Bird, Thar, Travel, Freedom, Photography, Desert Safari

Explore The Elements – Travel Photoblogging Challenge 2015

First thing first, my sincere thanks to Moon Roy for nominating me for Thomas Cook Explore the Elements photo blogging competition.  The contest is about capturing and expressing the four elements through travel photography by submitting at least one photograph representing each of the basic elements of the world – Earth, Water, Fire and Air.

One can visit the link for more details of the contest –Explore The Elements.

Although this contest is essentially about four elements, but I would like to talk a little about the five essential elements which are known as Panchbhuta in Hindu Mythology. The system of five elements are found in Vedas,  especially Ayurveda, the panchamahabhuta, or “Five Great Elements”, of Hinduism are Bhumi i.e Earth, Ap or Jala i.e. Water, Tejas or Agni i.e. Fire, Marut or Pavan i.e. Air or Wind, Vyom or Shunya or Akash i.e. ether or void or sky.

As per Hindu Mythology based on Veda System, all of creation, including the human body, is made up of these five essential elements and that upon death, the human body dissolves into these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature

Lets go back to the contest and explore four elements which are talked upon by Buddha and explained by many such as Plato and further defined by Aristotle.  elements my way:

I usually prefer landscaping photography and hence Earth as an element is of profound interest for me. Lets see different nuances of Mother Earth first:

travel, Himalaya, Adventure, Road trip,  Chhitkul, Himachal, Himalaya,

Official entry for Explore the Elements contest – Chhitkul Town on the bank of Baspa river in Himalaya: Heaven on Earth

Road Trip, Self Drive, Traveling, Uttaranchal, Uttarakhand, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Kali RIver, Gauri River, Dharchula, Jauljibi, Munsiyari, Mandakini, Madkote, Bhimtal, Thal. Dhaba, Gyani Dhaba, Scenic beauty, travelogue, travel blog, himalaya

Panchachuli Range in Himalaya

Road Trip, Self Drive, Traveling, Uttaranchal, Uttarakhand, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Kali RIver, Gauri River, Dharchula, Jauljibi, Munsiyari, Mandakini, Madkote, Bhimtal, Thal. Dhaba, Gyani Dhaba, Scenic beauty, travelogue, travel blog

Earth an essential element for Farmers: Paddy Field on the way to Munsiyari Along Gauri River

Now lets explore Water Element which is the source of life on the earth:

River, Baspa, Himalaya, Chhitkul,

River Baspa originating from mighty Himalaya

Road Trip, Self Drive, Traveling, Uttaranchal, Uttarakhand, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Kali RIver, Gauri River, Dharchula, Jauljibi, Munsiyari, Mandakini, Madkote, Bhimtal, Thal. Dhaba, Gyani Dhaba, Scenic beauty, travelogue, travel blog

Cascading water through the craggy and coarse cliffs of Himalaya on unexplored road near Indo-Nepal Border

Fishing Boy, India, Photo Essay

A Fishing Boy on Water Tank in Vindhya Range of Central India

Pattaya, Candid, 2014, Photography, Travel

Pattaya Beach In Thailand: A life so open and representing cosmopolitan form of the world

Water, nature, Spider Web, maharashtra

Official entry for Explore the Elements Contest – Morning dews on a spider web creating most beautiful natural art

And after earth and water, now we will explore Fire Element which represents the energetic, forceful, moving things in the world associated with security, motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit. For me The Sun is the fire God. It gives a reason to every living body on earth to live.

Melting Sun: The Fire God

Melting Sun: The Fire God

Panchachuli, Munsiyari, Himalaya, uttaranchal

Sun rise in Himalayan range of Panchachuli

Himachal, himalaya, Travel, Candid, Photograph, Kullu, Manali

Rays of setting Sun illuminating Kullu valley near Manali.

Nizamuddin, India, New Delhi, travel, Photography, Fire,

Official entry for Explore The Elements contest – Fire: A symbol of faith and pure spirit. I clicked this shot in New Delhi at Nizamuddin Dargah (mausoleum) which is melting pot of many the faiths

Lets now explore fourth element the Air which represents things that grow, expand, and enjoy freedom of movement associated with will, elusiveness, evasiveness, benevolence, compassion, and wisdom. It represent freedom and thus it is an essential element for every traveler and road tripper.

Bird, Thar, Travel, Freedom, Photography, Desert Safari

Bird On The Top: Morning hour shots in Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Cloud is a symbol of freedom and they represent the natural wanderism.

Cloud is a the symbol of freedom

Cloud over Himalaya range in Kinnaur Valley representing the natural wanderism.

Cloud over Himalaya range in Kinnaur Valley representing the natural wanderism

Freedom, ROads, Himalaya, Road Trip

Offcial entry for Explore The Elements contest – Adventurous Roads to Himalaya: an enabler to enjoy the freedom of traveling

orchha

Diving boys of Betwa River which flows in Central india. This photo was clicked at Orchha.

As a part of the contest rule, I need to nominate fellow bloggers for the contest and now I nominate the following 5 travel bloggers who I think are on the road to be serious travel and photo blogger and may love to participate.

Lets keep exploring the world.

13 thoughts on “Explore The Elements – Travel Photoblogging Challenge 2015

  1. Alisha says:

    Hi Himangsu,
    You have presented panchamahabhuta very nicely by your wonderful clicks, really enjoyed your photographs of Earth and water, specially Your photograph of morning dew on spider web is really awesome.

    • Himanshu says:

      Thanks Alisha for dropping by and appreciating. Nature is full of such beauties and that day i just happened to be there. C u more often.

  2. Moon says:

    Wow…mind blowing! All your images are magical and I must mention dew on cobweb representing water and burning incenses for fire are superbly creative! Thank you for mentioning my blog. Best wishes for you. 🙂

Leave a Reply