Long Distance Friends, a photo from Madhya Pradesh, Central

Photographer's Note

Orchha was the capital of the Bundela kingdom (in Central India) in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was eventually abandoned in 1783 after being attacked by the Mughals and the Marathas. What is left is a patch of ancient palaces and temples, untouched by time, spectacular in their desolation.

The palaces, the temples and the tombs were all built by the Bundelas around the 16th and 17th centuries. Although the Bundelas cremated their dead, they then built chhatris or cenotaphs over the remains which has left Orchha a mass of spires and domes.

Orchha's grandeur has thus been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy to the ages. In this medieval city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the palaces and temples built by its Bundela retain much of their pristine perfection.

This is one of the 14 chhatris which line the bank of the River Betwa which flows past Orchha. Desolate in the sunset hues, past another day, it looks at the rising moon wanting to strike a conversation...as if to say – "How are you today?"

Composed a bit radically with the ultra-low horizon, because I wanted all attention on these two 'subjects'. Would be glad to get your feedback.

I dedicate this post to Shaeri, for two reasons...her fascination for Orchha & more importantly for her towering achievement as one of the winners of the prestigious Julius Marmur Research Awards 2008, for her research work. Please join me in offering Congratulations to Shaeri!

isabela_sor, crhieatt, carper, edytungkal, crckt, somak_g, ChrisJ, TopGeo, papagolf21, kiwi_explorer, riclopes, pierrefonds, danos, pboehringer, feather, hgupta, jafadabret, Graal, Budapestman, siolaw, josepmarin, syd1946, John_F_Kennedy, jusninasirun, batalay, Jonas_Schmitt, Vato_Law, Henryk_Bilor heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-03-31 9:13 [Comment]

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crhieatt (5347) 2008-03-31 9:16

Angshuman,
Very pleasing, spacious, composition. Yes, I think it works very well.
Regards
Colin

carper (96) 2008-03-31 10:12

it's an unusual pov Angshuman,
but I like the title and the good capture of the piece of the building and the moon, good photojob, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

jasmis (58653) 2008-03-31 11:04

Marvellous idea. Superb mild colours. Incredible atmosphere.
Regards.

leo61 (0) 2008-03-31 13:51

Hi Angshu!
A nice minimalistic composition.I like the warm light at this building and the very ,very low horizon.The moon of course majkes this composition perfect.
Regards,Leo

edytungkal (4551) 2008-03-31 18:43

A small moon, an interesting tower with deep blue sky... what a romantic view..
This simple beauty shot is a nice dedicated photo for your long distance friends.
Great shot Angshu, i love it...
tfs

daniel

crckt (7222) 2008-03-31 20:27

Dear Angshumanda,
I came back from lab just now, tired and exhausted (11:30 pm) and I see this! All my tiredness is gone, it is such a great photo and I am so humbled that you dedicated it to me. Thank you so much, it feels great to know people like you.
About the shot, you know already what I feel..it is a GREAT shot!
The moon and the chhatri form a perfect frame. One day I will definitely visit Orchha.
Regards,
Shaeri

somak_g (497) 2008-03-31 21:15

hi angshu,

beautiful. nothing much to be said about this photograph. have you been to datia? its close to orchha.

regards
somak

ChrisJ (172436) 2008-03-31 21:56

Hi Angshuman

Good sharpness, & a nice warm vs cold colour contrast, between the red brick temple, & navy blue sky. The moon is a great addition. Tfs!

TopGeo (38220) 2008-04-01 1:21

Hi Angshuman! Interest this choice! Your scene has something from her old glamour of Orchha her the building the big sky and the small, here, moon gives a opposition that is visible and in your note. Praises and in your friend Shaeri I will go to his gallery!
Georgios

papagolf21 (152607) 2008-04-01 2:13

Bonjour, mon cher ami Angshu,
Superbe prise de vue qui semble sortir d'un rêve ! le cadrage est excellent et le sujet parfaitement maîtrisé.
Et puis, cette lune est là pour témoigner de la beauté.
Amitiés.
Philippe

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-04-01 2:27

Hi Angshuman,
Well composed ... I like the way you gave a image a lot of empty space ... very good technique and effective too. Excellent work! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

riclopes (35577) 2008-04-01 2:57

Marvellous minimalist composition, Angshu. I don't know what I like more here, if all this imense blue sky or the golden old architecture with vegetation growing on its 'head', placed so beautifully in the corner. Besides the moon, I like the detail of the little tree at the opposite corner. An artistic one with a dreamy mood.
Friendly regards,
ricardo

pierrefonds (115596) 2008-04-01 3:57

Hi Angshuman,

The light of the sunset and the moon in the sky are assets to the composition. The sunset light also brings out the colors of the cenotaph. The details and colors of the building are clear and precise. Your note has a lot of information. Have a nice day.

Pierre

danos (110407) 2008-04-01 4:47

Hello Angshuman,
nice your synthesis with the warm afternoon light to falls on this 'chhatris'and the sunrise moon in the far end.The colour of the sky is a little bit before the blue hour and in combination with the chhatris make the shot memorable.Informative your note too.

Regards,Danos

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-01 7:34

Angshuman,
I didn't achieve any prestigious awards but I include myself as yours and Shaeri's long distance friend. The inclusion of the moon in the left upper corner as a contrasting and balancing element to the chhatri in the right lower corner was a very clever copmpositional move and provides that impression that you coined in your title.
Peter

everlasting (20002) 2008-04-01 7:38

That beautiful deep blue sky makes a lovely backdrop for your temple. I love the space in this image.

feather (51130) 2008-04-01 7:38

Quite a daring minimalist composition but I like it. It only works because of the moon. I think it would work equally well cropped into a letter-box, but I still like it as is.
Kath

hgupta (1323) 2008-04-01 8:35

Hi Angshu,

Though I do not know much about photography but I know that this is one of your best shots. Its is extremly simple to look at but the entire atmnosphere is captured in such a way that it all looks magical. The canopy at one end and the moon on the other, filled by nothing but the beautiful blue sky.
Amazing work.
Regards,

Hemant

jafadabret (56501) 2008-04-01 8:56

Hi Angshu.
J'aime cette composition des plus dépouillées où le ciel fait un très beau fond pour ce monument. La lune vient heureusement équilibrer la photo.
Beau travail.
Jacques

Graal (103040) 2008-04-01 9:12

Hi Angshuman,
very nice composition, fine view on the dome and moon, interesting note (Shaeri is glad - I suppose). Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

Budapestman (82620) 2008-04-01 10:05

Dear Angshu,
Beautiful shot with creative composition. I like the original POV and the particgular atmosphere, colours are very fine. Splendid work, Congratulations. Have a nice day
George

siolaw (38294) 2008-04-01 22:32

Hi Angshu
Good minimalistic compo with fine light and colors, the distant moon adds interest and contex for the title..
Well done to Shaeri too
Greetings
Laurent

Stepan (27210) 2008-04-01 22:51

I wouldn't have guessed it was Orchha !? A minimalist crop, well managed and realized. The tree in the corner is "cute". And the light is perfect.
Stéphane

josepmarin (59385) 2008-04-02 3:34

Hi Angshuman,
It is a fantastic capture, the warm tones on this chhatri with the light of the last sunbeams, and the sky at the blue hour with the full moon, in a setting with so low horizon that increases the graphism of the scene, they work perfectly and have an excellent photographic result.
I join to your congratulations to Shaeri, and I think that your dedication with this photo is very nice and elegant.
Best regards, my friend,
Josep

sagar (2410) 2008-04-02 3:43

Hi Angshumanda,
What a beautiful shot!!!!! Wonderful framing. Simple but very elegant. Superbly done.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

syd1946 (1167) 2008-04-02 4:14

Hi Angshu,
I like it very much...the large but magical space of the sky with moon as the point of hope...
The light painting nicely the part of the building you include into the frame...
Your image gives a very nice sense to me...

many wishes,
Thomas

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-04-02 5:33

Against all standard rules of photography - a great idea to do this. Its perfect.
Best wishes,
Achim

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-04-02 11:46

Ola Angshuman ,
Bonita composição com a lua no horizonte , gostei do detalhe do templo iluminado pelo sol ,boas cores , bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

baba_flies (8829) 2008-04-03 10:22

I saw it before and I really badly wanted to come back. This is a very different approach and very much inspiring for me with just a little bit of roof in the way but very much of this beautiful blue night sky left. The moon, I mean, tiny as it seems, it is the big feature in your photo. I like it a lot, really! All my best, as always, Barbara.

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-04-03 20:24

Hello Angshuman. Wowwwwww...... I simply like the simplicity of the image. You have anchored the moon well against the dome and keeping a little bit of the horizon for perspective. Stunning image in bringing the warmth and texture of the dome with a well chosen title. Well done and best regards. Jusni

batalay (41261) 2008-04-04 22:30

Hello Mr. B,

it is an unusual and effective composition. The dome of the temple/palace and the moon make a pair of focal points, horizon line is kept at the bottom of the frame, and a vast sky above the horizon. There appears to be some grown on the dome itself, vegetation finding the slightest cracks to take root. I like it very much.

Warm regards and have a good weekend,

Bulent

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2008-04-05 2:21

Hi Angshu!
Good new picture a very nice and idyllic scene! The colors are great and I like the contrast between the building and the sky very much. Nice sharpness and good point of view, too. The frame is great and matches well to the composition!
Regards,
Jonas

Vato_Law (12732) 2008-04-07 11:14

Hello Angshuman,
Good dedication to your friend with this minimalistic touch. I like the vaste space you gave to the sky with the tiny moon breaking the blue in the sky and then on the lower side the tower and the tree.
I like this kind of minimalistic approachs.
Cheers.
Paulo

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2008-04-07 23:32

Hi Angshuman
A little strange composition, but very spacial. Nice light and including of the Moon.
Regards

manojtnair (435) 2008-05-02 4:25

hi angshuman,
beautiful composition. with this photograph you seem to taken us to the old orchha of the time of the kings. two beautiful objects framed well. tfs.
manoj