1/250s of my meeting with His Highness

1/250s of my meeting with His Highness:

Circa March 31, 2012. As the last vestiges of winter were exiting and hazy clouds heralded the impending arrival of summer, Dubai celebrated the world's richest horse race on the sprawling grounds of Meydaan. 

That gorgeous evening, I was out on the field – weighed down by the combined weight of two Nikon bodies slung from my shoulders. Meydaan was well lit spreading lights on the women in hats, the horses in comparison, and the many wealthy denizens – scattered on the grounds watching the most spectacular race on earth. 

Rumors had it, even the Gods had taken a breather to witness this race. 

The steed, Monterrosso, was just being blessed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, before the start of the race and was being led among his entourage towards the parade ring. 

The moment brought forth every shutterbug worth his salt and every innocent blue and arrogant red made their way towards the exit path of the stables. Some gathered to welcome, some gathered for their covers. 

I was standing still, crunching my teeth for not being able to catch a glimpse of His Highness. I blame it on the lack of my vertical inches. Undeterred, I looked around for a higher vantage point, but to my consternation there were none. 

Daringly, I moved towards the VIP Grandstand. 

In a flick of a second the wind changed its course. Instead of heading straight His Highness made his way towards the VIP grandstand, barely ten feet away from where I was standing. 

I winced, my body shivered like I had just put myself in some ice cold water – numbed by the suddenness of the move. Unknowingly or rather subconsciously, I brought my camera forward, hands a tad unsteady, eyes still dancing. It was that 1/250s, the precise moment I met His Highnesses' eyes through the viewfinder. 

They had a grace, they had a spark. For that moment I thought I was being blessed, inspite of the thunder the lightening and the distant storm. Rest assured, I fired away few more shots at 1/250s. 

It all faded away when the crowds gathered. That 1 by 250th fraction of a second, when I was under direct gaze of one of the greatest rulers that walks the earth now, I consider it the most exciting moment ever of my LIFE.

Pstscrpt: 1/250s is the shutter speed.

Ingenuity in the realm of Petra

Petra was always on my place-to-go-before-I-die list. My heart beat a frantic rhythm the day I decided to visit this wondrous ancient city of historical significance.   

Sitting by the starboard side of the aircraft, watching as the ailerons opened to maneuver though the cumulus clouds over Saudi Arabia, everything stood dry and dull. Wadis spread over the bare land making numerous branches subsiding its own nervous system. My curiosity over 'Petra - One of the seven wonders of the world' was piqued. 

As I breathed the very first air of Jordan, everything around me took me by surprise as before I was mesmerized. Jordan was not how I thought it to be. Since the trip was only for short time, I started to feel that all of its mysteries cannot be explored except for the better part of Petra. 

That moment, when I first saw her all dressed waiting for my arrival:

Exploration of ancient ruins of Petra was certainly a bliss, almost all the tourists were on their way back. It was 4 PM already when we started to trek, and for a photographer that was the best time to be exactly at peak of Mountain of Aaron (Jabal Haroun) by 6ish to have the dramatic sky behind with profusion of colors. 

Take a look at a distant try and see it all:

This elaborate rock altars were apparently used for sacrifices and it takes the name as such 'High place of sacrifice'.  You can see much of the beautiful Petra from this vista. It was getting dark and I was scared a bit as there was literally no one around in the new found place. But it was so astonishing to keep hiking up and keep the camera rolling. 

An unfinished mission:

Tomb of Aaron and brother of mosses remained just a dream. At this height, as I usually do, I took a deep drags of my chillum, which came to succor the melancholy of not able to reach the peak, as I was unsure how much more time it would take to get to the top before it is too dark. We could have made it somehow, but somewhere the cold breeze winds whispered to pay another visit to accomplish this. 

One last kiss, that could last till the next time we meet:

When it was time to say good bye, I was like a kid wanting to stay back in her lap. On the way back sky light rays was piercing through the tunnel making elegant artistic shapes of various shape. I got this child's hand being held by a mother ( only leg is shown ) and then there is enlarged little finger of the child (Bottom right )and dress being scattered across (Top right), pieces of image sewed together to give such an impression.

The two days trip was one of the best I ever had. Mysteries are yet to be explored, unfinished mission is yet to be completed, unsaid words are yet to be told, unknown peak is yet to be hiked such is the glory of Petra. When ever it calls me, I would definitely pay my next visit.


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Why I love shooting at night.

For some reason I love taking photographs with night light than during day light. That moments when the shutter clicks open, capturing the light rays coming in from all directions, I tend to ecstatically look around for entirely different perspective. Sometimes even going back to the historical events that have taken place in the past, makes compositing much more challenging yet rewarding.

Whether be it in a crowded place or just a serene place where no one's around, my mind flashes a lot of questions about the place I'm shooting when I go long on my shutter release. It allows me to re-access my position, identify the traversing rays of light in my frame and how I can better capture the geometry of trailing lights. Somewhere a sudden breeze of cold winds bought to me the documentary film I watched long ago, 'Roshini - Ray of light' directed by  Anshul Adhikari & Nazneen Bhatia. Roshini lives in the 'Land of Gods' known as Dev Bhoomi and has only one dream; to travel to the 'Land of Illusions', which as per the film is Maya Nagari popularly known as Mumbai City. When the sound of the shutter flicked to close, I watch in awe all the frozen motion of light rays that got captured and it seldom take me to the Land of illusions. Depicting very clearly a vision that is yet to be unveiled. Well, thats creativity, in the place where works of famous artists and architects, such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Bernini, Bramante and Raphael flourished; creative visions has no bounds.

Looking at the image below, a blurred vision emerged and off in a flick of a second, herd of horses running towards the Colosseum which apparently were Gladiators entering to prepare for their battle in the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo)

It is also fascinating to see people stopping by and watch what the heck am I doing. Some times even knowing I am right there in the middle of the traffic taking photos, they post me a question 'Hey, are you a photographer'. Hell, No..!! I am just a physicist measuring the intensity of light falling on the coliseum.  No wait. I'm a geologist measuring the ground tolerance when you cross the road.

It was a very short trip to Rome. And the best thing I enjoyed is drive from Milan to Pisa to Rome. I didn't get much time to explore Rome so little did I embrace the vast beauty that Rome has to offer. I may hit back any time again for the love of this city.

Hope you enjoy this while I take time to process the rest.