A farewell in black and white

This series is called Held by the Shore because that’s exactly what this beach has always done for me. It held me when I was happy when I was lost, when I didn’t have the words to explain how I felt. Since the age of five, this place has been a constant presence in my life. For 23 years, it stayed unchanged while everything else around me shifted. I knew every corner, every sound, every rhythm of the tides.

On my last day in India, I returned one final time. From morning to night, I walked every inch of this familiar shoreline knowing that I wouldn’t be back for a long time. It was a tough goodbye. This beach wasn’t just a spot on the map, it was home to a part of my soul.

I chose to capture it in black and white, not out of nostalgia, but to show the peace I’ve always felt here, unfiltered. These images are not about dramatic sunsets or bright skies. They’re about stillness, memory, and presence. I wanted to photograph this place exactly as I see it when I close my eyes.

Held by the Shore is my way of holding onto what I can’t carry with me. It’s a tribute to a place that healed me, listened to me, and never once let me go.

By Neehith Mamidi