Dear Friends,
I love nature, and I love it in its most simple form. I wish to sling my camera all the while so that I could shoot whatever my eye compels it’s worth preserving.
But I choose only Sundays’ to go out to ‘shoot’ for many reasons. But for one the traffic would be thin, people prefer their precious holiday to stay indoors with near and dear. I’m free to go around with no one bothering me with, “are you a reporter or is it for a movie” type of enquires.
There is a bird sanctuary developed by AP government as a tourism place. It’s near Uppalapadu, a forty-five minutes’ drive from my place. It’s hardly ten minutes from the national high way connecting Vijayawada and Chennai. Just after crossing Guntur town.
It is a sheer spectacle to enjoy hundreds of birds – huge and rare species assembled on an island of trees encircled by a huge pond. It’s worth a visit to any nature lover.
Earlier, I had been there four times with my camera to capture them. The results were disappointing. To shoot nature in its stillness and its calmness is easy. But birds gave me a tough time. I shot over 300 pictures in my previous visits. But none of them gave me a ‘wow’ feeling. I was photographically unhappy. I couldn’t find in any frame the life, the richness, and energy I want to capture.
But last Sunday, I was there once again to give my shutter one more chance. The day seemed comfortable, less sunny; we had a few welcome showers the previous day. I started too early, fearing that, being a Sunday; I need to finish off my assignment before the rush of young couples (read lovers) occupied the whole place.
Literally, for the young lovers, my camera with all its paraphernalia would be unnerving and scary. But I assured them with my smile; please make your day.
I stood with my camera on its tripod for about three hours. The results I’m too happy to share with you.
Regards,
Eswar
