Photo Speaks

Photo Speaks – Dhows on repair

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Photo Speaks – Dhows on repair
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Auto – Beauty and Care

Photo Speaks – Reflections

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Photo Speaks – Reflections


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Photo Speaks – Abu Dhabi at night

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Photo Speaks – Abu Dhabi at night

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Shiveli at Kollur Mookambika Temple

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Shiveli at Kollur Mookambika Temple

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

It is Navarathri time and Hindus all over pray to different forms of Devi during the days of Navarathri, for peace, prosperity, vigour etc etc. One particular temple stands out in terms of devotees during Navaratri in terms of devotees and that is Kollur Mookambika temple. Devotees, especially those who are interested in arts, music and all literary forms pray to Mookambika Devi for blessings in abundance for prosperity in their chosen field. During my recent visit I had an opportunity to visit the temple and it was the Shiveli (procession) time. During this procession, the idol of Mookambika Devi is carried on head by the chief priest and it happened that when he reached the main entrance where I was staying, he started conversing with a person accompanying him so that the idol on top was pointing directly towards my direction where I was standing and recording this video. May be the goddess had in mind that time to give darshan indirectly to all her devotees worldwide through this medium. Submit the same with prayers and pranams at the lotus of feet of goddess saraswathi.

MAHA LAKSHMI ASHTAKAM
(The sloka chanted by Indra)

Indra Uvacha: Namasthesthu Mahamaye Sreepeethe Surapoojithe Sankha Chakra Gada Hasthe Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: I offer my worship to Maha Lakshmi, who symbolizes the great illusion and who is worshipped by all Devas. I worhip Maha Lakshmi who resides in Sri Peetam and who carries Sanku(Conch), Chakram(Disk) and Gadha(Club) in her hand.

Indra Uvacha: Namasthe Garudaroodhe Kolasura Bhayankari Sarva Papa Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: I offer worship to the one who has Garuda bird as her vehicle and who was feared by even Demon “Kola”. I worship Maha Lakshmi who destroys all sadness.

Indra Uvacha: Sarvagne Sarva Varade Sarva Dushta Bhayankari, Sarva Duhkha Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthute

Indra speaks: I offer worship to the one who is all knowing, giver of all boons, remover of all dangerous enemies. I worship Maha Lakshmi who is remover of all afflictions.

Indra Uvacha: Siddhi Buddhi Pradhe Devi Bhukthi Mukthi Pradayini Manthra Moorthe Sada Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: Maha Lakshmi confers great powers, desires, good intellect, enjoyment and Liberation (heaven). I worship Maha Lakshmi who is the personification of all mantras and who is ever shining and radiant.

Indra Uvacha: Adyantharahithe Devi Adi Sakthi Mahesvari Yogaje yoga Sambhoothe Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: Maha Lakshmi is the one who is without beginning or end. She is the primordial energy and Maheswari. I worship Maha Lakshmi who was created out of yoga and who sustains yoga sakthi.

Indra Uvacha: Sthoola Sookshma Maharowdhre Mahasakthi Mahodhare Maha Pape Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: Maha Lakshmi represents both the gross and the subtle manifestations of life. She is very scary to the bad. She is the great energy. I worship Maha Lakshmi who destroys the greatest sins.

Indra Uvacha: Padmaasana Sthithe Devi Para Bramha Swaroopini Paramesi Jaganmathar Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: Maha Lakshmi who has lotus as her seat symbolizes the ultimate reality. I worship Maha Lakshmi who is Parameswari and the mother of the universe.

Indra Uvacha: Svethambharadhare Devi Nanalankara Booshithe Jagat Stithe Jaganmathar Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: Wearing white clothes Devi Maha Lakshmi is adorned completely with jewels. I worship Maha Lakshmi who is the omnipresent Devine Mother.

Palasruthi:

Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam Stotram
Ya: patheth Bhakthiman Naraha
Sarva Siddhi Mavapnothi Rajyam Prapnothi Sarvadha
Yeka Kalam Pathem Nithyam Maha Papa Vinasanam
Dwi Kalam Ya: Pathen Nithyam
Dhana Dhanya Samanvithaha
Thri kalam Ya:Pathen Nithyam
Maha Shathru Vinasanam
Maha Lakshmir Baven Nithyam
Prasanna Varadha Subha

Benefits of Chanting this Sloka: The one who chants the above sloka with devotion will get all desires fulfilled and will inherit great land. Chanting this sloka once daily destros all sins. Chanting this sloka twice daily will bring the devotee wealth and grains. Chanting this sloka three times a day will help destroy powerful enemies. It will always enable to obtain the direct, auspicious grace of Maha Lakshmi.

Devotees are urged to learn the proper pronunciation of the sloka with the help of someone who knows the Sanskrit version

Performers at a shopping mall during Eid 2009

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Performers at a shopping mall during Eid 2009 A set of Lebanese performers during Eid days at a shopping mall. The fun part of this photo was – there were hardly any audience to watch these two performing (probably that is what they were trying to convey through the phone and their facial expressions) where as an adjacent standwith a Jordanian group had a big crowd to cheer them. Enjoy viewing the photos and watching the video.
http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Eid programmes at Kerala Social Centre Abu Dhabi

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Eid programmes at Kerala Social Centre Abu Dhabi

Members and families of Kerala Social Centre Abu Dhabi celebrated Eid 2009 with it’s full harmony and joy. Here are some pictures from the cultural programmes organised by members this evening.







My Letters – Khaleej Times – All set to handle the crowd

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My Letters – Khaleej Times – All set to handle the crowd

I always write about the positive aspects of photography and it’s influence on our self to elevate our mind. I believe that interest in photography give a cutting edge to a person to be alert for opportunities and value each and every second that is available. This photo is an example of such a precious moment. At the Terminal 3 of Dubai airport, just after the Iftar on an evening, with not many flights landed and being the first few to reach for the immigration counters, I suddenly noticed a golden scene in front of me. For those who travel through Dubai airport, they will realise the importance of it as they will always find a long queue of passengers lined up for immigration check.

Playing in the mind is another important point which I wish to convey through this photo. One doesn’t need a high tech camera to come out with excellent pictures. It’s all in the mind and the knowledge of the equipment at your disposal. Like a quick run out on a cricket field or a quick shift of gears on our bike or even sudden change of beats on the Tabala according to varying and demanding situations we come across. One needs to listen and observe carefully every opportunity available and play it in the mind several times and then practise without inhibition and then when that precious moment comes, you will never miss it.

God bless, Keep clicking and have a great day ahead.

Ramesh Menon
17092009

To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Passionate Photography Thoughts – Photos that speaks

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Passionate Photography Thoughts – Photos that speaks

Dear Friends,

First of all let me welcome our new members who joined the Passionate Photographers group since my last communication with you. As the name denotes this is a group intended to ignite your passion for photography. How this group and your presence as a member can fuel the growth of your photography knowledge and photographic output depends on your active involvement within. Please therefore read the limited number of discussion threads present here to get a basic idea of interactions happening here.

Our interest in photography make us curious onlookers of any photo posts either in print or web media. Many times some of the best creations are produced by experts with the latest equipment available to them. It may be wide variety of lenses, lighting equipments or even models or subjects who are professionals to modulate the subjective topic into a magical visual experience. However , many of us do not have these advantage factors and the same should never hold us from continuing our passion to go in without inhibition and capture that magical and price moment which comes in front of you.

How can you do it? This is where an open attitude towards this hobby and creative activity comes in. Many of us are fond of cricket. Now imagine getting a chance to play at the beautiful Sheikh Zayed cricket stadium for a T20 match. A golden opportunity from out of the blue. You get to bowl only 24 genuine balls against your opposition. It is here your mind plays the key role. If you have been a player who plays cricket, you always play the game in your mind several times. The situations, the pros and cons, the weather conditions, the batsman whom you may play against. All those things are practiced and perfected in mind. Also your own positives and negatives, the effectiveness of your equipment like bat and other gears. All the factors compares to a photographic opportunity which comes to you suddenly.

Imagine you have a digital camera which is not a very high end model. First thing for you is to study it’s numerous features and their effectiveness on different light situations and surroundings. For this you have to keep on clicking, changing each and every option and testing it out. Like the bowler, who bowls numerous overs in the nets and perfect that unplayable Yorker, doosra or theesra or whatever, you too have to test the various options several times. This will make you comfortable and quick fingered to change the settings to the required mode to capture your object within the minutest of seconds available. In photography, seconds or milliseconds are precious. It teaches you the importance of time within time. This is why I say and propagate, those who are interested in photography, normally succeed in all other fields of life.

Constant practice make you comfortable and experienced with your equipment. Like the same way you change gears on a fast track, you will be able to switch over to various modes within the applicable precious seconds available at your disposal. This is how you get to see extremely interesting photographic moments captured by photo journalists. Regular members of photography related groups can visualize the amount of devoted effort by professional photographers to give us a golden moment. Examples like a boy jumping into a running bus, an mad elephant attacking a man, a sprinter finishing the race etc are some of them.

Lighting is another important factor that aides to a perfect picture. What do we do, if we are not equipped with specialized lighting equipments. What more you need than the natural and greatest light providers – i.e the Sun and the moon. Through constant observation, a photography enthusiast will be able to learn about different light options available during different times of the day and night. Your photography life becomes easy once you start understanding these natural settings better. Positioning yourself in the right spot to gain the advantage of these lights will then do wonderful effect your otherwise normal equipment and settings. By constant practice and observations you will learn the best settings for any particular scene to look priceless.

Observe closely each and every photo you get to see, especially of experts and professionals. Play the settings in your mind like a bowler and you will never know when that priceless moments comes clicking in front of you. Try it and your Photo will definitely speak the next time.

Our growth has been slow, but steady. A look at the photo section of the Passionate Photographers prove how we all grow each day. We can see several examples from passionate photographers.

I sincerely look forward to your comments and guidance notes from experts who are members here. Mere onlookers will never do good for the growth and knowledge share of this community. I repeat what I wrote in my previous communication about the accidental death of my brother in law holds good here also. Timely interactions and active involvement is extremely important for keeping the pulse of a community clicking along. If you are a professional with experience, please do not remain an unworthy onlooker. This is my sincere request.

God bless and have Passionate Photographic days ahead.

Ramesh Menon
10092009

Ramadan lightings – Abu Dhabi Corniche Street

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Ramadan Lightings at Abu Dhabi Corniche Street. In order to welcome the holy month of Ramadan, Corniche Street, one of Abu Dhabi’s major drive way, is decorated with beautiful lightings. Traffic is light during the post Iftar time and here is a video taken by my wife Rajashree during a pleasant evening drive, with our favorite music on.
http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Kadugodi Kobra Cup – A Cricket tournament to nurture unity and friendship

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Kadugodi Kobra Cup – A Cricket tournament to nurture unity and friendship
http://www.youtube.com/get_player

During my recent visit to Bangalore, I was lucky enough to see the finals of a club Cricket tournament. Kadugodi Kobra Cup – named after the small village which occupies Whitefield and surrounding areas of Bangalore. The initial stages of the tournament had matches played between various local teams and on the day I was there, it was the Finals. The composition of the two teams attracted me very much. One team was filled with members of the building community of Golden Blossom who owned properties there and the opposition team formed workers and management staff of Golden Gate Properties. A thrilling final, typical with moments of heated arguments, run chases, run outs and of course the winning moments. To relive the Lagaan experience, the Workers/Management team won the cup. It gave me another opportunity to share the harmony and joy of winning and losing.

Good wishes to all the participants and team members. For individual photos, please email me at team1dubai@gmail.com

Ramesh Menon