Art

Kashmir-Paradise on Earth

By Aarshi Joshi

The photo was taken during my first trip to this disputed valley of Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. The place has been in constant turmoil; militarily, politically and economically; with the only respite being its natural beauty and the warm hearted citizens. Kashmir has been termed as ‘Paradise on Earth’ but many people fear to visit this place. When I traveled there, I noticed that the locals welcome everyone with open arms and are excited to show their home to us. It is always hard to comprehend that such a beautiful place, where nature radiates peace is marred by violence. My photos have always been inspired by Nature and I feel that it has the power to make humans realise the futility of power and war, as well as result in creation of their best works. It has been my hope that one day people realise this and give the valley what it deserves, serenity and happiness.

Aarshi Joshi is from Delhi, India. She is currently pursuing History Honours from Delhi University and hopes to go on a backpacking trip around the world, along with her camera. Her interests lie in anthropology, tennis, supporting feminism and children’s rights.

The Lumberyard

By Rachel Bownik

This photo was taken in Rogers, MN. The train that runs through that area usually delivers stacks of lumber making it a place where a lot of teenagers hang out. Before taking the picture, I found a leather jacket and the beret (as seen in the picture) and I thought that these would help make an interesting character so it looks like this girl just usually wanders around places like that to just stop and think about life. the-lumberyard-2

Rachel Bownik is a photographer and filmmaker from Minnesota.

The Golden Hour

By Himank Jain

This picture was taken at Shahpura Lake, which is a very beautiful public garden in Bhopal City. On one fine summer evening I was just sitting there and I saw this fisherman trying very hard to catch fishes. Every time he caught one it just slipped through his hands. But he didn’t gave up and tried again and again untill he succeeded in his task. This picture was taken at around 7:00pm which is the period shortly after sunset also known as Golden hour and it is believed that best pictures are clicked in Golden hour so that is how I decided to photograph this. Photography for me is the thing which is connected to my soul and it has also brought many changes in the way I see the world around. Photography according to me is not only about clicking pictures but it is also about the little things and emotions we observe and try to capture them which others can not see. Photography for me is the love affair with my life.

Himank Jain is nineteen years old and lives in India. He is a hobby photographer and has been in this sphere for the past one year. He loves photography because it gives him a chance to make people see the beauty of nature and various cultures around us. He believes that stories are best told through pictures, and pictures speak more than words.

See You in the Summer

By Matti Youngblood

This photo was taking at my grandmother’s house in Grannis, Arkansas, at which time I had recently began experimenting with backlighting. This was one of the first photos I had taken with the sun in the frame, and now, I shoot with it in the frame whenever possible!

Matti Youngblood can be found taking pictures, writing, or reading while listening to music.

Relax/Crossing the Lanes

By Aditi Chandra

These photos were taken in the streets of Bhopal, my hometown, which has quite a laid-back lifestyle. On a moderately hot day in April 2016,I peeped out of my car. People, lives, things, scenes shifted quickly before me, without giving any notice. In these moments, with the wind gushing through my hair, I came across these men who were simply relaxing, standing in the middle of nowhere as vehicles whizzed past them. Their postures and expressions seemed to place them in the center of the universe. As a photographer, I was keen on capturing the composition and the story in each element these photographs would convey. For me, photography isn’t just a practice; it’s more of an art of storytelling, a channel of communication. Though these photographs are just some shots of street photography with not much technique employed, the story they speak of, fascinates and imparts immense satisfaction.

Aditi Chandra is a junior from Bhopal, India. She is an amateur photographer and her works have been previously published in Textploit, Teen Ink, ArtRefurbish , Cargo Literary, Moledro and Alexandria Quarterly among others . She also serves as the Art Editor at Inklette Magazine and Phosphene Literary Journal. You can find her at aditichandra.wordpress.com.

Old Friends

By Shera Bhala

I reside in an old, historic house in Kansas City, Missouri. Because my house is so unique and often has beautiful lighting from the many windows, I take photos there a lot. I am inspired by many different photographers, and one thing they always emphasize is the importance of taking as many photos as possible. Over time, I have also learned that usually, the first image that you capture will not be the perfect one. I try to take a lot of shots from various angles. My photo “Old Friends” was one of many. I saw my mom and our cat, Daisy, sitting on the windowsill together in our living room. So I asked them to hold still for a minute and captured quite a few photos. When I first saw the negatives, I fell in love with this image. I really enjoy the subjects, setting, and silhouette effect of it. I aim to portray a variety of human emotions, and I really believe this photo does just that, as it depicts loving and warm feelings.

Shera Bhala currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri and attends the Pembroke Hill School. At Pembroke, Shera is an Arts Focus student, with an emphasis on photography.