The Temple Guide - A Distorted Perspective
Vijay Vanaparthy and I are working together on a story. Our quest this morning led us to the historical Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple at Nandi Hils. The temple's seeped in history, dating back to the 9th century AD and has enjoyed the patronage of five successive dynasties in South India.
Shivanna tries to earn a living as a guide at this temple though some say he's lost his sanity making sketches of the innumerable sculptures that you see here. His old, tattered sketchbook bears testimony to his connection to the monument. Sane or not, Shivanna was probably an unforgettable part of a rather enjoyable morning on Bangalore's outskirts. We could only thank him for his company!
I know architecture geeks are likely to feel upset with the rather distorted nature of this image. I know you care less about the distorted human and more about the distorted monument! Before I explain myself, let me first quote someone famous who knows a thing or two about the craft.
"Don't shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like." - David Alan Harvey
So while I do have shots with no distortion, this image somehow provides me a better memory of the scene than the accurate perspective. Shivanna's distorted perception coupled with my distorted visions of history make me enjoy the skew better than the straight line. I leave it to you to decide if my feelings translate in this image.