My little pockets of joy

Where nature and urban life connect

As photographers we often have this longing to find meaning in human experience. While I can’t claim to be a birder, I have been a lifelong bird-lover. At every possible opportunity, especially on the commute to my workplace and back, I am looking out for birds and try to capture them through my mobile camera.

I find it endearing that birds co-exist with us in this urban space. They flutter between the electric lines, perch on tall buildings and sing in spite of the honking horns – bird songs that we are sure to miss if we don’t listen carefully. Birds claim spaces we rarely think of—nesting under flyovers, seeking refuge in forgotten patches of greenery, and resting on the many statues that dot the city.

For those who take the time to look, birds offer a glimpse into a parallel world, one that coexists with urban dwellers but perhaps follow an entirely different rhythm.

I think birds give me the joyous dose of the nowness of life. I find their energy, animation and movement inspiring. They give meaning to my commute and get me out of the rut and routine of things. To see birds in this chaotic urban landscape is akin to finding my pocket of joy.

These moments are filled light-heartedness. A reminder that it’s good to approach life with a sense of playfulness, wonder and simplicity. A way of reconnecting with something elemental, beyond the deadlines, the traffic, and the endless work of the day.

I have written earlier about birds as part of my series small is beautiful where I talked about how I learnt to take images by photographing birds. Over the years, I have continued to take bird photos.

Birds show us that the city is not just a place of work, stress, and routine—it is also a habitat, a landscape of unexpected beauty. They compel us to look up, to pay attention, and to find joy in small, transitory moments. This is where nature and urban life make that delicate sublime connection.

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