Photography

Sacred Cows of Mumbai

by sarahohara, Posted on

Today I saw my first urban cow. Every travel program I’ve ever seen about India has made mention of the ubiquity of free-roaming cattle. Whether it’s a small village in Uttar Pradesh or a bustling metropolis like Mumbai, the novelty of unattended cows against the backdrop of modern life grabs the western imagination.

In Mumbai, all of the cows I saw were very much attended to. In fact, all of the cows I saw in the city limits were tied up, not roaming loose.

I asked about this.

Geeta’s daughter, Reshma, told me that temple attendants tie the cows outside the temple entrances, and devotees pay money to feed them as an act of worship.

It’s not that they are worshipping the cows, it should be understood, rather it is believed that by paying homage to the cow you are worshipping or praying to 1,000 deities – because the cow is sacred to all of them.

In this way, the cow becomes a conduit – a pathway for devotion to travel from the devout to the divine. And the cows don’t seem to mind.

Photography for Pups in Need

by sarahohara, Posted on

Today I had the pleasure of speaking to the volunteer manager for one of the largest foster-based animal rescue organizations in the country. 

Louie’s Legacy has been saving and placing homeless pets in their forever homes for over ten years, In that time, they have saved thousands of animals from needless death. 

They’ve got two geographic bases of operations – New York and Ohio, and I happen to live right in their Ohio coverage area. Before I adopted Champ, I eyed various dogs on their website as potential family members, so I am familiar with them and the work they do. 

Saturday, one of their volunteer coordinators posted the following in a local dog-owners group I’m in: 

 

 

She didn’t tag me (because she and I have never met), but this post was pretty much written specifically for me! That’s a huge, “Hell yeah!” to all of the above!

I messaged her right away and expressed an interest in helping out. She directed me to their volunteer application, and told me to fill it out, and someone would contact me back right away. 

[Point of interest, if you live in Ohio or New York and are interested in volunteering, there are LOTS of ways you can help out. The volunteer application lists them out, so you can just check the type of thing you’re interested in on the application form here.]

Once my application was submitted, I got an email from their volunteer coordinator, and we set up a time to talk about what they do, and whether or not I’d be a good fit to help out. 

During the call, I learned some of the ins and outs of how photographs are scheduled and submitted for adoptable pets, and shared a little bit about my background. 

Everything went swimmingly, and you are looking at the newest volunteer photographer for this great cause. I am super excited to get started. I love pets, and I love photography, and the idea that my photos could help a furbaby find his or her forever home is AWESOME. 

It’ll probably take a little time to get the first photo shoots scheduled, but I’ll be sure to update you guys here as I go! And of course, if you’re in the market for a new furry friend, be sure to check out Louie’s Legacy!

The Chance of a Lifetime…

by sarahohara, Posted on

Back in November, I applied for a photography scholarship offered by WorldNomads.com.

The requirements were that each applicant submit a photo essay of 5 photos that tell a story of a place we’d been – near or far – with captions. The prize? A 10-day, all-expense paid trip to Mongolia where the winner will be personally mentored by Richard I’Anson, renowned travel photographer and Canon (camera) Master.

There appear to be somewhere in the ballpark of 8,000 applications for the coveted spot. Here is mine.

Backyard Beekeeping in the American Midwest

On a cold spring morning in early April, suburban beekeepers in Southwest Ohio arrive to retrieve a shipment of bees newly arrived from Georgia. Here, the supplier presents the captive queen to her new keeper. It is vital for the success of the hive that the queen is alive and well.
A typical “Bee Bus” weighs 3 lbs. (1.4 kg) and contains roughly 10,000 bees. Inside, the bees form a cone around a can of sugar syrup suspended from the top of the box. This syrup supports them during their arduous journey north.
The beekeeper checks the hive in the height of the summer honey boom. At this stage, there are nearly 100,000 bees in the hive. The beekeeper will test and treat them for any invasive pests and examine the queen’s brood pattern to determine her effectiveness and the overall health of the colony.
The reward at the end of the season: frames filled with honey ready for harvesting. The beekeeper inspects each frame in preparation for processing.
The honey harvest has begun. Here, the beekeeper uses a warm knife to remove the wax cappings that seal the honey in the comb. The frame will be inserted into the centrifuge behind him, and the honey will be flung out to drip down to the bottom where it will be filtered and strained into jars.

The results are scheduled to be posted (here) on January 22, 2020, and I am waiting with baited breath to find out if I’ve been chosen – or shortlisted, which (while it doesn’t come with a prize) would be a huge honor. 

Fingers crossed!