BLACK-OUTS AT CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE, BELUR.
During my early days in school, I used to be teased as a 'char-chokho' ( person with 4 eyes) , a common term for boys/girls with specs. By an extension of that logic , Ruby and I can be called 'paanch-chokho' (person with 5 eyes) during our travel, the '5th eye' being our camera.
On our 1st day out at ChennaKesava temple, Belur, both our '5th eyes' went blank , due to mal-functioning of batteries , though fortunately not at the same time.
I use a square battery for my DSLR.Ruby uses 4 pencil batteries for Powershot - a Canon s3is. I carried no spare battery. Ruby had 4 spare Duracell batteries in her suitcase . After 6 clicks, her camera stopped functioning. We were stuck at the Gopuram. We had 2 choices - walk back to the Hotel ( Mayur Velapuri) and collect the Duracell batteries or buy fresh ones from one of few the shops just opposite to the Gopuram.
I took the easier option - purchased 4 nos of 2100mAH Kodak batteries for Ruby's Powershot. Well, this move saved our day.Not only Ruby could keep on clicking till the day-end, this shop-keeper came to my rescue when my camera's battery got discharged and gave me successive shocks.
1st shock came after I clicked only 102 shots. It was around 9.30 am. We decided to return to the Hotel for break-fast and charging the battery. On our way back to the Hotel, we found Canon's LP-E5 battery will have no supplier at Belur. I rang our photographer friend Mr Swaminathan Natarajan of Bangalore who confirmed that for such a battery , I may have to go to Chickmagalur - 90+ km away !
Well - I managed the day with multiple charging. The Kodak batteries did fine with their pre-charge plus 2 hours charging in the morning while we had our break-fast and freshened up. But, I had a difficult day. Twice - during lunch-break ( we had just a fruit-juice each) and once more after that, I sought help from the shop-keeper from whom we bought the Kodak pencil batteries to bail my camera out. ChennaKesava knows what I would have done without help from from this guy !
At Halebid on 12/11, I stayed cautious - and therefore, selective .I faced 2 'black-outs'. 1st one was when I was about to complete round-one and ready to embark on a 'cover-the-ones I -missed'. I focused on one of the many 'Dwarpals' and it was a black-out ! I borrowed Ruby's Powershot for the time being, completed round-one and returned to hotel for lunch, though with great disappointment.
At the Hotel Mayur Shantala , after my hard prayer, power-cut was restored while lunch was served. At Kedareswar temple, I chose only the best wall-reliefs and friezes for clicking. In any case , scope for photography was limited as the 'Garbhagriha' was shut and the northern face was almost inaccessible with bamboo scaffolding. Here, the black-out came when I aimed my camera at an interesting frieze !
After I reached Mysore on 12th evening, I breathed a sigh of relief sensing that in a town like this a squre battery will not be difficult to get. Well, I missed my heart-beat, when on the morning of 13/11, 2 shops turned me away.It was the 3rd shop which gave me an equivalent make with at least Rs 300/- premium or 'opportunity profit' !
Closed door of Gopuram at 7.25 am. Thin crowd started gathering
on the steps to attend to early morning prayer.
ChennaKesava temple, Belur.
During my early days in school, I used to be teased as a 'char-chokho' ( person with 4 eyes) , a common term for boys/girls with specs. By an extension of that logic , Ruby and I can be called 'paanch-chokho' (person with 5 eyes) during our travel, the '5th eye' being our camera.
On our 1st day out at ChennaKesava temple, Belur, both our '5th eyes' went blank , due to mal-functioning of batteries , though fortunately not at the same time.
Ruby and her '5th eye', sitting near
'Swarga Dwara' of ChennaKesava temple, Belur.
I use a square battery for my DSLR.Ruby uses 4 pencil batteries for Powershot - a Canon s3is. I carried no spare battery. Ruby had 4 spare Duracell batteries in her suitcase . After 6 clicks, her camera stopped functioning. We were stuck at the Gopuram. We had 2 choices - walk back to the Hotel ( Mayur Velapuri) and collect the Duracell batteries or buy fresh ones from one of few the shops just opposite to the Gopuram.
The shop which helped to keep our '5th eye' functioning !
Opposite ChennaKesava temple, Belur.
I took the easier option - purchased 4 nos of 2100mAH Kodak batteries for Ruby's Powershot. Well, this move saved our day.Not only Ruby could keep on clicking till the day-end, this shop-keeper came to my rescue when my camera's battery got discharged and gave me successive shocks.
1st shock came after I clicked only 102 shots. It was around 9.30 am. We decided to return to the Hotel for break-fast and charging the battery. On our way back to the Hotel, we found Canon's LP-E5 battery will have no supplier at Belur. I rang our photographer friend Mr Swaminathan Natarajan of Bangalore who confirmed that for such a battery , I may have to go to Chickmagalur - 90+ km away !
Coitus !
'Performers' shed their ornaments away !
'Performers' shed their ornaments away !
1st level of Gopuram ,ChennaKesava temple,Belur.
Well - I managed the day with multiple charging. The Kodak batteries did fine with their pre-charge plus 2 hours charging in the morning while we had our break-fast and freshened up. But, I had a difficult day. Twice - during lunch-break ( we had just a fruit-juice each) and once more after that, I sought help from the shop-keeper from whom we bought the Kodak pencil batteries to bail my camera out. ChennaKesava knows what I would have done without help from from this guy !
Nataraja Siva , with all his attributes and in his full glory,
dances on a lotus . Ganas, Bhringee and worshipers around .
Hoysaleswar temple, Halebid.
At Halebid on 12/11, I stayed cautious - and therefore, selective .I faced 2 'black-outs'. 1st one was when I was about to complete round-one and ready to embark on a 'cover-the-ones I -missed'. I focused on one of the many 'Dwarpals' and it was a black-out ! I borrowed Ruby's Powershot for the time being, completed round-one and returned to hotel for lunch, though with great disappointment.
'Ananta-sayane Vishnu'.
Wall -frieze at Hoysaleswar temple,Halebid.
Captured in mobile's camera after 1st black-out .
At the Hotel Mayur Shantala , after my hard prayer, power-cut was restored while lunch was served. At Kedareswar temple, I chose only the best wall-reliefs and friezes for clicking. In any case , scope for photography was limited as the 'Garbhagriha' was shut and the northern face was almost inaccessible with bamboo scaffolding. Here, the black-out came when I aimed my camera at an interesting frieze !
Nataraj dances on 'Apasmara' - one of my last shots
at Kedareswar temple,Halebid.
After I reached Mysore on 12th evening, I breathed a sigh of relief sensing that in a town like this a squre battery will not be difficult to get. Well, I missed my heart-beat, when on the morning of 13/11, 2 shops turned me away.It was the 3rd shop which gave me an equivalent make with at least Rs 300/- premium or 'opportunity profit' !
