Photo a week (2010)

Week 48 - Golden Temple

2010-12-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

Week 47 - Thumbi

2010-12-26T19:40:00.001-08:00

Week 46 - Flower garden

2010-12-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

Week 45 - Eezhaattumugam

2010-12-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Week 42 - A village view

2010-12-26T19:35:00.001-08:00

Week 40 - Chakram

2010-12-26T19:33:00.001-08:00

Week 30 - Sparkles

2010-12-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

Week 22 - Country road

2010-12-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

Week 20 - Pearl drops

2010-12-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

ഒരു കുടയുടെ മുകളില്‍ തുള്ളിക്കളിക്കുന്ന മഴത്തുള്ളികള്‍

Week 13 - Resting Top

2010-09-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Week 11 - Pearl

2010-09-02T09:55:00.001-07:00

Week 10 - Beach house

2010-09-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

Week 10 - Music wave

2010-09-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Week 6 - Repose

2010-09-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

Week 4 - Jubilant

2010-02-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

Jubilant

Week 3 - Elephant attack

2010-02-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

A wild elephant attacking a jeep at Muthanga wild life sanctuary, Wayand, Kerala.

Muthanga wild life sanctuary offers wild life safari to the tourists. They take the tourists in jeeps through the forest and we can see wild animals.

During our trip, we saw the elephants standing near the road. Our jeep was the first to arrive at the scene. We stopped our vehicle and waited for the elephants to go away, but they didn’t. Another jeep came after us and the driver of the jeep was courageous to drive near the elephants. However, as the jeep approached the elephants, one of them charged the jeep. The jeep had a narrow escape. On seeing this incident, we and the people in all other jeeps behind us were scared.

We all waited for sometime and the elephants went away from the road to the forest. On seeing this, another jeep drove ahead. But as the jeep reached near the spot where the elephants were initially standing, the elephant came out of the jungle and tried to charge the jeep. Since the driver sped away, they too had a narrow escape. The elephant was actually hiding behind the trees and waiting to attack. This incident scared us even more.

Finally after waiting for about 15 minutes, the elephants went inside the forest. This time after making sure that the elephants had really gone inside, we continued our safari.

In case you haven’t seen, watch this video found in youtube where an elephant attacks a jeep. The people in that jeep really had a scare of their life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWnPiiMKSeM

Week 2 - Water Diamonds

2010-02-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

This time, I decided to go against my convention. Instead of using my wide angle lens to cover a larger area and using a slow shutter speed to "smoothen" the water in the waterfalls, I used a telephoto lens to cover only a small area of the waterfalls and a fast shutter speed to "freeze" the water.

These were taken at "Meenmutty Waterfalls", Wayanad.

Week 1 - Sojourn

2010-02-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

Sojourn.

Fishing boats waiting at the harbour. Taken at Azhikode, Kerala.

Week 52 - Bringing to focus

2010-01-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

Week 51 - Some more history

2010-01-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

Paravur church - one of the seven and a half churches believed to be established by St. Thomas.

The Marthoma Pontifical Shrine at Kodungalloor, Kerala, the first of the seven and a half churches believed to be established by St. Thomas. St. Thomas is believed to have landed in Kodungalloor in 52 AD. In AD 72, he was martyred at Mylapore, near Chennai. His relics were taken to Edessa, Turkey by a merchant on 300 AD. In 1953, Cardinal Tisserant, then the Prefect of Oriental Congregation, on his historic visit to Kerala took the bone of the Right Arm of the Apostle and deposited it in this church. See image below.

Holy relics of some other holy people.
The altar of the church where the St.Thomas' relic is kept.

Week 50 - Fort Kochi

2010-01-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

Some of the historically important places in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India.

The Jewish Synagogue.

The "Paradesi" Synagogue was build in 1568 by the cochin jewish people in the kingdom of cochin. It is called "paradesi" synagogue because it was used by the "white jews", a mixture of Jews from Cranganore, the Middle East, and European exiles. (The "black jews", they believe, descended from the oldest Jewish communities which settled in Kerala from AD 72 onwards when the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans). It was built adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple on the land gifted to the Malabari Yehuden community by the Raja of Kochi, Rama Varma.

The top of the Mattancherry palace temple and the Jew Synagogue.

The Mattancherry Palace temple and the Mattancherry synagogue share a common wall.

Koonan kurisu (The bent cross)

This is the place where the christianity in Kerala began splitting. The koonan kurisu was established in 1550 and the "koonan kurisu sathyagraham" (the bent cross vow) took place on 5-Jan-1655.

From the hypothesized arrival of St. Thomas in A.D. 52 till the Koonan Cross in 1655, the history of the Indian church is common. Not much is known about the early history of the St. Thomas Christians, but two facts stand out clearly. Between the 3rd and the 9th centuries there were waves of immigrants from Mesopotamia (corresponds to regions of modern Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran) to Kerala, and from the early centuries, this Church, with its liturgical center in Edessa, Mesopotamia, had also claimed its origin from St. Thomas. (As per Act of Thomas, St. Thomas started his preaching in Syria, so the immigrants might have been converted by him at Syria).

When the Portuguese came to India at the end of the 15th century, they were surprised to see christians (syrian) in Kerala. The syrian christians had connections with the churches in the Persian region. The portuguese, who were catholics, tried to convert the syrian christians to catholicism. They resorted to a number of tactics to achieve this. But when one of the Bishops from Syria was allegedly murdered by the Portuguese, the syrian christians gathered at this place and re-affirmed their allegiance to the Syrian Orthodox tradition. Families of Syrian Christians held on to a rope tied to this bent cross and swore never to convert into Catholicism.

These people now form the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, the Mar Thoma Church, and the Jacobite Church. The group who did not participate in the Koonan cross sathyagraham came under papal authority and are called the Syro-Malabar Church.

An antique shop on the Jew street.

Santa Cruz Basilica

This historic Church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1795 it fell into the hands of the British when they took over Cochin, and was demolished. In 1887 Bishop Dom Gomes Ferreira commissioned a new building at the same site. The Church has since been proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II.

St. Francis Church

Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan Friars, this is India’s oldest European Church. Vasco da Gamma was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal.

The tombstone of Vasco Da Gama.

Week 49 - പുക രൂപം

2009-12-06T00:27:00.001-08:00

ഇതുണ്ടാക്കിയത് ചന്ദനത്തിരിയുടെ പുക കൊണ്ടാണ്. പുക പല വശങ്ങളിലേക്കും പറന്നു പോകാവുന്നതുകൊണ്ട് DOF കൂട്ടനായി f/10 ഉപയോഗിച്ചു. കാറ്റിന്റെ വേഗമനുസരിച്ച് ഷട്ടര്‍ സ്പീഡ് തീരുമാനിക്കാം. ഞാന്‍ ഈ ചിത്രത്തിന് 1/320s ഉപയോഗിച്ചു. ഒരു കറുത്ത തുണി ബാഗ്രൌണ്ടാക്കി വച്ചു. ഇത്തരം ചിത്രങ്ങളെടുക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പുക നന്നായി കിട്ടാനായി നല്ല ഫ്ലാഷ് വേണമെന്ന് പറയാറുണ്ട്. പക്ഷെ ഞാന്‍ ഫ്ലാഷുപയോഗിക്കാതെ നല്ല വെയിലത്ത് വച്ചാണ് ഈ ചിത്രമെടുത്തത്. (ഫ്ലാഷില്ലാത്ത പാവം ഫോട്ടോഗ്രഫര്‍ മാര്‍ക്കും പുക ചിത്രങ്ങളെടുക്കാം). സൂര്യപ്രകാശം പുക എടുത്തു കാട്ടാനായി സഹായിച്ചു. പുകയുടെ ഇരുവശങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നോ മുകളില്‍ നിന്നോ പ്രകാ‍ശമടിക്കുന്നതായിരിക്കും ഉത്തമം.

ഓരോ പുക ചിത്രങ്ങളും ഓരോരുത്തരുടെ മനസില്‍ വ്യത്യസ്ഥ രൂപങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നു. നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കിത് എന്തായി തോന്നുന്നു?

Week 48 - Indian dancer (ഭാരതീയ നര്‍ത്തകി)

2009-11-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

Indian Dancer

EYES ravished with rapture, celestially panting, what passionate bosoms aflaming with fire
Drink deep of the hush of the hyacinth heavens that glimmer around them in fountains of light;
O wild and entrancing the strain of keen music that cleaveth the stars like a wail of desire,
And beautiful dancers with houri-like faces bewitch the voluptuous watches of night.

The scents of red roses and sandalwood flutter and die in the maze of their gem-tangled hair,
And smiles are entwining like magical serpents the poppies of lips that are opiate-sweet;
Their glittering garments of purple are burning like tremulous dawns in the quivering air,
And exquisite, subtle and slow are the tinkle and tread of their rhythmical, slumber-soft feet.

Now silent, now singing and swaying and swinging, like blossoms that bend to the breezes or showers,
Now wantonly winding, they flash, now they falter, and, lingering, languish in radiant choir;
Their jewel-girt arms and warm, wavering, lily-long fingers enchant through melodious hours,
Eyes ravished with rapture, celestially panting, what passionate bosoms aflaming with fire!

- Sarojini Naidu

Week 47 - Peel

2009-11-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

Peel.

Week 46 - Day and Night

2009-11-16T22:57:00.000-08:00

The day and night view of the hotel "The Address", near Dubai mall/Burj Dubai.

Week 45 - City Nebula

2009-11-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

Salem city (Tamilnadu, India) at night from the top of Yercaud hills.

Week 43 - Lantern (റാന്തല്‍)

2009-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

റാന്തല്‍ വിളക്ക്.

Week 42 - Conqurer

2009-11-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

Conqurer.

Week 41 - Spider Web (എട്ടുകാലി വല)

2009-10-26T02:52:00.001-07:00

എട്ടുകാലി വല

Spider, with an awesome spiral web, waiting to catch the prey. The sunlight on the back helped in accentuating the web.

Wek 40 - Glare

2009-10-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

Glare

Week 38 - Stony road

2009-10-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

A wide (17mm) long DOF (f/22) one.

Week 36 - Chennamangalam ചേന്ദമംഗലം

2009-09-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Chennamangalam - A model of religious co-existance.

ചേന്ദമംഗലം - മതസൌഹാര്‍ദ്ദത്തിനൊരു മാതൃക.

Chennamangalam (also Chendamangalam), a town around 42 from Ernakulam, is one of the best examples of religious co-existance. This town was planned by one of the achans of Paliyam who wished to have all four major religious faiths equally represented in town. The Paliath Achans were hereditary prime ministers to the Rajah of Kochi.

The paliyathachan designated a site on each of the cardinal points to build a Jewish Synagogue, a christian church, a hindu temple and a muslim mosque. At the crossing of the axis was his Paliyam palace atop a hill.

The four religious places are within a distance of 50-200 meters of each other. See google map below.

Jews in Chennamangalam:
The Jews have lived in Kerala, some say, from the time of King Solomon (~1000 BC). Others believe Jews came to Kerala after Romans destroyed the second temple in Jerusalem (in the year 70 AD). When St. Thomas came to kerala, Jews were already present in Kerala. St. Thomas is believed to have arrived in Kerala on 52 AD. So if St. Thomas' arrival year is correct, then Jews were present in Kerala even before the destruction of their temple.

Interior view of the Synagogue

Click to see in larger size

One of the Jewish tombstones of a lady discovered at Chennamangalam has the year 1269 inscribed in it.

It is believed that Jews moved to Chennamangalam after the great flood of 1341 destroyed the Kodungalloor harbour.

After Israel got Independence from British in 1948, the Jews in Kerala started migrating back to Israel. An emissary from Israel came to Kerala in 1950, met the Jews in Kerala and offered them the opportunity to help realize their dreams back in their homeland. Now there are no Jews in Chennamangalam. The curator at the Synagogue told me that the last Jewish family migrated to Israel in 1971. There are just 10 Jews in 2 families in Kochi now.

The Christian Church
The Church in Chennamangalam was built in 1573, along with a seminary (Vaipikotta seminary) for teaching Syriac. The first printing press in Kerala was started here. The seminary was destroyed by Tipu Sultan in 1790 on his way to capture Travancore. The remains of the Seminary can still be seen.

The remains of the seminary

Click to see in larger size.

The church has a couple of interesting artefacts - holy relics of the Jesus's 12 disciples and a relic of the holy cross. (A portion of the bone of all apostoles and a portion of the cross in which Jesus died). I found that hard to believe and could not find any references in google about the relics of all apostles together. I forgot to ask how the church got the relics, but I think the Portugese missionaries might have brought it.

Holy Relic of Apostles (Closely look at the center to see the bones)

Click to see in larger size.

The church also has some tombstones which has inscriptions in Vattezhuthu.

Click to see in larger size.

Other places to see:
1) Jewish tombs
There are 3 Jewish tombs with inscriptions in Hebrew. The tombs are hard to find by yourself. We came to know about the tombs through some kids who became our guide when we went to the church. (When the kids asked me if they can be my guide, I said yes, thinking that i might have to give them some money. But they found happiness in calling themselves "guide" and were not at all interested in the money part). The route which we took to reach the tombs is marked in red in the map, but there is another easier way.

Click to see in larger size.

2) Kottayil Kovilakam remains
This place is marked in the map below. I do not know the historical significance of this place. There is a tourism department's board which explains something about it and another board which marks the Kottayil Kovilakam's remains. However, I could not go near those boards because of the dense vegetation which had grown around it.

3) The Pond
The pond is marked in the map below. The kid guides told me some importance about the the pond which is in the heart shape, but I can't recollect it. We searched for the pond around the tombs, but could not find it. Later google maps told me that we were very close to finding it.

4) Paliyam Palace
This is the palace of Paliyathachans. The film Nandanam was shot there. The palace has some historically important things. I could not visit the palace that day because a film's shooting was going on there and entry was restricted.

Map showing the important places

Click to see in larger size.

On my next visit to Chennamangalam, I plan to visit the palace and locate the pond.

How to reach Chennamangalam?
Chennamangalam is close to North Paravur (Parur), Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. From Ernakulam, you can go via Edapally > Varapuzha > North Parur. From Thrissur side, take the Athani-Paravur road near Airport to reach North Parur. If going in bus, from Parur, take the bus to Kottayil Kovilakam.

In case you don't know how foreigners came to Kerala centuries ago?
During south-west monsoon (April to October), the monsoon wind blows such that a ship kept in the wind's direction in Egypt would be taken to the Kerala coast (Kodungalloor) in around 30-40 days. This wind reverses its direction during the north-east monsoon, making it easier to travel back from Kerala to Egypt. This knowledge about the wind remained as a secret to the Arabs for a long time until it was discovered by an Egyptian sailor called Hippalus. This knowledge about the direction of the monsoon winds greatly facilitated the foreign traders and sailors from Egypt, Syria, Greece, Rome and Arabia to reach the western coast of Kerala for trade.

Week 34 - Souq Al Bastakiya

2009-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Al Bastakia Area in Bur Dubai dates back to the 1890, and occupies the eastern section of the old town along the Creek, extending to a length of 300 meters, and depth of 200 meters in the southern direction. This area represents an important area in the history of architecture, and the urban development of town. The masons who constructed the building, therein have left an indelible mark on the town's heritage. The area has always fascinated visitors to Dubai and artists, who are enamoured by its elegant wind-towers, gypsum decorations and woodwork, and the lanes that meander through the district.

Week 32 - Shivanasamudra Waterfalls

2009-09-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

One of the waterfalls at Shivanasamudra, about 120 Kms from Bangalore. Shivanasamudra has a few waterfalls, which are really beautiful. The best time to visit is after rainy season.

Week 30 - സാഗരം സാക്ഷി

2009-08-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

സായാഹ്നങ്ങളില്‍ പ്രിയസഖിയുമായി കൈകോര്‍ത്ത്, ഇളം കാറ്റുമേറ്റ്, തിരയുടെ ചെറുതലോടല്‍ ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങി, ഹൃദയം പങ്കിടാന്‍ കൊതിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്കായ്......

This photo was taken at Alappuzha beach (Kerala) on a rainy season. Because of the torrential rain, the sea was very rough. I originally wanted to make this a high key photo, but when I played with Levels, I liked the high contrast version.

Lens: 70-300mm

Week - 28 - മഴ മഴ കുട കുട, മഴ വന്നാല്‍ കിങ്ഫിഷര്‍ കുട

2009-08-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

What I liked in this photo is the rain drops. If you look carefully, you can see the falling rain drops.

മഴയത്ത് കുഞ്ഞുമായി നടക്കാനിറങ്ങിയ ഒരു ചെറുപ്പക്കാരന്‍.

ഈ ചിത്രത്തില്‍ എനിക്കേറ്റവും ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടത് ഇതിലെ മഴത്തുള്ളികളാണ്. ശ്രദ്ധിച്ച് നോക്കിയാല്‍ മഴത്തുള്ളികള്‍ വീഴുന്നത് കാണാം.

Week 28 - Journey in rain (മഴയത്തുള്ള സവാരി)

2009-08-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

View in full size.

മഴ മൂലം റെയില്‍ പാളത്തിനടിയിലുള്ള മണ്ണൊലിച്ച് പോയതുകൊണ്ട്‍ തൃശൂരിനടുത്തു വച്ച് ഞങ്ങളുടെ തീവണ്ടി യാത്ര തടസപ്പെട്ടു. 6 മണിക്കൂര്‍ അവിടെ കിടക്കുന്നതിനിടയില്‍ ഒപ്പിയെടുത്ത മലയാളികളുടെ “മഴയത്തുള്ള സവാരി” കള്‍.

Week 26 - Waiting for morning walkers.....

2009-07-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Waiting for morning walkers.....

Taken at Lal Bagh, Bangalore.

Week 26 - Baby

2009-07-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

കുഞ്ഞാവ..........

Week 25 - തോരാത്ത മോഹമീമഴ

2009-07-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

അങ്ങനെ മറ്റൊരു മഴക്കാലം....

ഓരോ മഴക്കാലവും ഓര്‍മ്മയുടെ ചെപ്പിനുള്ളില്‍ ഒരായിരം വര്‍ണ്ണച്ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ സമ്മാനിക്കുന്നു.........
മഴക്കാലം എന്നെ പുതുമണം മാറാത്ത പുസ്തകക്കെട്ടുകളുടേയും പുതുയൂണിഫോമിന്റേയും ഓര്‍മ്മകളിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ട് പോകുന്നു.
കോരിച്ചൊരിയുന്ന ഈ മഴയില്‍ ഞാന്‍ വീണ്ടുമൊരു ഒരു കൊച്ചുകുട്ടിയായി.......

Week 24 - Varapuzha church

2009-07-12T01:14:00.000-07:00

ചെറുചാറ്റല്‍ മഴയും നനഞ്ഞ്, ഗ്രാമങ്ങളുടെ നനഞ്ഞ പച്ചപ്പും ആസ്വദിച്ച് , ബൈക്കില്‍ ജീവിത സഖിയോടൊപ്പം കറങ്ങി നടക്കുന്നതിനിടയില്‍ കാണാനിടയായ വരാപ്പുഴപ്പള്ളി.

Week 22 - തെങ്ങിന്‍ തൈകള്‍

2009-07-12T01:10:00.000-07:00

കേടായ തെങ്ങുകള്‍ വെട്ടിമാറ്റി അവയ്ക്ക് പകരം നടാനായി പഞ്ചായത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് വിതരണം ചെയ്യാനായി വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന തെങ്ങിന്‍ തൈകള്‍.....

Week 20 - Foundain

2009-07-12T00:42:00.000-07:00

A foundain...........

Week 18 - Night riders

2009-06-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

The idea behind these kind of photos is to use a longer exposure. To compensate, use a smaller aperture and a lower ISO.

This photo was taken at dusk, with the settings f/22, ISO 100 and 30 seconds exposure.

Week 17 - Lamp and Phone

2009-06-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Week 15 - Lone spectator

2009-06-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Lone spectator.

Week 13 - Team work

2009-05-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

അധ്വാനിക്കുന്ന പുളിയുറുമ്പുകള്‍.

What are the ants doing?
The ants wanted to move from the wall to the tree through the leaf. Though the leaf was near the wall, it used to move in the breeze. The ants on the wall and on the leaf would wait for the leaf to come close to the wall. When it comes, they hold each other and keep the leaf in position (as in the pic) for as long as they can. Then a lot of other ants move from the wall to the leaf.

ISO-400
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1/100s.

I did not like the blurred foreground. I couldn't use a smaller aperture size since the moving ants and the breeze demanded at least this much shutter speed.

Week 12 - Burj Al Arab

2009-05-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hotel Burj Al Arab - one of the landmarks of Dubai. Shown in this picture is one of the closest points to Burj Al Arab where a poor man can go.

Week 11 - Allāhu Akbar

2009-04-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

People coming out of a mosque (in Sharjah, UAE) after prayers, on a Friday night.

I could not cover the entire mosque using my 17mm lens in one shot. So 2 photos were taken and merged to make this photo.

Week 10 - Lion fish

2009-04-23T00:32:00.000-07:00

A Lionfish is any of several species of venomous marine fish in the genera Pterois, Parapterois, Brachypterois, Ebosia or Dendrochirus, of the family Scorpaenidae. The lionfish is also known as the Turkey Fish, Dragon Fish, Scorpion or Fire Fish.[1] They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance, red, green, navy green, brown, orange, yellow, black, maroon, or white.

More details: Lion Fish

Week 9 - Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world

2009-04-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Burj Dubai, the tallest man-made structure ever built. (The record may not last long as there are plans to build even taller buildings). Its construction is still not over. It is expected to have a height of around 900 meters when the constuction is completed.

More details: Burj Dubai

Here is a vertical panorama of Burj Dubai (700kb). Best when viewed in full size (click on the photo).

Stitched using Canon PhotoStitch.

Week 7 - സൈക്കിള്‍ റാലി പോലൊരു ബൈക്ക് റാലി

2009-04-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

Panned shots of variety of bikes, taken during a fund-raising bike rally in Dubai.

Week 6 - ഉണരൂ ഗ്രാമമേ......

2009-04-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

This sunrise photo was taken from the top of Skandagiri, a hill, located approximately 70km from Bangalore city, Karnataka. Skandagiri is one of the hill forts in the Nandi Hill ranges. The dilapidated walls of Tipu Sultan's fort can be seen even today.

It is common to trek this hill in the dark, and it's a lot fun on a full moon night. Trekkers usually start the climbing around 2:00 AM and aim to reach the top by around 5:30 AM to catch the sunrise.

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandagiri

Week 5 - Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

2009-02-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers.

It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to India to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.

The Pied Kingfisher is estimated to be the world's third most common kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.

It is mainly a specialist fish-eater, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects. It usually hunts by hovering stationarily over the water and dives down bill first directly below to catch fish.

More details

These photos were taken at Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, near Mysore, India.

Week 4 - Farmer

2009-02-12T21:36:00.001-08:00

A farmer ploughing the field with the help of bulls.

The background was "lens blurred" and modified to highlight the farmer. Curves adjusted separately for the farmer.

Taken with 70-300mm lens.

Week 3 - Sadhu

2009-02-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

Taken outside the temple in Srirangapatna. Shot with my new Sigma 70-300mm lens. Added grunge effect and a border.

Week 2 - Scented love

2009-01-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

The perfume bottle was kept on top of the light source. Red color was slightly saturated.

f/7.1,
1/200s,
ISO 200.

Week 1 - Flowery glow

2009-01-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Flowery glow

Week 52 - Barbed

2009-01-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

Week 50 - ഒരു ദളം മാത്രം....

2009-01-02T23:31:00.000-08:00

She loves me.

Week 49 - Astronomical smiley

2009-01-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

The crescent moon, venus and Jupiter formed a wonderful smiley in the sky on 01-Dec-08. This is a rare astronomical event.

The second photo was taken a day after the first one. The moon had moved away from the planets by then.

Week 45 - I came, I saw, I captured, I went

2008-12-06T22:46:00.001-08:00

Pelican, hunting for food....

ഭക്ഷണം വേട്ടയാടുന്ന പെലിക്കണ്‍......

Week 43 - Scarlet Morning Glory

2008-12-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

Scarlet Morning Glory.

Week 42 - Paste

2008-12-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

Week 41 - Serenity

2008-10-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

Serenity

Week 40 - മഴത്തുള്ളിക്കിലുക്കം

2008-10-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

മഴത്തുള്ളിക്കിലുക്കം.

Week 38 - Spider on flower

2008-10-29T08:07:00.001-07:00

Week 37 - AC Colony

2008-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

A house in the AC colony (Alappuzha Changanacherry). The AC road is an almost straight 22 km road from Alappuzha to Changanacherry. A river flows parallel to it and a lot of people live on its bank, forming the AC colony.

എ.സി കോളനിയിലെ ഒരു വീട്. ആലപ്പുഴയില്‍ നിന്ന് ചങ്ങനാശേരി വരെയുള്ള, 22 കി.മീ. ദൂരമുള്ള ,ഏകദേശം നേരെ പോകുന്ന ഒരു വഴിയാണ് ഏ.സി റോഡ്. ഈ റോഡിനോട് ചേര്‍ന്ന് ഒരു പുഴ ഒഴുകുന്നുണ്ട്. ആ പുഴയോരത്ത് കുറേ പേര്‍ താമസിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. അതാണ് എ.സി കോളനി.

Week 35 - Woven

2008-10-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Week 31 - Happy Independence day

2008-08-29T23:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence day

Week 28 - Explosion

2008-08-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

സ്ഫോടനം ....

Week 25 - Sojourn

2008-07-31T10:50:00.001-07:00

ബാംഗ്ലൂരില്‍ നിന്നു 80കി.മീ അകലെ ഉള്ള നമദ ചിലുമെയില്‍ നിന്ന് എടുത്ത ചിത്രം. ശ്രീരാമന്‍ ലങ്കയിലേയ്ക്കുള്ള യത്രയ്ക്കിടയില്‍ ഇതുവഴി കടന്നു പോയിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നാണ് വിശ്വാസം.ആ സമയത്തു ശ്രീരാമന്‍ സൃഷ്ടിച്ച ഉറവയെ അഭിമുഖീകരിച്ച് നില്‍ക്കുന്ന വീടാണ് ചിത്രത്തില്‍. 1931 ല്‍ നിര്‍മ്മിച്ച ഗസ്റ്റ് ഹൌസാണിത്. പ്രശസ്ത പക്ഷി ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞന്‍ ഡോ.സലിം അലി പണ്ടിവിടെ താമസിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.

Week 24 - Dew drops

2008-07-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

Dew drops

മഞ്ഞുതുള്ളികള്‍

Week 23 - Shadow of light

2008-07-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Week 21 - Awe

2008-06-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Week 19 - Rain Lily white

2008-06-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

ഒരു വെള്ള പൂവ്.

Rain Lily white

Week 18 - Butter Daisy

2008-05-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

ഒരു മഞ്ഞപ്പൂ.

Butter Daisy http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Butter%20Daisy.html

Week 17 - Butterflies

2008-05-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

ഈ ചിത്രശലഭങ്ങളുടെ ചിത്രങ്ങളെടുത്തത് ബാംഗ്ലൂരിലെ ബനാര്‍ഘട്ടാ നാഷ്ണല്‍ പാര്‍ക്കിലെ ബട്ടര്‍ഫ്ലൈ പാര്‍ക്കില്‍ നിന്നാണ്. ഒരു വലിയ ചില്ലിന്‍ കൂട്ടിനുള്ളിലെ പൂന്തോട്ടത്തില്‍ ധാരാളം ചിത്രശലഭങ്ങളെ വളര്‍ത്തുന്നു. മനുഷ്യന്‍ കാട് കൈയ്യേറി നശിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തില്‍ ഇത്തരം പാര്‍ക്കുകള്‍ ആവശ്യമായി വരുന്നു. ഈ പാര്‍ക്കുകളിലെങ്കിലും വരും തലമുറയ്ക്ക് ചിത്രശലഭങ്ങളെ കാണാന്‍ സാധിക്കുമല്ലോ.

These pictures of butterflies were taken from the Butterfly park of Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore. The butterflies are grown in a garden inside a big glass cage. In these days, when humans are destroying the natural habitat of other creatures, these parks deserve significant importance. At least the next generation can see butterflies in these parks.

Week 15 - More flowers

2008-04-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

If you know the name of this flower, please let me know.

ഈ പൂവിന്റെ പേര് അറിയാമെങ്കില്‍ ദയവായി എന്നെ അറിയിക്കൂ...

Week 14 - Erect Clematis

2008-04-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

മറ്റൊരു പൂവ്.

The name of the flower is Erect Clematis.

To know more about the flower, visit Erect Clematis

Week 13 - Rain Lily Rose

2008-04-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

ഒരു പൂവ്.

Rain Lily Rose.

Week 12 - Morning hue

2008-03-30T05:21:00.000-07:00

Week 11 - A white flower

2008-03-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

ഒരു വെള്ള പൂവ്.

A white flower.

Week 10 - Silhouetted Palm Fronds

2008-03-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

ഓലകളുടെ ഇടയിലൂടെ ഒരു സൂര്യാസ്തമയം.

A sunset through palm fronds.

Week 9 - Follow me

2008-03-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

ദിവസവും വൈകുന്നേരം അഞ്ചിനും ആറരയ്ക്കുമിടയില്‍ കുറേ കൊക്കുകള്‍ എന്റെ വീടിന്റെ മുകളിലൂടെ പറന്ന് പോകുന്നതായി ഞാന്‍ കണ്ടുപിടിച്ചു. അവ എവിടെ നിന്ന് വരുന്നുവെന്നോ എവിടേക്ക് പോകുന്നുവെന്നോ എനിക്കറിയില്ല. ഒരു വൈകുന്നേരം എന്റെ വീടിന്റെ മുകളില്‍ നിന്ന് എടുത്തതാണ് ഈ ചിത്രം.

I found that a lot of cranes fly above my house every day between 5 PM and 6:30 PM. I do not know where they are coming from and where they are going. I took this snap from the top of my house one evening.

Week 7 - Aqueduct

2008-02-22T07:25:00.001-08:00

കൃഷി ആവശ്യത്തിന് വെള്ളം കൊണ്ടുപോകാനായി വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് മുന്‍പ് പണിത ആലുവയിലെ അക്വഡക്റ്റ്. അതിന്റെ മുകളിലൂടെ നടപ്പാതയുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പോള്‍ കൃഷി ആവശ്യത്തിനായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നില്ലെങ്കിലും അതിന്റെ മുകളിലൂടെ നടന്നാല്‍ മനോഹരമായ് കാഴ്ചകള്‍ കാണാം.

An aqueduct in Aluva built years ago for irrigation purpose. There is a walkway on its top. Though it is not used for irrigation these days, you can enjoy beautiful scenes if you walk through it.

Week 5 - Convergence

2008-02-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

ശിവരാത്രിക്കായ് ഒരുങ്ങുന്ന ആലുവാ മണപ്പുറത്ത് പണിയുന്ന കടകളുടെ ചട്ടക്കൂട്.

The framework of the shops being built at Aluva manappuram in preparation for Sivarathri.

Week 4 - Jewellery

2008-02-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

സ്വര്‍ണ്ണവും പ്ലാറ്റിനത്തിലുള്ള വജ്രവും പ്രിയതമയ്ക്കായി.....

Gold and diamond embedded platinum ring for the sweet heart....

Week 3 - Waiting for the ducks to cross

2008-01-31T05:57:00.000-08:00

A view from a village called Perungalam near Ashtamudi lake.

അഷ്ടമുടിക്കായലിനോട് ചേര്‍ന്ന് കിടക്കുന്ന പെരുങ്ങാലം എന്ന കൊച്ചു ഗ്രാമത്തില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള ഒരു ദൃശ്യം.

Week 2 - Sailing

2008-01-31T05:31:00.000-08:00

A Boatman taking people from one side of the "Kalladayaar" river to the other.

കല്ലടയാറ്റിന്റെ ഒരു കരയില്‍ നിന്ന് മറുകരയിലേക്ക് ആളുകളെ കൊണ്ടുപോകുന്ന തോണിക്കാരന്‍.

Week 1 - Relaxing at the beach

2008-01-31T05:17:00.000-08:00

That's my wife gazing at the sea. This photo was taken at the Kavarathi island of Lakshadweep during our honeymoon trip.

കടലിലേക്ക് നോക്കിയിരിക്കുന്ന എന്റെ പ്രിയപത്നി. ഞങ്ങളുടെ മധുവിധുവിന് ലക്ഷദ്വീപിലെ കവരത്തി ദ്വീപില്‍ വച്ച് എടുത്ത ചിത്രം.

Remaining weeks of 2007

2008-01-26T21:22:00.000-08:00

I returned to India from US on Nov 22nd. I got engaged on Dec 15th and got married on Dec 30th. Since I was busy with trying to settle in Bangalore, engagement and wedding, I could not post regularly for the remaining weeks of 2007. But I am posting some photos which I took during this time.

Week 45 - Day Lilly

2007-11-11T20:14:00.003-08:00

Week 44 - Pith

2007-10-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Week 43 - Happy Halloween

2007-10-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Taken at the Pumpkin carving festival, Boston. Around 30,000 pumpkins were carved and lit on that day.

Week 42 - New Hampshire

2007-10-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

This week I am posting some photos taken during a trip to New Hampshire.

Week 38 - Wet foliage

2007-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Week 37 - RIP

2007-10-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

Taken at Mount Auburn cemetery. This cemetery is a 175 year old 175 acre cemetery, famous for its historical importance and beautiful landscapes. Usually the word cemetery reminds us of a scary place only for the dead. But mount Auburn cemetery redefines cemetery. Mount Auburn is a beautifully landscaped place, with around 5000 trees belonging to 630 species, thousands of shrubs and herbaceous plants, weaving through 175 acres of hills, dells, ponds, woodlands and clearings.

One of the founders believed that burying and commemorating the dead was best done in a tranquil and beautiful natural setting.

Around 80,000 people are buried here and cremates around 900 people annually.

This cemetery is one place you would die to rest forever.

Week 36 - liliaceous

2007-10-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Week 35 - Birthday girl

2007-09-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

Photo of a cute girl, taken on her birthday.