Amidst the Auroras
Photographer Kirthana Devdas on her experience after being selected to be part of an artist residency in Iceland.
Even in pictures, they tend to awe — but imagine actually living among the Aurora Borealis; the phenomenon of the Northern Lights, and being inspired by them in person! That’s what this 37-year-old photographer Kirthana Devdas, from Coimbatore experienced when she was chosen to be part of a coveted artist residency in Northern Iceland — collaborating with select creative minds from across the world.
Shuttling between her current residence in Mumbai and south India, Kirthana, who predominantly works on travel documentary, commercial and wedding photography, sent in some of her earlier work along with a project proposal — which was selected consequently along with an invite to a quiet fishing village in Iceland!
“I decided on a winter residency because change is always refreshing and shocks the mind in new ways. Going to a quiet fishing village in North Iceland, in the winter, was a strong contrast that worked just as expected. Iceland is a photographer’s dream but the weather proves to be a constant challenge.
I’ve been working on a body of work that is experiential; it is based on dreams and the space that stirs day dreams — and this was the perfect opportunity to take it forward,” begins the graduate from Light and Life Academy in Ooty.
How was it to witness the auroras up close and personal? “I’ve watched time-lapse videos of auroras but the actual experience is far from it. The only parallel I can draw is the experience of watching nature in the wild, in their natural habitat, as opposed to seeing them in a zoo. The auroras appear, get strong and fade at will, so there’s always an element of surprise. There was a Bulgarian artist on the residency who was recording the sound of auroras with a low frequency radio. I had no idea they made sounds! If you’re curious, they sound a bit like electronic crickets,” Kirthana quips.
She also has some fascinating insights into the Icelandic culture — “The geothermal activity provides naturally hot water to all of Iceland, but the sulphur content gives it a sharp smell, a bit like rotten eggs, which takes some getting used to. There isn’t a village or town in Iceland without a hot tub; most Icelanders soak in these hot baths after a day’s work!”
“One night, we walked up to a hot pot at the top of a hill where there weren’t any street lights, and in half an hour an aurora came out. It rippled across and covered the entire sky. There are some moments that shouldn’t be photographed — they take away from the actual experience and can’t be captured,” Kirthana shares, poignantly.
What’s next? “The people I met there had some utterly brilliant ideas, which has led me to some exciting ideas. My projects are a work in progress for now, but this experience has definitely invigorated me,” she
concludes.
Crystal clear
Even though Thailand has been popular as a honeymoon destination, Krabi and Ko Phi Phi island especially, were left untouched. But recently, many lovebirds and newly weds have been flocking this gorgeous destination — the latest to join the bandwagon were Tamil VJ Anjana Rangan and her husband Chandramouli Subramanyan. She posted a picture of the two, standing in knee-deep water, in the absolutely crystal clear seas of Ko Phi Phi. We wish the both of you a happy married life!
UFO Spotted!
Nah, we’re just kidding. March seemed to be a pretty bizarre month for those living in Arizona, as strange formations appeared in the sky. Some took to social media and posted, “I came out of my apt. building and these were right above my head,” (sic). If you happened to be travelling and found similar UFO-like formations, relax, for they’re just clouds! Known as lenticular clouds, they form when air moves over mountains and condenses. They form ring-like shapes because they don’t move, unlike normal clouds.