Engineer, Photographer, Cook and a Foodie.
I try out different ideas and concepts of photography and regularly sort out questions on Quora.
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Welcome to the blog :)
In photography, composition means placement of subjects in a manner that makes the photo speak up. The common techniques being –
1. Rule of Thirds: Dividing the entire frame in 3×3 boxes, we keep the important subjects lined on the lines or the intersections. More, here!
Leading Lines: Lines, single or parallel, straight or curved, which lead the view of the observer from one part of the photo to the next.
Leaving space: The subject should have some space to look, ride, fly, etc. into, within the frame.
Break the rules, and shoot the way that makes you feel content!
Japanese origin word for blur in the background of a photo. Used widely as an aesthetics tool in the photograph to give it a dreamy smooth out-of-focus background. With decrease of the Aperture number, the bokeh effect becomes more distinct and profound. The shapes formed in the bokeh of light sources, varies on the number of blades within the lens. Bokeh can be used creatively by use of filters to produce specific shapes in the photo.
Some Bokeh shots here. For information on aperture, check here. And for the use of filters, check here.
Aperture is the slit through which light reaches the sensor of the camera. It is part of the lens and is represented by F Number. Bigger the F number, smaller the aperture and lesser light enters the camera. Increasing the F number is known as “stepping down” the aperture. The two effects of changing the aperture are, changing the amount of light that enters through, and the amount of the picture that remains in sharp focus. With smaller aperture values, more area is blurred. Often, lens have a sharp sweet spot, based on the aperture.
I was researching on composition techniques of leading lines. And that’s when, felt like putting some leads and lines together, and the product, is Pencils!
When they gave the word, Ephemeral, in the weekly challenge, I will be honest, I had to check the dictionary first. Once enlightened, I feel, a fleeting instant, is an example, and hence, heres my take on a fleeting instant.
It may be just a tick of second hand, or maybe an entire lifetime too!
I remember doing a 5 day black and white challenge, but that was in my pre-blogging days, maybe someday I ll post them too. Anyway, this time, I have signed up for the April AtoZ Challenge, and well, its going to be a bit tricky I feel. Mostly because finding 26 different, doable photo topics is a difficult thing. For example, the letter “X” … the only photographic instrument i can think of, with X, is a X Ray machine…but I ll come up with something I guess!
Something that I wanted to say, right before I begin, this series may contain previous works too. Some might repeat as already featured in other previous posts, but I ll try to keep things interesting and put up different photos for sure. The posts will normally deal with the different photo lingos and I ll try my best to keep them as simple, short and crisp as I can, actually, I ll try to keep my content to less than 100 words…that should keep things interesting 🙂
Do come over during April 2015, and find the new posts, everyday, for the next whole month.
Often, we say, we are happy, or that we are sad. The definitions vary as to what is happiness. There are a few which we all agree by, and then a few eccentric ones too.
To me, happiness, is a lot of things, and I ll try to name a few. Rather, let me show you what I mean.
Happiness is, getting the view of a snow covered peak, while coming down from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling. The morning views from the viewpoint was obscured by clouds, and as we were returning towards Ghoom, the clouds cleared for just a bit, and we saw the peak.
Happiness is, when you take a burst shot at the sun, to capture the sunrise, and instead of the photo everyone took, you take an unique one, which adds character to the photo. Here, it is at Tiger Hill, Darjeeling. As the sun came up, people clamored on to take the shot of the sun. I was on the other side, trying to capture the mountains, lucky and happy, that I got this.
Happiness is, when you dream of how a shot would look, and then when you go to the spot, you actually manage to take the shot, just the way you wanted. Shot at the Darjeeling station. The diesel loco pulled in with the train, and the steam loco backed up to change tracks. I stood right in the middle, anticipating. I took three shots, and all three are spot on.
Happiness is, having a cup of tea after a long tiring day. This is at Siliguri, West Bengal.
Happiness is, when you manage to take a photo which is perfectly composed and has a lot of depth and character to it, and that it is pre mediated. This was shot at Varanasi, UP. I saw this fisherman start rowing into the river, and I ran up a flight of stairs to a vantage point. With the morning sun coming up, and the paddles ready for the next swipe, I took the shot.
Happiness is, finding a playful pet. This here, is Blacky. With one floppy ear, she is a beauty and a very playful one. Though she isnt my pet, but, after an introduction, we were happy to be in each others company. I would scratch n cuddle her, and in return, she would give me poses for the shots. Fair deal.
Happiness is, finding your old toys in perfect condition. Here are two of my oldest surviving toys. And, they still look awesome as ever.
Happiness is, working carefully and obtaining a tough result correctly. Here what you see is a burning filament of a bulb. First, salvaging this from the bulb is a feat, and then, the burn lasts for approximately 2 seconds, and then getting the perfect shot, that makes me happy.
Happiness is, meeting up with friends and catching up after a long time gap.
Happiness is, creating trippy psychedelic photos out of almost nothing. This here, is smoke, used cleverly, thats all.
Happiness is, have a dream come true. To be able to shoot the Ganga Arati at Varanasi had been a lifelong dream. To be able to capture a shot like this, is a very proper fulfillment of the dream.
Happiness is, looking beyond the fence and moving on!
This is my take on happiness, and happiness deserves celebration too. Check the celebrations here:
All the photos are mine, and they have been sourced from these pages….I, II, III, IV, V, VI , VII, VIII and IX. Do check them too, if you please.
I told you what makes me happy, you tell me what makes you happy!
Cheers!!
When in a bit of doubt, about what to shoot, or just taking a bit of time off, and yet, you dont want the stats bar to be a dead flat line….shoot for the weekly photo challenge. This week, its fresh!
The black background, was almost naturally achieved by using the cellphone’s flash on the flowers to light it up. And then, a little bit of tweaking always helps.
Check out my posts on a recent trip I took….it got snow covered mountains, and steam engines too 😛
As my cellphone started playing the acoustic version of Coldplay’s Shiver, I woke up. Time on the clock..0330h. Nice! On time!
Got dressed up and ready and I met up with the rest of the cab-mates to the trip to Tiger Hill. The cab would take us to Ghoom, and back. I would get down at Ghoom and head back to my base camp, at Siliguri.
A point to note, if you are interested to go to the hill in the morning, you must book your cab the previous day evening. Normally, the hotel where you stay will assist. And yes, go early if you want a decent spot. It gets very crowded really soon.
Anyway, we made it there by around 0545, sun being scheduled to rise at 0600h. Clouds dominated the scene and disappointment loomed absolutely like the dark clouds.
This is morning 0545h
I jostled around, trying to make a bit of space for myself, just in case the sun came up good and I managed some shots, just in case.
And then, the clouds moved away, just a bit though, but enough I feel.
The sun!
All wanted the sun!
Loved the Phablet.
As for the sunrise, this is all you can see…and frankly, the “sunrise” didnt impress me much.
But this did!
The Kanchenjunga, I think!
Encore!
I loved the view of the mountains and the way the clouds moved about. Also, as an after thought, maybe visiting the Tiger Hill, a little later in the day, around 1000h, would have been better. The sun would be brighter, less crowed, and the reflections on the peaks much more clearer. Need to verify this idea actually.
On the way back, a few more shots which made me happy.
Same peak, different Viewpoint
The fence, and the peak
Eventually, we reached Ghoom and I parted ways. Took a few shots at the Batasia Loop and then, flagged a taxi and slept in it till I reached Siliguri.
Batasia Loop Memorial
Shopping on the loop
View from the loop
So, this is how my trip was of Darjeeling. I hope you liked the series. The rest are here – D1, Loco and D2.
Next trip?? Not sure yet, but I have a few plans 🙂
Continuing from Darjeeling station now!
I walked towards the Mall. En route, I stopped for a cup of refreshing coffee at a shop just past Das Studios. If you want to buy old photos or anything related to photography, this place is a good place to start.
Refreshing cup!
The road has shops lining it, selling woolens and other collectibles too.
Finally, the Mall. In the nutshell, its an open meeting ground of sorts. A balcony of sorts on one side, normally used as a Durga Puja Mandap or for delivering speeches is on one side. Shops line the other side. There are two paths leading to Mahakal temple and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Zoo. All three places are worth visiting. Bear in mind though, the HMI and Zoo follow a 1000h-1600h operating schedule.
Street shops near the Mall
The Mahakal temple is situated after a climb, not a lot though. You will not get any mountain views from there, but its serene and peaceful, right within a jungle of tall trees. Be advised, there are lots of monkeys here. But normally, if you do not bother them, they will not bother you.
Entrance to the Mahakal Temple
Prayer wheels, Mahakal Temple
As I returned from the temple back to Mall, I noticed this certain kid, posing to his father. I couldnt resist taking a few shots. I sent them the photos once I returned back.
On the route to the HMI and Zoo, I came across some local flora. This certain flower, a variation of Bougainvillea, it seemed, looked native and abundant there.
Local Flora, up close!
Local Flora II
On the way back, I again stopped at a roadside cafe, had a cup of coffee, a plate of Momo. The view from there, had there been lesser clouds, would have been amazing, but I had to be content with shooting this windchime in the sun.
Chime In!
Just before I left, I met with this local fauna! He was fluffy, and cute and was aptly named Bhaloo!
Local Fauna: Bhaloo
On the way back, I had another cup of tea at a stall in the Mall, and loitered around there, checking out the local shops to buy anything interesting. Ended up buying some handmade incense sticks from a shop.
Evening shopping spree
While coming back, I hit the Glenary’s. They serve awesome food in reasonable rates and is one of the best places to have a hearty meal. Do try it.
I returned back to the hotel, switched on the lights, and saw this, on the wall.
The Lucky Wall
I dont mind the kisses, but I wish they werent just on the wall though.
Anyway, with a wake up call scheduled at 0330h, next morning, i retired for the day. You may ask, why so early? Well, I was going to Tiger Hill the next day. Do I make it on time, see the sunrise? Find out in the next post. Coming up soon!
Walls! Maybe one of the most common things we build apart from relationships. The way I see it, with every new relationship, we build a new wall of a kind. Physical, emotional, but a wall, a barrier, a fence, nevertheless.
Lets break free from the fences and leap towards the other side…the grass is greener on the other side, right? Lets go find out 🙂
This is a continuation of my trip to Darjeeling. How I reached here, and what I saw, check them here
Now, I was refreshed, and off I went walking back to the station. Now, there are two types of locos here, the Diesel one, and the heritage steam one.
The diesel trip from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back will cost you Rs 650 while the steam one, for the same distance will cost you Rs 1050. Be advised, there is pretty immense rush there, so book in advance.
Enough talk, now the photos!
In the service of the nation, since 1940
The Diesel! I wasnt too impressed by it!
Ahaa!!
Now we are talking!!
Some steam!
And…some more!!
One thing is for sure..you can never get enough of steam engines! They are simply wow!
TRAVELOGUES AND TREASURES 