Archive for October, 2009
She was posing for this photo at her mock funeral after a make-believe, post-prom vehicle accident involving alcohol and students at Bethlehem-Center High School in Deemston, Pa.
Please drive sensibly this weekend, and always.
There are a couple of images captioned “moksha” on Rich-Joseph Fancun’s Darashana Ganga gallery that are certainly disturbing, but the remainder of his gallery show us Varanasi and its streets at its grittiest, and being one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, it is a gritty city. This is a work in progress, and I suspect that more images will be forthcoming.
For centuries, Hindus have sought “moksha“, the release from the cycle of life, death and reincarnation by dying in Varanasi or having their remains cremated on the ghats alongside the Ganges. Hindus from across India and beyond, often choose to live out their last days in this 5,000 year-old city.
Rich-Joseph Fancun is a photographer based in Abu Dhabi, who specializes in documentary projects dealing with personal Independence, pursuit of dreams and the discovery of self-identity. He studied photography at the School for Visual Communication at Ohio University.
He documented the life of a Navajo family in 2001; a project that gained him a Pictures of The Year award. He was also named as one of PDN’s 30 New and Emerging Photographers amongst other numerous awards. His work has been published by various publications ranging from The New York Tines to FADER magazine.
Amongst Fancun’s many galleries, I particularly liked Merchants of Main Street, a collection of very nicely toned photographed of stores from all over the USA.
There are a couple of images captioned “moksha” on Rich-Joseph Fancun’s Darashana Ganga gallery that are certainly disturbing, but the remainder of his gallery show us Varanasi and its streets at its grittiest, and being one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, it is a gritty city. This is a work in progress, and I suspect that more images will be forthcoming.
For centuries, Hindus have sought “moksha“, the release from the cycle of life, death and reincarnation by dying in Varanasi or having their remains cremated on the ghats alongside the Ganges. Hindus from across India and beyond, often choose to live out their last days in this 5,000 year-old city.
Rich-Joseph Fancun is a photographer based in Abu Dhabi, who specializes in documentary projects dealing with personal Independence, pursuit of dreams and the discovery of self-identity. He studied photography at the School for Visual Communication at Ohio University.
He documented the life of a Navajo family in 2001; a project that gained him a Pictures of The Year award. He was also named as one of PDN’s 30 New and Emerging Photographers amongst other numerous awards. His work has been published by various publications ranging from The New York Tines to FADER magazine.
Amongst Fancun’s many galleries, I particularly liked Merchants of Main Street, a collection of very nicely toned photographed of stores from all over the USA.
Photo © Kevin Frayer/Associated Press-All Rights Reserved
The WSJ Photo Journal with a photograph by Kevin Frayer has reminded me that the Pushkar fair (or mela) is taking place from October 30 to November 2 this year. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs, and is held in the quaint town of Pushkar. At that time, hotel rooms and other accommodations are available at a hefty premium, especially at the venerable but ideally located Pushkar Palace.
While it’s famed for its camels, the fair is also a marketplace for livestock including the reputed Marawri horses. It has recently become a magnet for tourists, both local and foreign, with tour agencies setting up itineraries centered around the fair itself as the main attraction. Photo trips also abound, since the camel traders, the sand dunes of the Thar Desert and the setting sun prove irresistible to photographers hoping to capture the Rajasthani essence.
Although a one-time-must-see event, the Pushkar mela itself has become a tourist event rather than a genuine tribal camel trading occasion. The actual trading itself takes place days before the start of the event, and by the time tourists arrive, most of the trades have been competed, and only the stragglers are left.
You can read my take on Pushkar fair in an early (and acerbic) post on this blog under the title “Reheated Itineraries“.
Photo © Kevin Frayer/Associated Press-All Rights Reserved
The WSJ Photo Journal with a photograph by Kevin Frayer has reminded me that the Pushkar fair (or mela) is taking place from October 30 to November 2 this year. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs, and is held in the quaint town of Pushkar. At that time, hotel rooms and other accommodations are available at a hefty premium, especially at the venerable but ideally located Pushkar Palace.
While it’s famed for its camels, the fair is also a marketplace for livestock including the reputed Marawri horses. It has recently become a magnet for tourists, both local and foreign, with tour agencies setting up itineraries centered around the fair itself as the main attraction. Photo trips also abound, since the camel traders, the sand dunes of the Thar Desert and the setting sun prove irresistible to photographers hoping to capture the Rajasthani essence.
Although a one-time-must-see event, the Pushkar mela itself has become a tourist event rather than a genuine tribal camel trading occasion. The actual trading itself takes place days before the start of the event, and by the time tourists arrive, most of the trades have been competed, and only the stragglers are left.
You can read my take on Pushkar fair in an early (and acerbic) post on this blog under the title “Reheated Itineraries“.
Luke Martin, 9, of Charleroi, Pa., is wrapped in toilet paper as a prank that was part of a Halloween magic show in his hometown.
Charmed location and charming center in fabulous Spanish colonial city
Guanajuato is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen. Set in deep valley and connected to the “outside” by tunnels through the steep mountains, this Spanish colonial gem is a vibrant, walkable city. Its narrow lanes, kaleidoscope of color and a cacophony of sound are energetic and energizing. Site of the 21,000-student University of Guanajuato, it is a youthful city as well.
Lording over the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is this heroic statue of El Pipila, a hero of the Mexican Independence movement two centuries ago.
Spreading beneath El Pipila’s feet is this enticing panorama.
This steep funicular whisks passengers between the plaza in front the El Pipila monument and the heart of the old colonial city.
The funicular’s base terminal is just a block from the triple-domed basilica and the simple back of the Teatro Juarez.
The theater and the basilica from the front.
The landscaped plaza across the street is not a customary square but a triangle, but still squeezes in a gazebo and a fountain..
India laurel branches are all but impenetrable. I watched a small boy try to climb the tree and give up in discouragement, because even he found now route through.
The center of Guanajuato has two main vehicular streets, several pedestrian-only streets and a maze of narrow colonial streets.
Guanajuato’s wealth came from rich silver mines in the surrounding mountains. Ore carts are used as decorative objects here and there in town.
Simple swinging doors to a neighborhood bar invite photography — or entry.
The following images are just buildings and streetscapes that appealed to me.
Artist Diego Rivera was born in Guanajuato. His family’s house is now a museum. The ground floor is furnished with period antiques, and the upper floors are a museum of his and contemporary artists’ works.
Just as US cities boast Mexican restaurants, Guanajuato has a bagel place. Cultural cross-fertilization works both ways.
Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
I’ll be soon posting two galleries of some of my work made during my Bhutan Photo~Expedition a few weeks ago.
One is a multimedia photo gallery of Monks’ Debates at the Kharchhu Sangha in Bumthang (which has already been seen by subscribers to my newsletter), while the other will showcase some of the dancers at the Jambhey Lakhang tsechu in Chamkar.
So watch this blog!
Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
This photograph (click it for a larger version) was made at the Wangdichoeling Palace in Jakar, Bhutan. Built in 1857, it served as the principal summer residence of the first and second kings of Bhutan; Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926) and Jigme Wangchuk 1905-1952). Virtually dilapidated, it is now occupied by monks and novices who use some of its rooms.
It’s within a stone’s throw from the Bumthang Amankora Resort, whose daily rate for a single suite is $1300!
Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
This photograph (click it for a larger version) captured two novices clandestinely watching a Bollywood movie at the Chimi Lakhang. The temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, who is colloquially referred to as the Divine Madman, and is popularly considered to be a temple of fertility.
Footnote: I’m immensely gratified to have been mentioned in Lou Jones‘ excellent Marketing Travel Photography: Portfolio and Identity on Photo.net.
Under the paragraph titled Editorial Portfolio, Lou writes:
“Take a look at Magnum’s David Allen Harvey online magazine. He has some of the best talent working in the genre represented on his web site. Tewfic El-Sawy’s thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com has a unique vision with his site.”
Oct
30
Google announced the release of its Android 2.0 software development kit, touting a series of enhancements for users and developers. Major additions to Android 2.0 include Quick Contact, which provides instant access to a contact’s information and communication modes eg, users can tap a photo and select whether to call, text or email the individual in question. Other applications like Email, Messaging and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget upon touching a contact photo or status icon.
Android 2.0 additionally boasts support for Exchange, a combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page and search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
Android 2.0 also boosts camera functionality, introducing built-in flash support, digital zoom, scene mode and related visual effects. An improved keyboard promises to simplify text input and improve typing speed, while the framework’s multi-touch support guarantees key presses aren’t missed during two-finger typing sessions–in addition, an improved dictionary learns from word usage, and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.
Perhaps the most significant browser enhancement in Android 2.0 arrives via support for HTML5, which enables browser-based applications to behave more like native apps. The update also adds a refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar, enabling users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation, as well as bookmarks with web page thumbnails and support for double-tap zoom.
For developers, Android 2.0 introduces new APIs for sync and Bluetooth. Using the new sync, account manager and contacts APIs, you can write applications to enable users to sync their devices to various contact sources. You can also give users a faster way to communicate with others by embedding Quick Contact within your application. With the new Bluetooth API, you can now easily add peer-to-peer connectivity or gaming to your applications.
The updated Android SDK is available for download here.
This video shows you the highlights from the latest Android platform release.
