Healing Forest Photography

AIGO – India

AIGO stands for Artificial Intelligence Generated Outings. AIGO is a new way of exploring old places. We work with AI to bring enchanting fables from magical lands to life. You will find thought provoking stories that help you uncover the soul of this beautifully complex land called India.

Imagine the impossible

AIGO is also a way to open your mind. To fill you world with wonder and curiosity, and to inspire you to travel. Come, let’s go on imaginary adventures to fantastic places. Somewhere between the real and unreal is an idea that is waiting for you.

AIGO Punjab

May the 4th be with you. Traveling in a remote Punjabi village where Star Wars has a cult following you’ll find these strange vehicles. On this significant date the jugaad inventors bring out their futuristic creations for an epic road show. Their message to the world – there is a dreamer within all of us.

AIGO Assam

Why do the elephants of Assam create art?
Is it to draw attention to their dwindling numbers? Is it to remind us that these fields were once dense forest they called home?

Why do the elephants of Assam create art?
It’s for the same reason that all artists create.
To feel alive.

AIGO Leh

Does AI know answers to questions that have mystified humans for ages? Can it reveal knowledge that was hidden in the heads of a few? On assignment to document the levitating monks of Leh, I decided to let AI unravel their secret.

AIGO What’s next?

This is an ongoing project. With time I will keep adding new stories and destinations. You can also send in your own AIGO creations or suggest new places for us to visit in the comments section of this post.

“To imagine the impossible, is to sow the seeds for making it possible some day.”

Healing Forest Photography

Varanasi – Time Loops

The flow of time is a great illusion. Sometimes it moves fast, sometimes it slows down. It can make you feel alive or it can make you feel half dead. But in Varanasi, one can see this illusion clearly. For in Varanasi, time stops.

Final-Cow

Given below are a series of time loops that try to capture the essence of life in Varanasi. They depict the illusion of being stuck in a time loop. For some people time does not move in a straight line, it flows in circles. Life may appear to move forward but if one observes closely, one can see it repeating itself in patterns. Check out the time loops below and see if the illusion is also present in your life.

ILLUSIONS

What is, isn’t
What isn’t, is
Varanasi-Bathing-MS

What was, will be
What is, won’t
Varanasi-Student

What flows, stays
What stays, fades
3-Final-Bathing-LS

What’s loved, is suffered
What’s suffered, is unloved
Varanasi-Fan

What’s gained, is lost
What’s lost, is missed
Varanasi-Wrestler

What destroys, creates
What’s created, is destroyed
Varanasi-Umbrella

What lives, dies
What dies, transforms
7-Final-Burning

What transforms, is truth
What separates, is illusion
Varanasi-Arti

What moves, is mind
What passes, is time
Varanasi-Old-man

What is, isn’t
What isn’t, is
Varanasi-Meditation

END NOTE: The wise people of Varanasi know that life is ruled by a simple principle- Everything Flows. The river flows. People come and go. Fortunes  and governments change. The sun, moon, seasons are all part of the flow. When one becomes aware of the flow, one can be free of illusions. I hope these words and time loops have helped you flow through Varanasi. Keep flowing.
Varnasi-Ganges

Healing Forest Photography

Crazy Gurgaon

This is a story about crazy Gurgaon. Gurgaon, popularly known as the ‘Millennium City’ is a shining example of India’s development and growth. But that is an incomplete picture. To really understand Gurgaon and maybe India, you need to see the crazy side of the city. After all it is the craziness that gives a place it’s character. It’s the crazy Gurgaon that will stick in your head and perhaps if you visit, turn you a little crazy too.

Crazy Gurgaon

Crazy GurgaonPic 1. Beer is available at every corner, but to buy milk you may have to go to a mall.
Pic 2. Developers have used every inch of allotted space to build houses and offices, but they forgot to build the parking.
Pic 3. Forests are dying, but jungles are being built.
Pic 4. Gods and dogs share the same office.
Pic 5. Even the lamp posts are crazy.
Pic 6. Parks and Wildlife – Gurgaon version.
Pic 7. Tractors race along the roads. They are ideal for the potholes.
Pic 8. We live in boxes, with strangers for neighbours.

… to be continued.
What’s your crazy story about Gurgaon? Please leave a comment.

Note: This is an artistic opinion of Gurgaon and not a scientific one. There are many positive aspects to the city and it does have some happy people. The aim of this feature is just to highlight the quirky side. In case anyone feels offended and experiences a change in blood pressure after going through these statements, please see the film below.

Secret Gurgaon

This crazy city holds a few secrets. Secrets that have been forgotten and lay hidden for the explorers to uncover. Here is one secret.

Healing Forest Films, Photography

Valley of Clouds

Valley of Clouds shown in this film is a beautiful valley situated in the Himalayas. In the mornings, the valley gets filled up with a sea of clouds. The clouds cover the forest, mountains and villages in a blanket of white. It’s a beautiful symphony orchestrated by nature. For more fables visit: http://www.elfproject.org/fables

Credits:
Valley of CloudsFilm by: Nitin Das
Special Thanks: Gurpal Singh for organizing the M.A.F.I.A. gathering at www.himalayanvillage.com
Ashish Arora, Deepa Pathak for hosting us:

Learn to make movies like this one>>

Valley of Clouds in pictures

Healing Forest Photography

Telling Stories with Pictures

Every picture tells a story, but what’s interesting is that every person who sees the picture reads a different story. Stories that are crafted by our own memories and imagination. In this small selection of pictures we tell stories that came to our heads. Imagined conversations that never took place, except perhaps in our heads.. and now in yours.

Telling Stories with Pictures

The pictures have been taken in Varanasi, India in early 2012. The last picture has been left blank for you to fill in the conversation. Put your story in the comment box below… in case you feel like exercising your imagination.
Photos by: Sonal Mangla
Stories by: Nitin Das

A few tips for telling stories with pictures:

Rule 1. All stories are about characters. The characters may be human or not, but they must have an element which catches the attention of the viewer and provokes thought.
Rule 2. All stories are about emotions. It is not just about what you see in the picture, but about how it makes you feel.
Here’s a link to an article with 35 pictures that tell interesting stories without the help of any text. Link>>

Telling Stories with Movies

For an interesting article that introduces you to the art of telling stories with movies visit our ‘How to make a movie’ page. Click here>>

Healing Forest Photography

New Images from Old Delhi

Old Delhi: A collection of images that tries to capture the chaos called life in Old Delhi. People, Rickshwas, Wires, Horns, Vendors, Carts and Monkeys. Everywhere you look images call to you. Untold stories of nameless people. Crowds that create the fabric of our society. The machinery is always running. The business of our lives never stops.  The chaos is always on. But have you noticed that within every image of chaos lies a shadow of peace?

Images and text by: Nitin Das

Share your images of Old Delhi:

Have you been to Old Delhi? What are the images that come to mind when you think of Old Delhi? Connect with us on Facebook to join the discussion on Delhi and it’s images. Submit your pictures and the best image will win a small prize. Follow this link: Chaos of Life Contest

Delhi Images

Healing Forest Photography

Blue Gold : 25 Pictures from Leh, India in Autumn

October 2012

Leh, an oasis town set amidst the cold ice desert region of the Himalayas is one of the most amazing places to visit in India. While the major tourist season is from May to August, those who venture out in other months are enchanted by the stunning beauty that awaits. Here’s a collection of photographs from Leh in the month of October.

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Enchanted Forest

A collection of photographs shot in the beautiful mountains of Ranikhet, India. Located in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas, Ranikhet is a charming little town that has held on to it’s secrets.

A forest of magic, lay forgotten.

Covered in mist and sleeping in time.

Until a passing traveller, stole a picture and broke the spell!