Nepal, heaven in the clouds. Nepal the places I've seen!

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p1003654980.jpg

2 famous mountain ranges across Nepal..the Himalyas and the Annapurna

[Asher Kelman]

Fahim,

Where is this located and why the intense blue? Is this with your M8?

This is a stunning set of overlays of mountains. I hope you are getting enough overlapping adjacent shots to make some Panoramas! We have a new Panorama Photgraphy (http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=105) section and such a layered mountain range would lend itself to such ultra-wide photography and also 360 degree views.

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

Hello Asher, I am at around 3000 mts in the east centre of the country. It is with my M8 and the mist/haze haze this blueish tinge across many images. I could try to warm this, but wanted to leave it as it is.

2 things I missed...Graduated density filter and a polarising filter.

Regards.

Fahim,

Where is this located and why the intense blue? Is this with your M8?

This is a stunning set of overlays of mountains. I hope you are getting enough overlapping adjacent shots to make some Panoramas! We have a new Panorama Photgraphy (http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=105) section and such a layered mountain range would lend itself to such ultra-wide photography and also 360 degree views.

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p894823605.jpg

Regards.

[janet Smith]

You must have felt like you'd woken in heaven! What I would give for a window with a view like that - amazing! What wonderful memories you must have from this trip....

[fahim mohammed]

Away from the cities, I found Nepal to be heavenly. One cannot, however, forget that luck has dealt the
humble people of Nepal a stacked deck .

Regards.

You must have felt like you'd woken in heaven! What I would give for a window with a view like that - amazing! What wonderful memories you must have from this trip....

[Wendy Thurman]

Stunning, Fahim- simply stunning. Was this done on the M8?

Nepal is on my list. Seeing your images serves only to raise it up a few notches!

Wendy (currently in Amman, shooting like a madwoman)

[Daniel Buck]

Beautiful! Sunrise/sunsets are awesome when you have layers of clouds/mist below you in the mountains :-) Some of my favorite sunset photos have settings similar to this!

[fahim mohammed]

Wendy, thanks for your comments.

D700 + zeiss 35/2 handheld; slight crop and alien skin kodachrome 25 filter.

Enjoy Amman.

Stunning, Fahim- simply stunning. Was this done on the M8?

Nepal is on my list. Seeing your images serves only to raise it up a few notches!

Wendy (currently in Amman, shooting like a madwoman)

[fahim mohammed]

Daniel, appreciate you stopping by.

Regards.

Beautiful! Sunrise/sunsets are awesome when you have layers of clouds/mist below you in the mountains :-) Some of my favorite sunset photos have settings similar to this!

[Wendy Thurman]

Wendy, thanks for your comments.

D700 + zeiss 35/2 handheld; slight crop and alien skin kodachrome 25 filter.

Enjoy Amman.

Amman remains one of my favorite cities- it has great character, there is something for everyone here, and it's off the worn tourist beat. The Shmeisani, Abdali, and Abdoun areas are starting to look enormously like Dubai, however. I spent the afternoon in old Amman around the Roman Amphitheatre shooting with the D700 and the 14-24. The subdued lighting today should make for some interesting images.

Back to Baghdad in the morning and editing the images I have. Please keep your images coming; I am enjoying them enormously!

mas salaama-

Wendy

[Andrew Stannard]

Hi Fahim,

I cannot imagine a more beautiful and spectacular sunrise to start the day, it's a stunning image.

The sunlit peaks in the top left really add something to the image, and provide some balance to the dark areas of the opposite corner.

Thanks for posting,

[Winston Mitchell]

Superb...........

[Asher Kelman]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p894823605.jpg

Regards.

Fahim,

It's difficult to "up" the comments so far. This picture is indeed heavenly! I'd imagine also that panoramas would be simply amazing. I'm not often envious, except now I admit! I'd love to see this with my own eyes. We'll not protest if you show us more of this series.

What's unusual is the saw-tooth edge of the hillside. Each little tooth, is the top of one tree!

I am wondering about how this would look through filters. If you have a polarizing red filter, filter the distant clouds might be more dimensional. One can the correct for color shift in Photoshop.

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

was a bit late getting in position as can be seen by the ripples in the water. The
first day was cloudy and I left shortly after taking this pic. better luck next time.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p308573480.jpg

Best.

[fahim mohammed]

in Bandipur...

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p847928388.jpg

Best.

[Asher Kelman]

My goodness, Fahim,

Is this a different place or are there more than one place called heaven?

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

Asher, different time, different place and different accomadations!

Regards.

My goodness, Fahim,

Is this a different place or are there more than one place called heaven?

Asher

[janet Smith]

Hi Fahim

The last shot of Bandipur is stunning, what an amazing place to spend some time, the shot leaves me wanting to look to the right and see what's over there, do you have any more to make a pano? And yes I do wish I was there, another on my long list of places to visit!

BTW congratulations on your magazine cover, I'm happy for you...

[Michael Fontana]

In the alps, I had seen similar sunsets/sunrises, and yes, it's beautifull.

The play of the clouds in the valley, moving like waves of the sea is quite astonishing.

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p99194692.jpg

Complete visit and ceremony with the Lama present shall follow at some future date.

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p949183260.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p828855373.jpg

[charlotte thompson]

Amazing!

what you capture is- You_ absolutely gorgeous-

Charlotte-

[charlotte thompson]

OMG you must stop-
or I will die-

such beauty!!


Charlotte-

[Asher Kelman]

OMG you must stop-
or I will die-

such beauty!!

Ignore her Fahim, some of us might not see heaven otherwise!

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

This is a pictoria documentation of my visit to the open air crematorium for the deceased of the Hindu sect. This is located in Kathmandu.

The funeral pyres are located adjacent to the biggest Hindu temple in Nepal. One has to walk a short distance to reach the temple and the funeral site.

Out of the car and you are accosted to buy some offerings for the temple.. my driver Jai is a Hindu and
bought some items in a basket which has to returned on leaving the entrance

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p120837521.jpg

There are many stalls and numerous items of religious significance on sale for the devoted and I might
add as soveniers for tourists.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p320762978.jpg

walking along the path to the temple one sees vacant ground on the left with homeless people. Along the right hand side, over the boundary wall is accomodation for grieving relatives who have travelled
from afar. This ' residence' is provided free of charge and is supported by the contributions to the temple and its auxillary elements.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p135847473.jpg

I passed quite a few people urinating along this wall and had to tread carefully, being on the lookout
for excrement!

The smell was over-powering and most people seemed oblivious to it. you can see the top of the temple
dome in the background. I asked Jai to lead the way carrying my camera back pack..hurriedly.

The entrance to the mail temple one is confronted once agin with small stalls selling the various stuff ( most of religious significance for use in the temple or the funeral pyres ).

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p394036536.jpg

I did not enter the temple but turned right at the temple entrance towards the funeral site.

continued...

[fahim mohammed]

As one enters the crematorium, one sees the funeral pyres on the right and the preparation area on the
left. A thick smoke covers the entire area. I am told the crematorium operates 24x7.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p175046243.jpg

I went to the left side as they were preparing the bodies for burial. There were people cleansing themselves:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p958590086.jpg

And the deceased were lowered near the water's edge and water was sprinkled on their face and feet:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p682933596.jpg

After which the deceased were taken to the pyre site. here the pyre is washed and prepared for the
cremation. The body was initially placed next to the pyre:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p546888751.jpg

Continued...

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Fahim,

I don't see anything "graphic" that might offend or shock any one, but I guess your wife sees this from a different point of view. Is this in any way these images might be "desecration of the body" as viewed from your own culture? I look at the images as beautiful aspects of devotion to ones family and making a satisfactory "goodbye".

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

Hi Asher,

Based on a previous post that generated some discussion, and my wife's reaction, I thought it prudent
to assign the ' graphic' description.

As for myself, this is what I witnessed. Nothing more, nothing less. I respect all cultures, even though
my beliefs and my culture is different.

best.




Hi Fahim,

I don't see anything "graphic" that might offend or shock any one, but I guess your wife sees this from a different point of view. Is this in any way these images might be "desecration of the body" as viewed from your own culture? I look at the images as beautiful aspects of devotion to ones family and making a satisfactory "goodbye".

Asher

[fahim mohammed]

The platform is stacked with wood and the deceased's body is placed over the wood. More wood is placed
over the body. Straw is also placed. Final respects are paid

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p933235765.jpg

A close male family relative is the first one to get the fire burning. I am told that the first flame is placed near the mouth:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p790380380.jpg

After the fire has consumed the body:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p766172291.jpg

The ashes are pushed into the river, and the platform washed and prepared anew:

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p570223960.jpg

[Ben Rubinstein]

Where did all the pictures go? I was looking forward...

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v9/p1064378733.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v0/p827935771.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v22/p543494837-5.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v24/p917295768.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v6/p669062643.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v22/p561958272.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v22/p581765828.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v16/p1022259046.jpg

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Fahim,

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v9/p1064378733.jpg
This is just stunning!

Best regards,

Doug

[fahim mohammed]

Very much appreciated Doug.

Season's Greetings and Best Wishes to Carla, family, and yourself.

[fahim mohammed]

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v1/p839144671.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

If it's possible, at some time, Fahim, might you be able to fix the early links of this special thread? I hate to see beauty vanish!

Asher

[Doug Kerr]

Hi Fahim,

Season's Greetings and Best Wishes to Carla, family, and yourself.

And the very same to you, Ayesha, and the rest of the family.

Best regards,

Doug

[fahim mohammed]

Crematorium #1

As I am unable to edit the original posts, please consider these as fillers. Quick search, no particular time on pp.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v4/p323713496.jpg

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v17/p492171304-5.jpg

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v11/p37631800.jpg

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v19/p61323598.jpg

[fahim mohammed]

Crematorium #2


http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v20/p47145463.jpg

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v23/p385241612.jpg

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v1/p86650459.jpg

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Fahim,

Stunning images.



http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v20/p47145463.jpg

I am fascinated by the sign. Does this have to do with harvesting of corneas from the dead?

Best regards,

Doug

[fahim mohammed]

Hi, Fahim,

Stunning images.



I am fascinated by the sign. Does this have to do with harvesting of corneas from the dead?

Best regards,

Doug

Hi Doug...

I remember vividly positioning myself so as to give this sign prominence for OPF viewers!!!

I got vague, embarrassed , answers when I asked the same question. Pointing to my eyes, I might add!

Stay well.

[fahim mohammed]

This is a pictoria documentation of my visit to the open air crematorium for the deceased of the Hindu sect. This is located in Kathmandu.

The funeral pyres are located adjacent to the biggest Hindu temple in Nepal. One has to walk a short distance to reach the temple and the funeral site.

Out of the car and you are accosted to buy some offerings for the temple.. my driver Jai is a Hindu and
bought some items in a basket which has to returned on leaving the entrance

There are many stalls and numerous items of religious significance on sale for the devoted and I might
add as soveniers for tourists.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v4/p70859206.jpg

The entrance to the main temple one is confronted once agin with small stalls selling the various stuff ( most of religious significance for use in the temple or the funeral pyres ).

I did not enter the temple but turned right at the temple entrance towards the funeral site.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v9/p90165002.jpg

As one enters the crematorium, one sees the funeral pyres on the right and the preparation area on the
left. A thick smoke covers the entire area. I am told the crematorium operates 24x7.

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v7/p401109879.jpg

Overcome with grief, a woman is helped by her relative...

http://umdah.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v16/p193273587.jpg

pp is hurried and minimal. apologies.