According to Wikipedia:
Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the banks of river Yamuna, 363 kilometres (226 mi) west of state capital, Lucknow and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi.
With a population of 1,686,976 (2010 est.), it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most populous in India.
Because 80 percent of the city's sewage flows into Yamuna River, it is 20th most polluted city in India.
Yet, it is a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
We woke up at 5 am and head for Taj Mahal to catch the rising sun.
This is what we came for! The stunning Taj Mahal, 6.30 am. One of the New Seven Wonder Of The World!
Taj Mahal bathed in the golden early morning sun.
Taj Mahal transformed to a brilliant white marble masterpiece at 8 am.
Fashion Shoot NOT Allowed!
When we try to enter the Taj compound the guards told us we are not allow to shoot fashion at their sacred monument! Our guide who was with the India Tourist Board argued with them till the cow came home, to no avail!
Time to execute "Plan B" :)
We walked all the way back to the car park and spent an hour in our bus dressing and making up our model, she then put a blanket over her shoulder and went back to the Taj with one of our team member. The rest of us reentry one at a time, 20 minutes apart. We made it!
Just to proof to you our "model smuggling" worked ;) Because of the long way to our parked bus, we only have time for two dress change!
How "Blue On Blue" was shot :)
One for the album...
Brother and sister at the Taj Mahal watching our Plan B in action ;)
Our next stop was the Agra Fort which is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city.
Soon after the completion of the Taj Mahal India in 1648, Shah Jahan became seriously ill. As he lay dying he witnessed the fierce hostility among his four sons in their struggle to succeed him. His four children had grown up in an atmosphere of bitter rivalry even though they were all the sons his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The expectation of their father’s death provoked them into a savage contest for power Aurangzeb had an acute sense of political realism and a fierce appetite for power. He was the superior in both military talent and administrative skills and easily outclassed his brothers in the bid for power. After a bitter struggle he was crowned emperor in 1659. His father had not died as everyone had expected but sick and ailing, Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, the new emperor in the Agra fort.
There he remained, confined for eight years, under house arrest, until his death.
From the balcony of Muasamman Burj tower Shah Jahan could look down on the beautiful monument he had created for his beloved wife, the Taj Mahal.
This shot was made possible with a Canon 200mm f1.8 telephoto lens which compressed the distant heritage monument. Love that lens! But at s$13,000 a pop, only Singapore Press Holdings can afford it ;)
The Ah Beng pose :)
On our way to our hotel we passed a town square of pigeons, I decided we will do a last shot...
Our team members moving the live "props" for my shoot!
The Birds, The Birds!
On lookers of our birds shoot thought our model was some celebrity and asked for her autograph!
Famous Last Words:
It had been a great journey! Even though it was a mad rush from here to there, we all had fun! Thanks for the memories guys!
The best fashion shoot team in the world, bar none ;)
My India Fashion gear:
2 units Canon EOS1 camera bodies, only one with drive to save weight.
1 unit Leica M6 camera body with winder.
1 unit Canon 580 Speedlight.
Canon 14/2.8 L
Canon 17-35 2.8L
Canon 28-80 2.8L
Canon 85/1.2 L
Canon 200/1.8L
Canon 1.4 extender
Canon 2x extender
Leica Elmarit-M 21/2.8
Leica Summicron-M 50/2
Leica Summicron-M 90/2
Leica Summilux-M 35/1.4
Leica Elmarit-M 28/2.8
Chargers, batteries
60 rolls of Kodak Ektapress colour negative film.
Monopod
Tenba Pro Pak camera bag.
1 comment:
Lovely photos!Early morning is surely the best time to take photos at this amazing place. A couple of years back I went to the Hamilton gardens early morning when it was misty and the sun was rising, I went to the Mughal era compound.It was amazing to me.. I can only imagine what the Taj Mahal is like!
The very act of doing a photo shoot at the Taj Mahal must have been very"cloak and daggerish". It would have been quite exciting. I guess one would have to be quite young and fit to take photos like that. It`s hard enough for over fifties to get up off the ground!
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