Early Morning Benaras Photo

Photographer’s Note

The great river banks at Benaras (Varanasi), built high with eighteenth and nineteenth-century pavilions and palaces, temples and terraces, are lined with an endless chain of stone steps - the ghats - progressing along the whole of the waterfront, altering in appearance with the dramatic seasonal fluctuations of the river level. Each of the hundred ghats, big and small, is marked by a lingam, and occupies its own special place in the religious geography of the city. Some have crumbled over the years; others continue to thrive, with early-morning bathers, brahmin priests offering puja, and people practicing meditation and yoga. Hindus regard the Ganga as amrita, the elixir of life, which brings purity to the living and salvation to the dead; skeptical outsiders tend to focus on all-persuasive and extreme lack of hygiene. Ashes to the dead, emissions from open drains and the leftovers from religious rites float by the devout as they go about their bathing and ceremonial cleansing.

Dasaswamedh (Dashashwamedha) Ghat offers a splendid view of the river front. The name indicates that Hindu God Brahma sacrificed (medh) 10 (das) horses (aswa) here. Conveniently central it's one of the most important and busiest ghats in Benaras. This picture is taken at the Munshi Ghat which is a short ghat located north of Dashaswamedh Ghat along the Ganges. Its proximity to Dashaswamedh Ghat means that the Munshi Ghat is choked full of boats. By the way, the word "munshi" means "accountant" in Hindi. The ghats are always full of life. Pilgrims wading in the Ganges; vendors selling flower garlands and other objects used in worship; priests giving blessings or chanting scriptures under large umbrellas—a variety of people can be found at the ghats, no matter what time of day. Everywhere, street life and religious ritual intersect.

Early in the morning...sunrise....the boats were out with tourists, while a man prepares for his holy bath.

Budapestman, ChrisJ, Parasbhalla, katyako, feather, Wanda1, Cricri, josepmarin, bukitgolfb301, siolaw, patdeph, emjleclercq, papagolf21, mikolaj_kawa, dip, jhm, pierrefonds, plimrn, pablominto, AiresSantos ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Budapestman (46503) 2009-07-24 2:52

Dear Angshu,
Great mood, the composition of the photo is spectacular, the colours and lights are amazing, the depth of the photo is superb. Excellent shot. Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

batalay (22453) 2009-07-24 2:53

Hello Mr. B,

What luck to have logged onto Trekearth when this gem rolled in. The composition is fabulous, but all the more because of the individual (pilgrim?) on the right, draped in light cloak. This is truly one of my favorite photos.
Warm regards,

Bulent

jasmis (53010) 2009-07-24 2:58

Incredible mood created. This photo is obvious invitation to visit India.
Regards my dear friend.

ChrisJ (72276) 2009-07-24 3:03

Hi Angshu

A magnificent sunset, with interesting placement of the sun, at far left. Good colour, sharpness & silhouettes. Have a nice weekend!

Parasbhalla (248) 2009-07-24 3:31 [Comment]

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katyako (463) 2009-07-24 3:34

Hello, Angshuman!
Very beautiful shot, so calm and so full of morning mood! Thank you for sharing.

Katya.

feather (51050) 2009-07-24 3:56

I can't help wondering if the devout Hindus bathing in the Ganges object to the tourists in boats, almost behaving as voyeurs.
Wonderful mood and morning colours from the rising sun. The man is well placed and the three silhouetted boats make a useful diagonal in the river. I think the horizon is a bit too central. The image could withstand a little crop from the sky. Nevertheless, very good shot.
Kath

gilou530 (37507) 2009-07-24 4:18

hello
une superbe image avec des couleurs sublimes de ce lever de soleil, le cadrage est bien recherche, ambiance de sérénité dans cette photo
amitiés
gilbert

Bartleby (5712) 2009-07-24 4:49

Hi Anghsu,
superb light for this composition. Love the atmosphere here mainly created by the man on the right IMHO.

Philippe

Wanda1 (11281) 2009-07-24 5:11

Hi Angshuman,
There is always such a special light over the Ganges in the morning (at least when I have been there) and here in your image it shows so nicely.
Nice how you have the activity on the water with the groups of people in the boats and then you have the solitary man on the side preparing himself. A lovely tranquil scene.
Best Regards
Wanda

Cricri (46305) 2009-07-24 11:32

Hi Angshu
C'est un moment merveilleux que vous avez capturer avec d'incroyable lumière, beaucoup de douceur et de calme bien présent, bien composer et réaliser
Good week end
cricri

pastadog (12826) 2009-07-24 12:10

I was "disappointed" when I saw date taken, Angshu, I had assumed you had made it to this place to experience the eclipse... I believe the compo is good, with the guy on right balancing somehow the sun back there, almost in distant interplay. Congratulations for the shot, and once again, you prove that it's worth to wake up early so as to shoot at sunrise. Cheers, Daniel.

yquem46 (10366) 2009-07-24 12:16

Serene Ganga
when I see this Angshu my heart misses a beat and I long to return. I sure will !
namaste
Patrick

josepmarin (35787) 2009-07-24 12:32

Hi, my friend Angshuman,
A fantastic sunrise in this composition!
Your good management of the exposure has given a great result in the luminosity and the hues of the image.
I like to see the human presence in foreground, and also the silhouettes of the boats in the river, which introduce our eyes in a soft landscape, while the Sun is nearby to hiding behind the horizon line.
An excellent work.
Warmest regards,
Josep

bukitgolfb301 (5892) 2009-07-24 13:01

Hello my dear Prof. Angshuman

What a splendid framework and clor photo !
Good framework, well composition, sharp pan-focus and nice light management as usual.
Anytime your photo has "poem" inside, marvelous !
Congratulation on your great job !
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Have a nice weekend !

Takero

MarianneS (15084) 2009-07-24 13:47

Hello Angshu,
You show us here a beautiful sunrise, so interesting, thanks to your composition.
Of course, colours are superb, contrasts are good and the light is beautiful. But there is much more in this composition. The presence of the man to the right, for example, is a great element to balance your composition. The clothes on the ground... but above all, the peaceful and quite mood of early morning.
TFS.
Marianne

emka (25288) 2009-07-24 15:53

Hi Angshuman,

Such a melancholical photo, without crowds, only this lonely man and some boats. it is worth coming early. Fabulous colours. Splendid composition.

regards

Malgorzata

Regards

Malgorzata

siolaw (26893) 2009-07-24 23:58

Hi Angshu,
I like the opposition between the rising sun and the man on the ghats, each one at an extremity of the frame.. nice luminosity and color tones too..
Greetings from Goa!
Laurent

patdeph (20046) 2009-07-25 2:14

namaste Angshuman
this is a splendid picure!I love the soft light and the somptuous tones of this sunrise,and I love the quiet atmosphere of the morning!The orange sun and reflection gives a very nice contrast in the blue hues of the picture,as a perfect balance with the man of the right!Wonderful!
Regards
Pascale

emjleclercq (15196) 2009-07-25 22:52

Excellent sharpness, good light and good composition for this sunrise over the Ganga. You managed an excellent diagonal positionning on the small boats, and I also appreciate the bottom of the image, with the kneeling man and the pieces of cloth.

All the best,

Emmanuel
Emman

Graal (61512) 2009-07-26 0:06

Hi Angshuman,
very nice morning view. Good composition. Pleasant warm colours. An interesting note. Well photojob.
Gr., Aleksander

papagolf21 (58731) 2009-07-27 0:29

Bonjour, mon ami Angshu,
Une image qui prête à la rêverie ! il émane une certaine douceur, le disque d'or s'enfonçant gracieusement à l'horizon. L'ensemble se regarde avec beaucoup d'intérêt.
Une photo réussie (une de plus) !
Amitiés.
Philippe

mikolaj_kawa (32169) 2009-07-27 0:43

Hello Angshuman! Wonderful scene, amazing seascape, excellent sunrise. Nice natural lightness. Beautiful colours. Good capture. Well done!

John_F_Kennedy (33892) 2009-07-27 0:45

Great sunset with wonderful colours, splendid sky. Well composed.
Best wishes,
Achim

dip (13394) 2009-07-27 2:18

Hi Angshu,
great capture of the beautiful scenery,very good light managment!
well done,
Dimitris.

marietom (33027) 2009-07-27 2:56

hello Angshu,

magnifique, les couleurs, l'atmosphère, c'est très beau.
Bonne journée
marie

jhm (86502) 2009-07-27 4:30

Hello Angshu,

Soft an very fine for look at.
I love the colours and the reflections in this outstanding picture.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

pierrefonds (28094) 2009-07-27 4:48

Hi Angshuman,

The sunrise is giving nice colors to the sky and the Gange river. The presence of the peole and of the boats has an effect of scale. The point of view leads our eyes toward the opposite shore which is giving depth to the composition. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Urs (4692) 2009-07-27 19:57

Dear Angshuman

When I see your pictures I begin to dream about India. Many times I was sitting myself at the Ganges in the early morning hours to take pictures. I always love the sunrise over the Ganges. It's beautiful. The color hues of yellow-red-blue are very vibrant and DOF thanks to the pilgrim at the right, is great. Well done.

Best regards
Urs

jafadabret (42698) 2009-07-28 3:04

Bonjour Angshu.
Cette photo est typique de l'Inde, elle allie la beauté à la sérénité avec la lumière sur les eaux, les bateaux et ce beau premier plan d'un homme qui fait ses dévotions.
Excellent !
Jacques

Waylim (12651) 2009-07-28 12:40

Sabaidee Angshu,
This such a beautiful combinatio of daily life scene and nature shot. Beautiful and tranqil setting, the silhouettes of the boats are place perfectly with good distance and depth, the person in the foreground add the essence of the local liveliness and activity. Great shot with beautiful composition and all element well considered in the frame. Thanks
Way

plimrn (20449) 2009-07-28 13:12

Hi Angshu,
The boats spread across the water provide nice balance for the worshiper in the FG, the soft radiance of the eary sun adds pleasant color. As always, your note provides fascinating new information.
HLJ, Pat

maxmitzu (455) 2009-07-28 13:33

Hi Angshuman,
A great sunset, nice colour, sharpness and the boats integrate perfect in the picture.
cheers,
Mitzu

pablominto (43376) 2009-07-28 22:21

Hello Angshu,

Stunning morning mood as the sun just rise above the horizon!
The colour palette is particularly lovely this time of day, with the pastel touch...
The scene is well framed with good placement of the elements, human factor well cared for!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Bluejeans (35652) 2009-07-29 11:29

Ola Angshuman ,
Que belo nascer do dia , bela captura destes barcos a partir gostei muito das suas silhuetas , bons reflexos , boa profundidade de foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

jmcl (14299) 2009-08-03 8:02

Hi Angshu,

I like the mood of the dim light and well controlled sun over teh water .. the diagonal line of boats is wonderful .. as is the sun on the water .. I like the detail you have gotten with the man and color in the bottom right .. very nice.

take care, John

AiresSantos (45796) 2009-08-03 23:18

Hi Angshu
I love this kind of picture in sunrise. Wonderful colours and sihouettes.
The river looks big and the DOF is excellent
TFS and greetings
Aires

InasiaJones (21668) 2009-09-03 11:30

Hi Angshu!

There's a lot of balance in your scene Angshu, first with the man at one extreme and the sun at the other, than with the three boats creating a strong diagonal (and perspective).

The gradient switching from orange to blue is soft and appealing, as much in the sky as it is in reflection.

Strong spiritual mood and serenity.

I would have been tempted to erase the small tail from the boat going out of your frame at right.

Warmest regards,

Andre