Life on the Dunes

The sand dunes of the Sahara desert represented a clash in anachronism: ancient nomadic Bedouin lifestyles adapted to modern living, the ship of the desert ferrying people alongside 4x4 zooming across the dunes, berber desert camps nestled side by side with modern hotels replete with pools and air-conditioning. It was, therefore, hard to capture the true essence of the desert that I had come to seek here. This scene was one such attempt at capturing that figment of a nomadic life.

Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Portals

The darvaza, or a doorway, signifies many things in many cultures, ranging from the metaphysical separation of the death from life, to the more mundane indoors from the outdoors. As a photographer, perhaps the appeal lies in its ability to frame the organic shapes and colors of the outdoor with a well-defined man-made structure.

I collated three such doorways from different parts of the world: the doorway of an outer portico for the Taj Mahal-inspired Bibi ka Maqbara in India, an arched window in the kasbah in Chefchaouen in Morocco, and the stone-hewed entrance of an old caravanserai on the Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan. Each are different, and yet, they share the intrinsic property that is common for a darvaza.

Fleeting Time

During the dark days of winter, I often sit down introspecting my life that year, and get to question the ephemerality of time. This year has been a little different undoubtedly, and the pandemic has played a major role in it. Time seems to have flown a bit too quickly without much to show far, and yet the time spent in social isolation has gone far more slowly that I would have preferred. As much as I tried not to, my daily rhythm has certainly been disrupted.

This image was taken during a fall road trip two years in New England. And while I clearly remember the time I spent driving around the backroads of Vermont, I can't recollect even an ounce of what I had done during the indoor days at the start of the pandemic restrictions. Thankfully, I preserved some of the most memorable moments in my 2021 calendar created in support of the National Park foundation; you can buy it here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/sathish-jothikumar/2021-photography-calendar/paperback/product-gpj74q.html

There is light at the end of the tunnel, and it can't come soon enough.

Woodstock

VT USA

Grade of Light

As a photographer, I crave sunrises. The appeal of this short window of time is the game of chance one plays in being at the right light and color. There are occasions where you are at the right place but the light isn't there, and then there are others when the light is amazing and you are stuck staring at it from a bedroom window. When both come together, it can create a unforgettable yet fleeting moment.

And every sunrise is unique; it can range all the way from the clouds on the eastern horizon taking on an deep pink tinge that slowly creeps across the sky, to beautiful alpenglows in mountain country, to something as simple as this: a gradation of different hues of a pre-dawn sky reflecting on the still waters of a lake

See a few more different sunrises in my 2021 calendar created in support of the National Park Foundation, available here: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/sathish-jothikumar/2021-photography-calendar/paperback/product-gpj74q.html

St Ignace

MI USA

Home is where you are

The concept of a domicile and a permanent abode is a strong fixture for the modern community. It anchors our present-day lives, and with the pandemic moving most work to home, the importance of the place of residence is higher than ever before.

That led me to wonder about the nomadic lives that many communities around the world practice, including the famous Bedouin tribes of Middle East, the Mongol tribes in Mongolia, Saami tribes in Scandinavia and numerous more in Africa and South America. And then there are also the digital nomads who work and live on the move, relying on modern technology to keep connected to society.

The nomadic herders I stayed with in Kyrgyzstan are certainly not digital nomads. Their calendar revolves with the seasons of the year, bring their herds of cattle and horses up to the high altitude meadows (jailoos) in early summer. They move and stay with the herd for half the year, in white yurts that pop up on the green landscape, and only move back down when winter calls and the weather turns harsh. A few of these herders set up additional yurts and welcome tourists to spend a day and experience the nomadic life of these herders. Modern technology has certainly eased some of the challenges and brought more income, but has not changed their lifestyle. I hope this tradition continues to thrive.

Tash Rabat Caravanserai

At Bashy district, Kyrgyzstan

Nostalgia

Every couple of years, I get pangs of nostalgia for India, and the yearning to visit my home town and see family increases. The cold days of winter, when work slows down, serves as an excellent opportunity to go back home, especially with its mild weather and pleasant temperatures.

I also use this time to indulge in the rich history of this country. This has been something I took for granted while growing up as I never had the appreciation for it. Now, my travels over the past decade have wisened my world view, and has provided me a better appreciation for the rich history and cultural heritage.

On one such visit, I got to explore the richly decorated cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora, a UNESCO world heritage site located in western India. With sculptures and paintings dating to 480 - 1000CE, these cave complexes were an in-depth study of the ancient Indian art forms. I couldn't get enough of this destination, and I hope to go there again when times are better

Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Maharashtra India

The High Atlas

The descent of winter onto the Pacific Northwest brings with it short gloomy days often accompanied by rain. This would have normally been the time to socialize indoors, but it is our duty to be responsible and reduce social interactions to slow down the spread of the pandemic gripping the nation. That, however, does not come without consequences.

To help ease the stress of the dark winters, I use my photography to escape to the furthest places I have photographed. This time around, I relived my memories from driving through the high Atlas mountains of Morocco. While spending a night in the rocky spine of Morocco, I found a vast windswept plain between Lac Islit and Tislit, two surreal bodies of water surrounded by snow-capped peaks.

Life is harsh in this area, and even the arrival of roads, motor vehicles, electricity, and the internet, have only slightly eased the difficulty of living here. Subsistence living with meager livestock still remains the predominant form of sustenance. Two donkeys from one such herd graze on the sparse vegetation in the high Atlas

Imilchil

Morocco

The Wreck of the Iredale

The wreck of the Peter Iredale, a 285ft long steel sailing vessel that plied the Pacific Coast, has laid on the sandy beaches of the Oregon coast for more than a century. The unceasing action of the tides, the sun and the wind have taken its toll, reducing its steel superstructure to nothing more than a skeletal rib. And as time takes its toll, this too shall pass away into the sand.

But for now, it is here. I had heard of this wreck through a friend, and on my first visit here a decade ago, cloudy skies and high tide prevented us from getting close. This time around, low tides coincided with sunset, making for some spectacular photography under ideal conditions. Though with dozens of instragrammers milling around the structure, I had my work cut out.

Fort Stevens State Park

OR USA

The Blissful Coast

The reason the Pacific Northwest is notorious for its grey and gloomy disposition is the winter season, where short days and the inevitable rainy weather leaves many yearning for the summer sunshine. I put up with two months of seasonal depression just for the six glorious months of summer.

And yet, there are some days when a window of clear skies and balmy days open up even in the midst of a cold winter. A couple of years ago, I sought one such window and explored the scenic Olympic coastline. I was fortunate to hit the coast at low tide, which meant miles of glassy beach providing for amazing reflections of the rocky coastline glowing in the late afternoon sun.

Olympic National Park

WA USA

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Calendar of 2021

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With the pandemic restricting travel in general in 2020, I focused my photography on the amazing landscapes in and around my home in the Pacific Northwest. And even when constrained to this rain-drenched corner of the country , I found so much diversity, from rugged mountains of the North Cascades to temperate rain-forests in the Olympic Peninsula, and from dry volcanic terrain at Mt St Helens, to the lush farmlands of the Palouse.

And all of these are public lands preserved under the auspices of the National and State Parks, Wilderness Areas and National Forests that cover vast swaths of the PNW. By limiting my travel to this home range, I have come to realize what a treasure this region has to offer. And I am sure such outdoor destinations all over the country, including the 61 National Parks, have been a welcome respite from the harsh realities of the pandemic.

Having visited 45 of those 61, I have come to realize the vital importance of our National Park system in protecting and preserving nature, culture, wildlife, and landscapes for the future. The National Park Foundation helps safeguard our national heritage, ensuring generations of national park enthusiasts can enjoy the parks we love. Hence, this year, I chose to raise funding for this amazing organization.

Purchase the 2021 Calendar, and support the National Park Foundation

Seattle

WA USA