Catch the Shadow

This post is part of The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Shadowed

We all are aware of the universal meaning of shadow and that shadowed is the past tense of shadow. This word is used as a noun and a verb.

Noun: 1. a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

           2. used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom.

Verb: 1. envelop in shadow; cast a shadow over.

          2. follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly. (Google Search)

While we were gazing at our albums for photographs to best fit this challenge, we came across few that would give a photographic explanation of the different meanings of shadow as explained above. We were excited to share them here. Give a read!

1. The photograph below was clicked on a winter day when the Sun was just behind us; creating a dark area produced by our body that came between rays of light and  the terrace surface.

2. The next photograph was taken during one of our journeys where this sheep was found to be sitting in the middle of the road away from the flock.The lamb looks so gloomy. We see the shadow of an argument on the family. Wonder if they really had one.

3. Below are few photographs where we can see the road shadowed by a camel cart and a structure, that stands in the middle of the road; and the forest path is shadowed by the trees, producing a cooling effect.

4. Finally, watch this monkey. We happened to capture the movements of this monkey. Wonder who was shadowed by this cunning creature.

© 2015 Ahmad and Ahmad

The Picnic Party

This is a post in response to  Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge. 

Oddball:  noun   a person or thing that is atypical, bizarre, eccentric, or nonconforming
                 adjective  whimsically free-spirited; eccentric; atypical

Odd Ball Photos are those great photos that we take which really don’t seem to fit into a common category.  We’ve all taken them and like them, because we just can’t hit delete and get rid of them.

Thank you Cee for this Challenge. 🙂

A Picnic Party of birds and animals arranged by our kid when he was three years old. He used his playing blocks and plastic toys to make this arrangement! Really loved it and could not delete it! 🙂

© 2014 Ahmad and Ahmad

The Dialogue

Dialogue is an engaging conversational exchange. When it comes to photography, dialogue can be perceived as a consensual interaction between two images. Placed next to each other, each photograph opens up to meanings that weren’t there when viewed alone. Each composition reveals the photographer’s specific sensitivity to certain content or visual elements.

We bring together two of our photos into dialogue. What do they say to each other?

We think the bear and the rhino are having a conversation about the weather in the Zoo. Any other guesses?

Edited: And their conversation turned wild. The bear got hold of the Rhino horn.

These photographs were taken in Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden, India.

© 2014 Ahmad and Ahmad

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/dialogue/

Back to Life

After an especially long and exhausting drive or flight, a grueling week at work, or a mind-numbing exam period — what’s the one thing you do to feel human again?

Human- a word generally used to distinguish man from animals. Is this distinction really required? As kids we used to feel at ease with any animal or bird or insect least bothered about the consequences. Children are kept away from many things, many experiences, yet they do not stop learning. But as adults we hold back and put off our mind. It seems adults need to be taken care of more than children and kept away from many things; to allow every life to take its own stride! The reader is probably wondering: what has humanity got to do with this daily post? Well, this is a point to ponder!

Back to the point. Indeed, long and exhausting drive or flight, a grueling week at work, or a mind-numbing exam period make one feel mechanical. What is that which make us feel ‘back to life’? For me, it is splashing cool water on my face, hands and legs, feel every drop taking away the exhaustion as water flows down. It is a magnificent feeling. Yes, back to life again! As for my better half; I guess the immediate thing he would do is relax in bed stretched out completely or stretch himself in the cozy sofa, (I wonder if it is so cozy) scanning the channels of the television, just like a small kid curiously watching the wagons of a passing train.

Every human will have their own crazy ways of taking them back to life. But whatever we do, in order to feel human, someone with flesh and blood; we need to do the things we love to do. And it would make life more adventurous, enjoyable and worth living if we try to discover ways to feel human whether we are taking our journey through the road (or air or water), through work or studies. Feeling human would cleanse away the exhaustion not only from the body but as well as the mind and soul. Lending a small helping hand to the needy can also make us feel human. We can find ways, innumerable ways. We just have to stop and look around.

“It is better to die once than to have hundred deaths.” We can feel human every moment. It is just a matter of choice! But again, we are ‘humans’ (still pondering over the use of this word) and however hard we try we are over burdened with emotions and taking us back to life is in itself a challenge! So, let us accept this challenge and move ahead and feel human.

© 2014 Ahmad and Ahmad

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/back-to-life/