This Bangalore Weekend Shoots on July 8 plan was an open one. They’re actually quite good fun since we just decide the route and then wherever someone finds something interesting — we stop and shoot!
We decided to go on the Nandi Hills route, and possibly visit the hillock called Skandangiri. There was also the cemetery that was featured in a local paper in Sultanpet. So off we went.
We got off to an early start at 530 am in the morning but managed to miss the rest of the gang. When people say “we’ll meet at Mekhri Circle”, we should remember that it’s not a circle so there can be several points before and after the intersection one can meet. As a result, we were sitting by the pavement counting chicken and sheep, while the rest of the gang met under the “underpass” and zoomed past!
Anyway, we managed to catch one of them on the phone and found out they were already 10 kms away. We set off on the highway and caught up with the gang of about 8 at Devanahalli bus stop.
From there we drove towards Nandi Hills and at the T-junction, took a right to the village of Sultanpet.
The cemetery was rather small and more important in terms of history. There wasn’t much to photograph there. But what we found were a few potters at work. They were working in a old ramshackle building and with the early morning light, everything looked really interesting.
We watched them at work for a while and then wandered around to the area where they store their pots (another old building nearby) and discovered lots of interesting nooks and corners. So all of us had something or the other catching our interest. One of the gang members even managed to go down some rickety steps into a well!
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I had a nice time watching the potters at work. I find the whole process of pot-making rather fascinating. I think a hour or so quickly passed by while we were all busy around this place.
After that we re-grouped and then decided to move on the next place — a temple a little further ahead. All of us landed up at the small temple and found some interesting rocks nearby and decided to climb them instead. So some of us (a few had height fear) went atop and did some candid photography and had some fun taking group shots there.
From there, except for one who left as he had to reach town early, we proceeded towards Nandi Hills for breakfast. Most people weren’t keen on trekking in the afternoon sun to the other hillock we had earlier planned to climb. Since I’d already visited Nandi Hills a few times, I was more interested in the food. And I wanted Maggi — it tastes better in Nandi Hills for some strange reason!
We found a restaurant there who served us not only Maggi noodles, but also bread omlettes, dosas, chai and coffee. It was time to leave as it was already afternoon. A few others remained to do some photography around the Nandi Hills area. We were back in the city by 3 pm.
A potter’s workplace always gives you chances to click fascinating photographs. I don’t do it myself but really enjoy watching someone’s else work. Your photos, as usual, came out superb.
Posted by Kousik | July 19, 2007, 7:54 pmThe first photo on top is a total winner. It must have been low shutter speed and aperture tricks mostly, right?
Posted by Born a Libran | July 20, 2007, 7:47 amkousik: yes, can result in some interesting photos. i’d earlier gone to pottery town in bangalore and that too was fascinating! thanks!
born a libran: thanks! no aperture tricks :) i focused on the hands and set the aperture slightly lower (not sure what i used, probably between 4–5) to get a good depth of field. it was shot with a 50mm lens so i went quite close. that’s all!
Posted by Anita | July 20, 2007, 9:19 amNice… very nice.. first pic is definitely the winner. I wonder if you are planning to post more photographs!
Posted by Amit Das | July 20, 2007, 10:21 amGood pictures!
Posted by Paavani | July 20, 2007, 10:28 amAnita, nice pics and the pottery ones are really good.. I am tied up with some work and would be free in 2 months time, after that teach me some tricks please for taking better snaps :)
Had been to Nandi Hills a couple of months back, you can check that here
http://remainconnected.blogspot.com/search?q=Nandi+Hills
Posted by Tanay | July 20, 2007, 10:56 amamazing pics, as always. your collection will make a nice coffee table book! you should consider it.
sukanya
Posted by sbora | July 20, 2007, 7:09 pmThe pics are brilliant Anita :) Loved it…
Posted by Shobha | July 20, 2007, 8:39 pmLovely pics..
I also went last weekend to damdama lake — close to my place.. within 10 minutes the terrain changed into a village, the hills, camels and what not.. very nice.. got good pics.. one is up on flickr.
Posted by Twilight Fairy | July 21, 2007, 2:30 pmLovely pics of pottery. I especially like the one with all the pots, stretching from the foreground. There is another place called Angallu which is also a sort of potters hub. On the route to Madanapally/AP border from Bangalore.
Posted by apu | July 22, 2007, 9:55 amHi
I was googling for a pottery studio, if any, in Bangalore and came across your blog. I am rivetted.
Hope you had a nice weekend.
Posted by Lubna | July 22, 2007, 9:09 pm@ Amit Das: thanks! i have posted the rest in the link given at the end of the post!
@ Paavani: thanks!
@ Tanay: of course :) you can also join in the bangalore shoots gang.
@ sukanya: thanks! i shall consider that after a few years when i have a decent collection :)
@ Shobha: thanks!
@ ahmed: thanks!
@ Twilight Fairy: will check!!
@ apu: thanks for that! will check it out sometime :)
@ Lubna: thanks! hope you got the information about the classes?
Posted by Anita | July 23, 2007, 11:58 amawesome fotos as ever :) Always a pleasure reading your blog!
I’ve posted some pics here: http://manasadreamz.blogspot.com/2007/07/some-more-pics.html#comments I gotta improve a lot in photography.
Haven’t been to any photography classes yet.
Posted by Manasa | July 23, 2007, 12:12 pmThe first picture of potter’s hand is just awesome…
Posted by Srikanth | July 23, 2007, 8:24 pm@ Manasa: thanks! nice to see you dabbling in it too. it’s just a matter of time. for classes check out: http://www.bsoap.com. a basic understanding always helps!
@ Srikanth: thanks!
Posted by Anita | July 24, 2007, 12:41 pmHi Anita,
Just dropped by as I have been long thinking of giving your blog page a visit. Had read ur page on Sparsh ! :) Anyways, that was a nice post and do visit me on http://marshmallow–cream.blogspot.com/.
Sandhya
Posted by Sandhya | July 25, 2007, 11:16 amBeautiful
Posted by Thejesh GN | July 25, 2007, 1:25 pmHey Guys, superb photos. Do anyone of you teach photography??
Posted by Chaithali | August 22, 2007, 7:47 pmLovely snaps. Got here via DesiPundit. I am delighted!!
Posted by Abhijit | September 7, 2007, 8:01 amam looking for pottery classes in bangakore please help me out
Posted by safa zaida | February 20, 2008, 9:28 amI would only say that you done a professional job while taking snaps, i am damn sure you are professional photographer.
http://www.airticket.co.uk/india.aspx
Posted by Richard | April 28, 2010, 10:00 pmAmazing snaps **BOWS DOWN** :)
Nandhi Hills !! Awesome palce …
we decided to go at 2am… left at 3:30 am… saw one of the best sunrises till date
http://theloapers.blogspot.com/2010/04/4nandi-hills-31122009.html
http://prabhukarthik03.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/4nandi-hills-31122009/
Posted by Karthik | December 27, 2010, 10:37 am