Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

[Chris Dodkin]

Located in Chino Hills, California, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a traditional Hindu place of worship.

Derived from the Sanskrit word Mandira, Mandir is a house of prayer that inspires faith in God and guides an individual towards spirituality. A Mandir instills basic virtues of humanity such as forgiveness, honesty, unity, friendship, humility, tolerance, patience, sacrifice, and charity. For countless generations, Mandirs have served society through spiritual
and humanitarian activities.

The main building is still under construction, but is already extremely impressive - like a piece of India transported to California.

Haveli - Also housing the visitors center

Intricate Peacock Caving on the Haveli Doors

Mandir and Star Pool

Ishan Statue

Stone Flower Motif

Narayan Nara Jay

Mandir Statue

All shots X-Pro1 and 23mm Lens

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Very nice, Chris. I notice you like portrait format with this lens. The Mandir and Star Pool shot does seem to swell in the middle - but it suits this comp.

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Excellent Chris. Nice work.

 

[Beth Carter]

the detail shots are my favorites. esp. #2 & 5. love the comp. on the last. what's with the square on the hand at the bottom of #4?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

the detail shots are my favorites. esp. #2 & 5. love the comp. on the last. what's with the square on the hand at the bottom of #4?

Wow - never even saw that square Beth - how odd?

I must have done something stupid in PP - I'll go back and check

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Excellent Chris. Nice work.

Thanks Glenn - Interesting place, not too keen on photographers though

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Very nice, Chris. I notice you like portrait format with this lens. The Mandir and Star Pool shot does seem to swell in the middle - but it suits this comp.

Thanks Rob - it is a crop so maybe we're seeing lens distortion, and maybe some of it is an optical illusion - I'll have to investigate...

 

[Paul Lange]

What a great series Chris. You always seems to get the DOF and blur just right and the colours...............

 

[Aldous Lau]

Nice series Chris

 

[Chris Dodkin]

What a great series Chris. You always seems to get the DOF and blur just right and the colours...............

Thanks Paul

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Nice series Chris

Thanks Aldous - any photogenic temples out there in HK?

 

[Aldous Lau]

Yup, there are photogenic temples in Hong Kong like these

 

[Paul Lange]

Wow, great set Aldous. This thread started off wonderful and has continued to be so.

 

[Aldous Lau]

Wow, great set Aldous. This thread started off wonderful and has continued to be so.

Thanks Paul. Actually I did created couple of posts in RPF to share the photos when I visited few local templates. Feel free to take a look my flickr if you want to

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Fabulous shots Aldous

 

[Pete Askew]

What an amazing building Chris and a super photographic exploration of it as usual. That perfectly square piece of dirt is interesting isn't it though?

 

[Aldous Lau]

Fabulous shots Aldous

Thanks Chris

 

[Brian Moore]

Amazing reflection in that 3rd one and a great set overall, Chris.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Amazing reflection in that 3rd one and a great set overall, Chris.

Thanks Brian - I need to go back when the light is decent, and I can get closer access to the pool (it was closed for construction, so I got as close as I could)

No tripods allowed, so if I do an evening shot, it'll have to be a wall pod or hand-held

 

[Chris Dodkin]

What an amazing building Chris and a super photographic exploration of it as usual. That perfectly square piece of dirt is interesting isn't it though?

Thanks Pete - I have no idea how it got there - still a mystery - maybe a quantum singularity?