This is one of my favourite images from Kanha National Park. Half the work of a photographer is being a keen observer of your surroundings, always being on the look out for pleasing compositions wherever you are.
In many images the background makes or breaks the subject. The reddish meadows of Kanha in the background and the evening golden light made this image for me. Continue reading
Yanacocha Reserve, Ecuador
Educational Complex, by Mike Kelley, at MoMA PS1.
We do not claim to be experts on education in the fine arts, but we do know one person who went to RISD who added a huge amount of value to several Raxa Collective initiatives, and we would welcome him (and other members of the design team he was part of) back in a heartbeat. For now, we can just share these thoughts by a more well-informed person (beware the four-letter words and strong opinion):
In her excellent essay, now out in Modern Painters, artist Coco Fusco pulls back the curtains on the risky business and chancy racket of the Master of Fine Arts degree. Fusco deftly addresses, among other things, how M.F.A. programs are “discursive battlefields.” Continue reading
Idukki Dam Catchment area; photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
Idukki is one of the largest district in Kerala, covering 13 percent of the state’s total area. With rugged mountains, dense forests and three big rivers, Idukki generates one third of the state electricity. But the district is more famous for its natural beauty; numerous trekking trails, stunning views and diverse wildlife make it an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination. Continue reading
Bahamian Rock Iguana (click image to go to photo’s source)
In its Conservation This Week feature, Conservation Magazine (last week) carried the following, which we hope gets plenty of circulation (we wish it was not even necessary to say so, but wishful thinking is not sufficient):
TOURISTS: STOP FEEDING JUNK FOOD TO IGUANAS
December 6, 2013
On islands in the Bahamas, tourists routinely feed iguanas grapes, cereal, ground beef, and even potato chips. This unnatural diet could be affecting the health of these endangered reptiles, researchers warn in Conservation Physiology. Continue reading
Thunbergia mysorensis
Mysore thunberia is a superlative climber found in the shola forest foothills of the Western Ghats. Blooming from October to February, this highly decorative plant creates quite an impact in any garden. Continue reading
An important tip in image making is a photographer’s ability to visualize the shots before clicking the camera. Take some time to study the subject and see what you can do with it.
Early mornings are the best time for these kind of creative shots when there’s play of shadow and light combined with mist or fog. During the drive in Kahna National Park I saw the rays of light falling on areas of shadow across the safari track. I asked the driver to stop and waited for some subject to enter the frame. This scene is good by itself, but a subject in this light creates a powerful impact on the image. Of course, a tiger entering the scene would be the jackpot. Continue reading
Sonoran Desert Museum, AZ
Image Courtesy: http://imageveux.com
Climate change has had a significant impact on a multitude of global issues ranging from the environment to even politics; the Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, is another organism that is feeling the effects of warming temperatures impede on its natural habitat in the northern circumpolar region. Varying degrees of climate change have significant impacts on the apex predator’s prey, which subsequently relocate, thus forcing Snowy Owls to migrate as well.
Vytilla Junction; “The person who fought for the rights of Black People–Dear Nelson Mandela”
Fort Cochin; Photo credits: Manoj Vasudevan
Known as “God’s Own Country”, Kerala is one of the most beautiful states in India. Lonely Planet apparently agrees by citing it among the World’s 10 best destinations for a family holiday in 2014. The Lonely Planet award for Best Family Destination was bestowed at the World Travel Mart in London, the leading trade event attended by industry representatives from around the world. Continue reading
Los Cedros Reserve, Ecuador
When I think of Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, what comes to mind is a lake surrounded by thick, dense forests, and the iconic dried tree snags created when the lake was formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam over 100 years ago, not to mention the elephants that often frequent the water’s edge. It was cloudy when I left for the boat excursion and by the time I reached the boat landing, it was pouring; it is monsoon season after all. Salim said there would be fewer “sightings”, as the locals put it, since the animals tend to take cover in the rain.
St. Mary’s Church, Kottayam; photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kerala is known for the abundance of churches that can be found every few kilometers. Every Christian family in Kerala is associated to a church, which represents the major celebrations in a family from baptism, to a child’s religious education, to his or her marriage. In this way the church plays a vital role in every individual’s and family’s life. St Mary’s church celebrates five feasts through the year which attracts lakhs of devotes seeking blessings. Continue reading
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Thanks to the Guardian‘s occasional history lessons via photography, like this one:
Eschewing the race for the South Pole, geologist and explorer Douglas Mawson took his scientific expedition to the eastern Antarctic – a region totally unmapped and unexplored. Here is a glimpse of the photographic archive that records their epic journey
“The Lord”
Historically elephants have been part of the rich culture of Kerala. As the physical representative of Lord Ganesha, people consider this animal a harbinger of good fortune, a remover of obstacles and an inseparable and integral part of religious and economic life as both temples and mosques embraced the animal during festivals. Continue reading
Caught red-beaked: This eagle grabbed a small wildlife camera in western Australia, flew away with it and then pecked away at the lens.
Thanks to National Public Radio in the USA for this story, which looks like it could be product placement (for Bushnell, to whom we can only say bravo even if we are not generally thrilled by the blurring of journalism and commerce) disguised as oddball news:
We’ve been fascinated by an “eagle cam” trained on a nest in Iowa and been thrilled by the view from a camera attached to an eagle that soared above Chamonix, France.
If you liked those, you’ll likely be interested in this, too:
Earlier this year, a young sea eagle picked up a small wildlife camera from the banks of western Australia’s Kimberley Margaret River, rangers tell the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Continue reading
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