A no-photo post from India   2 comments

You came here to see photos, I know. But let me tell you what you’d miss if you saw my latest pictures from India, where I am now:

Before I took up photography, I used a journal to record my impressions of the faraway places I visited on business: Rio, Singapore, Taipei, Caracas. But like many of us, I’ve succumbed to the immediate gratification of a snapshot taken with a phone.

Unfortunately, pictures don’t do India justice. They may convey the shimmering colors of women’s silk saris, or the deep azures, vermillions and magentas of ceremonial powders displayed in such perfect cones that one doesn’t dare disturb them through a mere purchase.

But pictures can’t convey the constant honking of cars, cabs, trucks, buses, motorcycles, scooters, and the ubiquitous yellow-and-green autos (aka tuktuks, everywhere else) as they all jockey for better positions on crowded boulevards or as they wind their way through streets so narrow that pedestrians have to escape into store entryways to make room.

Pictures don’t transmit the shouts and hawks of vendors in the market as they invite attention to their wares with melodic bellowing or urge buyers to make up their mind with the staccato-like hectoring of ‘balla-balla-balla-balla’.

Pictures don’t portray the close proximity of people, the constant brushes against others as you try to pass on too-narrow sidewalks or enter too-narrow doorways.

Pictures don’t let you smell the mix of spices, rotting fruit, exhaust fumes and wet asphalt, the fragrance of burnt nuts and corn-on-the-cob wafting in clouds above the rolling food carts that meander through traffic, the aroma of fresh flowers being weighed using hand-held brass scales, the occasional whiff of cow manure, the bouquet of spicy coffee served in paper espresso cups from corner stalls no bigger than a coat closet.

Pictures don’t let you feel the invisible dust that covers your skin as soon as you step outside, or the cool air wafting out of stores fortunate enough to have a fan, or the heat that stings your skin as soon as the sun breaks through the monsoon clouds.

Pictures don’t convey the drizzle that threatens to turn into a monsoon downpour that never comes, or the screech of a bird that is so jarring because it is so rare, or the dogs slinking through the throngs of people looking for scraps of food and getting no affection, or the thousands of smiles flashed at you in the hope of a bit of charity.

Pictures don’t let you feel the flakyness of a barota dipped in masala sauce, or the crispness of a roti served with an assortment of chutneys, or the softness of a slightly charred naan combined with butter chicken.

Pictures don’t convey the near-misses between cars inches apart in heavy traffic, or the flow of traffic around pedestrians crossing the street without any sign of hurry or panic, or of commuters boarding a bus that has already pulled away from its stop, its doors left open to allow stragglers to jump aboard before picking up speed, or the haggling that precedes the boarding of any conveyance.

All that is lost with photography. What’s also lost is our attention span — we see something, we snap a picture, we move on. Gone are the days of quiet contemplation triggered by a desire to ‘remember the moment.’ Our memory has been outsourced to photo storage in the cloud.

I don’t recall the few pictures I took so many years ago in Rio, Buenos Aires or Provence, but my recollections are nevertheless vivid, indelibly stored in my mind through the act of writing them down. So if you want lasting memories of your travels, maybe it’s time to put down the camera and pick up a pen?

Posted August 18, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, Writing

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Morning in Guanella Canyon   Leave a comment

Captured these while driving toward Guanella Pass in Colorado. I was most excited about the moose sighting. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Posted July 5, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Animals, Landscapes, Nature, US

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Morning over the Flatirons   Leave a comment

Here’s another shot – this one more panoramic.

Posted June 24, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Nature, Panorama, US

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Flatiron view   3 comments

Enjoying the view on a beautiful morning in Boulder, CO.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

DC Metro Impressions   Leave a comment

A fine example of man-spreading:

Shot with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

DC Metro Impressions   Leave a comment

Rare sighting!

A millennial a)reading a book, and b) a classic (The Count of Monte Christo) and c)in public. All is not lost.

Woman reading on subway

Shot with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

DC Sartorial Style   2 comments

Washington, DC is a place where tie clips are still a thing, where bow ties are still worn in seriousness, and where men still wear fedoras.

Men wearing fedoras

Captured on DC Metro with iPhone.

Posted June 3, 2019 by Lutz Braum in DC, People

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Look up!   2 comments

Or you might miss sight like these window washers high above K Street in DC.

Shot on iPhone

Backyard beauties   Leave a comment

Shot on iPhone,

Edited with Snapseed

Posted May 14, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Nature

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Sunrise glow   5 comments

Morning light captured on Hilton Head.

Captured with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted April 21, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, US

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21 Cormorans   Leave a comment

Captured with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted April 20, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Nature

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Sunrise on Mars   Leave a comment

Just kidding – it’s just a beach scene.

Posted April 19, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Nature

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Still life with leaves   Leave a comment

Posted April 18, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Macro, Nature

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Beach impressions, part II   Leave a comment

 

 

Posted April 17, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Nature

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Beach abstraction   Leave a comment

Shot with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted April 16, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Nature

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Beach approach   6 comments

On Hilton Head:

Posted April 14, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Nature, US

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Inside Ed Ruscha   Leave a comment

Captured at the Glenstone Museum.

iPhone, Hipstamatic

Posted March 9, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, DC

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Flowers Galore   3 comments

Flower garlands at Mysore’s Devaraja Market.

Posted March 3, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India

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Flower buds for sale   2 comments

Captured at Dewaraja Market in Mysore:

 

boy selling flowers in India

Posted March 2, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, People

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Devaraja Vegetable Market   Leave a comment

Captured during my last trip to India, in Mysore. Click on any pic to see them in large format.

Posted February 26, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, People

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Bananas in Bangalore   Leave a comment

Posted February 24, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India

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Every kid wants candy   Leave a comment

Including this one at the Bangalore station, before departure:

Posted February 23, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, People

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Indian countryside   1 comment

As seen out the door of the train I took to Mysore. Unlike trains in the US or Europe, in India one can open the doors while the train is moving and get some fresh air (and better pictures than through a smudged train window).

IMG_5378IMG_5393IMG_5398India farmland

Posted February 22, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, Landscapes, Travel

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On the Indian Railway   Leave a comment

The train to Mysore was as exotic as I had expected – although not so cramped as to require sitting on the roof, as one often sees in movies about India. This trip was rather civilized, I had a comfortable seat in a sleeper car where I could stretch out while vendors came by throughout, selling chai tea or snacks.

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Posted February 20, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, Travel

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All aboard!   Leave a comment

Captured at the Bangalore train station:

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Posted February 19, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, People, Travel

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Bangalore Station   Leave a comment

Captured while waiting for my train to Mysore:

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Posted February 18, 2019 by Lutz Braum in India, Travel

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Devaraja Market   Leave a comment

I’m starting to go through my pictures from my most recent trip to India, here’s the first one, from Mysore’s Devaraja Market:

 

Old woman in market

Canon 7D, 40mm lens
ISO 250
f/4, 1/400 sec

Posted February 17, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, People, Travel

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Scooters rule   Leave a comment

Certainly in Bangalore, where traffic is famously congested.

iPhone, Hipstamatic

Posted February 14, 2019 by Lutz Braum in People, Travel

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Traffic in Bangalore   Leave a comment

Seems chaotic but is actually quite beautiful — everything flows like water. I just wish the photos could convey the ceaseless honking.

At the starting line:

And they’re off:

My ride:

Posted February 10, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Travel

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Winter Sculpture Walk   Leave a comment

Took my team to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden for some creative inspiration – glad we picked a 60-degree winter day!

Winter Wonderland   2 comments

Last night it snowed lightly and I captured these images before the snow melted.

iPhone, Hipstamatic app

Posted January 30, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Nature

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Happy MLK Day!   Leave a comment

Posted January 21, 2019 by Lutz Braum in Uncategorized

Winter reflection   2 comments

iPhone, Hipstamatic app

Loving leaves…   Leave a comment

… is easy when you’re not the one having to rake them…

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted November 21, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Animals

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End of Fall   Leave a comment

Fall is almost gone, just a few leaves remain (for me to take).

iPhone, unedited

Posted November 13, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Nature

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First fall colors   3 comments

Captured on Halloween, behind our house. No retouching necessary. 🙂

Posted October 31, 2018 by Lutz Braum in DC, Landscapes, Nature

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Office after dark   Leave a comment

Seen in New York from my hotel window.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted October 10, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, Black&White, New York

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Street Art in Philadelphia   Leave a comment

More murals from my trip to Philadelphia. Click on any image to see them in slideshow format.

iPhone, Hipstamatic

Morning Meadow   Leave a comment

Captured during a morning walk across a meadow.

Grass on meadow

Posted September 23, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Nature, US

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3 Versions of Commuter Bliss   Leave a comment

However you may define it: shared experience, place of work, or gaming break.

Backyard life in the city   Leave a comment

Captured in Fishtown, Philadelphia:

Ronald consoles a lonely traveler   Leave a comment

Captured at Burlington, VT airport.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted September 1, 2018 by Lutz Braum in People, Travel

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Everyone negotiates…   Leave a comment

… the subway differently. Some bury themselves in their phones, some in their books.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Verdant Vermont   Leave a comment

Enjoying the last of Vermont’s summer color before returning to work.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted August 19, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Nature, US

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Break time   Leave a comment

Taking a break with Mario during a morning walk through the Vermont woods:

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted August 18, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Animals, Nature

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Spiderwebs   3 comments

Captured these webs on today’s morning walk in Vermont.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted August 15, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Macro, Nature

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A quiet spot in Vermont   2 comments

Loved coming across this little pond with a small dock and bench to relax on.

Posted August 13, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Nature, US

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Gooooood Morning Vermont!!   Leave a comment

Looking forward to a week of R&R in VT.

Posted August 12, 2018 by Lutz Braum in Uncategorized

Faces of India   4 comments

Posted August 5, 2018 by Lutz Braum in People

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Tough week at the office   2 comments

Commuters on their way home on a Friday evening, captured on DC Metro.

iPhone, edited with Snapseed

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