6.05.2008

The Most Amazing Thing(s)

One of the most thought provoking questions I've gotten about my trip was "what was the most amazing thing you saw in India?"
Well, that's a toughie, because I saw many amazing things.
But on the other hand, as soon as I realized what my answer would be, there was no other choice:

The Himalayas



They are truly stunning and overwhelming in a way that is unforgettable.



Photographs tend to flatten things, so they are not very good at showing the depth of these colossal bones of the earth, but they're what I have. So here are a bunch:




And, my favorite:

9 comments:

Nathan said...

I can't tell you how many times I've told the folks I'm working for, "It's hard to tell from the photos, but...".

I really wish I could shoot better.

Unknown said...

Perhaps it is not only the visual effect, but the unacknowledged other sensory effects, which a camera, of course, doesn't pick up. Brilliant photographers seem to be able to suggest these other (non-visual) aspects, maybe through emotional response. Bet it is often unintentional until they develop the "eye" after taking thousands and thousands of photos.
Your mountain pictures are lovely, Anne.

Random Michelle K said...

Those are some big mountains.

It's funny, I've grown up in the mountains, but there are distinct difference between new and old mountains, and these pictures clearly show that.

New mountain ranges are stark. Not necessarily in a bad way, but they have very little plant growth, and are full of sharp edges where time has not yet eroded them down.

Your pictures do an amazing job of showing that.

Beautiful.

belsum said...

Lovely. I'd like to see that with my own eyes someday.

Excellent choice for your new header, too.

MWT said...

Nice photos. I do like looking at sharp-edged new mountains - it makes the geologist in me all intrigued.

I always figured the flattening effect was because we have two eyes while the camera only has one. So depth perception doesn't get recorded on film.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the awesome postcard! I'll blog it later in the week - I'm backed up - but I really appreciate the thoughtfulness.

I've always wanted to visit the Taj Mahal. :)

I'm with you, too, the Himalayas are magnificent. Desolate, imposing, overwhelming. Thanks for sharing them.

Anne C. said...

Thanks all around, guys.

You are correct, MWT, that is precisely why cameras flatten things. (I've also experienced this issue while trying to photograph buildings.)

Michelle, I grew up in the same mountains you did and when I moved out to CO, I got a lot of guff about them. I retorted (and I may have stolen this, I don't remember) "I'll make you a deal. We can continue calling the Appalachians mountains and you can continue calling these streams "rivers"." Also, it seems to me only fair that the Appalachians be called mountains, since they were mountains long before those whippersnappers the Rockies were around.

Anonymous said...

Most photographs seem only capable of giving the viewers a tiny hint of what the photographer was experiencing. Yours, Anne, go much farther. They make me yearn to experience India for myself. Thanks for sharing them....

Anne C. said...

My pleasure, Anonymous. :)