Trip Report: The Taj Mahal, Days 11-13, Five Stops of Light India Photography Tour & Expedition 2011
Trip Report: The Taj Mahal, Days 11-13, Five Stops of Light India Photography Tour & Expedition 2011
All images are copyright Neville Bulsara and cannot be reproduced without written permission
Having photographed at the Pushkar Camel Fair on days 7-10, our next stop was Agra – site of that famous monument to Love – The Taj Mahal.
Arriving at Agra on the afternoon of day 11, we headed off to make some images of The Taj Mahal from some key locations. Day 12 saw us up well before the crack of dawn to ensure we were amongst the first visitors to be let into the complex, where we continued to make more images. Later that afternoon we visited the Red Fort, before heading off to another of my locations to photograph the Taj from a different perspective.
Day 13 saw us making images of this great monument from yet another perspective. Our visit to Agra had us wrestling with the problem of smog, that did not aid much in our picture-making process. It did however make me “think out-of-the-box” so as to make some images; all said and done, The Taj Mahal is the most photographed monument in the world, and it’s extremely difficult to come up with a shot which hasn’t been made before. To the best of my knowledge, i havent seen a shot like the one i made below. Of course, i played around with contrast and textures in editing, but the major effect was made at the time i tripped the shutter. 🙂
Post-breakfast we drove onwards to Delhi and checked into our hotel. Following an early dinner it was time for farewells before heading off to the airport for our onward flights home. It was a great 13 days of incredible imagery and adventure, and my clients concur what with the feedback I received – a job well done!
Time to start working on my 2012 itineraries; no rest for the wicked!
The Taj Mahal – as you’ve never seen it before
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And so it begins…
Wednesday, 26th October 2011
At the airport in Mumbai, waiting for my flight to Delhi. Haven’t slept a wink last night as I had this early morning flight to catch.
So here I am on Diwali day at the airport, waiting for my flight. Once I get to my hotel in Delhi I’ll crash for a few hrs before meeting up with my guests for the 2011 Five Stops of Light India Photo Tour & Expedition. It all starts early morrow, and I can’t wait. This is one of the photography tours that I’ve been conducting every year for the past several years, and based on feedback from my guests, I’d say that it’s the best photography tour that India has to offer.
As usual we have five destinations on this 12 day trip – Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur, Pushkar & Agra. It’s tough to pick a favourite, but I’d say that our photography at Varanasi and at The Pushkar Camel Fair will be the highlights of the trip as always.
I hope to be posting daily updates on this trip, with a photo or two. Follow me here, and watch the action unfold; it’ll be the next best thing to being there!
Cover page of the 2011 Five Stops of Light India Photography Tour official document
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About
Photographing the very best of India, and helping visitors to India discover and photograph the best that India has to offer since 2004. Still loving every moment of it!
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I am a professional travel and documentary photographer based in Mumbai (Bombay), India. While not shooting on assignment, I conduct photography workshops, photo tours & expeditions to some of the most exotic locations in India.
I started my formal education in photography over two decades back when I joined the then photography club in my school. Having soon learned – amongst other things – how to develop and print his own photographs, I set up a clandestine darkroom at home to further (what I then thought to be) my future darkroom career.
An unfortunate incident leading to he spillage of developing chemicals onto an expensive table (which promptly took the varnish off) resulted in my secret cache of developing fluids, fixing salts, printing papers, zero watt bulbs & enlarger (I still can’t understand how I managed to keep the enlarger hidden fer chrissake, those things are bloody bulky!) being discovered by my parents. Thus was a budding darkroom career nipped in the bud.
Following this, I took a sabbatical from all things photographic, focusing my energies in the Information Technology field. From 1988 through 1995, I focused my energies on establishing and heading what went on to become India’s leading Computer Anti-Virus & Network Security company. I describes this period of my life as “financially rewarding, but overly strenuous on the left, logical side of my brain, while totally ignoring the right, creative, artistic side.”
Taking to photography again in 1995, I’ve traveled extensively all over India and the world. Having sold my company earlier, I finally chose to step down from his position there as CEO, and focus all my energies on professional travel & documentary photography. Since then I have worked on several assignments for magazines that showcase my work.
While not shooting on assignment or researching future destinations, I lead Photography Workshops, Photo Tours and Expeditions in India. Needless to say, I am intimately familiar with all of them, whether they be Rajasthan, Ladakh, or Varanasi – to name a few.
With a flair for simplifying the most complex subjects – photographic or otherwise (an offshoot of my teaching background), I love sharing the wealth of photo-ops that abound in India with the participants of my Workshops, Tours & Expeditions.
Neville Bulsara 