Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
As a keen photographer, I find the combination of metal and soft light irresistible. These two frames were shot in Calcutta/ Kolkata, during a very brief recent trip to India. The Buddhist prayer wheels were on prominent display at Chamba Lama, the well-known store in the New Market. When I asked the manager if I could use my camera inside the store, she graciously agreed without hesitation. In the course of the conversation, it transpired that she and I had finished school in the same year in the same Himalayan town, Darjeeling.
19 comments:
Nice pics. Funny how small the world is... and how coincidences and chance meetings keep occurring.
I like the blurring - it adds a sentimentality the photos.
WoWWW...two awesome shots. I like the culture & the traditions of Buddhism very much.
It was nice to know about your profession and background in details, which really interested me and somewhere it was very similar to mine although I am still in my academics completing post-graduation.
Calcutta & Darjeeling are places, which are very close to my heart. The entire atmosphere of Darjeeling really attracts me & thats why I decided to start a blog on this amazing place. Thanks
hi david!:D
ive been to darjeeling quite a few times....ths north eastern indian states have loads of these things around....but i must say i have never seen them being captured so beautifully on lens!!!!
they re gorgeuous!!
Hi Ozlady,
It is absolutely amazing - they keep happening to me. There are two more stories I must tell - about a compositor I used to work with, and about a veteran photographer who was a colleague of mine.
Glad you liked the pictures - as you can guess, they are not electronically enhanced in any way.
Cheers
David
Hi Kalyan,
Thank you, I'm glad you liked the shots.
You and I have a lot in common - you must keep in touch.
Looking forward to your weekly post - and I hope you visit my blog again.
Cheers
David
Hi Priyanka,
Thank you for the compliment. I seem to be very lucky with my camera - there are always good shots there, just waiting for me to hit the shutter!
There is one thing you probably know if you've been reading my blog - and that is simply that I never enhance my photographs in any way. What you see is exactly what I shoot.
Do drop by again
Cheers
David
How bizarre, I'm sure I left a message here this morning.. never mind. I love these shots, the top is my favourite - I love the colours you see, they are 'soft' somehow - very appealing. I am still avoiding revision as you can see - in full ostrich mode.x
Hi David,
Liked your comment "I seem to be very lucky with my camera - there are always good shots there, just waiting for me to hit the shutter!
" - hope God will grace me the same oneday :-)
Just a small question, do you take the picture in Aperture priority mode?
I Also have a similar post on Buddhism few days back :-)
Cheers,
Pijush
Awesome pictures !
Both sharpness and blurring of objects have their own effect.
Hi Papoosue,
Thanks for that encouraging comment. Interesting you mention colours, because I set myself a challenge a few hours ago - to produce an arresting image in monochrome.
Watch this space!
Cheers
David
Hi Pijush,
I'll go back on my notes (or the actualy properties of the picture) to see what mode I was using.
I know that I did not use the flash, because there was soft light in the shop and a bit of reflection.
Will look up your Buddhism post shortly.
Cheers
David
Hi Cuckoo,
So glad you liked the pictures. Photography, like anything else, is a learning curve. I really enjoy it - as you can see!
Cheers
David
a post about "Mani" or the prayer wheel.... "Om Mani padme Hum" is teh prayer that is normally written on a scroll and den enclosed withing this woden containers (drums)!! having stayed in Sikkim and visited numerous monasteries e.g. Rumtek, Lingdum, Namchi - Sikkim, Durpin - Kalimpong, West Bengal.... I dare say this is an amazing catch on teh camera!!
Brought back a lot of memories of the Lamas, their prayers, their words, the way they would go about tehir rituals..... it was all too good!!
Hi Sam,
Thanks for that great detail about the prayer - I had no idea.
Yep, as someone who went to school in Darjeeling, the prayer wheel was a sight I was accustomed to.
I was lucky for these shots as the light was just right.
Cheers
David
ah well, now i am genuinely envious, what luvely photos in such a divine spot..
k
:)
Hi Karoline,
I guess I was lucky. The lighting was just right. I took the shots without the flash - because that would have washed out a lot of the delicate colours.
Cheers
David
"The Managers" of Chamba Lama are my ex-student Tshering Lhamu of Loreto, Darjeeling and her mom, Mrs. Lhamu.
Their shop is a real treasure trove, and you have captured the images beautifully.
P.S. The previous comment was added by me, David. I forgot to add my name.
Rene.
Having travelled to quite a few places where I get to see a lot of Buddhist culture like Darjeeling, Kalimpong (West Bengal), Yuksom, Jorethang (Sikkim), Shimla, Manali (Himachal), Leh and Ladakh (J&K), I've begun to appreciate Buddhist art more and more over time.
These prayer wheels are beautiful captured David and I'm delighted that you shared this admirable pictures.
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