Personal – Jumping Jacks

Friends posing for a shot at sunset time when the orange rays of the sun were falling on the green pine trees in a forest in Shimla (Himanshu Khagta)

Friends posing for a shot at sunset time when the orange rays of the sun were falling on the green pine trees in a forest in Shimla

It was a beautiful evening when we were strolling in the forests near Shimla. This small hill station is suffering from negative growth and unplanned development. So to find peace we usually travel around Shimla and spend some time with the nature. We were going back home when this shot happened. The sun was about to hide behind the mountains and a filtered orange light from the sun fell on the trees.

It was something we had never seen before. The darkness of the orange was blending perfectly with the green of the pine trees. I wanted to capture it so I asked my friends to pose in front of this beautiful natural background. I randomly asked them to jump and to capture the moment I increased the ISO as the light was very low and to freeze the frame a fast shutter speed was required. All went well and the print looks fabulous.

Winter Sunrise Trek at Shimla

 (Photographer: Himanshu Khagta)

As the snow melted in the mountain town of Shimla, which was covered in few inches of snow after many years, I, being accompanied by three of my friends went out to see the morning rays of the sun falling on the city.

It was 6 am in the morning when the phone rang. After ignoring it for some time, I picked it up to hear the happy and enthusiastic  voice of my friend Harsh Kalta, who seemed to be impatient and excited at the same time about the trek told me that he had already called Khachi (Ankur Khachi) and he is also geting ready. So, from this point of view, I had no excuses. I had slept for less then an hour, because I helped my friend (Aasheesh Mehta), to design a website about metal. So, I told him to wake up and get ready. He was not in a very good mood and he also had a strong cold.

Around 6 30 am, after meeting Khachi we picked up Kalta and went straight to Tara Devi, a temple situated in front of Shimla, which offers a great view of snow-clad mountains around the town. Strangely, it is impossible to see them from the Ridge of Shimla. We reached the temple and started gazing at the town. the main reason is that some weeks ago when I posted a photography of Shimla ( below ), some ignorant people thought that the mountains never existed because they have never seen it, and said that the mountains have been added by me with a photoshop. I really disliked it. For the people who still don’t believe it. I would advice them to visit Tara Devi and turn your face towards right. Simple. Isn’t it ?

Shimla with Snow-clad mountains

Picture of Shimla with Snow-clad mountains i took last year during sunset

So, we started our trip to a secret location nearby, explored by us last year. Unbelievably, Aasheesh got strenght and got back his natural mood and claimed that he cannot recollect the journey we just did.

We had pur picnic on the cold grass and my friends collected dry wood and lit a fire. I was thinking about  the curry rice that is being served in Langar at Tara Devi Temple (MANDHIR) every Sunday and Tuesday. We stood their untill 1 pm when we were sure that the langar was ready for us.

Here are some photographs. Hope you like them.

Cheers!


Winter Sunrise Trek at Shimla – Images by Himanshu Khagta