Travel & Humanitarian Photos
Not much time to write this morning, unfortunately, but here are a couple of shots from yesterday’s visit to the enchanting Sungma Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The hospitality of the plantation Superintendent and Manager was humbling and the spirit and charm of the women working in the plantations was uplifting.
Darjeeling and the surrounding plantations is a location that I’ve been hoping to visit for many years and, yesterday, finally finding myself wandering through a tea plantation with a couple of cameras to hand was, in many ways, a dream come true. Which of your dreams are you going to work on making a reality today?
Estate Manager Vikas Singh proudly holds a handful of precious dried leaves
Plantations workers, Rogina and her friend are clearing the ground before plucking commences
The captivating Sila shelters beneath an umbrella at the end of her shift in the tea plantation
Is this the beginning of the tea-themed book you’ve mentioned before?
Also…did you take away any delicious tea-leaves? As a fellow tea-obsessed Brit I can imagine the yummy possibilities!
Cathy, you and me both! Safely squirrelled away in my case is a small bag of Muscatel Second Flush and another box of premium Darjeeling tea, kindly given as a gift by the Estate Manager. Indeed, I’m sipping Muscatel Darjeeling as I write this. It’s possible that I’m obsessed!
Love your photos. And especially the tea plantation. Hope more to come. Love shooting in the tea fields travelling from Tamil Nadu to Kerala.
As a recent tea drinking convert, Darjeeling fan, AND a photographer, I find this to be really great stuff! Beautiful photography Gavin – and I’m so jealous.
Reading this and knowing your love of tea, I can well imagine that you were in your element!
If only there were a McVities Rich Tea factory next door
Looking forward to many more images from this and any other tea-themed trips. Have to say I’d love to visit a plantation too, as much for the scenery and people as to find out more about the history of them.
I’m working on my dream by putting together some local projects, approaching the people involved and seeing if I can lend my camera to build experience and show I can do it. then comes the saving up and the research.
Thanks for sharing one of yours with us. Now I’ll just have to go and make a pot of tea myself!
Lovely photographs, especially the first one. And it’s such a good feeling when a dream come true, I ‘m sure you enjoyed every minute.
Great to hear that you have reached one of your ambitions. One of the things I love about visiting tea growing estates is seeing the beautiful patterns that the bushes make across the hill side.
Have you had any nice views of Kangchenjunga from Darjeeling? If you get a chance, head further out to Pelling – there are great views of the mountain from the monastery (which in itself is a great place).
Dave
I love your photos. Great place for inspiration and professionalism!
Amazing photos my friend. From the look of the tea leaves on the hand, I am quite sure its a First Flush tea. The ladies look gorgeous! Stumbled this page! Great share! I too am very keen on photography, specially these kinds which you have on page, but am not trained or have any knowledge. Its just that I like angles of shot and the over all ambiance which should be captured.