[supertinu]

Following it very closely and hoping that your posts come faster and longer . Great travelogue so far just like your earlier ones.

Btw the pics that you took in the night, are those under the moon light or evening light. Whats the exposure? any post processing done to get such vivid colors?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by supertinu

Following it very closely and hoping that your posts come faster and longer . Great travelogue so far just like your earlier ones.

Btw the pics that you took in the night, are those under the moon light or evening light. Whats the exposure? any post processing done to get such vivid colors?

Pics were taken post 9pm, with only moonlight as source.
As for Post processing, just contrast adjustment and auto levels. No major PP

[jatin22aug]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Pics were taken post 9pm, with only moonlight as source.
As for Post processing, just contrast adjustment and auto levels. No major PP

The image quality is amazing considering moonlight is the only source. Your equipment seemed apt for the occasion.
I wanted to visit Ladakh since ages but somehow my destiny is taking me away from it (or you can say from India). Nevertheless i am living the experience through your eyes (or camera ). Thanks for sharing such an awesome travelogue. Waiting for more, bring it fast buddy.

[shipnil]

Tanveer, these are some of the best picture I have seen of Ladakh. How I wish to make a journey to that land each year but could not. So I do the next best thing, read travelogues on Tbhp. Last year, it was, Humbleh'd II which took me to Ladakh. This year, there were a few before yours, but looks like I have found "The" travelogue. Will be with you all through.

Thanks!!

[tsk1979]

I have not seen any fish in the Chandertaal. I think its too cold for fish too. However, that does not stop me from getting out the fisheye

first shot I take is longish


Towards the Glacier... and the milky way. Its faint, but still visible


Some light painting




After this its time to go back to the campsite.
I took a few more shots, but they are same angles as shown above. When you shoot fisheye, 2,3 shots can cover the entire 360 degree view!

At the camp we cook dinner(Thanks Harsh for the stove top), and prepare the white elephant.
Its quite simple. Add BG 247 anti freeze additive, start vehicle, rock back and forth, idle for 10 minutes with engine bay covered with a tarp.
With engine somewhat warm, tarp is left in place. This is my attempt to conserve engine Hear. Member adc suggested me this. He said "Parking against a wall is not enough, always cover vehicle engine bay with a blanked or something".

So inspite of diesel anti gel in fuel, I use this method.

And its time to retire, and time to sleep


But how to sleep in such cold weather. In sleeping bags you say?
Unfortunately, the Stikage -5 degree C comfort bags are probably +15 degree C comfort. Luckily we have a blanket, and we manage to get some sleep. 2-3 hours max during the entire night. Temp falls to -5, with the thermometer inside the tent showing -3.

I think of lighting the stove for warming, but I know it won't last long, so give it up. Nevertheless, tomorrow, we will get a hotel bed, for tonight, its a night without sleep.

[tsk1979]

Sleeping at high altitude is seldom comfortable. Esp when you have spent the the night before at a lowish 3000mts.
Add cold to the mix, and its recipe for disaster.

So we woke on the morning after with a headache. However, it was not the headache what woke me up. I think I was not really asleep. Just pretended to sleep. Thats why I woke up.
We had set the alarm, but we woke before it.

However waking up, and getting out of bed are two different things. Its past 7:30 when I finally have the courage to get up. Jamaica is preparing tea, and while its getting redied, I head to the parking lot.

There is a flurry of activity. The quiet morning has been destroyed by the sound of cranking.
Everything from the Sumos to the Qualis are cranking their engines. Just a lone innova has been successful till now.

After some 3 30 second+ cranks, the sumo roars to life first.
Ah, the smell of diesel exhaust in the morning. Stronger than coffee I must say. Covering my nose, I make my way through the smoke screen, and insert the key.

Key on.

Glow plugs stay on for a few seconds. Time to test.
I did not know whether its BG 247, or the Tarp, but she rumbles to life on the first crank.
Sure, the idle is lumpy.

500-600-500-700, and then finally, that 800-1100 oscillation, I am so used to.
With the white elephant warming up, its time to have some tea, and after a few minutes we shut down the engine.

The sun is coming, and sun will fix the others too. The qualis are still cranking. Glow plugs typically last 100,000kms max, and these guys probably are still running on whatever came from factory. Or maybe they don't have any.

But thats their problem. For us, its time to reflect, and get reflected.
Time to walk to the lake


Its little past 8am, and Solaris makes an appearance. As if asking for permission


But then, its his kingdom. No clouds to stop him. The landscape is illuminated


However, what we are looking for lies ahead.
the lake of the moon, still.....

[Punzabi]

My post may not contribute too much to the thread but couldn't resist to mention. As always, "phatte chakk" photography and double "phatte chakk" narration. I still can't digest the fact that those night shots are actually night shots. Nights are so bright up there.

Highly OT: A friend of mine went for camping to Alice Spring (a township in middle of no-where in central Australia) and he mentioned that nights there are so bright that at times you're forced to take out your sunnies (and I never believe him). After looking at your photos I think I'll start believing him.

[thumpingheart]

Mr. TSK. I have one word - "Publish"

Nothing more to say. I'm in awe of the man who did this trip, wrote these lines and clicked those photographs. Respect.

[mkpiyengar]

Hey Tanveer,
Just one word to say Awesome !!
Really at awe with your patience, efforts and will power to go on with your white elephant in spite of all issues.

Recently I had brake binding issues with our Ikon and a day at workshop was enough to drain me out... So hats of to you...

P.S: Photo's are brilliant as usual...

Cheers
MKP

[srikrishna717]

Tanveer,
What a place!
Outstanding photography an narration.
Please list which filters, lenses you used .

[harjeev]

fantastic post(s) Tanveer. Also good to know that you didn't have any hassles next morning in bringing the while elephant back to life.
Camping at Chandratal is surely on my to-do list of things, maybe 2013-14 & 15, god knows, but would surely do it sometime in future.
Cheers and waiting for the next update.

[extreme_torque]

What can I say which other haven't. I have been here and on a Safari Dicor 3.0 and I know the experience. Hooked.

[tsk1979]

Mirrors are sometimes called a gateway to another world.
What we saw here probably was. Another world. Same as ours, yet different. Like chirals


Waters so still...


The winds had not risen yet


And the other world was ours to see






And finally, a panorama

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by srikrishna717

Tanveer,
What a place!
Outstanding photography an narration.
Please list which filters, lenses you used .

Thanks Krishna
I used the 16-85 VR and the Rokinon(actually Samyang) 8mm fisheye.

[tsk1979]

Two videos of Chandertaal lake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ckdt...iRAimzShbNodnA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne5Y9...iRAimzShbNodnA