tiled lavatory.

Beach Villas sleep up to three adults or two adults and a pair of kids up to twelve yrs with one king-size or twin beds, bathroom, partial open-air shower, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, broadband net, phone, cable TV, CD player, hairdryer, minibar*, tea/coffee facilities, beach towels, complimentary toiletries, nightly turndown service, non-public terrace and is ready back from the water's edge.

Jacuzzi Beach Villas

Jacuzzi Beach Villas sleep up to three adults and are larger with a four-poster bed and facilities as higher than and a DVD player, seating space, little tropical garden and a Jacuzzi for two.

Jacuzzi  Water Villas

Which are located over-the-water, within the lagoon short walk along your non-public jetty to the present secluded hideaway that includes an oversized bedroom, a sitting space with Cable TV, a DVD player, and an espresso machine; a spacious lavatory with double sinks, a non-public sundeck with steps into the ocean, and a Jacuzzi for two!

Jacuzzi  Water Villas sleep up to three adults and are located over the water on stilts with king-size or twin beds, facilities as per Beach Villas and an Espresso machine, DVD player, bathrobes, double sinks within the lavatory, a seating space, Jacuzzi for two, giant balcony and a non-public sundeck with steps into the ocean.