Tibetans in exile

Remembering Adam Yauch

Remembering Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys on his 49th birthday, Monday, August 5. Adam was a regular diner at Moonpeak Thali when it opened in 2009.

Tibetans assert identity with cross-border protest

A movement that outsmarts Chinese authorities by promoting Tibetan culture has crossed the Himalayas and is gathering strength in India Many people visit Dharamshala to get an experience of Tibetan culture, which has been under severe strain since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in the 1950s. For decades, exiled Tibetans have gone to great lengths … Continue reading →

Tibetans protest

On 23 and 24 January 2012, and again on the 26th, Chinese security forces responded to protests by Tibetans in Kham, now part of Sichuan province, by firing into the crowds, leaving at least three dead and injuring at least 30. Tibetan refugees in India protested the violence by holding candlelight vigils in Dharamshala, holding … Continue reading →

Cooking for a better world

Christina Julius write this article for her blog during the travel writing course. Nice work!

Moonpeak Magazine No. 4

Photography course: portraits

The second workshop of the current course focused on portraiture, with an early morning session at the McLeodganj main square. Students Ian Bell and Christina Julius and instructors Angus and Ashwini photographed chai sellers, bread vendors, porters, students waiting for the school bus, and other characters to be found at this busy spot. The work is … Continue reading →

Shooting by candlelight

There have been several candlelight vigils in Dharamshala marking a series of recent self-immolations in Tibet to protest Chinese rule. Covering these events presents particular challenges to the photographer. Here is some advice on how to photograph under such low light conditions.   Use fast lenses preferably with maximum apertures of f1.8 or larger. Usually … Continue reading →

Photo exhibition – McLeodganj in the 70s by Elliot Sperling

At the end of the hippy trail When Elliot Sperling first arrived in McLeodganj in 1971, he was finishing one of the epic journeys of the twentieth century – the overland trail from Europe to Asia. Travelling through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to India was a rite of passage for a generation, but one … Continue reading →

Local photographer makes NYT cover

Up and coming McLeodganj photographer Tsering Topgyal achieved a career milestone on 8 February when his photo made the cover of the New York Times newspaper. Topgyal was photographing the march in support of His Holiness the Karmapa from the Tsuglakhang to Gyuto Monastery on 4 February when he captured the striking image of three … Continue reading →