Consoling at the National Roller Skating Competitions.

January 28, 2018January 29, 2018 Shutterbug IyerLeave a comment

A competitor consoling another — A competitor from Maharashtra consoling another

You need your friends more at the time of disappointments than at victories. So, no fair weather friends.

Here a competitor from Maharashtra is seen consoling a co-competitor after an unexpected elimination. at the National Roller Skating Competition, Besant Nagar.

Rudyard Kipling’s poem,”If…” and its lines emblazoned at Wimbledon entrance come to mind:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

For a National Level event, it did not attract much media coverage as far as I know. A search on the web showed the venue of the competition as Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Was it a last-minute switch to Besant Nagar due to bureaucratic bungling?

65-year-old Hair Cutting Saloon

January 27, 2018December 9, 2019 Shutterbug Iyer3 Comments

Jothi Hair Dressers started in 1952 still continues on the busy Roypettah High Road just near the Police Station despite all the developments around it. The coziness and clutter of the 65-year-old saloon still attract some regular customers as seen here. Mathi, the current owner continues the tradition.

No wonder it attracted the photographers form the Photowalk too.

How to photograph in a confined and cluttered room

Today’s Chennai photo blog is from the Chennai Photowalk #118 Royapettah

‘Heritage’ becomes part of History

January 23, 2018January 22, 2018 Shutterbug IyerLeave a comment

IMG_20180118_180024

Heritage Fresh name board on the sidewalk

The Heritage Fresh chain of retail outlets owned by the family of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu has been taken over by the Future Group of Mr. Kishore Biyani (Big Bazaar).

Now my neighborhood Heritage Fresh store has been brought under the Nilgiris brand. Nilgiris was taken over by the Future Group some time ago.

The Heritage name board lies unattended on the sidewalk, while the new neon-lit Nilgiris board glows.

Change is inevitable?!

IMG_20180118_180118 — The new Nilgiris board

The Jain Temple

January 22, 2018 Shutterbug Iyer5 Comments

Jain temple on Ammai Appan Street, Royapettah

Jain Temples, especially those in Gujarat and Rajasthan have very intricate marble works. This Jain temple tucked away in the narrow Ammai Appan Street Royapettah looked very simple. However, on closer look, it appeared more interesting. A changed perspective, little bit of tweaking on LR/ Silver Efx 2 gave the stunning effect above.

Incidentally, I have lived in the nearby Balaji Nagar for almost 30 years but have not seen this temple just a kilometer away!

The Young Swami

January 20, 2018 Shutterbug Iyer2 Comments

Three Ayyappa Swamis including a toddler relaxing near the Kapliswarar Temple, Mylapore.

Bioscope returns

January 17, 2018January 22, 2018 Shutterbug Iyer4 Comments

: modern bioscope

In the days of Multiplexes and Netflix, it was interesting to see a modern version of the old bioscope. Bioscope was a staple in most temple festivals of olden days. Short film strips were exhibited in a small box. Viewers looked through peepholes and lenses.

I saw a modern version of it in a recent Pongal vizha in a suburban school. Interestingly, the box had a feed from a laptop placed on top. Happy to see that it was popular enough among the children to pay Rs 10 for a short peep. The exhibitor looked quite happy too and so were the curious viewers.

I also recall the old Tamil film song, “ Paaru, paaru nalla paaru, bioscope padatha paaru….“ click for YouTube

Selfie on the Beach

January 16, 2018January 14, 2018 Shutterbug Iyer2 Comments

Morning selfie at the Elliot's Beach — Morning selfie at the Elliot’s Beach

Anytime is selfie time; any place is selfie place. Morning scene at Elliot’s Beach, Besant Nagar on Pongal day.

Pongal Colours

January 15, 2018January 14, 2018 Shutterbug IyerLeave a comment

Colour powders being sold at a village like fair arranged by a school 2 days before Pongal.

Earlier only natural colours were used for kolam (or Rangoli). Nowadays synthetic colours are not uncommon though awareness of the danger of synthetic dyes is increasing.

Happy Pongal

January 14, 2018January 13, 2018 Shutterbug Iyer6 Comments

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Pongal.

Yesterday was Bhogi and the whole city was engulphed in one gigantic fog. I went for my customary walk at 7-30 a.m. The visibility was near zero but life went on.

I captured some of the everyday scenes in the smog.