For a change, I haven’t gone out for the long weekend. The Boston Pops 2008 fireworks was a spectacular in itself that I stayed back for a lazy, warm weekend.

See more pics here

While, it would take some time to write a travelogue, there is one pic which is by far my best shot on photographing people. The guy you see in the pic was the watchman at Jaipur city palace, he had a story written on his face. His smile never existed. His expressions — void. I asked him, can I take your pic? He looked at me, straight into my eyes giving me 3 seconds to react, and he walked away. The result is, this pic.

It’s amazing how seasons can change the perceptions of your own surroundings. The following four pictures are taken from the same location (my balcony, overlooking Charles River), in a 5 month duration – Summer, Fall, Winter.

1. End of July – Summer

2. Start of October – Fall

3. Starting December – Winter

(see the building built in the backdrop, compare it to the one in summer pic)

4. Mid December – Winter (Snow Storms)

(as you can see, entire charles river is frozen)

With an incredible view of the Charles river from my apt, It wasn’t that difficult for me to get down with a tripod and get some good shots of the world famous - ‘Head of the Charles’ - Regatta championships. Over 300,000 people came to visit this spectacular on the weekend. Watch some pics here.

A quick trip to New Hampshire on Sunday with my cousin, uncle & a good ol’ college mate. Added my fall color pics to the collection.

Just came back from a road trip on New Hampshire’s scenic route covering Waterfalls. Unlike everytime where traveling and hiking is a prime purpose this time around I wanted to capture images with much more depth on my camera. Vikas being a photo enthusiast himself brought his gear too. We took long time to frame some good shots of waterfalls and abstract. One of my fav (although still ordinary) is the house on pond with reflection on still water.

Click here for the album

[Update - 60 hrs] I knew it, had to puke out a bit in the morning but things are back to square one now. It isn’t that hard after all! Doesn’t mean I’m gonna try a 72 hr again . I think there’s a challenge in trying out new things, trying to be in the VOID of new things. 2 days weren’t that dramatic as I thought it would be but I could see my senses in reacting to food., it was the same food I ate everyday but something was different – I was respecting it. Trust me, this sounds like I’m writing from a book but you’ve gotta experience this. The way you’re body starts reciprocating is much more in magnitude when you take away what it needs.

OK, I’m not gonna give a lot of gyan out here but it was well worth the experiment.

[Update - 51 hrs - 1 am] The end.
The Story ends here. It wasn’t that difficult that I thought and looks like I’m fine with a 51 hr, don’t feel like doing a sleepless night. Unfortunately I have a lot of work to do next day…

PS: I must have eaten a lot of food, a lot!

[Update - 42 hrs]

The eyes are like pulling apart from the side and there is a wavelike sensation every quarter of an hour in the wrong places, like if it has its own mind. but still going strong. Im surprised that our body is stronger than we think it is, although I should accept that I’m on a water diet there isnt any hint of desperation. Yeah just now someone popped out a packet of cookies and I tell you, it was like the best thing I ever smelled since my first date , I think 48 hrs should be a cruise … I’m thinking of the last 12 hours in the night when every part of the body would be ready to give up

not sure If I’m gonna make it ….

[Update - 36 hrs]
I cant sleep! I must have slept like 2 hours yesterday and all that I remember is – your mind is your enemy. Its being hypnotized by what you want to believe is true rather than what the truth is, there were times when I was dreaming that Im drinking water, more and more water but I aint. At one point of time I lost it, I couldn’t sleep no more.Ah, now I get it, if you have no energy, how can you sleep!

The first metamorphoses of this challenge, I think is to overcome your mind, to get it in control that you’re fine. It’s like dope, you start believing you can fly. I think more often than we think, we let the mind think for us and do the math, gotta reverse it.

Im off for work now, lets see more strange things happen. till the night. I have a feeling I might give up at the 50 hr mark though …

—————-

@24 hrs

Have you ever tried fasting for a purpose? (not just out of chance or a sacrifice to your favorite God). I don’t know the medical implications of fasting for more than 2 days but the thought challenges me to get there! Sometimes we need to realize what we are blessed with, we need a thriving factor in our lives which can bring about Inertia not with force, not with gesture but with a self realization.

The Body is overwhelming with energy most times, the pleasures of the life get carried away and we take life, people for granted, to only realize one fine day that its just a dream, like a ‘movie’ that people want to enjoy when they ‘feel’

At the end of the day, like someone said.,

“There is only one irrefutable truth in this world – its You”

For an infinite emotions within your heart, encompassed by random intermingling thoughts of hope, pain, hatred, love, distress, pleasure at the same time, would you search for a state of absolute Recumbence? For all that you want to realize is, when it matters the most, you are alone and you will always be and you want to know where you are.

I just realized I haven’t eaten for 24 hrs straight and I feel like pushing it further. What the heck! People survive out there without food for days out of hope. I want to see where the thin line of Pain interweaves with the loss of everything and see if there is something remotely close to a purity in your mind; the line where there is no longer a pain but a state of abysmal truth that you want to be in for that one moment; that confidence which will be there with you to cleanse you with a new thought, a fresh beginning and a new hope …

It’s like punishing yourself when you know you don’t want to punish anyone, for a deeper purpose … in search of the VOID

PS: Don’t worry, I’m sane. I’ll try to update every 12 hours how my brain throws up, how I manage to write Java code with nothing in my head … wish me luck!

This was shot in a cute train in University Blvd,.. Tuscan, AZ. I really like the pic, its got a sense of mystery and abstract in it … def one of my fav shots taken till date …

PS: The lady in black is ., finally met her!

Here are the two pics that were included … I’m delighted to see that these pics were actually taken from a very poor camera (my first digital camera in fact Kodal Easyshare CX6230 2 MP)

Been to the Museum of Science in Boston on Monday for a lazy roam. The Butterfly Garden where there was a splendid live display of butterflies roaming freely in a natural habitat in small man made garden. Its been a while since my dying photography interest in me has recuperated since my scotland photography days. I was always fascinated by landscapes and macro shots.

And here in this garden i gave my best time to capture the natural habitat if the butterflies in the best macro shots that my point and shoot camera could offer . I wish I had a nikon D70!

Here are the rest of the pics

had taken this snap in Nov, 2004 on a hilltop near ooty. the sheer joy of children expecting nothing and radiating pure innocence is a beauty in its own way.

freedom sometimes comes in rarity that you beg to chance upon.