The Vulture's Peak Photo

Photographer’s Note

(The same image as the first post but with no cropping and no sharpening)
The Vulture’s Peak at Rajgir is a holy place to Buddhists. Here, in the year 640 B.C, the Buddha came to live, under the protection of his follower, King Bimbisa of Mahagar, and, over a period of twelve years, from this place, he gave many of the great sermons (suttas) that form the heart of his teaching.

The King built a pathway up the mountain so that his followers could reach the Buddha’s cave and it was by that same pathway that I came here, that day.

Other religious sites have had great monuments built over them, but the Vultures Peak remains a bare mountain top, as it was the day the Buddha left.

As you can see, pilgrims, who make it to this mountain top, often like to leave something behind, flowers, Buddhist flags, white scarves, Japanese and Chinese texts and even money.

These Burmese monks were chanting a Pali mantra that we, in the Theravada tradition use every day. It goes “Praise to you, the Buddha, the enlightened one, perfectly awakened by your own powers”. It is quite moving to stand here and hear those words, chanted, in his own language, from this very mountain top; two and a half thousand years after the Buddha left.

snunney, siolaw, adores, ramesh_lalwani, patdeph, riclopes, axiotea has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (35436) 2009-01-05 2:42

Hello Kevin,
I much prefer this version to the previous one. The colours look more natural and the sharpness is just about right in my opinion. A good composition that makes for a fine daily life image sustained by an interesting layering effect.

SteveH (3995) 2009-01-05 2:49

Hi Kevin, much better! cheers, Steve

Morac (20823) 2009-01-05 4:28

Bonjour Kevin,

Effectivement moi aussi je préfère cette version à la première.
Reçois tous mes voeux pour 2009
Amicalement
Marc

siolaw (25830) 2009-01-05 6:20

Hi Kevin,
Welcome back to TE action!
I saw the first one too, and this one looks much more natural in texture and color... you have good light on an interesting scene here!
I wish you a happy 2009 Kevin!
Laurent

adores (15741) 2009-01-05 15:05

Hi Kevin!
You're the first one today:)! Now that I see them both, I also think this one is better, it was a good option to post it this way. Colours and sharpness are perfect and I still think you captured a great moment!

patdeph (18286) 2009-01-07 4:22

hello Kevin
this is a nice and colourful picture showing the devotion atmosphere of the place!I also prefer this softer version thet looks more natural!Very intersting note too!
Best regards
Pascale

riclopes (33131) 2009-01-08 0:18

Olá Kevin, much better than the original version. You found a good POV to catch the prayers from the front. It's nice to see their faces. Good to see the person at left higher than the others, since the strong oranges make the prayers less visible. The BG tells me we are indeed in a very high place but we can't see nothing anyway due to the mist.
rgds,
ric

wolf38 (13069) 2009-01-10 23:10

Hello Kevin. Praying believer, - that is really a large topic for a photographer, who does not want to disturb. Your photo pleases me very well. It shows the fervency of these praying believers. Outstanding. Best regards, Wolfgang.

axiotea (16263) 2009-01-15 21:58

Hello Kevin
Sorry to hear you had a problem with your 18-200mm lens!
Yes, this version is better than the other one which was oversharpened.
I like how the Burmese monks are naturally framed in between the walls. The marigold garlands are really an eye catcher and there are plenty of details to look...
Amitiés
Marilyn
P.S I'll probably go to Thailand with Laurent end of february and I hope we'll see you there ;)

kensimage (8543) 2009-01-18 0:28

I agree it's a big improvement on the oversharpened other version, Kevin. It's an interesting contrast between the richly decorative material goods and the ascetic life of prayer and contemplation practices by the monks. Your POV highlights that contrast well. Regards, Ken.