Over at the Colorvale Facebook page, Stacie asked the community for a variety of WordPress and SEO questions.

In this article, I am going to answer as many of them as I can without boring you!

1. What are things I can include in my blog posts (besides tags) that will help increase the likelihood that I will come up in search engines?

The most important thing you can include in your article, as far as text goes, is context. Talk about the photography sessions, what went into making the photograph, and how the experience was. Use appropriate keywords, but do it naturally. That will help you rank well.

2. What is the best way to title your post? How do you incorporate your keywords with your title and within your text and have it sound believable?

Oh, I love this question, and it’s one that I’ve tested many times. Blog titles matter so what you include will help rank for what’s there… make sense? HAHA. Whatever the keyword is you are trying to rank for should be prominent in the blog post title. The keyword should be towards the beginning of the title. So, for example, many wedding photographers have titles like this:

“Jon & Katie’s New England Wedding Photographs” But for SEO, the better title would be “New England Wedding Photographs of Jon & Katie.”

3. In order of importance, which social media sites helps you most in SEO outside of your website? 

That depends on the search engine. Google owns Google Plus and YouTube, so on their search engine, the order of importance would be Google Plus, YouTube, and then either Facebook or Twitter. No one knows the true order of importance, but guessing is relatively simple. At Bing, they partnered with Facebook, Quora, 500px, and now Pinterest, so each of those is more important than Google Plus, YouTube, and Twitter. However, all are important without a doubt.

4. How do you set up the SEO within WordPress to be able to track your analytics? 

That’s a more difficult question to answer in just one article, so instead, I’m going to recommend checking out the Fuel Your Photos and their SEO course.

To give you a head start, here one article I’ve published around using Google Analytics to find keywords that might be worth optimizing for.

5. How do you use your keywords and phrases without sounding like a parrot repeating itself and without sounding full of yourself or cheesy?

Use your keywords organically and naturally. Do not squeeze them into every gap in text that it can fit in. As much as keyword optimization is valuable and important, it’s more important that the text is readable by humans. Search engines use a readability metric called Flesch Reading Ease to determine how easy the content is to read. If the keywords are overused or out-of-place then it can hurt more than help. Here is an article I wrote on that topic.

6. What’s the best way to capture your location on your website for SEO? Specific location (town) or surrounding towns?

Oh, nice one! If you’re running WordPress I highly recommend trying to Local SEO by Yoast plugin. It will enable you to add local metadata to your website using widgets and shortcodes.

In addition, I suggest putting your city, state and local phone number in the footer of every page. That way search engines have no doubt where you are located.

7. What WordPress Plugins can help streamline the SEO process?

There are a variety of great plugins that are useful for optimization a WordPress website for search engines. However, there is one over all the rest that I would recommend and it’s WordPress SEO by Yoast. The one single plugin can help get rid of many others. It’s robust, feature-rich, coded very well and is one of the most popular WordPress plugins around.

The built-in analysis tool alone is well worth using it for.

8. What is the importance of permalink structure for SEO?

For those who do not know, a permalink structure is how your website reads in a browser. For example, yourdomain.com/12034post4 is a permalink, but an ugly one. Search engines do not like that. Instead, you should use yourdomain.com/your-keyword. Or, for a real example, my website is scottwyden.com and instead of my portrait page using scottwyden.com/portraits my URL is scottwyden.com/new-jersey-portrait-photographer. That way the keyword is there and it is still readable for people. In addition, I use a 301 redirect (more advanced technique) to force the url scottwyden.com/portraits forward to scottwyden.com/new-jersey-portrait-photographer.

How To Find or Change Your Permalink Structure in WordPress:  

Click: Dashboard>Settings>Permalink Settings

9. The front page of my website: Should I have a large list of internal links or can this hurt my search engine results?

There is such a thing as over linking internally but you’d have to be pretty drastic with it. As long as you are linking for humans and not robots, and the links and anchor text (the words linked) are relevant than there is no harm. However, try to only link where necessary whenever possible.

10. What is the importance of networking within your industry for SEO benefit? Meaning do “Likes” matter to google when choosing who should be the top sites listed?

Networking is important for many reasons. As far as non-SEO or website goes, networking is great for businesses. You learn, exchange potential customer referrals and so on. For websites and SEO, networking can lead to guest posting. Heck, I met Stacie through a networking group and look at this… it’s a guest post. Networking can also lead to link exchanges and link building. Links are like votes, telling search engines how awesome a website is. The better the vote, the better chances for ranking higher.

11. If I am focusing on social media to help my SEO is there any one that matters more such as Facebook, Twitter, Google + etc?

This kind of syncs with question 3 a bit. For ranking better on Google it is best to engage more on Google Plus than any other social network. However, they’re all important. Take a look at your Google Analytics account and you might notice that you can now set what social networks (with actual links to your profiles) that you’re active on. That alone is proof that all social networks matter and Google wants to see activity anywhere as a form of validation for your website.

12. I hear that Image Alt Tags are so important but do I REALLY need to do this step?

Without a doubt. Not only do ALT Tags help you rank better in Google Images but they also help the optimization of individual pages, articles and your overall website. Always make your ALT Tags relevant to the image and use important keywords you want to rank for.

13. Does bolding, italics etc help SEO and should I be doing it in my blog posts?

Oddly enough it matters, but not a great deal. My recommendation would be to focus on 1 bolded keyword at a time. Italics can be used for a keyword as well, but like always do not overdo either of them. If you’re trying to rank a specific page, like a home page, for a keyword, then bold the keyword one time in the content. Also make the keyword italic once.

The more important text structure is using H1, H2 and H3 tags,

Closing

Wow, what amazing and important questions. I am so happy to be able to answer these for everyone and hope to come back in the future to answer more of your burning questions. Maybe next time we will focus on WordPress specifically. Thanks, everyone, Scott

Many countries around the world have the winter season quite extensively, especially the ones located above the Tropic of Cancer. Yes, it gets extremely cold there, sometimes unbearable, yet it is the favorite time of the year for winter photo editing for many because of the weather itself. Winters are undoubtedly one of the best times to click pictures as well as the ambiance, and the beauty of Mother Nature is easy to capture in its full glory. The morning sun has a different glow, and when the light coming from it falls on the snow and gets reflected, the whole setup looks like a dream to behold. If you ask any photographer, they will tell you that they love doing nature shots in the winter for the same reasons.

However, breathtaking it might be, winter photography is more critical than others as the editing might become a little complex. One of the most commonly used photo editors used for professional editing in MacBook is Lightroom and winter photos have to go through extensive editing in it for best results. A few ideas pertaining to Lightroom that can make your winter photos look out of this world are-

Change your background

When the background is being talked about, it is not the image that is of concern but the background canvas on which the image rests. The background always acts as a good reference point on which the whole image is based. Thus, it is an essential landmark while editing. If you adjust the background correctly, you can improve the esthetic of your image overall. Generally, changing the whole background to white initially and then making adjustments is the common way to start editing in Lightroom.

White balance

Another huge point of concern in winter photography, and winter photo editing, especially the ones on which the snow covers the majority of the image, is the white balance. This is because snow is differently reflective of light and tends to give a yellowish hue to the picture, which also creates the impression that the whole image is underexposed.

One easy way of improving the white balance is to set it to the Auto mode in Lightroom and then bring it down to half. Using an eyedropper to get a neutral tone can turn out to be damaging as the picture becomes too warm, so avoid it.

Clarity

If you observe any picture closely, the area where the dark and the light images meet tend to be a little blurry as the sharpness and consequently, the overall quality of the image is compromised. Therefore, another essential aspect that should be adequately adjusted using Lightroom is the clarity that increases the contrast as well as the sharpness of the picture.

Generally, boosting the clarity adequately does the trick, but over boosting it always has the chance of making the picture look artificial. Experts say that +62 is the maximum that you can go in Lightroom to preserve its natural hue.

Choose your white and black point

The white and black points of a picture are basically related to hardening or softening a picture. It is an important thing to consider while doing winter photo editing as it makes it stand out from the rest and give winter photography the much-deserved boost.

You should start by bringing up the white point up until the image does not break and then doing the same with the black point as well. This results in the aforementioned softening look and also makes the image look ethereal.

Vibrance and saturation

One tab in Lightroom that is generally overused by photographers is the vibrancy and saturation, and unfortunately, it spoils the picture more than it does any good to it. If you are under the impression that once you saturate and put bright colors in your image, it will look good, you could not be any more mistaken.

Sometimes, a neutral tone looks better, especially from the perspective of winter pictures. Vibration takes the less saturated part of the picture and enhances the intensity of it. It is an excellent tool to use but always maintains an amount of caution.

Color in the cold

If you are under the impression that only cold tones suit winter photos and winter photo editing, then you are yet to explore a wide spectrum of colors. For some pictures it might turn out to be a success but for most of them, finding the right balance between the warmer and colder tones and adjusting accordingly so that the warm tones do not overshadow the others has a better effect on the overall picture quality.

This process is sometimes called coloring the cold because you don’t tend to sit and harbor on the conventional but rather make it a point to add more color to the winter image.

Get creative with colors.

It is challenging to play with colors in a winter photo as the whole setting is primarily white, but the real deal is to add a splash of color to it. If you ask an expert about winter photography tips related to color, they will tell you that controlled creativity is essential. It has been found that green and a blue tone brings out the best in the picture.

Walk away

This might sound anticlimactic, but sometimes you actually need to walk away from your computer screen in case you want to make your winter photo editing better. It is natural for your eyes to get exhausted if you sit for hours in front of it and it won’t be able to detect minute changes as effectively as it could have done when you were fresh. Take a break at regular intervals and take your eyes and mind away from the editing, and when you come back, you will notice an improvement in your work immediately.

If you stay in a place where winter occupies the major chunk of the seasons in a year and want to divulge in photography as well, these tips will definitely come in handy while pursuing your job or passion, whatever you make out of these winter pictures.

–

Dhaval Patel has two passions: Travel & Photography. Lucky for him they go hand in hand. His goal is to inspire and encourage others to get out into nature — it’s a beautiful and enlightening experience. Be sure to check back often to learn the various ways he photographs nature. If you have any requests feel free to contact him.

You can walk or cycle down the beautifully paved broad walk or the Malecon, the jewel of the seaside resort of Puerto Vallerta, Mexico. Along this artistically paved stretch, you will find some of the finest sculptures of Mexico alternating with tall palm trees. The area is full of tourists and locals on a family holiday. Quite the opposite of the dark dinginess of museums, but no less rich in works of art and with an unmatched seascape as background!In the beginningThe Malecon did not always exist though. In early 19th century Mexico, the silver mines in the hills near the Banderas Bay (the bay of flags) on the Pacific Ocean brought in merchant ships to carry away silver. But the Bay, near the swampy Cuale

In the beginning, The Malecon did not always exist though. In early 19th century Mexico, the silver mines in the hills near the Banderas Bay (the bay of flags) on the Pacific Ocean brought in merchant ships to carry away silver. But the Bay, near the swampy Cuale River, only had crocodiles as permanent residents. Except for the intrepid silver miners and the sailors of a few visiting ships, no one ventured in those parts. There was no Puerto Vallarta those days.

Settlements take long to establish and though a small township grew up along the Bay of Banderas, till the 1950’s Puerto Vallerta was an unknown backwater. It remained in obscurity for another decade, visited by a few lovers of its secluded wide beach. But then fame came to Puerto Vallarta in the form of the great Hollywood film director John Huston and his cast of the Night of the Iguana that starred Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, and Ava Gardener. Elizabeth Taylor, then madly in love with Burton, also came down to live in the city although she had no part in the film. It was 1963, and there was no looking back for the township that grew and grew to become the second most popular beach resort in Mexico, second only to Cancun.

The influx of tourists brought prosperity and development. The beauty of the Banderas Bay was made accessible to tourists by a newly built broad-walk or Malecon that was made a showcase for some of the famous sculptures of Mexico. Thus, the museum by the sea was born.

The sculptors and their worksLocals and visitors no doubt have personal favorites amongst the sculptures. However, most agree that the outstanding ones include one of the oldest, a youth riding a Seahorse sculpted by Rafael Zamarripa erected way back in 1976.

Locals and visitors no doubt, have personal favorites amongst the sculptures. However, most agree that the outstanding ones include one of the oldest, a youth riding a Seahorse sculpted by Rafael Zamarripa erected way back in 1976.
Other classic ones probably are:

• La Nostalgia by Ramiz Barquet, 1984, showing the figures of a man and woman sitting side by side, gazing out toward the city. The sculpture immortalizes his love for his wife who he finally married after a separation of 27 years!
• Triton and Nereid by Carlos Espino 1990. This is a classic work showing the mythical Greek figure Triton, son of sea-god Poseidon, reaching out his left hand to a Nereid, or sea-nymph who reaches back, whiles riding on a wave.
• The Rotunda of the Sea by Alejandro Colunga 1997. This is a large collection of 8 monumental high-backed bronze chairs. Each whimsical piece mix of exaggerated human anatomy, surrealism, and fantasy. The sculptor’s inspirations are based on folk stories that he had heard as a child.
• The Search of Reason by Sergio Bustamante 1999. It features two carefree children climbing high on a bronze ladder, reaching out to the sky while their mother, robed and hands outstretched, calls out to them from the sidewalk below. While some viewers imagine the mother pleading with her children to come down, others believe she is encouraging them to be fearless and continue climbing higher.
• The Millennium by Mathis Lidice 2001. This gently curving piece represents the passage of time throughout the millenniums. Our hoped-for future is represented by the topmost figure, a partially-suspended woman of wisdom releasing a dove of peace.

There are, of course, many other sculptures and you may wish to pick your own favorite as you stroll down the Malecon, resisting the tequila bars and restaurants on the opposite side till thirst, hunger or exhaustion overcomes your quest for culture!

Beyond the works of art

The Malecon used to be a one-mile long boardwalk that stretches the length of downtown Vallarta from the Cuale River at the south to the Hotel Rosita in the north. Near the south end is the large outdoor amphitheater called Los Arcos (the Arches) where live music, cultural events, and the ever popular clown shows are held in the evening.

In 2011, the walk was extended further to include many more landmarks, statues, and shops. There is a bridge and more bars and restaurants on the landward side. Walking down, you will reach a circular landing dock with a jetty where the rich and famous get into boats to get to their luxurious yachts after a great night on the town and perhaps too much Tequila?

–
By Jayant Neogy – I am a student of travel photography, still searching for the perfect shot of the perfect scene!. Soldiering on with my trusty D800

It might be your lens and camera.

You see, your camera is not designed perfectly for every lens.

In fact, it’s not even designed to perform the same between two of the same lenses. Go figure, right?

That’s why you should consider a LensAlign. Take a look.

As you can see, the LensAlign tool is ideal to fine tune the calibration between your camera and lenses. Head over to Amazon to pick one up, then be sure to watch all the official how-to videos from Michael Tapes.

The Wine Country Camera filter system is made of premium quality materials. There is nothing better on the market, period.

The system is not only beautiful, but it has been designed to last forever, take a beating and the ability for use with and without gloves.

As you will see in the unboxing video, a lot of thought went into every aspect of the system.

In the next video, you will see my initial thoughts on the system. I plan on spending a lot more time with it through my travels. And I feel confident that it will hold up to my initial reaction and expectations.

Read more about the kit at Digital Photography School, or visit the Wine Country Camera website.

The goal of these tips is to get you over the initial hump. The first hump is the most difficult mentally, but once you get through it, you’ll find that street photography is a very enjoyable and almost addicting form of photography.

Before we get to the tips, I also just want to say this. While candid photographs are at the heart of street photography, there will be times when you will be uncomfortable. People might stop and ask if you just took their photo. And of course, it’s generally best to avoid take photos of people who look like they are especially angry or have some problems.

If someone ever stops you and asks if you took their photo, just smile and tell them that you did and that you’re doing a project on the people and culture of the area, and that you thought that they looked fabulous. Offer to send them the photo. Flattery can get you a long way. Then, if they seem uncomfortable, just offer to delete the photograph. When you handle yourself like this in these situations, you will keep yourself out of trouble. And after all, we’re doing this because we enjoy people and find them interesting.

So here are the three tips!

Raise your ISO – Camera Settings

You may have read in many places that it is always best to keep your ISO as low as possible. In the old days of digital photography, that was true because most cameras were terrible above ISO 400. These days that is so far from the case. Newer cameras can shoot with incredible quality at ISO 1600, 3200, and 6400. My general rule is ISO 400 for sunlight, 800-1600 for light to dark shade, and 3200-6400 for dusk and night.,

By using a high ISO, this will allow you to choose both a fast shutter speed and a small aperture to make your photographs as sharp as possible. Yes, I know sharpness is a bourgeois concept, but it’s important to have the ability to make sharp photographs. I use a base of 1/250th of a second for my shutter speed to make sure there is no motion blur in people. Then depending on the light, I will try to use as small an aperture as possible, so there is a lot of depth of field, although that is not always possible. Of course, you might want to try shots with a very shallow depth of field, and in that case, you can lower your ISO, but moments in street photography appear and disappear so fast, and you want to be able to capture them in focus. Setting up your camera like this can help to minimize your focusing mistakes.

Pick a busy spot and look like a tourist

Go somewhere where a lot is happening. The more that is happening, the more interesting moments you will come across. Within these areas, pick a location and hang out there. Linger and wait for things to happen. By doing this, you will be more focused on watching people and taking pictures than walking around, so you will be a lot quicker with your camera. Also, people will be entering your personal space instead of you entering their space, so they will notice you less and you will look less out of place.

Camera snap

It can help to take the previous point further and to just act like a tourist who is hanging out, enjoying the scenery, and photographing the area. One big key to getting noticed taking someone’s photographs is with the camera snap. The camera snap is when you take a photo and then briefly take the camera away from your eye. It’s instinctual, and it’s very subtle, but this is how people know that you have taken their photo. Instead, keep the camera at your eye after you take a photo and let the person walk through the frame. This way they will just think they got in your way. On the flip side, you can also do the opposite. Aim up at a building above or a scene to the side of a person, and then at the last second point the camera at them, take the photo and move on. Both of these strategies will help you to capture natural moments.

Now go out there, overcome your fears, and come back with some unique photographs!

–

James Maher is a professional street and portrait photographer based in New York City. He is also a licensed tour and history guide and gives New York Street Photography Tours around the city. He is offering his New York Photographer’s Travel Guide for free to anyone who is planning a photography trip to New York.

His courses have been utilized by over 50,000 students. We’ve always been impressed by what he’s accomplished through online courses.

We have received requests for courses on astro photography, to photograph the Milky Way more efficiently, And now we’re happy to share one of our favorites.

Milky Way Mastery is the IDEAL course for anyone looking to make better night photographs with stars.  The course is designed to get you making better images with the gear you already own, or with minor investments, like a tripod.

For this course, Josh partnered with Milky Way master and Joshua Tree workshop educator, Casey Kiernan.  He is considered the Michael Jordan of Milky Way photography.

Between Casey’s knowledge on the subject and Josh’s clear breakdown, easy to understand instructions, the course is top notch.

Here is what you will learn:

• The exact camera settings they use 98% of the time
• How to use the north star to know which constellations you’re shooting
• Why most panoramas fall flat and how to make yours great
• The lazy man’s way to know if your photos are over or under exposed
• How to capture more moments by triggering shots automatically
• Where and how to focus for maximum results
• The do’s and dont’s of white balance and color temperature
• Five simple accessories they never leave home without
• How to use “the 500 rule” to know ideal shutter speed for avoiding motion blur in the stars
• The only processing software you’ll ever need and how to make it easy to use
• How to win friends and influence people with your photography
• And much more…

Josh and Casey didn’t stop with just the Milky Way Mastery course, though. The value is extreme.

With the $67 purchase you also receive:

• Steel Wool Photography Premium
• Light Painting Made Easy
• Lightroom Presets For Astro

You will also receive access to a private Facebook group with over 8,000 photographers also learning from Josh’s courses.

The value of all of these products is over $700, but Josh has made the bundle available for $67. That’s an incredible offer!

For more information on Milky Way Mastery and to see a free lesson, click here. We hope you learn from it as we have.

Use the coupon code, SCOTT, to get the class for $67.

Learn more!

Although that is how I first got started with photography, what captured my attention and sparked my interest was attempting to photograph nature. My wife and I went on a trip through Arizona and Utah. Living almost my entire life on the east coast I was amazed by the beauty and vastness of the Southwest. From then on I have always been looking for places and opportunities to photograph.

In 2015 I started a landscape photography blog, Loaded Landscapes, which includes my work as well as contributions from a small team of writers.

At this point, most of my photography is based in the northeastern United States. From my home in Pennsylvania, I can cover my home state, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey in just a few hours of driving. Some of my favorite places in this region include Letchworth State Park (NY), Watkins Glen State Park (NY), Blackwater Falls State Park (WV), Dolly Sods Wilderness (WV), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA and NJ), and Ricketts Glen State Park (PA).

Many of the places I visit are covered at Loaded Landscapes, and I am working to make the site a comprehensive source of information for photographers who are researching locations.

One of my goals is to visit and photograph all 59 of the National Parks in the United States. My wife also enjoys traveling so we are looking forward to years of traveling with our family (we have kids ages 4 and 1) and as a couple, after our kids are grown.

Sunrise is my favorite time to photograph, although I don’t particularly enjoy getting up that early. I find it quite peaceful to be out in time to see the sun rise, and its the best approach I’ve found for avoiding crowds. I visit the battlefield at Gettysburg a few times a year to photograph, since it is just a short drive from my home, and it’s amazing how getting out early can help to avoid the crowds. At sunrise, I can have the place basically to myself, and just a few hours later the crowds can be overwhelming.

One of my current missions is to photograph the many waterfalls of my area, especially in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York. In a few months, I will be heading to Ithaca, NY to photograph several falls in the area, and I’ll also be making several day trips in the spring to photograph waterfalls throughout Pennsylvania that I have not visited yet.

Links:

• Loaded Landscapes
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Twitter

Thank you, JK Rowling.

You see, in the books and movies, the newspaper, called the Daily Prophet, had photographs which were like videos. So although they’re on printed pages of paper, the imagery moves.

Fun, right? We think so!

In the real world of photography, here on planet Earth, there are two companies offering products that are paving the way for future moving photographs on printed paper.

Flixel and Plotagraph.

Both companies take unique approaches to the result.

Flixel

Flixel starts with video. You have to record video of your subject and then mask away the movement to create the still part of the image. That means you need a video camera, ideally with superb resolution.  4K video is what we recommend to get going. Even a newer iPhone could do the job. In fact, there is an iOS app you could use!

Plotagraph

Plotagraph starts with a still. Using the unique algorithms created by founder, Troy Christopher Plota, you create your points of motion, mask what you want still versus animated, and then create the final product. The software can export as animated GIFs, MP4s and more.

Our choice

Both Flixel and Plotagraph are fantastic. They each have their place in the extremely niche genre of photography.

But our preference is Plotagraph because as photographers we are more likely to be making still images than moving ones (in camera at least).  Starting from a still also means you would not need to switch camera modes while out in the field.

But with that said, the animation in Plotagraph Pro, although highly impressive, isn’t 100% true to life. It’s getting better with every update. But at this exactly point in time, if you need to most realistic animated look then Flixel might be the best choice for you. However, with enough time working the software, you can create realistic results.

For example, here is one that looks like a timelapse of clouds moving in a circular motion. It was made in Plotagraph Pro from a single still photograph.

One of the cool things about @plotagraphpro is the movement can even work in circular motions. That's exactly what I did in this photo from Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more at http://buff.ly/2h4IDeI #imagely #blockai #plotagraph #harrrypotter #movingphoto

A post shared by Scott Wyden Kivowitz (@scottwyden) on Dec 28, 2016 at 12:01pm PST

Which style do you prefer, and why?

For me, there is one such place and a much loved city. On a recent visit I found that the city has grown, aged, become overcrowded and horrors! even changed her name from Bombay to Mumbai! Yet, I found some people, some atmosphere and some food to remind me of bygone days full of that warm fuzzy feeling that nostalgia is all about!So join me as I take you back in time and show you some of the landmarks, their history and the ambiance that was once truly Bombay, India!

Kyani and Co.

Why not start with a fondly remembered breakfast at Kyani and Co.? The old-world charm of home-baked bread and earthy tea called chai in India represents a dwindling legacy of the unique establishments called Irani Restaurants that once dotted the city’s landscape. Now very few in number, of the ones that survive, perhaps the oldest is Kyani’s located in the heart of South Bombay, favored by college students, professionals and old Parsee patrons alike.

Founded in 1904, by Mr. Khodram Marezaban, Kyani’s still invokes an unforgettable old world charm and a past redolent with grace. At the entrance there hangs a stout rope suspended from the top lintel to help the not so spry elderly clientele still eager to start their day with the very affordable buttered bun and strong tea. The ambience is uniquely Parsee Zoroastrians who settled in India 1300 years ago. Fast dwindling in numbers, they are a special part of Old Bombay.

The Taj Mahal Hotel

Built a year earlier and about 3 miles away, stands the more famous landmark hotel of Bombay, the Taj Mahal Hotel or simply, The Taj. Hosting princes, heads of state, presidents and film stars during its long and checkered history, the hotel is a “Heritage Grand” class five-star hotel. From a historical and architectural point of view, the two buildings that make up the hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace, and the Tower are two distinct buildings, built at different times and in different architectural styles.

The hotel’s original building was commissioned by Sir Jamshedji Tata and designed by an Indian architect, Rao Shaheb Vaydia. The hotel first opened its doors to guests on 16 December 1903. Originally the main entrance faced opposite to the sea, where the pool is now situated. Thus, all the rooms had an unrestricted sea view from their rear windows. Later a sea facing entrance was added and now the hotel is always viewed and photographed from that side. The Taj Mahal Tower, an additional wing of the hotel, was opened in 1973. It was designed by Melton Bekker.
The Taj Mahal Hotel’s name is now forever etched in Indian memory as their own 9/11, when terrorists attacked the hotel on November 26 2008, along with another hotel, a cafe and a railway station nearby. The roof of the hotel was damaged and hostages taken. At least 167 people were killed including foreign tourists. However, the damages were fully repaired and the hotel reopened in less than a year. The hotel continues to remain iconic and is representative of Bombay’s indomitable spirit.

The Asiatic Library

The Literary Society of Bombay which predates the Taj Hotel by a century, held its first meeting in 1804. Soon after, the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established in London in 1823. So in 1930, the Literary Society of Bombay became affiliated with its British big brother and was called the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Today, the building is classified a heritage structure. Heavily influenced by Greek and Roman architecture, the entrance has a portico with eight Doric columns. A flight of 30 steps lead up to the Town Hall and a wrought iron divided Regency staircase climbs up to the vestibule. In 1830 Sir John Malcolm, governor of Bombay stated: “It is the most magnificent structure that taste and munificence combined have as yet erected in India.”

Inside, the Reading Room is high-ceilinged with a dramatic wrought-iron spiral staircase and marble statues of notables. Originally, the library was a Town Hall for the walled city that the British had built for themselves. Today, it is a reading room and library, hall for debate and a museum. The museum’s prized possession is the second original manuscript of Dante’s Inferno as well as many other rare and valuable books.

However reluctantly, one must return to reality and the present. In parting, let me leave you with the puzzle of the city’s original name, “Bombay”. Was this derived from the Portuguese “Bom Baya” meaning beautiful bay, perhaps a legacy of the Portuguese occupation from 1534 to 1661 or is this a mystery yet to be explored?

–
By Jayant Neogy – I am a student of travel photography, still searching for the perfect shot of the perfect scene!. Soldiering on with my trusty D800