SIMPLY SPLENDID SPACES

When I am in the mood to photograph, I invariably turn to people. I love capturing people. Their emotions are on a naked display and the lens captures the moment forever. That one image conveys a million thoughts, ideas, feelings, languages, culture, taste, persona, and sometimes if I am lucky, their soul.

But many a times, on a walk to a certain destination or in search of faces to click, I have come across things, or as I like to call them - spaces, that have stopped me in my tracks; they've made me wonder, ponder; they've dazzled me, they've resonated something, or they've been just so extraordinarily simple, that I kept looking, hooked. 

Though I love the dynamism that comes along with photographing people, the beauty of capturing a space over a face is that it lets you delve into your imagination. Its silence is so poignant, your perspective of that space can take a million different shapes.

This is my collection of a few spaces I've come across so far. Each of them had a story to share. A story that was born out of my imagination, when my lens captured my perspective.

The ruins proclaim the building was beautiful.

This was taken in Chandni Chowk. An old haveli, now in ruins. I was hooked the moment I laid my eyes on this beauty. I couldn't help but wonder as to who lived here when this haveli was in all its glory. Must have been a different time, an era of timelessness.

Do you know of Norbulingka Institute? It's a buddhist retreat in McLeodGanj. This lane was in a dark corner of the institute, carving a path to what, I could never find out. It just intrigued me. Why? I cannot give a clear answer even today. Just something about the place maybe. A calm escape, a peaceful oblivion. Ethereal.

A pretty little home in my beloved Chandni Chowk. It wasn't an eye catching beauty to be honest. What caught me was the stories I imagined it must behold. What hooked me was how this building became an echo of a time that once existed. 

How many times does it happen that you enter a lane and get transported to another world altogether? Trust Hauz Khas Village to make that happen. The memory of this artistically lit up lane, with the most incredible collection of photographs, is still vivid in my mind. That was one beautiful night.

Amidst the constant madness of back to back to fashion shows, I stumbled upon this bicycle standing pretty outside a cafe. It reminded me of spring mornings and English tea, and laughter and friendship and simple happy times.

So there is wall art, and then there is THIS. I don't even want to go into lengthy descriptions about this photograph, except that I found this wall Kick Ass. Kuzart Lane, HKV. Worth a visit.

This capture is what I mean by Spaces. This photograph speaks volumes to me. Stories of nostalgia, raw India, memories, oneness and I can smell the delicious street food being cooked!

To me, this is art. My kinda art. This exquisite shop was hidden in a corner, all quiet, feminine and gypsy like. I wish I got the name of the store. Some things always remain a mystery. I guess that's what make these things beautiful.

This is one of my favorite photographs. This kitchen was in a corner of a too huge market, with too much noise all around, and it's space was just so silent, revealing enough to let your imagination soar high on everything else it kept hidden.

A humble man once welcomed me into his shop with folded hands to click whatever caught my fancy. He was a collector, so were his father and grandfather. And boy did he have the most extraordinary collection of timeless, vintage masterpieces, ranging back to I-lost-count-which-century. This mirror, this exquisite piece of beauty, caught my fancy and how! It wasn't for sale (nor was it affordable), but I captured it, so I have a part of it for myself.
Imagine Mughal era, begams, urdu poetry and persian art. For me, all this is what this mirror is a reminiscent of.

Vintage love. Got to give it to the Britishers for taste.

In my understanding, everything about buddhism comes down to the sounds and vibrations resonating around you, within you.

Om Namah Shivaiy

Goosebumps. That's all.

I was on a visit to Taj Mahal and I just happen to witness the most romantic sunset. Oh, the irony!

On a highway in the middle of nowhere, suddenly life decides to give me my coming of age moment.

Did I mention why I chose to do a post on Spaces? Here is why.
Because Spaces, especially one like this, have an effect so profound, is quietens you within. Yet to capture a human who has a similar effect on me.

Adios.