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Halebeedu - Southern India

I have been to Europe. I have been to Japan. I have seen some truely remarkable things. But nothing even comes close to the jewels to be found in India. The images here are from a place in Southern India called Halebeedu. It is also known as Halebid and can be found just outside of a place called Hassan.

These images were taken using the Mamiya 7 50mm L and Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar cameras and lenses I had taken with me. I used Kodak TMax100 to get the best possible resolution from this format. The negatives are smaller than I'm used to printing from, so I wanted to preserve as much of the beauty as I could.

Next trip I plan on taking an Ikda Anba 4x5 view camera and several small portable lenses. Until then, the 11x14 prints that I have made from the 120 format work has delighted and confused friends. Confused, because we don't recall reading about such beauty in our art or history books.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple details - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
Shiva being born from the body of an elephant.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple details - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
Temple carvings of, I believe, Shiva and his consort.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple details - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
These are at eye level and help form the base of the structure.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple wall details - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
Carvings extend from the base of the temple all the way to the roof. It seems that every possible surface has been touched.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple walls - Rolleiflex 3.5F
Looking through the main temple reveals the dance platform where the god is worshipped.

Temple at Halebeedu
Temple walls - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
This shows the extent of the details that have been carved from stone. The texture is exquisite.

Temple at Halebeedu
Nandi - Mamiya 7, 50mm L
There are two Nandi at Halibeedu. This is of the cow. I read where these are in meditation at all times forever.

Temple at Halebeedu
Straight from the holy books - Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar
The stone carvings are supposedly from the declining period of Indian art. If this is declining I would like to see the hieght of the art movement! The larger carvings depict scenes from history and the holy books (including the Upanishads, the Gita, and the Ramanayana).