So with that, we’re proud to present you a four-part series of our visit.  Each Wednesday in the month of August, we’ll post a series of pictures that cover the entirety of the fifteen days.  Thanks for visiting the site and we hope you enjoy the pictures.

Part One: “School Chauma“
Part Two:  “Jungle Book”
Part Three: “1 of 1.2 Billion”
Part Four: “Indo-Scapes”

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“Ind0-Scapes” – Part Four of a our “Views from India” four-part series.

Blue Lotus DC would like to thank you for checking out of “Views from India” series.  Just like any place on this Earth, you can find some really cool things to see and photograph.  So with that, we’d like to present some pictures of places that set the scene for daily life.  We thought we’d take a artistic approach to this final set.  The idea behind the pictures is to add by subtraction.  Sort of like a “fill-in-the-blank” if you will.

Anyways, to the picture show!!!!

Church: Our Lady of Mercy, Potomac, Maryland

Reception: Crowne Plaza, Silver Spring, Maryland

DJ: Dan Goldman, Bialek’s DJ

So with that, we’re proud to present you a four-part series of our visit.  Each Wednesday in the month of August, we’ll post a series of pictures that cover the entirety of the fifteen days.  Thanks for visiting the site and we hope you enjoy the pictures.

Part One: “School Chauma“
Part Two:  “Jungle Book”
Part Three: “1 of 1.2 Billion”
Part Four: “Indo-Scapes”

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“1 of 1.2 Billion” – Part Three of a our “Views from India” four-part series.

Did you know that of India’s estimated 1.2 billion people, nearly 40% of them are under the age of 15?  What does that mean for the future?  By 2030, it’s estimated that India will add 241 million people to their workforce, nearly 223 million more workers than the next developing nation (Brazil at 18.4 million).  While most people view such a trend favorably for the economy of India, the current pressure on the country’s infrastructure, school systems, and food resources is alarming.

]]> http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-three/feed/ 3 http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-two/ http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-two/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:11:39 +0000 Amit http://bluelotusdc.com/?p=1179
A few months back, Blue Lotus Photography visited India, the birthplace of our parents. We planned for a total of fifteen days in the country with hopes of exploring new terrain- both literally and figuratively. The itinerary was well-balanced: go hard for three days, relax one. Rinse and repeat.

So with that, we’re proud to present you a four-part series of our visit.  Each Wednesday in the month of August, we’ll post a series of pictures that cover the entirety of the fifteen days.  Thanks for visiting the site and we hope you enjoy the pictures.

Part One: “School Chauma“
Part Two:  “Jungle Book”
Part Three: “1 of 1.2 Billion”
Part Four: “Indo-Scapes”

—

“Jungle Book” – Part Two of a our “Views from India” four-part series.

In August of 1894, Rudyard Kipling published The Jungle Book, a collection of short stories involving a myriad of animals and their human counterparts.  All of the short stories take place in India, so we thought it was appropriate we name Part Two of our series “Jungle Book.”

Enjoy the picture show.  Part Three to follow next week.

]]> http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-two/feed/ 4 http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-one/ http://bluelotusdc.com/2010/08/views-from-india-part-one/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:19:24 +0000 Amit http://bluelotusdc.com/?p=963
A few months back, Blue Lotus Photography visited India, the birthplace of our parents. We planned for a total of fifteen days in the country with hopes of exploring new terrain- both literally and figuratively. The itinerary was well-balanced: go hard for three days, relax one. Rinse and repeat.

So with that, we’re proud to present you a four-part series of our visit.  Each Wednesday in the month of August, we’ll post a series of pictures that cover the entirety of the fifteen days.  Thanks for visiting the site and we hope you enjoy the pictures.

Part One: “School Chauma“
Part Two:  “Jungle Book”
Part Three: “1 of 1.2 Billion”
Part Four: “Indo-Scapes”

—

Welcome to “School Chauma,” Part One of a our “Views from India” four-part series.

The first order of business upon arriving into India was visiting School Chauma, which is located in Gurgaon, Haryana and operated by the Indian government. Gurgaon has become a hotbed for Information Technology development that has been a key driver in the recent economic successes achieved by India as a whole.

Location of School Chauma:

View Larger Map

But there’s still lots to be done. For example, many of the government-run schools in India are in poor condition with inadequate resources.  Thus despite the huge gains made by India, far too many children remain without the opportunity for a meaningful education.   Our close family friends own an IT company, KMG, and have used their resources to sponsor School Chauma, and give back to their community by improving the quality of the school’s facilities, faculty, and educational materials. Blue Lotus was honored to visit the school to see its progress, but more so to see the faces that fill the school.

Here are a few lines from “On Love” and some pictures from the session.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

Liz Phu, originally from California, got a weekend visit from her parents and little sister.  She made the best of the brief visit by scheduling a Sunday morning photo shoot with us at the National Arboretum.

There’s a lot you can get accomplished before brunch.  Here is just one example:

We ventured out to the Sculpture Garden in DC last Friday to get some rest and relaxation.  We shot a Rehearsal Dinner in Bethesda before coming out, so we were only able to catch the last hour or so.  In all honesty, that’s about all I could take.  Unless you get there at 4:30, I don’t think you can be comfortable (see:  quit day job.  invest in blanket).

Regardless, some friends of mine were able to snatch some “seats” next to the “pool.”  Before I even knew it, the shoes were off and the sangria was flowing spilled.

If you have a chance to head down for Jazz in the Garden, arrive early, bring a blanket, (secret:  bring your own wine discreetly), and don’t be surprised if dinner and drinks follow.  This Friday (June 18th) is a Father’s Day Tribute by Ron and Ryan Diehl.  I don’t know them but I’m sure it’s gonna get emotional a la Carl Thomas.

Here are a few snaps I took before the sangria went dry (BONUS! After the still shots, peep the Carl Thomas video for emotional. SHOUT OUT TO STACEY DASH!):

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As promised:

and now “they” look like this:

These days I am focusing on Blue Lotus Photography, working part-time with my father, and keeping up with my 2 teen clients from The Children’s Law Center who I still represent in a pro bono capacity.  My good friend, Lesley, first introduced me to the concept of intellectual ADD.  I think I have that, and am now in a position where each day is fairly different from the next.  In order to stay on track, I made a list of 101 things I want to accomplish in the next 1001 days, which is approximately 2.75 years.  I came across this idea reading other photographers’ blogs, and I am thankful for the inspiration.  So here it goes…

1. Donate hair to Locks of Love
2. Learn how to do a headstand and hold for 30 seconds
3. Volunteer weekly for six months
4. Read 12 classic literature books in 12 months
5. Take my parents to Italy
6. Take a picture a day for 30 days
7. Buy produce from a community supported agriculture group
8. Teach photography to someone
9. Try a new cuisine every week for 7 weeks
10. Read the newspaper everyday for 30 days
11. Go camping
12. Start a supper club (aka “book club for foodies”)
13. Donate blood
14. Shoot an engagement session at a winery
15. Buy a pair of Converse All Stars
16. Attend a WPPI convention (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International)
17. Get personal wedding video edited
18. Cook every recipe in a cookbook
19. Create 2 new sample albums
20. Edit and organize all my personal photographic images
21. Own a piece of original art
22. Go on all the walking tours in the AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, DC
23. Visit ten museums in DC
24. Learn how to garden from my Mom
25. Make blankets for friends and families’ new arrivals
26. Buy a plant and keep it alive for at least 6 months
27. Provide pro bono photography coverage to a non-profit
28. Buy a lottery ticket
29. Keep a journal for a year
30. Tailgate at a sporting event
31. Provide free wedding photography coverage to someone who can’t afford it
32. Take a dance class with my husband
33. Print 101 photos and give to family and friends
34. Have candlelit dinners at home 12 times
35. Organize home closets
36. Help my mother organize her home closets
37. Take an advanced photography workshop
38. Create a photo album for my 4 nieces and nephews
39. Landscape our balcony
40. Go on a sailboat
41. Video record my grandmother telling stories
42. Download all CDs into Itunes library
43. Download my Dad’s CDs onto his Ipod
44. Take a boxing class
45. Make a list of favorite locations to shoot in Washington, DC
46. Take Mom to the spa
47. See a play on Broadway
48. Host a dinner party
49. Learn and write down 10 of my mother’s recipes
50. Workout for 60 hours over a period of 60 consecutive days
51. See U2 live
52. Buy a Holga camera
53. Attempt to ski or snowboard (and enjoy après ski if no broken limbs, or maybe especially if broken limbs)
54. Make a wedding photo album for my in-laws
55. Run a 10K – registered for the Veterans Day 10K
56. Go to the top of the Washington Monument
57. Drink only water or green tea for 7 days (6.28.2010)
58. Improve our website search optimization
59. Print and hang photos in our home
60. Attend nephew’s piano recital
61. Learn how to make 5 cocktails
62. Attend a DC Council meeting
63. Make a photo album from our September 2009 trip to Turkey, Cairo, and Greece
64. Make a photo album from our honeymoon to South Africa
65. Take a road trip and stop along the way at cool places to take photos
66. Learn to drive stick shift with husband
67. Go to yoga twice/week for 10 weeks in a row
68. Make a will
69. Travel to Brazil
70. Go on a service trip
71. Learn how to tie a double windsor
72. Visit the Pacific Northwest
73. Be able to do 50 pushups in a row
74. Help parents with their will/estate planning
75. Go without television for 7 days
76. Learn all I can about Blackjack and then go to Las Vegas
77. Educate self more about investing and save to invest in stocks, mutual funds, etc
78. Take a course to help parents with their business
79. Write three letters of praise about good service
80. Learn to drive 50cc scooter
81. Find the perfect red lipstick
82. Get husband to teach me tennis
83. Blog weekly for 6 consecutive months
84. Start or join a book club
85. Take dog, Monte, to doggy charm school
86. Go horseback riding
87. Donate 101 of my possessions
88. Go sledding
89. Read the Bhagavad Gita
90. Watch 3 sunrises
91. Network with 3 wedding professionals
92. Submit photos to be published in a wedding blog/magazine
93. Do karaoke (5.21.2010)
94. Apply for membership in WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association)
95. Learn how to make lemon meringue pie
96. Learn how to make crème brulee for my Dad
97. Take photos of my parents
98. Take photos of my in-laws
99. Make a slide show with my favorite photos from 2010
100. Donate $25 to charity for every task not completed (if publishing this on the blog wasn’t incentive enough)
101. Celebrate the preceding accomplishments and start a new list…

My cousin, Priya, was such a stunning bride.  Her groom, Ricky, also not so bad   Together, they celebrated their marriage with the utmost love and sincerity at the St. Regis Monarch Beach and the Richard Nixon Library in Southern California.  It was an amazing weekend!  Congratulations Priya and Ricky!  Come visit us in Washington, DC soon!

Only a few lucky brides get to see their groom’s baraat!  Priya’s room had a balcony overlooking the action.

Everyone knows that it takes the right amount of ingredients to make something good. And even with thousands of books, hundreds of classes, and one Martha Stewart, the perfect recipe for anything always requires some heart.

And so, Pooja and I ventured out to The US National Arboretum in Northeast Washington, DC with the hopes of finding the right ingredients for our Engagement Session with Tiffany & Johnny.

So what did we find?

Overcast skies turning clear (think fluffed egg whites)
A pinch of Blossom Seekers (think vanilla extract)
One Cup Tiffany
Two Tablespoons Johnny
and…
One pair of Jordans

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To get their pictures taken

Jun had a go despite the snow

And Jane was quietly smitten

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Indeed!  Jun and Jane braved the elements from the January 30th snowstorm to get some pictures taken pre-matrimony.  Thank goodness everyone made it there safely despite the snow drifts, closed roads, and this guy:

Blue Lotus Photography met the lovely couple at the Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC.  Although it may seem as if the weather scared us indoors, Jun and Jane picked the museum themselves.  Blue Lotus Photography had never shot a couple inside a museum so it offered us a new and exciting opportunity.

Admittedly, it was a lot a fun.  Art alone is something to be much appreciated.  When you combine a human element to something abstract, it offers a new meaning not only to the artwork, but to the people standing in front of it.

We were certain to take full advantage of the opportunity bestowed upon us on that snowy day.  Jim Kosek would be proud.

Check out some photos: