I have few silhouettes in my archives and they are all purely accidental. Considering the drama, mood and emotion they conjure up, I have no idea why I haven’t consciously gone after more back-lit shots. Fingers crossed in the hope that the Serengeti, next month, will turn up some good photo ops.
Until then, here is a gallery that evokes some of our more memorable moments across Asia. Click on each image to read the corresponding post.
Angkor Wat silhouetted against a breathtaking sunrise.
The Otorii on the sea in Miyajima
Admiring glorious sunsets: from Mount Phousi, Luang Prabang…
And from our boat on Tonle Sap lake near the floating village of Kompong Phluk..
And finally, experiencing the drama of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi.
Happy travels………no matter where life takes you.
The Urge To Wander 
Love that first one. The reflections are gorgeous!
Thank you Luke. That experience is high up on our ‘unforgettable moments’ list! 🙂
These are absolutely breathtaking photos Madhu! Angkor Wat and the one from Tonle Sap lake are my favourites.
Thanks Kan. That is one of few low light shots I didn’t mess up 🙂
My favorite set of your captures–breathtaking and dramatic.
Thanks Sally. The experiences were equally breathtaking.
Absolutely fantastic photos of the Asian silhouettes ! …Eye candy for me who loves photos, showing the beauty in our daily life there is around us … // Maria 🙂
Thank you Maria. Have a great day 🙂
Beautiful image. Hope to go there one day.
Thank you for your visit and comment Bob. I hope you get to every single destination featured here 🙂
amazing shots!
Thank you Piano Learner. Have a great day!
Angkor Wat is totally unforgettable. All wonderful shots, Madhu – well done!
Isn’t it? And at any time of the day! Thanks Marianne.
These look great, my personal fav is the Ganga Arthi, but they are all great images….good luck for Serengeti….. It is a magical place…..
Thank you Prakash. And welcome to my blog. Just popped over to your site and was blown away by your wildlife images!! I hope mine turn out half as well 🙂
Woah, they are all amazing photos, but that pic of Itsukushima at Miyajima is incredible! 😀
Thanks Lee. Strangely, that is the only one shot with a P&S! 🙂 Have you written a post on the shrine?
The silhouette effect seems almost magical Madhu. Thanks.
Cheers 🙂
Thanks Dilip. They were magical moments, every single one!
you chose the correct word BREATHTAKING.. so beautiful so pure and so sereneeeeeeeee … Awesomeeeeeeeeeeeee
Thank you Bikram. Happy you enjoyed this gallery.
What a view!
From the hill? Yes, that was worth the climb. Hubby missed out on that one since he was nursing a bad back.
Only one of the pictures showed up on the reader! I am glad I am here now. The photos are simply WOW!
Tremendous!!!! … and I must say, picking a favorite in this set is difficult for me.
Thank you for the lovely compliment Frank! 🙂
Beautiful, gorgeous images.
Thank you Kat. And thanks for the share.
Wonderful silhouettes, Madhu. My favourite is the ‘Tonle Sap Lake’ one. Absolutely beautiful. 🙂
Those molten gold hues were indeed spectacular. Thank you Sylvia 🙂
Wow, how lovely to see these through your eyes. I have to say the first and last one speak to me the most. The last one…I don’t know…I can almost feel it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much Lindsay. Did you click on that image? It links to my post on the ‘aarti’ with sound effects! 🙂
Whaat?? Sound effects…I’m so…Be right back!
😀
That is really amazing. What an experience! It gave me chills. Beautiful!
Glad you enjoyed it Lindsay. I was excited to find that sound track, even though it stops abruptly.
It definitely made me experience the setting with you a bit more 🙂
These are gorgeous silhouettes.
Thank you very much Maralee.
Madhu, these are all just wonderful, and I love how you’ve linked them to the original posts. If I was forced to choose a favorite, it would be difficult, but I think it would be the final image, of Ganga Aarti. My eyes just continue to search that photo for all the backlit details, and the smoke adds such an ethereal quality to it. Beautiful!
Thank you Stacy. That is my favourite of the aarti images. I think it comes closest to conveying the atmosphere of the ceremony. Glad you liked it too 🙂
A little bit of heaven
Ah thank you Dallas! Happy to see you here. Hope you are well. And dad too.
A lovely series, Madhu. Life has certainly taken you to some wonderful places, which you’ve absolutely done justice to. Silhouettes are an excellent way to seize the moment, and encapsulate what you see.
Thank you Meg. I need to pay more attention to light and the capture of silhouettes.
Like everything in life, Madhu, one day at a time
These are absolutely breathtaking, Madhu and what a beautiful closeup of the Aarti. The lighting and smoke create such an intense mood. We were in a boat along with many others, but it was still a beautiful and spiritual sight to observe. Not often can I say that I have been to four out of five of these incredible places, but we love Asia. I’m sure the Serengeti will yield spectacular photos and silhouettes.
Thank you Lynne. Looking forward to the Serengeti. We needed a break from our usual urban/cultural destinations 🙂
Everyone is spectacular? Hard to pick a favorite. Looking forward to seeing what gets in front of your lens in the Serengeti.
Thank you very much Ron. I am not equipped for wildlife photography, but I didn’t think it worthwhile to upgrade my lenses just for this one trip. I hope I can manage alright.
PS: Wondering why your recent posts are not easily accessible via your Gravatar. Clicking on ‘Blog’ takes me to a much older post.
beautiful gallery of silhouettes! love all the pictures! every single one is simply gorgeous! thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading LolaWi!
Such dramatic and wonderful pictures, my dear Madhu! 🙂
Thank you Marina. Have great weekend 🙂
Ahh, the Varanasi Ganga Aarti. Wonderful!
Thank you Stefano. Loved your quiver tree as well.
Oh my these are absolutely fabulous! I look forward to your Serengeti photos, wish I could do safari again now with a good camera 🙂
Thanks Gilly. I doubt I will make great photos with the limited equipment I posses, but they should be better than my old P&S 🙂
Really, really wonderful photos, Madhu.
Thank you Bente. They mark some of ur most memorable moments.
Stunning Gallery!!!
Thank you for your visit and comment. Have a great day!
Loved them all, but I like the last one best.
Ah, not surprising knowing you are an Indophile! 🙂 Thanks Ian.
Madhu, your really out did yourself on those ones. And to be honest I can’t decide which one is my favorite, maybe because they are All! Photographing reflections is one of my most favorites.
Thank you for your generous comment Cornelia. Much appreciated 🙂
Got waylaid – going back to revisit some old favourites, and to see the Varanasi Ganga Aarti – what a joy 🙂
Glad you enjoyed re-visiting my old posts Meredith. The Ganga Aarti images are some of my favourites too even if they aren’t techincally great.
Absolutely stunning silhouettes Madhu! The second one is my most favourite! Great shots! 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
Thank you Sonel. That sunset was well worth the effort of negotiating the 355 steps up to Phousi hill 🙂
Oh, I bet it was Madhu. I don’t think I would have made it, so thank you for the hard work to show us all this beauty. 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
Amazing shots … Love the light and the dynamism of the ganga aarti pic 😀
Thank you Rajni. Appreciate your taking the time to read and comment.
Each image that came up I was liking even better than the last, Madhu 🙂 Lots of gasps and ‘oohs’. Finally settled on no. 2 as my favourite but it’s a close run thing. Have you got a favourite? I expect it changes with the memories. I wish I had time to read all the posts but that’ll have to be another day. Hugs! 🙂
It does change with the memories and my mood, but here I prefer the last shot just because it is distinctly different from the others and because it reminds me of the intensity of the ceremony. I don’t expect you to go after every link I put in Jo, so please don’t worry about not having read some of them. Hugs back 🙂
All of them are really wonderful….The second one is absolutely great…I am happy that if you are not looking for shadows they are looking for you…Your photographs are so so great!!!!
Good luck on your next adventure…Looking forward to reading your posts!!!!
He he I am happy those shadows came looking for me too Ilargia!! 🙂 Thank you and have a great Sunday!
Wow Madhu your series is an incredible collection – love your photography work.
Thank you for the lovely comment Mary. Have a great day.
You have captured some fabulous silhouettes Madhu. 🙂
Thank you LuAnn. These are all the silhouettes I have though 🙂
Ganga Aarti is just stunning – has to take the prize from this set. Love the depth and movement it captures.
That said, with a trip to the Serengeti in the near future there’ll surely be more for the competition!
Thank you Bronwyn. Yes, I am excited over our upcoming trip to the Serengeti. And a detour to the gorillas in Rwanda on the way! 🙂
Sounds like a fascinating trip!
I love the last photos….mysteriously mystical!
It was a fascinating ceremony Mary. A bit too choreographed for my liking, but still full of atmosphere. Thank you for your visit and comment.
These are all great! Love the warm tones!
FreeCarnation
Thank you Mariska. Have a great Sunday.
Excellent series, Madhu! Every single photograph is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing:)
Means a lot coming from you Uday. Thank you very much.
Wonderful set, Madhu! As someone else has said, breathtaking…..
Thank you Sue. Means a lot 🙂
🙂
Breathtaking views!
Thank you very much 🙂
Beautiful silhouettes, Madhu. Your shot of sunrise at Angkor Wat is spectacular. My favorite is the haunting photo of the drama of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. ~Terri
Thank you very much Terri. That Ganga Aarti shot seems to be the most popular!
I love these set of shots. Well done for this weeks’ challenge. Can definitely feel the energy in the last photo – seems like everyone came out for the celebration or ceremony there. And you were lucky enough to be a part of it all 🙂
It was jam packed Mabel. I watched the ceremony from a boat farther out in the water and from land where this was clicked and there was standing room only. Very dramatic and atmospheric. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by to let me know 🙂
Stunning silhouettes, Madhu! You have a beautiful eye for composition!
Thank you Connie. Could be my design background. But i need to put in a lot more work on clarity and sharpness. I love your photography.
All of these Madhu take my breath, however Ganga Aarti in Varanasi is full of drama and is absolutely my favorite.
Mine too Valentine 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement.
this is indeed so beautiful, the photos its reflection.
Thank you Mihrank. Happy you enjoyed it.
Breathtaking photography, indeed! The one of the aarti is phenomenal…
Thank you Madhu! Very kind of you to take the time to comment.
Silhouettes have something very mystique and sublime. They give me peace and this collection of your super like….they beckon me to accompany them to beyond.
Thank you for the lovely comment Namita. Sunrises and sunsets have a way of making us feel that way. And the drama of the aarti was indeed mesmerizing 🙂
WoW..excellent clicks
Thank you Jidhu.
Good gracious! these are remarkable. I always remember the post on Vanarasi event. I think my Thailand dream has been overshadowed by my India dream travel because of you.
Thank you Rommel. Look forward to catching up with you in India! 😀
Stunning photos Madhu – I especially love the one of Angkor.
Thank you Suzanne. That was a particularly special sunrise 🙂
Suzanne I am having trouble posting comments on your blog. Several tries on two of your latest posts returned Captcha errors. My math isn’t that bad 🙂
A fabulous set of photos, Madhu! The smoky spectacle of Ganga Aarti is my favourite – I think that shot could easily win a travel photo contest. And how lucky to be off to Kenya/Tanzania next month; can’t say I’m not the least bit jealous!
Thanks James. That is my personal favourite as well.
We are off to Rwanda and Tanzania actually. Grappling with the 15kg (including cabin bags) luggage limit for internal flights at the moment.
What a spectacular gallery Madhu. The drama of Varanasi is the candle on a very rich, exotic cake!
Thank you Patti. That is my favourite as well. A high point of our domestic travels.
They are all gorgeous but tops for is the picture of the dancers at the bottom. What happy ‘accidents’ these pictures are. Teasing aside, you are such a good photographer that even these unintended photos turn out well.
Thank you so much for the lovely and generous comment Imelda 🙂 These weren’t unintended, I was referring to the unexpected silhouette effects 🙂
One of the best silhouette posts around. You have left me smiling…..
🙂 Thanks again Paula.
Breathtaking! 🙂
🙂
Exquisite!
Thank you.
Stunning. =)
Happy travels! Looking forward to stories from the land of Hakoona Matata!