A new beginning...

Bleak sky
withered leaves
land scorched and broken
barren trees
spirits down

i look through the window
at the gray world
wondering if color ever existed

and then there is rain
melting the heat
tiny droplets of relief
trees ... green again
new leaves ... glowing red
birds chirping
earth glowing
sky a bright blue
spirits lifted
demons of yesterday washed away

Today is a new beginning, glowing and bright
all because there is rain ...

Day36-Fountain HDR

Day36-Fountain HDR, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

This is my crazy experiment, ok maybe not so crazy after all becoz I am sure someone would have surely tried this before....

This is an HDR generated by using 5 exposures taken at different Aperture values of f/5.6, two at f/8 with different shutter speeds, f/11 and f16.
Used photomatix to generate the HDR as you can see from the watermark and also used "Painterly" preset for tone mapping...

I am not thrilled with the image but it looks ok ... little better than I had expected it to ...

Recommended Large

Also see B&W

Day35-doorway to... in B&W

Day35-doorway to... in B&W, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

I noticed this doorway taking a walk around office. This is the entrance wall of one of the offices around here, though the whole complex has been deserted for a while and has an eerie feeling to it, this doorway reminds me of an horror TV soap I used to watch as a child.

I can almost see the ladylike figure standing at the end of the path with a lamp in her hands ...

No wonder I love this shot in B&W but let me know if you feel otherwise...

Color

B&W

Day34- close to nature

Day29- close to nature, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Ok I know I have been procastinating, not that I am not taking pictures, I am just too slow in post processing them :(

Was reading a book the other day which mentioned that in the (g)olden days, there were photographers and there were editors and one could not do the job of the other.... oh I wish I wish !!!

Anyways enough ramblings of my lazy brain ... I had gone to take a picture of this tree lined street behind my office just after rain had ended and as luck would have it, this nice lady had started her jog at the same time I parked my car.
I literally ran out of the car with my camera leaving the car open, raised my camera and shot a frame before she passed me by.
Though after that I had time to set the tripod, check my camera settings, change f-stop to 16 and shoot many frames, none of them convey the majesty of these tall trees like this one.

Recommended view LARGE


~Abhishikhaa

Day27-Garden Visitor

Day27-Woodpecker, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Finally caught that woodpecker :)

I have been tracking this tiny creature's comings and goings on the tree in my backyeard :-) for some time now (yes, still tracking to get a better maybe closer shot)

With my camera + 18-200mm VRii lens @ 200mm, set on tripod in the balcony, pre-focussed to this spot, in burst mode I shot some interesting frames ....

Angels and Demons

B&W_Abstract_1, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

This is my first attempt at Abstract photography.
Couple of things I like about this photo - Got every detail that i wanted, the shape that I wanted and when the contrast is cranked up like it is right now, i can even see the details that I did not notice when actually there :-)

Regrets :- When stopping down to F8 I miscalculated the details in the background that I would get, i should have gotten a f/5.6 shot just for experimenting with background blending ... (maybe next time) or I would get really close and try a different angle to eliminate the background completely.
This was shot handheld and the light was low so I had to use the flash to keep the shutter speed high so as to not introduce shake in the exposure but now that I have my tripod I would definitely revisit this area :-)

With regards to what this is, I would for now leave the viewers guessing though its not that difficult :-)

Day 7 - eyes in the office

eyes in the office, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Everytime I looked at these lights in the office, I imagined two eyes - watching everyone.
Went around the office looking for a complete face and could not find any so I just had to make one :D !!!

Day 6- HDR- house in the field

Day 6- house_in_the_field, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Still trying to get better at HDR. Still not happy with the results :-(
Today was bit off for me as I am still working on this HDR image plus realized that my shutter remote is not working :( (was working fine till yesterday- bugger!!!)

Day 5-house in the field (HDR)

house in the field, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

This is my first attempt at HDR.
Used photomatix (trial version) to blend 3 bracketed exposures.
I actually have 7 exposures (f/16 & 50mm) but I am still learning to play with Photomatix options. Need to figure out how to dial down the red in the trees, I would prefer them to appear more black. Also need to figure out how to make sunlight shining on the balcony noticable but not yet obvious....

Till then ... suggestions/comments welcome :-)

Day4

Day4, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Initial intention of day 4 pic was to shoot a macro of this flower growing right opposite my house. Since the wind made if impossible to get a decent still shot, I thought I could hold the stem and then focus on the flower. When I looked through the view finder, I liked the composition with my hand in it (what can I say - vanity!), so here it is ... Some other day for Macro :-)

In this shot I have tried to play with the DOF notice how the front flower is out of focus and same as the flowers at the back, only flowers near my hand are in focus.

As usual, I have a tie:-

Day3-Waiting...

Day3-Waiting..., originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Just playing with lights and glitters :-)
Hard part was getting my sis to pose for the camera ;-)

Day 2 - A Shot @ the Moon

Day 2 - A Shot @ the Moon, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Took a shot at the moon for my Day 2 pic.
It took several exposures to get the right shutter speed .
Finally shot with f/32 aperture and shutter speed of 1/5 secs (200mm)
but I could not decide between the two colors of the moon, maybe my frens can help me with this :-

A Picture a Day for 365 - Day 1

Ganeshji, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

This idea has been building inside me for quite some time, actually since I got the camera in my hands and have been trying to get better at photography. Then I read about so many people successfully doing it online and that gave my confidence levels a big boost.

Everyday I go about rushing to work, to pick up my daughter, to the grocery store or just rushing home in time to get the dinner ready!
While I am driving around like crazy from point A to point B/C/D and so on, I see so many photo opportunities, a voice in my heart says "Stop and take this shot now!" and even though I have my camera in the bag and my tripod in the car the logical voice in my head says -- "You are running Late! Step on it and come back here when you have some more time."

Hence this project is for me to stop at atleast one such place, take a breath and take a picture.
What I hope to get out of this?
The smug look I get when I do something really creative! and hopefuly this will make me a better photographer somewhere down the road.

Here is my plan :-
start with Understanding exposure, find the photographic opportunities listed in the pages along my daily route (sometimes off route) and click :-)
Then find all the good books on photographic techniques, lighting, color effects and generes of photography etc etc etc and work my way through them for 365 days ... whew!

Here is my first shot for the project, This one is simple really, a shot of Ganapati Bappa to make this project of mine a Success !

Shot @ f/5.6 (set the shutter speed till light meter showed correct exposure)
Manual blend of a sepia and normal image using GIMP (http://www.gimp.org)

glory

glory, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Its not everyday when something as majestic as this just happens to "happen" when you are around. Since shot handheld my photo does not do justice to the actual beauty nature had laid out in front of us while on a drive to Big Sur

Macro with Kenko

reflections, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

The kenko extension tubes arrived and so did the rain.
I was getting impatient to test them and rain did not show any signs of stopping.
Took a 10 min slowdown in the rainfall to comb through my backyard for possiblities....
When I found this one, I knew I had to atleast try before it starts pouring heavily again. (Waiting for later would have meant no light for a good shot.)

Setup required was -
D300s, 50mm f/1.8 lens, kenko 36mm extension tube (aperture priority f/8),
manfrotto tripod with 488rc4 ball head
and
"An umbrella!!!"

Had to setup the tripod way down and real close since the lens needed to be within 2 inches of this bud -all the while shielding camera with an umbrella. Took only two exposures before the rain was coming down heavily and I had to run back inside.

I am glad I took the chance :-)

The Next Generation

InThought, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Here are some latest and interesting excerpts of conversation between my daughter and frankly anyone who would lend an ear...

On the phone with my sister in Bangalore :-
My Sister :- Hi ! How are you doing? What did you do today?
Aishi :- went to school .. played with friends ... did some jobs ...
Sister :- do you like school
Aishi :- no
.........
..........
Aishi :- OK I am pressing the Red button now
Sister :- Which red button?
Aishi :- On the phone (silly)
Sister :- why ?
Aishi :- You talk tooo much !


Aishi Admiring my earrings:-
Me :- Do you like these
Aishi :- Yes
Me:- when you are as big as mommy, I will give them to you...
Aishi :- (points to her earrings) when you are as big as Aishi, I will give these to you!!!


In conversation with Daddy on the phone:-
Aishi :- Daddy where are you ?
Daddy :- Triichy
Aishi :- Get on a plane and come here !!!


Aishi :- Dora, you never listen ! I will give you a time out...
Dora :- (Sitting on timeout chair :-( )

Big Basin State Park

The outdoors, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

These were taken during a recent trip to Big Basin State Park.
The Fog on the road almost made us turn back but we are glad we didnt as green forest with the contrast of red from the soil and tree's trunks was a visual feast ...
More photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranipadmini/sets/72157623030851339

Lone Flower

Lone Flower, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Lone Flower in my backyard in Winter months .....

18-200mm lens @ 200mm and f/5.6

Squirrel

_DSC3765, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

Finally caught that Squirrel - on camera :-)
18-200mm Lens @ 200mm
f/5.6
1/400 sec exposure

Happy New Year !

_DSC3653, originally uploaded by abhishikhaa.

New Year visitors in my backyard
18-200mm lens @ 200mm
f/5.6
1/500 sec exposure

My Hobbies

Recently I was asked - what is my hobby...?
That made me pause and think. Somewhere between being a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a wife and a mother, I forgot to take "ME" time.

Dont get me wrong, I love my family and love to spend time with them, but I also am a firm believer in Me time, everyone needs that time to pursue their own interests.
We need to recharge our batteries to be able to keep the vehicle of life and family running ....

As some people may know I have taken up photography to keep me motivated. But that is my "current" hobby.

So coming back to the question, I was thinking what is my hobby REALLY??

Its a Short Life! There are so many things to do and so many people to meet in world, but so little time!
It should not be wasted on a single pursuit.
This time should be guarded like treasured jewel!

Travel- Getting there is half the fun and the other half of the fun means going even further once I'm there. I am a nomad, a gypsy at heart!
Adventure sports- Tried some, would love to try the rest of em.
I can never pass up a good book. As soon as I know about it, I would find a way to read it.
I love to dance and sing and write poetry as a expression of myself.
I love to go on an horsebackride...wind blowing through my hair - Something which I havent done for a long time.
I look to the clouds and the universe that contains so many magical secrets crying out for exploration. All things mystical intrigue me.
I am always on a high when I get close to nature but that doesnt mean that I do not enjoy the company of a sound mind. I get inspired by the intricacies of nature and the human minds ability to interpret in so many different ways ....

Mystery excites me, Challenge entices me, Beauty inspires me, Mind propels me and pursuit of those is my hobby.