344 - 24th - The empty bench

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 24th Nov'08

The wind was blowing hard with a strong sense of chill in it and the mountain top view-place of the city of Guanaujato was almost empty. Only some crazy heads like me were standing there to capture some night time views of the city.

Soon after clicking the photos when I decided to head back down towards the city, I saw this bench under thew shade of the street-side lamp. I kept my camera on a nearby dustbin and clicked this one. I loved the "starry" look the lights gave.

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298 - 9th - A thousand windows

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 9th Oct'08

This photo is again from the monument of "Cristo Rey". As I was walking back to the parking, I had to climb down this circular path towards the base of the statue. This pattern of numerous windows was perhaps the outer side of the rooms inside the church. Some of the windows were open while others were closed.

I had to wait for a long time at the edge of the building so that I could get a clean shot without anything else intruding into the frame. But the volume of people visiting the place was so huge that even after minutes of patient waiting, I couldnt avoid a couple of them to creep in at the top left edge of the building :)

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297 - 8th - Glittering in the dark

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 8th Oct'08

Apart from the angle from which this photo was taken, there is something else to be mentioned about it. It was 9PM and even the artificial light was not that good at the place where I was thinking of clicking this one. So I just split open the aperture of my camera and gave the sensor maximum exposure.

You wont believe, it took around 35 secs for the photo to get captured after I pushed the button.

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296 - 7th - Cristo Rey

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 7th Oct'08

One of the most important religious monuments in all of Mexico, Cristo Rey (Christ the King) is an impressive 20-meter bronze statue of Jesus set atop the summit of the mountain Cerro de Cubilete. The colossal monument was constructed in 1950, replacing the smaller, original statue that was destroyed during the final stages of the Mexican Revolution.

The statue allegedly marks the exact geographical center of Mexico, and for religious Mexicans there is something to be said in having Jesus in the very heart of their country. As such, the statue is a popular day-trip destination for Mexicans visiting Guanajuato.

I took many different pictures of the statue from near and from far. Click the links below to see some more photos.

Click here to see the full sized image
Click here to see the church
Click here to see a distant view

295 - 6th - Waiting for someone

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 6th Oct'08

I dont know for whom she was waiting, but the expression of restlessness was quite evident on her face. I could see her repeatedly turning her attention to a particular direction as if expecting to see someone. I stood there for around 10 minutes waiting for a taxi but I couldnt see anyone coming.

There are times in life when such waits just end in deep disappointment which is felt only by the one who is waiting.

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294 - 5th - Downtown lunch

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 5th Oct'08

I was strolling through the downtown (& as is the case with almost all the downtowns in Mexico, the one in Guanajuato also had restaurants spread out in the open) when I saw this group of people enjoying their lunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The weather was nice, ambiance was perfect for a lazy Sunday & the stage was all set to enjoy a tasty lunch.

It would have looked odd to shoot someone having food so I pretended to move my camera here and there as if I was trying to find a good view. In the midst of all that fooling around, I clicked this one. But I think the lady wearing the shades knew what I was actually trying to do. Just look at the way she is staring at me .. ;)

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293 - 4th - One World

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 4th Oct'08

Its a nice sight to see so many different colored flags in one glance. They give you a feeling of unity in diversity. Also, how many times do we stop and observe the flags of different countries? I actually dont even remember when I carefully saw the flag of my own country.

So this time when I came across this guy who was selling these numerous little flags, I stopped at the place and observed them closely. Unfortunately, the flag of my own country was not there on the part of the board which I decided to shoot :)

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292 - 3rd - Come lets study

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 3rd Oct'08

I was paying visit to a local museum in Guanajuato and was on the first floor when I saw this group of students taking notes from what their teacher was speaking. I could see children roaming around at the place with notebooks in their hands and scribbling down what they observed. I was reminded of my school days when we were taken for such educational outings and asked to make detailed descriptions of what we saw.

Unfortunately it was 50 extra bucks to take the camera inside, so I left it at the reception. But my N95 didnt give as bad a result as expected :)

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291 - 2nd - Just married

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 2nd Oct'08

I was watching a road side music show near the cathedral in downtown Guanajuato when I heard a roar of movement behind me. I turned back and saw that a crowd of people and photographers is coming out of the church. I started walking in that direction to check out what was happening. As I reached the entrance of the church I saw this couple standing with broad smiles on their face. I made my way through the crowd to find a decent angle to shoot them.

Unlike other "official" photographers who were dressed in black and white tuxedos, I was looking the odd one out in my blue jeans and white t-shirt. I realized this once I finished clicking & saw that people around me are giving me what-the-hell-are-you-doing-here glances. I quietly moved out of the place with a joy of having a nice photo in my camera.

If I were you, I would click on the photo to see its real beauty :)

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290 - 1st - The city of Guanajuato

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 1st Oct'08

The city of Guanajuato - looks all the more colorful and magnificent in the cover of darkness, when all its architectural marvels glow in ten different shades and give a glittery, shiny look to the whole landscape.

I took this photo from the monument of Piplia. I first clicked a "day" shot & at the same moment I decided that I have to come back once it turns dark to see how the place looks at night. It was cold, windy and chilly, but still it was worth to climb up and get such a wonderful shot.

Click here to see the full sized image

Click here to see the one I clicked in sunlight.

289 - 30th - Colorful dolls

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 30th Sept'08

I saw these colorful little dolls kept at a small roadside shop. The vibrant color combination and the fact that there were so many of them kept together was creating a really nice view for the eye. I tried clicking some solo shots but they were not giving the same effect as the group as a whole.

I dont know whether these types od dolls were specific to the place, but I could see them at almost every shop in the city.

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288 - 29th - Monument of “Pípila”

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 29th Sept'08

The monument of Piplia was erected in the honor of Juan Jose de los Reyes Martinez, for his heroic role in the independence struggle of 28th Sept'1810. This monument is built on top of a mountain and is visible from every corner of the capital city of Guanajuato. You have to take a rope car to reach the place. Once there you just cant stop yourself from admiring the breath taking view of the entire city.

The monument itself is a fine piece of art. I wonder how they managed to install such a huge pice of stone on top of a mountain.

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287 - 28th - Almost a painting

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 28th Sept'08

One more from "frame-within-a-frame" genre. I clicked this window in the lobby just outside my hotel room. The view outside was quite good and the dark broad frame of the window was making it all the more distinct and noticeable. At first glance, it actually looked like a painting hung on the wall. Only when I observed the movement outside, I realized that it actually was a window.

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286 - 27th - Unusual art

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 27th Sept'08

We just entered the hotel to check-in when I observed this fancy sign board hung just in front of the reception. The beautiful combination of colors and pictures made it quite attractive to the eye. My first reaction was to take out the camera and click it.

Unusual show of artistry in small not so "unsual" things.

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285 - 26th - Sorgo

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 26th Sept'08

We were driving towards the city of Guanajuato when I observed these dark orange colored fields on the sides. These patches of orange, scattered randomly among vast green fields were looking very attractive. I got a chance to click it when we took a pit stop at one of the toll-booths.

Factually, Sorgo or Sorghum in Spanish is a type of grass whose grain is used for varying purposes like food, fodder for animals and making alcoholic beverages.

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