Nature: Wildlife (PROFESSIONAL) - HONORABLE MENTION
Camel herding at sunrise on a distant sand dune in Rajasthan
Photo © Misha (Michelle) Masek
Support this photographer - share this work on Facebook.
Exploring India’s sacred dunes, reveals a culture that has flourished since the Stone Age. Nomadic tribes possessing an ancient alliance with nature, once gathered to trade an astonishing 50,000 camels, while devotees converged to bathe in the Holy Waters of the Pushkar Ghats. The region's most prominent camel herders, believe the Hindu god Shiva gave them the responsibility to rear camels. Their relationship was considered sacred, but the tides have changed. The taboo against slaughter is now a thing of the past and complaints are circulating that the majority of the camels are sold for meat exports to the Gulf and Bangladesh. The World’s largest camel fair has now plummeted to a mere 2500 camels. Economic conditions and a black mark against the fair may bring Rajasthan’s camel culture to an end.
BACK TO GALLERY
Exploring India’s sacred dunes, reveals a culture that has flourished since the Stone Age. Nomadic tribes possessing an ancient alliance with nature, once gathered to trade an astonishing 50,000 camels, while devotees converged to bathe in the Holy Waters of the Pushkar Ghats. The region's most prominent camel herders, believe the Hindu god Shiva gave them the responsibility to rear camels. Their relationship was considered sacred, but the tides have changed. The taboo against slaughter is now a thing of the past and complaints are circulating that the majority of the camels are sold for meat exports to the Gulf and Bangladesh. The World’s largest camel fair has now plummeted to a mere 2500 camels. Economic conditions and a black mark against the fair may bring Rajasthan’s camel culture to an end.
About author:
Misha Masek is an International award-winning photographer with numerous sold out exhibitions in Canada, Europe and Asia. Her "Idea of Nature" photography series was voted the Must See exhibition at the Scotiabank Photography Festival in Toronto, as well as being featured in several magazines in Malaysia. She has been experimenting with Fine Art Metal prints for 8 years and is in the forefront of this innovative technology. Her infused Metal Prints have a brilliant luminescence and an industrial chic appeal. Misha is currently working on a 3 part series titled, "A Displaced Pendulum & Cultural Views on Equilibrium." Part one of this series explores Nature, Conservation and Sustainability. Misha is an avid traveller, adventurous risk-taker, naturalistic observer, wildlife enthusiast and passionate artist.BACK TO GALLERY
