Tales Beyond the Frames

Oct 16, 2010 by Nasrul Eam

Moments that we see through the lens, moments that give us a gesture; a gesture that descends into the abyss of visual rhythm and harmonies through a kind of intuition. It is an expression that we experience in that very moment; put a frame around and call it a “photograph”, but the story goes far beyond the frame. It is a journey around the world seen through the lenses of amazing photographers, in an “Enigma of Capturing Light,” and gorgeous composition which is “Driven by Passion.”

Setting foot in an exotic, water-filled atmosphere, surrounded by lights and neon, pulsating with movement and futuristic thinking, we entered the world of “The Tokyo Bay and the Traditional House Boats”, with photographer Michiko Matsumoto. The city of Tokyo, hurtling toward the future, yet embracing the past with unique traditions, is a visual feast , and it is here that we resume our journey.

From Tokyo Bay to the East River, from the Rainbow to the Manhattan Bridge, we found ourselves in New York City, the waning evening light coating the city in an aura of peacefulness, yet underneath possessing a booming economy, materialistic lifestyle, constant movement, and an urge to become known. So many little lives lived out in this giant city, with each one yearning to tell their story. The pace of this frenetic city that never really sleeps is portrayed in peaceful respite in “Sunset over NYC”.

Craving a sense of true peace and stillness, we ventured further, out to nature, perhaps in search of the true meaning of our existence, or just a breath of fresh air. We moved to the Rocky Mountains, in “Summit Lake” and “Clear Lake.” Staring at the calm, one can almost feel the wind and tinge of autumn in the air.

Resting for awhile, we closed our eyes and found ourselves in a magical kingdom of Disney World, in “Wishes at Cinderella’s Castle”. Here in this otherworldly place, one is free to be like a child and dream, to experience the wonder of a world with no boundaries.

We were slowly brought back to reality through the magnificent visual harmonies of “Gallery at Fort Barrancas.” The glowing sienna and golden walls, textured rocks curving up slowly, and arching white hallways give a sense of being sheltered. The light shines softly reverberating over the organic curves of earth. Venturing on, we found ourselves in the wondrous castle of Chambord, in France, in “Da Vinci.” The enveloping, curved angles of the walls, soaring toward an enigmatic light that seems to beckon, entrances us. Transported to a futuristic soaring tower, bedecked in metal and glass, we encountered “An Architectural Pinnacle.” Showcased in luminescent blue and silver, this monument shines in color and angularity.

Then suddenly the perspective was altered, the light illuminating the landscape as it burst through moody and tremulous clouds. Stories put on more colors, and the sunset shined brightly as we travelled to Middle East to see the “Desert Rain.” From Florida to France and now we are in Dubai.

With the photographers Sergey, Merina, Alminar, Tanmoy, Ashwin, Stefanie, Prasanth, Nuno, Luca, Prajith, Tomas, Diego, and Adam, this journey continued. From Dubai to the village named Belokuzminovka, Ukraine, we took in an open frame and delightful yet simple movement from above.

We then traveled further to Russia in Tomas’s “Divine Way”, and witnessed a striking landscape and culture that seemed lost in time. The texture and contrast of this punchy and moving composition stirred our souls.

The abyss stared into its essence and tales strode beyond the frames. We melted into the hues of the horizon, to see another new beginning, on the beach at Wildwood; the sunrise warming us as we walked to our next destination.

Can one recount the beginning of a story – the stories of our life? Our life, which is so rhythmic, so vibrant at times, that has its own motion, goes on with wonders of the unknown.

At this instant we reached the Rocky Mountains again, to witness the end of a day, the sunset right after a mountain rain storm, when the clouds were just beginning to clear out and the sun peeking through, gave us rays of hope.

The photograph “A Little Soul and His Boat”, by Tanmoy, depicted a tiny boy with true essence of awaking, shrouded in textures and flowing currents of the country of hundreds of rivers, Bangladesh. From the Rocky Mountains to the river Bhairab, from Mysore to Epi Island, from Bandarban to Kerala, stories now get more rhythmic like our lives, picking up the pace and surging ahead with wonderful compositions.

The Photo of the Day award contest that we started back in June is representing its fourth month. However the excitement does not end here: from Nova Scotia it goes on to Yellowstone Lake and then to the nightlife of Dubai, followed by celebrating the winter in southern Germany.

It gets more controlled in the way those wonderful photographs express themselves, in their reflection, which is full of colors, not into the technical info of shutter speed, relative aperture, ISO, white balance or film or digital sensor, but in the essence of getting that moment to us.

Photographs by Marina, Sagar, Ashwin, Stefanie, Prasanth, Nuno, Luca, Prajith, Thomas, and Adam are so gorgeous with that essence that they tell their stories beyond the frames so well that they need no accompaniment. However, the stories of these photographs of the fourth month need your votes, so that it reaches more people around the world and a chance for everyone to select the best Photo of the Month – October.

Please view these photographs by clicking on them. Then re-tweet, and click on the Facebook “Like” button, and let the world know that the essence of composition lies in the eyes of the beholder, and its tales truly goes beyond the frames.