A Drying Art — Abstract Natural Landscape Photographs

Abstract, fine art photographs of the drying phase of a natural saline lake in Rajasthan, India.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. ― Rachel Carson

The majestic state of Rajasthan in India is blessed with several saline lakes where water levels — cyclically — recede after the monsoon season. While visiting one such lake in the winter months in 2008, Mayank found the patterns made by the receding or drying process fascinating. Mudcracks, footprints left by wading birds and mounds of dry, cracked soil exposing the lake’s salt content had created what looked like heavily textured works of art.

Upon close observation, the natural landscape revealed its abstract, expressive and emotional qualities. The drying lake appeared to be bidding goodbye to its lifeline or better half — water — in a beautiful manner, with the hope that it will return in the next season. For the photographer, there was also a message here: change is inevitable in our lives and nature perhaps teaches us to embrace it.

Some of the photographs from this series were displayed at the international photography group show Aperture and Identity, organised by Bougainvillaea art gallery, Udaipur, India, in January 2010. These images are available as limited edition prints on Epson or Hahnemühle archival fine art papers (Edition: 12). Print sizes: 30×20 inches or 22×16 inches or 16×12 inches.

White triangular formation full of cracks and around it large cracks and many bird footprints in mud — A Drying Art 01

A mound full of small cracks and around it large mudcracks and many bird foorprints within a flat depression — A Drying Art 02

Large cracks in a muddy, stream-like shape with smaller cracks on dry, white saline ground above and below — A Drying Art 03

Many small, deep cracks on dry white saline ground merging with large cracks in the mud above — A Drying Art 04

Dry grass in the middle of dry earth full of cracks and patches of sand — A Drying Art 05

Thick flakes of dry ground in a small depression, merging with mud cracks around — A Drying Art 06

Lots of small and big cracks, like a texture, in white and sandy brown colours — A Drying Art 07

Footprints of wading birds embedded in mud with big and small cracks below on dry ground — A Drying Art 08

White bird feathers and mud flakes over dry ground with large cracks on it — A Drying Art 09

Large cracks in mud merging with smaller, thick flakes on dry ground below them — A Drying Art 10

Wet (brown), thick, cracking flakes merging with dry (white) ones, like a texture — A Drying Art 11

A puddle of water in perspective, with mudcracks all around it — A Drying Art 12

Large cracks in mud with fine texture on it, in perspective, and footprints of birds on the far side — A Drying Art 13

Mud peeling off in small bits and revealing dry ground and large, thin cracks below — A Drying Art 14

White, semi-circular shape with many cracks and a sandy centre. Large, chocolate colour cracks around it. — A Drying Art 15

Posted in Categories: Abstract Photography, Fine Art Photography and Nature Photography

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