The Weight of Wings

There is something almost universally evocative about the sight of a bird in flight—its blurred wings slicing through the sky, unbothered by gravity, guided only by instinct. We see them and think: freedom. But is it really that simple?

This photography series, based on the idea of Freedom, captures birds in motion—sometimes just a blur against an overexposed sky, sometimes mid-flight yet tethered visually to invisible lines. The intention is not to glorify the act of flying, but to interrogate what we’ve long assumed it represents. Through these blurred images, I want to question the singular narrative of freedom that we’ve inherited: that it is absolute, effortless, and available to all.

In reality, freedom is as personal as it is elusive. What feels like liberation to one might be burden to another. A bird may fly miles, but it still must return to build a nest, protect its young, follow seasons. In that sense, is it truly free—or just following a different script written by nature?

Similarly, we may find ourselves appearing untethered—traveling, expressing, working on our own terms—but often, beneath that visible surface, we are quietly conforming: to social norms, professional decorum, gender roles, family expectations, or the haunting need to be perceived a certain way.

Worse still are the cages we build within ourselves—constructed of doubt, shame, trauma, fear of judgment. These inner shackles can be more confining than any external boundary. We may have the right to walk away, to choose differently, to say no—but we often don’t. And perhaps, we can’t. Because freedom is not just about permission—it’s about the courage to act upon it.

And then comes the irony. The highest form of freedom might just be the choice to willingly limit ourselves—for love, for truth, for art, for something greater than our own desires. A bird may fly, but it may also stay grounded to shelter its fragile egg. That too is freedom.

This series is an invitation—to reflect, to question, to feel. If you’ve ever sat in a cubicle, walked away from a dream, remained silent when you had a voice, or chased a version of freedom sold to you by someone else, this is for you.

Because freedom is not a destination. It’s not always loud, or bold, or even visible. Sometimes, it’s a whisper in the blur of movement. And sometimes, it’s the stillness you choose in a world urging you to fly.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix S1
Lens: 24-105mm F4
Shutter Speed: 1/15-20 Sec
Aperture: F/22
Location: Mumbai