If you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks!
This is a picture 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.
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! :)
from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
Tags: india dehli thefall humayun hdr tomb grave dead moghul mausoleum death architecture indian diwali omshantiom humayunstomb delhi newdelhi newdehli trey ratcliff treyratcliff beautiful pretty colorful fresh dream photo photograph photography professional technique dynamic world fabulous gorgeous engaging charming stunning art artisitic divine light travel foreign international Sigma 10-20mm stuckincustoms travelphotography adventure hdrtutorial tutorial Photographer Pro Nikon Panorama details gates windows summetry top100 symmetry sacred new reverence reverent high range stuck customs SOETOP50-SpotsForDaydreamers
I was barefoot like the rest of them.
The day must have been around 95 degrees and as stuffy as can be, but the cool marble seemed to keep me from being drenched in sweat. After a long walk, I had finally made it to the inner core of the Taj Mahal, around the main tomb structure where pilgrims from all over the country had gravitated. The faithful coiled in long lines and snaked their way around the complex, waiting patiently to reflect at the megamausoleum and communing with the god of their choice. How could a billion people be wrong?
When I travel, I actually always enjoy talking to Indians (or whoever) about their religion. Here is a little thing I do... I'm not sure it's totally ethical since I say the same thing over and over, but I enjoy seeing people's reaction as a probe a panoply of personalities. Inevitably, when I'm in a taxi or man-powered trike-mobile, there is some sort of deity that is jiggling about on the dashboard or handlebars. It can be anyone from Shiva to Brahma to Vishnu to Krishna to Ganesha and beyond.
So, I always ask, "Who is the god to whom you pay reverence?"
They respond quickly and directly, usually naming one from of the top ten from the pantheon of possibilities.
I respond back, in all seriousness, "Oh! He is a very powerful god!"
To this, they always turn to me and nod gravely.
My guide there was from no from one of the traditional Hindu sects -- he was a Jain. The Jain don't recognize the divine origins of the Vedas (made popular in the US from Oppenheimer's re-quote after testing the Bomb), nor do they believe in any one supreme deity. They instead revere Tirthankaras who have raised themselves to divine perfection. So anyway, if you ever try out the little trick above, don't bother with a Jain because they will just give you a funny look and a wobble of inconsequential solitude.
So if any of you get the chance to go, I recommend it. The people are all nice as can be and very eager to engage in conversation about just about everything. Or, of you've already been, then you know what I mean!
By the way, this comes from my new Lucis Pro Tutorial.
from the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
Tags: StuckInCustoms LucisArt6 d2x Agra India Portfolio tajmahal taj mahal religion god brahma shiva vishnu jain indian temple dance indians tomb marble divine Krishna Ganesha ethical religious people HDR Photographer Pro Nikon Photography Trey Ratcliff Mood, WallPaper, cool, magical, texture, Perfect, surreal, exposure, painting, colors, atmosphere, masterpiece huge sculpture white peace tremendous beliefs believers Love faith soft luxirious top100 jainism Dharma Shraman Nirgantha ascetic Jinas liberation spiritual gods transcendence SOETOP50-SpotsForDaydreamers
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.
Tags: delhi india newdelhi dehli poor family sad girls baby money children indian world race racial cute curtis HDR Photographer StuckInCustoms Pro Nikon Photography Trey Ratcliff Panorama details Perspective Shot Shoot Capture Images Photos Pictures Edge Angle lines work HighQuality Composition Processing Treatment Framing Unique Background best mostviewed Intense Artist Art Modern lighting Light reflections tones Mood texture Perfect exposure painting dirt
This is the larger than life Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri, in the far north of India. I spent a long time around here, looking at all of Akbar's Mughal architecture from every angle. I pictured many a fantastic battle being fought for control of the palace and inner cloister.
It's the highest gateway in the world and you can easily see the detail of the red sandstone and the inlayed white marble, which still has remarkable architecture, even though it has been there for over 400 years. A very close look uncovers verses from the Koran, winding their way up and around the towers.
from the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
Tags: d2x Agra India StuckInCustoms gate akbar indian huge ornate hindu hinduism thefall Buland Darwaza BulandDarwaza Fatehpur Sikri FatehpurSikri arch high family sculpt fantastic gateway sandstone centuries HDR Photographer Pro Nikon Photography Trey Ratcliff Panorama details Perspective Shot Shoot Capture Images Photos Pictures Edge Angle lines work HighQuality
Outside the gates to Fatehpur Sikri, an Indian boy waits to take my shoes. I pay him a few rupees to keep track of them for me. I walked several miles in bare feet inside and quickly discovered why everyone has such dirty feet. It's always been a pet peeve of mine, but, like dropping your keys in a river of lava, I just had to let it go.
Tags: d2x Agra India StuckInCustoms boy indian dirty feet Fatehpur Sikri shoes HDR Photographer Pro Nikon Photography Trey Ratcliff Panorama details Perspective Shot Shoot Capture Images Photos Pictures Edge Angle lines work HighQuality Composition Processing Treatment Framing Unique Background best mostviewed Intense Artist Art Modern lighting Light reflections tones Mood texture Perfect exposure painting poor poverty