Sandeep Pillai photography

The forces in nature

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 10:06 +0550

A narrow stretch of land spreading out into the ocean. I walked. Curious at first. Then, not so. Walking on the surface of water - with waves lashing relentlessly from all three sides. So much energy. So powerful. I must have been the center of cosmic energy. And this world must have existed solely because of me. I hated to go home that evening. But I did make it a point to come back later. By then the bridge had mysteriously disappeared. Unfortunate? Lucky. I know one thing for sure. I will wait for that lone raincloud to bring rains next year. Rains in middle east are extremely scarce. But when they do come, they cause a huge disaster. The mountain ranges across the breadth of Oman channel water into riverbeds (Wadis) which are usually dry. Since the soil absorbs very little water, even a small rain causes flash floods, killing many each year. This piece of land I am standing on is the rubble brought down by one such rain.Taken at: Wadi Tiwi, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Driving around

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:24 +0550

I love driving. Even more so when it's raining. Music playing in my car. That couple walking under their big umbrella, holding hands. The birds, resting in their homes. Streets, deserted. A scooter driving past - the driver, drenched. I roll my windows down only to be greeted by a lightning. And moments later, a thunder. Drops of rain, falling on my shoulder. The smell of damp air. And then I reach back home. I make a warm cup of coffee. Aaah! The little joys of life.

Garudan Thookam

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:10 +0550

Garudan Thookkam or Eagle Hanging is a ritual art form performed in the temples of Goddess Kali in Kerala. Legend has it that after slaying Darika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty. At this time Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Kali to quench her thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali. Kali was pacified only after drinking some drops of blood from Garuda. The "Thookkam" is a way of thanking Goddess Kali for the problems solved in her abode.To see more pictures from the series, click here.

Where I am headed

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00 +0550

Deep blue skies above. Streaks of clouds. Sailing. Vast dunes below. Drifting. As the world around changes, I lose my way. A little bit. I keep losing myself. One step each day.

The donkey

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00 +0550

So there were these animals that were domesticated somewhere in 3000 B.C. They slowly started playing important roles in the lives of humans. Somewhere along the way, someone decided to call them "Donkeys" and the name struck. From then on, these creatures started living their despised lives. What if you wake up tomorrow and everyone starts calling you by your new name?

Cyclone Phet

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:12 +0550

This is the first in a series of images that were captured before and after cyclone Phet struck Muscat. Click here to see the rest of the series.

know your karma

Fri, 07 May 2010 18:40 +0550

What is it about sitting in an open space, taking in a deep breath, and enjoying the moment that captivates you? There's nothing special except that you are dimly aware of the existence (or non-existence) of the world around you. You are aware that the breath you take is a little longer. You are not conscious about that pair of eyes looking at you. At the end of this simple act, there's that little smile waiting to bloom at the corners of your lips. It is the same feeling you get when you are true to yourselves, when you live every day of your life to the fullest, when you learn to love. How long ago were you that person?

Perspectives

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:47 +0550

Every single thing you believe is based on what you have seen or have been made to see. What if all of that was a lie? Would you still have lived this life the same way? What, then, is the purpose of life? Details : This equestrian statue is of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore. Taken at Lalbagh, Bangalore.

Beauty lies in the details

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:18 +0550

What makes this picture beautiful? The clouds touching the mountains, barren farmlands, winding roads, people taking time off their busy lives, thick forests, a captivating sunset, houses on the slopes, the distant mountain ranges? Nature's beauty lies in its details. Most of us, on the other hand, are about the brands we wear than about the thoughts we have. We can go for days without thinking, doing the same routines over again. And even if we do think, we need to speak out just to be sure that we are heard. Our minds are more shallow and our thoughts, selfish. Life was not supposed to be this race we are in, this never ending urge to please others. It is no wonder then that we seek solace in nature. It's no wonder then that we find comfort here. Because nature does not crave for attention. There's nothing superficial about it. Just silence. A welcoming beauty.Taken at: Coorg, Karnataka, India. The western ghats in all its glory.

The perfect getaway

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:49 +0550

What wouldn't I give to own this place. Staying here was an absolute delight. Never before have I had to deal with winds that relentlessly tried to blow me down and yet found the need to stand tall. Never before have I slept in a night so cold, away from the comfort of my air conditioned room, and yet felt that I belonged. Never before have I been so scared of the wild animals that might have been eyeing us from afar and yet felt safer than ever. Here, I felt every emotion that would otherwise come to me in the safety of my suburban home. I was worried one instant and the very next, it was gone. I found myself lost in thoughts at times and at others, I lay half asleep, blissfully aware of the distant sounds. Here, I felt every emotion that comes to me on an otherwise normal day. Yet they came to me with a different stride.