Island Grounds Photowalk: Revealations of an amateur photographer

A sunny Saturday, 2:00 P.M:
I boarded a crowded bus to Simpson's and got there half hour later. From there i started walking down. 20 minutes later i reached the parking lot at the mount road entrance of the exhibition. CVR and Shankar greeted me with a big smile. We spent some time with CVR's new 17-40 Lens. Now Dina joined and i introduced myself to him. SenDil in his jet black shirt joined later. Now a new guy started walking towards us. He introduced himself as Selva. Initially he looked ruf to me. (Later i found out that he is totally down to earth). Dillibabu, Jeyaram sir, Jayi and Kurinji vroomed in their bikes and joined the crew after some time. We had a chit chat and later proceeded towards the entrance. Thanks to Kurinji for sponsoring an entrance ticket to me and Dina.

3:20 P.M - it all started:
The place looked not so interesting to click. So i just started walking down slowly. No shots for the next ten boring minutes. We turned left and went through an opening and we were in Mahabalipuram, brought live in island grounds. Actually they were giving some final touch ups and our guys have already started shooting the place. I took a couple of boring shots and proceeded towards...... 'dunno where to go'.



"Krishna" a voice called and i turned back and there he is... Kishore. Actually he came a long back through the marina entrance and was searching for us. Now we proceeded towards the industrial place.
I was clicking some shots of a hut when suddenly people started gathering nearby. A man was spinning a wheel and quickly started making (designing i should say) a mini earthen pot. It was not only the people, the SUN himself came in to see the handicraft. So there was beautiful LIGHT and we photoGs surrounded the pot maker and caught his work in every other angle possible.




Then, me and Dilli went through the hut to another place. It looked like a replica of a village and the scene we saw there was amazing. Children playing in a small park. Before i could realize what i was seeing, Dilli was in quick action. The thing is Selva and Senthil were already clicking those beautiful kids. They gathered around Selva asking him to click them which he did ('Karumbu saapada kooliya?'). Senthil was on the floor covering them through the ground angle. I had a lot of fun there over hearing conversation between the kids, Selva and Senthil. One such conversation that still humms in my mind.

One of the Kid: "Enna inoru photo edunga."
Selva: "Dei, podhum da. Apram Filmu theendhuduchu naa neeyaa tharuva.
Me: LOL!?!





I was in a fun mood after coming out of the place. When i decided to move on with the gang, i noticed that there were two more new faces. It was Bharani and Kiruthik. I got introduced to them as usual. I have already seen Poem+photos of Bharani. I have heard every gal in town will easily pose for Kiruthik. Then, We had a usual group photo and moved on towards the train where we took some pictures. Kishore and Shankar said good bye and the rest went to the end of the grounds. There we took some sunset shots, tried panning shots. I was so tired and already my back pain started its work on me. I could not click anymore.

Finally we all set out to the parking lot. Some of them have already went home. I said good bye to Jayi, Kurinji, Dilli, Bharani and Kiruthik and parted with Dina.

It was not a 'got very good shots' day. But a pleasant, funny and memorable day. Waiting to see other CWC giants in the coming walks.

The Daily Chore

I was traveling on my way back from office in the MRTS thinking deeply about my office project. Worried and irritated as usual. I heard a voice singing in the distance and the sound was slowly increasing. Pch! the usual set of people who beg for alms in the train by singing songs. And the voice came near me and i simply gave a stare.
It was an old woman singing some unknown song and her partner scoring the music. Her hands and face were lepered. It was really shocking.

I was in my eighth standard when i started traveling in electric train to school from Mambalam to Nungambakkam. Every day i used to see people begging for alms by singing songs, some being lepers and others being blind.
Today i was shocked to see her because it was the same woman whom i saw eleven years back. She has been doing the same thing for eleven years (or even more) begging for alms by singing songs. The only advancement is that she now uses a microphone and a small speaker that she carries in a wired bag.
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Daily i complain that i toil the whole day and wish to have a more interesting life. I guess most of us are like that. After looking at her, does my complaints sell anymore? I am still thinking............................

On a Rainy Day

Yesterday being Friday, I as usual asked my friends about the saturday plans. Pat and Vas wanted to go to the Madras University in the morning for some work. We decided to go to the Marina too.
Today I got a wake up call from Pat at 8.30 A.M. It was dark outside as if its 6 A.M.. The sound from outside told me it was raining heavily... Not a good sign for a guy like me who like to roam outside.
But then we went all the way to the university when the rain lashed the city continuously and we were soaked. After finishing the work in the university, we crossed the road and came to the marina. I thought it would be deserted because of rain. But the shore was packed with people all getting wet in the rain and happily watching the sea.

"இது மழைக்கு ஒதுங்கும் கூட்டமல்ல
மழையில் ஒதுங்கும் கூட்டம்"

My friends were standing in the shore where the the waves came and kissed their feet. I was watching all this from behind when more and more waves were forming queues to come and kiss their feet.

"அடே நண்பா,
மானுட விசிறிகள் மட்டுமல்லாது உனக்கு
கடலும் மழையும் விசிறிகளோ?
கடல் உன் கால்களை,
மழை உன் தலையை,
முத்தமிடுகிறதே"

An eventful day it was.....