India

Photographer's Note

This was shot on the grounds of a small Buddhist Monastery in Sikkim. It could have been just another sunset shot, if not for these wonderful Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the air.
Buddhist prayer flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers, and mantras. Tibetan Buddhists for centuries have planted these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice for the wind to carry the beneficent vibrations across the countryside. Prayer flags are said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity.
Dharma prints bear traditional Buddhist symbols, protectors and enlightened beings. As the Buddhist spiritual approach is non theistic, the elements of Tantric iconography do not stand for external beings, but represent aspects of enlightened mind i.e. compassion, perfect action, fearlessness, etc. Traditionally, they are fastened to eaves or sewn onto ropes to be displayed horizontally or they are fastened to wooden poles for vertical display. Sets of five color flags should be put in the order: yellow, green, red, white, blue (from left to right or from bottom to top.) The colors represent the elements: earth, water, fire, cloud, sky.

anjan, siolaw, arnabchat, lucasdasilva, sunilshukla, feather, fijiphil, designsoul, lasscor, eza1701, pranab, Jeronimo, Buin, kermit350, ramesh_lalwani, rafelito, sayan, Vagabond, pablominto, LEA, dolin, simonekarl, sarju, tinamunk3, josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

anjan (1086) 2006-06-19 9:55

I dont know whats about sunsets today. This is the second sunset shot i am critiquing. I am feeling a little down today, your sunset shot with spectacular colours just livened me up. A+ note as usual.
Anjan

siolaw (38294) 2006-06-19 10:01

Hi Sabyasachi,
Nice sunset through the prayer flags... a good idea! Strong colors and sharpness, good framing and an interesting note
Cheers
Laurent

arnabchat (7233) 2006-06-19 10:15

a fantastic image. the prayer flags render the best silhoueetes one can image, to a setting sun. cheers'

Cormac (26565) 2006-06-19 10:26

Wonderful sunset shot, which is is made special by the forest of prayer flags. I might have preferred to have the sun off to one side rather than right in the centre, but that might not have been possible. Great shot!

greg64g (11193) 2006-06-19 10:35

hi

what a superb shot, all theses flag are marvellous its like on a movie.
great work
greg

lucasdasilva (557) 2006-06-19 10:40

que por do sol bonito, cores gorgeous, o silhoutte superb dos prayers embandeira, marcas cheias a você meu amigo
Lucas

cherryripe (21033) 2006-06-19 10:42

Hi Sabyasachi
You're right that the thin flags make this scene very special. It's great how they let filter a little light. The silhouettes create good contrasts.
Regards
Nikki

chanjits (4460) 2006-06-19 10:44

marvelous composition, marvelous colors, great shot dear thanks for sharing

cessy (13647) 2006-06-19 11:00

Hi Sabyasachi
very nice capture of the sunset through the flags
the colors are beautiful, I like the atmosphere
very clever shot

sunilshukla (844) 2006-06-19 11:19

this is classy, real classy shot. super silouttes by the flags.

s10001in (0) 2006-06-19 11:25

Hi Sabyasachi,
I can say, just beautiful.

Very well taken shot with great composition.
TFS,
Shailendra

feather (51130) 2006-06-19 11:41

You're right the silhouetted prayer flags make this special. The colours are wonderful. Thank you too for the interesting note.
Kath

faubry (35447) 2006-06-19 11:47

hello Sabyasachi,
very beautiful sunset, wonderful silhouettes and light; bravo
soon
francine

gilou530 (34) 2006-06-19 12:19

hello sabyasachi
great color of sunset, the framing and sharpness very good
friendship
gilbert

fijiphil (1355) 2006-06-19 12:19

Great photo with very intense colours. Good note too, I didn't realise the flags should be present in a set order. Thanks!

ben4321 (9875) 2006-06-19 12:55

This is really beautiful. You've handled the exposure well, and it was a good move to position one of the prayer flags in front of the sun.
Good work.
Ben

delkoo (68) 2006-06-19 13:00

hi sabyasachi
very very nice shot, marvelous composition, you know I like praer flags.

well done
didier

designsoul (17843) 2006-06-19 14:27

Hi Sabyasachi,
A very beautiful sunset from Sikkim! I have a friend living there with her Sikkimese husband, beautiful people, so I have had a chance to see some Sikkimese pictures from them. A very nice, dramatic way you shot the prayer flags. I wish I could plant some around!
sasa

goodwill (4274) 2006-06-19 15:06

Excillent colors. Lovely composition. Getting bettter and better day by day Sabyaschi. Proud of you.
Regards
rajeev

lasscor (7640) 2006-06-19 16:43

Hi Sabyasachi,
Wonderful sunset composition.
Great warm colors, great cloudy sky, great light.
I like much the silhouette of the prayer flags.
Regards,
TFS,
Corinne

P-S-I-G (25536) 2006-06-20 0:42

Hello Sabyasachi,
Very beautiful scene. Good capture. I like the swette light. Well seen and done.
Best regards,
Fabrice

kclai (2267) 2006-06-20 2:08

Hi Sab
Very warm image, huh. The color alone have made this image the outstanding point, together with the pole of flags displaying.
A very simple shot but you have executed it with true artistic manner that it is not just merely an image but an image blends with true color and cool artistic concept.
Cheers and good day.
Eric Lai

Hey, you are one of my fav, man, simply love your images.

mishreyee (0) 2006-06-20 2:22

Hello Sabyasachi,
this is just splendid! The crimson red colour through the prayer flags is so nice....
also the note you have added is very useful..
regards,
mishreyee

eza1701 (3345) 2006-06-20 3:36

Ah, sunset and silhouettes Sabyasachi, now you're combining two of my favourite subjects. I love the colour and the sun showing through the flags, interesting note too.

pranab (5354) 2006-06-20 3:48

sabyasaci,
wonderful pov. great color composition with the silhoueted prayer flags. your note adds more life to this shot.

Jeronimo (1382) 2006-06-20 4:08

Wat a surprising POV and colours of the sun set. I love the fact that with your photos, we can travel and discover new things and way of life. Well done.
Best regards.

Paolo (41258) 2006-06-20 4:46

Hi Sabyasachi, what a fantastic shot. a brilliant POV, really unusual, with a fantastic sunset sky and a fantastic foreground.
excellent focus, light balance and contrast.
thanks, ciao

Buin (42580) 2006-06-20 10:21

Hallo Sabyasachi!
The others have said all. For me remains: GREAT, REALLY GREAT! Most impressive!
Thank you for showing this!
Greetings from Germany!
Frank

talatbay (2428) 2006-06-20 17:26

Great shot,
very good POV, colours are excellent
an impressive image
TFS

kermit350 (9016) 2006-06-20 18:52

Hello Sabyashchi, excel this orange red colour gradation, I do not know if these flags are crowned but this image is sacrément good, for an extraordinary exposure, sincerely

oochappan (4880) 2006-06-20 19:24

Sabyasachi
Those transparant flags in counterlight towards this deep red gradaint to blue sky and the sun peeping through them, makes this shot special.
Henk

ramesh_lalwani (3213) 2006-06-20 22:38

Hi talukdar
Very interestin capture of sunset through flags.Congrats.TFS
Ramesh

rafelito (3648) 2006-06-21 1:46

Sabyasachi...Wonderful composition, the monochromatic effect is great...Many regards, Rafael.....:)tomorrow

sarju (5324) 2006-06-21 2:07

HI Sab
excellent photos in your gallery ... but I would have liked to know atleast about which camera you are using ...
very impressed by your take on the fluttering prayer flags
peace out .... Sarju
PS: Did you do some trekking in Sikkim ... I think I might be there in November

HIRAKZ (168) 2006-06-21 12:05 [Comment]

Show Comment +

Budapestman (82620) 2006-06-21 14:50

Hi Sabyasachi!
Beautiful colours and composition, the contrast is very good between the sky and flags. Thank you for sharing, very interesting note. Nice days,
George

pablominto (53746) 2006-06-22 3:46

Hi Sabyasachi,
This is an awesome capture!
Subject and framing are both most interesting, exposure on the setting sun very well done too..!
Great colours and details, in this most pleasing image!
Greetings,
Pablo -

pommedujardin (385) 2006-06-22 6:36

Hi Sabyasachi,
Bonjour, je décourvre ta galerie, cette photo, (comme de nombreuses autres de ta galerie) est magnifique !
Jeux de couleurs superbes.
merci pour le partage
POmmedujardin

LEA (5006) 2006-06-22 6:49

very nice capture of the sunset through the flags

dolin (7369) 2006-06-23 3:53

Hi Sabyasachi.
Très bonne utilisation de ce coleil couchant.
J'adore comme il est posé deroère cette voile.
Idée bien pensé et un bon contarste.
Ce ciel est tout simplement superbe.
Bien fait
Fred

(I come back)

simonekarl (404) 2006-06-23 6:43

Hi Sabyasachi, the beauty about this is the fact that it not the standard sunset shot, as you mentioned in you nice informative note. You have contolled the light very well, with the prayer flags almost completly silluetted.
very nice Indeed.

isabela_sor (47748) 2006-06-25 3:42

Prayer flags and the light add a special atmosphere that make the difference. Superb composition. Beautiful atmosphere in the warm tones of the sunset. The whole scene looks mystical. Well seen. Well composed.
All the best
A nice Sunday

tinamunk3 (6408) 2006-06-26 12:22

Hi Sabyasachi,

Wow - what a view! Amazing colours you have captured here. I have never seen a sunset through prayerflags before. Really well captured.

Thank you for a very informative note!!

:) Tina

josepmarin (59385) 2006-06-26 13:04

Hi Sabyasachi,
Fantastic sunset, with the warm colors and ardent tones that give great quality to the photo.
I like the flags in foreground that give an aspect very interesting and different from the classic photos from sunset.
Done very well.
Regards,
Josep

jrzufferey (7305) 2006-07-02 4:31

Très belle image crépusculaire, tu as bien réussi à jouer avec le soleil et les voiles. Ciao/jr

MIG13 (0) 2006-07-08 15:13

Sabyasachi, this pic is also stunning! Great composition and colours! Well done! Best regards! Miguel.

fserajian (2299) 2006-07-09 17:36

Hi Sabyasachi,

Good colours and an excellent POV, very warm, love the sky too. TFS

Fara

jafadabret (56501) 2006-07-10 6:47

Sabyasachi, cette photo est très artistique, j'aime tous ces drapeaux de prières dressés face au soleil comme un hommage à ce dernier. Les couleurs sont superbes et les drapeaux donnent du rythme à cette photo.
Jacques

wildimagination (82) 2006-07-13 15:37

Truly superb image! Beautiful vision of the prayer flags and the sun. By far one of the best I have seen. I love the composition and point of view. The sky is excellent and the breeze carries the flags out perfectly. Absolutley wonderful!

-dave