Framed in: Barren terrains, dried-up bushes, and a gloomy sky—what more could you need to make your day feel like the worst? The sight of the desolate land, filled with thorny, lifeless shrubs, often brings on strange dreams: dreams of getting lost, dreams of getting hurt, dreams of being in a hot frying pan, and more. These eerie, dried-up bushes seem to crack the unexplored sky, leaving the unpainted canvas marred with dark patches and gloomy ashes.
Yet, somewhere in that sky lies hope—the hope for rain to bring new sprouts and buds, the hope for brighter sunshine to restore happiness. Every dark patch in life will eventually give way to a better tomorrow. Wait patiently for the right time to cross the rough terrains.
Framed Out: A casual morning walk with my elder uncle G.K. never seemed to offer much for my camera. It was a gloomy morning, and the light was too dim. My Zenith Camera, a 1960 Russian make, had a slower lens with a maximum aperture of 4, so I knew it wasn’t ideal time for photography. We talked about many things during our walk—poetry, cinema, Osho, and R.K.’s cartoons.
Then, something caught my eye: dried-up bushes hanging on a rough patch against a grey sky. The scene was perfect for my love of silhouettes. I quickly took out my camera, set the shutter speed to 1/30, and supported the camera by holding it tightly against my body. I clicked, hoping for a silhouette. The exposure was just right, and the color was perfect. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, which makes the image look like black and white, it was actually taken in color.
Grey Frames: “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” Rabinthranath Tagore
