The “Old” New Turn..

Ever found a passion for something in the middle of absolutely nowhere ??? A passion so delightful and refreshing that in some way gives a new meaning to life and pulls you away from the noises and regularities of the daily hustle even when you’re actually walking amidst it ?? A passion that was born just because you were so insanely captivated by the beauty of something as random as a snowfall ?? –

It was just another regular morning ( or so I presumed..) in the small cold cozy town of Derbyshire (UK). There weren’t any lectures being held that morning at the University, or any errands to run in particular so I slept in for a few more hours, than the usual.

It would have been rather tricky to notice a being sleeping on that bed – thanks to the amount of layers that I wrapped around myself with, and hid under – to escape the icy cold temperatures. Each morning when I got out from underneath the world of jackets, throws, hot water bags and duvets , it would either appear as dull as dark as it was underneath those layers or a slight greyish yellowish tinge ( if there was sunlight – it was kind of an annual thing there! ).

The date – 27th, November; The year – 2010.

– I lazily struggled out of the layers and sat upright rubbing my eyes and gradually (finally!!) managed to open my eyes.. A bright silver white light had taken over my room. Totally confused and extremely excited I jumped out of the bed to investigate!

The curtains were drawn over the window and one did not require SHERLOCK to discover the fact that the magical white light appeared to be seeping in through the windows. Being all me – I took a deep breath ( my mind already hinting me as to what I might see….could it be what I was waiting for ever since I landed in the UK??)…..and moved the curtains aside in a quick jerk.

SNOW!!! OH MY WORD ITS SNOW !!!! IT REALLY IS SNOW!!! ( and expressions on those lines continued for an hour… or more!)

Beautiful, white round balls of magical ice falling from the sky – it would be an understatement to say that my heart had made its way upto my mouth and my brains had fallen out of my head! – ‘cuz a lot more than that and everything in between had happened when my eyes first fell upon a snowfall.

Hysterically I started searching for my phone to call my mother who was back in Kuwait  – to tell her the same thing all over again – SNOW !!! ITS REALLY SNOW !!! OH MY GOD ITS SNOW!!!

– “Send us pictures” she excitedly responded from the other side.

” But how?? It won’t be good enough if I shot this from my phone… you have to really see it… I mean SEE SEE it…as in SEEEEEE it…. Like really SEE..” And she stopped me “YES! I GET THE POINT! ..go get yourself a DSLR. You were supposed to get one and bring it over anyway this year…do it now..if you’re able to go outside in this kind of weather that is.”  ( ARE YOU KIDDING ME MOM???? DONT INSULT THE SNOW BY CALLING IT WEATHER !!! ITS MAGIC !! WHY WOULD I NOT WANT TO STEP OUT IN THIS REAL LIFE DISNEY MOMENT?????)

I threw on a jacket and got into my jeans ( YES! Over my pajamas – I would call it the perks of living in a frozen country), brushed my teeth on the way to the kitchen, stuck a TESCO’s ONION AND CHEESE sandwich in my mouth and rushed out to the front door.

The snowfall had considerably reduced by then and there wasn’t very much of it around town – it was just the beginning ( I kept mumbling to myself hopefully).

A really good friend and fellow Psychology student accompanied me to the nearest CANON showroom. I had absolutely no idea about cameras or lenses or photography except for the fact that I loved staring at the works of others and finding the deeper meanings in the same. My friend was a pretty good freelance photographer himself and so I was in good company for this particular category of shopping!

We picked up an EOS 500D, a memory card and a regular bag to keep the gadget in.

It had gotten pretty dark by the time I got home and even darker after I had enthusiastically finished reading the SLR manual. I couldn’t wait any longer to get out there and start clicking !!!! And just in time – the snow had started storming down from the skies.

Like an estatic 4year old on the first day of school I ran out in my pajamas ! the SLR hung onto my neck with its band when I was suddenly pushed back inside by a few people running inside and hurrying upstairs to their rooms. Never minding the chaos ( as always) I stepped up again and got outside and spotted many others walking/running as fast as possible  to their respective shelters away from the snow. ( AWAY FROM THE SNOW??? Why would anyone do that?? Weird. Reminded me of times in India when it would rain and I would find people running indoors and wondered if they had lost sense of direction. Weird.)

I did not ( and will not !) allow anything to further distract my attention – With a wide insane smile and my camera in focus , I ” CLICKED “.

My Unforgetabble First Click – at the doorstep of my room.

It continued for eternity!! Shots after shots… Clicks after clicks … Angles beyond angles….I went on to my hearts content and later that night went onto view the shots on my laptop.

The view from my doorstep the following morning.

Going through image after image, I realized that there was no turning back from here on. I LOVED THIS !!! And no I wasn’t thinking about the snow this time.

The different angles…. the never ending possibilities of details ….how there is an eternal endless range of randomness that you could display through pictures …the perspectives they could open you up to… I had found passion in something so delightful that night – life had taken an exciting new turn…

The view at noon when the snow slowly melted away..or so it seemed..

I never stepped out of home without my SLR – Neither did the clicking cease. I found reasons to photograph  the most ridiculous and random of objects and capture them in a memory card forever. I found details in moments and situations that I had never perceived ever before.

Random eye catching lamps at Ale & Pie.

An eery spot at Hyde Park, London – so where along the banks of river Thames.

An empty space underground somewhere at Waterloo station.

The yummiliciously line up strawberries on my mother’s 45th birthday cake !

An important building somewhere along the walk to Picadilly Circus ( forgot the name !)

A lonely chair at the entrance of Greenwich park.

Multi flavored sour worms !!!! (yum!)

A creepy looking tree somewhere in the middle of Greenwich park.

The view of the Ben Clock from across the river.

If writing liberates me – then I’ve found that capturing random details and profound moments  through photography keeps me alive and further in search of such life long adventures that could just begin with something as small as the sound of a “click” 🙂

Inspired by Noir – a fellow blogger with the most brilliant insights on details of photography – I’ve decided to further initiate a column on photographs exclusively within my blog – once/twice a week – as fuel for myself to pursue this further and for those who share the similar passion in this area. Those who are wanderers and simply like to appreciate randomness are welcomed as well 🙂

This is a shout out to all those who have found passion in something refreshing and have failed to pursue it or do not find enough time to indulge in it as a result of falling prey to the monotonous routines that suck the life out of you !!!

” Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights your way” – author unknown.