Danpbphoto wrote:
I have always been a student of history. My degree is in History. I tried to teach it for a year but gave up because the students had no interest in learning the subject.
I studied the religions of the World and hopefully came to understand what religion is all about from other perspectives.
I took a course in college called "Religion, Magic and Witchcraft". It was a fantastic course! Each part of the course had a link to magic and witchcraft. Of course it was "bastardizing" the major religions somewhat but it was informative if you chose learn something one might not have known. The "connections" between the course's premise could be disputed but it was fun.
But in the end faith is what all religions should convey. But one can have faith without a religion.
Thanks!
Dan..Yes I WILL review your video.
We have a saying and it goes like this - "King's second wife is a really nice human being". It implies that the first one is not, without even saying it loud. And hence the "bastardizing" of other religions. It has been happening for millennia and it will keep continuing.
You are bang on target on the toning. I remember watching this YouTube video a while ago. Somehow this mysteriously popped into my feed after my comments here. The algorithms are becoming better and better I guess. I thought of sharing it with you to show how close your photographs are to that time period.
Sreedhar.
Sreedhar, I had done extensive research on vintage photos of India, particularly in the nineteenth century. That is exactly the effect I was going for: reflecting the ancient quality of the scenery, while harking back to India before modernization took place. It isn't easy. Unfortunately, most cities have only vestiges of their former atmospheres. I was disappointed to find Varanasi has become very commercial and tourist oriented, although on the banks of the Ganges there is still a special feeling, particularly in early morning. The video is fantastic. Thanks for recommending it!
charley5 wrote:
Sreedhar, I had done extensive research on vintage photos of India, particularly in the nineteenth century. That is exactly the effect I was going for: reflecting the ancient quality of the scenery, while harking back to India before modernization took place. It isn't easy. Unfortunately, most cities have only vestiges of their former atmospheres. I was disappointed to find Varanasi has become very commercial and tourist oriented, although on the banks of the Ganges there is still a special feeling, particularly in early morning. The video is fantastic. Thanks for recommending it!
-Charles
Charles,
You are welcome, glad you liked it. I watched this videos years ago and I was surprised how much detail those large format cameras can pull. Yes, a lot of places have been commercialized and losing their charm. I guess that's the way of life these days. I myself have not been to Varanasi, so I can't say anything about that. There have been some efforts to clean the river and improve the surroundings of late. But not sure how much was it political stunt and how much was reality? Only people who live there can be testimonial of that.
We have a saying and it goes like this - "King's second wife is a really nice human being". It implies that the first one is not, without even saying it loud. And hence the "bastardizing" of other religions. It has been happening for millennia and it will keep continuing.
Have a great weekend!
Sreedhar.
Religions will stand the test of time but I fear not in their original doctrines. There will always be some exclusion or inclusion of some religious premise that mildly relates to honoring a deity in any of the World's structured faiths.
I believe one does not have to be "religious" to have faith. A system of beliefs, rituals and worship, a moral code, a sense of community, and the belief in something beyond "thee" everyday are core principals every human should have.
Now living those core principals seems to be a major problem!
Dan
You are welcome, glad you liked it. I watched this videos years ago and I was surprised how much detail those large format cameras can pull. Yes, a lot of places have been commercialized and losing their charm. I guess that's the way of life these days. I myself have not been to Varanasi, so I can't say anything about that. There have been some efforts to clean the river and improve the surroundings of late. But not sure how much was it political stunt and how much was reality? Only people who live there can be testimonial of that.
Sreedhar.
I have taken many pictures of pilgrims, and they are the saving grace for these places! They still carry the faith. Tourists on the other hand do the opposite.
charley5 wrote:
I have taken many pictures of pilgrims, and they are the saving grace for these places! They still carry the faith. Tourists on the other hand do the opposite.
-Charles
I have visited a few Eastern religious shrines and areas Charles and I am a bit disgusted that people visit places but don't know "what they(shrines, rivers...) are about"!
It is on their "places to visit"......
Danpbphoto wrote:
I have visited a few Eastern religious shrines and areas Charles and I am a bit disgusted that people visit places but don't know "what they(shrines, rivers...) are about"!
It is on their "places to visit"......
Again your toning is perfecto and era-esque!
Dan
Thanks so much, Dan. Actually, I am more disturbed by the lack of respect these tourists show for holy places. They are usually loud, they may talk on their phone while people are praying or meditating, they will take constant pictures without taking time to absorb the atmosphere, and occasionally they may deface the actual premises. I actually find that my photography distracts me from fully imbibing the holiness of a place, because I am focused on form rather than spirit.
charley5 wrote:
Thanks so much, Dan. Actually, I am more disturbed by the lack of respect these tourists show for holy places. They are usually loud, they may talk on their phone while people are praying or meditating, they will take constant pictures without taking time to absorb the atmosphere, and occasionally they may deface the actual premises. I actually find that my photography distracts me from fully imbibing the holiness of a place, because I am focused on form rather than spirit.
I visited Bangkok when I was stationed in SE Asia. Tourists were not as prevalent then as they are now but they were there. Mostly Westerners. While viewing , Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon, "the solid gold Budda" a family was laughing, shouting in glee at the Budda and I asked them to PLEASE realize that this is a holy place not an auditorium. They gave me the "evil eye" but I didnt care.
At Angkor Wat, many years later, I viewed the same thing. It displeased me very much!
Hence my comment about these shrines being more a "bucket list" place to visit than a place of respect, knowledge and sacrifice.
I need to get my slides out from these "ancient" trips and refresh my memory on what I truly missed.
Stay safe brother!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
I visited Bangkok when I was stationed in SE Asia. Tourists were not as prevalent then as they are now but they were there. Mostly Westerners. While viewing , Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon, "the solid gold Budda" a family was laughing, shouting in glee at the Budda and I asked them to PLEASE realize that this is a holy place not an auditorium. They gave me the "evil eye" but I didnt care.
At Angkor Wat, many years later, I viewed the same thing. It displeased me very much!
Hence my comment about these shrines being more a "bucket list" place to visit than a place of respect, knowledge and sacrifice.
I need to get my slides out from these "ancient" trips and refresh my memory on what I truly missed.
Stay safe brother!
Dan
So right, Dan. I now confine my long distance trips to pilgrimages, where I don't engage in serious photography at all. I feel like you can't focus on the holiness while assuming a role of photographer, because as I said, your attention is on form not spirit. If I do serious photography it is only locally. In terms of tourists, they likely don't get much holiness in their lives so don't recognize the sacred when they are surrounded by it. I feel for the locals who have to put up with them. In a way, it corrupts everyone because money is involved.
