Stay a While, Won't You?

I know I've been gone a while and you want to know what I have been up to. Life has been brimming with excitement, as always. But, hang on. Let me put the kettle on, first. There! So much better!


But, what's the hurry...

A good cup of tea must be shared between friends, no? Let me get the teapot ready because I hear the tea kettle whistling.

Steaming - my entry as a judge for Click - Metal.

Get on with it, you say? In a minute! Let me pour the hot water into the teapot first.



Ah! Much better. Now sit back and enjoy that cup of tea and tell me which of the three pictures you like best. As usual, I can't make up my mind about which picture to send to Click. Not that it matters because I am a judge for the March event. But it's always nice to get your opinion. Me? I like them all but I do lean most towards the third one for many reasons. I love the little swirl of steam escaping from the spout, right under the whistle, and I also like to think that the picture represents me: ready to come back! So put your thinking caps on and let me know.

Update: The people has spake! #2 is it!

38 comments:

Jayashree said...

All of the pics are good...but I like the second one best.

Purnima said...

I loved the 2nd pic, loved the beauty of capturing steam, plus the angle of this shot looks good to me! SO my vote is for # 2!

JS said...

I like the third one best, because it captures the intersection of "person and pot." Glad to see you back! I'm anxiously awaiting your next recipe.

bee said...

no. 3.

Santhi said...

Second one is steaming hot...:)

musical said...

Yeah, every gappa-goshti needs some chai :). Lovely shots, i am dividedd between 2 and 3, quite smoking hot shots, them both :). Good to see you back. and there is some fresh Sichuan pepper/teppal that wants to travel to CO :).

Kitt said...

Oh, I like No. 2 the best. So evocative!

Missing your posts ...

Rajesh &Shankari said...

I like the 3rd one better..has the human touch as well

Anita said...

What, no takers for #1? To that goes mt vote then!
I do like it really; the perfect hiss of the kettle - can almost hear it. Very inviting; here's my cup for filling.

Anita said...

(And, Pel, did I not tell you that there are many blogs with those kinds of posts?)

Jaya M said...

all of them are so beautiful,as if I am watching an old hindi movie LOL... and always Old is Gold ..
these are golden too ...
3 rd one looks so good ..
hugs and smiles
jaya

A Cook @ Heart said...

Second pic!!
All 3 are great, but the 2nd. wins hands down!

Siri said...

Definitely second one.. Have a close look.. its like a train hissing away its smoke.. ( the famous Shahrukh Khan's Main Hoon Na scene!)..:D

Glad to see you Manisha! I wish u wud blog regularly from now on!

Siri

Uma said...

Wonderful photos.

Namratha said...

Fabulous pics!! I vote for the second one, love the steam there..

TheCooker said...

The first one.
The pahili waaf seems impatient to escape.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Welcome back.
Lovely idea and my preference would be for the second picture. The contrast in the picture is better and if you could lighten the picture slightly the kettle would show up well with light and shadow details.

Alpa said...

Does this mean you're back?!! i hope so :) And I hope you tell us more about your Zoomba adventure, lol. They're all stunning, but something about the second one!

Mansi said...

Second one Manisha!

Pelicano said...

I think...I like...wait, let me look at them again...yes...the second one- the one in the middle; the one right after the first one, second to last...or wait. no...yes, yes...that's the one! Number two...

Pelicano said...

'nita...ya get used toit with'er..

Indian Food Rocks said...

Thank you all so much for your feedback! Here's the tally so far:
#1 - 2
#2 - 11
#3 - 5
Wow! I knew #2 would be popular but I did not think #3 would pick up more votes than #1!


Jayashree and Purnima, thank you! I like the angle, too!

John, I think we have similar tastes! I have a really simple yet delicious recipe lined up. In a couple of days, definitely!

Bee, I thought you would say that, too.

Santhi, glad to see you after a long time! I hope you poured yourself a cup!

Musy, so when are you coming to do lots of gappa-goshti with me? Why not bring the tirphal with you?

Kitt, I hope to be back with a post soon!

Shankari, it's not everyday that someone actually likes my crooked fingers. :-D

Oh! Oh! here she comes! Watch out, boy, she'll chew you up. Oh! Oh! Here she comes...
Anita, I guess you did not stay long enough for a refill. But thank you for liking #1! :-)

I must find my fly swatter soon. I need it here and sometimes on Flickr, too.

Jaya, I am glad you liked the mood set by the black & white pictures. Thank you!

A Cook @ Heart, Uma, Namratha, and Mansi, thanks a lot! You are much appreciated!

Siri, I'll take train, hissing, smoke...but why Shahrukh Khan?! Nooooo!!!

TC, Anita loves you now!

Aparna, thank you! And, I get what you are saying but making the photos brighter or lighter would nullify the technique used in these pictures. The idea is to use bold contrasts and shadows to create a mood. I hope to have a post on my Inner Lens blog about these pictures soon. I'm hoping it will become clear then!

Alpa, end of NaBloSiMo? It's a great event. You had signed up without knowing it. And I know you had a great time! I've only missed one week of Zumba thus far. How cool is that?! ;-)

Pel, you're sure? You don't think you may have missed some permutation-combination of getting to the one in the middle? And swatter for you, too!

Anita said...

I don't think the fly swatter would be much help - you'll just get tired and frustrated. You have an infestation, my friend.

Suganya said...

If you want us to know that its a teapot at the first glance,then its no.2, else no.1. Its kinda mysterious. If I squint, I see a miniature steam engine :)

musical said...

Why this "hate" on SRK ;)
Check your inbox :).

Indian Food Rocks said...

Dang! Just my luck! I can't win, Anita!

Suganya, but it is a steam engine! ;-)

Musy, you still don't understand? I'll get in touch! ;-)

syeda said...

#1 IS THE BEST!!!

UR TSUNAMI IN MARTINI WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL,AND SO WAS THE CRACKED EGG!

syeda said...

#2` HAS SLIGHT GLARE ON THE KETTLE!

Unknown said...

hey manisha!

its me shabari here:) not sure if u rememeber me...had posted a line aaaagggges ago! i do pop in once in a while ,luv to read ur posts .... wakay manisha ,i here ya! will stop rambling and will get to the point:).....luv the 2nd pic! even thou i really like what the third pic represents!!!!! more wonderful posts to read! yeppieee!

Anonymous said...

Hi Manisha....
I like the 2nd pic..
these pics somehow remind me of Hitchcock.. to me, it looks like they have popped out from one of his dark movies.. :)
The 3rd pic is nice too.. the small swirl of steam is brilliant

ThreeTastes said...

Love the contrasts best in #2. Welcome back!

Cynthia said...

This is a tough one but I'd send the second one. I find that it has more character and intrigue.

Linda said...

Hey Manisha, I'll be glad to see you back, for sure! But my fav. of the pics is #2 ;)

Indian Food Rocks said...

Syeda, Anita loves you, too! The 'glare' is from using a basic workman's light as my primary and only source of light as opposed to strobes. It's there on all the images in one form or another. :-(

Shabari, of course I remember you! You made my day two winters ago! :-D

Quickie, thanks! And I am thrilled that the mood appealed to you!

ThreeTastes, thank you for not giving up on me totally! You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Cynthia, yes! Character! Thank you!

Linda, looks like #2 is the all-time favorite! Thanks!

And so #2 it is! I sent it for the Click event. Have you seen the entries? Oh my word! Such gorgeous pictures! This is going to be a real tough one to judge. Did I mention that I am a judge? The Be Nice to Manisha event starts now!
;-)

bee said...

The Be Nice to Manisha event starts now! ;-)

**snort**

ELSA said...

Waou, your photos are fabulous ! I would like to print them to put on the wall of my kitchen (sorry for my english ... but i'am french ! )

A, mama of twins said...

i fancy #2 as well.. i am late but thats usual for me. :)

Indian Food Rocks said...

Now, now, Bee! This is a family-friendly blog. No snorting allowed here! :-D

Elsa, thank you so much! Your English is much better than my French!

Archana, but your opinion counts regardless! Thank you!