Colours of India

As it's Sunday and the house has been cleaned, the dinner has been made and the cupcakes have been iced, my mind has wandered to travelling. Where next? I recently went on an adventure to Sri Lanka, which was a fabulous experience. My photos of the South West of Sri Lanka can be seen on my flickr feed. That brings us North to India. I stumbled across some stunning photography on the National Geographic website, of India with it's delicious colours vibrantly jumping out. I have copied the captions below for context.

"Women in bright saris crowd together as they walk in a bridal procession in Mandawa, Rajasthan. Rajasthan is the largest state in India—a land of extremes—encompassing steamy forests, dry plains, and the snowy Himalaya."

"Decorated elephants carry tourists past the Jaigarh and Amber Forts in Jaipur, Rajasthan, constructed beginning in the 15th century. The marble-and-sandstone Amber Fort has intricate carvings; the immense Jaigarh Fort once served as a center of artillery production."

"To honor the dead, lanterns are hung from poles stuck into the banks of the Ganges during Akash Deep Puja, the sky lantern festival."

"The hands of a woman in Jaipur are covered with mehndi patterns painted with henna. Trendy in recent years, the lacework decorations are part of a 5,000-year-old tradition of creating designs to ward off evil or declare one’s happiness."

View more at National Geographic

NatGeo Photography

Yet again, more fabulous images resulting from the National Geographic contests. They capture the energy and immediacy of the scenes with wonderful colour and clarity. From the subtlety of the droplet of water from the fish in the first image, to the steam coming off the bear in the last, every inch of them is awe inspiring.

There are lots more images to be found on the National Geographic website which can lose you for hours.

Go Wild

Argentinian design firm Bravo have created this lovely stationery for National Geographic's 'Wild' TV channel. I love the way the imagery creeps and overlays itself over areas which are reserved for copy. A lovely piece for an already great brand.

Click here to see more from Bravo.

For more information about Nat Geo Wild, click here

National Geographic Photography

"David Hanson crosses a fallen log beneath soaring trees and a lingering fog in Washington's Olympic National Park." (Photo and caption by Michael Hanson)

"Andrew and his friend, a young sperm whale named Scar, were swimming together off the west coast of Dominica. The two of them became "friends" after Andrew saved Scar's life." (Photo and caption by Peter Allinson)

"When the wave conditions are right a wave appears, infrequently, as a result of the splash back off the cliff connecting with an incoming wave. This causes the incoming wave to pop up, creating fan-like shapes. On this particular day, over the two hours I spent on the rocks, this wave only appeared once. This is that shot." (Photo and caption by Aaron Feinberg)

"On my second day visiting the astounding Iguazu falls on the Brazilian side I was forced to change to my telephoto lens as my wide angle had been damaged by the water vapour. In had rained solid for 10 days prior to my arrival and so the falls were at their most spectacular. Standing on the elevated viewing platform I was able to shoot this school group who stood transfixed, emphasizing the incredible size of the falls." (Photo and caption by Ian Kelsall)

"A male gelada baboon on the Guassa Plateau of the Ethiopian Highlands enjoys a good grooming." (Photo and caption by Robin Moore)

"Nazroo, a mahout (elephant driver), poses for a portrait while taking his elephant, Rajan, out for a swim in front of Radha Nagar Beach in Havelock, Andaman Islands. Rajan is one of the few elephants in Havelock that can swim, so when he is not dragging timber in the forest he is used as a tourist attraction. The relationship between the mahout and his elephant usually lasts for their entire lives, creating an extremely strong tie between the animal and the human being." (Photo and caption by Cesare Naldi)

"Taken at Kwena Croc Farm in South Africa" (Photo and caption by Wayne Holloway)

Above are some of my favourite images from National Geographic's Annual International Photography Contest. In my opinion, some of the best photography in the world turns up in the pages of National Geographic. The most stunning scenery and breathtaking images. And every time I see them, it makes me realise how much beauty in the world there is to see and how little time there is to see it! Thanks to modern technology, you can experience a snippet of it from the comfort of your own home.

Visit the National Geographic website for the full archive of photographs and further information.