For anybody who knows me well (and possibly even those who don’t) it’s no secret that India has left an impression upon me that I haven’t felt travelling in any other country. A couple of weeks ago I received the following message in my youtube inbox:
Hey Samuel,
Just watched the video ‘Camel Safari Tour (Thar Desert) Part 13 – Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India‘. We think it’ll click really well in the ‘India is Wherever you Are’ category of ‘India Is’ Global Video Challenge 2011. It’s the Indian Govt.’s brainchild, and you have the chance of winning upto $7500. Get in touch, and make your submission official at www.indiais.org.
See you there! 🙂
Sent to:Â nomadicsamuel
Now these kinds of messages ‘pop up’ all the time and most of them are fake or phony requests. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I get a message saying my channel is ‘great’ or that I’ve made an ‘awesome’ video. Unfortunately, more often than not, these messages are nothing more than a plea to join some kind of service such as sub4sub.
I was about to disregard this message but for some strange reason (unbeknownst to me) I decided to give it another glance. Upon further review the message seemed to be legit and I went over and check out the website:
I rarely need an excuse to dust off the vaults with regards to doing projects related to India with my photos or videos. I typically find embedded memories of my glorious adventures stored in my individual photos. Sometimes a certain photo or video can take me back in time and make me feel as though I was back there right now experiencing it all again.
Some of the highlights were photos from The Pink City of Jaipur, The Taj Mahal and Amritsar’s The Golden Temple.
 It was with sheer delight that I spent this afternoon making three videos to enter into the competition in the following categories:
1) India Is Wherever You AreÂ
2) India Is ColourfulÂ
3) India Is CreativeÂ
Thanks for taking the time to check out these videos and for those who are interested in participating in the contest be sure to check out the official website for more information and submission guidelines: India Is.
Thank you, you gave me new ideas for my blog. I hope this doesn’t bother you that I take up this subject in my next article.Sincerely, Roger
If only my videography skills weren’t the WORST EVER!
Those can make for entertaining videos. I’d say give it a try!
Thanks for sharing this today. I now have the chance to contemplate on your blog post.
You’re so very welcome! 🙂
I always enjoy your videos. Good luck with the competition!
Thanks Steph, I’ll need a lot of luck for a chance to win 🙂
These videos are spectacular Samuel — I hope you win!!!
Thanks Raymond! Fingers crossed 🙂
These are great! I really like how you captured colour for ‘India is Colourful’ – especially the orange beard!
Thanks Audrey – it seems my colourful video is the most popular here 🙂
Best of lucks with the contest…and to think that I still have to make it to India…
Federico, when you get the chance I highly recommend it!
Win that prize!!! 🙂
LOL, I’d love to do just that 🙂
Hi Samuel, great videos indeed. Congratulations.
– . – . – . –
I have one question, I’ve read the contest rules and they say something about photo stills and videos. Are the photos allowed in the videos? I want to participate too…
See you then.
Alvara, that’s a good question. I’ve noticed other submissions (already posted) having stills. I think they may prefer video footage but I feel my photos are a bit stronger and I didn’t take as much video back then as I would have liked. When you’ve got your videos up let me know and I’ll come and take a look.
India is a a wonderful place, and since i do yoga i would love to visit Mysore one of this days 😀
Cherry, that definitely sounds like a good idea!
Great videos! I agree with the others about the India is Colorful one. It’s my favorite!
Ah, thank you! I had a lot of fun putting these together. I can’t wait to visit again in (hopefully) the near future.
Colourful India is my favourite. Good luck 🙂
Thanks Sophie, India is definitely colourful 🙂
Good luck! Thats awesome that they just contacted you randomly!
Hey Jade, I thought so as well! It was fun looking at the other video submissions too.
Good luck! I am getting back into making youtube videos OI have an idea for one but no-one in Australia seems to own a chess set!!
James, let me know when your videos are up. I’ll come over and take a look 🙂
Those are wonderful! I think number 3 is my favourite makes me want to go to India everybody looks so friendly, love 2 for all the colours and 1 has remarkable photos as well! Great work, good luck!
Hi Claire, thank for the compliments 🙂 I’ll need a lot of luck to win since there will be a lot of submissions. I hope you get a chance to visit India someday.
I really like the video #2 (Colorful India). But then again, I’m biased – I’m intrigued with colorful people and things and India looks like a place full of those. Good luck, Samuel!
Thanks Sherry! It certainly is a colourful country 🙂
All three of these videos are great, but the last one is my favorite. India is such a beautiful and diverse country – I can’t wait to go back!
Christy, I really can’t wait to go back as well!
Good work! Really loved the “India Is Colourful” one.
Thanks Bret! It was a lot of fun making them 🙂
Good Luck Sam. India is a beautiful place. Not to mention the food is fantastic. We have a local Indian restaurant near here. Great cuisine.
Thanks Greg! I agree with you on both counts. I’ve had great Indian food in other countries as well.
Hey, congratulations! I really love your India Train video 😀 Wishing you all the luck for this one 😀
Thanks Mica, the train videos were fun to make 🙂
Hi Samuel,
This is just to verify that it was an official message from our team. Many thanks for making the videos, we request you to submit them on our website, here: http://www.indiais.org/login.php
We look forward to receiving your entries.
Thank you!
Best
The India Is Team
Thank you!
I just submitted my videos today 🙂 I took some time to view other submissions and you’ve already got a great collection. I’ve been telling friends (who’ve been to India) to enter as well.
Cheers,
Sam
good luck to you! i fell in love with india, too 🙂
Thanks! It’s an easy thing to do 🙂
Good luck to you too! Is it just me or did you change your website canvas to white? What ever that is, I really like it!
Hey Amer, I actually didn’t change much. You definitely have a nicer looking blog design than mine 🙂
Best of luck to you; they look awesome 🙂
Thanks Kerri! Much appreciated 🙂
These are great videos! Goodluck on this! I hope you win, then maybe you could have a “free ticket to India” giveaway! Hahaha!
That would be a great idea 🙂
Very cool! Good luck Sam! 🙂
Thanks Rhonda! I’ll need it 😛 There are some great submissions already 🙂