I Know that Elephant!

Driving along, traffic jam – policeman let us through and would you believe it – a perahera! Up ahead was a large red cloud.  There was something familiar about it’s long tail and luxuriant bottlebrush hairs.  (Leaning out the car window, passing in single file – there’s no question – this had to be a portrait shot!) As we drew level, I could see his (diminutive) mahout, steel-grey hair, head cocked a little to the side, looking in toward his charge’s front feet.  Ah, yes, I recognise this man and the way he walks – I was right:  I know that elephant!

I’ve got loads to tell you, and show you – from what I plan (hope) will be the first of my two ‘farewell’ trips – the island turned it on for me and I’ve still not downloaded all the photographs I took while I was away.  I have to dash off to the bank and attend to ‘stuff’ so can’t stay long, but there’re a couple of other shots I can’t resist showing you – since we’re looking at how the crop can change, or embellish the ‘story’ of a photograph. Staying with the perahera for a moment longer, I love how the portrait crop highlights that small girl, in the zone and how nobody can take their eyes off her!

The next day, up in the craggy southern mountains, deep in tea country I took my courage in both hands and stood above the tea, looking right down onto it.  You know, that picturesque tea country masks just how steep most of those tea gardens are – so next time you brew a cuppa, give a thought for the brave plucker and the fortitude (and long Achilles tendons) she has, picking those two leaves and a bud …

Hope to see you all later in the week, if not, have a great weekend and I’ll try to catch up before I leave Paradise (for another type of paradise) at 1am, on the 25th!