Unusual View Of The Taj Mahal by David McMahon
In 2003, I spotted this ancient, carved archway in the courtyard of the Taj Mahal during a day trip to Agra from New Delhi. I figured it was perfect to frame this spectacular mausoleum, especially since the sky was very hazy.
I took some shots with the pre-digital SLR I was using at the time (it was 2003, after all) and I was walking away when my young son urged me to take one last shot, as a backup, with a little Ricoh Instamatic. Luckily I followed his advice.
When we got home to Melbourne, I handed in all my film to the Kodak store that always processed my work – and where I had bought all my film for the trip.
They called me later to say one roll of film was completely blank – and I was devastated when we worked out (by process of elimination) which one it was. I had lost every SLR shot of the Taj – except what I had shot of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Instamatic!
Later we realised, when I checked the spools in the Kodak store that it was a reel of film I had bought as a back-up in New Delhi, a few hours before we went to Agra.
Featured in CONTRASTING PERCEPTIONS, July 2009.
Featured in CITYSCAPES AND CITY SKYLINES, March 2010.
Runner-up, UNIQUE BUILDINGS OF THE WORLD, March 2011.
Featured in POSTCARDS – DESTINATIONS, July 2011.
Tags
india, taj, ancient, indian, agra, courtyard, mausoleum, taj mahal, world heritage site, david mcmahon
Comments
great shot
love the way you have captured this
Thank you, JustArt – I still have not recovered from the loss of every image on that film. This shot exists only because of my son, who suggested I use the Instamatic as well ….!!
– David McMahon
Lucky, lucky, lucky!!!
But it was worth it for this shot alone.
Thanks, Roy. I’ll pass that on to my son. This image exists purely because of his suggestion. So glad you like the view.
– David McMahon
Wonderful framed view. So glad the you have this.
Thank you, Wanda. Glad you liked the unusual doorway “frame”. I’m delighted that my son told me to shoot this on the Instamatic, or else I’d have no photographic evidence of the day.
– David McMahon
This shot is so great. Does your son have ESP?
Hi Betty. I’ll have to ask him – stay tuned for the answer! ….. He says he KNEW you would ask that question !!
– David McMahon
Excellent work David.
Thank you, Colin. Glad you liked the shot. I suddenly saw this opportunity to frame a “different” view of the great monument.
– David McMahon
Ah, in this instance ‘Son knew best’! Perhaps one day you can return. A wonderful photograph, beautifully framed from the archway.
Yes, you’re absolutely right, Alixzandra. I’d love to shoot the same scene, in better light, with my digital SLR!
– David McMahon
this is a wonderful perspective of an amazing piece of architecture, you are very lucky to have seen this in reality!!!
Thank you for your very kind comment. It was a great privilege to see the Taj with my wife and children – and I almost had to be given oxygen after we flew back home and I realised I had lost practically every shot I had taken of the amazing marble building.
– David McMahon
Indeed it is! What a great shot!!
Thank you, Helene. Strange to think that my one remaining image of the day is this one, taken on a humble little Instamatic!
– David McMahon
You never know, do you? This is a great image to have, though.
You’re right …. I might find myself back there one day, lining up exactly the same shot!
– David McMahon
Thank you for adding this to Historic Places!
Sorry it’s taken me so long to spot this comment and reply!
– David McMahon