The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows. – Brene Brown
This shot is from few years back, when we used to do occasional visits between Greenville, SC and Alpharatta,GA. Enroute is the fabulous forests of Tugaloo, right adjacent to lake Hartwell. From one such drive, sunday late into the night, ignoring the imminent monday morning blues – pulled over an arbitrary & craggy road. Decided to take a stroll and it didn’t disappoint.
Set on a timer, this was captured as contiguous 177 shots spread over 45+ minutes. As for the processing ran the 177 shots through the (free) Creative Effects UI Photoshop script with Saucer effect. This could have been shot as a single exposure, but I always prefer smaller multiple exposures. It gives a lot more freedom around the creative processing :) How do u like it !
Do things that nourishes your soul – Be it hitting that trail for a hike Or taking a walk with your best company Or capturing that fleeting moment with nature Or just be at peace and paint out the same. Every once in a while – do things that nourishes your soul.
This was inspired by one such fleeting moment, on a misty morning, by the lovely Linville gorge wilderness.
Note : Curious on how this particular art was made ? check out the article on Artography.
Watercolor
Linville Gorge Wilderness Marion, North Carolina, USA
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. – John Milton
Have you ever thought – in life we receive a lot more than we ever give. Yet, it is easy for us to remember about things we wanted but haven’t got yet, plans that were planned but haven’t worked out yet etc. But you just reading this, shows you are among the gifted – who got to learn to read, have the will to read, probably have the basic needs met and among the the ones who have WiFi or mobile with a data plan. If nothing else, just the probability of you even existing now at all comes out to 1 in 102,685,000. Basically, the odds you even exist is zero. Yet you exist.
Realize the miracle you are and yet how wonderfullyinsignificant you are. Be thankful… live… live a life filled with Gratitude :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 1000 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 1/15 sec
Sometimes – to take in all that life has to give – you just got to be still. Absolutely still.
Stagnation is dying, in many ways. But Stillness is beautiful. Especially when you are so with awareness of each breath & each fleeting moment. Here is one such fleeting moment of stillness from the the land where even the stones sing – Hampi :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 320 : 12 mm : f11 : 1/20 sec
Just like a spring, our body & mind accommodates and carries a lot of load. Few at a time seems manageable, but carry for long & it breaks. Unlike a spring, know when to knock off the load and rebound. Identify rituals that help you revitalize.
Rest, Relax, Rejuvenate & Spring back :)
To rest is not being idle. To lie on the beach or the grass – listening to the murmur of the water or rustling of the trees and to watch life happen – is by no means a waste of time.
Canon XSi : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 32 mm : f13 : 1/350 sec
Just an hour’s drive from Badami is Aihole – a historic site of ancient & medieval era with Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments. There are a variety of temples sprinkled all over this place. With so much variety, Aihole is indeed the cradle of temple architecture. The incredible work here dates from the sixth century through the twelfth century.
This week’s shot is from one such complex which hosts a collection of about 30 temples by the banks of river Malaprabha. The quarter moon was just enough to light the temple complex, while still allowing to enjoy the grandeur of the stars. The trip from earlier this Feb was not conducive to enjoy the Milky Way, but it helped to get an enticing composition around the north star with equally captivating temples in the foreground. How do you like it ?!
Such is Life – know when to fall, know when to roll know when to flow & when to calm.
For those not aware – this is Eastatoe falls. This literally sits in the backyard of a lovely little home, bordering South & North Carolina. Grateful for people who share their treasures with one and all. Based on that, I like to go with the name The Backyard falls :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 13 mm : f22 : 3.0 sec
Something powerful about your own photographs – A quick glimpse, it instantly brings all cherished memories from around when it was captured.
Somkies is one amazing place to get one with nature – be it a drive on the rugged back roads, hike by it winding trails or just idly camping by any of its campgrounds. That particular evening, the breeze was chill and the fog was beginning to roll in. It was so pleasant that we wrapped up at the tent and decided to get our for an evening walk. Just as we were heading out, the setting sun was peeping out to bid us a Good Evening. So here is to COVID – until its safe to venture out, (re)living experiences via memories :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 22 mm : f8.0 : 0.5 sec
The Virupaksha temple stands unrelenting from around the 7th century. It is one of the most prominent center of pilgrimage at Hampi.
The Vijayanagara rulers, in the middle of the 14th century, initiated the blossoming of native art and culture in the region. Though most of the temple buildings are attributed to the Vijayanagara period, there is ample evidence indicating to additions that were made to the temple in the late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods. When they were defeated by Deccan Sultanate in the 16th century, most of the wonderful decorative structures and creations were systematically destroyed. However they were not able to destroy the religious sect of Virupaksha. Even after the annihilation of the city in 1565, worship of Shiva (Virupaksha) had persisted throughout the years. Today, the temple is still fully intact among the surrounding ruins and is the only active temple in all of Hampi.
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 500 : 10 mm : f9.0 : 1/80 sec
There are times we race thru things. Actually we are conditioned to race for everything in life – both professional & personal. It takes effort to slow down. Be mindful. Adapt to natures pace. Once you get her secret, life would be much enriched :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 800: 119 mm : f11 : 1/6 sec
The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light. – Ram Dass
Art (be it artography or photography) is as much about capturing the shadows as it is about capturing the light. It is amazing how the depth of what we perceive is solely driven by the darkness of the shadows.
This is the famed Stone Chariot of Hampi as seen from within the near by mandap.
One of the best spots in the US to witness fall colors is in Door County, Wisconsin. There is this lovely road from Gills rock that is winding and looks magical. The ongoing road work made it rustic. Add to it the fall colors along with the morning fog – it all looked like it was right out of a painting – literally :) Once the fog settled, it looked liked this !
A painting to me is primarily a verb, not a noun, an event first and only secondarily an image.
– Elaine de Kooning
This week’s art is from a short lived, but dynamic morning sunrise from Smokies. After checking out the stars, playing with some light painting in the night and getting some sleep in the car, we decided to head out of Smokies early in the morning. As we were driving out, just around the corner, we were treated to a lovely view and below is what it inspired :) How do you like it !?
It is a tough time indeed – for everyone of us with COVID19, Amphan, Nisarga etc. and we have not even crossed the first half of 2020. At least one good thing with the lock-down – mother nature seems to be healing. I can now hear more of birds chirping even in the middle of Marathalli, Bangalore :) For the many lucky folks who are not stranded away from home – the lock-down had brought in a much needed break to reflect and introspect. I had seen people try to pick up new skills, do work out, indulge in cooking etc. As for me – being in IT – my work days had just become longer :( (thanks to remote work). One of the reasons why no updates around here for the past 2 months. But I did get to refine and complete on something that I had been toying around for years – Artography.
This week post is from Kovilur – yeah the same place with the lovely thirukulam (pond). Taking a walk around the thirukulam (திருக்குளம்) is soothing anytime of the day. An evening stroll, cool breeze, sitting by the pond and enjoying as the sun as it was setting behind – it was all an work of art.
If you are curious on how this particular art was made, check out the article – Artography – Photo to Painting. And do share how you like the same in comments …
Watercolor on Textured Paper
By The Pond (பொற்குளம் அருகில்) Kovilur, TamilNadu, India
I might have known about this place from Windows 7 stock wallpapers, back in 2007. As I started digging around, realized it was not a walk in, walk out kind of spot. And that made it more enticing :)
The Wave – aptly named for its wave like rock formation – is situated on the Utah-Arizona border, halfway between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the site and its fragile state, BLM limits foot traffic to 20 people/day. That’s right – only 20 people are allowed access to the site at a time, thus preserving the integrity and beauty of The Wave. 10 spots a day via online lottery and 10 via a walk in lottery at the visitor center. It was a long story on the lottery, but I was fortunate to get selected on the second day.
As for the hike – it was pretty wild, since there are almost no trail signs at all. It was easy to get lost and a bit dangerous in such a wild zone, but that’s part of what made it so fun :) One of the most beautiful and unique places I’ve adventured. My only regret was, I never made the trip back for a night out with starts, that I had wanted at this spot.
Anyway, it has been more than a decade, but the memory is still fresh. These days it isn’t quiet that easy to get the lottery. For this (2020) summer ~500 pitched in for the 10 online lottery spots / day consistently. BLM does a great job of managing the footfall. Given the fragility of the place, these stringent measures are required to ensures it stands for the future generations to experience.
We occasionally do some good work , to protect visually fragile spots. But the current situation around COVID19 is beginning to highlight how much we have messed up with mother earth. We just don’t realize the damage, or we just close our eyes. Couple of weeks lock down for us humans – we are already seeing earth vibrations going down, much cleaner air even in the most polluted cities and the animals enjoying the space :) May be we need to manage our foot fall, give space & learn better to cohabit and live in unison with nature.
Canon XSi : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100: 18 mm : f9.5 : 1/250 sec
The Chennakesava temple of Somanathapura stands on a raised platform, in the centre of a spacious enclosure having sixty four cells. This three celled (trikutachala) structure consists of three garbha grihas, three antaralas and a navarang. It has a mahadwara standing on the east. The basement of the outer wall is highly ornamented with friezes of elephants, scrolls, epic & puranic scenes. The lathe turned pillars and delicately carved sixteen different types of ceilings are the characteristic feature of the hoysala art. Inscriptions engraved on a huge slab standing in the mahadwara and on the beams of the navaranga ranging in date from 1269 – 1550 AD, give the details of the construction of the temple.
When we visited, the outer enclosure was being refurbished. That particular afternoon the brewing storm added to mood of the shot. Shortly after this, witnessed quiet a downpour, but we were safe inside the garbha grihas :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100: 12 mm : f13 : 1/3 sec
This week shot is from 8 years back, but the experience of Abiqua trail is still so fresh in my mind that I can smell the fragrance of the moss & feel the chinless of the water.
Abiqua Falls is part of the same geological formation as the waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park, and is not far from there as a bird flies (but significantly longer in distance when travelling by road).
As for the hike, one would have to climb over and around rocks and logs, but it can be done. If you are not a big fan of getting messy during hikes – you might not as much enjoy all the sliding, scrambling and wading – but at the end, when you get a glimpse of this view – am sure you would feel it was all well worth it :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100: 12 mm : f13 : 1/3 sec
With all the things going around in the world right now, in context of COVID19 – borders being closed, people staying home as much as possible. It is tough times. But nature always has its way of getting things balanced out.
Distance socially, but not from yourself. Slow down, breath, find your zen. Enjoy small things in life. Go for a walk, enjoy the sunset, spend some lone time & rejuvenate. Learn something new. Use the opportunity to connect – with people and nature.
Stay healthy and stay safe.
This scene is from a village in south of India. Just a regular day, a regular guy, spending his morning time in the early morning twilight. Life is simple, the moment we stop making it complex :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 500: 12 mm : f3.5 : 0.5 sec
