Sajeesh Rajendran

Between the Nothingness and the Bliss…

 

Framed in:  Meditate… reflect… ride on and on… Through the emptiness, you explore the void and soak in the calmness of the journey. Eventually, you realize that there is only the road beneath you and the two wheels carrying you forward. When you’re alone, with no expectations or specific destination, travel becomes pure euphoria. Time loses its meaning, and the landscapes on either side blur as they pass by.

With no end goal in mind, the road ahead becomes a challenge—an opportunity to embrace the unknown. Beyond every curve, that emptiness transforms into a state of ecstasy, a pure bliss that’s hard to describe. Each twist and turn becomes a moment of rediscovery, where between the void and the bliss, you find yourself anew.

Framed out :  This photograph marks the first mobile shot featured in this blog, captured with my HTC Desire HD. With technology constantly evolving, this shift was inevitable. The image reaffirms the idea that a good frame doesn’t require a high-end camera or expensive lenses; it’s about being in the right place at the right time, with the right mindset.

I was on a weekend trip to my friend Nitha’s place in Manipal. She was busy with work on a Saturday, so I had the day to explore on my own. Her husband’s Thunderbird was at my disposal, making solo roaming an adventure I gladly embraced. I rode to Kollur with no particular goal in mind, only the joy of the ride itself. After a peaceful darshan at the Mookambika temple, I wanted to capture the feeling of being alone on the road and the euphoria it brought.

It was the golden hour, with the slanting rays of winter transforming the world into something magical. When I noticed the play of light on a cluster of grasses, I knew I’d found a promising frame. I parked the bike in the shade, stepped back a bit, and took the shot. And just like that, “Beyond Nothingness” was born!

Grey Frames : “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” G. K. Chesterton 

Through out… Till the end….

Framed in :  Life is a constant wait. From the moment we are born, waiting becomes an inseparable part of us. As children, we wait for our mom’s caring hugs and our dad’s sweet pecks. We wait for buses, exam results, and countless other things. When the hormones start to stir and we meet the right person, we wait for them to become a part of our lives. Every wait carries hope.

But there are also waits with no definite hopes, and yet… As my friend once wrote to me, “Ella kaathirippinu pinnilum oru pratheekshayundavum. Pratheekshayillaatha kaathirippinu pakshe oru sukhamund!” (Every wait has hope, but even a wait without hope has its own pleasure!) Certain relationships are like that. Even though the hopes and expectations of being together are faint, the mind still waits, without any hope but with love that persists. Can this love remain eternal even if separation is inevitable? Let’s wait and see.

In essence, what is life? It is nothing but a wait for death from the day we are born. She is also waiting for him, hoping that one day he will come and embrace her.

Framed out : I don’t have an exact date for when this photo was taken, but it was in my second-year classroom, so it must have been around 2004. I remember that day well. We had just returned from a tiring trip and were relaxing in the classroom. Suddenly, I noticed her (my classmate) standing in the doorway, looking as though she was waiting for someone. Her melancholy expression caught my attention. Intrigued, I snapped the photo with my Yashica FX3 without her knowledge. I think she liked the picture!

Grey Frames :  Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.”   Paulo Coelho.

 Beyond Frames : For all those who are waiting for something endlessly.. (I know a quite a few people now!). Keep faith… The hopes will be delivered.. So wait with happiness!!! 

The First Rays….

Framed in:  Dawn… The first light in the sky before sunrise. It brings hope and a pleasant breeze. After a restful sleep, we wake to the cool morning air, filled with happiness and expectations. The atmosphere is serene, and the windows are ready to welcome the new rays of hope. What more could you need? Embrace it. Let it always be dawn in your life! May the balance of your life remain steady, and may the birds chirp joyfully all around you.

 

Framed out: It was Panjim, Goa—an ideal haven for any photographer. The visual variety and richness it offers are truly remarkable! A simple walk with your camera can transform you into an exceptional photographer. My first visit was in 2004, to photograph a painting exhibition organized by the Indian Christian Art Association. I was assigned by my college to cover the event. The mornings were always enticing. Armed with a Nikon FM10 camera and a 70-200mm Vivitar lens, I set out for a morning walk. It rewarded me with some incredible pictures. This one is particularly dear to me, as it captures a wide array of perspectives: the symmetry, the colors, the lighting, and the grandeur of Portuguese architecture. Presenting that dawn… for you!

Grey Frames: “However long the night, the dawn will break”  : African proverb

 

The Elixir….

Framed in: Dreams are the essence of life. Without them, life would be a monotonous chain of realities. They add spice, hope, and joy, and when you dream, you are reborn. In this sense, dreams are the elixir of life.

Dreams are deeply personal; you can’t expect someone else to dream for you. You must dream your own dreams and hold on to them tightly. As former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, famously said, “Dreams are not those you see during your sleep, but those that keep you sleepless.”

So, I am sleepless and still clinging to my dreams. Are you with me?

Framed out: It was one of those monotonous vacation days. After lunch, I usually feel a wave of lethargy that tempts me to nap, but I despise sleeping during daylight. To shake off the drowsiness, I grabbed my camera and wandered around the compound of my house with a macro lens attached, searching for something intriguing.

Nothing captivated my interest until, on a whim, I glanced at my fist and held it up against the sun. That sight sparked my creativity. I quickly removed the lens cap, set the shutters and apertures to the higher end, and clicked with one hand. The result was stunning!

This photo has drawn a lot of appreciation for me as a photographer. There was even a mention of this photograph in one of the issues of ‘The Hindu’ when it was exhibited in “Artographies,” an exhibition of photographs and paintings.

Grey Frames : Nothing happens unless first we dream” : CARL SANDBURG