Our various whatsapp groups give us an overdose of information and 'gyan' from early morning till late into the night. Infact, participation of friends across continents makes this a continuum through day and night. On these groups, we are used to humour that makes us smile, even gives a belly ache. Puzzles seeded on the group tickle the brain, just as heartwarming stories clear up our tear ducts. Other 'DIY' activities or leisure inputs scratch our itch for fun activities, travel and adventure. On one of our groups, a few days ago, we had a slightly different kind of sharing. One of our friends shared a photograph taken by him. This led to another friend sharing a beautiful sunset, and we were soon treated to a spectacular treat of hills, rivers, canals and sunsets. The snowballing effect led to sharing some of the most beautiful moments captured by friends, ranging from sunset at Sangam, to cambridge, Kutch and a host of places across the globe. Without any verbiage, this seemed such a powerful 'sawaal-jawaab' with a lot of interest and joy. Our phones have democratised photography, as we have the freedom to capture nature, click selfies or take pictures at any time, at almost every place. Photographs have always fascinated me, whether they depict humans, statues, places or nature. They seem to silently teach us the difference between looking and seeing. They have a way of quietly capturing 'that' which may not repeat itself existentially. Also, in the maze of various objects and persons crowding the place and even shouting for attention, the eyes of the photographer have a certain knack of 'choosing' the focus of her picture. Through those eyes, a narrative gets captured, that speaks far more eloquently than hundreds of written pages. Of course, the eye seeing the picture also needs some engagement to 'parse' the picture and discover what all it expresses. For a 'forensic' eye, this may give vital clues, while to the artist, it may breathe a certain taste or mood. While both perspectives are valid, the authentic and perceptive views often complement each other. Using Buddha's metaphor, we may say the picture has a stillness, as the moment is captured poignantly 'as it is'. The past remains as clear as the 'now', as we almost 'touch, feel and sense' the past through the picture. The etchings or inscriptions on paper 'embalms' an event or person of three-dimensions into a 2-dimensional image, capturing the reality and nuances. This often lends a completeness and integrality to an event of the past. As we rush through the maze of life, can we breathe as we look around, capturing textures and colours of daily life, that make our lives richer. Can we cultivate our eyes to observe emotions, colours and movements? The shine in the eyes of a child or the sweat beads of a gardener tending to his plants can get captured in our minds and hearts. Can we root for the perfect angle, perfect sunlight to see the play of shade and leaves? Every single day has its moments. As I look out of the window, I notice a langur perched on my neighbour's white water tank. He suddenly jumps up, tossing his tail up and settles back again. I now notice another langur sitting behind, whose head is being checked for lice by the first langur! On either side, I see a row of pigeons, as a group of parrots fly past slowly. The setting sun adds orange and gold to the sky and clouds- this is an 'afterglow' moment of the lively monsoon sky at sunset. I develop a personal bond with all these actors and elements, and capture the moment. Today is World Photography Day. Can each one of us celebrate in our own little way by capturing those little events of daily life that can inspire change across the world? The author is a Harvard-educated civil servant & writer, and has worked in the education sector jayanti.ravi.dna@gmail.com

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