Devaang's Photography

Alive!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 04:43:00 +0000

Species: Junonia almana, Photographer: Rituraj Devaang

Just when I passed by a big glass wall today morning, I saw a beautiful little butterfly incessantly fluttering and hitting itself over and over again on the glass trying to escape. I was deeply pained.

I picked it up ever so gently and perched it atop a green plant outside. The little one resisted, probably considering me a predator, revealed its eye spots trying to scare me away, and tried every possible way of fluttering to obstruct my efforts.

But what can prevent a human from achieving her/his aim? More so when the aim is so noble.

Ultimately I succeeded and the butterfly, once on the plant, perched peacefully. I then shot a nice little close up of the butterfly with my phone in the wonderful warm sunny light- admired equally by the basking butterfly, ALIVE and RESCUED.

Tigers : The Territorial wars: Are they natural?

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:10:00 +0000

A 10 month old wounded tiger was recently found dead in the Pench tiger reserve, MP. In the absence of adequate area due to deforestation, such deaths due to territorial fights between tigers are increasingly becoming common.

Every ecosystem has a fixed limitation on the maximum number of inhabitants it can support, which is what we technically call its "carrying capacity".

Even though territorial fights are common among animals, and more so for highly territorial species like the tiger who keep on scent marking their territory and roam its periphery regularly, checking for any intrusions. (See the Sukhnidhey Films documentary Sariska: A Reserve Reborn:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=295WJioXujE

to watch this territorial behavior of tigers spraying urine to mark their territories!)

When the number of inhabitants exceeds the carrying capacity of the ecosystem, such fights become more common and no longer remain a natural phenomenon, being induced by human influences such as deforestation which reduces area of the forests that form the tiger habitat. The neighbour tigers come frequently in contact with each other and engage in fierce battles at much larger a rate than occurs naturally.

Of course we cannot intervene and prevent these fierce territorial fights which claim many lives (more so of the weaker competitors- the younger tigers) , but we sure can relocate villages and bring more area under the reserves to provide sufficient isolation between neighbouring territories, leading to fewer, natural territorial fights.

This World Heritage Day- Lets Aim for A Healthy Heritage!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:18:00 +0000

What did you do with a lovely necklace your father once gifted you? Replaced its natural, sparkling pearls with the new, ('funky', henn?), artificial ones? Well we've actually being doing so with our heritage since times immemorial. Oh, by the way- Happy Word Heritage Day! On the 18th of April, 2013 comes this very special day. Special to millions of people around the world who've known that ecstasy and excitement every time they enter a piece of our great heritage; the gates of a bygone era.

Heritage is not of archaeological nature always; it comes in various forms. Natural heritage, Cultural heritage, Food heritage, etc. But heritage in any form always has something inevitably attached to it: and that is history. History makes heritage special; history makes heritage what it is. After all, something from the past we've received is what our heritage is. And since history is the past; it is often forgotten; what then remains is its heritage.

Look around at this amazing world: you'll find hundreds of thousands of monuments, ancient sites, places of worship, old mansions, wildlife reserves, our parks, sanctuaries, etc. They're in plenty, but they're losing their health. Yes, unfortunately, our heritage is no longer healthy.

(Photo: The Hawa Mahal, Rajasthan. Not all heritage is fortunate enough to witness daylight, let alone become famous)

Sometimes, heritage is robbed of its very nature; it no longer remains a rich fragment from our past when it is suppressed under the massive torments of modern times. Ancient castles and mansions are often demolished to make way for newer, 'modern' constructions. Likewise, many ancient sites and areas still lie unexplored, unknown, unprotected, forgotten.

Natural heritage has for long been misused, so much so that we are on the very edges of an immense void in the near future, when all that would remain would be a giant hollow. We've destructed our lush green forests, poached our wildlife, polluted the rivers, spoiled the air, oil-spilled our oceans: in fact we've not left anything untouched by the dirty demonous hands in the name of 'modernization'.

The good news: many organizations like the UNESCO have been doing amazing work to bring back our heritage from the clutches of extinction. Many ancient places have been declared as 'World Heritage Sites' the world over. Yet, our heritage is still unhealthy. Now is the time to rise.

Sometimes I wonder how our heritage is so varied. Talking about the archaeological remains, they are so many in number, just here in India itself, that we can't possibly explore them all in our lifetime. And consider that hundreds of thousands of them are still buried under the earth, waiting to be discovered someday. When we are out on the shoots of our show, "Bharat Darshan: Exploring the Unexplored" (for those of you who've visited for the first time, Bharat Darshan is a TV show telecast weekly on Doordarshan network, India. You can watch it online on our channel: www.youtube.com/SukhnidheyFilms), we witness hundreds of such monuments and ancient sites every season.

(Photo: Most fragments from our past now lie abandoned, existing but with their own shadow devoid of human recognition)

Its a formidable task uncovering the secrets and objectives behind the construction of our magnificent monuments and heritage; each episode takes months pre-production and research. One of the reasons is the lack of any traceable history and written records on these monuments. When they've not been taken care of by the common people in the present, who cares to write them as pieces of history? Time slips; the present becomes history too, the cycle continues, and these ancient sites soon lose their very identity.

When I witness any such site or a piece of our heritage; it is easy to lose ourselves completely admiring its rich past, tales of its times, its rich glory and splendor; but what remains is this story being brought before the whole world. That is what our whole team @Bharat Darshan: Exploring the Unexplored aims at. Bringing our wonderful heritage in all its beauty and incredibility before the world so that it can inspire awe in the millions of eyes who might then understand the elements of their fragile existence.

To know more about Sukhnidhey Films, our organization which produces "Bharat Darshan", visit the website: www.sukhnidhey.com

To know more about the show "Bharat Darshan: Exploring the Unexplored", visit us at:
http://www.sukhnidhey.com/bharat_darshan_exploring_the_unexplored

Earth (H)Our !

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 08:13:00 +0000

The Earth Hour 2013 falls today. It "falls" because although many of us are aware enough to observe a complete electricity switch off from 8:30pm to 9:30pm today, but most of us are overcome with forgetfulness. And that's hazardous. That's threatening. This Earth is ours, this hour is ours!

We're hear on planet Earth for a short while; yet we leave a huge footprint in the course of our everyday living, a footprint that's so enormous it affects all living and non living systems on Our Earth. Yet this One Hour, we could Initiate a Transformation; a change we promise would save our planet. Save it from the clutches of a future doom. Its Our Earth, after all.

One Hour for Our Earth is all it takes. Get up, Rise. Switch off the lamps, the TV, the laptop, the phone that's charging, the refrigerator and every other thing that sucks electricity from the Earth's core. The fossil fuels come from Our Earth's lap after all!

Now is the time; Our Earth's here, the Hour's here, so why wait? We love you, Earth (H)Our!

Visit http://www.earthhour.org/ to know more

Himalayas: The Untouched Paradise

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:50:00 +0000

A paradise- Nako. You'll find here a high altitude lake which freezes during the winters- at 12,011 feet.

Photograph: The Nako lake at 12,011 feet in the heavenly Himalayas

Early in the morning, when the waters are still, the magnificent snow covered peaks are reflected in the mirrory waters. To get it just right for Bharat Darshan: exploring the unexplored(TV Show), we Sukhnidhey Films (www.facebook.com/SukhnidheyFilms) trekked to the lake, beginning from our camps before sunrise.

Photograph: Entire landscapes freeze during the winters in the might, heavenly Himalayas.

And was truly awarded with an awesome sight.
Heavenly Himalayas. Incredible India!

Know more: www.sukhnidhey.com

EXPLORE THE UNEXPLORED!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:39:00 +0000

(NALACHATTI: UNTOLD TALES OF THE MAHABHARATA)

In our lives, we undertake several journeys. But some journeys are truly Incredible.What captivates us in travel is the sense of travel; the sense of motion and dynamism which ensures our surroundings change with each second passing by. Sadly, most of the documentaries and travel shows we view on television project a journey as their crew experienced it; the viewer remains a remote, dull, passive observer.

Come, BHARAT DARSHAN: Exploring the Unexplored, and the scenario changes completely. In this new journey, Sukhnidhey Films (www.sukhnidhey.com, and on facebook: www.facebook.com/SukhnidheyFilms) takes our audience on an unforgettable journey of a lifetime. A journey where you are not allowed to remain dull and passive on your couch, but taken along to explore the least explored and unknown places in Incredible India first hand; in a truly subjective manner, instead of viewership from a sidelines viewpoint.

(TRIYUGINARAYAN: THE COSMIC MARRIAGE)

From the inhospitable terrain of the Kunzum Pass at 14,500 feet in the Mighty Himalayas in the north to the clear waters on the shores of Kanyakumari in the south, BHARAT DARSHAN takes you to explore a paradise, the journey spanning the length and the breadth of the country. And mind you, don't expect a calm, peaceful, relaxed, passive viewing, but instead immense adrenaline rush and adventure!

BHARAT DARSHAN, apart from taking you along to such amazing journeys, also has another major goal. And that is, to help preserve and conserve the wonderful culture and history of this amazing country. So, along the journey, we examine the historical perspectives, the rich cultures and traditions, as well as the architectural styles, and separating myths from reality when we explore some places, which their millions of years old cultures, have explicit mentions in ancient texts and scriptures like the Ramayana and the Puranas.

(RAMAYANA: A MYTH OR REALITY?)

We wish to force you to seriously question the "mythology" tag on these great epics, which are swished away being untrue myths. Just go ahead, have a look at one of the episodes, and you yourself would be amazed at what the unexplored places have in store to crush this tag forever.

(GUPT GODAVARI: THE SECRET CAVERNS)

BHARAT DARSHAN: Exploring the Unexplored is telecast every Saturday on Doordarshan TV channel in India from Jaipur center, at 5:25pm. For viewers with no access to the channels, all the episodes of this amazing show are available online on our Youtube channel:

www.youtube.com/sukhnidheyfilms

The world is Incredible. Borrow a photographer's eye, and look around!
You'll begin to see this amazing place with a completely new perspective! As they see, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.

BHARAT DARSHAN on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bharat-Darshan-exploring-the-unexploredTV-Show/147635792046240?ref=hl

BHARAT DARSHAN: exploring the unexplored!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:37:00 +0000

Get ready to experience Incredible India! like never before.
Join us on a journey to explore the unexplored, in

Sukhnidhey Films presents

BHARAT DARSHAN: exploring the unexplored

You've seen India many times, in many ways, from many perspectives. Now, in our new show, we'll show you a completely different side to this amazing ancient land on this unforgettable journey across the length and the breadth of the country.
We would not let you remain just passive, remote observers,but rather take you along to explore the unexplored as you like it; subjectively, then be it the immense inhospitable heights of the Kunzum Pass at 14,500 feet in the Himalayas to the shores of Kanyakumari--we would take you through several places, villages and towns, show you their rich cultures and wildlife, and explore the legends and mysteries that have remained secrets since ages.

So, get ready to experience India in

BHARAT DARSHAN: exploring the unexplored
COMING SOON, on Doordarshan Rajasthan TV network and Youtube!
Find us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SukhnidheyFilms
Website: www.sukhnidhey.com

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 05:05:00 +0000

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Dear visitors, recently wrote a new insightful and thought provoking article,
"THE PRICE OF OUR INDEPENDENCE", which takes us on a journey 200 years back. A must read for all!

http://sukhnidhey.com/sukhvachan_from_our_desk/think_about_it

THE PRICE OF OUR INDEPENDENCE

15 August, 2012 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Today is the day, 65 years in the past which changed the very way Indians thought about their society. For nearly 200 years, we could not breathe free. We were under foreign rule for those two centuries, and India slowly and painfully lost every single bit of its iconic description, "Sone Ki Chidiya" (The Golden Bird), a title conferred to our motherland for Her unparalled prosperity and wealth. Not material wealth per se, though India undoubtedly was the wealthiest nation in the world at that time, yet wealth encompassing all forms, spiritual, scientific, artistic, societal, and what not. We were a living example of our rich living history. READ MORE

It's time to rejoice!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:31:00 +0000

Yes, It's time to rejoice!

Just a few hours ago, Forest officials and authorities have officially confirmed the presence of atleast two newly born cubs in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. This is a great step forward in this direction of tiger conservation, and will go a long way in boosting more such relocation efforts. The reserve lost all its tigers to rampant poaching, and then tigers were relocated into the forest from Ranthambore.

Sukhnidhey Films produced, "Sariska: A Reserve Reborn", the short documentary film filmed nearly an year ago, which described the ecosystem changes in the Sariska reserve when the predator population collapsed, and how the forest began reviving when tigers were reintroduced. It was well appreciated and received in the Cms Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film Festival, and showed how the relocated tigers were adapting themselves to the reserve.

Specifically, the movie filmed the behavior of relocated tigers for the very first time on camera, showing an adult male tiger scent marking his territory, patrolling the same and exhibiting true territorial behavior, as an adult male usually does.

Today, our film's research into and depiction of the success of relocation has been proved-- SARISKA HAS NEW CUBS!
To watch the dramatic action packed short movie, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=295WJioXujE

SUKHNIDHEY FILMS

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:46:00 +0000

We all watch films, or movies, be they feature films or documentaries or shorts. Why do films attract and engage us so much more than any other medium? That's because the addition of movement to sound creates this audio visual medium, with scope of creativity exhibition at a lot more scale than is possible in still photography.

It is this wonderful and powerful combination of motion and sound which can work wonders, and has proved a great medium for raising mass awareness on issues of international concern such as environment and wildlife conservation, preservation of the cultures and traditions of native peoples of the world, social causes, etc. Besides, films can be dramatic subjective experiences which transport the viewer to a completely different world, or more commonly to view the same world around them from a fresh, completely new perspective.

So, here we came up with SUKHNIDHEY FILMS, which aims at producing content rich, high quality documentary films to subjectively involve our viewers in each of our films, rather than being mere objective observers, in each and every film we work on. Our travel shows for example, would take you on a ride with us, and see a place with your very eyes, as you see it; not as we saw it.

So, here I give you, dear readers, my new website:

www.sukhnidhey.com

Where you would find our film galleries, featuring our award winning documentaries that were very well appreciated and received in several film festivals such as the CMS Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife film festival, CineYouth national film festival, etc, where one of our films won a national award.

SARISKA: A RESERVE, REBORN

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Sariska: A Reserve Reborn is a magical journey to the tiger land

The Sariska National Park in Rajsthan, India, was once famous worldwide for its large population of tigers. However, rampant poaching wiped away every single tiger from this reserve, critically disturbing the jungle ecosystem, and in addition, giving a heavy blow to tourism.

In 2008, Sariska saw the implementaion of the first tiger relocation project in the world, whereby tigers were relocated from Ranthambore national park to Sariska. With the relocation came another hope to people all over the world, that the beautiful jungle might revive. However, in 2010 came another blow when one of the relocated males was poisoned to death. Now, there are 4 tigers, 1 male and 3 females in the reserve.

Sariska: A Reserve Reborn captures the rich biodiversity of the Sariska National Park, portraying the rich bird life, the Golden Jackals, the wild Hare, the Chitals (spotted deer), and most importantly- the King of them all- the Royal Bengal Tiger. The only male tiger in the forest, ST-4 gives the viewers an enchanting sight into its everyday life. Its territorial behavior, wherein it is seen scent marking and spraying urine in its territory, is seen. Some extremely rarely seen shots of the tiger blowing away water drops from its face and resting in a mud puddle under the hot summer sun are revealed. The film offers the viewers an insight into the behavior and life of relocated tigers.

Furthermore, the splendid courtship feather display dance of the Indian male Peafowls, flaunting their iridescent feathers is seen, as is the action packed dramatic fight of two young male deer, smashing their antlers against those of their opponent.

Sariska: A Reserve Reborn is the incredible journey to the land of Sariska, rich in its flora and fauna, which also aims at revivng tourism in the reserve, which suffered a heavy blow when all the tigers were exterminated.
This is the story of a reserve, which is magically reborn, when her King returns.

TAL CHAPPAR: THE INDIAN SAVANNA (THE MOVIE)

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:02:00 +0000

(The complete movie: Tal Chapar: The Indian Savannah. Please remember to comment on how you find this documentary film)

The Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Rajasthan, India, and is one of the last refuges of the most graceful antelope in the world: the Black buck. Once critically endangered, so much so that it was on the verge of its very extinction, this beautiful animal, native to the Indian subcontinent, was brought back from the jaws of extinction thanks to the tireless efforts of the Bishnois of Rajasthan. The Black buck today is a living testimony to a conservation success story. A few of us might have heard of this magnificent animal, but witnessing its spleandour in the Indian Savanna- the grasslands of the Tal Chapar, is a divine experience.

We had been working on this documentary since the past many months, and finally, have come up with an epic saga of the Indian grasslands. You would be delighted with jaw dropping action sequences of blackbucks jumping several feet high up in the air, leaping across the fresh green grass. We would slow down the action and show you the details, as you've never seen them before. After all, the black buck is one of the fastest land animals!
Then, peep into a herd of these antelopes and learn about their social organisation and behavior. Witness the glory of the enchanting spiral horns of the male blackbucks, which have a major role to play during courtship display, also shown in the movie. Again, you must appreciate the amazing territorial behaviour of the males, and as the documentary shows, how they have fixed sites for defecation! With the sun just about to set, join the little bucks in their evening party.

And watch out as a beautiful female buck up close as she comes right near the camera to literally lick the viewers! Don't miss the migratory birds of these grasslands- particularly the Harriers- the raptor birds. Look at the mesmerizing colors of the Indian Roller, Black Drongo and the Little Bee eater. Witness the rare sight of three different bird species in a single frame proximity. And finally, prepare to enter the dark, hidden underground world as we enter the deep mysterious burrow of a desert fox.

Tal Chappar: The Indian Savannah is an epic film you'll remember for a long time. The climax would carry you away right into these heavenly grasslands, and awaken you, dear reader, a lot more. So be a part of this adventure and join the beautiful black bucks as they narrate their unsung story--of the Indian Savanna- of the Tal Chhapar.

LEGEND
Though I highly recommend watching the whole movie in continuity since none of the shots is worth missing, if you are short of time or only wish to look at the specific information, you may follow he following time keys [please note that the clicking on the keys would take you to my YouTube Channel in a new window. To go the movie portion specified, look at the corresponding time key (e.g.: 0:00 for Introduction) and move the circular play pointer on video above to that location in time]-

0:00 - Introduction

1:05 - How to reach the Tal Chhappar sanctuary

1:37 -Geographical location and the Thar desert, xerophytic vegetation and the Camel

2:11 - Entry into the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, overview of the vast grass lands of large herds of blackbucks and their social structure

3:24 -Beautiful spiral horns of the male black bucks and their body structure and behavior

4:10 -Different species of grasses in the sanctuary and the special sweet Mothiya grass and its seeds which the bucks and birds eat

4:45-The Migratory birds, especially the Harriers. The action packed flight of the Eurasian Marsh Harrier would leave you mesmerized

5:19- The territorial behavior of the male black bucks and maintenance of dung pile sites

6:01 -The well camouflaged bucks; the grass used to protect them from their now extinct natural predator, the Asiatic Cheetah.

6:21- The playful little blackbucks showing their jumping skills. Do not miss the action packed sequence!

7:02- Beautiful female black buck named Meneka approaches us for lovely close up shots, almost licking the camera! The camera angle (at 7:22) makes you feel as though she literally licks the viewer! Also seen is the keen sense of smell of the bucks.

7:32- Sexual behavior, courtship displays of males and mating instincts

7:54- The blackbuck territories and territory selection, topographic factors of such selection

8:23- Male practicing fighting by swaying horns. This is how the deadly furious fighting battles take place.

8:45- Majestic walk of a young male with curl in its tail.

9:02- Fasten your seat belts! The main action and the drama begin now. A rarely seen complete action sequence of the high leap of a buck in the air. It is critically analyzed again in slow motion for better insight. These jumps make the black bucks one of the fastest land animals.

9:52- Witness the grandeur of the golden fur of the bucks when it glazes in sunshine. An extremely beautiful sight.

10:08-The grasshoppers. The little almost overlooked insects of the grasslands which play a very vital role in the ecosystem.

10:55-Another heavenly sight. Watch the Indian Roller, Black Drongo and the Little Bee Eater, and a rare scene when they sit in a close proximity in a single frame (at 11:26)

11:42- The weed Prosopis Juliflora, which had once taken hold of the grasslands, disturbing the ecosystem.

12:01- The Blue bull (Nilgai), the biggest Asian antelope.

12:26- Now, enter a desert fox's burrow, a complex network of deep underground caves. Know about the secretive, dark, unknown world. Let the music and the shots take hold of you, but not for very long!

13:04- Let the grasslands reveal their rich colors to you in the soft morning light.

13:14- The climax- beautiful not to be missed overlapping shots (begin at 13:24) of the angelic blackbucks, testimonials to their conservation story, and the role of the Bishnoi tribe and local communities in conservation. You will be left wondering and a lot more awakened by this though provoking climax.

14:04- Credits and thanks

(Note: If you would like to obtain the unwatermarked movie in Full High Definition (HD), 1920x1080 resolution, 25fps format, please contact me at: divinedevaangjain@yahoo.in or call me at 91-9649694505)
And, do like the video (on YouTube) and COMMENT! Your views on the documentary, dear reader, are of utmost importance!
Have a great time watching!
Devaang Jain

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS AND FEEDBACK

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ME, BUT I SAW YOU!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Photograph: A spotted owl looking intently at me. Many animals we search for may go unnoticed in the thicknes of the forest, but we never remain unnoticed by any of our animal hosts in the jungle.

Photographed near Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

When I was very small and visited some tiger reserve, I would hear my parents say, "There see, that's an Indian Roller perched upon that log!" , "See that beautiful baby monkey in its mother's arms!", "Oh! A wonderful herd of Cheetal there!". But I would not be much fascinated. What my eyes really searched for was the supreme lord of the jungle- the apex predator- the paramount power- the Tiger. And on many visits the Tiger would not reveal itself to us, making the whole safari of little worth to me.

As I grew up and learnt more about the jungle- the ecosystems and the inter-relationships between the animals, I realised no animal is complete in itself. It heavily depends on many other plant and animal species. It was then that I started appreciating the sights of the other most wonderful denizens of the Indian forest: the Macaques, the Cheetals, the beautiful birds, the Monitor lizards. Every organism you see when you enter the jungle has been carefully engineered by God and assigned an irreplaceble place in the food web.

The Tiger, of course, remains an enchanting sight, but it is rare to experience this majestic phenomenon in its full splendour, in its full glory. I once saw a board in the Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve which portrayed a tiger saying: "Don't be dissapointed if you couldn't see me, I saw you!". So the next time, dear wildlife lover, you visit a reserve, be watchful of the many splendid designs of nature scattered all around you. And who knows, the Panthera tigris tigris might be considerate enough to give you a glimpse of a lifetime!

Devaang Jain

(Please click here to comment)

Celebrating photography.....

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:45:00 +0000

THE GREAT INDIAN MIGRATION: A Celebration of photography

We all have seen glimpses of the great African migration, with huge herds of Wildebeest crossing the Mara river brimming with hungry crocodiles. Well, the spectacular African scene might make you miss a beat, but the photograph above shows its counterpart, which I call "The Great Indian Migration".

Taken in the Himalayas, we saw this herd of cows returning home from their grazing grounds on the other side of a furious Baspa river. The entire herd crossed the river on a fragile wooden plank resting on two wooden logs. Imagine the weight of 7 cows on such a bridge crossing the river all at the same time. Just a slight vibration in the wrong direction, and you could tell when the crude bridge would fall apart.

One can't expect modern bridges at 10,000 feet, you see. Isn't this migration similar to the African counterpart then? The difference, if any, is that the hungry crocs are played by the furious Baspa, ready to gulp any unfortunate cow.

On another note, this photograph depicts the magic of photography: the extraordinary capability to capture a moment and freeze it for eternity. On this World Photography Day, let me thank my dearest passion, for adding a multitude of colours to my life. How do you plan to celebrate this occasion? Do comment!

Cheers
Devaang

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO COMMENT

WHAT'S LURKING BEHIND THE CORNERS?

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:03:00 +0000

GECKOS: GOLDEN PASTS, GOLDEN LIVES

A common household lizard, Gecko. These species have been around for millions of years, and have had golden pasts. These highly adaptable species are found almost everywhere on earth where humans are found, a testimony to their golden lives.

Behind creepy corners, neglected turn arounds, and hidden crevices lie many creatures waiting to be discovered. You'll find them, such as these lizards above, in places you'll least expect. You just need to be more vigilant, and more importantly, willing to shed off your laziness to grab your camera; and then magically, you'll get a perfect shot, one you'll cherish throughout your life.
(Be sure to check out my latest photographs on the official homepage of the honorable Ministry of Environment and Forests: www.moef.nic.in)
Cheers,
Devaang Jain

So, what all subjects did you find in your household? Be sure to comment.

Please click here to comment

THE HEAVENLY HIMALAYAS

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:31:00 +0000

The Final Destination
Location: near Kunzum Pass, Himachal Pradesh
Description: A Buddhist Stupa near the Kunzum pass. The road to this pass offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas, and some magnificent Stupas like this, which transport one to the abode of the Almighty, our final destination.

So, after hours of careful selection and multiple rounds of filtering, I have finally been successful in selecting the best out of the shots I clicked in the Incredible India state Himachal Pradesh-- indeed unforgettable. I have sorted them out in two pages in the tab above: 'THE HIMALAYAN LANDSCAPE' and 'HIMALAYAN WILDLIFE'. Do join this unforgettable tour to the Himalayas, and you'll see a secret world, never seen before.
Happy journey!

Devaang Jain

UNFORGETTABLE HIMACHAL!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:17:00 +0000

ON NATURE'S VELVETY BED: A Ladybird insect resting on soft, fresh, velvety red rose petals. Location: Shoghi forests, Himachal Pradesh.

Yes, Himachal Pradesh is indeed unforgettable. I had been on a vacation to this wonderland since the last 20 days, and believe me I got to see a place like no else. Himachal is a heaven for a nature lover, really.

Look at the opening photograph, and you'll know everything. And on this page you get a golden opportunity-- seeing Himachal sitting right in the comfort of your home. So get ready for a photographic series of the breathtaking Himalayas, as you have never seen them before.
THE HEAVENLY HIMALAYAS--COMING SOON!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sun, 08 May 2011 05:46:00 +0000

Photograph: A baby Macaque holds tightly onto his mother as the mother keeps an eye over any danger or potential harm to her child.
Location: Bhangarh, near Alwar, Rajasthan, India.

The ancient Indian scriptures say that there is nothing in this world that is real; that which is only real is the Lord Himself, and He is present on this earth in the form of the Mother.

Just think over everything your mother has done for you: she's helped you in standing on your own feet when you were so vulnerable and fragile; she taught you how this world functions, how knowledge is attained, that your fears are unfounded-----the list is endless. In a nutshell, she taught you how to exist.

Its not just a single day of the year when we Google "Mother's Day" and read the Wikipedia over the origins of this day and that how it is celebrated in different parts of the world. In fact, each and every day of our lives is Mother's day-- would we have existed without our mothers? If you do not get the point, look deeper into nature.

Mother Nature has given birth to all flora, fauna and the human species. We all are Her children, aren't we? And see how she showers her love and warmth on all the inhabitants of this earth-- on all her children. Mankind has in fact, being playing in the lap of Mother Nature since its beginning.

In the animal kingdom, motherly love abounds; and you may have seen mother birds feeding small insects to the blind baby birds; then the mothers teaching the baby birds the technique of flying; the mother bears protecting the baby bears, the tiger moms lovingly playing with their cubs, and baby monkeys holding onto their mothers on highest of the tree branches.

Look at the opening photograph of the baby Macaque with her mother. Look deeper into the baby's eyes. What do you see? You see curiosity and fear; anxiety and worry. See how tightly the baby is clinging to his mother. No glue can ensure a stronger hold! Now look at his mother, you see fearlessness and her alertness over what's happening around her in the interest of the safety of her children. And you would be able to literally feel the love for her child radiating from her soul.

Though we can never repay back our mothers for everything that they have done, we must learn from the animals how love is reciprocated and mothers respected and loved, even as the child grows with time. Animals are known to recognize their parents even when they have left the safety of their homes. I always think we can learn everything, even the subtlest of the behaviors and emotions from animals. If they can love and respect, if they can rejoice and lovingly embrace their mothers and children, even we humans can.

So, dear reader, let us celebrate this wonderful day, in fact each single day loving our mothers and caring for them.....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!

(Would you like to add something to the discussion? Comments are always welcome!)

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Devaang Jain

HAPPY EARTH DAY, DEAREST EARTH!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:13:00 +0000

(Thirsty honey bees drinking water on a hot summer day in Rajasthan, India)

Yes, its that day of the year again, the twenty second day of April, celebrated the world over as "Earth Day" since 1970. On this day, we remind ourselves that the very entity on which we humans have been standing since times immemorial, is not a lifeless gigantic piece of rock. Its that Earth, of motherly nature, to whom we attribute all our progress, be it in the fields of science and technology, arts, commerce, industries and what not. Still, this day remains an ordinary day for most people, just one not so extraordinary day in 365 not so extraordinary days.

If you have looked carefully enough on the opening photograph, you know what the Earth day really means. The bees on a warm summer day, when the temperature had soared to nearly 49 degree Centigrade here on the burning desert soil of Rajasthan, had gathered hopefully around a leaking water tap to quench their thirst. Every once in a while, a pearl dripped down on the ground and the bees danced with joy. Can you not compare this with the joy you feel after drinking a glass of fresh, cold water after a tiring day?
Our resources are rapidly diminishing, the precious water is close to its "extinction", our wildlife is being poached and the oxygen giving trees being ruthlessly cut.
But it is not that we can't do anything about the situation. Small steps, little considerations like the ones below can make a huge difference:

1. Do not leave the tap open while brushing....and what does it really take? Just close the tap when not using, you can always open it again anyway!

2. Wash your car not with running water from a hose, but use buckets and a mug to save water.

3. Use refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc on "Eco" or water saving mode. It does not compromise quality and yet helps save a lot of water on unimportant operations.

4. Look around for leaking taps or taps that have been carelessly left open. If you see leaking taps in your institute, office, canteen, washroom, etc, inform the authorities.

5. While buying electrical appliances, always check for the energy label, which categories devices based on the energy they consume. For example, here in India a 5 star rating system is used. Look for "BEE STAR LABEL" (Bureau of Energy Efficiency, India) and the number of stars. The more the stars, greater the energy saved and lesser the pollution caused in electricity production.

6. Use CFLs instead of normal incandescent (tungsten based) bulbs. They greatly reduce global Carbon Dioxide emission levels.

7. When you visit National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries, do not litter the places, nor disturb the animals. Never play loud music in the vehicle while on a safari or in your forest rest house. Remember, the forest is their home, not ours.

8. Discourage the use of plastic bags. Use paper and cardboard based bags instead. they are sturdy and rigid, and also biodegradable. If you really have to use a polythene/plastic bag, use one made of thicker plastic (greater pore diameters) and do not throw it away after use.

9. Finally, Say no to Crackers. Crackers are certainly not a great way to celebrate at the expense of the environment. Celebrate instead by having a family and friends get-together.

I am sure there are a number of other easy steps we can all undertake to make a change. So why not leave your comments here about your own suggestions and tips?

Remember, each individual step you take, however small, counts......

ARCHITECTURE THROUGH MY LENS

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:17:00 +0000

Hey friends!
Just created a NEW PAGE to showcase the Architectural wonders of my Pink City. Be sure to check out the exclusive photographs from unusual angles and viewpoints, and to see the monuments as you have never seen them before!

This page, propagates my appeal to all viewers to help conserve our cultural heritage- our monuments, of which we are all proud of. So lets not litter the monuments with wrappers when we visit them, and stand up against those who spit on the walls or consider the ancient walls as their canvas.

We might be of any country, and a consider ourselves a part of any culture, but it is our very moral duty to preserve our traditions and our monuments for generations to come.

Finally, do drop your comments and feedback! They act as a source of encouragement for every artist, and I am no exception.

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Regards and cheers!
Devaang

WELCOME TO THIS BLOG!

noreply@blogger.com (Rituraj Devaang Jain) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:25:00 +0000

Welcome dear visitor!

I am Devaang, an engineering student,very passionate about wildlife and photography. On this blog, you would find all of my selected photographs, as a means not only to showcase my work but more importantly to pay my little bit to mother Nature and spread the word for her conservation. So, none of the photographs taken here caused any damages to the organisms shown/ their habitat in any manner whatsoever.

To quickly see what all I have captured through my lens, browse through the photographs in the tabs above, which have been organized by the species/ groups I have photographed. And do not hesitate to drop any comments--they really encourage me a lot in my quest!

Note: All of the photographs have been uploaded directly out of the camera without editing of any sort, except where it is explicitly mentioned.

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