Monthly Archives: March 2014

Abergavenny Food Festival, 2013.

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Every year, for one weekend, the town of the Welsh valleys goes back to its roots as an historic market town, with stalls lining its atmospheric streets and music and good scents filling the air. It’s the famous Abergaveny food festival and for an all day pass of around £10 you have the freedom to explore a vast array of food types from fish to veg to meat.

Here are a few photos to document this popular, culture-rich event. If you have an event you would like to be photographed for the website or for use in promotional leaflets please contact us at info@zummerzetphotography.co.uk

As you ascend the main street, songs and gigs are taking place with the peaceful, jolly sound of a flute.

Local produce is a key part of the event with many farms and businesses represented from rural areas, including some real characters. To add some spice, cooking demonstrations take place in the old Market hall and even the odd celebrity is waiting to sign a book – if your not distracted on the way with the hugely photographic cakes and breads in the hall.

 

The castle is another area of the festival, which has a very idyllic location with views over the valleys and stalls surrounding the old castle keep. If you’re into documentary photography this is an ideal location to

capture the live atmosphere and vibrancy of a rural community filled with the hussle and bussle of a nationally famous festival. Dates for 2014 are:

20-21 September 2014

 

There will be a welsh cake or two to keep you going!

Click on Abergaveny food festival to go to the official website.

 

This is an extract from abergavenny events website about the food festival ‘Probably Abergavenny’s biggest event, the Abergavenny Food Festival attracts visitors from all over the country. A programme of culinary events are spread out across a number of venues in the town, with demonstrations from top chefs, specialist exhibitors and various entertainments. Described as the ‘Glastonbury of Food Festivals’ (Carole Cadwalladr, Observer Food Monthly), this festival just gets better and better. Expect to try out all kinds of food and drink samples from local and unique suppliers, and definitely expect to be taking plenty home with you!’

RPS – Exhibition 156 – Somerset

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Visit the exhibition at The Museum of Somerset, Taunton between 11 Jan – 8 March 2014.

The Exhibition of 115 framed prints will tour the UK in 2013/2014, showcasing a wide range of genres and styles of photography, with contemporary prints being shown alongside traditional work – from the artistic to documentary, from portraiture to natural history. For more information about the International Print 156 and to view the selected exhibition online, take a look at the competition website www.rps-international.org Entry to the International

Print Exhibition is open to everyone, whether you are a professional, student or amateur photographer and you can enter the new competition now until 18 March 2014! Submit your images at www.rps-international.org –

See more at:http://www.rps.org/events/2014/january/visit-the-rps-international-print-exhibition-156—somerset#sthash.3A8UHacg.dpuf

TRAVEL – Hyderabad – India

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Culture clashes cannot be more extreme than an Indian-English marriage. It was a privilege to be present during the actual night (most of it) and the dress rehearsal and some of the traditions that take place before a marriage. There was an interesting compromise of traditions on both sides, making a fascinating selection of photos taken in Hyderabad, India and put the icing on the cake of yet another truly epic adventure to the great nation of India.

The love of firework and bangers were, as suspected, present in the proceedings and due to tradition and culture there was no ‘And now you can kiss the bride’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stadium setting must have been on the speakers and words were echoed through the speakers making it very hard to hear with strong accents included in that mix. The rich display of flowers, lights and lavish seats was something to behold.

Meanwhile as the outside ceremony continued, cameramen moved around cables snaked across the ground in all directions in a way that would have horrified UK’s health and safety officials! There was so much activity, people moving around and so on, during the actual marriage ceremony; it was so very different to the silence of the ‘special moment’ in most English marriages. As this went on the biggest bats I have ever seen were performing a fly past over the celebration. Dinner was served to the special guests and family at 1.30am after everyone else had feasted. We were even entertained with a slightly intoxicated policeman, who told me that he was a policeman and pointed to his badge, and said ‘I’mm apooliccemannn’.!

At around 3am in the morning we returned
home, I was able to stay in the bride’s house, which provided an interesting point of view of the traditional proceedings. The following day was spent taking some guests to the famous fort Golconda and exploring the famous, busy city.We returned to a slightly colder and much damper England, along with its peaceful driving conditions. 

 


TRAVEL – Coimbatore – India

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It was good to catch up with the orphaned children again; last time I was here was a year ago.

They were all very proud of their new, nearly finished, orphanage and were keen to help in any way they could, moving sand, brick and also singing to help the builders along.

They all seem to be doing well, some have left to either go back to a parent (some are semi orphans) and others have moved out to their own rented house after getting a job.

As always, happiness and joy fills the air and makes you realise what really matters and what you really need to make you happy. Here are a few photos of the children, staging and posing as usual.

As I write, in 2014, they are now in the new orphanage and life will be slightly more comfortable with running water, working toilets and beds!

Images below
Left –   Last time I was at the orphanage I produced a card with Prakash here he proudly holds a copy. Cards are available on the main site under shop.
2nd image down –   One of three brothers Cuberdy helps transport some cement he is the middle man, both his mother and father have died.
3rd image down –   Two of the youngest girls at the orphanage, with major bed-head! At around 7am, Cogle on the right and Diva on the left.
4th image down-   Vodiville, walks back with some of the other children from school, with his TIN TIN bag! Every day is an adventure, he suffers from heart problems, he also cannot write due to his thumbs not being connected with the rest of his hand apart from a thin bit of flesh.
5th image down-   Vodiville, its morning shower time!
6th image down-   A parting gift, some photos for the walls of the new orphanage, kindly sponsored by donations.
7th image down and below-   These last scenes are taken down town in the heart of the city, the BAZZAR

TRAVEL – Jaipur – India

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We arrived in the thick of night, the train was a slow stopping train and, as we left Agraover an hour and thirty min’s late, we arrived into Jaipur very late. We were again asked when we alighted at Jaipur if we needed a taxi, but fortunately our friendly driver was waiting for us. We piled into the old Ambassador, one of India’s famous legends of a car. With the bang of the doors we were off, and with the throaty sound of the engine warming up, we flew down the dark lanes of Jaipur.

The hotel was a real Indian gem, perfectly themed, fit for the Royal Raj. Its claim to fame is, it’s going to be used for the filming of the next ‘Best exotic marigold hotel’. The following morning we took a auto for the day exploring the Pink City which was a little bit of an anti-climax.  However, the Palace with its lavish doorways and decorative building style was well worth a visit; the image used on Lonely Planet guides front cover is taken here at Jaipur’s city palace.

 

 

The city struggles to cope with the large volumes of traffic trying to squeeze through its ancient archways and streets. On the way to the tombs our auto nearly took the head off of a camel as we raced in front of the camel and its rider. The area is well known for its camel fairs. Fortification lines the surrounding hills;

I would imagine it’s similar to the Great Wall of China – just not the same length. When we arrived at the tombs we were the only ones there, making it very strange from the busy street of the city below. It’s a beautiful complex of tomb memorials but is obviously off the beaten track for most tourists.

 

The climb up though the pass through the mountains and gateway to Amber is most impressive; the view of Amber Fort is something to behold with the lake below.  There is a second fort above the main fort with the small tower nestling in the valley, surrounded on every side with an extensive wall. After the steep hill climb the palace is full of amazing photographic opportunities from its impressive arches, gateways and rooms, which fill this heavily defended and luxurious palace. A secret passage way leads to the second fort.  This is a mile or so uphill, and if you’re on your feet all day and in the Indian sun, this maybe just a little too much!

t you get an auto for the day this is the point they may wish to take you to buy gifts, it may be interesting but they will push for a sale. Be a hard barterer, they may say it’s their only sale but it’s not! The right price is around 75% less than what they first quote you; the more of a tourist you look the higher the price!

We returned back for a great meal at the hotel’s sister hotel. I cannot rate it more highly and it is a definite must to stay there if you are in Jaipur.