Golden Temple
Sikh's Temple in Amritsar city, Punjab, India. It was a great experience to view such a beautiful masterpiece at night. Public claims it is made out of rea...
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Sikh's Temple in Amritsar city, Punjab, India. It was a great experience to view such a beautiful masterpiece at night. Public claims it is made out of real gold.
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Apr, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Darbar Sahib, informally referred to as the Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating). The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay a visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas. There are several rituals performed every day in the Golden Temple as per the historic Sikh tradition. These rituals treat the scripture as a living person, a Guru out of respect. Amritsar (literally, the tank of nectar of immortality) was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, designed Harmandir Sahib to be built in the center of this tank, and upon its construction, installed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, inside Harmandir Sahib. The Harmandir Sahib complex is also home to the Akal Takht (the throne of the timeless one, constituted by the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind). While the Harmandir Sahib is regarded as the abode of God's spiritual attribute, the Akal Takht is the seat of God's temporal authority.Time
I was going to Amritsar from Manali. I left from Manali in the afternoon hoping that I will reach by 10.00 p.m. and I can pay a visit to Golden Temple. Because of the rocky terrain and rough road condition, I reach my hotel at about 1 a.m. in Amritsar. It was so tiring, my wife, friends and I wanted to sleep, but the next day we plan to leave in the afternoon and I do not know when I'll get this opportunity to take it at night. So I kept my stuff and I forced my friends to follow me to the temple at about 2 a.m. We had to walk for 30 minutes to the temple as it was too late and we couldn't get any taxis, and our driver slept cause he has to drive us again later. We reached between 2.30 - 3.00 a.m. I didn't check exact time.Lighting
No additional lighting was used. It was amazing with the lights from the lamps they have fixed and the reflecting glows out of the gold coating.Equipment
Canon 600D, 18-55mm kit lens. I brought my tripod with me but I was not allowed to use it. I was taking a long exposure and the guards came to me and mentioned that I can't use a tripod without management's permission. They thought I was taking video cause the only word they said was "no video" again and again. I tried to explain that I was taking still picture but the guards don't speak English.Inspiration
I always see this temple in T.V. or the internet. Who would have thought that I'll visit it one day? So I don't want to miss the chance I had to take my own shot of the Temple.Editing
Yes, I did but not much, just adjusting some brightness, contrast and color corrections in Lightroom.In my camera bag
My one and only camera, Canon 600D, Canon 18-55mm kit lens, Canon 55-250mm kit lens, Canon 50mm 1.8, YN 685 Speedlite, 2 memory cards, few batteries for camera & flash, chargers and cleaning kits. Tripod will be hanging outside. I got my camera as a birthday gift, so I never purchased a professional camera, as for me it looks almost the same with a Canon 7D. It's just post processing that makes the difference. I take all my commercial & personal photos with my 600D and the images turn out very good.Feedback
You have to spend a lot of time. Tired or not, go and get the shot you want to take, you can rest anytime but opportunity knocks only once.
