Story Behind The Picture : "After The Day's Toil"

Story Behind The Picture

"After The Day’s Toil"

Friends,

Today I am before you with a photograph, “After The Day’s Toil”. This photograph was clicked in December, 2011 during my visit to Papikondalu (Andhra Pradesh). I was at this place regarding my presentation in a photography workshop. This beautiful place is situated on the bank of River Godavari and is covered with green hills from all the directions. The widely extended sand-beach by the river is an attraction of this spot. A number of activities, like fishing through the nets, tribal dances and glamour-shoots, were performed for the participants of workshop. This was one moody evening when two fishermen had just returned back from their daily doings. Out of them, the one was busy in anchoring his boat at the bank, and another one was folding his net. Their act fascinated me a lot. Moreover the vibrant colours of evening, pleasant reflections in water, the position of boats and the lamps on their front, seemed to be extremely attractive. Whole scene gave the impression of a painter’s imagination. I clicked a few frames of that sight. This is one of them.

I used a Nikon D 90 camera with a Nikon 18-105 mm lens. As the light was dull, I preferred high ISO (1600). The picture was clicked at aperture priority mode (with f -8).

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

Story Behind The Picture : Returning to the Home

Celebrating 2nd Anniversary...

--Story Behind the Picture--

“Returning to the Home”

Friends,

This time I’m before you with a photograph titled, “Returning to the Home”. This photograph is one of my favorites and was clicked at Bandra Bhan which is situated at a distance of about 6 kilometers from the city of Hoshangabad of Madhya Pradesh (India). This place is very important due to its geographical location as two great rivers; the Tawa and the Narmada join each-other here. Tawa is the longest tributary of Narmada (about 170 km.). A grand fair is organized at Bandra Bhan every year on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. Bandra Bhan is rich in scenic Beauty. I was there in September, 2007. On one mellow evening I noticed many boats in the river. Suddenly a boat came into the vision in which a fisherman and his wife were returning back to their home after the day’s toil. The bright-orange sky, the formation of clouds, the rays of the setting sun and the position of the boat, altogether created a poetic view. I clicked several frames and the present one is out of them. I used a Canon Powershot, A-580 digital camera to click this image.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

Story Behind the Picture : "Hope"

Story Behind the Picture

“HOPE”

Friends,

This time I am before you with one of my favorite photographs, titled “Hope”. It was foggy and wintry morning of 26 January-2009 when I clicked this image in my city (Bareilly,India). I was on the way to my office to attend the India’s Republic Day function. On my way, I observed a poor old man near a temple. He was physically disabled and hence he was sitting on his tri-wheeled rickshaw. He had placed a replica of Indian National Flag on the lever of his vehicle. The most important thing which attracted me deeply was the hopefulness in his eyes. In spite of his physical disability and poverty, the man wore an incomparable optimism and quietness. Moreover, the tea-tumbler in his hands, the bread in his lap, his blanket & scarf and his bag on the right side of rickshaw, altogether seemed to tell a complete story. All through our conversation, the old man remained very polite and kind-hearted. I departed from that place with deep regards for this man in my heart.

I clicked a few frames. This is one of them. I used a Canon Powershot A -580 compact camera.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

Story Behind The Picture : "Alert & Watchful"

Story Behind the Picture

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“Alert & Watchful”

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Friends,

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This time I’m before you with one of my favourite photographs, “Alert & Watchful”. This was clicked at Ahichchatra; a historical site situated around 45 Kilometres from Bareilly (U.P, India). This widely expanded place has a rich historical background. The uneven land and bushes give a distinct look to this place. A good number of peacocks and Nilgais (the Indian Blue Bulls) reside here. I was on a trip to this place with some of my friends in 2004. When we were returning back from the place, a herd of Blue Bulls came into vision. As our car reached close to them, they went away from us quickly. But this young Blue Bull returned back after striding a little and started looking at us. Luckily I was sitting by the window of our car. I started clicking without wasting any moment. I took a few photographs. This is one of them. The thing which I like most in this picture is the posture of the Blue Bull. The young creature seems giving pose for a photograph with innocence.
I used a Nikon F-80 camera with a 170-500 mm Sigma lens. The film was Fuji Crystal, 400 ASA. The photograph was clicked at shutter speed priority mode (at 1/500 sec.)

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--Dr. Pankaj Sharma.

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Story Behind The Picture : "Perfect Take-Off"

Celebrating 1st Anniversary

Story Behind The Picture

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“Perfect Take-Off”

Friends,

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This time I’m before you with one of my favourite photographs, “Perfect Take-Off”. This picture was clicked in February, 2006 near Abhaypur village of District Pilibhit (U.P, India). I observed this pair of Sarus Cranes on one pleasant evening. They were walking close to a water body situated at the outskirts of this village. I had an expected desire to capture them. I firstly set my camera at the continuous focusing, and continuous shooting modes and then concentrated at the cranes. I forwarded towards them little by little, and at the same time started clicking because I didn’t want to drop any moment. When I reached a slight close to the birds, they became alert and started taking-off. I had a golden chance to capture a perfect moment. I clicked a few frames of their take-off. This is one of them. I like this photograph because the position of the cranes in this photograph is miraculous and resembles the two planes taking-off together (although two planes never take off so closely).
I used a Nikon, F-80 Camera with a Sigma, 170-500 mm lens. The film was Fuji Crystal, 400 ASA. The photograph was taken at shutter speed priority mode (1/500 sec.).

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--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

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Story Behind The Picture : "PanchChuli Peaks at Dawn"

Celebrating 1st Anniversary........

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Story Behind The Picture

"PanchChuli Peaks at Dawn"

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Friends,
I, along with my friends, was on a trip to Ramgarh of District Nainital (Uttarakhand, India) in November 2009. The evening, we reached Ramgarh; everyone was in search of such a place from where the perfect view of Himalayan ranges could be witnessed. By the end of the day, we found a place, which was on the way to Mukteshwar, and was about 10 kilometers away from Ramgarh. We were thrilled to view the wide range of Himalayan Peaks from that spot. Since the sun had departed by now, we had to return back to the rest house. The day next, we all , covered with woolens, reached the same spot 30 minutes prior to sunrise. It was completely dark and fairly calm. The shivering cold of that place is well in my thoughts even today. We rested our cameras on tripods and started waiting for the first rays of the sun. As the charming glow of the sun light came into view, I was overjoyed to view PanchChuli Range. This wide range seemed to be in deep sleep with unexplainable tranquility. The orange sky in its background appeared praising the peaks. Furthermore, there was a carroty tint all through the scene. Fascinated by nature’s wonder, I clicked a number of frames. This is one of them. I used a Canon, EOS 30 D camera with a 28-200 mm lens.

--Dr. Pankaj Sharma
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“Story Behind The Picture” Sense of Responsibility

Story Behind The Picture

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"Sense of Responsibility"

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Dear Friends,

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Today I’m before you with a photograph which was taken in a small village of Distt. Hoshangabad (M.P-India) in December 2003. I was on the way to Tilak Sindoor, a religious place. This place is situated at a high spot in Satpura hills and is famous for Lord Shiva’s temple. I witnessed a small village on my way. I requested my friends to have a halt in the village and they kindly agreed. The village was fairly beautiful and quite serene. While taking a walk in the village I noticed this beautiful house. The overall atmosphere of the house explained a complete story. The responsible girls busy in their daily task, the hens pecking the grains, the attractive geometrical drawings on the wall and the tiled roof of the house, together, offered a golden opportunity for a story telling photograph. I clicked a few frames. This is one of them. This picture reminds me of that village even today due to its quiet environment and the simplicity of its habitants. Moreover the neatness of the houses in this region is praiseworthy.
I used a Canon AE-1 SLR Camera with a 50 mm lens. The film used was Kodak Gold 200 ASA.

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--Dr. Pankaj Sharma.

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Story Behind The Picture - “Eternal Wait”

Story Behind The Picture

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“Eternal Wait”

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Friends,

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This time I’m before you with one of my beloved photographs, “Eternal Wait”, which was taken near India gate, New Delhi in 1997. This photograph has a big meaning for me. On one night while taking a walk near the India Gate I observed this balloon seller there. He was standing alone with his balloons attached with a long stick at 11:00 pm. He was hopefully waiting for customers even at this time for the sake of his livelihood. I felt his wait was eternal; so I clicked.
It is a matter of contemplation that whereas a well-off teenager is capable of getting good education, an adolescent from a poor family has to strive for living wage.

(I used a Canon, AE-1 with 50 mm lens. The film used was Kodak Gold, 400 ASA.)

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--Dr. Pankaj Sharma

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Story Behind The Picture
“After A Long Journey”

Dear Friends,

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This time I am before you with a photograph, titled “After a Long Journey” which is one of my favourites and has a great meaning behind it. This photograph was clicked in December-2006 when I was on a trip to Hoshangabad (M.P, India). This city is famous for its "Sethani Ghaat" which is built on the banks of Holy River; Narmada. The people of the region have a profound faith in this river. I had a chance to go to this Ghaat on one fine morning. The weather there was quite pleasant. While I was taking a stroll, I noticed this old lady relaxing on the stairs of the Ghaat. She had reached to this spot from a remote place after covering a long journey. Her facial expressions witnessed together, "her journey to the Ghaat" and "the lengthy voyage of her life" at the same moment. Her bags and stick supported her personality. Further, in the background the rows of stairs strengthened the composition. I had an opportunity to get a truth-seeking shot. I clicked two frames. This is one of them. I used a Nikon, f-80 with a 28mm -105mm lens (Nikon).

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---Dr. Pankaj Sharma

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Story Behind The Picture

“Freedom”

Dear Friends,

We often get such photographs which are full of meaning and have some stories behind them. This time I am before you with a photograph, titled “Freedom”. This was clicked during the monsoon phase of 2009. I was on a trip to a small village of district Bareilly (U.P, India). It was drizzling pleasingly. On my way, I stopped at some place for a break. While I was sitting in the car, the small tricolored flags on the dashboard with the windscreen with water droplets behind them attracted me intensely. Further, in the background I noticed a portion of bricked wall on the top, a small pond in the middle and a piece of land with green grass at the bottom, resulting in a symbolic of our national flag. I got ready for a lovely shot. When I was about to press the button of my camera, a small girl entered the frame running from left to right. I just clicked and got a pretty shot. This photograph is one of my favorites. The Indian flags on the dashboard, the tricolored background and the girl running liberally; altogether give the feel of freedom.

---Dr. Pankaj Sharma

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