Vishnu's Photos

And my obsession continues.

2007-10-14T23:11:00.001-07:00

What's with flowers ? The answer.. they are beautiful on their own. you don't even have to try too hard to make a good photo.

Making a Splash!

2007-10-09T23:45:00.001-07:00

Waves hitting the concrete rocks at the base of the lighthouse on Santa Cruz beach.

Natural Mosaic

2006-11-29T10:32:00.000-08:00

Erosion - The force of nature that works by persistence and persistence alone. Chipping away at big boulders, inch by inch by inch. Making mosaics out of formidable rocks, making valleys out of majestic mountains and making canyons out of firm and solid ground.

The World is beyond the Window.

2006-11-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

A World beyond the Window. Hosted on Zooomr

The Many Faces of Ganesha

2006-11-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

The many faces of Ganesha. Hosted on Zooomr

Oh! What's it with temple priests and photography. The priest got really pissed off when he came to know that I was getting trigger happy around the temple and literally threw me out. I had to feign piety and apologize to shoot this beautiful vinakayaka by keeping the camera inside my shirt.

Now I finally understand what my mother meant when she said "Every vinakaya has a story to tell".

The Smiling Buddha.

2006-11-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

The Smiling Buddha Hosted on Zooomr

The Buddha smiled, and from his mouth came five-colored rays of light, each shining on King Bimbisara's head. Although the old king was confined, with his unhindered mind's eye he saw the Buddha in the distance. He knelt down in homage to the Buddha and effortlessly made spiritual progress until he reached the stage of a non-returner - Nirvana.
- Bodhisittava Sutra.

What lies inside of a Rose?

2006-11-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

The sweet nectar the bumble bees seek lies behind a veil of pink petals, covering the treasure that the bee covets. As one consumes the other, both in total consummation, dance to the tunes of nature. As the bee leaves the flower satisfied of its hunger the flower droops in fulfillment. The glorious opera of life played out by nature with the actors performing their roles to perfection.

Marigold Beauty.

2006-11-04T03:03:00.000-08:00

Xenophobia - The fear or aversion to things that are not native.

Not everything that's not native is to be despised, not everything that's feral is ugly. This lovely marigold, a feral to the landscape it was found in - semi arid shrub land. A phirangi. Yet the fact does not seem diminish its beauty in any way.

More of these shots can be seen on my flickr page.

Ecstasy

2006-10-30T23:29:00.000-08:00

Ecstasy :
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a drug designed to have the effects of amphetamines but originally synthesized to avoid the drug laws; it is now a controlled substance. It is informally called ecstasy.It is used by some abusively and illegally without a prescription.

Ecstasy :
1. The state of being beside one's self or rapt out of one's self; a state in which the mind is elevated above the reach of ordinary impressions, as when under the influence of overpowering emotion; an extraordinary elevation of the spirit, as when the soul, unconscious of sensible objects, is supposed to contemplate heavenly mysteries.

2.Excessive and overmastering joy or enthusiasm; rapture; enthusiastic delight.

3.Violent distraction of mind; violent emotion; excessive grief of anxiety; insanity; madness.

The Tomb of the Stonemasons.

2006-10-29T06:20:00.000-08:00

This sombre sight has an interesting story behind it. These are not ordinary tombs, but tombs of stonemasons. The ones who created the magnificent Adalaj step well - a truly astounding subterrianan edifice . The well was constructed by an invading ruler who fell in love with the queen of the kingdom. He ordered the construction of this well to please her.

Once the well was finished and the king happy to find the queen pleased asked the masons whether any well could be constructed as magnificent as this one. The stonemasons in a bout of pride answered yes. The king enraged and fearing someone could entice his new found love away from him ordered the execution and made sure their tombs were placed on top of the well as a reminder to others.

This could be a story of where pride could go before the fall, or the vain of vanity but simply the fundamental moral is always, and I say always know that your boss is always right.

From the bottom of the well.

2006-10-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

This view is from the bottom of the well. If you look closely you might be able to see all five floors. The well is five storeys below the ground and is a truly astounding monument to a fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture. There are the more Islamic flowers and leaves style but there are also enough dancing maidens, all carefully handcrafted by a group of stonemasons who would eventually reach a tragic end.

The Sentry's Quarters.

2006-10-29T06:10:00.000-08:00

White and Lonely Flower.

2006-10-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

Diwali Dhamaka

2006-10-28T00:10:00.000-07:00

Nuts!!

2006-10-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

Roasted and served with salt and chilli.

A Macho's Mobike.

2006-10-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

The Entrance to the Well.

2006-10-27T22:59:00.000-07:00