The colours were really nice. The white line of the beach stretched into the horizon. The sea was a sparkling shade of blue. The cloud formations were fascinating. In the foreground can be seen the walls of Bekal Fort.
Bekal Coast
Location
I was inside Bekal Fort and framed the shot from atop a hillock there. The 300-year old fort attracts many tourists. There are several hotels and resorts in the area.
Camera Info
I chose the Canon EOS 550D here. The lens was Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. The focal length was 24 mm and shutter speed 1/500 sec.
It was a picturesque scene. Kariyankode river was flowing quietly. White clouds covered much of the sky. There was a steady stream of vehicular traffic on the bridge. I noticed that the buses on the route were painted in eye-catching colours. I then waited for some time and clicked the shot when the pretty bus came in the frame. I composed the shot such that the eye is carried to the tree-lined end of the bridge.
Bus on Kariyankode Bridge
Location
The shot was captured near Nileshwaram town in North Malabar. From here, Kariyankode River flows into Arabian Sea.
Technical Data
The camera is Canon EOS 550D with a Canon lens EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. Aperture was f/8.0 and shutter speed 1/500 sec.
It was a spectacular scene. The big river was lined on one side with palm trees. The trees were leaning over the river so as to catch the sunlight. The water below had taken on a greenish colour due to the greenery. The sky was partly cloudy and the sunlight mellow. I composed the photo with the coconut trees taking up left side of the frame.
The Kariyankode
Location
Kariyankode River flows by Cheruvathur town in Malabar. There are two bridges spanning the river – one for trains and the other for road transport. The river can be seen while travelling between Kannur and Kasargod in Kerala.
Technical Data
I used my Canon EOS 550D camera in aperture priority mode. Although the sky was partly cloudy, the light was good. I was therefore able to employ a shutter speed of 1/1600 sec. Aperture was f/8.0. Exposure bias was -2 EV.
Bekal Fort overlooks the Arabian Sea. The 300 year-old fort is spread over 40 acres and is perhaps the largest in Kerala.
The views of Arabian Sea from the fort are spectacular. The tall Watch Tower offers superb views of the coast. There is a beach right below the fort. I could see many eagles, including the white-bellied sea eagle, hover above the beach.Visitors however are not allowed to enter the sea as the spot is not considered safe for swimming.
Beach Below Bekal Fort
Archeological Survey of India maintains the fort. They have built lawns and gardens which are well tended. But I could find few trees or shades inside the fort.
Watch Tower at Bekal Fort
The fort is beautiful during monsoons. A.R. Rahman’s hit song Tu Hi Re was picturised here. Click here to watch the video from Mani Ratnam’s Bollywood movie Bombay.
Fort Walls
The nearest railway station, for express trains, is Kanhangad (12 km). Bekal Fort (1.8 km) is the closest station for local trains. Kasargod railway station is nearly 16 km away. The fort can be seen during train trips between Kanhangad and Kasargod. Entry timings are from 8 am to 5 pm. There is an entry fee of Rs. 5 per head. Digital and video cameras attract a fee of Rs 25. The fort closes at 6 pm.
The fort offers many photo opportunities. I have used my Canon DSLR camera for the photos. As the sun was bright, I was able to use high shutter speeds. Aperture was maintained at f/8.0. Exposure program was Manual.
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It was extraordinary to see a pathway carpeted with colourful flowers. Trees lined both the sides. The colours were stunning. It was wonderful to experience this beautiful garden.
Floral Carpet
Location
The location is Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, South Holland. It is open for two months in spring every year, from mid March to mid May. I was there in May and the flowers were in full bloom. The gardens attract a large number of visitors from around the world.
Technical Data
I used my Canon EOS 550D camera in manual mode, with the aperture at f/7.1 and shutter speed at 1/20 seconds. I had to make several adjustments in the settings to get the tones and light right.
