An old postcard from Bangalore, a photo from Karnataka, Sud

Photographer's Note

On my way through southern India in early 1973 I passed through Bangalore among other places. Bangalore, nowadays known as Bengaluru, is the capital of Karnataka state. It has grown rapidly in recent decades and is now considered the third largest city of India, with a population of well over 8 millions. It is mainly known for its high tech business, including space and aviation industries and IT companies.

I have visited Bangalore briefly several times but never really got to know the city and never found it very interesting. I remember being fairly bored also on this first visit in 1973 and among the few photos I took was this one, showing the Karnataka state parliament, known as the Vidhana Soudha. It was built in the 1950's in a style usually known as Neo-Dravidian. On top of the dome you can see the Indian state emblem showing four lions as they were depicted on the capital of a so called Ashoka pillar (3rd century B.C.) found at Sarnath near Varanasi.

The building as such has not changed much in the 45 years since I took this photo, but it is no longer possible for anyone to just walk into the compound. India has suffered many terrorist attacks and the Vidhana Soudha is now surrounded by a high steel fence equipped with cameras and watch towers.

I don't usually post this kind of photos, but I have located at least one person near the lower right corner. ;-) Another photo guaranteed without any people at all can be seen as a workshop. They were both scanned from Kodachrome slides. Here is a larger version of the main photo.

Lidka, danos, ChrisJ, papagolf21, ikeharel, Cricri, pierrefonds, Fis2, cornejo, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel, jhm, josepmarin, rychem, COSTANTINO, alvaraalto, sacimar, macjake, gervaso trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Lidka (527) 2018-01-13 1:41

Dear Gert!
Fine take.
Interesting architecture.
Fantastic lonely tree.
Nice weather.
Marvelous bright and colours.
Good exposure and capture.
Good contrast and sharpness.
Well done!

BennyV (24993) 2018-01-13 1:45

A very unusual picture for you, Gert!
The palace looks like a fairytale place. I'm not too crazy about the tree bordering the shot. Still great to see it posted, though.

Cheers

Benny

danos (110395) 2018-01-13 1:54

Hello Gert,
impressive the view as the presentation of the Karnataka state parliament that looks so huge for the region,i think.I like the diagonal angle with the impressive architectural style to be unique.

Regards,Danos

pajaran (80927) 2018-01-13 2:03

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici, lepo pokazano mesto i arhitektura, dobra perspektiva i kontrast, lepe boje, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa oblacima.
Lepa fasada i detalji, lepa zgrada Drzavnog parlamenta.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Nice view, interesting and good text ...
Good work with nice photo in the workshop, beautifully shown place and architecture, good perspective and contrast, nice colors, beautifully captured moment with the clouds.
Nice façade and details, beautiful building of the State Parliament.
I wish you a nice day, all the best for a weekend, happy.

ChrisJ (139627) 2018-01-13 2:21

Hello Gert,

The Neo-Dravidian architecture seems to be a hybrid style encompassing elements of ancient Islamic, ancient Greek and distinctly Indian designs. The ancient Greek style was probably brought to India by the British, who were there for 300 years. Tfs!

papagolf21 (131622) 2018-01-13 2:48

Bonjour, cher ami Gert,
A chaque fois, je suis obligé d'aller voir la date de prise de vue pour me rendre compte qu'il s'agit bien d'une photo réalisée en 1973 !
Que dire ? Rien, tout est dit à travers la note et la prise de vue, il ne reste plus qu'à admirer !
Amitiés.
Philippe

Tue (59054) 2018-01-13 2:59

Hello Gert,
Great photo of this large state parliament house, I really like the mix of classic architectural features like the columns and the dome combined with more traditional Indian styles and decorations. I really like how you balanced the composition too, including the tree on the right hand side. The light was excellent as well.
Lars

Nicou (172770) 2018-01-13 3:42

Hello
quel cyprés tout droit vert comme un soldat au garde à vous superbe et quel bel édifice ces colonnes cette entrée sueprbe ces coupoles avec le dorures au sommet ces statues cette place cadrage latéral parfait splendide image.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

jmdias (81207) 2018-01-13 4:57

gert

curious this style of architecture, looks like a greek-roman classic architecture transformed in details by the vedic architecture. very nice framing using well the pov and the cypress. sometimes I be surprised with the not so touristic places.
take care

jorge

Silvio1953 (175461) 2018-01-13 4:57

Ciao Gert, great view of fantastic palace, lovely composition with cypress in FG, excellent perspective, wonderful natural colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Cricri (145228) 2018-01-13 5:55

Hi Gert
Bel angle de prise de ce grand et intéressant bâtiment, super bon travail , tant pour les couleurs, la netteté, bonne note info
Belle journée
cricri

pierrefonds (83793) 2018-01-13 6:49

Hi Gert,

The space in front of the building is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details of the architecture of the Katmataka stae parliament building.. The good luminosity is bringing out the beauty of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Sergiom (107149) 2018-01-13 6:53

Bonjour Gert,

Cette photo de tes archives n'a pas pris une seule ride depuis 35 ans. Toute les couleurs ont gardé leur brillance. Ce château est vraiment très beau dans ce mélange d'architectures.

Amicalement

Serge

Fis2 (127565) 2018-01-13 7:16

Witaj Gert!
Amazing building, makes impression.
Excellent frame and perspective.
I like light and sharpness.
Well done.
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof.

mesutilgim (105832) 2018-01-13 7:44

Hello Gert,
It's allways a good idea to go back to the archives.
This one from 1973 is also a topclass one. I can not explain but there is for shure a difference between an analogue and digital capture.
Many interesting and usefull notes makes your entry a perfect TE job.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

cornejo (56216) 2018-01-13 11:52

Hello Gert, very good photograph of this interesting building, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, depth, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good night and happy Sunday.
Warm greetings from the south of Spain.
Angel.

lousat (111131) 2018-01-13 11:52

Hi Gert,magnificent view of this long building caught in a perfect diagonal perspective,these pics seems not so old,the WS is futuristic watching the contrast between old and modern,very very good quality too. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

worldcitizen (11224) 2018-01-13 12:34

Hello Gert,
This building is worth a view. It's impressive in both its size and style. Personally, I find the tall and skinny tree on the right a bit distracting, but it's an attractive scene. I can imagine just how much the surroundings must have changed over the past few decades.

carlo62 (71200) 2018-01-13 15:15

Ciao Gert
come sempre, la tua visione del mondo è datata di qualche anno e, come sempre, richiama interesse e curiosità.
Il palazzo non è cambiato, come tu dici, ma è cambiata la città e sono cambiate le circostanze, gli attentati condizionano la vita purtroppo.
Altre due immagini piacevoli da condividere con tutti noi.
Buona domenica
Carlo

mcmtanyel (43521) 2018-01-13 21:02

Hello Gert,
Once again, if I had not read your note or looked at the date taken, I would think this was an originally digital photo. It is a beautiful postcard from Bangalore, reminding us of the good old days when the world was more content.
Regards,
MT

jemaflor (116702) 2018-01-13 23:55

Hi Gert,
Nice architecture well presented, a good angle and a composition well seen with the complement of this tree on the right side, perfect sun light capture, tfs.

jhm (178542) 2018-01-14 4:49

Hello Gert,

You knew perfect in 1973 how you took a picture.
Technical today is 100% perfect.
Pleasant building splend architecture.
Composition and presentation be pleasant.
Very well composition, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John

josepmarin (59239) 2018-01-14 4:52

Hi Gert,
I'm still admiring the quality of your scanned slides!
This is a good composition in an efficient framing, you've created an elegant and deep perspective of this beautiful architecture, leading our eyes towards the cypress on the right side, and reaching at the same time a very dynamic photo.
I like the quality of light and colors as well.
Well done.
Friendly regards,
Josep

ikeharel (92356) 2018-01-14 5:43

Its amazing how good scan this picture is, Gert, an immaculate photo, just like a digital era post.
The building is an impressive sight, monumental design and a chosen POV which shows the place in fine manner.
Good afternoon,
Ike

Royaldevon (55118) 2018-01-14 8:05

Hello Gert,

This is a very magnificent building but seems incongruous with the dry, sandy forefront. Such buildings usually have gardens, flowers and maybe, fountains to add to their impressive appearance.
I suppose that now the high fence has superseded this plain frontage.
In some ways, I think we have been lucky to see interesting features before the threat of terrorism or vandalism became a problem. (I have a photograph of me and my husband leaning against Stonehenge, now, it is all fenced off!

The tall tree is well placed in the f/g corner, creating a good sense of depth and makes an effective, diagonal link with the massive, central dome. The details are sharply captured with further close-ups in your w/s.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

rychem (57789) 2018-01-14 8:13

What can I say, simply an imposing building and an excellent photo, great capture, perfect sharpness and beautiful colors of this scanned analog photo, great work
regards Ryszard

COSTANTINO (82632) 2018-01-14 9:34

Hello dear Gert and have a nice new week
every photo of yours is a real book
with impressive informations
this palace looks like afairyplace
I like the mix of architectural details
regards
Costantino

GyurMaster (12410) 2018-01-14 13:03

Dear Gert,

We get,w hat you promise, a nice postcard, but in a good sense. Nice job back then.
I uploaded a BW version as WS to my photo. :)

Best Wishes,
Gy.

alvaraalto (31228) 2018-01-15 2:31

Hello Gert
I spotted two other persons in the scene so it is more crowded near the building then you thought. Your workshop picture is a nice addition and also confused me a little. Old India meets the modern westernized world. That is obvious, but how about the main picture. 1950 is not really the old times and yet the building looks like old history. I’m not a big fan of neo-styles in architecture, but it is also informative the meet this missed chances for some contemporary design.
Have a nice day. Groet Rob

sacimar (34869) 2018-01-15 6:39

Hello Gert,

this is a beautiful postcard, I also like the image in the WS with the detail of the dome, this building is impressive and the photo is very good,

Best regards,

Sergio

macjake (84247) 2018-01-15 13:44

Hi Gert
hahaha...you know how we go back and forth like this Gert. You may not love this scene but you know i'm going to. Thats quite the building, quite the size, quite grandiose. Its almost like something we'd see in a movie or something.

and I can see you being 'bored' with a subject like this, it doesn't tickle your fancy at all, so i appreciate you posting it even if its not your style.

Too bad to hear about it now being behind tall gates and cameras, I guess thats the new age world today. thanks for this one. cheers
Craig

emka (126499) 2018-01-16 0:03

hello Gert,

You often write that you were many times in India. I wonder how many? I had no idea that Bangalore is the third largest city in India. The first two are probably New Delhi and Mumbai, that I visited. I find this building very impressive. amazing style, it has something of colonial architecture, but the domes are typical Indian. interesting picture.

Kind regrads Malgo

fabianoleite (13037) 2018-01-18 13:30

Beautiful castle, from a well chosen diagonal position. The architecture is astounding, and quickly calls our attention. Well done!

kasianowak (12461) 2018-01-20 3:31

hi Gert
The workshop - it's cheating, I'm sure there are some hidden people inside that modern building... ;-)
Bangalore - the very name always made me want to go there, but maybe you are right, maybe I would find it rather uninspiring too.
Exaggarated security is a real issue in the modern India and has put me off going there since my brief visit in 2012 on the way to Bhutan.
Best wishes
Kasia

gervaso (23773) 2018-01-25 6:29

Hello, Gert!

It's really not usual to see a photo with so few people in your gallery, but it's beautiful! The building is really imposing, with wonderful architecture, and was captured here from a very nice POV and with excellent colors! Excellent job!