There’s already a lot of stuff written about The Taj Mahal, and frankly we don’t have anything new.
This post is about Photography at Taj. We have been there quite a few times although not always for Photography.
First we went there when we were in college, and it was more of a casual hang out of five of us. We didn’t know much about photography then so paid no attention to different angles to Shoot Taj. We were too damn tired from the last night’s train journey from Allahabad to Agra. We spent the night on the footrest of the Brahmaputra Mail. But honestly it wasn’t that bigger deal back then. We were quite used travelling this way. We were actually happy that we got a place to sit otherwise we could’ve been in the general class, standing outside the urinal :) .
Next day we reached Taj in the evening and we just sat there for couple of hours, watching Birds (all Kind of ) and foreigners.
Second time we went there we both had our brand new Camera’s (SLR and Coolpix). We wanted to capture like no one has ever done. Different Angles, different emotions. It was again in the late afternoon (March i guess). So we had to keep track of time as well so that we had sufficient light to shoot with.
When you enter Taj, you have to clear a Security check point, so you need to deposit your bags and all the stuff outside, except for the camera and Cell phones.
As we move forward we took images of e’thing we saw. This helps in two ways, one that when you look the images afterward its like a Visual tour of the place, secondly as there are not very important pics, you can play with the Camera settings, which can be really useful later on, like ISO, Shutter Speed, Exposure etc.
As you move on from Security point you get to a juncture where all the three entrance to taj meet. They are called East, West and South Gate, relative to Taj.
This is the Grand entrance to Taj Mahal.Its very simlar to the entrance of Fatehpur Sikri, although not as tall, but similar in architecture. Arabic patterns embossed alongside the door.
It looks exactly same from both the Front and the back side.
I have seen the same pattern at Agra Fort, Lal Quila and Purana Quila in Delhi (Red fort and Old Fort) as well.
Funny thing is that actual height of the door, with which you go through is hardly 15 feet.and width of around 10 feet. So on a crowdy day its difficult to pass through. but here is the point where you can get some good shots as well. But you need to be tall enough to get your view finder above all Heads.
People queue in here to get that Perfect portrait for their drawing rooms.
The Couple and the Taj. We also got a pic when one such couple were posing for theirs. We hope they get to see it one day.
Their is one more favourite spot for the Couples, specially for the Newly Weds and almost everyone tries to get this for their album. Sitting on that Marble platform and Taj in the background. For example this couple holding each others hand. So touching lol...
Their is a beautiful garden on the both the sides of the walk-a-way to Taj.
Now we come to main building Taj itself. As we have said earlier, their is plenty of stuff already on net about the Taj. So not needed here, just few snaps. btw if you are interested in some historical facts please have a look at the building stone detailing all the major facts about chronology of the Taj and associated buildings.
Btw people still offer their prayers in the mosques, on the left and right side of Taj, called Jamat-Khana
This post is about Photography at Taj. We have been there quite a few times although not always for Photography.
First we went there when we were in college, and it was more of a casual hang out of five of us. We didn’t know much about photography then so paid no attention to different angles to Shoot Taj. We were too damn tired from the last night’s train journey from Allahabad to Agra. We spent the night on the footrest of the Brahmaputra Mail. But honestly it wasn’t that bigger deal back then. We were quite used travelling this way. We were actually happy that we got a place to sit otherwise we could’ve been in the general class, standing outside the urinal :) .
Next day we reached Taj in the evening and we just sat there for couple of hours, watching Birds (all Kind of ) and foreigners.
Second time we went there we both had our brand new Camera’s (SLR and Coolpix). We wanted to capture like no one has ever done. Different Angles, different emotions. It was again in the late afternoon (March i guess). So we had to keep track of time as well so that we had sufficient light to shoot with.
When you enter Taj, you have to clear a Security check point, so you need to deposit your bags and all the stuff outside, except for the camera and Cell phones.
As we move forward we took images of e’thing we saw. This helps in two ways, one that when you look the images afterward its like a Visual tour of the place, secondly as there are not very important pics, you can play with the Camera settings, which can be really useful later on, like ISO, Shutter Speed, Exposure etc. As you move on from Security point you get to a juncture where all the three entrance to taj meet. They are called East, West and South Gate, relative to Taj.
This is the Grand entrance to Taj Mahal.Its very simlar to the entrance of Fatehpur Sikri, although not as tall, but similar in architecture. Arabic patterns embossed alongside the door.
It looks exactly same from both the Front and the back side.
I have seen the same pattern at Agra Fort, Lal Quila and Purana Quila in Delhi (Red fort and Old Fort) as well.
Funny thing is that actual height of the door, with which you go through is hardly 15 feet.and width of around 10 feet. So on a crowdy day its difficult to pass through. but here is the point where you can get some good shots as well. But you need to be tall enough to get your view finder above all Heads.
People queue in here to get that Perfect portrait for their drawing rooms.
The Couple and the Taj. We also got a pic when one such couple were posing for theirs. We hope they get to see it one day.
Their is one more favourite spot for the Couples, specially for the Newly Weds and almost everyone tries to get this for their album. Sitting on that Marble platform and Taj in the background. For example this couple holding each others hand. So touching lol...
Their is a beautiful garden on the both the sides of the walk-a-way to Taj.
Now we come to main building Taj itself. As we have said earlier, their is plenty of stuff already on net about the Taj. So not needed here, just few snaps. btw if you are interested in some historical facts please have a look at the building stone detailing all the major facts about chronology of the Taj and associated buildings.
Btw people still offer their prayers in the mosques, on the left and right side of Taj, called Jamat-Khana
Some of our good Taj snaps.
Finally we did some experimentation with the setting Sun and Taj.
