Vinaya Mathews, PPSA, SPSA
September 2026 - Mylapore Temple Fest
About the Image(s)
In South India, during temple festivals, the deity is carried in a beautifully decorated chariot, followed by a procession of devotees around the temple streets. This photograph was captured during the Mylapore Temple Festival in Chennai.
I took the photograph from the first floor of a nearby building, using the elevated viewpoint to capture the long stretch of devotees and convey the scale and energy of the procession.
Exif f11, 1/250, ISO 200 Canon 6D 24-105 lens
8 comments posted
Vinaya, this is a very colorful and busy image. The cart carrying the Deity in the foreground with a group of privileged people on it, and the thousands of devotees following it, and lots of security personal dressed in khaki color all over the place really give an intense meaning to this holiday for sure. You picked a very good vantage point to demonstrate the immensity of the celebration. Posted: 09/02/2026 13:01:17
Thanks a lot, Isaac Posted: 09/11/2026 10:35:44
Festivals are always good HI images, and this image could qualify either as HI or PJD in general. As far as the image is concerned, I like how you handled depth-of-field, as everything is in focus. Your colors are bold and you captured the emotion of the festival. As Isaac said, it's busy, but that was what this festival was about, and I do not consider that a negative. You've got a very good image. Posted: 09/02/2026 15:32:44
Thank u v much, Alan Posted: 09/11/2026 10:38:00
I think this is an extremely strong PJ image in either category. The depth of field really captures the feeling of the immensity of the crowd, and the dominant element of the platform gives a focal point of the expressions of the men on the float. The tent on the right and the light pole and tree actually provide a nice edge line for the composition, and the pleasant blue sky and clouds creates a nice background that doesn't compete with the colorful crowd. Wonderful image! Posted: 09/09/2026 09:22:20
Thanks a lot, Ardeth Posted: 09/11/2026 10:36:57
(Group 4)
Hello Vinaya, I do agree with Ardeth that this image would work well in both general PJ and HI. I can actually see 2 images, the one you have presented that gives me a story about the festival and the crowds, and another that focuses on the activity in the parade vehicle and tells us more about the people within the vehicle. Its this distinction that will help you determine where the image might fit better.
Start by asking what is the story - for me it's about the parade and the crowds of people, but when you focus in on one part of the image (the group on the vehicle) the story changes to being about the people in the image.
This certainly is an intense (somewhat claustrophobic) image that is colorful, well executed and tells a beautiful story. Posted: 09/11/2026 20:55:33
Start by asking what is the story - for me it's about the parade and the crowds of people, but when you focus in on one part of the image (the group on the vehicle) the story changes to being about the people in the image.
This certainly is an intense (somewhat claustrophobic) image that is colorful, well executed and tells a beautiful story. Posted: 09/11/2026 20:55:33
Thanks a lot, Jen
Posted: 09/12/2026 10:38:35
Posted: 09/12/2026 10:38:35