Landscapes & Lifeblood: The Power of Water

Water is forever flowing, even when it seems motionless. The patterns created by currents on the surface are like a form of calligraphy, a language written by the very elixir of life.

I find immense joy in scenes at a waterfront. The tranquility, the stillness, as reed, rock, and reflection create a perfect composition. In such moments, even without a bird or dragonfly in the frame, nature sings her song to me.

This is a patch of forest in Mumbai's National Park during the peak of the dry season. The ghost tree stands stark against a blue sky, the ground covered in dry leaves, waiting for the life-giving rain.

Here is the same frame as before, but transformed by the monsoon. The landscape is now a riot of lush green, showing the dramatic change that water brings. This is a core story from my book, "City Forest".

A termite mound stands prominently in the dry deciduous forest of SGNP. The forest floor is a carpet of brown, brittle leaves, a scene of dormancy and patience.

After the rains, the same termite mound is surrounded by a sea of vibrant green ferns and new growth. The contrast is a testament to the resilience of the forest and its dependence on the monsoon.

A road cuts through the dry forest in summer. The trees are largely bare, and the undergrowth is sparse and brown, a landscape resting in the heat.

The same road is now a verdant corridor, flanked by walls of lush green foliage. The monsoon has completely reclaimed the landscape, turning it into a dense, thriving jungle.

From a ridge above Kanheri Caves, my friend scans the terrain of Mumbai's National Park. In the distance, the burgeoning western suburbs present the stark contrast that earns this wilderness the moniker of City Forest. This photo dates to the late 1990s.