Fleeting memories of a sunset. A beautiful purple orangy sunset through the window of a moving car and an emotion of mundanity that comes with long journeys. And many such visuals and stories, stayed hidden somewhere in me.

All of my childhood, I played. Played a lot like any other child would but never really found myself indulging in any art forms.

One day, during my second year in graduation, a friend asked me to accompany him as he went around the city clicking pictures in his SLR camera. He was preparing for a design school interview and he wanted to build a portfolio. As the day went by, I realised, I was suggesting a lot of frames for him.

I was intrigued.

Those were the days of film cameras and the 36 roll film canisters. I requested him to allow me to click one picture before the film ran out. I remember standing at Chennai (Madras) central railway station and having the camera handed over to me to click the last photo in the film canister. Shot no: 36.

I remember a leaf-less tree that stood there and the chaos those branches created against the backdrop of sky and lamp.

But more importantly, I remember the sound of the first click. Of an analogue shutter that sounded like it were a heart beat. To this day, that memory gives me goosebumps. It was love at first click. That sound opened up a box of million fleeting memories hidden somewhere in me. I realised then that I had been clicking all my life, but without a camera. Now I had one in my hand. My whole life had been leading up to that moment.

From that day on, I’ve found no greater love than what we discover through our lens. Of stories and moments, waiting to be discovered.

-prem r george