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POV: Passion & Enthusiasm

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

"hello sir,
i'm a 18yr old from india
i've dropped my college for my passion of travelling ,writing n photography!
your work have quite inspired me continue it!
n just wanna thank you!
your blog is quite a source of inspiration for me!
thank you"
It's a leap year, and what better way to end this February's 29 days!

This wonderful email from a young Indian woman was waiting in my inbox...and while I frequently get complimentary emails on my photography and blog from readers, this one was so enthusiastic, and so full of hope for the future, that I had to feature it here.

Naturally, I urged her to remain in college, get a degree and pursue her passion at the same time. I hope she does.

I occasionally meet with young people seeking my advice as to how to forge a career in travel photography. It's always a difficult task to balance youthful aspirations and hard-core reality...but one of my principal pieces of advice is to stay in college (if they don't have a degree...and get one), and take up a profession that can pay the bills for a while.

Alex Webb: Streets of Chicago



"I did not have a goal in mind. In fact, I do not have goals in mind when I photograph. I respond to what I see before me." 

Reading Alex Webb's interview on The Leica Camera Blog, I gasped (figuratively) when I got to these phrases. How refreshing to read something said by a photographer that is so devoid of pretension! No bullshit here. He responds to what he sees. He doesn't pretend to see a La Pieta (as some did in Samuel Aranda's World Press winning photograph) in any of his frames...an honest guy and comfortable in his own skin, this Alex Webb.

Perhaps uncharacteristically for many street photographers, he chose to photograph Chicago's character in color. Having mostly worked in color since 1979, Alex tells us he respond to color, and that black and white for him at this time isn't an option. He sees in color and feels in color, so works in color...for him, it's that simple.

That's an interesting statement. When I walk the streets of New York with my camera, I see in color as well, and certainly photograph in color. However, when I return home and view the resulting images, there are some that work better in monochrome than in color. This is the advantage of digital photography, which allows us to alternate between the two. Purists may disagree and will extol the incomparable qualities of Tri-X film and others...but there's no denial that we currently have the best of two worlds.

Since buying a Leica M9, I've been working on a long term project which will involve producing an audio slideshow of my street photographs of New York City. Alex Webb's Streets of Chicago certainly will inspire me to complete my project. I haven't yet decided whether my photographs will be in color or black & white, but after viewing his work, I am inclined towards color.

Travel To Velassaru Resort In Maldives



Velassaru is found on a non-public coral island soaked in year-round Maldivian sunshine. Where legendary white dissolves into translucent turquoise, and plush tropical greenery conceals pristine natural beauty among. An ingenious work of nature.Distance from airport 12km .To Reach the resort using Speedboat (60mins) Immersion - Scuba Diving

Explore the untouched niches of the South Male' atoll. Brilliant-coloured reefs dancing amidst a bright turquoise backdrop. Aquatic splendour unfolds all around you.

Catering to each novice and experienced divers, Immersion offers a chance to expertise firsthand the wonderful underwater world of the Maldives. Learn to breathe underwater. Discover spectacular marine life. Embark on bespoke diving journeys designed by a team of execs for an unsurpassed expertise.
 
Accomodation

Water Villa

A serene haven perched atop the turquoise lagoon area Size 112 m2. Living areas bathed in heat natural lightweight. Timber floor, king-sized bed draped in sheer linen and silk. A full sea-facing wall opens out to the spacious over-water terrace and also the expansive lagoon beyond. lavatory with a freestanding bathtub and a terrace with steps that lead you into the lagoon for a snorkel or swim.

Water Bungalow

Natural living areas designed for intimacy area Size eighty m2. the trendy interiors showcase clean lines, minimal luxe amidst breathtaking surrounds. Panoramic views of the crystal clear lagoon from your king-sized bed, through the floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors casually partitioning the flow of indoor-outdoor areas. An over-water deck with cushioned sun loungers leads into the turquoise-coloured ocean.

Beach Villa


Contemporary beachfront living, ivory-coloured sand at your feet. Elegant interiors of built-in stone and teak. the big windows and full-length glass door permit for a seamless flow of house from indoor to the sea-facing terrace. an outside daybed soaked in natural lightweight and breezes. Garden lavatory with indoor and out of doors showers overlooking the ocean.

Deluxe Bungalow

Set amidst lush tropical greenery and velvet-white sand with an open terrace, daybed and split-level garden lavatory. The refreshing interiors fashioned in white, heat teak and tropical foliage mix in seamlessly with the all-encompassing beachfront.

 Services

Mini-bar, Tea and low creating facility, LCD TV and DVD player, Garden lavatory with shower,    Indoor shower and bathtub, DVD player, LCD TV, personal bar, Tea/Coffee maker, Individually controlled AC , Ceiling fan, net access, IDD phonephone, In-villa safe, Bathrobes and slippers, Hair dryer
 
Restaurants

Etesian

A gourmand tour of the Mediterranean. Umbrian truffles , made stews and interactive cheese board. A wine library stuffed with high shelf whites and reds. Degustation menu showcasing gastronomic creativity and aptitude. it isn't pure dining; it is a journey.

Sand

Oceanfront food theatre with a dramatic panorama. Teppanyaki over the lagoon. Your dining pavilion perched on powder-white sand. Seating by the water’s edge. Indian curries whipped up within the clay oven. Japanese sushi with an inventive twist. loves the culinary arts of jap, Indian and Continental cuisines from a live grill and cooking stations – al fresco.

Vela

World cuisine with an off-the-cuff vibe, cocooned in lush island greenery. relish a range of international delight from interactive buffet stages and cooking stations. gourmand breakfast tour, inventive lunch recipes and an amalgamation of freshness, health and indulgence for dinner.

Turquoise

Integrated international cuisine in an off-the-cuff nevertheless intimate setting. Breathtaking azure ocean stretching indefinitely ahead. Continental and Asian influences with a tropical backdrop.

Fen

Beachfront bar. Diving in. Chilling out. Cocktails, wines overlooking a panorama of blue. Asian and European nibbles. daring flavours. Over-sized loungers. Eclectic modern World music. The Signature Velassaru expertise.

Chill

Large sundeck perched over azure blue. Cool cocktails and uninterrupted sunset moments daily of the year. A serenade of the ocean within the background.

Island Dining

Intimacy at each flip. Signature lunches and dinners, customized in each means. personal chefs cook to your vogue. Your menu. Your call. The setting of your alternative. A table set on the deck, on the beach or an uninhabited island.

In Villa Dining

Each gastronomic expertise created with a twist. lightweight lunch of Maldivian catch on your terrace. Champagne and canapés whereas watching a sunset from your daybed. Personal BBQ of fine cuts on your Water Villa deck. All served with discretion to present you privacy. on the market by appointment.

Spa

Signature treatments enriched with indigenous ingredients. Classic therapies performed in Velassaru vogue. Over-water treatment pavilions set on stilts, every that includes an uninterrupted read of the Maldivian seascape.

Hardware: The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™

click to enlarge

I will soon be traveling to India to lead my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™, and thought to feature here most of the equipment that will accompany me.

I'll be taking a Canon 5D Mark II, a Canon 7D, and a bunch of lenses (28-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, 17-40mm f4, and a 24mm f1.4), along with a Canon flash 580ex. I'll be taking a Leica m9 with a Leica 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit, and a 40mm f1.4 Voigtlander lens. I'm also taking a Canon-mount Holga lens for fun.

For audio, I'm packing a Tascam DR-40 Recorder, an Audio-Technica ATR6250 Stereo Condenser Video/Recording Microphone and Sony headphones.

I'll also be taking my iPhone4S (for picture-taking as well as communication), and a Blackberry for an India sim card.

And naturally, a couple of scarves.

Jim Shannon: Holi Festival

Photo © Jim Shannon-All Rights Reserved
As Holi is about to be celebrated in India (and elsewhere) in just about 10 days, and I know a number of friends are planning to attend its festivities in Vrindavan and elsewhere, I found Jim Shannon's advice and past experience to be both very valuable and sensible, and hope they will as well.

Along with the monochrome photographs of Holi by Toby Devenson (who traveled with Jim to Vrindavan) featured on this blog just yesterday, today's post will provide more than ample inspiration and guidance to those who will experience Holi for the first time.

As Jim writes in his Holi Hunters article which appears in Sidetracked magazine:
"this is one of the few times caste and wealth is forgotten. By the time everyone is covered in dye, it's impossible to tell who is rich or poor".
Jim's advice on how to photograph during Holi, especially in Vrindavan., is a must-read. I noted he photographed in the Banke Bihari temple in that holy town, but urges caution not to cause grave offense by photographing the religious deity itself. He also recommends covering one's face and arms with thick sunblock, which seemed to help in washing the dye off a little more easily. He also recommends wearing a pair of goggles to protect one's eyes from the industrial dyes.

But what about protecting one's photographic gear?? Jim and others suggest the OP/Tech Rain Sleeves which is a polyethylene sleeve made to protect an SLR camera with a lens from dust and inclement weather...and dye powder.

Jim Shannon has traveled and photographed in 42 countries, and his photographs were published by Arte Fotográfica, BBC News, BBC Countryfile Magazine, Guardian Weekend, Lonely Planet, Lonely Planet Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, The New Republic, The Observer, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and Wanderlust, amongst others.

Toby Deveson: Holi In Monochrome

Photo © Toby Deveson-All Rights Reserved

Toby Deveson is a brave man. A brave man indeed to have considered shooting one of the most colorful festivals in India in black and white.

And if you consider his biography in which he writes "Toby Deveson has been taking photographs since 1989 when he was given an old Nikkormat and a 24mm lens. After trying a friend's darkroom he set up one of his own in a damp basement and was soon addicted to the alchemy of intoxicating smells and mysterious light. Twenty years later not much has changed. The darkroom is no longer damp but the camera and lens are the same.", you'll conclude he's a very brave photographer.

Choosing to shoot Holi in monochrome as Toby did is very unusual in this day and age. Holi is such a flamboyant festival, filled with explosions of color, that other photographers normally prefer to record its images in natural colors. The photographs on his gallery were made in the Banke Bihari temple of Vrindavan, Mathura, and in its streets.

Perhaps he chose to go against the grain, and didn't want the all powerful colors of Holi to distract the viewers away from the composition of his photographs, or from the shadow and light play or from the forms in his frames.

After all, I adopted the same rationale when I photographed the equally colorful Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata this past October. I also encouraged the participants in The Cult of Durga Photo Workshop to
produce their work in monochrome to better capture the festivities without the intrusion of color. It's a mindset.

Toby Deveson lives and works in London as stills photographer and television cameraman. He has been living in Britain since 1990 when he obtained his degree in photography, painting and music.

Travel To Huvafen Fushi Maldives



Best for: 
Celebs, town slickers and trend setters - anyone whose paradise could be a buzzy modern setting. Huvafen Fushi is that the Maldives' answer to the Touessrok on Mauritius.

Due to open one could, we tend to got a sneak preview that proved Huvafen Fushi is near to create huge waves within the Maldives. For starters, it's the primary underwater spa treatment rooms, with glass walls for marine viewing which complete relaxation expertise. There are over-water treatment rooms with glass floors and an out of doors salt-water flotation pool in addition as a large infinity-edged swimming pool where guests can get complimentary cold towels, spray mist and fruit canapes. 

The forty four rooms, kitted out with fashionable, horny furniture in cream, brown and beige with scores of lightweight colored wood, are divided between the island and over-the-water pontoons. Unusually for the Maldives, all accompany a non-public pool. Beach bungalows get their own patch of sand and have loos gap out onto plunge pools during a walled garden with a deck for sunbathing and Thai massage. There are scores of high-tech gizmos, from remote-controlled lightweight switches to giant plasma screen televisions.

Those staying in over-the-water villas will settle down in their non-public plunge pool or just jump into the nice and cozy ocean surrounding them. The water is that the key theme here - all rooms have a ocean read, and there is an over-the-water restaurant whose roof is formed to appear like an upturned dhoni hull, in addition as an over-the-water gym and yoga pavilion. Expect to envision an underwater bar inside a year. 

High point:

Being massaged within the underwater spa, with its jellyfish-style lights and relaxing atmosphere.
Snags: though all of them have non-public pools, squeezing forty four rooms on an island 350m by 150m may well be many too several. 

Rooms

forty three non-public bungalows and pavilions.

Facilities 

Non-public beaches, infinity pool, boat fleet, water sports, diving centre, spa, gym, yoga pavilion, boutique, library, free WiFi. In rooms, plunge pool, LCD TV, DVD/CD player, bar, low maker, Frette linen, Bose sound system, preloaded iPod and dock.

Poolside 

The massive lagoon-like infinity-edged pool bleeds into the watery horizon of the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by four-poster day beds; by night, it's romantically lit with fibre-optic lights and reflects the inky sky.

Eco-friendly 

Huvafen Fushi is aware of that aspect its bread is buttered on, and takes nice care of its marine surroundings. It supports coral-reef rehabilitation comes and sustainable native businesses, and encourages guests to offset their carbon emissions

POV: The Dove Whisperer & Storytelling

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Regular readers know that I've joined a new storytelling website called Cowbird, and have already posted a couple of mini-stories.

I've just started a few days ago, and I've realized a couple of interesting things. First off, the community of Cowbird are not professional photographers...there are some, but the majority describe themselves as storytellers not as photographers. Secondly, haphazardly eyeballing members' pages, tells me that the majority of them reside in the United States, and by definition tell local stories.

But here's what's interesting as far as I'm concerned. The most popular story among the four I've published so far is The Dove Whisperer. I think there's a number of reasons for that. It's very brief, it's simple and it's touching...and it was one of the 'recommended' stories on Cowbird.

In my multimedia workshops, I stress that stories need to be brief, simple and compelling. So it's not surprising that The Dove Whisperer is more 'magnetic' than the rest of my stories.

And one more thing...and I also stress this in my classes, choosing a title that resonates with one's audience is almost half a battle won. We all know that a title that is mysterious, compelling, unusual but also descriptive is extremely important to the success of one's project...be that a book, article, multimedia slideshow or movie.

I don't know how Cowbird, which is still in its infancy, will evolve and mature....but the possibility of reaching a large (or I should say, a different) audience for my stories through its platform is exciting. 

Finally, The Dove Whisperer was a forgotten moment experienced in Bhutan in September 2009. I was shooting in a small monastery in Jakar when this elderly man appeared with a dove under his arm. I asked what he was doing, and was told he was a bird healer. He was known to tend birds that had broken wings, and released them once they could fly. 

The whole thing didn't last more than five minutes, and yet when I was thinking of a story for Cowbird, I remembered it, searched for the photograph and it was on Cowbird in less time.

It's funny how things remain in the recesses of one's mind, and pop out at the right time.

Carnival Festivals & Ash Wednesday

Photo © Vanderlei Almeida/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

























Most of the important photo blogs have by now featured images of the Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, and elsewhere... whether  in South and Central America or Europe.

For instance, these large sized photographs appeared on The Sacramento Bee's The Frame, on the Boston Globe's The Big Picture, twice on The Atlantic In Focus and here, as well as on The Wall Street Journal's Photo Journal.

If there's one festival I want to attend and photograph, it's certainly Rio's Carnival. With all its colors, fantastic costumes, wonderful music and utterly gorgeous women, it's unquestionably the most magnetic of the world's festivals. In my view, head and shoulders over its Venetian cousin.

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is held before Lent every year, and is considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.

Photo © Jose Cabezas/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which according to the Gospels, marks the
beginning of the 40 days period during which Jesus spent fasting in the desert
before the start of his public ministry, and during which he endured temptation
by Satan.


It's quite common in mid-town Manhattan to see Catholics emerging from St Patrick's

Cathedral on Fifth Avenue with smears of ash on their foreheads; traditionally
signifying repentance and mourning.

When I first worked in Manhattan, I had no clue of this and almost telling one of my
colleagues that he had dirt on his forehead...but i caught myself in time when I noticed
others had it as well.






Jonah M. Kessel: Tibet

Photo © Jonah M. Kessel- All Rights Reserved

It's been a while since I featured  images of Tibet, and Jonah Kessel's work is well worth the wait. I particularly liked his use of a wide angle lens, like the above picture.

Jonah M. Kessel is an interactive art director, visual journalist and also describes himself as a nomadically curious photographer. His company, currently based in Beijing, offers visual communication solutions on a wide array of platforms including photography, amongst others.

Prior to working as the Creative Director of China Daily in Beijing, Jonah worked as a photography and design consultant for the Journalism Development Group in North Africa; as the Visual Director of the Tahoe Daily Tribune in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; and as a freelance photographer for multiple media outlets across the United States. He received more than 35 awards from media organizations for his photography, web and design projects.

His international travels took him to Algeria, Malaysia, India, China, Tibet, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Travel To Conrad Hilton Rangali Maldives



The award-winning Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa became Conrad Maldives Rangali Island on eighteen December 2007, in line with Conrad's positioning because the luxury complete at intervals the Hilton Family, with services and facilities at this excellent resort being even more enhanced.

The Island


A million miles from the nine-to-five, nestled in an azure ocean, lies a secret... maybe nature's best kept secret. An island of tranquility and harmony, where mankind and Mother Nature entwine in an exceedingly passionate dance of color and life and where every visitor is as special and totally different because the wondrous creatures that grace this paradise.

The only place on earth where there are thousand ways that to try to to nothing, and each day may be a dream return true...

Scenic Seaplane Transfer & Hilton Lounge

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is found ninety five km from Male International Airport.
All transfers to the resort are created by seaplane (35-minute flight), which may fly solely throughout daylight. Please note that evening/night arrivals and early morning departures might need one night's accommodation in Male.

Accommodation on Rangalifinolhu Island

35 Beach Villas, forty four Deluxe Beach Villas, and twenty one Spa Water Villas

Accommodation on Rangali Island

28 Water Villas, twelve Superior Water Villas, six Deluxe Water Villas, two Premier Water Villas and a couple of Sunset Water Villas

Resort Facilities

Dining - you'll be able to be assured that you will be offered the best of international cuisine at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; with a alternative of seven restaurants and numerous further dinner choices. There are three bars overlooking the ocean, and a wine list that few places might surpass. non-public picnics and dinners are out there round the resort or on nearby deserted islands.

Spa & Wellness Facilities

Over Water Spa on Rangali Island: four treatment areas (3 with glass floor) and a relaxation room with Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean.

The Conrad Maldives Resort & Spa features a new destination Spa Village.
A 'resort at intervals a resort', the twenty one over water Spa Water Villas and Spa Village with nine treatment rooms (5 with non-public steam, sauna and Jacuzzi) and a beauty salon engineered over the lagoon on the tip of Rangalifinolhu Island. a lot of details...

Other land facilities

Yoga, gym, aerobics studio. Beach volleyball, floodlit astro turf tennis court.

Diving

Scuba Diving for international certified divers (more than thirty dive sites), rental of snorkelling gear, introductory dives & Resort-courses, Certification Courses (PADI) in many languages, medical statement needed for all courses, customized diving videos. Divers within the South Ari Atoll have to be compelled to have a legitimate license, a diving logbook and a medical certificate. Sub Aqua Dive Center Rangali

Water Sports

Catamaran sailing, Jet skiing, Winsurfing, Water skiing, Banana rides, Wake boarding, Canoes and pedalos. non-public yacht excursions, Island hopping, Night fishing, massive game fishing, Snorkelling, Glass-bottomed boat.

Other resort facilities

Marine biology courses, Infinity pool, personal island host, poolside and beach dining, beach service. Air-conditioned guest lounge, games, beach towels, wireless web access, fax, multi-lingual workers. IDD telephones, baby sitting service. High chairs, cribs, in-Villa dining, turndown service. In-Villa safety deposit box, laundry/valet service. Foreign currency exchange, two tv rooms with home theatre system. Books/CD/DVD library. Exclusive lounge within the seaplane terminal at Male Airport.

Anthony Pond: The Ring Train of Yangon



Whether in Myanmar (Burma), India, China, Viet Nam or elsewhere, trains or trams are wonderful to meet local people, and photograph them.

In Yangon (Rangoon), a local railway line does a loop from the city’s main station through the inner city, suburbs and outlying villages, before returning to the station some 3 hours later. The "circular" is a train for local people, offering hard (and worn) wooden seats, sputtering fans, and with occasionally stuck windows, but it's a fascinating insight into local life.

Anthony Pond has just produced another audio slideshow of black and white (toned with Silver Efex Pro 2) photographs, and which were made during a ride on the circular train of Yangon. My very favorite is the one of the elderly nun.

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 traveled repeatedly to South East Asia and India, amongst other places, to capture life, the people and the culture.

He is joining me on my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™ in a few weeks, and I certainly look forward to be working with him during it.

Fuji X-Pro 1 Hands On Movie



Chris Niccolls from The Camera Store had the chance to spend an evening shooting with a pre-production model of the new Fuji X-Pro 1. He shows off the features, lens options, and hybrid viewfinder, and demos the video and low light images from this camera.

I don't need to rehash what's already mentioned on this video, but I ought to highlight its moiré capability. I've just returned from a walk-about in my neighborhood with my M9 during which I bumped its iso to 640. The resultant photographs showed noticeable moiré when enlarged.

It appears that Fujifilm’s solution to the problem of moiré was to design a new sensor that arranges the pixels in an irregular alignment which, in practice, greatly reduces the chance of distracting moiré patterns while maintaining image sharpness.

Although videos like this one are interesting, they're still sale jobs, so I really can't wait read unbiased reviews of the X-Pro 1, and see real life more samples of its images.

As I've posted a number of times, Leica's M9 is firmly in Fujifilm's sights, and I expect Leica will have to meet this challenge. Resting on one's laurels has led the sales of many formidable products to wither.

Just ask Blackberry.

Teerayut Chaisarn: In Search of Sufis Movie



Teerayut Chaisarn is an emerging photojournalist/photographer from Chiang Mai in Thailand, and participated in my In Search of the Sufis of Gujarat Photo Expedition™ in January 2011. He recently completed a 14 minutes movie of his experience during the photo expedition, and posted it on YouTube.

Teerayut started photographing about 5 years ago, and is largely self-taught. He started work as a photographer on the magazine staff of his hometown, but preferred to become a freelance photographer. He also applied his Photoshop post processing expertise to assist various Thai professional photographers, and processes their portfolios.

The Travel Photographer Is On Cowbird!



I've just uploaded my first Cowbird story titled The Sufi Itinerant of Qutb Uddin.

While working on the photograph of Miskine, the Sufi in my post of yesterday, I realized I had a recording of him briefly telling me his life story. Coincidentally, I was invited to join Cowbird, which describes itself as "...a small community of storytellers, focused on a deeper, longer-lasting, more personal kind of storytelling than you’re likely to find anywhere else on the Web."

Cowbird seeks to feature incredible stories by some of the world's finest storytellers, and present them in the most beautiful storytelling environment on the Web. Its community consists of journalists, photographers, writers, artists, filmmakers, designers, explorers, and many others.


"incredible stories by some of the world's finest storytellers"

It allows members of its community to produce multimedia stories, incorporating text, photos, sound, subtitles, roles, relationships, maps, tags, timelines, dedications, and characters, thus mixing elements of traditional storytelling with elements of technology.

I'm excited to have joined Cowbird, and will upload new single image stories as time permits. I've seen that Aaron Huey, a fantastic photographer has also joined Cowbird, and already has a number of stories on it. This one of Zahoor is especially wonderful!

Readers of this blog who feel, as I do, that this is an exciting venue to display their storytelling talents, request an invite from Cowbird...as I did.

Sufi Qawwali In India

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy. See It Full Size On TTP's Tumblr 
"Khawaja Syed Muhammad Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a Sufi saint, died while in a musical trance induced by a qawwali song"

And I'd say what a wonderful way to go!

Divya Dugar, a photographer and reporter for CNNGo, has just authored an interesting and valuable article on Where To Hear Qawwali In India.

Sufism has many definitions, but mainstream Islamic scholars define it as simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of Islam. In Sufism, especially in South Asia, the visitation of the tombs of saints, great scholars, and righteous people is a common practice.

Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, and is a musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years. One of its most famous singers is the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Divya takes us to the most famous Sufi shrines in India, and guides us to the Dargah (shrine) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi, to the neighboring Dargah Hazrat Inayat Khan, to the Dargah of Khawaja Syed Muhammad Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki and finally to the most important shrine, the Dargah of Moin Uddin Chishti in Ajmer (Rajasthan).

The Delhi shrines are my favorite destinations when I'm in Delhi, especially on Thursdays and Fridays to attend the qawwali performances from local singers. The photograph featured for this post was made at the Qutbuddin shrine a few years ago, where I met a Sufi itinerant called Miskine. Extraordinarily photogenic, I found him at one of the many dhabas that surround the shrine, and made a number of photographs of him.

I've produced a number of Sufi-related galleries and audio slideshows on the Sufis. In Search of Sufis In Gujarat is a gallery of stills, while The Possessed of Mira Datar is an audio slideshow of a small shrine in Gujarat.

Travelling Lens Workshop To Ladakh...


What would you get if you mixed a troika of world-class women photographers with the visionary founder of a photojournalism workshop with an expert on Ladakh...and asked them to lead a 15 days photography workshop in a remote corner of the Indian Himalayas?

You'd get the Travelling Lens Master Class...that's what!

The Masterclass Workshop is led by Eric Beecroft (the founder of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop) and by Varun Gupta, a photographer with first hand knowledge of Ladkah and an alum of the Foundry), with the  extraordinary talents of Andrea Bruce, Maggie Steber, and Ami Vitale as workshop instructors (they are also instructors with the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop whom I know well and respect).

As mentioned on the workshop's website, this is a journey to one of the world's most epic locations, with full access to these professionals for guidance in the participants' photography career.

The dates of the workshop are from June 21 to July 5, 2012 and the journey will include some days in Balistan, in the very heart of the Karakoram.

This is a unique opportunity of joining some of the best Foundry Photojournalism Workshop instructors, so visit the Travelling Lens Workshop website for full details.

Travel To Baros Maldives


The Baros Maldives is a heavenly hideaway where luxurious villas seamlessly blend into its tropical private island setting. Thatched roofs and hammocks capture the essence of the Maldives, whilst chic interiors, lavish outdoor bathrooms and personal wine cellars ensure that you are well catered for.

Dine with the view from The Lighthouse restaurant, where you can savour eclectic modern cuisine, or the hotel would be delighted to organise the sandbank romantic dinner experience, tailored to your requirements. An utterly romantic choice, this remarkable hotel is sure to impress.

Your Hotel Features

3 Dining options, 2 bars, The Spa, Non motorised watersports, Day & night snorkeling, Big game fishing, Island hopping excursion, Sunset cruise, "Nooma" Traditional dhoni sailing cruise, Dolphin watching, Marine Information centre, PADI Dive Centre, Maldivian lounge, Cooking classes, Yoga, Table Tennis, Library Lounge, Gym

Your Accommodation
All Villas have branded bathroom amenities, private In-Villa bar, LAVAZZA Espresso machine, flat-screen TV, DVD/CD player, Wireless and high-speed Internet access, IDD telephone, In-villa safe, Generous wardrobe space, Bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer and individually controlled air conditioning and ceiling fan

Deluxe Villas
are located close to the beach, these villas are 89m² and have; King size bed, Open air bathroom, indoor shower and bath plus outdoor rain fall shower

Baros Villas Secluded by vegetation and located by the beach, these villas are 103m² and have a wine chiller, King size bed, Open air bathroom, indoor shower and bath plus outdoor rain fall shower

Water Villas are located on a boardwalk over the lagoon, these villas are 92m² and have double beds, indoor bathroom with shower and bath overlooking the sea

Baros Pool Villas Baros are proud to present the Baros pool villa category. There are only 8 in total so book early to avoid disappointment. Baros pool villas measure 103m². Set in a quieter location and offering the same amazing facilities as the Baros Villa and Water Villa, in addition you'll have a private pool (4m by 2.4m), dedicated villa host and upgraded outdoor furniture.

Baros Premium Pool Villas are on a secluded beach with panoramic ocean views. There are only two of these fantastic villas on the island and they measure 106m². Enjoy lazing in your outdoor lagoon side whirlpool (for two) as well as taking a dip in your own infinity edged plunge pool (3.4m x 2.4m).

Baros Residence Premium Pool Villa is the ultimate and most exclusive villa type on the island. Surrounded by green foliage and bird of paradise blossoms, the Baros.

Residence is an intimate retreat. There is only one these villas on the island measuring 268m². Make the most of the private location, walled garden and inviting private swimming pool (7m x 3m).

Your Dining
Lime Restaurant
: Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner The Lime Restaurant is open sided to enjoy the views. All day a la carte dining is available and for dinner special selections can be prepared at the table.

Cayenne Grill
Located on thatched gazebos over the lagoon, fish, meat and vegetarian dishes are served in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Lighthouse The over water restaurant serves gourmet cuisine in a relaxed but refined environment.

Villa Dining Breakfast, snacks and dinner can be served on demand in the comfort of your villa.

Island Dining Dine anywhere on the island, on request the Baros team will arrange picnics or candlelit dinners at any location.

The Lighthouse
Lounge Enjoy panoramic views whilst sampling a cocktail or sipping champagne.

Sails Bar
Open all day for a refreshing juice or cool beer whilst enjoying mellow music and fine scenery.

Maika Elan: Thaipusam Festival

Photo © Maika Elan-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Maika Elan-All Rights Reserved

I really can't describe Maika Elan's recent photography style with certitude, and don't know if it really fits neatly in a category...but what I do know is that it's ingeniously creative.

First off, Maika's birth name is Nguyen Thanh Hai, and is a freelance photographer from Hanoi. Her photography was recognized with a number of awards, and she's currently working hard on completing her long term project...The Pink Choice, in which she documents gay life in Vietnam and elsewhere.

Maika attended the Thaipusam festival held at the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and decided that, rather than documenting this festival in a traditional editorial style, she would try to fuse the festival's ancient rituals and tradition with modern images of Western culture. She did so by photographing popular culture magazines, and then double exposed these with her images made during the Thaipusam festival.

The result is an intriguing collection of images which, if you peer at them closely enough, will reveal faint images of Western models superimposed on Maika's photographs of Thaipusam scenes.

You may prefer to view her gallery on Invisible Photographer Asia.

When I heard she was on her way to photograph the festival, I was certain she'd come up with an unorthodox way of documenting it her way...a la Maika. Yes, that's what I ought to call her style...the Maika style.

Denis Rouvre: Sadhus

Photo © Denis Rouvre-All Rights Reserved

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

The gallery of sadhus made by portrait photographer Denis Rouvre really knocked my socks off. So many reasons for that, but readers of this blog may already know I have a fondness for chiaroscuro, and these are gorgeous exemplars of this style. The lighting, the simplicity of the poses and their 'naturalness' are additional qualities of these portraits.

To view Rouvre's Sadhus gallery on his website, click on Work. And while you're at it, you will also want to view his equally impressive gallery of Senegalese wrestlers which won the second prize in the Sports features stories at World Press Photo in 2010.

Denis Rouvre is a French portrait photographer who photographed internationally known celebrities throughout the years, and on other personal and editorial projects. His work was exhibited extensively throughout the world, and he also released several books and monographs.

The Travel Photographer Has His "The Big Picture"!


I had neglected my Tumblr blog for a while, and recently realized there was a lot more themes available. One of those is HD Exhibit free theme which is, frankly speaking, just gorgeous and displays large sized (1200 pixels by 800) photographs really beautifully.

So I've worked quite diligently during the past two days to rejig my The Travel Photographer's Tumblr blog which now features some of my own favorite travel photographs. From here onwards, it will be the repository of some of my photographs (more travel than documentary) which I have archived over the past years, as well as those I intend to make on my forthcoming trips and workshops.

So follow my The Travel Photographer's Tumblr blog for your fix of travel photography!!!

Nadia Shira Cohen: Egypt, The Burned Earth

Photos © Nadia Shira Cohen-All Rights Reserved
“Mohammad, Mohammad, Mohammad,” she muttered. The words escaped just slightly under her breath as the tears began rolling down her face.

It's been a year and a day since Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office by the Egyptian people, and I thought it worthwhile to feature the work of Nadia Shira Cohen, which appeared in The New York Times a few days ago.

Her work focused on the Egyptian victims of the country’s so-called emergency law, principally by talking with them first, and then by photographing them.

Whilst Nadia's photographs and synopsis of her conversation, or interviews, with a handful of these victims appear on her website, her photographs also appear on the The New York Times' LENS blog.

All of her interviews are painful to read...but I thought the most poignant was that of the mother of Mohammed Attiah, who's bedridden with grief at the disappearance of her son some 18 years ago at the hands of the Egyptian police.  She has never stopped saying his name since then.

Nadia Shira Cohen pursued her passion for photography at the University of Vermont, with a semester abroad at the SACI school in Florence, Italy. She worked as a photographer in New York City for the Associated Press and for Sipa Press.  She then went on to work at the VII photo agency, then moved Rome, Italy where she continues to tell stories of the lives of people who interest her and which she compassionately feels the need to expose.

POV: My Take On The World Press Photo Of 2012

Photo © Samuel Aranda-Courtesy World Press Photo
Well, the results were in from the World Press Photo 2012 contest, and it was Samuel Aranda who won the coveted title of World Press Photo of the Year 2012 award with his photograph of a veiled woman holding a wounded relative inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen.

Much has been said and written about whether this photograph deserved the award or didn't, and various opinions from respected photographers, editors and the like, literally flooded newspapers, websites and blogs...and on social network sites. Everyone has an opinion...and voiced it. NPR even compared the scene to the Pieta, writing "the image bears an uncanny resemblance to Michelangelo's iconic (and religious) Pieta. Along those lines, The New York Times describes it as having "the mood of a Renaissance painting."


Ah, well...is this perhaps too much artsy thinking?

Whatever.

But here's my take. I think the photograph is certainly powerful and compelling. Is it a great photograph? Maybe, maybe not...but it certainly hits home with its depiction of pain, anguish and upheaval arising from one of the countries least known in the Middle East...Yemen. This is not the often seen pictures of young protestors with painted faces or gas masks, civil war or brutal police or military violence. Just a profoundly sad image.

Another thing struck me. Here's a photograph of a scene of a badly injured protestor, lovingly cradled by a woman totally veiled, covered in a niqab and wearing gloves. While she is virtually faceless, I  sensed her pain, her suffering and agony by her body language...which no niqab can hide. Her being covered up so fully may even compound the poignancy of the scene.

And that's the power of this photograph.

And yes, niqab-wearing women are sentient human beings...they're mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and experience suffering, anguish. love and affection as we all do.

That's my take on it. And in my view, that's why it won.

Samuel Aranda was born in 1979 in Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Barcelona, Spain. When he was 19, he began working as a photojournalist for El Pais and El Periodico de Catalunya. A few years later, he traveled to the Middle East to cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the Spanish agency EFE. In 2004, he joined Agence France-Presse, covering multiple conflicts and social issues in Spain, Pakistan, Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Morocco and Western Sahara.

Tony Smith: Kolkata's Cult of Durga (In Motion)



I'm glad Tony Smith has now produced an audio slideshow of his work during the Kolkata's Cult of Durga Photo Expedition/Workshop. The software he used to produce it is ProShow Producer, rather than SoundSlides that I normally use on my workshops. His audio slideshow is divided into chapters or segments which coincied with the different phases of the Durga Puja festival.

Tony is an Associate member of the Royal Photographic Society, and he traveled to Nepal, Bhutan, India, France, China, Spain, Morocco the USA and Canada and the West Coast of Ireland. He has attended Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Gypsy religious and secular festivals..

He worked quite hard during the Kolkata's Cult of Durga Photo Expedition/Workshop to produce his audio slideshow on the festival; however and much to my disappointment, he has not added to it his narrative skills which are enhanced by his precise enunciation. Perhaps that'll happen in a forthcoming iteration?

In the meantime, I suggest you view his blog entry on his experiences at the Durga Puja during the workshop, which also has a number of his photographs of the festival.

Planning To Travel Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu In Maldives



Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is a luxury resort, beautiful island resort and is the place for Relax and unwind on fabulos beaches . The area surrounding Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is renowned for its virtually untouched coral reefs and offers the perfect honeymoon hideaway. Spend your days relaxing on your private terrace and perhaps enjoy a private picnic on a desert island .

Facilities
 
98 Rooms, 2 Restaurants, 1 à la carte, 1 buffet, 2 Bars, Floodlit tennis court, Sports complex including pool table, fitness room, table tennis and volleyball, Watersports including an international diving school, Spa.

Your Accommodation

Beach villas

Beach villas have one double bed, open air bathroom with shower, air conditioning, minibar, tea & coffee making facilities, safe, telephone, hairdryer and private terrace with lounge seats and beach facing views.

Room and Board Upgrades
 
Upgraded room types:

Deluxe Villa

These luxurious villas are perfectly situated to watch the sunrise over the tops of the coconut palms. They feature an open-air bathroom, a spacious bedroom with King-size bed and a private terrace with outdoor seating and a plunge pool.

 Lagoon Villas

These villas are built on stilts above the lagoon and they offer a panoramic view of the sunset from the outdoor terrace. There is a private splash pool where you can take a cool dip and you will enjoy watching the fish swimming around the reef below you. The bedroom is spacious with a four poster bed and the bathroom is open-air yet perfectly private.

 Sunset Lagoon Villas

These exclusive villas are built over the water and they feature a glass bottomed Jacuzzi® on the deck. The bedroom is very large with a four poster bed and the open-air bathroom has a spa bath and indoor and outdoor showers. Additional services include a private butler, in-villa spa treatments, mini music system, DVD player and writing desk.

Optional All Inclusive - What's included
 
Food:
Buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner served in the main restaurant.

Drinks: 
Soft drinks, juices, beer, house wine and selected cocktails from the Conch bar from midday to midnight, also served by the glass during lunch and dinner at the Cowrie Restaurant.

Activities:
One fishing trip per person, access to the sports complex and fitness centre.