365-1/4

My Best Photos From 2010

2011-01-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my best photos from 2010, all on this blog.

January

The chair is a rocking chair I have at home, and it casts that shadow at night, in yellow light. Above that is the neighbourhood of the home I grew up in - I was actually trying to get a picture of the sunset. Next to that is the day's washing - I had laundered a whole lot of towels. I like the picture for the light pouring in through the window. Below that is a scene captured from behind the window of a moving train.

February

I saw this commode (WC) at the site of a demolition. Next to that is the decoration at a wedding - the plates contain beads, tinsel and sprinkles stuck to them. Below that is a small truck transporting green bananas, and next to that is part of city beautification - the city is being beautified with paintings of folk art. I've taken so many pictures of that through the months.

March

I joined a yoga class where the mats were rolled and hung up so - it was on a terrace but thatched to provide some relief from the heat. Next to that is a scene rather typical of South India - the saris, the plaits and the strings of jasmine - I took that with my mobile camera and I really like this photo. Below that is the statue of a local deity, his arm was missing then but has been restored since. Next to that is yellow watermelon, a real rarity in these parts.

April

The boy managing the pavement store that stocked these tender coconuts didn't know what to say when I finished having my coconut water and told him I'd take a few moments photographing the coconuts. He was so surprised. What strikes you about the picture next to that? It's from a performance - and the image is similar to the folk art mural I included in the February collage above.

May

Usually, May is the hottest summer month in India, and fans like this are popular as they come in handy when electricity fails, quite a common occurrence. Then, I cut a pineapple and liked the way this piece of peel arranged itself. I like the next picture for the shadows.

June

I finally watched a jackfruit being cut, joined yet another yoga class (notice the stick figures in various asanas in the centre photo) and fried fish.

July

The pots hanging are from a street-side nursery that sold plants. Next to that has to be one the most bizarre sights I've ever seen - mannequins torso down, for a denim brand, hanging from the ceiling. Below that is a weaver plying his craft on a loom - I got this at an exhibition of textiles. Next to that is a picture from the seaside where the boys are playing kabaddi.

August

This month, the city was full of such installations of Gods and Goddesses as part of some festive period. These were usually above a platform/stage on which some song-and-dance show was being performed, or above a temple. I enjoyed breaking through the small groups of onlookers and participants at these places to take the pictures.

September

I lost my camera in August, and got a new one. I'm sure the picture of the pepper vine next to it would not get any marks for lighting, but I love the way the new camera captured the green peppercorns turning (and turned) black.

October

A bangle seller. I haven't seen this cart since I finished school, perhaps. If I ever saw one of them again, I would think, I would drop whatever I was doing and take a picture. I'm glad to say I did.

I asked him if I could take a picture and he agreed, waiting patiently till I had taken as many as I wanted. He agreed there were fewer carts such as these but that they still existed here and there, and that he came by this area everyday.

November

The picture at the top and bottom are from my trip to Rajasthan. The woman is a vendor of jewellery at a fort and the sunset is from Sam in the desert. It looks like an isolated spot, but it's actually full of tourists - and camels and their masters.

December

I can't believe I got such a photo. Enough said.

I'm sending this off to this event.

The 365-1/4th Day

2010-12-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

There, I've come to the end of this project which actually ended quite a while ago. If you've been following this blog, you will know I lost my camera at the end of August, and that derailed my momentum with this photo-a-day project. I tried to keep it going, but I began forgetting to take pictures for days on end after that. I'm quite sad - I thought I could and would see it through.

So here are the last batch of photos taken over the last one month. I am looking out for another project but none as intense as this - I was really seized with it as long as I didn't lose my camera - it made me spend more hours on the computer, more hours up at night, and for a while, I didn't even feel like working on the other blog because I was spending time on this every day. I also took a lot of pictures just for the sake of meeting a deadline - I guess it's time I eased up and learnt some photography now!

One of the nicest hotel rooms I've stayed in!

Home baked goodies from a friend!

Trying some food photography!

Same star, different shot

Cooking in progress!

It's been many days of Rajasthani food at home since my trip last month to Rajasthan - here it's pithore ki kadhi in the making. The cubes above are the pithore, made from besan. More posts here and here.

The pattern on this pressure cooker full of greens and dal reminded me of geographic maps.

I boiled eggs straight out of the refrigerator. An egg cracked and this yolk popped out. Maybe there were two or it shaped itself so. I found it cute.

An evening out

Hard times - vegetables at awful prices

But at the end of the day, something sane, some good advice ...

A very happy new year to you all!

Rajasthan journey

2010-11-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

This past week, I was in Rajasthan for a trip with my friends. We went to Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur. These pictures are from Jaisalmer. The lady above is a vendor at the fort, which is home to about 4,000 people.

There are many shops for tourists inside the fort, this one selling hats and turbans and other stuff is one of them.

As you enter the fort, there are several stalls selling silver jewellery and puppets.

Just a small example of the beautiful carvings in sandstone - I think this is from Patwon Ki Haveli in Jaisalmer.

Sunset on the dunes in Sam (pronounced 'Sum', in the Thar desert.)

A 'pol' (gate) at Mandore Fort, Jodhpur

The imposing Mehrangarh fort

The Blue City, as seen from Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur. Originally painted blue for Brahmins to distinguish their houses from others', the indigo wash was later adopted by everyone as it was supposed to have disinfectant qualities.

Amber fort, Jaipur

Inside Amber fort, Jaipur. You can see the wall of Jaigarh fort, which houses the world's largest cannon, at the back.

A large courtyard inside Amber fort - there are several courtyards, not to mention rooms, gates and passages inside this sprawling fort. The place is a maze, you can get lost very easily and waste a lot of time as there are no directions and the audio guide tour is also badly organised.

These Past Few Days

2010-11-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, I don't even try to take good photos. This project has become one that's all about struggling to the finish line at any cost. Here are pictures from the past few days:

A landmark in my city

I've seen stuff like this only on the doors and walls of loos in trains, this was in an elevator!

Double rainbow! On the way back from home after the Deepavali break. I saw a rainbow on my way there too!

I still remember the days of my childhood when this creeper came to our house - how taken we were with its exotica, and its fragrance. It smelled very sweet and there were ants running over the flowers all the time. I just realise I'd posted this on my other blog a couple of years ago.

Green bananas, steamed, grated, tempered

Mashing garlic, in preparation for tawa paneer

Gravy for paneer makhani

Dregs

2010-11-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

of 'fruit falooda'

Matta Rice

2010-11-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

More Diwali Greetings :)

2010-11-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

A Smudge of Rainbow, And a Road

2010-11-09T11:40:00.000-08:00

Diwali Greetings - 2

2010-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Diwali Greetings - 1

2010-11-09T11:34:00.001-08:00

Creepy Crawly

2010-11-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

Deepavali

2010-11-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

Rainbows

2010-11-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Notice the second above?

Somebody Else's Property

2010-11-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Elevator - usually it's the loos on trains that have this kind of stuff!

A Landmark

2010-11-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

Birthday Dinner

2010-11-09T10:34:00.001-08:00

It was The Spouse's birthday last month.

What I've Been Eating

2010-10-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

This blog is about what I've been photographing, but this is just what I've been photographing as well - I'm trying desperately to keep up with the challenge I've set myself, and not faring very well. But here goes!

Now that's a stylised picture of our dining table and the people around it on Dasara day earlier this month!

A podi (powder) that came out right - I imagined this is how it would be made and went ahead after some Internet searching confirmed my suspicions.

A barley salad with green beans, cranberries and almonds that I chewed through two days. There's still a little left over in my fridge.

Flora At Home, Accented

2010-10-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Papaya, with colour accented, finally had some fun with my new Canon SX 210 IS today!

With the macro setting

More accent on the colour! This is the 'bird of paradise'.

Bangle Seller

2010-10-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen this cart since I was in college. Maybe even earlier. If I ever saw one of them again, I thought, I would drop whatever I was doing, shake off the inhibition, make an effort and take a picture. I'm glad to say I did. Every time I come home to my parents, I look for this.

I asked him if I could take a picture and he agreed, waiting patiently till I had taken as many as I wanted. He agreed there were fewer carts such as these but that they still existed here and there, and that he came by this area everyday.

I didn't buy any bangles from him but asked him if he would have coffee, but he declined. We thanked each other and went on.

My Work Desk

2010-10-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Showing it as it is!

Not So Macro

2010-10-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

I hoped that my new camera would automatically take better pictures than my old one. No dice! I need to spend more time with it!

The Previous Sunday

2010-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Gujarati Thali

Gadget. Useful?

2010-10-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what this is? I've never come across it earlier. Or am I the only one?

Not Quite Bittergourd

2010-10-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Spiny gourd/teasel gourd/Aakaakarakaya/ Kantola/Kankoda - you can see the vegetable here.

What Could Have Been Lunch

2010-10-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

I stopped with cleaning the fridge and went out for lunch.

Dressed To a Tee

2010-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Notice the dull orange one? What a great find! :)

As Good As New

2010-10-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

In this blog a few months ago, I appealed for his arm to be repaired and restored. And it has! :-D

By The Vine

2010-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Blue Skies, Rolling Meadows

2010-09-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

More Fun With New Camera

2010-09-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Random Shot With New Camera

2010-09-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Colour, Accented

2010-09-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Not Just Fun & Games

2010-09-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sept 24

I'm Too SXy For My ...

2010-09-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

That's my proud possessor holding me. Wish me a fruitful, theft-free, scratch-free, accident-free life with her please!

Crazy Frog

2010-09-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

... or Mickey Mouse? That's how a rubber band arranged itself!

A Berry Sunday

2010-09-19T23:15:00.001-07:00

Frozen yogurt with berries!

Feeble Attempts

2010-09-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm still struggling to make a go of Project 365 ever since I lost my camera. Suddenly, taking pictures with my mobile phone, a relatively recent phenomenon for me (less than a year old) is no longer much fun. I also struggle with a conscience - I know I've missed out one more day and hence the confession before I can say one of these photos makes up for that (who's going to count anyway?)

I was hoping to have the new camera today but the one I've chosen is a fairly high-end point and shoot, so it isn't readily available - it has been ordered by the dealer and will arrive at his showroom only next week.

Here, then are the photos from the last one week or more. Bad pictures most of them, but at least they represent an attempt to not give up :(.

Travelling ...

Couscous, eaten with chicken one day and beans and capsicum the next.

What do those look like? They are neither burn marks nor a skin disease, just the shadow of raindrops from the windshield on my hand under a yellow street light!

Leeks and onions frying for an eggy delight

Feng Shui charms from a night market in Taiwan - really not sure what they represent. The first one (the circular one) is for money, that's what the hawker said, and she didn't know much more English beyond that.

Two, no, three of my favourite persons

At the bank - now rules require that the locker keys be inscribed with some code

A curry leaf fish fry that I made recently

Can you spot the "idli dhokla"?

English as she is spoken :)

No Mojo

2010-09-11T02:38:00.000-07:00

Project 365 has lost its appeal for me somewhat after I returned from my trip. I guess the loss of my camera did that, combined with the fact that I have had so much to do since I came back. Weariness seems to have taken over and I haven't been uploading pictures as I should. Here are the last few days' pix, taken on my mobile phone. I haven't made any effort at the aesthetics, just struggling to keep myself going as a Project 365-er and not a giver-upper.

Vinayaka Chaturthi

Cajun Coca-Cola Chicken

A milestone!

Eggs Over Chips

2010-09-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Last Two Weeks ...

2010-09-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

... have been a mishmash of a jaunt abroad, the loss of my camera (and half my pictures), and much work and preoccupation after returning home. So instead of doing a day by day post, I'll just leave you with pictures of my trip to Taipei, Taiwan and Bangkok, Thailand. I hope you've seen the foodie pictures here?

En route to the hotel from Taoyuan Airport, Taipei. Much of Taipei is like this, with clouds touching the mountains, which redeem the city from looking like the concrete jungle it is.

The Grand Hotel, Taipei. It's built in a traditional Chinese style, which Taiwan shares with China.

Taipei 101, the world's biggest skyscraper now

A piece of art, celebrating Taipei

Incredible India in Taipei

:) I don't know who this is - I just noticed him dozing peacefully at the entrance to a building/a parking lot.

Taipei 101 by night

Longshan temple, Taipei

On the Chayo Phraya, Bangkok

Monks travelling by boat

Wat Arun, a temple that I visited, Bangkok. I had to take a train and two boats to get here.

Au Revoir

2010-08-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

The Colour Purple

2010-08-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

That's sponge cake being soaked in black currant syrup in preparation for a trifle of sorts. It was later combined with vanilla custard to which some rose syrup was added. My uncle, who has a great sweet tooth, makes these puddings with whatever he has at hand.

An Elephantine Effort

2010-08-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

The three books that you see in this picture are gifts I'm taking for a friend with whom I've share much happiness and craziness. Guess what they are made of?

Thought For The Day

2010-08-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

Another Food Picture

2010-08-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Matar Paneer

More Dancing Girls

2010-08-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

See That Girl ...

2010-08-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Wall art

Flower Seller

2010-08-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

A Colourful Life

2010-08-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

I didn't buy any! I recognised the photo op very early!

The First Miss

2010-08-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I missed putting out a photo. I forgot, and then I was too sick and tired to bother. I'd better confess to it before I give in to the temptation to put up some picture or the other that is supposed to be yesterday's.

Splendour

2010-08-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

An Artist's Hand

2010-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

A dessert I made for my friends V and V who came over to spend a morning with me! That's frozen biscuits and ice-cream with chocolate sauce.

Deity

2010-08-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Thought For Tomorrow

2010-08-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Beads & Baubles

2010-08-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Pavement shopping

Mother Goddess

2010-08-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Street Orchestra

2010-08-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Look at the centre of the photo, beneath the lights! Well, that's the spot I wanted to capture - can't really see the instruments, can you?

Catching Up With A Friend

2010-08-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Our Roads Smell Sweet

2010-08-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

... only when there's a funeral!

Better Gods & Goddesses

2010-08-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

I promised better pictures than yesterday, and here they are!

Light And Devotion

2010-08-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

I hope to get a better picture of the Gods and Goddesses tomorrow!

Arches

2010-08-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Long, Long Legs

2010-07-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw something like this!

Tamarind

2010-07-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

As I was walking back from the gym, I chanced upon this tamarind tree full of fruit. It's been ages since I saw this sight. I stopped and stared for quite a while before I reached for my mobile phone to take a picture.

Rainy Day

2010-07-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Healthy Dinner!

2010-07-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

Raagi dosa!

Back, And Settling Down

2010-07-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

I took several random pictures to capture the greenery outside the train on my way back from vacation last Sunday. I ended up with a lot of palm trees, coconut trees, canals, paddy fields and the like, but didn't realise this picture had managed to capture a farmer/shepherd and even a bird in flight. It's not clear, of course, but I love it.

Charging my mobile - Monday night

Back to the grind - in the kitchen, Tuesday

Kabaddi By The Beach

2010-07-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

At beach, Kodur, Andhra Pradesh

Loosing It!

2010-07-23T07:29:00.002-07:00

The above is my photo, the clearer one below is The Spouse's, who took it on my request - I was too lazy to be a professional on vacation. The place has definitely dumbed down since we grew up and left!

Loosing It!

2010-07-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

Toying With The Camera

2010-07-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

Kondapalli toys at the State handicrafts emporium

An Artist's Hand

2010-07-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

... and her models, perhaps!

East is East ...

2010-07-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hanuman (Anjaneya), the monkey god, and a blue-eyed boy both find a home in a child's stash of playthings.

The Past Three Days

2010-07-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Plastic pots for sale at a pavement nursery

At an amusement park

Waiting, waiting, waiting, for the train to arrive - it was three hours late.

Butterflies

2010-07-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Scene From Train

2010-07-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Making Do

2010-07-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have no other picture for the day so I shot this when I stopped to buy some fruit from here. Most of the fruit here (and everywhere else) is imported and I don't buy if I can help it, but today, I bought two apples.

Life's A Beach

2010-07-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

Another wall painting - my city is being beautified very well with these nowadays - I wish it doesn't stop!

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

2010-07-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

We had a small party in the office and I watched with a sinking heart as the chocolate cake made its way down my throat like satin. I very well couldn't have not eaten it with several others sure to ask why.

I resolutely held on to the puff, though, and slipped it into my draw once I got back to my corner - out of sight, out of mind.

Fruit Of The Loom

2010-07-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

At a handlooms exhibition

Emptied

2010-07-10T10:03:00.001-07:00

Only the food courts are open at this time. The rest is silence.

Fruit Seller

2010-07-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Foot Fetish

2010-07-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Pedicure

Chugging Along

2010-07-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

I tried to catch the train as it passed by, lights in windows flashing by, I ended up only with this!

I uploaded this for yesterday but it didn't get uploaded. Yesterday was the first day I forgot to upload a picture and remembered only this morning instead.

The story behind the peanuts is here.

Flashing The Pearlies

2010-07-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Pearl onions

Lights

2010-07-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Wrong Picture

2010-07-03T10:27:00.001-07:00

I wanted to post something else but I deleted it by mistake. This adorned a restaurant we just had dinner at.

Watching Football

2010-07-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

House

2010-07-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

To me this looked like it could be in a quiet, pastoral place but it was smack dab in the middle of the city, at a busy crossroads.

Policing The City

2010-06-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Police headquarters. Well, one of them.

Mango Season

2010-06-29T10:03:00.001-07:00

Mango pickle, mamidikaya/avakaya pachadi, from home

Mango pickle, mamidikaya/avakaya pachadi, from home

I Count

2010-06-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Still Life 2.1

2010-06-27T11:16:00.001-07:00

The Past Three Days

2010-06-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

June 26 - En route to the airport, an old fort in Delhi (none of the signboards I saw had a name on them, they just said stuff to the effect of heritage site).

June 25 - Quite liked the pun in the brand name!

June 24 - I actually wanted to photograph a large green synthetic flower in the hair of the woman sitting in the row ahead of me, but I knew I'd be found out if I held the mobile camera that high, so I settled for my own accessories to be the day's subject instead.

How Not To Exercise

2010-06-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Making A Meal Of It

2010-06-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

That was a handvo, a Gujarati snack, that didn't work too well. It wasn't fluffy, and eating even one piece was tiresome as it was so dense, so I quartered each piece and threw them into a tomato-onion-ginger-garlic gravy to soften it up - and it serves as a one-pot meal.

I wouldn't blame you for thinking it's a freshly-extracted ulcer, though! {Gross!}

Busy Day

2010-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

So busy that I still haven't read the papers

And I Feel Disgusted!

2010-06-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

One of those fish pedicure affairs, I'm sure!

A Moment In The Day

2010-06-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Back To The Gym

2010-06-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wish me luck!