ETERNAL REFLECTIONS BOOK
1st Edition 2015 / ISBN 9789382061182
Available on : www.amazon.com/author/siddharthlakhotia
A unique book with positive vibrations showcasing colours of India through eyes of a Cardiac Surgeon.
More than 450 pages with around thousand colour photographs, taken during his journeys around India, matching the vibrant colours of Indian landscape arranged in a unique colour theme along with quotes of positivity and wisdom from great souls of word.
A perfect book for gift to nature lovers and those who wish to see India in all its colours.
Compiled in five colour sections, a virtual rainbow, over 1000 mesmerising vibrant photographic images, meticulously collected, covering all shades of life and nature, liberally captioned with live quotes, is a gem of coffee table book. Going through the book is a soothing ride on a rainbow of life.
It's a journey of exploring, feeling and enjoying India through lenses and beyond.
Author says “The Eternal, the timeless is reflected everywhere, whatever we see all around us, there is a reflection of that eternal in it. This book is a journey through the reflections of that eternal which can never be defined in words but can only be felt and enjoyed in the beauty of innumerable colours of its endless manifestations, that I have tried to capture in my travels across India.
I always wanted to publish my photos and spread it to larger audience, by doing this I wanted to spread the message that artists are not only those who study art formally. In fact we all are artists, every human being, every creature; every life form existing in this word is an artist. Art is inherent in all of us, we all practice art in one form or another in every act we do.
Who doesn't love photography and to be photographed ? I think we all. Photography is both science and art, art with meditation more. And taking photographs is purely an art and meditation, so I feel. So why we do not enjoy art in its varied forms which has been gifted to each of us ? Why we let artist in us die as we grow more and more in our professional fields? I feel art can be kept alive in each of us, in whichever profession we are. When we keep the artist inside us alive. I feel we do better in our chosen fields. Art teaches us to be humble, to be caring and sharing and forgiving, to be loving to all.”
Siddharth started with Kodak KB 10 camera in 1989. Then he used Leica and Nikon FM 2 for around 4 to 5 years between 1998 to 2003. From 2003 to 2009 he used Nikon coolpix point and shoot camera. In 2009 Nikon D5000 became his companion, which he used till 2015. Now he is using Nikon D 5500 and Nikon D 750. Siddharth says now most of the times his phone is the most used camera. “Camera body along with different type of lenses also play an important role, and I enjoy my set of lenses with basic Nikon body.”
“But the most important is your composition, timing, angle and of course your mood and love for the subject you are going to click. The more you love and respect your subject, the more you meditate with the subject, more beautiful it will come as a photograph. The connect between you and subject is very important. When I am seeing through the eye piece of my camera, all my other thoughts go away and my mind and heart gets united to see the subject only.”
Dr. Siddharth Lakhotia MBBS, M.S, M.Ch, FIACS is Professor in the Department of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He has been pioneer in establishment of Open Heart Surgery programme at IMS, BHU, Cardiac and Thoracic ICUs, M.Ch in CTVS course, ECPT and PDCC in thoracic surgery courses. His main professional interests are heart surgery for children, lung surgery and teaching UG and PG students.
He has done seven highly successful solo photographic exhibitions. His hobbies are photography, film making, travelling, long distance driving, organic farming, swimming, organising music programmes, heritage conversation, philately and philumeny, reading and yoga.
This book takes you on a journey based on various colours in which eternal is reflected all around us. He has also added sayings of wisdom by great souls of our mother earth, as their sayings also reflect same eternal.
His message through this book : Develop love for nature and surroundings and always cultivate your hobby, no matter what your profession is. Do not just Dream, but chase your Dreams.
Let's enjoy Reflections of the Eternal that is everywhere around us.
Dr. Siddharth Lakhotia
MBBS, MS, M.Ch, FIACS
Professor and Head
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Institute of Medical Sciences
BHU, Varanasi
drslakhotia@gmail.com
REVIEWS
I have seen a selection of images from Dr Lakhotia's book.
One gets the impression that photography as an art form is coming out from the domains of a select group and newer, relatively younger groups of professionals are exerting their influence.
As a cardiac surgeon one has to toil hard both in operating rooms and in the corridors of wards, OPD and ICU. Yet he finds inspiration and time to create such masterpieces which is a testimony to his ability to play with the art and science of light.
I am sure, the book will be popular among students of photography as well as common man.
Dr. B. K. Sinha
MS, MFIAP, ARPS, Hon FIP
Hony Secretary General, Federation of Indian Photography
Ramesh kabra : Nature is beautiful and we can derive lot of pleasure & delight only if we allow the child in each one of us to look at nature with wonder, amazement & feeling of awe. Dr. Siddharth Lakhotia seems to have that uncanny quality to see, listen to, feel & experience d beauty of nature in d most unlikely places! His first book 'eternal reflections' is a celebration of his various journeys across d length & breadth of this vast incredible country wherein he has so effortlessly captured d many facets & myriad colours of nature through d lens of his camera. The lofty mountains, vast expanse of oceans, mighty rivers, flora & fauna and d landscape of d countryside find a divine expression through d magic of his camera. I am sure this book will inspire many of us to look at & appreciate nature with a new perspective.
Alok Sharma : Treat for the eyes and Soul
This is an absolutely amazing collection of photographs, beautifully woven together in shades of rainbow....each photo speaks a story and accompanying quotes make this a collector's item...must on bookshelves of all art lovers.
D Stearn : What a beautiful and Inspiring Book
What a beautiful and inspiring book. Such beautiful pictures of nature, children and much more. The quotes are beautiful too. Making me think of life and all that is in it. Books mean different things to different people. This book means INDIA and all the beauty of it.
He is a 'cardiac' surgeon with a heart of a 'poet and artist'. Siddharth uses camera with the precision of a 'scalpel' to create beautiful, stunning and spectacular 'live - sculptures' from in-animate objects. His natural love, care, affection and compassion are reflected in his photographs of human beings and nature. This Siddharth preaches 'peace and harmony' not with words but with serene images he has captured during last many years.
Mrs Sujata and Brigadier (Dr.) Sanjeev Vaishampayan
Army Medical Corps
We rarely grasp the beauty and splendor of what God has gifted us… but capturing moments of life provides an opportunity to relish it in absolute stillness and to reflect upon the importance of our own existence… Dr Lakhotia has a special flair and talent of merging his mind, body and soul with lenses… I am a witness of his many exhibitions and portrayal of diversity of life from a range of angles… I also had the opportunity to observe him immerse in action, living every moment of it and capturing it with a smile… It is good to see the collection of flashes of such timeless moments… my best wishes.
Dr. Rajan Srivastava
Deputy Registrar, BHU, Varanasi
While seeing and marveling at the photos taken by Dr Siddharth Lakhotia, these words from the French poet Saint Exupery comes to my mind. Definitely, Siddharth has seen with the heart while choosing the scenes for his photos from the marvels of God's creation! And when we know that Siddharth is a well experienced heart surgeon, I just wonder, what's the relation between the physical heart which Dr Siddharth tries to heal through his profession, and the spiritual heart which Saint Exupery recognizes as the only means for seeing really !! In any way, whether in the operation theatre or out in God's nature, he surely sees and acts with HEART… May we all learn to do that!
Sister Sangeeta
Founder Director
Kiran Centre, Varanasi
His book on nature photography is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Aptly titled "Eternal Reflection", the photographs in this book showcase nature in all its magnificent splendor. From deep blue waters lapping the feet of snowclad mountains, wind-swept beaches with crystal green seas, radiant birds and flowers, sunrises and sunsets, monuments and people against spectacular backdrops, every photograph makes one realize that this varied beauty in nature could only have been created by a power much above us. Going through this book will be a deep and powerful experience for every reader.
Birender Yadav
College of Art, New Delhi
Being a doctor as a profession and photography as a hobby he balances both in him beautifully.The creation outside is but a reflection of the inside. His quest for life has made him explore down the roots. Through his art one can see the love and passion he has for life.
Vidya Sharma
Kathak Dancer
