India


Taj Mahal traditional way

Taj Mahal at sunrise, the way most people photograph it. This is at 6:00 a.m. when monument opens for tourists. There is a little bit of pink and lavender in the morning sky but sunrise was not spectaculat on that particular April morning.

Taj Mahal close up

As you get closer you can see details and use a tree to frame it. By now sun is up and you can tell that marble colors have warmed up.

Taj

Colors are getting warmer and you can see more details. You can recognize shapes of Muslim architecture.

Taj Mahal

As we are walking out, we see more ways to frame beautiful Taj.

Taj Mahal in wheat field

By now it is becoming a game and we are trying to photograph Taj in VERY different ways. It is the season for wheat and we decide to include it in the photo. A tripod was necessary here but I try to travel as light as possible…

Taj Mahal a-la Goa

From this angle it looks like Taj Mahal in… Goa ?

Taj Mahal on Yamuna side

From the Yamuna side, you can see scenes like this. A woman is bringing sheep home at the end of the day.

Taj Mahal late afternoon

And this is my favorite… In the almost dry Yamuna river, a reflection of Taj with birds.

Construction work 

I find watching construction sites very fascinating.

Techniques have not changed much in many years. In India labor is also cheaper than machines.

Construction work

Women do their share of physical labor

Construction work

And no matter what they smile and just look great!

Construction work

A photographer in Paris has  been traveling in India this January. Photos from Paris will return soon in February.

In the meantime, enjoy some photos from India.

Sunset in Rajasthan

Watching sunset from roof top is an activity that I also learned to enjoy.

Rural scene in Rajasthan

Mustards fields are in bloom.

Village scene in Rajasthan

A typical rural scene with baby getting a bath.

Longest moustache

This guy in Jaisalmer is supposed to have the longest moustache in India…

Turban

Proud hotel employee in Bikaner. Rajasthan does turbans in hundreds of ways.

Turban

Men discussing in Khuri (desert near Jaisalmer).

Market street in Jaipur

Market scene in Jaipur.

Bangles

Bangles are a very important part of a Rajasthani outfit.

Anklets

My favorite photo today: anklets on a baby girl in her father’s arms.

For more photos of India look under India in the categories section of my blog.

Or go to A photographer abroad old blog.

Tea in Rajasthan

On the way from Udaipur to Jaipur, we stopped for Chai at one of those ”stores” you see along the way. The woman making tea told us that she had 2 sons who were going to be married within a few weeks.  Here they are!

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We stayed for a while, getting acquainted, sharing biscuits and woman had tea with us.

Tea

Spending a little time together gave me more opportunities for photos.

Chai tea

Kids from the neighborhood joined us, after all I look a bit “different” to them as well. When we parted, we were friends!

Chai tea

Rajathan

While traveling in Rajasthan at the end of September, I met this family that my traveling companion knew. We stopped in for tea.

I was invited to admire all the animals and the baby goats were actually quite cute.

India

Milk for our delicious chai tea was taken right at the source. Could not have been fresher!

Rajasthan

Kids and grandparents seemed to have a good simple relationship.

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I really like this photo and the conversation that was going on (could not understand it of course but everybody was listening with attention).

Rajasthan

At first the mother did not want to be photographed. But then she came back after making herself beautiful and gracefully obliged.

India

 

India

Men and children were sitting in the main room. I did not see any women join them while I was there. 

When visiting Udaipur in Rajasthan, make sure you see the Maharajah’s collection of antique cars. They are all in excellent condition and quite a sight. Especially when you remember that all cars were imported in an area that had no roads or no other cars.

Today in Rajasthan you still see few private cars and if the road system has improved, it is far from ideal.

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Maharajah of Udaipur’s car

Maharajah of Udaipur’s car

Maharajah of Udaipur’s car

All together there are 20 cars to be seen at this location, called ”the vintage and classic car collection of the Palace - Udaipur”.