Local transportation

[Manfred M]

There decorated and painted elephants are used to transport tourists from the entrance of the Amber Fort, in Jaipur, India up to the main part of the fort up on the hill. Calling this place a fort does not do it justice. It was really a walled palace.

[Shadowman]

I rode on one of those, took a minute or two to pull my feet in as the elephants were very close to the wall; one lurch to the side and I could've been injured. Nicely captured.

[Mike Buckley]

I would be willing to bet that it's not easy to find a situation with two elephants in such a nice composition.

Do you know the details pertaining to the paint of the elephants' face and trunk? What kind of paint? How often does it get touched up or entirely replaced? Is it used only for ceremonies and tourists?

[Wavelength]

Excellent; i think the colors are some coloured powder, known as kumkum in Indian terminology, which is available in plenty of colours; it is easily washed too; same colors are used for celebrating Holy.....

http://goindia.about.com/od/festival...m#step-heading

[Manfred M]

I would be willing to bet that it's not easy to find a situation with two elephants in such a nice composition.

At this location (Amber Fort) there is a fairly steady stream of tourist bearing elephants taking people up to the fort. Just stand around long enough and one is bound to see them heading to to the fort with passengers on board or down ago empty.

Do you know the details pertaining to the paint of the elephants' face and trunk? What kind of paint? How often does it get touched up or entirely replaced? Is it used only for ceremonies and tourists?

I suspect Nandakuma's response is correct. One sees a lot of decorated elephants in this part of the country and these are used in the tourist business. I was told there are "elephant beauty contests" held and the fittings and makeup on the elephants at these is beautifully done. Getting to one of these events is still on my photographic "to do" list.

[John 2]

I would be willing to bet that it's not easy to find a situation with two elephants in such a nice composition.

Do you know the details pertaining to the paint of the elephants' face and trunk? What kind of paint? How often does it get touched up or entirely replaced? Is it used only for ceremonies and tourists?

My thoughts precisely together with the fact that the exposure is spot on, particularly given the light that's about.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice, I like everything in the image

[IzzieK]

It is a nice scene...I am a bit late to this thread and John already said my thoughts on the exposure...

[Dave A]

No loss of detail in that image, great exposure and an interesting photo all around.

Dave