Your Take Today: USA TODAY's top reader photo
Do you have a "home away from home?"
Contributor Sigma Sreedharan does — in Kerala, a south-western Indian state.
"Kerala is known as 'God's Own Country' for its abundant greenery of coconut trees, spice plantations and paddy fields, tranquil stretches of gorgeous emerald backwaters, serene beaches and its relatively mild tropical climate," she said.
And even though she calls Seattle "home" now, Sreedharan visits her family in Kerala every year for a few weeks.
Featured in her photograph is Kadamakkudy, a small fishing village near Kochi in Kerala. Sreedharan was born and raised in Kerala, and moved to the United States 17 years ago for her job.
Sreedharan said that the lift-net structure found in the back, left-hand side of this photo is only found in this part of India, and has become a popular tourist attraction in addition to providing a decent livelihood for the fishermen.
"The line of coconut trees and the cloudy blue skies and the backwaters in this photo are quintessential Kerala sights, and essential parts of the mental picture that every visitor leaves Kerala with," she said. "I am glad I was there to capture this on a lazy Kerala afternoon."
Sreedharan shot this photo raw (meaning it contains minimally processed data) with a Sony A7R mirrorless camera. She used Lightroom and Photoshop to adjust tonal contrast, curves, shadows and highlights, "to bring out the natural beauty of this serene scene."
Check out more of Sreedharan's photography on her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
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