View allAll Photos Tagged devotion
The #MacroMondays #Wabi-sabi theme
If anybody were to graffiti an ancient church today, I'd be leading the calls for their exemplary punishment but 'twas not always the case. In days of yore it was perfectly acceptable to signal one's devotion by carving a design into the church fabric or to do a bit of personal art upon it.
That's what we have here. This graffiti of a cross on the entrance to my local church may be 1000 years old. Supporting that, there are other Christian graffiti on this (the left) side of the entrance while on the other there are quite different graffiti which appear very similar to pagan symbols. The distinct types are not mixed. It is as if early Christians had adopted the left side while Pagans (at least some of whom may have provided the muscle to build the church) had adopted the right. Paganism existed peacefully alongside Christianity for many years. I love the idea that both communities may have peacefully loved this one church alongside each other. Whatever, this mark is certainly very old and apart from a bit of algae evident on the left and some tiny spots under the 'A', it has lasted well. AL may be the devotee or perhaps another wishing to associate himself with the mark. If so AL was obviously literate, making himself one of the educationally most able and probably among the wealthiest of the community.
This is a multi shot focus stacked photo taken as shown using a 12mm extension tube with some processing to tease out the texture of the masonry.
HMM all.
Semana Santa festivities were imported into Guatemala in 1524 from Spain. The Spanish traditions have evolved to incorporate local mayan beliefs. During Easter Week there a multiple processions per day to carry the floats, or Andas, depicting the events of the last week of Jesus Christ's life. Massive andas, up to 18m long, require 50-100 bearers, or Cucuruchos. The processions last for 12-18 hours each, weaving all across the small city center, often finishing near midnight. The smell and smoke of incense, the somber sounds of the marching bands, and the prayer and penance of the cucuruchos make it a moving and unforgettable experience.
Charlie gives me this look......and I'll give him whatever he wants.
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You've heard about the power of prayer. But I'll venture that if we measure the power of prayer by the number of people praying all at once, in one place, and for the same cause, then the Muslims win hands down. It's estimated that over 100K people are gathered here for the annual Eid prayer in central Bangladesh to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan. On top of the density of people from the air, the tapestry of colorful outfits and prayer mats adds another dimension to the surreal scene.
This young man was praying with devotion facing the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest city in Sikhism which is located in the state of Punjab in India.
The reflection of the sun in the holy tank was providing an amazing contrast with vivid colours between the background and the turban.
Turbans come in every color and pattern but there are three colors most commonly worn: white, deep blue, and saffron orange.
White turbans are worn to extend the aura and the person’s projection.
Royal blue or navy blue turbans are common among Sikh ministers and gyanis, especially in India.
The blue is the color of the warrior and of protection.
Saffron orange is the third Sikh color and is commonly worn by Sikhs worldwide.
Orange represents wisdom.
Black turbans can represent surrender of the ego.
Other colors of turbans don’t have a significance associated with them.
Sometimes it’s just a case of fashion, of matching a turban to a business suit, for example.
While a huge crowd assembles for evening Aarti ( prayers for Ganges ) on the famed ghats of Varanasi, which are run by organizations who compete to out do each others crowd pulling capability, I came across this little guy who performed Aarti of his own - his audience was just one - ME. Little did he care if anyone watched him perform, he just did his duty all by himself, with absolute sincerity. And the best part was, he wasn't distracted by my presence for a second, now that's called devotion.
I could connect the dots between his sincerity to his prayers and mine towards photography. We don't really need a big audience or fame or a standing ovation to keep the flame burning within ourself, all we need is to love what we do and do it with absolute dedication, regardless of any other benefits, that's what is truly satisfying and that's what my journey in photography so far has been about.
Varanasi | India | 2016
Fujifilm X-Pro2 | 23mm
#IncredibleIndia #Travel #Varanasi
Down in Cambridge at the weekend and couldn't resist giving this tree a go. Whilst Cambridge is a great place to visit, it's not the easiest place to photograph. A combination of restricted access and tourists meant an early morning wander and hoping the light would get high enough to give me something to go at.
In Bhutan, young boys from impoverished families willingly enter monastic life to alleviate their families' burdens. By joining a monastery, they gain access to essential provisions such as food, education, and healthcare, which not only secure their future but also facilitate their spiritual growth. Nevertheless, this decision comes at the cost of a conventional childhood filled with play and enjoyment. Despite the sacrifices, their unwavering devotion and hope for a better future keep them steadfast in their commitment to the monastic path. I was fortunate to be granted permission to capture poignant images of these young monks at Paro Dzong, the administrative seat of Paro district in Bhutan. During my time there, I immersed myself in documenting their daily routines, hoping to portray their lives with authenticity and sensitivity. Towards the end of our session, I gathered the young monks in the income hall of the main prayer hall, where I invited them to join me for a group portrait - Paro Dzong, Paro, Bhutan.
Friday congregational prayers (Jumu'ah) at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. This is the largest mosque in Bangladesh. It has 8 levels and can accomodate more than 40,000 worshippers. The mosque's design is inspired by the Kaaba in Mecca, featuring a large cube-shaped structure that distinguishes it from other mosques in the region. Friday is to Muslims as Sunday is to Christians. In Bangladesh as in many Muslim countries, the weekend days are Friday-Saturday, and Sunday marks the first day of the workweek.
Portrait of a Buddhist faithful (Nepal).
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One year ago, in the early hours of the morning, Ukraine saw the end of a peaceful existence, and threat to end their existence as a sovereign nation entirely. Lone border guards were among the first casualties, as the tanks rolled in and the missiles were launched in what Putin had wagered to be a three-day conquest. I am so glad that Russia had quietly become a kleptocracy, and their delusions of success could not be realized against the impassioned and skilled Ukrainian people.
As I sit here contemplating the past year, I am reminded of the kindness of friends, family, and strangers alike who helped our early efforts to support the influx if refugees here in Bulgaria. And I thank those who continue to support our efforts in sending aid to Ukraine. My thankfulness extended to many of the world’s governments, who are stepping up send tanks and long-range weapons to Ukraine. Without this help, Russia would have quickly expanded it’s borders and would not have stopped.
With the bravery of the Ukrainian people, and also the International Legion of foreign soldiers, and all the humanitarian aid workers within the country, Ukraine is on a path to recovery everything. The vast majority of the population say that there should be no territory lost, and I agree. The world is at war with Russia via Ukraine, and Russia will lose.
A few days ago, Putin made a long-winded speech. A few days before that, Russia failed in test-launching a RS-28 Sarmat ICBM. I believe Putin had intended to highlight a successful launch in his speech. Instead, his words echoed the frustration of failures in the military in Ukraine. Those failures continue, with the most modest territorial gains costing many thousands of lives and countless military assets.
As Russia runs short of military resources, Iran and now China are allegedly providing aid. I wouldn’t be surprised if North Korea is doing the same. Allegiances are being made across the world, and Russian natural resources are no longer required by Europe. Just today, the US, Australia and New Zealand announced new sanctions against Russia. The world continues to isolate the once-powerful tyrant who now must rely on the few strong allies it has – all of them non-democratic despotic nations.
I am confident that Ukraine will never give up this fight, and it will end with the destabilization of the Russian Federation. Poland is willing to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, and the first Leopard 2 tanks have arrived on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine will win, that much is a certainty. There’s still a lot of unknowns, however. How long and how many lives will it take? What happens when Russia loses? Remember that China and Russia share a very large border… in a destabilized Russia, would a country like China simply respect all previous international borders? The world is at the largest potential turning point in my generation.
And maybe the world needs a turning point for the better - with the climate crisis and geopolitics, a whole and sovereign Ukraine is the keystone of the next phase of international cooperation. It’s proof that much of the world can come together for a common goal. Beyond borders, continents, language and religion, the world can become aligned with democracy. That’s a scary thought for the despots of the world, and as it should be.
This image is taken with a snowdrop flower, turned upside down (as the flower usually droops downward – in this image it’s facing up). This isn’t a water droplet, but rather a gel-based “water pearl” that absorbs water and maintains a spherical shape. Like a mini crystal ball, it refracts what is behind it – and also stays spherical at much larger sizes than a water droplet. I made a print of the Ukrainian Coat of Arms to place in behind. I dedicate this image to the Public Domain – use it for any purpose you wish, no constraints or obligations.
Слава україні. The only way to peace is through victory. Victory will only be possible because of the heroes fighting for it. Героям слава! May this year of fighting and sacrifice be seen by the world as a beacon of hope.
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