Portals

The darvaza, or a doorway, signifies many things in many cultures, ranging from the metaphysical separation of the death from life, to the more mundane indoors from the outdoors. As a photographer, perhaps the appeal lies in its ability to frame the organic shapes and colors of the outdoor with a well-defined man-made structure.

I collated three such doorways from different parts of the world: the doorway of an outer portico for the Taj Mahal-inspired Bibi ka Maqbara in India, an arched window in the kasbah in Chefchaouen in Morocco, and the stone-hewed entrance of an old caravanserai on the Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan. Each are different, and yet, they share the intrinsic property that is common for a darvaza.

Nostalgia

A temple in Ellora

A stone column lined column carved out of granite in Ellora Caves

Buddhist artwork in Ajanta

A Buddhist cave richly adorned with paintings and frescoes in the Ajanta Cave complex

Sculptures at Ellora

Faded remains of a richly painted sculpture at the main temple complex in Ellora Caves

Every couple of years, I get pangs of nostalgia for India, and the yearning to visit my home town and see family increases. The cold days of winter, when work slows down, serves as an excellent opportunity to go back home, especially with its mild weather and pleasant temperatures.

I also use this time to indulge in the rich history of this country. This has been something I took for granted while growing up as I never had the appreciation for it. Now, my travels over the past decade have wisened my world view, and has provided me a better appreciation for the rich history and cultural heritage.

On one such visit, I got to explore the richly decorated cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora, a UNESCO world heritage site located in western India. With sculptures and paintings dating to 480 - 1000CE, these cave complexes were an in-depth study of the ancient Indian art forms. I couldn't get enough of this destination, and I hope to go there again when times are better

Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Maharashtra India

Hallowed Halls

One of the bigger challenges in candid/street photography is the need to capture poignant moments and unique perspectives, especially when visiting crowded areas. Complex scenes can be constructed by allowing the eye to follow human activity in the scene, and hence capturing the right slice of time is crucial to showcase this drama. This is what separates a great street photographer from a moderate one.

While wandering through the hallowed hallways of the famous Kailasanatha temple, dating back to the 6th century AD, at Ellora caves in India, I came across a open courtyard (carved into sheer granite) where a visiting tourist was trying to capture the thick supporting columnwork. What made the scene more interesting was an onlooker standing by one of the columns gazing at this tourist. The immediate surroundings, with elephants carved into the rock and adornments festooned on the temple walls above, as well as the sheer overhang of the bedrock above, made the entire scene even more dramatic.

This scene existed but for a fleeting moment; the tourist in saree walked away while the onlooker disappered between the multitudes of supporting pillars. It highlighted the importance of capturing at the right time, and for keeping my eyes open for the right moment.

Ellora Caves
Maharashtra India

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