India

From the dozens of overwhelming impressions in New Delhi, the Qutb Minar was one of my favorites. Building started in 1192, it is made of sand stone and marble and has many gravures and ornaments. Qutb Minar is a highly frequented area where many Indians as well as tourists from the whole world visit. It was very a hot that day, outside at the parking place, there were some puddles of dirty water, where some of the wild dogs of New Delhi took a bath for cooling down. 🙂 For getting a different look at that photo, I did post processing with Nik Analog Efex Pro 2.

Post processed with: Luminar, Nik Analog Efex Pro2, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/9
• Shutter speed: 1/250s
• Focal length: 18mm
• ISO: 100

The Le Meridien was an impressive hotel, built like a four-sided farmyard in bigger style. It was about 3 am as we arrived in New Delhi.  Even during that time, middle of the night, there were about 20 people of hotel staff around, helping with entry control, the luggage, the check-in, the elevators and showing the room. I was lucky that I had already changed some money at the airport, for the tips. 🙂

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/8s
• Focal length: 10mm
• ISO: 1000

I think it was near the Red Fort where I explored that building with those artfully built arches. Many Indians used it as a relaxing area, and so did I.  🙂 Since the temperature was sweltering with high humidity it was a need to sit down from time to time, watching people, gardens, and architecture. Especially when I had to carry two cameras, batteries, and four lenses. I was lucky that I only had the Sonys of the A7-series with me, which are lighter in weight. 🙂

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/5.6
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 15mm
• ISO: 100

After visiting the Taj Mahal, I went sightseeing in Agra. Near the Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah flows the river Yamuna. There I discovered that some men went swimming, since it was very hot I envied them for the cooling. Since it was near the sight, I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to jump in this river as a tourist  🙂

Post processed with: Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Shutter speed: 1/125s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 100

Near the Lakshmi Narayan temple, I discovered this elephant statue. It is wonderfully crafted, made of stone and concrete, is rock solid and will last for centuries. Besides the “big, famous” sights you can find so many different, exciting attractions in many places. 🙂

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/9
• Shutter speed: 1/250s
• Focal length: 29mm
• ISO: 100

Our friendly taxi driver/tour guide brought us to the parking lot reserved for the memorial visitors. He always took a nap in the car, while we visited the sights 🙂 . Raj Ghat is located in a beautiful park landscape, after a short walk, you see the buildings of the monument. You have to put off your shoes and then walk on green mats to the memorial. It’s a silent and prayerful place, and you should take some time to remember Mr. Gandhi.

Post processed with: Lightroom, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/60s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 100

In New Delhi our taxi driver was a Sikh and one of the nicest guys I ever met. He invited us to join him visiting the Sikh temple “Gurudwara Bangla Sahib”. I loved the atmosphere in the temple and the surrounding area which was very quiet and relaxing. We even got a Sikh meal, which tasted a bit like a honey-Müsli, named Karah Parshad.  🙂

• Camera: ILCE-6000
• Aperture: ƒ/9
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 39mm
• ISO: 100

At my day at Taj Mahal the vast majority of visitors were Indians. It’s pretty well organized that the crowds walk in lanes, put off their shoes and the access to the Taj Mahal-building is step by step. This is one of the really great sights in the world, you can see photographing activity with nearly every visitor. 🙂

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/13
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 15mm
• ISO: 100

I have seen two Red Forts in India, one in Agra and that one on the photo in New Delhi. It’s an impressive complex, I think you walk about 20 minutes beside those big walls. Inside you have a wide area of gardens and dozens of buildings, partially built with the red stones. I have seen thousands of visitors, mostly from India.

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/8
• Shutter speed: 1/60s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 100

In New Delhi I was visiting temples for 2-3 days, I think I have seen a dozen of them. I had a very pleasant taxi driver from Ashok’s Taxi Tours, which I can fully recommend, who had driven me from temple to temple and had big patience when I was away taking photos 🙂  and exploring the sights, as here the Laxminarayan Temple.

• Camera: ILCE-7R
• Aperture: ƒ/8
• Shutter speed: 1/125s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 50