May_2015
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Endless Shore
On the mudflat shore of Wadden Sea National Park in Duhnen, a couple returning to the shore after a excursion on their horse chariot. Here as the tide pulls the sea back revealing the vast mudflats, standing on the shore it is difficult to evaluate where the shore ends and the sea begins. Every year these mudflats hold a unusual Horse/Harness racing event, attracting vast number of spectators cheering for their favourite jockey against a dramatic backdrop backdrop of the Elbe estuary and shipping containers in a busy international shipping lane.
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Conversation with the Sea.
A man sitting by the the Sea of Marmara, at the Bosporus strait, on the Asian side(üsküdar). In the the background Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia dominating over the cityscape of Istanbul.
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Gemeinsam
The omni present Hagia Sophia has stood the test of time. Today it stands tall as a symbol of secularism and pluralism.
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Bekleyin
Continuing with the story - Life on Galata Bridge, with the rising sun the it is starting to get busy on Galata Bridge. We already saw the fishermen setting up their fishing gear. The ferry from nearby towns are arriving bringing people to downtown Istanbul(Fatih). This elderly lady has arrived early with her cart to sell breakfast and drinks. She is waiting for her first customer...
Fonte di Vita
During my last travel through Italy, I was heading to Siena from Milan. Driving along the Autostrada, shortly after I crossed Parma, I saw the Apennine Mountains rising above the horizon. Spontaneously I decided to leave the Autostrada and take the country road. The following few Fotodune’s will be on this spontaneous journey.
It was end of March and onset of spring had just begun in parts, while the grass bellow the tree was vibrant, the tree was fighting to spring back into life.
Kanca!
Continuing with the story - Life on Galata Bridge, As the sun rises over Üsküdar(District of Istanbul on asian side) the fishermen have had time to settle down after setting up their gear. For some it has been a lucky start to the day as they already have got their first catch. One of the lucky and proud fisherman Ibrahim, showing me his catch.
Eterno la Ruota
Apennine Mountains have a very steep slope on the eastern side and more sloping slope on the western side. Quickly through the twisting roads I was climbing up the mountain. This is a lovely route for motorcyclists and cyclists. While driving through the Passo della Cisa I came across this site of wind turbines turning away on top of the peak's of Apennine while the Autostrada that I left behind snakes its way through the valley below.
Prossimo di Vetta
Continuing my drive through Passo della Cisa, Life in the mountains can get lonely but never uninteresting.
Imbrunire
The Apennie's form the border between Emilia-Romagna on the east and Tuscany on the west. With the sunlight fading and my destination, Siena still a good drive away I decided to get on the autostrada. Then as luck would have it the traffic on the autostrada forced me on to the Tuscan country roads. These roads took me to the ancient Etruscan town of Volterra, perched on top of a hill like many towns in Tuscanny. Volterra has been continuously inhabited since the 8th Century BC. In recent times it has been made popular by featuring in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.
Ponte a Cielo
I arrived late at night to my destination in the heart Tuscann countryside, near Siena. During my travels I prefer to arrive at my destinations at night, under the blanket of darkness its left to my imagination to paint the picture of the surroundings. On the other hand it's exciting to wake up early to witness the reality and when the reality is this beautiful there are no worries of not meeting the anticipation...
Bridging the Divide
Continuing with the story - Life on Galata Bridge from May 10th, the Golden Horn Metro Bridge is the newest addition to a historical city, bringing the most modern form of transport to the city while the boats still crisscross the Golden Horn underneath. Located between the Galata Bridge and the Atatürk Bridge, the Golden Horn Metro Bridge entered service on February 15, 2014. As I watched this bridge every time I made my journey from Beyoğlu to Fatih across the Golden Horn, I felt that this bridge symbolizes today’s Istanbul beautifully, as a city that not only bridges the geographical divide between Asia and Europe, but also the cultural and spiritual divide. It does so beautifully, by rooting itself in its glorious history, embracing the present and by preparing for the future. Conceptual Design: Michel Virlogeux, Architect:Hakan Kıran.
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Glitter!
It is true when one says there is life on, in and under the Galata Bridge. The image from yesterday's FotoDune - "Bridging the Divide", showed the ferry passing under the Galata Bridge and heading towards the Golden Horn Metro Bridge. Try to venture the space in-between and rows of restaurants with their beaming neon lights await you. Activity here picks up later in the day and is buzzing until late at night. Whether one decides to sit down and have a meal watching the reflections in the sea at the Golden Horn or walks by just soaking in the atmosphere, it's worth experiencing it.
Storm in a Tea Pot!
A street vendor brewing tea in a mobile contraption by the Galata Bridge. How can street food in Turkey be complete without çay(tea)..., Forming central part of Turkish discourse, irrespective of time in day. With this image I would like to celebrate 50th FotoDune, Şerefe!
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Disha.
On a project for Asha Frankfurt, I was in New Delhi last December. During my stay there I would go every morning to India Gate before I headed to the NGO centers for my documentary project (I will be sharing some FotoDune’s from this project soon). In the next few FotoDune’s I will share the rituals I observed at the India Gate. The lady here might be heading to work early in the morning. She would have probably woken up much earlier; prepared breakfast and probably lunch too, helped her kids prepare for school and is now heading at a brisk pace to make it to work on time.
Harmonization
Marching down Rajpath towards the India Gate, a group of cadets braving the winter cold perform their morning drill. On a clear day one could see the presidential palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan in the background. Thick fog cover during the winter months is common in Delhi.
The road leading from Rashtrapati Bhavan towards India Gate is called Rajpath. During the republic day celebrations every year on 26th of January, ceremonious parades take place at the Rajpath. In the background we can see the preparations for the 66th Republic day gathering pace.HarmonizationFotoDuneIndia GateNew DelhiWinterMay20th2015Ritual
India Gate.
India gate, originally a war memorial to 82,000 soldiers who departed fighting for the British India Army in the First World War, in France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the Near and the Far East, and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Since then it has served as a memorial to the departed soldiers honored and unknown.
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Amar Jawan
Amar Jawan Jyoti, or the flame of the immortal soldier, was erected under the India Gate to commemorate Indian soldiers killed in the India-Pakistan war for the liberation of Bangladesh. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 26 January 1972. Since its installation, Amar Jawan Jyoti has served as India’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier martyred in the defense of their country.
Amar Jawan Jyoti is manned round the clock by soldiers drawn from the three services of the Indian armed forces. The man pictured here is tasked with cleaning the tomb every morning. He removes his footwear before climbing on top of the red granite pedestal with his bucket of water and mop. Cleans the pedestal with the mop and then wipes the black marble plinth, on which the reversed rifle capped by war helmet is placed, clean of the last speck of dust. After having cleaned the Amar Jawan Jyoti , he goes around it spraying water and moping the floor clean before handing over the responsibility of the tomb back to the armed guards.AmarJawanIndiaGateFotoDuneNewDelhiWinterMay22nd2015RitualWarMemorialSoldiersAmarJawanJyoti
Shradhanjali
Wreaths are placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti every day by the soldiers guarding the India Gate. On 16th December on occasion of Viay Diwas the Wreath is placed by the Defense Minister and the Chiefs of Armed Forces and on 26th January before the start of the Republic day celebration by the Prime Minister of India and other dignitaries. The Amar Jawan Jyoti is bound by four urns on the corner of the square red granite tomb, with the permanent light (jyoti) in any one or all the urns.
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Dastoori
Vishram
The cadets of the Indian Airforce return to Rajpat after their morning drill. Having started from Rajpat they would march down towards India Gate and past it. They would then return after around 30min march back up Rajpath. The synchronised sound from their shoe hooves and chanting breaks the morning silence that surrounds the India Gate.
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Raftaar
Other than the presence of security officials, there is very little traffic or tourists early in the morning around the India Gate and along Rajpath. A safe yet non crowded place in the capital. You see a lot of people using this opportunity to do their morning exercise along this stretch. This will be the last FotoDune from the ritual series around the India Gate.
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Dance of the Rays
Rays of the setting sun carving a path in the busy shipping lanes of Mediterranean Sea. Of late these shipping lanes are being increasingly used by people trying to migrate from North Africa and war effected regions of the Middle East into Southern Europe. It's posing a serious humanitarian challenge, which the EU and the UN are still trying to understand and tackle.
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Drops...
A farmer working on a small field in the southwest coast of Malta. Agriculture makes up only 2.8% of the Maltese GDP. Malta has a limited supply of fresh water and does not have any domestic energy source other than solar energy in the from of plenty of sunshine. The economy is dependent on tourism, freight trans-shipment point and of late manufacturing, especially electronics and textiles.
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Azure
The capital of Malta Valetta, is a peninsula with two natural harbours, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour. Fort Ricasoli pictured here to the right together with Fort Saint Elmo and Fort Tigné commands the approaches to Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.
