Category: Photography

The best of all

The best thing about 2017 is that I had a lot of new experiences. I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and find new zones I’m comfortable with. Thanks to an official trip, I managed a week of personal travel. It was the best of all that happened to me this year. It taught me a side of myself I didn’t know I had. It taught me to plan, to organise, and to communicate with other people. It gave me survival skills, nurtured my negotiating skills, and taught me the true value of good companionship. Travelling solo left me craving more.

Travelling solo

 

Climb every mountain

The city of San Francisco, didn’t have a great first impression on me. But it did do better the more I looked around. Within hours I had gone from feeling alienated to feeling elated. One of the many things that surprised me was that the city was built on a hill. It seems trivial in hindsight, but when I discovered it ascending a steep slope, it was as if the city was challenging me—a challenge I was eager to take on.

San Francisco

 

Giving some cheek

During my visit to Portland, I spent an entire morning walking around Ladd’s Addition. My friend had recommended it when I’d asked for something unique to see in and around the city. He’d told me the rose gardens are an unmissable sight. And so, taking his word for it, I stopped at the Ladd.  While one part of the garden blossomed, another part lay forgotten and barren. It came as a shock to me, but then I saw this notice laughing out loud. Not only was it a wonderful walk, but it also showed me the cheeky side of Portlanders.

Cheeky message in Ladd's Addition, Portland

With death comes calm

Rediscovering the greatest moments of my visit to the US, I came upon this week’s photo challenge: serene. Not only was my entire trip a soul-satisfying experience, but it was also full of positive energy that revitalised me from within. Every day that I set out to explore the city on my own, I found calm all around me. Although it was an official trip, my weekend getaways were worthy of a holiday.

This photo was at the National AIDS Memorial Grove inside the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This grove sat hidden in plain sight, a tribute to all lives lost aid-less, because of AIDS. As soon as I entered, an aura of serene beauty and supreme sadness engulfed me. I couldn’t identify the reason or the source, but seeing the memorial, the flowers, and the words of love left me overwhelmed.

National AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park

Transformation is art

This week’s Photo Challenge is about transformation. Like most people, when I first heard that word, I thought of withering leaves and how nature changes. But then I remembered change happens even in unnatural instances.

While at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, I saw creatives from artists all over the world. Each piece on display is a testament to its artist. One particular exhibit, however, was a testament to another person.

Barack Obama became one the world’s favourite politicians during his presidency. And sure enough, the most most of us would’ve seen of Obama is from our living rooms as we lounged on our couches. Or from reading the newspapers. This artist combined the two in a marvellous piece of art, transforming a simple couch into a timeline trophy of the once-president. This couch is covered with newspaper articles about Barack Obama during his eight years as president of the United States of America. Now that’s art worthy of a jaw drop.

Transformation is art - SFMOMA