Golden Hour

Chinmoy Biswas, West Bengal

It’s that hour when sunshine falls on a lean River Matla. The rays brush up her delicate contours. They sweep across her banks and naked riverbed. The landscape is aglow as the river turns into molten gold, its aura lighting up the traveller’s trail.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Blue Hour

Pranab Basak, West Bengal

It’s the blue hour with splashes of orange when the sun lingers just around the corner. When the boats still rest lazily at the anchors and the waters are still. The waves barely move on the shores, holding the shadows intact. The sky dons pearl-white frills, and the moon still hangs around.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Reflections

Chinmoy Biswas, West Bengal

He sits on the tip of the boat, lost in thought, perhaps waiting for his master. The last cargo for the day is loaded. He watches the jute stacks, the river flowing quietly around them in spite of the impending shower. Perhaps the waves wish not to disturb their reflections.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Shadows

 

Praveen Paul, Kerala

They stick to your side from dawn to dusk. They rest when you rest and chase you all the way if you get away. They actually have no wish to overtake you. Indeed, shadows are your true friends if ever there were any. In clear waters, you see them better.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Sunbath

Christopher Andres, Philippines

There’s nothing like a sunbath the first thing in the morning. For how long can one hide under a leaf anyway? The sun’s so bright one’s too tempted to go over the other side and soak some of that shine. Need to keep an eye on one’s tail though. Can’t drop it too often.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Still Waters

Abhishek C. Jayaprakash, Kerala

The universe seems to hold its breath. The leaves don’t move. The waters are still. The sunrays dip into their depths without as much as a crinkle. Everything is at rest. Except for the man on his daily rounds. Even his reflection is intact. The nature seems to be unaware of him.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Night Click

 

Kalol Mukherjee, West-Bengal

A paddy field on the highway is a favourite food haunt. As the farmers retire and the fields go quiet, it’s dinnertime. The moon is but a prop. The streetlights set the ambience. Here you’re on a quiet date with yourself, and too bad you had to get caught!

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Surfing

Saurav Pal, West Bengal

Unbridled, we move in a frenzy, dashing through the sloppy waters, splashing up heavy spray. We run, setting the soil and the humans to work. Drenched in showers of muddy water, we announce the arrival of the monsoon. And we keep intact the farmers’ pride.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Acid Rain

 

Natalya Rezepina Yuzeeva, Russia

Once we lived on a riverside. Our branches bowed and leaves rustled. We had little nests cocooned in our arms. We sheltered them from storm, shower and shine. We held the earth together and cleared the sky. Until you rained acid and maimed us for life.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Surveillance

Santhosh Jidugu, Hyderabad

Hush! You’re being watched. Your actions are being recorded. You cannot love us and then litter your refuse in our terrains. You cannot watch us through your lenses and then pretend not to see when our woods are being cleared. Love us or leave us.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

River of Sand

 

Abdul Momin, Bangladesh

Hurrying from shore to shore for days and months, Jamuna is tired. Through the years, the world has eroded and destroyed her, forcing her to alter her course. Today she seems deceptively abundant with sand bars taking the place of her swelling curves.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Survival

Gokul Krishnan V., Kerala

Was it the fight in its heart or the fire in its belly that kept the ant hanging on? Was the flow too rapid or the waters too deep? What made the other slip and fall into the fathoms? Will another lifeboat float this way soon? Will it scramble up in time?

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Life Bubbles

 

Vittorio Ricci, Italy

Life is just a bubble. Pretty, round and perfect. Yet, a hint of a storm can blow it away. A rush of waves can crush it or drown it. Or it can simply burst by itself. It’s beautiful for as long as it floats, without a swell or a surge to crumble it. Guard it I will until then.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which was shortlisted in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Perspective

Vladlena Lapshina, Russia

Whether it’s for the dragonfly or for the shutterbug that’s stepping out for a good catch for the day, perspective matters. So does the angle of vision. The imperfection of the environment, like the tear in the leaf, doesn’t matter. Forget the damage, focus on the advantage.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which made it to the finals in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

An Elegy

Sreedharan, Wadakkanchery

The river he grew up with is no more. The river that swelled and swirled with the seasons is no more. Where he used to start and end his days with a refreshing dip, there are now just a few puddles. Where will he go for his pail of water for the day?

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which made it to the finals in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.] 

Green Tangles

Abdul Momin, Bangladesh

This winter, River Bangali is so cold that she has turned blue and her tresses green. The chill freezes her bosom and she is so numb she can’t move. The ferryman combs his oar through her blue-green tangles, and the boat leaves a few waves in its wake.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which made it to the finals in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Journey

Kartikeya Grover, Uttar Pradesh

Life is a journey. Travel free. You’ve an unlimited ticket with anytime access. Find your own way around. Stop awhile when your feet get sore. Wherever you reach is your destination. On the way, you’ll have companions. You don’t get to choose them. They choose you.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which won the third prize in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Sand Dunes

 

Mohamed Noufal, Sharjah

As the sun rises, he leads his camel to the pastures for grazing. They leave a pair of trails across the desert. The shifting sand dunes erase their trails. They return at sunset, leaving new trails. A shepherd’s narrative is the same every day.

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which won the second prize in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]

Infinity

Rakayet Ul Karim Rakim, Bangladesh

Caught in an endless loop, he doesn’t seem to know he is fully grown. He has grown magnificent wings. He is now a handsome fly that can roam around the gardens. He can get drunk on nectar, flash his colours and find his mate. If only he knew!

[This microtale was written for the above photograph, which won the first prize in the Greenstorm Nature Photography Contest 2020, and was published on the Greenstorm Foundation website.]