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When walking around New Delhi and getting lost in the backstreets, I came to an active area where everyone was selling accoutrements for the Diwali festival. I think the ladies knew that I was not a potential buyer, but all of them on the street were very happy to show me what they had to sell. Delhi itself is a very gray and dusty town, so it makes these colorful outfits and flowers stand out even more.
This is Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi. It’s a wonderful place full of a rich bouquet of textures and light. There isn’t a bad shot of it to be had in this well-preserved Moghul tomb, and these light levels were made for HDR.
I’ve put another image of this tomb in the upcoming book. I talked a little more about the shot and some additional explanation about how it was made. When I go around and give talks, get feedback, and hear all the comments here on the blog, flickr, and facebook, I get a lot of repeat questions. I think the book will be a good chance to get them all in a nice definitive place where almost everything can be addressed. At least, I hope so!
I found this daunting chap while trekking to northern India. We stopped to rest on the long road to Agra at a fairly imposing little structure on the side of the road. I was curious to see if I could find a drink or maybe a bit of food.
As I approached, this guy stood out front. I was pretty sure he didn’t speak English. We regarded one another for a bit. I tried to survey the authenticity of his weapon and the his circumspect agility. He examined at my anachronistic garb and camera for a bit. Then I gave him the international symbol for, "Can I take a photo?" He stiffened proudly in a pose. I took a quick shot, nodded, then passed by to see what he was guarding within.
The road between Delhi and Agra is really somthin’ else. If you are not swerving around giant potholes, it could easily be a dead cow, a live cow, or something in between. It’s never good to make fun of the cows with your driver, so that is right out.
I’m adventurous on these things… probably too adventurous. I always like to try new foods, and I’ll eat about anything from street vendors. Usually if it looks thoroughly cooked, it generally won’t get me sick…I’ve developed a tough stomach, although I did end up getting a bit sick in Mumbai… but I think that is because I was dumb and let some mysterious ice melt in my cup.
It was a long drive to Agra, and in little towns, the traffic would slow. I occasionally jumped out of the car to get some little snack (and take photos, of course!). Here is one of an interesting chap that had some food I could not pronounce.
I feel like I end up walking alone through the epic book of the Bhagavad Gita. These mythical places are made manifest in unexpected ways as I look around. It feels somewhat empty inside, like it needs to be shared with someone. The only devastated remnants I have are these little pictures, which seem a poor substitute.
Khamali sat there smiling at me every time I walked by. I would always smile back at her and nod in a generally friendly way. She didn’t ask me for money or anything, although she seemed to ask others, I noticed.
I passed her a fourth time because I was going back to the temple as the light was changing.
She bobbled her head in a pleasant manner. I stopped to give her some rupees and she quickly secured them in the folds of her saree. I made the international sign for “can I please take your picture”, and she shook excitedly as some nearby boys came over to watch.
I went up a narrow passageway to get up here to the roof. The stairway was clearly not meant for a tripod like mine… although I suppose I could have collapsed it before wrestling it the narrow twisting corridors. It reminded me of moving my friend’s stupid sleeper-sofa up a curved stairway in college.
Deep inside one of the temples, I found this secret tiny doorway and arch, stained with a deep red dye.
Here we have another beautiful and exotic temple in Delhi in the height of the afternoon, shot from another nearby beautiful and exotic temple.
I am thankful to my host Anil who was able to set me up with some amazing guides that took me to the most unusual and seemingly secret places. It was just amazing… the only downside is that I am sworn to secrecy on the location. In case anyone else has ever been there, then there is more than one iota of a chance that this crazy place called the internet will soon tell you where this place is. The internet has a habit of finding out such things.
Doesn’t this want to make you pack your bags for a week’s adventure? What’s stoppin’ ya?!! (I mean, other than excuses)
Cindy and I had an hour between meetings in Delhi. We ended up going off through the random streets here and there to see what we could find. She was looking for rugs and I was looking for antique chess sets. We found neither, but we did find a lot of interesting and chaotic activity…
I textured this, as part of my upcoming textures tutorial. This thing is so overdue that I am SURE you guys think I am TEASING you now about it.. but it really is coming. The video tutorial and the textures are huge – it will be almost a 1 gigabyte download, so it takes awhile to set up all the logistics. Actually I am not doing anything – Ken is helping me out over at FastSpring. I just made the video and he is doing all the hard work of setting up the download processes!
Humayun’s Tomb which was built in 1570. Humayun kept busy conquering Kabul and Delhi for the Mughals.
This tomb, built by his wife after he died, served as an early architectural influence of the Taj Mahal. He probably left her some cash and paid off her Nordstrom’s account, so the least she could do was build him a nice tomb.
I took over a hundred pictures of thousands of poor and destitute around India. I usually gave 100 rupees after I took the shot, but the tough part is was when dozens of kids descended on me whenever I pulled out the money.
Two Sari-laden beggars guard the door at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.
Later, while I was walking around Delhi, I was photographed by another Indian photographer that recognized me. He sent them along and it was kind of strange to see myself like that… but not as strange as when I was listening to Pink Floyd on 11 on my iPod while inside the tomb.
This is a photo of the Tomb of Humayun in Delhi. I arrived during Diwali, the biggest annual festival that involves a burning a lot of things. Most of the tombs, mausoleums, temples, and the like were surprisingly empty, giving me clean access to cool places like this without dopey tourists getting in the way of sweet photography.
The news broadcasts are filled with showing families celebrating Diwali along with non-stop live on-the-scene action reporting from the grand opening of Om Shanti Om, the Bollywood film of the year starring the unconquerable Shahrukh Khan. From the previews I have seen, the movie seems to involve a lot of Shahkrukh with his shirt off in huge musical numbers and copious amounts of slow-mo water exploding off his coppered abs.
It is the next morning now and the air in Delhi is covered with the smoke from last night’s festivities… There is this acrid smell of stale carbon and it’s not exactly like a trip to Sedona. Luckily, I am getting out of the city today because my hosts have been kind enough to give me a ride up to Agra to visit the fort and Taj Mahal… more pictures coming soon, so stay tuned! 
