Photography workshop by Canon along with Nature wanderers.

Go Wild with Canon and Nature Wanderers – Calendar 2010-2011
Does nature and wildlife photography fascinate you? Are you looking for a platform to learn from and network with nature photographers? Do you shoot great pictures and want to showcase your skills to the world?

Canon along with Nature Wanderers brings to you a series of exciting photography cum nature workshops that give you the opportunity to explore and shoot the unique wilderness of India. Be a part of the Go Wild series that comprise FOUR highly informative and thrilling workshops and of-course CANON WILD CLICKS – Edition II (India’s only Live photography contest) – that would test your skills as a photographer in defined situations in the wild.

Just pick and choose your preferred event, block your calendar and avail early registration discounts!

The ‘Go Wild’ Calendar

17th July 2010
Workshop on post-processing of wildlife and nature shots using
Canon DPP and Photoshop in Delhi
Registration fee – INR 2000

21-23 October, 2010
Go Wild Workshop in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (2 nights 3 days)
Normal Registration – INR 9000
Early Registration – INR 8500

19-22 November, 2010
Go Wild Workshop in Corbett National Park – Dhikala zone (3 nights,  4 days)
Normal Registration – INR 17000
Early Registration – INR 15300

26-29 January, 2011
Canon Wild Clicks – Edition II in Ranthambore National Park (India’s only LIVE photography contest – 3 nights 4 days)
Normal Registration – INR 20000
Early Registration – INR 18000

19-23 February, 2011
Go Wild Workshop in Kaziranga National Park (4 nights 5 day)
Normal Registration – INR 20000
Early Registration – INR 18000

April, 2011 (date to be announced)
Go Wild Workshop in Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks (4 nights, 5 days)
Normal Registration INR 25000
Early Registration INR 22500
Cost inclusive of workshop registration, accommodation in luxury resorts across all national parks, all meals, gypsy safaris, guide and naturalists fees, elephant safari (if applicable), park entry fees, pick and drop, inter-park transfers in case 2 destinations are covered.

Above cost is for Indian nationals. Participants can pay 50% of the fees as booking advance and the remaining 50% prior to departure for a particular event. Registration fees is non-refundable.

Event Snapshots

• Workshops to include photography tips
• Sessions on knowing your camera
• Wildlife film shows
• Interactions with ace naturalists, environmentalists and photographers
• Tiger workshops – learn about tiger behaviour from our experts
• Events open for non-Canon users
• Network & Learn – Ongoing discussions with fellow photographers
• Test Canon equipments by using our demo Canon DSLR bodies and lenses
• Touch and Feel of the dream Canon equipments (high end bodies and lenses)
• Special discounts on Canon equipments for workshop participants
• NW-Canon events are covered by leading media groups (including photography magazines) and participant pictures are displayed in print & electronic media

Early registration ends on August 31, 2010

For queries, please contact: info@naturewanderers.com or call +91 9871367945 / +91 9871384780

Our Partners

• Earth Matters Foundation

• Kunzum – India’s leading travel blog

• Infinity Group of Resorts

View event details… http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/4729279331_e3c8e06162_b.jpg

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The Himalayan Marmot is the new mascot for Kunzum - Give it a name and win a book

The Himalayan Marmot is the new mascot for Kunzum.com.  Do you like him? But we want to give this cuddly mammal from the squirrel family a name. He has feelings too – and would like an identity of his own. Can you suggest one?

If you do, and we select it, you get to win a copy of Ajay Jain’s book, Postcards from Ladakh. Delivered anywhere in India where courier services work.

All answers must be left in the comments form only. And the competition is open till we find a suitable name. The early bird gets the book. Your time starts now!

Kunzum Gallery now has a bricks and mortar presence in Delhi’s fashion district of Hauz Khas Village.

The gallery is currently displaying a collection of Ajay Jain’s travel photographs from Ladakh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Prices start from a modest Rs. 750 and go up to Rs. 25,000 for select limited edition prints. If you are planning any festive gifting, or want to add something to your home or office, check out the gallery for many attractive options. You can even preview the collection here.

Address: T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110 016, India
Timings: Monday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Call +91.99100 44476 / +91.9650 702 777 for further information, directions or to visit at hours other than mentioned above.

There are many ways to reach Leh from Delhi, but the most enjoyable way is to do so by road. If you can drive the distance of about 1075 kilometers, taking at least 3-4 days, it is sure to be an experience you will cherish for life. And try to drive yourself; there is a different thrill to it than being driven by someone else.

I did so myself in July 2008, and the journey came with some learnings as it has its own challenges. Here is a practical plan you could follow to get from Delhi to Leh:

Day 1:
Leave for Kullu or Manali. It will take about 12 hours to cover the 550 km to Kullu via Ambala, Chandigarh, Roopnagar (Ropar), Bilaspur and Mandi. You could carry on for another 50 km to Manali. A night halt in either of these towns is fine.

Day 2:
Head for Jispa, located about 145 km from Manali via Rohtang Pass. The 51 km drive from Manali to Rohtang can take about three hours; it is a steep ascent, the road quality is below par and traffic can halt at places due to landslides or broken down vehicles. Continue a further 65 km to Keylong, but don’t forget to tank up at Tandi (about 9 km before Keylong) as the next fuel station is only 30 km before Leh. (It is always a good idea to carry some extra fuel in a jerry can in case Tandi is closed or out of fuel, or you decide to take some detours). About 16 km from Rohtang, also watch out for a junction where you keep left; the right turn will take you to Lahaul and Spiti Valley. From Rohtang, the drive to Jispa can take about three hours. But do provision for a lunch break too; your options are either the shacks along the way or some restaurants in hotels in Keylong.

Jispa, located at about 10,890 feet, is a strongly recommended stop to get acclimatized to the subsequent higher altitude regions you would be staying at in Ladakh. You may even be advised to spend two nights here to get better acclimatized, but the jury will be out on this one for a long time as altitude sickness follows few rules and trends; the weakest looking of the pack might sail through, while the highly experienced travellers may just take ill anytime.

Day 3
Now this is the tricky part: Do you make a run for Leh, take a night halt at Sarchu about 87 km from Jispa or camp somewhere between Sarchu and Leh? Here are some points to consider:

• At about 14,200 feet altitude, Sarchu is more acclimatization than you may need. It is very cold here, with strong windy conditions giving even camp managers who reside there constant headaches. Accommodation is all tented, and toilets are not attached, and it is not a cheerful thought walking out in the middle of the night with howling winds around. But Sarchu is also the only place between Jispa and Leh where you can organized accommodation; your only other option is to pitch tent on the way or crash at any of the shacks on the way who provide a bed for Rs. 50.
• You can make a run for Leh from Jispa, about 325 km away. It should take you about 11 hours but here is a warning: You may not want to be driving in the dark should you get delayed due to traffic snarls, road blocks, breakdowns or any other reason. And the drive from Jispa to Leh is worth stopping many times over to admire the natural features as well as to take pictures. Why would you want to keep moving when the whole idea of a road trip to Leh was to enjoy the drive?

I personally fell ill at Sarchu, and had a tough night with its symptoms. The next day too was a difficult time driving, and it was only when I received medical attention and a dose of oxygen from an Army doctor at Pang on the way to Leh did I feel normal.

What would I do in the future and suggest you do too? Stay at Jispa, and make a very early start (say at 5:00 am) and make a run for Leh. Make sure you get a full night’s sleep to be well rested for the long drive ahead. It may be safe to assume that the chances of falling ill, even when going through high altitude areas, are low as long as you keep moving. Starting early will give you a cushion for delays and you can still make it to Leh while there is daylight. Even if night falls, but if you are within 60-70 km of Leh, it is all right as the terrain is mostly flat and more densely populated (in case you need assistance).

Day 4
You need this day in case you take a night halt between Jispa and Leh. Or if you had stayed at Jispa for two nights.

Going to Tso Moriri before Leh
If you intend going to Tso Moriri en route to Leh, it is a long drive from Jispa and a night halt in Sarchu may be required. But remember, Tso Moriri is at an even higher altitude than Sarchu and you may feel ill as some travellers do. Do take your precautions.

Some more points to consider

• All driving times mentioned above are without a provision for stopping to take photographs.
• When you are short of time, like when you have a full day drive planned, it may be a good idea to carry some food packed at the last hotel you stayed in. You will then not waste time looking for food, and be able to use that saved time for photographs or to make up for lost ground in case of unforeseen delays.

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Boys will be boys, even when they are being groomed to be Buddhist Lamas. When I started taking pictures of some young Lamas at the Karsha Monastery located near the town of Padum in the Zanskar Valley (in the Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir), not only did they start posing specially for the camera, they also started jostling to be in the camera frame exclusively. It led to a bit of friendly bashing, adding to the fun of the afternoon while I was there. Boys will remain boys.

Enjoy the images by clicking here. If you wish to order any prints, or get the rights for any of these images, write to me at ajay@ajayjain.com. These are all available in high resolution if need be.

These two towns are located in the north Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, and are popular for being home to the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan Government in exile.

This video will take you through some of the images of the place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ZAnNo18xE

This is a video of images taken at Chandni Chowk, the oldest market in Delhi, and created by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan who also built the Taj Mahal. I would have liked to add more text to it but shall do so in another version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yARnEUiDk0c

If you enjoyed reading the post on the trek to Triund from Mcleodganj in the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, (click here if you missed it), then you can enjoy the video below to experience it visually for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYhtjN6nJ8