WTF? Not Even A Plug?

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

A few days ago, and such a beautiful summer morning it was, I get an email from someone (a writer) who compliments me on my photographs, and asks if whether I'd be amenable to send one of them to illustrate a European blog (whose link was provided). It was implied there would be no payment for the  photograph.

Before emailing back in a caustic tone (as I usually do to such emails), or ignoring the implied message and provide the contractual terms and pricing tariff for the photograph required, I checked into this European blog and saw it was beautifully crafted...a sort of a compendium for fine arts, culture, photography and other high brow stuff...and if statistics were correct, has a decent readership. And it was based (despite it being in English) in a country from which I have no clients for my photo expeditions-workshops.

So I swallowed hard, and replied to the request, in essence agreeing to provide a photograph on the condition that it was (1) properly credited to me, (2) that my two main websites and this blog would be highlighted, and (3) a paragraph about me and my photo expeditions-workshops (a paragraph that I would write up) be added at the bottom of the post.

Yes, I know...this is a lopsided exchange, more advantageous to the European blog than to me. It'd get a lovely image for nothing...but I reckoned this could've advertised my photo expeditions-workshops to a 'new' country, and to a well-heeled demographic/readership interested in arts and cultures. It would have been a one-off thing...and perhaps it would've paid off...or maybe not.

The response to my generosity? Something to the effect that it would only be a copyright notice...and nothing more.

Whoa! Isn't that the ultimate chutzpah?

So readers of this blog post...what should be my response? I have my four-lettered response ready to go....but if you like, make your suggestions on my Facebook page.

Brijesh Patel: McCluskieganj

Photo © Brijesh Patel-All Rights Reserved
Not too dissimilar from my previous post, here is another photo essay about disintegrating mansions and dwellings.

McCluskieganj was founded by the Colonisation Society of India in 1933 as a homeland for Anglo-Indians. In 1932 Ernest Timothy McCluskie, the founder of the town, invited some 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India to settle there. Of the nearly 250 original families, only 20 remain, as most of the Anglo-Indian community left after World War II, and the once spatial mansions are overgrown with jungle growth, and it's difficult to imagine that McCluskieganj was a paradise for mixed-race children of the British empire.

Brijesh Patel was born in Gujarat, and moved to the UK during his childhood. He enrolled at LCC for a Masters in photography, and awards from The Guardian, and the Winston Churchill Foundation supported his work in the UK and in India.

His McCluskieganj photo essay is one amongst many of his books that are hand made.

There are an estimated 80,000-125,000 Anglo-Indians living in India, most of whom are based in the large cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Mumbai and Tiruchirapalli. Some also live in Kochi, Goa, Pune, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Agra, and in some towns of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Researching the subject, I chanced on this recent article in The Economist about Rita McDonald, an elderly Anglo-Indian who "...eats bacon and eggs for breakfast, speaks precise English and, though she has lived all her life in India, knows little Hindi or Bengali. Yet her home, hung with yellowing photographs of Queen Elizabeth and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is thick with tales of poverty and loss."

Perhaps one of my photographer friends in Kolkata would be interested in taking this up? Imagine it as an audio slideshow!

Chaaya Island Dhonveli Resort



 Dhonveli in Maldivian means that crystal white sand. This resort could be a little island of its own, blessed with exotic tropical beauty and its distinctive, authentic Maldivian design blends seamlessly with the character. And our heat and friendly workers can create your each want come back true. At Dhonveli your vacation affair is destined to be a life time arrangement sort of a wedding created in heaven.

Dhonveli is an impressive resort having a number of the best rooms, with the widest vary of varieties and amenities. All of the accommodations and facilities are designed, with the individual wants of varying international holidaymakers in mind. however Dhonveli is little, heat and private.

In association with Atoll Travel Australia who has exclusive rights to cater for surfers coming back to Dhonveli, we tend to are currently selling surf packages ranging from seven nights. Please read the download section to look at the costs. Email or decision us to book your package. Since there's lots of demand we tend to urge you to book okay beforehand.

Dhonveli Beach formerly called Tari Village is one in all the Worlds famous surfing resorts and also the island has the privilege of hosting might world category surfing competitions. 

Accommodation Overview

  Dhonveli is an impressive resort having a number of the best rooms, with the widest vary of varieties and amenities. All of the accommodations and facilities are designed, with the individual wants of varying international holidaymakers in mind. however Dhonveli is little, heat and private.

- Garden Bungalow - (21 rooms / units)

The entry level of accommodation is that the extra-spacious Beach pavilion with greenhorn interiors. It contains a bedroom, an interior bathtub and an out of doors courtyard with a Maldivian open-air shower set within the exotic confines of its own walled garden. The Beach Pavilions are slightly set back from the beach for extra privacy however provide quick access to it. eighteen of the twenty five units have interconnecting gates that create them the right alternative for a family on vacation.

- Superior area - (10 rooms / units)

  These are designed as 2 separate rooms during a single storey structure. they're furnished with a four poster bed with hung draperies on the edges and a divan that may be used as every day bed, wardrobe, a mini-bar closet and an editorial table with chairs; spacious enough to position another additional bed and smart for family use. The adjacent spacious and ethereal out of doors bathroom is made with a shower tub and shower-area with alittle garden. The front façade faces the ocean and also the beach.

- Beach Bungalow - (24 rooms / units)

 Beach Bungalows are located on the beachfront are a glittering example of the coupling of luxury and style. Elegantly designed and simply a many in number these are among the simplest within the island for the discerning vacation maker.

- Deluxe Beach Bungalow - (04 rooms / units)

 These are similar rooms because the beach bungalows. Double deck areas where the higher floor is that the bedroom and also the ground floor is that the sitting room The read of the rooms are fascinating whereas a lot of amenities are accessible compared to the Beach Bungalows. These rooms are far more appropriate for family stays.

- Water Bungalow - (36 rooms / units)

  Water Bungalow are located in Southern west facet of the island. the whole floor space is 66sqm / over 700sqft and Total Indoor space is 44sqm / over 450sqft. tea/coffee creating facilities, dressing table, minibar, tv with entertainment system, writing desk with net affiliation, cordless phonephone, wardrobe, bags rack and air-condition. A spacious out of doors deck of dinning table with chairs, sun loungers, towel rack, shower and steps to the lagoon.

- Over Water Suite - (24 rooms / units)

Located in North west facet of the island. floor space is of 86sqm over 900sqft and total Indoor is 54sqm / over 550sqft. they're fantastically furnished as lounge with day bed, tea/coffee creating facilities, dressing table, minibar, tv with entertainment system, writing desk with net affiliation, cordless phonephone, wardrobe, bags rack and air-condition. A spacious out of doors deck of dinning table with chairs, sun loungers, towel rack, shower and steps to the lagoon. Separate bedroom with king size bed, air-condition. lavatory with shower, WC, washbowl, bidet, phonephone and Jacuzzi. separate bedroom, direct access to the lavatory from the deck, get pleasure from the Jacuzzi and area service unit outside the doorway.

Wings Spa

 Where bliss rules. favor to fancy a massage or spa treatment at the professionally managed Wings Spa giving Javanese, Aryurveda, Balinese and Maldivian treatments. this can be an expertise to not be missed when seeking an final blissful expertise.

Faciltiies and Services include:

PADI certified Dive Centre, Swimming Pool, low look, recent water swimming pools, sound-proof discotheque, karaoke, skilled animations theatre, gymnasium, flood-lit tennis court, badminton , mini-soccer, cyber café, water sports center, kid care centre, Capital town Sightseeing Tour, Deep ocean Fishing, Night Fishing, Sunset Cruise, Sunset Fishing

Accessible Facilities:

Badminton, Fishing journeys Porters, Bar Fitness Facility Restaurants, Beach Volley Foot Ball,Safe Deposit, Boating Gym, Scuba Diving, Canoeing net desk with computer, ocean facet Games, low look, Karaoke Snorkeling, Darts Laundry memento look,  Discotheque Lounge space Spa Services,  First Aid, Massage Parlor, Swimming Pool,  Fish watch, PADI Dive faculty,Volley Ball

Xenia Nikolskaya: Dust, Egypt's Forgotten Palaces

Photo © Xenia Nikolskaya-All Rights Reserved

From afar, it seems Egypt and its people are still waiting to exhale since its popular uprising against the Mubarak regime, and 60 years of dictatorships...and whilst I try my best to counter the lay neo-cons and the agenda-driven commentators who write absurd comments about its current events and future in The New York Times by writing my own points of view (and they all get featured without fail), I fear the internal political situation in Egypt is murky, and will remain unsettled for the near future ...and that's an immense understatement.

So Xenia Nikolskaya's work on the UK's Daily Telegraph suffused me with mixed feelings. Dust is a good title for her photographs of buildings built after the Suez Canal opened in 1869, and before Nasser came to power in 1954, introducing sequestration decrees that would send many of the wealthy elite into exile.

The buildings, mansions, movie theaters, and retails stores that are depicted in Xenia's Dust have mostly fallen into disrepair. Due to long standing governmental rent-control policies, these once ornate and grandiose buildings were left to rot, with no repairs or maintenance done, as landlords weren't making money from them.

I recall the names of some of them....Radio Cinema ( I watched movies there, at a time when I was careful to count my change as the women at the ticket had the habit of "rounding" it in their favor), Sakakini Palace, Sarageldine Palace, while others are unknown to me.

Xenia Nikolskaya graduated from the Academy of Art in St Petersburg and then went on to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen. She has worked as a professional photographer since 1995, and became a member of the Russian Art Union in 2001. She first came to Egypt in 2003 as part of a Russian archaeological mission.