Vivek R. Singh
Rise
A trip to Jodhpur had to include a visit to the spot where Batman was shot...however, with the workload I had I left it to chance whether I would have the opportunity to actually go there; even though I was shooting at the fort itself. It was very fortunate that I had some time off on the last day.
Long story about a short experience:
1. I got there in a tuk-tuk in the middle of the day, blistering desert heat and all. Having looked up the shot from the film and with a pretty good idea of the fort's layout by then, I was quickly able to surmise the exact location. It took a short trek off the beaten tourist path to get there.
2. For those of you that don't know, the deep hole that Wayne climbs himself out of doesn't actually exist. The prison however does - it is a step-well not far from Jodhpur. As do exist the walls of what must have been a well many years ago. As I approached said walls, I realized I was entering gang-turf, turf belonging to a gang of dogs. They didn't take kindly to my intrusion, no sir, not kindly at all. A chain of threatening barks soon set off and alerted some 20 strays around the area. I was surrounded and feeling rather sweaty by then. But I didn't want to leave without a shot. So I just set to work, ignoring them curs. Framing and matching the composition against the film's shot, I managed the closest duplicate I could and fired several shots on the old self timer. It was a fatiguing exercise, the temperature did not help. After the 14th shot in 20 minutes, I decided to call it. By then those very menacing dogs had all lost steam and settled back into their positions in the scant shade to groggily watch me at work, not 3 meters away from me. It was pretty hilarious. I guess they sensed that I was merely borrowing their real estate, and were probably more afraid of me than I was of them! Dogs are lovable simpletons. Unless when they maul you, and you get rabies, and die.
3. At one point I nearly destroyed 3.5 Lakhs' worth of gear when the tripod tumbled and the camera hit hard rock. Thankfully no harm done. The fall and loud thud gave the nearby dogs a start. Again, pretty funny. They soon calmed down and took their seats again.
4. I was totally drained at the end of that half-hour and spent the rest of the day in a disoriented daze. But I was so thrilled about having been able to do this that the fanboy glee just washed everything else away.
Below is the shot I referenced to make this image!
Rise
A trip to Jodhpur had to include a visit to the spot where Batman was shot...however, with the workload I had I left it to chance whether I would have the opportunity to actually go there; even though I was shooting at the fort itself. It was very fortunate that I had some time off on the last day.
Long story about a short experience:
1. I got there in a tuk-tuk in the middle of the day, blistering desert heat and all. Having looked up the shot from the film and with a pretty good idea of the fort's layout by then, I was quickly able to surmise the exact location. It took a short trek off the beaten tourist path to get there.
2. For those of you that don't know, the deep hole that Wayne climbs himself out of doesn't actually exist. The prison however does - it is a step-well not far from Jodhpur. As do exist the walls of what must have been a well many years ago. As I approached said walls, I realized I was entering gang-turf, turf belonging to a gang of dogs. They didn't take kindly to my intrusion, no sir, not kindly at all. A chain of threatening barks soon set off and alerted some 20 strays around the area. I was surrounded and feeling rather sweaty by then. But I didn't want to leave without a shot. So I just set to work, ignoring them curs. Framing and matching the composition against the film's shot, I managed the closest duplicate I could and fired several shots on the old self timer. It was a fatiguing exercise, the temperature did not help. After the 14th shot in 20 minutes, I decided to call it. By then those very menacing dogs had all lost steam and settled back into their positions in the scant shade to groggily watch me at work, not 3 meters away from me. It was pretty hilarious. I guess they sensed that I was merely borrowing their real estate, and were probably more afraid of me than I was of them! Dogs are lovable simpletons. Unless when they maul you, and you get rabies, and die.
3. At one point I nearly destroyed 3.5 Lakhs' worth of gear when the tripod tumbled and the camera hit hard rock. Thankfully no harm done. The fall and loud thud gave the nearby dogs a start. Again, pretty funny. They soon calmed down and took their seats again.
4. I was totally drained at the end of that half-hour and spent the rest of the day in a disoriented daze. But I was so thrilled about having been able to do this that the fanboy glee just washed everything else away.
Below is the shot I referenced to make this image!