My Glass Eye

The Rainforest of Agumbe

2011-08-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Agumbe is a small village town situated on the top of Someshwara Ghat, in the shimoga district of Karnataka. It is surrounded by lush green forest and is among the few places in India that receive very heavy rainfall. Not many are aware of this place and probably why the place still retains its beauty.

During the monsoons, this mesmerizing rainforest becomes a home to a lot of reptiles, insects and amphibians which are endemic to this region.

Visiting this little town and visually capturing the colourful species was always on my wish list and thanks to Amoghavarsha I had this opportunity to join him on a photography expedition to the rainforest of Agumbe.

Here are a few pics captured during this wonderful weekend getaway.

The Frogs

Blue Eyed Frog (Philautus Neelanethrus)

Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus Malabaricus)

Cricket Frog

Bronze Frog

Kudremukh Cricket Frog (Fejervarya Kudremukhensis)

The Reptiles

Malabar Pit Viper

Vine Snake

It is also the abode of the world famous longest venomous snake – TheKing Cobra.

Accompanied by the famous Herpetologist Gowrishankar, known for his path-breaking efforts in conserving therainforests and most importantly, the deadly King Cobras…we had a splendid handson experience on one such rescue.

Chetteli Nature Walk

2011-03-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Chettelli is a small beautiful village in the Coorg district of Karnataka. It is located on the Madikeri-Siddapur road with plenty of breathtaking waterfalls all along the way. The land is blessed with misty hills, and lush green forests.

Not many know of this place and hence still remains as one of the 'road less traveled'. As we walked along the winding roads of chettelli, my camera captures a few interesting species of flora and fauna.

Butterfly

Red Whiskered Bulbul

Scralet Minivet (Male) also called as Orange Minivet

Funnel Web Spider

The Wedding Diary

2011-02-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

Weddings are more than a ceremony, more than rings, more than a reception, more than the dresses and flowers, decorations and catering....

They are an expression of joy and hope, a symbol of love and an everlasting bond.

Wedding is a beginning to a new chapter ‘happily ever after’.

Weddings are more than the photos that are taken to remember the most elegant and joyous day of ones life.

King Cobra

2010-12-27T03:22:00.000-08:00

King Cobras rarely attack Humans, but one bite contains enough venom to bring down an Elephant. Now isn't that a fact?

They are the only snakes in the world that build nests for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until they hatch.

Horny Fellow

2010-12-27T03:02:00.000-08:00

One foggy morning, watched this one-horned rhinoceros chew on the greens of Kaziranga. They are the second largest of the rhino species, standing five and a half to six feet tall. Two thirds of the world's One Horned Rhinos live in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam.

Emotions

2010-02-28T23:46:00.000-08:00

Its great when you attend workshops and try to learn something more that just what you know. It was one such occassion over the last two weekends when I spent much of my exciting hours with like minded people...similar interests.....and quest for new skills.

The well known photographer, Arjun Swaminathan dedicated some of his precious time in teaching us the right ways of photographing. It was during this workshop where I took up this topic of emotions and captured some candid shots to depict the same.

Behind Bars

2010-02-18T06:10:00.001-08:00

This was shot at the 'Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens' at Mysore.

I usually don't like shooting captive animals. But there was something different about her which made me take this picture.

I felt she was looking into her future with a ray of hope in her eyes that one day she would want to be on the other side of the fence... and I hope she does.

When the Sun Goes Down

2010-02-15T02:37:00.001-08:00

The Sun cast an orange haze above the horizon, lighting up the sky as if lit by fire. The colours and intensity of the light is just enough to calm you.

The sun is like a great big romantic, inspirational fire in the sky. It would be as if a powerful symphony was quieting down, becoming more emotional and beautiful as it dies down.

"There I would often lie, as the sun went down, and watch the silent growth of another sea, which the stormy ocean of the wind could not disturb - the sea of the darkness. First it would begin to gather in the bottom of hollow places. Deep valleys, and all little pits on the hillsides, were wellsprings where it gathered, and whence it seemed to overflow, till it had buried the earth beneath its mass, and, rising high into the heavens, swept over the faces of the stars, washed the blinding day from them, and let them shine, down through the waters of the dark, to the eyes of men below."

- George MacDonald, The Portent

Into the Wild

2010-02-15T00:50:00.001-08:00

There is something inexplicably wonderful about going into the wild. Even though the sightings of birds and animals are not as frequent and varied, it soothes the mind and heart immensely when the unexpected is sighted & captured. This is what makes the trip all the more special.

Motherhood

2010-02-15T00:17:00.001-08:00

Be it Humans or Monkeys, the care given to the young ones is the same.

I was on my way to the Bheemeshwari fishing camp. It was the dry season filling up with heat. Food was scarce for these young arrivals. Mother as always was the one begging to save her assets.

There she was hoping she would get something for those little ones from strangers like us. The same mother who avoided us to save her kids has now no choice but to trust on thee.

Drinking Goose

2010-02-15T00:12:00.000-08:00

Praying Mantis

2010-02-08T02:15:00.001-08:00

This little green insect was shot in my Garden.

The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer.
They have triangular heads poised on a long neck, and can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them.

This pic was taken by my sis.

2010-02-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Toy Story

2010-02-08T01:51:00.001-08:00

Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna loacted on the Bangalore - Mysore road. This traditional craft involves lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, colloquially called as the Aale mara (ivory-wood).

The Living Store, an eco lifestyle store in Chamrajpet, arranged for an exclusive workshop where we learnt this captivating craft form from the skilled artisans of Katerpillar (Channapatna).

Fire Eater

2009-10-21T01:21:00.000-07:00

Old Woman

2009-10-09T05:17:00.001-07:00

Budding Beauty

2009-10-08T07:32:00.001-07:00

Anthorium Bud

Wild Close Up

2009-10-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

The Himalayan Marmot, found on the way to Pangong Tso (Lake), Ladakh.

The Himalayan Marmots come across as just the right species you may want to cuddle up in bed to stay warm in the cold climates of Ladakh. But these mammals belonging to the rodent family are quick in retreating into their burrows at the slightest hint of human approach.

However, one set of five decided some publicity may be good for them and put on a show for us. All we needed was a packet of dryfruits to keep them busy while I captured some of the rare Ladakhi Wildlife.

Tear Drops from Heaven

2009-10-07T04:51:00.000-07:00