Far from the Shore
by Sonali Roy
“The gentle waves and the small boat on the photograph ornament the river Damodar. From here, the Garh-Panchakote or the Panchet Hill is only 13 km. During the rains, the river becomes fierce, but as I framed the image in February, the look of the river was very welcoming & calm.”
This photograph depicts the river Damodar in the Garh-Panchakote area in India. The photograph’s perspective overlooks the deep blue river and is taken near a wooden dock, located in the image’s bottom left-hand corner. In the foreground on the right-hand side, sticking out of the river, are blades of green grass. In the centre of the photograph and the middle ground is a dark, mid-sized boat carrying passengers aboard. Some of the passengers are wearing white short-sleeved shirts. In the far distance, an out-of-focus landscape spans the width of the photograph and fades into the light blue sky.
A photograph of the Garh-Panchakote area, documenting the view off a wooden dock at the river Damodar. A boat is in the background carrying passengers aboard.
At the Foothill
“The hill is here, the Garh-Panchakote or the Panchet Hill, Neturia, Purulia, West Bengal, India. The foothill shows the ruins of old palaces and temples of the then royals, probably the Singh-Deo dynasty. The hill is covered up in tall trees, shrubs, and bushes. Here, nature, history, culture, and architecture are intermingled through the image.”
This photograph depicts the landscape at Panchet Hill, Neturia, Purulia, West Bengal, in India. In the foreground of the image is dry, sand-like soil with sticks gathered and piled in the left-hand corner on the ground. In the middle ground is a small raised hill of sparse vegetation and dry soil. On top of this small hill are the remains of four old temples and palaces, spaced apart and spanning the length of the photograph. The remains are made of clay, stone, wood, and mixed materials. In the background is a hazy blue sky, and far in the distance is a large mountain with dense green vegetation.
A photograph of the Garh-Panchakote area, showing dry, desert-like soil in the foreground. A mountain with green vegetation and a blue sky is in the background.
Sonali Roy is a freelance writer interested in holistic approaches for maintaining good health both for humans and their nonhuman friends, business management, the latest science discoveries, archaeology, architecture, history, spirituality, and art & culture. Besides, she's a passionate traveller, photographer, and music composer and regularly practices yoga and meditation. In addition, she enjoys creative writing and loves spending time with her two canine friends Fuchoo and Funtoosh.