लहानपण, कॅमेरा आणि शिक्षण...

लहानपणापासून माझं मन कार्टून नेटवर्क मध्ये कधी रमलच नाही. अगदीच मी एखादाही कार्टून चा शो पाहिलाच नाही अस नाही पण Discovery, Animal Planet, National Geographic यांसारख्या Channels चे अधिक आकर्षण होते/आहे. त्या channels वर दाखवली जाणारी फोटोग्राफी आणि विडीयोग्राफी मनात कायमच घर करत असे. Travel आणि फोटोग्राफी ची आवड निर्माण होण्यासाठी एवढस कारण पुरेसं होत.
                   बर्याच गोष्टी मला अनुवंशिकतेने माझ्या आजोबांकडून मिळाल्या. 'फोटोग्राफी' ही पण त्यातलीच एक. माझे आजोबा रेल्वे मध्ये नोकरीस होते. मी लहानपणी त्यांनी काढलेले फोटोस पाहिले होते. दणकट मोठा stand, डब्या सारखा दिसणारा उभट फिल्म कॅमेरा आणि तो वापरताना त्यास आणि फोटोग्राफरचे डोकं झाकण्यासाठी वापरण्यात येणार काळ फडक असे त्याचे स्वरूप होते. नंतर माझ्या बाबांनी आणि काकाने त्यांना नोकरी लागल्यावर kodak चा फिल्म कॅमेरा घेतला. अत्यंत छोटा आणि handy असा तो कॅम होता. फिल्म कशी असते हे बघण्याच्या नादात मी कॅमेरा उघडून टयूब लाईट समोर एक्स्पोज केल्याने लहान असतांना बऱ्याचदा ओरडा खाल्ला आहे.
                    काही वर्षांपूर्वी मी ' आकाशमित्र मंडळ ' नामक खगोलशास्त्राशी संबंधित प्रचार आणि प्रसार करणाऱ्या संस्थेचा सभासद झालो. तिकडे अभिजित अवळस्कर शी ओळख झाली. तो प्रोफेशनल फोटोग्राफर आहे. त्याने काढलेले पक्षी आणि प्राण्यांचे अप्रतिम असे फोटोस पाहून माझ्या डोक्यातला कॅमेरा पुन्हा क्लिक क्लिकाट करू लागला. दरम्यान माझी ओळख आकाशमित्र च्या मनोज बिन्हानी सरांशी झाली. ते एक वेगळच व्यक्तिमत्व आहे. त्यांनी कॅनन चा १०००D हा DSLR  कॅमेरा घेतला आणि मला तो पहाण्यास बोलावले. काही दिवसांनी तो कॅमेरा मला वापरण्यास त्यांनी दिला आणि त्यानंतर पुढची ३.५ वर्षे तो माझ्याकडेच होता. यासाठी मी त्यांचा कायम ऋणी आहे. 
                    तसा लहानपानापासून मी अभ्यासात चांगला होतो. १० वी पर्यंत तर बराच बरा होतो. १० वी च्या बोर्ड परीक्षेत मला ९१.०७ टक्के मिळाले. विज्ञानाकडे कल असल्याने साहजिकच मी सायन्सला प्रवेश घेतला. पण ११ वी आणि १२ वी मध्ये मला विशेष असा अभ्यास करावासा वाटलाच नाही आणि मी केलाही नाही आणि त्याचा परिणाम म्हणजे मला १२ वी बोर्ड आणि सी ई टी  परीक्षेत खूप कमी मार्क्स मिळाले. AIEEE परीक्षेत मला ठीकठाक गुण मिळाले आणि मी पुढे इंजिनीअरिंगला प्रवेश मिळवला. इलेक्ट्रोनिक्स ची आवड असल्याने मी इलेक्ट्रोनिक्स & टेलिकम्युनिकेशन ही स्ट्रीम निवडली.

                   मला Vivas आणि Practicals मध्ये कायम चांगले मार्क्स मिळाले पण Theory exams मध्ये प्रगती होत नव्हती. एकीकडे DSLR  कॅमेरा आणि माझं टयुनिंग चांगलं जमू लागलं होतं आणि दुसरीकडे सेमिस्टर मध्ये चांगले गुण मिळत नव्हते. कॉलेज मध्ये तर सगळे मला फरहान कुरेशी / आंद्रे इस्थवान वगैरे नावांनी सगळे ओळखत असत. काही जण तर " तू इंजिनीअरिंग सोडून फोटोग्राफीच शिक्षण का घेत नाहीस? " असं विचारत. आपल्याला जगण्यासाठी ऑक्सिजन आणि पाणी/अन्न  या दोन्ही गोष्टींची गरज असते त्याप्रमाणे फोटोग्राफी हा माझा ऑक्सिजन आणि इंजिनीअरिंग हे माझे पाणी/अन्न आहे तर मग मी दोघांपैकी फक्त एकालाच कसा काय निवडू शकतो ?… 

Peb Fort Trek 28-06-14.   Credits:- Omkar Ranade.

* While Framing The Satpool Bridge *   Credits:- Abhijit Prabhu.

                   होणाऱ्या टीकांकडे दुर्लक्ष करून मी फोटोग्राफी आणि इंजिनीअरिंगचा अभ्यास दोन्ही सुरु ठेवले. अजूनही स्वताचा DSLR आला नव्हता. मी बाबांना २-३ वेळा त्याबद्दल बोलून पण दाखवले आणि दर वेळेस "हो, घेऊ कि " असे Diplomatic उत्तर मिळाले. २०१३ च्या दिवाळीत ३ नोवेंबरला मला माझा स्वताचा कॅनन ६०D हा DSLR कॅमेरा बाबांनी घेऊन दिला. जसजसा मी फोटोग्राफी मध्ये सिरियस होत गेलो तशी माझी टक्केवारी देखील वाढू लागली.

सेमिस्टर १ - ५३ %
सेमिस्टर २ - ५४ %
सेमिस्टर ३ - ५६ %
सेमिस्टर ४ - ५७ %
सेमिस्टर ५ - ५८ %
सेमिस्टर ६ - ५८ %
सेमिस्टर ७ - ५९ %
सेमिस्टर ८ - ७०.६६ %

Peb Fort Trek 28-06-14.   Credits:- Omkar Ranade.

Gandhari River, Kalyan.  17-09-14.

~ Sunset ~  25-09-14.

शेवटची परीक्षा Distinction सह पास झालो आणि त्याचबरोबर टीकाकारांना पण चोख उत्तर दिले. मी ७व्या सेमिस्टर असतानाच ठरवलं होत की ८ वे सेमिस्टर संपले की पुढचे ४-५ महिने मी फक्त फोटोग्राफी करणार आणि त्याप्रमाणे करत देखील आहे. 
धन्यवाद।

Peb Fort ( AKA Vikatgad ) Memories.

 Peb fort is my second home. Whenever i feel stressed or bored i pack my backpack and just get lost in the matheran region where the fort is located. I have been there for 7 times till now and have witnessed every season from there.

Basic Information About Fort:
Height - 2100 ft.
District - Raigad.
Range - Matheran Range.
Level/Grade - Medium.
Ways To Reach - 1) From Neral 2) From Panvel Side 3) From Matheran.

It was 31st December of 2013. Me and my friends wanted to end an old year and welcome the new year in a different way. So we decided to visit Peb Fort and stay there to witness both previous year's last Sunset and 2014's first Sunrise.

31st December 2013

The day started with the alarm of the 4.30 am. I was so excited as it was my maiden trek with newly bought Trekking Bag + Woodland Trekking Shoes + 60D cam's introduction to the mighty Sahyadris.

I packed Potato Parathas + sauce along with my bag and left the home @ 5.45 am.

              I boarded the 6.09 Karjat train from Kalyan and met my buddies in the train. We reached Neral Junction around 6.45 am. After having breakfast in nearby hotel, we moved on. We borrowed some cutting tools from the villagers in order to cut unwanted raised grass on the top of the fort.

Me With My Trekking Buddies.

Panoramic View Of Peb Fort.

We started ascending by pulling legs of each other and creating some pranks. It was so hot in there but we had plenty of water, so there was no risk of dehydration. While going through the route, we were listening to ShivKalyan Raja Songs.

Credits;- Tushar Chitte.

* Myself * Credits:- Tushar Chitte.

 

~ My Gang ~

We reached to the caves after 2 hrs. of hike and cleaned-up surrounding area. We had a lunch and rested there for half an hour. Those caves were used in Shivaji Maharaj's time to store the food.

Main Cave.

Kavya & Aniket packing-up collected garbage from cave area.

* Rectangular shaped cave *  Pic taken from inside.

Then, we continued our journey and reached the Ashram within next 20 minutes. After getting refreshed, we started cutting the grass for more than hour. We cut about 25 Kg of grass with our friend Subodh who lives and takes care of Ashram. As soon as we finished grass-cutting, we moved towards water cisterns to store some amount of water for the Ashram's daily activities.

               At 5.30 pm we visited Buruj (watch-tower) part of the fort and witnessed the last sunset of year 2013.

Last Sunset Of the year 2013. Credits:- Akshay Dere.

 Then we returned to Ashram and started discussion on Random Topics. Kavya cooked food for us and after having dinner, we made a campfire. It was so chilly and windy night.

Enjoying Campfire with Mates.

As clock showed 0.00 hrs, everyone greeted each other a happy new year and for next 10 minutes, we were busy to answer our ringing cellphones. After that we took round on the fort with the help of torch light and i got some macro shots.

© Atharva Dixit 2014.

© Atharva Dixit 2014.

We got back to Ashram to sleep and everyone set the alarm to wake-up early as we wanted to shoot First Rays of 2014. As it was the winter, sunrise timing was around 7 am. We woke-up at 6.30 am and started to find some good place facing towards the East on the fort.

First Rays Of 2014. © Atharva Dixit.

~ Rise Above All ~

~ My Way Of Taking Selfie ~    Cam On Tripod.

Cloud Pattern Made This Shot Unique.

~ Me & Valley ~   Credits:- Ameya Murudkar.

 

 

Temple At The Top Of The Fort.

 

We started descending at 11.30 am through Matheran route. It was the wonderful trek. I got some new friends in this trek. Time spent along with them on such serene and beautiful Fort is unforgettable. We witnessed end of an old year and beginning of new year from the same place.

                   As I said earlier, I have been here in every season, I am sharing some pics taken on various iterations.

Taken on 28th Of June 2014.

~ V-shape ~   28-06-14.

Taken On 17-08-14.

Taken On 17-08-14.

~ Tri-color ~   Taken On 17-08-14.

~ Just After The Sunrise ~   18-08-14.

~ Heavenly Sahyadri ~   18-08-14.

~ Panorama ~   Just after the rain.   18-08-14.

~ Golden Hour ~   18-08-14.

 This is all about the Peb Fort. I am attatched with this beautiful place emotionally. Every time, when I start descending, I make a promise with myself that next time I am going to spend more and more time with this fascinating place. It's a One Day Trek but if you want to enjoy it thoroughly, plan it as a Stay Trek.

Thank you.

~ Siddhagad Memories ~

As soon as I finished with my final exam ( 8th Sem ) of Engineering, it was the time to get out of the hectic schedule and have a conversation with ' My Love - Sahyadri '. My camera was eagerly waiting to store some good shots of Sahyadri Range.

We opened up our season with Siddhagad Trek. Siddhagad is located near Murbad ( Maharashtra ).

1st View Of Siddhagad while walking through Farms. © Atharva Dixit 2014

Its base village is Narivali. It highs 2750 ft. above mean sea level. It is surrounded by Gorakhgad and Macchindragad. All these forts are the parts of Mighty Bhimashankar Range of the Sahyadri. Siddhagad itself is divided into two parts, Siddhagad Machi (Village) and Balekilla ( Main Fort ).

It was 7th of June 2014 when we boarded the ST bus from Kalyan to Murbad and again connecting bus from Murbad to Narivali village. At 9 am we actually started the Trek. Though it was the June, Monsoon had not started yet as the result we were about to face Dehydration. We were four and everyone carried 3 Ltrs of Water and also one friend of mine bought 1/2 Kg of Glucose pack, which actually helped us a lot to sustain that summer day.

~ Me and My Friends Resting Under The Shade ~

I, personally, loved the surrounding forest. As soon as we entered in the forest part, we got a relief from the freaking heat. It was the time to take out the cam again and search for the macros.

A Hitler Bug.

~ In The Air ~

* Monochrome - A Tree * 

As I was trekking after the gap of 6 months, my beat-rate was elevated. So I did Yoga and brought it back to the Normal.

~ A New Beginning ~

After trekking for 2.5 hours, we entered in Siddhawadi. Simply beautiful village with kind hearted people. We had a lunch and rested under the Mango tree and then went to fill the empty bottles
with water. We stayed in the School in Siddhawadi and and at 4 p.m. we started to climb Balekilla.

There is one cave known as " Babaji ki Gunfa ". From the top of the fort, the view of surrounding region and mountain range is so fascinating. To experience the beautiful evening, one must visit the Siddhagad. The place is so serene, so clean, so peaceful that one may think of settling there permanently.

Siddhwadi Village & Balekilla In One Frame.

Entrance Door Of Siddhawadi Village.

Silhouette Of Shade.

Hide & Seek

Mesmerizing Sunset

Hanging Out With Mountains & Forests Is My Passion. Credits:- Omkar Ranade.

A Typical Evening Before The Monsoon. Siddhawadi Village.

~ The Mighty Bhimashankar Range ~

In short, Siddhagad Trek is a complete package. Every trekker must visit this place at least once in a life to experience its Rawness. I recommend you to plan it as a stay trek.

 Thank You.