“THE SIGN OF ALLAH [ Arabic: الله ]”
I frequently find myself puzzled by how faith and fate are intertwined. Whenever I was short on photography subjects, something unexpected would suddenly present itself. It was on one particularly scorching day in India, as I was on the hunt for the perfect subject for my photographs. To my surprise, a nutmeg fruit dropped right in front of me, splitting open to reveal two halves. The vibrant red mace encircling the black seed gave it a heart-like appearance. Although each seed is unique, this one seemed oddly distinct. Upon closer inspection through my camera lens, I noticed an Arabic word that looked like ‘Allah’. Whether this was a mere coincidence or a figment of my overactive imagination, I can’t say. Regardless, I feel that the heart-shaped nut with the word ‘Allah’ inscribed on it was sending me a message.
“THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS”
The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage. Freedom is the most valuable treasure one can possess. Goals, desires, and principles are worthless without the liberty to chase them. A vision that depicts a world free from all limits, all constraints. The image of freedom soaring above the fences symbolizes one’s belief and chances in a world free.
“LIFE, A QUESTION MARK ?!”
The picture itself is self-explanatory. It doesn’t matter how wealthy, powerful, influential or self-reliant you are, your final trip to the grave is in the hands of others ! And the artwork on the wall was a perfect match. As though the body that appeared like a question-mark was being buried in the ground.
“PRECIOUS DROP OF WATER”
Water is where life began and it’s a crucial component for all living things, yet access to drinking water is now in short supply. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh, a concerning statistic. Currently, Africa is the continent most affected by this issue, with cities like Cape Town on the brink of reaching ‘Day Zero’. This is yet another fascinating discovery I’ve made recently. A water-repellent leaf from a Yam, which had a droplet of water shaped like Africa! Truly, it sends a powerful message about the importance of clean, precious drinking water.
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“FINEST OPTICS IN THE WORLD”
Individuals who flaunt their newest camera equipment would be surprised to learn that the ultimate in lens and sensor technology is not owned by any human, but by the natural world. In terms of technical specifications, the human eye can achieve a resolution of 576 megapixels, which is far superior to any digital sensor available. However, an eagle’s eye can rival this with a resolution of 1296 megapixels! It seems we often underestimate the capabilities of nature, but considering the vast array of natural wonders, it’s hard to believe we are superior to many of these creations.
“ARCHITECT AT WORK”
Miksang is a Tibetan word that translates as ‘Good Eye’, and was developed by photographer Michael Wood and based on the Shambhala and Dharma Art teachings of the late Buddhist teacher and artist Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Miksang Contemplative Photography is a way of using your camera as a meditation tool. A photographic image not only records what it is pointed at – it speaks to the photographer’s relationship with the world and their quality of presence. Are you looking, seeing, trying, rehearsing? Are you present to what is before you? This picture is a perfect example of Miksang perception.
Now, let’s have a look at the scientific facts about a spider web.
Surprisingly, the tensile strength of a spider web surpasses that of top-quality steel. The weight of spider silk is only one-sixth of steel, rendering it an exceptional material. Imagine a single strand of spider silk long enough to encircle the Earth, it would only weigh less than 500 grams. A fascinating detail is that it’s not the complex structure of the silk that gives the web its strength, but rather the sophisticated design and construction of the web itself. When a single strand of a web is damaged, the web’s overall strength actually increases. Additionally, the web serves as a detector, alerting the spider to the presence of prey. Research has shown that the web carries a negative charge, which draws in small insects. Truly remarkable, isn’t it?
“ENERGY FOR EVERYONE…ENERGY FOR LIFE…”
On a splendid morning in March 2011, the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan had just experienced a catastrophic explosion following a Tsunami. The plant’s operators were in a race against time to protect thousands of lives from the deadly effects of radiation, a term they referred to as ‘existential sacrifice’. Meanwhile, I found myself with nothing to do in my room, tidying up my camera. To my surprise, a milkweed seed soared through the air and landed in my hand, illuminated by a ray of light that passed through a small gap in the window. This moment stirred up feelings of childhood wonder and sparked a creative spark within me. I imagined the seed as a representation of a clean energy source and shared the image on Flickr, honoring the courageous individuals working at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. The photograph was chosen by the European Fusion Education Network and featured as the image of the month on their website.
A photograph captures a moment in time, a fleeting opportunity that is nothing short of luck.
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“PANCHA BHOOTA ; FIVE ELEMENTS OF NATURE [ Sanskrit: पन्च भूत ]”
‘PANCHA BHOOTA’ symbolizes the five fundamental forces of nature: Earth, Water, Air, Sky, and Fire. Despite their immense potential, humans often overlook the strength of nature. It’s thought that these elements maintain a delicate equilibrium in both the cosmos and the human body. Any disruption to this balance can lead to natural calamities and illnesses. This composition represents the five natural forces. The figure at the top signifies human life, vibrant and full of vitality, while the empty bottle at the bottom represents mortality. This image is one of my all-time favorites.
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“CONVICTED BY NATURE’S COURT”
All your actions to fulfill your desire have harmed the earth, ocean, atmosphere, creatures, vegetation, and more, right? You’ve been charged with ruining the precious resources of the environment. Therefore, the environment’s tribunal has decided to hang you for your offenses. These are the frozen moments when nature speaks for itself.
“MOTHER NATURE SMILES, BUT WE OFTEN FAIL TO NOTICE IT”
A picture that is easily understood. Mother nature frequently deceives us, yet we are too occupied to observe these actions.
“EMBRACING A NEW PERSPECTIVE: REVEALING THE UNSEEN”
Dragonflies possess extraordinary vision that surpasses that of most animals and birds. Remarkably, 80% of their brainpower is devoted to their eyes, granting them a 360-degree field of vision and lightning-fast reflexes. In the spiritual realm, the dragonfly symbolizes unhindered vision, the ability to see beyond the constraints of the mind. These enchanting and delicate creatures never failed to captivate me whenever I endeavored to capture them through the lens of my camera. The demure lady in red initially evaded my camera’s gaze, but when she finally granted me the perfect shot, something extraordinary captured my attention. Perhaps it was mere coincidence or a manifestation of my whimsical imagination. Nevertheless, I perceived an image resembling Jesus Christ with his outstretched hands, akin to the wings of an angel, reminiscent of the controversial image associated with the ‘Shroud of Turin.’ Some may dismiss this as mere folly, citing the psychological phenomenon known as Pareidolia. However, before we dismiss it altogether, let’s take a closer look once more…
kaaviyam
May 11, 2018
Interesting interpretations and well written thoughts with those wonderful pictures! Loved it!
GOPAN NAIR
May 14, 2018
Thank you very much for your continuous support.
The Art Magazine UK
July 14, 2018
Hi, We are interested in couple of images of yours for publication, which don’t appear in the Getty pages. How could I possibly get a license issued for these images ?
GOPAN NAIR
July 20, 2018
Appreciate your concerns. I could make arrangements for the same. Kindly check your inbox for a personal message. Thanks.
Mellisa Tailor
October 08, 2018
Simply fascinating and philosophical . Keep up the good work . God bless you !
GOPAN NAIR
October 13, 2018
Thank you very much for your valuable comments. Appreciate that. Please do visit again.
MIKE FALLON
January 10, 2019
You have an eye for silly things in life and an ability to make them into interesting stories. Kudos to you.
GOPAN NAIR
January 12, 2019
Glad to know that you liked the silly stories of a crazy mind.
JOHN PETER
January 25, 2019
There is an old saying, “The power of imagination makes us infinite.” . Truly incredible imagination, visualization & execution. Fabulous !!!
GOPAN NAIR
February 01, 2019
Thank you very much for your kind words. This made my day ! Please do visit again.
abdullah al mustafa
March 23, 2019
Masha Allah ! What a creativity !!
GOPAN NAIR
March 23, 2019
Salam Abdulla. Glad to know that you liked the contents. Thank you very much.
MISSIONARIES OF CHRIST
May 30, 2019
Brilliant concepts, well executed. We would like to have a line-art image of Jesus merged with the dragon-fly shown in this page, which will be used for our publications. Please let us know your terms.
GOPAN NAIR
June 02, 2019
Thanks for your comments. I will send you a personal message.