Photography by David Raphael Biren

Sunday, November 9, 2014

A Boy.... in Time 2006-2007 (scanned in 2014)

Boy with Caterpillar 07 29 2007

Boy in Playground 09 21 2007

Boy with Snake 08 21 2007

Boy with Glider 11 25 2006
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A drawing this boy made at age 6.
All Rights Reserved

Childhood is one adventure after another.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Copenhagen 1983

At a Canal

Camera; Leica M3, 50mm Summicron Lens

Shown is the rigging for a sailing ship. Access to the sea by this canal.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

http://www.holifestival.org/
From above link
" The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early March. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renew sweet relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi'."

This is a private PARTY on an estate outside of Delhi.
If someone in India asks you to go to their "farmhouse" as happened to us in Jaipur...don't refuse as we did in Jaipur.

In Delhi at least I knew the businessman well and if he wasnted me to see his farmhouse I was happy to go. He had two.
A "Farmhouse" in India is NOT like Americans think of them.
My business acquaintance owned two palatial estates that blew me away with the WEALTH and DESIGN of the estates.

The "Farmhouse" visits were on the festival of Holi, see link.
It gets crazy on that day.
The police, if they can, stay hidden in their police stations, it gets that crazy in large cities.

There was a group of musicians, catered food, everyone splashes everyone with colored water...well, I used my hobby of photography for begging off from being splashed; as the "party" needed to be recorded on film which water ruins.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Camel Jaipur India

Camel

Jaipur India

c. 1996

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Bermuda 1986

A quick "snap' from a moving car.

Nepal various photos

Nepal

Bird, Rainbow over Kathmandu

Taken with Leica M4 35mm f2 Summicron Lens

No photo manipulation.

Full frame photo as seen by eye at the time.

Northern Nepal

Goat Herd on the Move

Southern Nepal on a HOT day

Monday, November 3, 2014

Buddhist with Mala Kathmandu Nepal 1991

Buddhist with Mala

Kathmandu Nepal 1991

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_prayer_beads

"A Japa mala or mala (Sanskrit:माला; mālā, meaning garland^[1]) (Tib. threngwa^[2]) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads.
In Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally malas of 108 beads are used. Some practitioners use malas of 21 or 28 beads for doing prostrations. Doing one 108-bead mala counts as the 108 worldly sins in Buddhist doctrine.
Malas are mainly used to count mantras. These mantras can be recited for different purposes linked to working with mind. The material used to make the beads can vary according to the purpose of the mantras used. Some beads can be used for all purposes and all kinds of mantras. These beads can be made from the wood of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), or from 'Bodhi seeds', which come from the Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) and not the Bodhi tree. Another general-purpose mala is made from rattan seeds (Calamus Arecaceae), the beads themselves called 'Moon and Stars' by Tibetans, and variously called 'lotus root', 'lotus seed' and 'linden nut' by various retailers. The bead itself is very hard and dense, ivory coloured (which gradually turns a deep golden brown with long use), and has small holes (moons) and tiny black dots (stars) covering its surface."

In 1991 I bought a number of these in Nepalese antique shops. Each unique made to the taste of the Buddhist. To me they seem to exude a spirituality and I am not a believer in "stone properties" etc.