The Himalayas of India: Ladakh and Srinagar,
Summer 2013
Page 3 of 13
Leh Palace has a chorten by the corner, and although this was physically awkward to try and photograph, I wanted to convey the cosmic quality of the chorten reaching up to the stars with Leh Palace in the background. This is a bit more cluttered than I often have my night sky photographs, but it seemed right to do at least one this way. Title: Cosmic Chorten |
~~~~ Title: Mystic Doorway of Leh Palace
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Light painting is a photographic technique in which one moves a light source while keeping the shutter open for longer periods of time, and is really a performance of sorts. The light can be used to selectively illuminate parts of the subject, or to "paint" a picture by shining it into the camera lens. I've usually light painted subjects, as this is more of my interest. ~~~~~~ Title: Cosmic Prayer Wheel |
Tuesday 18 June - Leh: I called Fayaz, my Kashmiri brother. I hadn't told him I was in India, and I tried to play a joke on him, saying "I am crazy tourist. I vant to be on your houseboat." but his connection was very poor and said I kept cutting in and out, so the joke didn't work, and he ended up having to call back. Anyway, I told him I was going to try and go there in a week. I had actually debated simply showing up unannounced, but I thought I should make absolutely sure he was there.
NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY - 2ND NIGHT: ~~~~ Title: Two Stupas |
Tibetan prayer flags whipping in the wind, sending prayers to the heavens on the way up to Shanti Stupa in Leh, Ladakh. Leh is about 3524 meters (11,562 ft.) in elevation. Shanti Stupa is a steep 500 steps above that, and was built by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura in 1991. The stupa holds relics of the Buddha at its base, and was enshrined by the Dalai Lama. ~~~~~ Title: Shanti Prayer Flags |
~~~~ Title: Shanti Mountain Buddha |
The luminescent Shanti Stupa is a steep 555 steps above Leh at over 3657m/12,000 ft. in elevation, and was built by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura in 1991 when there were no roads or lights, using six donkeys for help. The stupa holds relics of the Buddha at its base, and was enshrined by the Dalai Lama. I've gone here on each of my three visits to Ladakh, the first time in 1997, six years after it was completed. As a bonus, I have been in contact with Mr. Nakamura, thanks to Joan L., and I am honored and super excited to say that he's been describing how he built this and was complimentary toward my photos of the Shanti Stupa area!!!! ~~~~~ Title: Shanti Stupa Dream |
Title: Shanti Stupa Trance |
Locked out of the hotel! ~~~~
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And I'd be going for my second time! However, I got a late start due to being out late doing night photos, and there weren't too many buses running by the time I got to the old bus stand, but I still managed to grab one. There at Hemis, I kept remembering the adventure of walking back down to Karu in the rain. Gave a donation of 100r for the festival, ate 10 veg momos for 50r from the nuns, and enjoyed myself. This was the second day of the festival, and there were a lot less people there than the first day, which I knew since I attended the first day in 2008. This time, it was quite sunny most of the time, and didn't rain. On this trip, it seemed rare to do anything not involving rain. |
 A giant thangka painting of Guru Padmsambhava adorns Hemis Monastery during the Hemis Festival. |
 At one point during the festival, I put my camera low to the ground to get an "ant's eye view" of some of the performers, a common technique photographers use to offer different perspectives. This boy walked right up and peered down into the camera while his parents laughed and looked on, amused. |
The Hemis Festival. |
The prayer wheels of Hemis Monastery during the festival honoring Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to the Himalayas. |
Remember, follow the little forward and backward autorickshaws to navigate. |
|
Ken's photos of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung
San Suu Kyi, as well as photos of Peru, Burma, India, Morocco, China, Thailand,
Ghana, Ecuador, and elsewhere, have appeared in many books, magazines,
websites, and galleries. Visit the
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The Himalayas of India: Summer 2013
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Bonus Page - Manali-Leh Road
Bonus Page - My Kashmiri Family Eleven Shadows Travel Page
Page 3 of 13
Eleven Shadows Travel Page
Contact photographer/musician Ken Lee
Monday 17 June - Leh Palace, continued:
Tuesday 18 June - continuing to photograph Leh Palace at night:
It was past midnight on Tuesday, and I had photographed Leh Palace during this cloudy night. But I wasn't through yet. During yesterday's walk, I had seen an old prayer wheel at the end of the road that leads up to Leh Palace, so I walked down there, deciding to "light paint" this while photographing it.
Still climbing up the long steps to Shanti Stupa.
The clouds came in, but I was still enjoying my second night of light painting up at Shanti Stupa, overlooking the city of Leh.
Wednesday 19 June 2013 - Hemis Festival, 3rd night of night photos - Milky Way!!!!!!!!: 
A Ladakhi pilgrim attending the festival at Hemis Monastery.
