Dharamshala is home to the Dalia Llama, it is the Indian safe-haven in which Tibetan refugees have found some peace to live beyond China's occupation of the Tibetan Homeland, just beyond the first peaks of the Himalayas.
I wasn't sure if black and white was the right choice in such a colourful place, but I like to see what captures the eye when you desaturate the vibrancy. Colours can be distracting. Particularly in India, where it is very easy to stumble across great suffering, great pain.
It opens up the cracks of a fragile society. Dharamshala is a political minefield, it was beautiful, yet tacky, it was spiritual and peaceful yet angry and charged.
All the images were shot on a Canon 500D using a Helios 55mm F2 lens, modified for digital work. I love using cheap vintage glass from the former Soviet Union. They are sharp, fast and have enough quirks for the average hipster. It is also rumoured that a large percentage of them register as radioactive due to the Chernobyl disaster.
When I first visited Asia I had an odd view of Monks. For some reason I had the misconception that they lived in entire silence or solitude, perhaps didn't enjoy the same things that I did, but Dharamshala changed that.
Like mates anywhere in the world they can enjoy a chai tea with friends. We are not that different, us humans, regardless of politics, beliefs, colour and language we are the same, down to the very core of our existence.
Has anyone here been to Dharamshala, I'd love to know what you thought. I'd love even more to see your images or your posts so please link any posts in the description.
Have a nice day,
Cotton.