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the.final.shot

the.final.shot

//aerial The sun emerged from its gray shrouds of

//aerial

The sun emerged from its gray shrouds of clouds and shone with a summer brilliance on her face. Pausing what I was doing to overlook that pristine expanse, I felt the same profound thrill it gives me to see the interplay of light and shadow and the Milky Way—as if the usual order of the (my?) world had shifted slightly and entered a new phase.

Those views were works of art! Elegantly sculptured contours, deep ocean ice (eyes?), soaring pinnacles of air (hair?)! It would be sacrilege not to stop and stare at high art. A keen wind that had been hiding itself struck me full in the mouth and raked the hair back haphazardly on my head. I was descending (ascending?), but the red sun rose no higher. It hung over the suspended waves of the hills, an insentient pivot without which the world would not exist.

A small, answering point in my own body flew toward it. It seemed as if it had a mind of its own. I was swept away by the currents of my own emotions. I felt my lungs inflate with the inrush of scenery—air, mountains, light, fragrance wafting around me. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy. This is what it is to find peace."

Created aerially with the #sonya7iv at #uetliberg
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#üetliberg #uetlibergtrail #uetlibergmountain #uetlibergtower #zurich🇨🇭 #uetlibergzurich #visitswitzerland #aerialshots #aerial #swissmountains #switzerland_vacations

//maybe I can fly For many centuries, humans have

//maybe I can fly

For many centuries, humans have tried to fly just like the birds. Wings made of feathers or lightweight wood have been attached to arms to test their ability to fly. The results were often disastrous as the muscles of the human arms are not like birds and can not move with the strength of a bird. Remember Daedalus? An engineer who was imprisoned by King Minos. With his son, Icarus, he made wings of wax and feathers. Sadly, Icarus flew too close to the sun. But that’s not the point here.

Do you remember the good old kites? The discovery of the kite that could fly in the air by the Chinese started humans thinking about flying. Kites were used by the Chinese in religious ceremonies. They built many colorful kites for fun, also. More sophisticated kites were used to test weather conditions. Kites have been important to the invention of flight as they were the forerunner to balloons and gliders.

The brothers, Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier, were inventors of the first hot air balloon. German engineer, Otto Lilienthal, studied aerodynamics and worked to design a glider that would fly. He was the first person to design a glider that could fly a person and was able to fly long distances. Finally, on October 5, 1905, Wilbur piloted the Flyer III for 39 minutes and about 24 miles of circles around Huffman Prairie. He flew the first practical airplane until it ran out of gas.

Maybe one of the motivations behind enabling us to fly was that we wanted to observe and marvel at what we have created as a species. But if you are flying, you are constantly moving. How do you pause and watch? Well, the architects have got us covered. You’ve got paragons of structural innovation like the Eiffel Tower which allows you to climb to just over a thousand feet so that you can slow down time and breathe in the breathtaking views of the city. Standing on top of what feels like the world, you ask yourself, maybe I can fly? Maybe I am? It’s all relative from your point of view.

Created with the @sonyalphain A7IV
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#maybeicanfly #pariseiffeltower #topofeiffeltower #eiffeltowertop #birdseyeview #parisfromabove #aerialparis #aerialshots

//of falling and flying You have been at it for s

//of falling and flying

You have been at it for so long. Incessantly cruising. Stopping for a quick glass of perspective and soda and then back again. There are times when you have been stressed almost beyond the breaking point. And then there are times when it feels as if your heart has been placed onto a pile of soft down feathers. Some of your stories have had happy endings. Some haven’t. Some were meant to be. Some were meant not to be. And yet you fly.

You are the lovely voyager and it’s your journey. You fly into the horizon that’s no longer unknown. At times it feels like you could move with your eyes closed. It is… hauntingly familiar. But then you experience something unfamiliar—a force, a pull. Are you falling against your will—or maybe in tandem with it, who knows anymore? It’s as if the law of gravity is no more than a local regulation, and breaking it no more than a parking offense. It pulls you down enough for you to not escape the atmosphere and enables you to fly just above the shores of consciousness—where your spheres of existence collide and tend towards becoming one; intersecting enough to strike a sense of familiarity and leave the space of personal freedom.

You are the lonely voyager, and s/he's the sea. The sky is a blanket of gray, merging with the gray sea off on the horizon. It's hard to tell the difference between the sea and the sky. Between the voyager and the sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart.

Created with the #sonya7iv and the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
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#centerframe #centreframe #framing #middle #rightinthemiddle #inthemiddle #inthemiddleofnowhere #birdflying #falling #fallingandrising #flying #minimalism #minimalmag #minimalphotography

//commonplace A broken streetlight. A ladder into

//commonplace

A broken streetlight. A ladder into water and void. A bridge to cross. What are these objects in our daily lives? Uneventful, uninteresting, insipid, ordinary… commonplace. Yet they have so much character. More than the fancy chandeliers bathing the inside of Moulin Rogue with shimmering that transports you into a realm of theatrical opulence.

The ordinary lamp post on the street has seen more changes in seasons, witnessed heartbreaks, and proposals, taken the beating of hail and stones chipping away its paint giving it a sense of mystery and mystique. The green climber running down the side of the ladder is a testament to its acceptability and benevolence. It’s compassion—the purest form of love; it neither expects nor demands anything in return and lets the runner run its course. And in the process, they both look intriguing together. Do not assume that the lamp, the streetlight, and the ladder were not appealing ever. They too had their moment in the sun. They too were “the” thing. But then time passed by.

The point is, that what once was shiny and new will someday be relegated to being commonplace. But that does not mean that beauty is lost on them. It’s the opposite. When they go through life, sure, they get some scars. But those scars are what make them beautiful. Adds character. And is a representation of what they’ve experienced. The same holds true for people in our lives. So take a moment and think hard. Find that person you have sidelined to be commonplace in your life and make a genuine effort to look into their beauty.

Shoutout to the total stranger who stepped in and inadvertently posed for the first shot!

Created with @sonyalphain A7IV with the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
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#commonplace #ordinary #dailyobjects #ordinarythings #streetphotomagazines #streetphotographyinternational #insomniamag #lamppost #streetlight #brokenlight #coolblue #findingbeauty

//the city of light? love? Why is Paris called th

//the city of light? love?

Why is Paris called the City of Light? Two reasons. First, it was among the first European cities to use gas street lamps back in the 1860s, making it literally a City of Light. But also because earlier, in the 18th century, Paris was essentially a hub during the Age of Enlightenment. So metaphorically light; with enlightened minds.

Why is it called the City of Love? While most people seem to agree that it’s a mix of the city’s aesthetic beauty, the abundance of romantic restaurants, and the magical settings we’ve seen so many times in movies, a friend who has been living there for almost a decade now told me that it’s because of how much Parisians love the city. So much so, that during the ‘war’, they evacuated their homes to avoid bombing on the city they hold so dear. Yes, the French Romanticism art movement flourished here, the Bohemian writers of Montmartre wrote about tortured lovers, and there is even a Wall of Love, but I believe there is more to it than that.

I admit that the “main” attraction, the Eiffel Tower, was almost at the bottom of the experiences list that I wanted to have in Paris but the view from the top and its sparkling at night did eventually improve its rapport a bit, not as the ubiquitous overly romantic insignia it is, but as a statement piece that stands tall in the middle of the city, unchallenged, unabashed, unwavering, unfeigned, and untrammeled. So I decided to show it to the world through my lens.
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#eiffeltower #eiffeltower🗼 #eiffel #torreeiffel #eiffeltoweratnight #eiffel_tower #parisfrance #cityoflight #cityoflove #architectureofparis #visitparis #parisinstagram #paristravels #traveltoparis

//the blend I have spoken about the architecture

//the blend

I have spoken about the architecture in Paris in my previous two posts at length. And going by this one, I believe it warrants the mentions. Be it the Gothic cathedral built on the ruins of two earlier churches, which were themselves predated by a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter; and it was sadly recovering from an almost ruining incident itself. Or be it the Arc de Triomphe that sits in a circular plaza from which 12 grand avenues radiate, forming a star (étoile), which is why it is also called Arch of Triumph of the Star.

Or the structural impressionist high-architecture Centre Pompidou. It is one of the most radical buildings of our time. It is in some ways, the opposite of the overarching architecture in Paris, both figuratively and literally. The building exposes all of the infrastructure. The skeleton itself engulfs the building from its exterior, showing all of the different mechanical and structural systems not only so that they can be understood but also to maximize the interior space without interruptions. The structure and largest ventilation components were painted white, the stairs and elevator structures were painted a silver gray, the ventilation was painted blue, the plumbing and fire control piping were painted green, the electrical elements were yellow and orange, and the elevator motor rooms and shafts, or the elements that allow for movement throughout the building, are painted red. One of the "movement" elements that the center is most known for is the escalator (painted red on the bottom) on the west facade, a tube that zigzags up to the top of the building providing visitors with an astonishing view of the city of Paris. It’s so interesting that I had to wait for 20 minutes to get the shot that is somewhere close to its magnificence. You’ll know which one. :)

So, yeah, it was a nice blend to see different architectural styles from ages in a single city. And unlike any other, Paris cradles them all.

Created with #sonya7iv
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#notredame #notredamedeparis #notredamecathedral #arcdetriomf #arcdetriompheparis #triomphe #centrepompidou #pompidou #centrepompidouparis #champelysees

//negentropy If a city could be the quintessentia

//negentropy

If a city could be the quintessential objectification of the concept of negentropy, this would be it. The buildings—perfectly aligned. The buildings next to the perfectly aligned buildings—straight like the arrow of Cupid. The street—impeccably arranged. The locality next to the impeccably arranged street—perfectly geometric. It’s like someone took Earth-sized geometrical instruments and chiseled the city.

Be it the historical Egyptian obelisk, the Grand Mosque of Paris, the 18th-century metal frame called the Eiffel Tower, or the latest addition to the grand Louvre Museum, the pyramid, symmetry is the name of the game. Asymmetry is present in just about anything but orchestrating an entire city to the beat of alignment is an extraordinary feat.

It’s the epitome of defiance that we at times call human will, that in life, everything gravitates to entropy and chaos, so we’ll build something that stands tall in the face of it and scream negentropy. Here’s my humble attempt to present honest visuals created at times half-squatting till my legs went to sleep and at times lying on the ground in weird poses. Hope this does the beauty I witnessed some justice and takes you there.

Created with the @sonyalpha A7IV with the 24-70 f/2.8 GM lens
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#parisfrance #parisarchitecture #architectureofparis #symmetry #negentropy #order #parisianbuilding #louvre #louvremuseum #grandmosque #grandmosqueparis #eiffeltower #geometricpattern #travelleisure #ngphotographerchallenge #obelisk #obeliskparis

//streets of Paris Put on a summer coat, slip int

//streets of Paris

Put on a summer coat, slip into your broken-in shoes, queue the classic rock playlist, grip that camera tight, and take the #9 metro line. Route Citymapper to lead you down the street, turn the internet off, and take a walk, a photo walk.

Look at the intricacies of the Haussmann architecture—a network of wide, stately boulevards. Observe the cavalcade of enchanting apartments and their uniform facades that transformed the streetscape in the 19th century, making way for a more cohesive, unified city. On this exploratory voyage, you’ll notice that the buildings are marked by dormer windows and mansard roofs, which had to be angled at 45 degrees to allow the maximum amount of sunlight on the streets below. The town is covered in a yellow mist, which strokes the rooftops as if they were pets and fills up the streets like a bath.

And the asphalt running alongside these Parisian plazas complements the architecture like croissants and coffee. Now if you were to find a spot that you like and stay put, you’d witness beautifully timed moments, moments that time usually keeps for itself.

The city holds your heart.
It fills you with life.
It is enchanting.
It is Paris.

Created while listening to #pinkfloyd in #paris with the #sonya7iv
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#streetsofparis #streetphotographyinternational #streetphotography #streetphotographers #parisphotowalk #travelleisure #travelblogger #natgeotravel #ngphotographerchallenge #tripotocoummunity #parisphotographers #haussmann #haussmanienstyle #haussmannien

//finding the ordinary You are walking by that ta

//finding the ordinary

You are walking by that tall building on your way to work that you always do. The same alley you have run through for years and years. Cross the same place of worship you have given the nod of respect every day for as long as you can remember. They have always been there. Relegated to the background just like the extras filling the scene in a spy movie. You have never thought about photographing them. It’d be a soulless, mechanical copying of reality that you don’t even put your head up to see nowadays.

But one day while in a foreign town, you see metaphysical doppelgangers of your routine. People going about their routine. Not paying any mind to the magnificence that surrounds them. It stirs a vanguard revolt against ordinary ways of seeing inside of you. You pledge your allegiance to it. You take it upon yourself to photograph the beauty that locals consider ordinary to make them realize how extraordinary it all is. For them to not take their blessings for granted. For them to stop and stare, once in a while, at what’s beautiful in their own backyard.

And you vow that you’ll do the same once you return to your homeland, finding the ordinary and making it extra(ordinary) for all to take note and give the routine beauty the acknowledgment it deserves. But that’s a tale for another day. Here are some ordinary buildings in Paris that are extraordinary to my eyes.

Created with the #sonya7iv
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#streetsofparis #parisinstagram #paris #parisfrance #parisstreet #parisstreetstyle #streetphotographyinternational #architecturedesign #buildingsofinstagram #vintagebuilding #pastelpalettes #outlooktraveller #streetphotomagazines #uniquebuilding #neogothic #ngphotographerchallenge

//summer state of mind It was supposed to be autu

//summer state of mind

It was supposed to be autumn. The light was supposed to be dimmer. The sky bleaker, the foliage yellower, orange, redder, browner, the daylight shorter, the temperature cooler, and animals, birds, and humans alike, preparing for the long, cold months ahead. It was supposed to drape the whole world in varying shades of black and gold.

But instead, it was pleasantly warm. The sky was colored in pastel blue. It was anything but lonely. The eagles, the pigeons, and the sparrows soared high. The airplanes crowded the sky. It was bright. It was hopeful. It had long spells of sun. It almost seemed like the proverbial summer fun. But a rumor of autumn freckled on the leaves of some trees. As if it is waiting just around the corner to surprise you but its metaphorical coat visible from behind the wall is giving it away.

As is with life. It’s hanging in balance with the scale having a mind of its own, ready to tip to one side. Things never really turn out the way you want them to be. Sometimes for the worst. And a few times for the better. But even when they do, there’s always a hint of something extraordinary that will tip it over to the other side soon enough. And the cycle repeats. The best way to navigate this is to experience life to the fullest in its present form and be excited for what’s to come just like inhaling the enchanted scent of promise that comes with all new books.

Created on a day that was supposed to have an autumn state of mind in #paris with the #sonya7iv
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#summerday #pleasantweather #summertime #summertimeshine #summertimefine #parisinstagram #parissummer #beforeautumn #aestheticstreets #traveltoparis #pastelcolors #brightblue #brightbluesky #skiesofinstagram

//rhine falls In the Schweigen cradle of the Swis

//rhine falls

In the Schweigen cradle of the Swiss countryside, amidst rolling hills and ancient forests, lies Rhine Falls—a place of magic and mystique. Approaching the falls, anticipation thickens the air, the distant roar of cascading water echoing through the valley. Suddenly, Rhine Falls reveals itself: a majestic curtain of water, tumbling over ancient rocks with a force that defies time itself.

In that moment, you are transported to another realm, where reality and imagination blur. The mist rises like tendrils of magic, dancing in the sunlight, casting a spell of awe and wonder. The sun’s rays catch the ethereal pool of water, giving it a trancelike quality. It turns it into glitter, like shreds of silky silver. The airy sparkling of its spray is magical. It looks like a spritz of fairy dust, flickering in the slanted light. It has the dreamy and illusory façade of a Renaissance painting and the same shimmering sorcery a mirage brings. The drizzling spray creates a filmy mystique above the pool, dazzling you with its beauty. It gurgles from the depths and tinkles on the surface, swishing with a sylph-like melody.

The noise subsides as you walk away. It becomes a distant humming again. You venture one look back over your shoulder. The willowy waterfall flashes silver one more time. Its soul-swelling magic follows you all the way home.

Made in awe and wonder at the #rhinefalls in #zurich #switzerland🇨🇭 with the #sonyalphain A7IV
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#inlovewithswitzerland #iloveswitzerland #myswitzerland #myswitzerland🇨🇭 #rhinefallsswitzerland #rhinefalls🇨🇭 #rhinefallsswitzerland🇨🇭 #brightblue #waterfallsofinstagram #swisswaterfall #swisstravel #natgeotravel #condenasttraveller #travelleisure

//villages of Switzerland The clear blue sky is s

//villages of Switzerland

The clear blue sky is stretched in the background with small chunks of snow-white soft clouds drizzled all over. The tall mountains stand right in front of it with their summits colored in fairy dust white and their feet decorated by green trees. Oh, what can I say about the greens? Eden-green, Amazon-green, jasper-green, pea-green, sap-green, foliage-green, storybook-green, wonderland-green, and paradise-green are just a few shades of the many that the vegetation of the area paints itself with.

Then there are man-made enclosures. Quaint huts, vintage buildings, railroads, and everything in between. They co-exist with nature symbiotically. You look to your left, there’s a boat floating in the shallow water. You look to your right, a train is racing past. You look in front of you, the time has held its breath. It’s everything and nothing at the same time. You realize that your breathing has slowed down. Something from deep inside of you has come out. And you are in the moment. Living—in the moment.

That’s the beauty the villages of Switzerland hold. And the best way to experience them is to slow down and look around. There’s something refreshing about the experience. Made during a 2-day road trip across Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Spiez, and Brienz in Switzerland with the #sonyalphain A7IV and the 24-70mm GM lens.
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#villagesofswitzerland #swissvillage #swissvillages🇨🇭 #swissvillages #lauterbrunnen #grindelwald #spiez #brienz #Interlaken #interlaken🇨🇭 #spiez🇨🇭 #lauterbrunnen🇨🇭 #countryliving #inlovewithswitzerland #iloveswitzerland #swisstravel

//if it doesn’t hurt at all An artist’s journ

//if it doesn’t hurt at all

An artist’s journey is a dichotomous ballet of being a creator and feeling like an A-grade impostor. The highs are so high that it sends you reeling. And the pull of the impostor syndrome drags you to the dark depths of a bottomless pit. There are days when you can weave complex, kaleidoscopic works of art and then there are days when organizing your mind is a task, and stringing words together to say a simple thing is like digging a well with a needle.

It hurts. The emotions go nuclear. And before you know it, you are caught in the cobwebs of existentialism that you are all too capable of weaving. Do I really know what I am doing? Do I actually like what I am doing? Do I love what I am doing? I do, right? But if I do, then why does it seem so difficult at times? I have been doing it since I could remember breathing then why does it feel this way? And I know that want to do it and I will want to do it. But why is there this interior static?

Well, because the truth is, if it doesn't hurt at all, then it doesn't mean a thing. And you and I both know, our soul to our art is like sunflowers to the sun. In the short term, you are as good as your intensity. In the long term, you are only as good as your consistency. So, we must carry on—doing it, even when you don’t feel like doing it; especially, when you don’t feel like doing it. Maybe that’s what I am doing now. Maybe that’s what I was doing on the Minnewater Bridge on a clear summer evening.
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#minnewaterpark #minnewater #minnewaterlake #minnewaterbridge #minnewaterparkbrugge #loversbridge #castlesofbelgium #castlesofinstagram #clearbluesky #neogothic #brugge #bruges #brugesbelgium #bruges🇧🇪 #belgiumtravel #visitbruges

//the man and the mountain We are bound by a comm

//the man and the mountain

We are bound by a common thread, both the man and the mountain. In the grand theatre of existence, the mountain stands as a silent sentinel. It embodies strength, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of growth amidst adversity, much like the human spirit.

Gaze upon the crumpled forehead of the mountain. It stabs the clouds and has a world-weary aspect to it. It stretches still, reaching towards the heavens. And so too does the human spirit aspire to transcend its earthly limitations. We strive for growth, enlightenment, scaling the peaks of knowledge, and self-discovery in our quest for meaning. Oh in this weary world, do we carry on.

Or gaze upon the towering peaks, and see reflections of your own inner landscapes – the peaks and valleys of your hopes and fears, our triumphs and struggles. It is cosmic. It is chaotic. The man and the mountain are bound by a common thread – the relentless pursuit of growth, the quest for meaning, and the enduring spirit of resilience.

Made by a simple man on a sky-spearing mountain in the heart of Switzerland using the #sonyalphain A7IV.
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#iloveswitzerland #inlovewithswitzerland #firstsummit #grindelwald #grindelwaldswitzerland #grindelwaldfirst #grindelwald🇨🇭 #parachuting #cablecar #gandola #gandolas #mountainsandclouds #mountainphotography #natgeotravel

//first I have a travel recommendation as a musin

//first

I have a travel recommendation as a musing today.

Nestled amidst the Swiss Alps, Grindelwald First is a haven for adventurers and observers alike. Your journey begins with a ride on the iconic cable car, ascending high above the verdant valleys below. At the summit, lies a world of endless possibilities.

For thrill-seekers, the First Flyer offers an exhilarating experience, soaring through the air at heart-pounding speeds. With the wind in your hair and the mountains at your feet, you feel truly alive.

But Grindelwald First offers more than just adrenaline-pumping adventures. For those seeking a more leisurely pace, the Cliff Walk provides a serene escape, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. As you stroll along the narrow pathway, suspended high above the valley floor, one can't help but marvel at the sheer beauty of nature unfolding before you.

You can climb to whatever height you like and simply observe the expanse that lies in front of you. The clouds scattered and puffball-white and streamers of tapered light splayed out, flowing through cracks in them. The wind blowing through your hair. The dance of light and shadow. If you’re ever in Grindelwald, Switzerland, make sure you take the cable car to the summit of the mountain First. The view from the top is worth it.
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#grindelwald #grindelwaldswitzerland #grindelwald🇨🇭 #grindelwaldfirst #grindelwaldfirstcliffwalk #firstmountain #firstgrindelwald #summit #firstsummit #inlovewithswitzerland #cablecar #cliffwalk

//everything is blue The vibrant show of lively p

//everything is blue

The vibrant show of lively pink and purple was over. The streaks were gone and the wind in the sky was mopping up the confetti clouds that remained after the celebratory show of light and colors. There was an eerie calm given that moments ago there were all kinds of sounds of humans and birds to Earth. The only sounds were the huffing of wind and the mumbled conversations of humans in the distance making their way to the bus stop.

He had taken his eyes off the infinite-tranquil landscape, turned off the timelapse, folded his tripod, and was the last one to bid adieu to the pier. You could tell by his economy of motion that his head and the skeleton it drives were in different realities. It was a featureless terrain, a place with a harsh and stark beauty—both the landscape in front of him and the one where his mind was.

As if to synchronize both realities, the sky took over curious shades of blue. Everyone had left and it was his private attendance that the moment demanded, or chose to present in front of. Who can tell? The coloring of the scene mirroring the state of mind which was represented by his shade of jeans and the alignment of elements in it, made him wonder if what he was photographing represented the yearning for order, or the surrender to chaos.

Created on an evening colored in colors at #zaanseschans during the #bluehour with the #sonyalphain A7IV.
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#longexposure_kings #bluehourphotography #zaanseschans🇳🇱 #zaanseschansvillage #zaanse_schans #ilovenetherlands #dutchlandscape #longexpo_addiction #longexposure_shots #longexposure_photos #longexpoelite #cottages #quaintvillage #villagelandscape

Inspiration is perishable. Too much time and poten

Inspiration is perishable. Too much time and potential art is wasted in the cycle of thinking, writing, attempting, and failing to translate your vision into a video because you don’t have the right footage—maybe the angle was off, the depth of field wasn’t enough, the stabilization didn’t work, the lighting was bad, or the battery died.

Having gone through this cycle multiple times in the past year and almost at the brink of closing this artistic outlet for good, I recently watched the first couple of videos I ever made. They were not cinematic by a mile, there were no fancy setups, no smooth slow motions, and no seamless transitions—they were raw documentation of life with a dope soundtrack stitched together with a pacing to deliver a feeling. ‘Everything has become a metaphor’ is me remembering why I started.

Making a video despite not having the best shots or the perfect script. Making something that speaks to me. Making something that’ll hopefully speak to you. Making something because I am the documenter, a thief who attempts to steal moments from death’s suitcase. It is a tunnel that connects the present artist to the one inside the 17-year-old boy with a nose like a parrot and a Pentium 4 computer. No matter how low the resolution or how shaky the footage was, that kid never used to put off ideas because he didn’t have the perfect shots. He would somehow get it done and call it… the final shot.

He had things to say and had just found a medium to express himself. Maybe his older self needed a reminder.

Home videos documenting life delivering a feeling, that’s how it all started.
Home videos documenting life delivering a feeling is how it will be.

I hope this serves as a reminder to all the artists. Make good art. Make your art. The world needs it. And so do you.

//documented raw over a 3-day sojourn with the people I am lucky to have in my life; missing a few
//goa
//circa 2024

Music used in the video:
Doing the Wrong Thing · Kaki King
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#goatraveldiaries #travelvideo #shortfilm #reallyshort #90seconds #travelreels #videoessay #everythinghasbeauty #philosophicalquotes #thefinalshot #lifemotivation #bestfriendsforlife

//have a little patience A phrase that is ubiquit

//have a little patience

A phrase that is ubiquitous, be it while cooking a dum biriyani, waiting for the result of a test (scholastic or biological), or standing in the queue of a public office. A lot has been said about this agency of endurance. One of my favorites is a line I read in a blog somewhere on the internet, “The courage to start. The discipline to focus. The confidence to figure it out. The patience to know progress is not always visible. The persistence to keep going, even on the bad days. That's the formula.” I think this quote translates the gestalt of the phrase used as the title of this musing. It is an essential ingredient that renders all the other variables in the equation almost vain if not exercised with the intensity of worship. Be it anything, I believe patience is the key.

Take photography for example. Courage gets you to go on an expedition in a foreign land. Discipline gets you to the location at the right time. Confidence in your tracking abilities lets you know that the framing is apt. But it’s the patience that holds you from getting trigger-happy, clicking a photo, and moving on. It is the thing that gets you the shot—the water as smooth as silk; the infant sun glowing right on the third quarter of the grid; the jagged mountain standing tall in the center, and the subject slowly nudging towards it to complete the frame. Moreover, patience’s cousin, persistence, is what got you here even though you had missed so many opportunities before.

So I guess what they say is right, all you need to have, is a little patience.

Created at #Interlaken featuring #lakethun and the mighty duck at around 6 AM, waiting for all of the elements to align for almost 20 minutes at the same spot with the #sonyalphain A7IV
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#interlakenswitzerland #interlaken🇨🇭 #interlakenswitzerland🇨🇭 #interlakenlake #lakethun🇨🇭 #perfecttiming #deadcenter #visitswitzerland #swissvillage #swissviews #inlovewithswitzerland #swisstravel #purplesky

//sublimity

Sublimity, you know what that is? It’s the instant when one thing is about to become something else. Day to night. Caterpillar to butterfly. Fawn to doe. Seed to sprout. Liquid to gas. Experiment to result. Boy to man. Clay to pottery. Sancastle to waves. Moment to memory. Memory to nostalgia. Nostalgia to tears.

It’s in the physical and the metaphysical. It’s all the light we can and cannot see. It’s momentary. It’s transient. It’s beautiful. And most of us, most of the time, see it in hindsight. But there’s something exemplary about these ephemeral sights that makes the experience esoteric. Few of us who decide to stay at the spot and observe how fast the light changes, are the living, breathing manuscript of this concept.

Most of us, including me, have a hard time putting the deluge of emotions experienced into comprehensible sentences that do justice to the stature of the moment witnessed, so, I resort to photography. Maybe this transports you into the scene and as you slide through the carousel, you get to experience the sublimity.

Created over almost 2 hours standing right above the Mont des Arts garden in #Brussels, grooving to the classic rock tunes being blasted by a counter selling coffee and cookies using the #sonyalphain A7IV.
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#visitbrussels #visitbelgium #brussels🇧🇪 #brusselslife #brusselscity #montdesarts #montdesartsbrussels #brusselsgarden #eveninginbrussels #bluehourphotography #brusselsbynight #pinkskies #bruxelles

//hauntingly beautiful What is often considered a

//hauntingly beautiful

What is often considered an oxymoron, is actually an adverb-adjective combination employed to express the feeling of encountering something remarkable. Something that resonates. Something that reverberates. Haunting relates to having qualities that linger in the memory: not easily forgotten. And beauty, what can I say of it when it is the crown jewel of the prose and poems of the greats? In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Beauty is God’s handwriting.”

So when you are standing on a bridge on top of a lake and the sound of distant thunder and the sight of thick objects of dust and vapor send signals through your mind to take shelter but your mind is mesmerized by the sight and wants you to stay, stay for a while, that’s the moment deserving to be labeled, hauntingly beautiful.

I was instructed by my heart to sit tight, observe, and make these photos on 2 occasions during my Western Europe trip. One was on a purple evening in the Minnewater Bridge in #Bruges, #Belgium and the other was on a deep blue dusk in #Paris, #France.
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Created with the #sonyalphain A7IV and the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
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#visitbrugge #visitbruges #minnewaterpark #minnewaterlake #minnewater #loversbridge #cloudlove #cloudchasing #cloudporn #interestingclouds #clouds_of_our_world #cloud_skye #cloudscape

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