Desolate in Sunset Hues, a photo from Madhya Pradesh, Central

Photographer's Note

In the heart of Bundelkhand lies a fortified cluster of dwellings, temples and shrines bearing testimony to medieval legacy in stone - Orchha. Created by the Bundela Rajput chief Rudra Pratap in the 16th century, Orchha lies in Madhya Pradesh in central India.

A solemn row of pale brown weed-choked domes and spires, the riverside Chhatris are Orchha's most melancholy ruins. The fourteen chhatris or cenotaphs, memorials to Bundelkhand's former rulers, line parallel to the River Betwa, near the Kanchan Ghat. Many of these chhatris are not very well preserved.

This is one of chhatris, photographed as the sun was setting (you can see the twinkle through the leaves). Thirteen of these fourteen chhatris show a synthesis of Bundelkhandi Rajput/Hindu & Mughal style of architecture with arches, domes & temple like spires. While at dusk, or if the moon is full, a walk near the water’s edge revives the memory of the Bundela chiefs treading beside the silhouette of their imposing constructions.

Desolate in the sunset hues, past another day, the Chhatri echoed a melancholic mood, as the last of the sun rays filtered through the windows, in a warm reddish glow. In my mind echoed W.B.Yeats’ quote, "This melancholy London - I sometimes imagine that the souls of the lost are compelled to walk through its streets perpetually. One feels them passing like a whiff of air." How different would it be if Orchha replaced London in this quote?

A wider view is in the Workshop…I was actually in two minds which one to post as the original....

vincz, carper, jusninasirun, siolaw, emjleclercq, ChrisJ, papagolf21, pierrefonds, jhm, Jonas_Schmitt, kiwi_explorer, Scharan, John_F_Kennedy, bakes888, Cretense, zeca, Bluejeans, adores, riclopes, danos heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

vincz (19113) 2008-06-13 3:35

Excellent ambiance. i love how you caught this very special dark atmosphere with so interesting light. Beautiful construction.

carper (96) 2008-06-13 7:23

yes I like it to Angshuman
good backlight shot, not easy but you did do a very good photojob here good composition with fine contours, goods photojob, have a nice weekend.
groet jaap

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-06-13 8:18

Hello Angshuman. The big tree is a hit. It balances well with the stunning architecture with the glow from behind. I like the star spot and the spotless blue sky. Well done and best regards. Jusni

Valerka (8171) 2008-06-13 9:20

Hi, Angshu,
A fabulous capture of this wonderful tree and the building next to it.
I like your colour treatment and the obtained result.
It has a special mood.
TFS
Valerka:)

crckt (7222) 2008-06-13 15:38

Hi Angshumanda,
I like the WS more, 'cause the distortion of the Chhatri with respect to the frame is less visible. If you see here, it looks like there is a slight tilt to the left. I noticed the same thing in my latest post too (after I posted it, so I could do nothing about it). Composition, light is as usual exceptional.
Regards,
Shaeri
ma ke niye bhalo kore ghure esho, rishikesh er chobbir opekkhai roilam :)

siolaw (38294) 2008-06-13 21:06

Hi Angshu,
The backlight throughthe tree gave nice luminosity and lets us enjoy the chhatri's architecture silhouetted. The compo is well balanced between the two main elements.
Greetings
Laurent

batalay (41261) 2008-06-13 22:51

Hello Mr. B,

What an astonishing silhouette, and what a thought invoking W. B. Yeat's immortal lines. The composition is very good, the frame is highly complementary, without detracting from the photograph. Just a fabulous package.

Warm regards and have a good weekend, Angshuman,

Bulent

emjleclercq (15778) 2008-06-13 23:23

The silhouettes of the tree and building are both very nice but the background is perhaps a bit dark. Howver, I like the star like light piercing though the foliage.

All the best,

Emmanuel

papagolf21 (152607) 2008-06-14 1:05

Bonjour, mon ami Angshu,
Encore une très belle photographique présentant une architecture de toute beauté.
J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance dégagée par cette composition.
Merci, Angshu, pour ces très belles réalisations.
Amitiés.
Philippe

ChrisJ (172436) 2008-06-14 1:17

Hi Angshuman

Superb graphism & sharpness with good lighting contrasts & composition. I like the muted sunset colours. Tfs!

pierrefonds (115596) 2008-06-14 5:19

Hi Angshuman,

The use of the backlight given by the sunset is putting a good part of the Chhartris in the shadow. The red light of the sun rays through some of the windows are assets to the composition. The tree in the foreground is framing well the subject. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2008-06-14 11:08

Hello Ansguman!
A really nice picture, the idea is great to show the silhouette of this great building in front of a really beautiful sky. The tree next to it makes the picture even better and the sun coming through the braches on one part is a fantastic detail.
I even prefer the wider view (WS) to the priginal picture, but I like this one as well.
The frame matches to the photo very well.

Thanks for sharing and have a nice day,
Jonas

jafadabret (56501) 2008-06-14 23:29

Hi, Angshu.
J'aime beaucoup l'opposition de l'arbre et de l'édifice des deux en contre-jour ont une texture propre. L'arbre, tout en dentelle est très agréable à voir.
Jacques

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-06-14 23:52

Hi Angshuman,
Very good lighting management here ... although it is high contrast, the details of the temple is still visible. I like the slight glimmer of the sun. Well captured and composed with very good informative notes. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

jhm (211738) 2008-06-15 3:19

Hello Angshu,

I looked to your WS and maybe I prefer the original with the real colours.
Absolutely not easy but you did do a very good image, nice composition with fine silhouettes of the building.
Very well done.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Graal (103040) 2008-06-15 3:36

Hi Angshuman,
unusual graphical effect, good idea, nice delicacy colours and silhuettes. Interesting note. Well done photo. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

Scharan (14144) 2008-06-15 11:35

Olá Angshu

Um trabalho excelente tanto pela composição como pelas cores que estão belíssimas nesta tarde...parabéns!
GA
Vera

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-06-15 23:30

Wonderful composition with amazing colours and silhouettes. Wonderful and romantic view.
Best wishes,
Achim

bakes888 (18499) 2008-06-16 0:50

Hi Angshu. Wonderful photo. The sunset lends a lovely atmosphere to this shot. Nice warm colours and good sharpness. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

Cretense (68709) 2008-06-16 5:02

Hi Angshu!

Splendid photo, with extraordinary light managment, very impressive "shadow play", excellent composition and framing! Congratulations!

Hercules

aadilj (18102) 2008-06-16 22:57

If this isnt a beauty Angshu then what is. Absolutely prfect lesson in silhouette and beautiful textures. I love the way you take so much into account and come out with these marvels. Sorry....i was again travellineg!

Stepan (27210) 2008-06-16 23:08

There is a lot of mystery here, because of the dark light. And it enhances the strange mood, created by this typical but unusual architectural shape. One of your best mood...
And you managed that perfectly.
Stéphane

rodgerg (55767) 2008-06-17 11:16

Hello Angshuman,
Beautiful. A beautiful sight under the sunset. The contrast between the superb tree and the building is successful. I like especially your composition very well balanced.
Regards,
Roger

samrat_roy1 (701) 2008-06-18 1:58

hello angshuda
you did a wonderful job with the shade. the frame looks full. the glow coming out around the tree looks so fascinating.
regards

P.S: can you please let me know how do one give the framing (like you did here in black and mentioned your name too...)

zeca (19762) 2008-06-18 20:23

You create a nice atmosphére, Angshuman! I like the light and there are still great details coming from the soft silhouettes. Very nice composition!
Regards,
Zeca

adores (46979) 2008-06-19 17:43

Hi Angshuman!
I guess this place must be magic at any time of the day. You got a very nice composition with this monument and the tree, well framed. Light is also good, almost turning them into silhouettes. Nice work!

riclopes (35577) 2008-06-20 1:38

Olá Angshu, the W.B.Yeats’ quote give us the right mood to apreciate this image. It's a beautiful capture at this late hour and a wonderful interplay bettween the architecture and the big tree. Darkness makes our imagination create things that doesn't exist and that chhatris can be almost disturbing under the dark. I might prefer the WS as it gives more context and space for the architecture to breathe - also the tree is more powerful and big enough to face the enemies ;-)
Friendly regards,
ricardo

danos (110407) 2008-06-20 3:37

Hello Angshuman,
very nice the representative silhouette of chhatris,with the sun very clever hidden behind the huge tree.I like the warm colors of the sky as the mystery that exhaled from the area.Informative you note for these unknown for me old constructions.Well done my friend.

Have a nice weekend,danos

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-06-20 9:50

Ola Angshuman ,
Que magnifico momento este deste pôr do sol as cores ficaram muito bonitas , as silhuetas da árvore e do templo ficaram fantásticas , bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo