Sunday, August 22, 2010

My attempts at droplet photography….

an unusually wet monsoon at delhi is a bane to all photographers, everyone is running scared of getting the gear wet. happened to me too; left home on saturday for a shoot at tughlakabad fort with a group of friends, but returned back after going halfway, because it was pouring and although i love getting wet in the rain, i was sure my camera would not be so accommodating.

so on sunday morning, when i was leaving for the shoot, i was praying to the rain-gods, that the skies should not open up, as i was going to meet friends rather than shoot at the jantar mantar.

the rain did oblige, and not a drop fell during the period, but the sky was overcast and light was dismal. a fellow photographer was commenting that the light was very soft and would give good pics of the monuments, to which i retorted that this light was only wonderful for outdoor fashion shoots.

it was then that i realised that sometimes opportunities present themselves, and after keenly following droplet photographs on flickr, i decided to try my hand at some droplet photography.

that was the start of this journey of discovery…….

i found an interesting hibiscus bush, with flowers and lots of droplets on the leaves, flowers and buds.

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finding the bush was the easiest part. I then had to look for a droplet that was able to show me a flower within, and at an angle that i could capture easily. having a 50mm f/1.8 and a close-up kit is not the easiest equipment for such work.

after finding a beautiful bud, which at a specific angle was able to show me the flower beyond, _MG_1515 i proceeded to start my attempts at droplet photography. only to realise that every whiff of breeze was enough to shake the bud and spoil my focus. even my own breath was interfering. ultimately, after several tries, i managed to get the following pic…

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and that made me realise that the next attempt at droplet photography would be indoors and using a tripod. if it is to be attempted outdoors, then some mechanism to screen the object from the breeze is a must. and a tripod of course…..

Friday, August 20, 2010

orchids….

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a closeup kit and a beautiful orchid were able to give me this lovely photograph…..

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Peace in troubled times…..

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A trip to my roof on 15th August, 2010, the day India celebrates its 64th Independence Day, showed my a sky beset with clouds and lots of doves flying helter-skelter. On waiting for a while more, I discerned the reason. It was a kite, chasing the doves.

Somehow, this struck me as an example of the state of our country today. We are doves, always have been. This is not because we cannot fight, far from it. We have some of the best warriors in the world, but India, has always believed that more can be achieved through peace, than through war.

Unfortunately, this is something our detractors cannot comprehend, and they persist in their attempts to make us strike back, not understanding that a sleeping lion is not disturbed by the bites of a few mosquitoes. Give us an appropriate challenge, and  see how we react…..

God bless you, India…. may you have centuries of celebrations ahead……

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Plains Cupid (Chilades pandava)

a photowalk at qutab minar was a treat for me as i was gifted with a patch of cycas trees, and hoards of these beautiful butterflies fluttering around. seeing several at the cone on top, i thought that there is probably some kind of extrusion, like nectar that these butterflies are feeding upon.  _MG_1144

it was only after returning home and googling for them did i realise that these are a few species that use the cycas plants for laying eggs.

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Saturday, August 07, 2010

Red Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus)

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The Red Pitaya is commonly called a Dragon Fruit and is grown in South east Asia, South and Central America. IMG_1004

This is a cactus fruit, and is semi sweet. The fruit is Cut open, and the pulp is eaten. The pulp contains edible seeds.

Friday, August 06, 2010

Holy Basil……

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These are flowers of the holy Basil plant. This plant is worshiped by Hindu's and most Hindu houses in India will have one of these plants. The leaves of this plant also have medicinal properties and are chewed raw, to cure mouth ulcers.....