Thomas Mathew - photoblog

Pray for us

Thomas Mathew — 2008-07-31T00:00:00Z

]]> I have been away for long and there is a reason behind it. I am getting married on 9th August and have been just a little (i guess more than a little) busy with getting things arranged. U have known me, I wanted to introduce you to my fiance Smita - but since I am yet to click that super cool shot of hers, this is how I can introduce you to her now :) We wanted to get a pic with both of us holding hands with a rosary and bible for the cover page of our Wedding Liturgy. I being "the photographer" among us, I was expected to come out with nothing less than perfection. Well, I started off with taking a few shots of her hands the way we wanted our hands to be. I'll post the final outcome after the wedding, coz its still a secret to many :) From those to whom I showed this, I got varied responses - some found it spooky, some found it symbolised true bonding, some praised it and some hated it. But if u ask me - I liked it - wudnt have posted it here for all of you if I hadn't :) All of you here on SC have been as close as family over the last two years and more. I couldn't go ahead with this important event in my life without having shared it with you. We'll need all your prayers and best wishes before we get into this new phase of life. We would have loved to see you all at the wedding, but I know geographical boundaries keep us apart - but in case anyone plans to be in or around Delhi on the weekend of 9th August, please please please let me know - I'll send you the details of the venue and time etc. I might be gone for a while before I come back. But don't forget - Pray for us! P.S.: hope everyone is in gud health and keeping the shutters clicking :)

Camp by the river!

Thomas Mathew — 2008-06-30T00:00:00Z

]]> A close-up of the tents on the banks of the River Ganga at Rishikesh where we stayed after a tiring day of White Water Rafting. While you are on the banks of the river, you wish if time could just freeze, but the flowing river tends to remind you that nothing in this world is stagnant, everything has to move on. There is a makeshift fence made of some wooden poles and plastic ropes at the edge of the bank. standing between the river and the tents. I was wondering the whole day what purpose it would serve, but was too tired by the end of the day to ask the people at the camp. Between 3 and 4 in the morning, I woke up to the sound of the river which was gushing more heavily than what I had heard during the day. Initially it sounded like someone kayaking in the river and the sound seemed to be from the oars. But I decided to check it out anyways and stepped out of the tent to find the water which was earlier around 10 feet away from the fence, had crossed the fence and was flowing much faster than during the day. I stood there for a while before going back to sleep. The guards at the camp told me in the morning that the Tehri Dam which is around 80 - 100 kms up the river, opens its flood gates during the night which increases the water level and the fences where just to warn people of the expected level to which the river rises in the night. Time might not freeze, but atleast a few of my questions were answered :)

Fire Power

Thomas Mathew — 2008-06-18T00:00:00Z

]]> The embers of the bonfire which kept us warm on the river banks - it rained all day which saw the mercury dip sharply. Even the sound of the river was making me feel cold. The fire was a much needed relief - the Bacardi and the Kebabs didn't hurt either :) Now that the monsoon has arrived a full 2 weeks ahead of schedule in Delhi, I was reminded of the wet weather we had in Rishikesh, but alas, we can't afford the luxury of having a bonfire on the banks of a river here in Delhi. Maybe I'll have to make do with the warmth from the photo!

An evening by the river side

Thomas Mathew — 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z

]]> This was shot at Rishikesh - had gone there with my previous team for White Water Rafting. The rafting camps are located on the banks of the river Ganga. Staying in these tents is the most wonderful experience - all you can hear at night is the river gushing down. Sometimes I wish I could spend my life in these camps! Life is so pleasantly different from the crowded city that I tend to run away from at the slightest opportunity. I would put this shot in my "Confused" category - I was waiting for the sun to set so that the candles are lit in the tents, yet I wanted some amount of light so that the river too is visible rather than just the silhoutte of the hills in the backdrop. Seems I got a bit late in this state of confusion :) Its been a long time since I have posted regularly. Hope people are in good health!

A tiring day indeed

Thomas Mathew — 2008-05-22T00:00:00Z

]]> It really looks like the Sun has had a tiring day - having to bear with the dust storm and the poor visibility :) As I post this one, let me update you on the weather here in Delhi - its been raining non-stop for the last 3 days. All the dust has settled down and it doesn't feel like the mid of May. It has cooled down so much that people have started using their geysers! Though no one is complaining as there is the much needed respite from the heat and the dust, there have been a few trees and poles uprooted and a lot of traffic snarls all across - I guess its just the price we need to pay for the nice weather. But I seriously hope that the price stops just there and that this sudden change and unpredictability in weather patterns are not signs of something more serious!

Dust-storm

Thomas Mathew — 2008-05-07T00:00:00Z

]]> Part of the haze is caused by a dust storm blowing across the field and part of it was casued by the tractor which was maneuvered at quite some speed by the 'F1-inspired' driver. Dust storms are a regular part of the days, during this part of the year, in Delhi - not a very pleasant experience. Though these Squalls bring down the temperature a bit, but they cause a sharp increase in the SPM levels, making life hell, especially for people with breathing troubles. Not the best time to take out the camera either - but since it was a long time, I thought it was worth the trouble :)

Home Delivery

Thomas Mathew — 2008-04-18T00:00:00Z

]]> A villager carrying some mustard home in the evening - mustard is used here in North India to make a mouth watering dish called the "Sarson da saag " which is typically enjoyed with Indian bread made of maze popularly known as "Makke di roti ". There is nothing like Makke di roti and Sarson da saag on a winter night after a hard day's work. I sometimes wonder if people like me who sit in office the whole day with hardly any physical activity actually enjoy the kind of appetite that a farmer or a labourer enjoys! I have this feeling somewhere inside me that tells me that I should switch to way of life that lets me be more active, more closer to nature, something that lets me enjoy whatever is served for dinner :) Well, I hope I haven't made the shot too dark, it looks just fine on my laptop - I wanted to highlight the mustard flowers, which reminds me, blooming mustard crop is something that is a real treat to the eyes - I'll and try and get that shot this winter!

From darkness to light

Thomas Mathew — 2008-04-02T00:00:00Z

]]> Took this at a shutterspeed of 5 seconds to capture the moving seconds hand. I held the watch close to the lens with my hands trying to block out extra light that might over expose the shot because of the high exposure I had set. But what I liked about the shot instead was the way the light filtered through my hands only onto the area where the seconds hand was. It works like a shot of hope for me - a sign that time will indeed take us from darkness to light :) Thanks to Pinto for the inspiration - I wanted to do this shot ever since I saw this post - it is still far better than my attempt.

Multi Utility Vehicle :)

Thomas Mathew — 2008-03-21T00:00:00Z

]]> I parked my car just behind this plough and then took this shot sitting down on my haunches. I was comfortable that the plough wasnt moving - these things attached to tractors on narrow country roads can give you those ugly scratches on the car. I was amazed how in contrast to the amount I care for my car, this plough was just left at the road side without any worries - lesser the sophistication, lesser the worries :) Hope people have a nice long weekend.

Long Time

Thomas Mathew — 2008-03-11T00:00:00Z

]]> To anyone who was wondering if I was alive - I am :) Was very busy with work and health. Now that I have some time on my hands, I'll start by posting some of the last shots that I managed to click. Need to take out my camera and see if it recognizes me :) For those who don't know what the device is - its a simple machine used to cut fodder for the cattle in rural India. I remember trying hard to focus the setting sun in between the blades to get the correct angle. It was a fight against time though. Hope to catch up with you slowly. Hope everyone is doing well. God Bless.

Happy New Year

Thomas Mathew — 2008-01-10T00:00:00Z

]]> Happy New Year to all. Have been away for a while. Had some infection in my cornea and the doctor strictly advised to stay away from the computer. Hope everyone is fine and having a great start to the new year! Clicked this last month at Pushta. This was clicked from a distance, which is why you dont find it very sharp. The tractor parked in front of the thatched roof mud huts appealed to the eyes.

Will you let me eat in peace?

Thomas Mathew — 2007-12-24T00:00:00Z

]]> I'm down with conjuctivitis - haven't stepped out of home except to the hospital. And I'm bored to death doing nothing. Resisted the temptation of staying away from the computer for a few days, but now it is getting into my head. Hope everyone out there is in good health - I know how miserable it feels to be like this, specially with the holiday season around :( Anyways, about the shot, this was taken a on the same day as the last shot. Saw this goat on the edge of a field and wished if life could be as peaceful ;) Merry Christmas to all. Hope you guys have a fabulous Christmas - enjoy the holidays!