Water Reflection Of Garden Lamps At The Akshardham Temple, Jaipur

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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A few days back, I went to The Akshardham Temple, Jaipur with my mother and her sister. I had recommended this place to them. The architecture here, is quite intriguing and the place also has a well-maintained garden right opposite the temple stairs. 

We arrived a little early, at about 5.40 pm. I inquired with the gatekeeper about what time does the Main Aarti ( prayer) takes place everyday. He told us that there are Two Aarti's (prayers), one at 7 pm and the other one at 8 pm. 

We had plenty of time, so we decided to take a walk in the garden and took some casual cellphone pictures. It was still only 6.15 pm and we had plenty of time left for the Main Prayer to begin. 

There is a small eating place inside the vicinity, towards the right of the Temple. We decided to have our evening snacks there to kill some more time. I had been to this Temple before. So, I knew there was another place right below the Main Temple, where worship takes place. 

I told my mother while we were eating, that I shall quickly go and check, if that portion of the temple is still open like last time. 

While I was on my way, I spotted this water puddle, but to my disappointment I could not see a decent reflection in it. I proceeded to the place downstairs. 

On my way back, I again had a look at this water puddle from a distance. This time, I could see the reflection of a palm tree placed in the garden, in it. Right behind the Tree, there was this beautiful lamp that you see in the reflection. So, I became both curious and excited. I wanted to find out whether with my feet movement, I'd be able to get the reflection of that Garden Lamp in the water puddle. 

After a lot of adjustment and bending and trying to look with one eye closed, I finally found the reflection of the Garden Lamp being casted in the water puddle. I did not had the camera with me that point of time. It was on the table at which I was having my evening snack with my mother.

Since light had started to fade fast, I knew I had little time to go back, bring the camera, punch in the settings and Click the photo. So, I rushed to get my camera back and finally took this shot.

Initially, I tried using a faster shutter speed and a lower ISO, but that did not work well as the light was fading. 

Therefore, I switched to the following EXIF settings:

• ISO speed: ISO-400
• Exposure time: 1/100 sec
• F-stop: f/3.5
• Exposure bias: 0 step

 

Lets also talk about the Classification:

The Photo falls under the Minimalism as Less Elements Category of "Minimalist Photography". 

The main elements being: 

a) The Floor

b) The Water Reflection Of Garden Lamps.

Also, there is plenty of negative space in the frame which adds to the beauty. 

Please Note: I have flipped the photo upside-down to make it more appealing. Reflection Photos generally are taken straight first to adjust for rule of thirds and to balance the composition. Later, they are Flipped. It may sound a little tricky, but you will get it right with some practice. 

To get a clearer idea of what I mean, turn your cellphone upside down. If, you are viewing this picture via the computer, then right click, and "Save Photo" and then Flip it.

OK, I am done for the day. 

Hope to see you soon.

Hypnotic Tree

Minimalism as Parts of the Whole

Minimalist Nature Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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Tree Against a White Wall, Minimalist Nature Photography

Me and my friend decided to meet for a street photography walk on a Sunday evening at about 6.30 pm. It was 3 pm afternoon when I had called him up and fixed the walk and I had the urge to go out in the sun and shoot minimal.

I mostly go alone for Minimal photo-walks are there aren't any Minimalists in my city and I have not heard of even one or two of them from my Country. OK, so I went to this temple in Vaishali Nagar, the Akshardham temple and I was telling myself, I have surely lost my mind to be even thinking of shooting Minimal here.

I roamed around for about 45 minutes but could not find anything. I knew my Sunday was wasted and I started to plan my next Sundays walk. While I was heading back from the temple I saw a man talking on his cellphone sitting right under this tree on the right. I decided that before leaving I should take at least one good shot, be it a street shot.

I kept that person on the extreme right and was composing a horizontal shot (not a vertical one), the tree you see was to be kept out of focus and I had planned to place it on top left. But, something stopped me from clicking that shot. I felt as if the Tree was calling me, trying to communicate with me, as If there was a message, I was instantly hypnotized. I kept admiring the tree for about 5 minutes. I was spell-bound and and I felt something entered my sub-conscious mind.

Maybe the message was communicated already and maybe I have been assigned the task to spread that message through this photo. Once It was clear why it was important for me to click this, the next challenge was to compose. A minimalist shot with a Tree as a subject is actually quite tough, "Parts of the Whole Minimalism" was the answer. I decided to shoot vertical to avoid the man and placed only a part of the Tree on top left so that the mystery about the tree and the message remains.

Other Minimalist Photos taken at Akshardham Temple, Jaipur

- The Triple Split