Homestay with Fruit Orchard
In this age of social media and endless scrolling, there are some things that need to be sorted out and explained. These are simple things, but any photographer will appreciate it if these differences are kept in mind while talking to a photographer. Nothing complicated, but just simple clarifications and the correct terms.
( An abstract or a wasted shot with excessive blur? )
Continue reading Understand the difference!It has been said, ‘Change is the only Constant’. Things change, for better or for worse. This is just a summary of my observations regarding the change around me in the last few months.
(Trishul Peak on a clear morning, after rains)
Continue reading Shifting Perspectives: Evolving Thoughts on Photography and PerceptionOver the past few years, I’ve felt anchored in place. First, there was the pandemic, followed by financial setbacks and ongoing work commitments. These factors have prevented me from traveling to exotic destinations and indulging in photography.
(Macro photography can be enjoyed at home, even with the smallest of gardens. No need to travel overseas for this. )
Continue reading Stuck in One Place?Living in the hills near the forest brings both benefits and challenges. We often find ourselves visited by wild animals; hares delighting in our vegetable garden and wild boars occasionally unearthing potatoes are frequent sights. However, early morning forest walks offer a distinct advantage, allowing us to spot tiny critters and small animals along the way.
Continue reading Forest Walk and The FoxDuring the rainy season, when the skies are perpetually grey and clouds drift through the valley, there are moments when the cloud cover parts, revealing glimpses of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks. For a photographer, these are precious windows of opportunity. I relish capturing the peaks whenever such a scene unfolds.
Coates Kinney wrote these lines more than a century ago, and yet, even today they make sense :
When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres,
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a joy to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed,
And to listen to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
This afternoon, sitting alone indoors, I watch as dark clouds beautifully envelop the valley outside while the rain drums its soothing rhythm on the roof. I find myself pondering the present and the future. My camera rests on the table to one side, and the calendar displays empty days on the other. Rainy days always evoke a mix of emotions, but today, the sadness feels more profound than the joy.
I came across a beautiful photograph of a statue named ‘The Veiled Virgin’. I was mesmerized by that photograph. Lost in it. The cloth on the face seemed so real. But, was the photograph beautiful?
Continue reading Does photographing a beautiful artwork create beautiful photograph?
The cold winter has arrived and will linger for a few more months. Thankfully, my fireplace is now repaired, so I can keep myself warm in the evenings. Today, after many weeks, I finally got my hands on my camera. With the repair work done, I can now enjoy the finer things in life, including my passion for photography.
A few days ago, one of my readers suggested that, in addition to covering the basics of capturing night landscapes, star trails, and the Milky Way, I should also discuss the challenges and common mistakes involved. Each time I venture out to photograph nightscapes, something memorable happens. From simple mistakes to unforgettable incidents, every photo shoot is unique and offers valuable lessons.
This evening, as I wrapped up my work, the sky was blanketed with clouds, and a light fog had settled in. I had completed all my farming and gardening tasks for the day. The rain had come and gone in bursts throughout, leaving the atmosphere heavy and overcast. With the day’s chores behind me, the evening was perfect for photography.
(Distant trees through a gap in floating clouds)
Continue reading An Evening With CloudsThe lock-down is terrible and as per the authorities, this is the only way out. So, I started off with various tasks to keep me busy. Most of them were the tasks that I had been postponing for a long time. Creating Back-Ups, cleaning up the storage, post-processing some old files again, polishing my photo-editing skills, and catching up on lots of reading. Still, there are times when I miss going out and photographing. Today, I took out my camera and started clicking whatever I could.
There’s bird-photography and then there is bird-photography! Which group do you prefer? How can a simple activity like bird photography be not ethical? What is it that should be avoided in bird-photography?
Social Distancing! Home Quarantine! Isolation! Janta Curfew! Lockdown!
When you are to stay at home, what is it that you can do as a photographer? Here is a list of things that I have planned to do over the next few days. Some of these are tasks that I had been putting off for a very long time. Apart from spending some quality time with my family, catching up on some old books and trying my hand in the kitchen, this is what I intend to do –
What does photography do for me? It makes me happy. If it is supposed to always do so, why do I feel discontented with photography at times? This was a thought that has been at the back of my mind for many years. Recently, I thought of analyzing this. Why does photography not make me happy always?
(Nanda Kot peak in the late evening)
It has been a few days since I last clicked some photographs. I have been busy with marketing activities and some finance-related matters. However, my camera is now calling me. It’s raining outside with occasional wet snow, but I do hope that the weather should improve soon.
Anything that can go wrong, goes wrong. I have seen it happening in photography very often. Here is a small compilation-
(First few rays of light on Trishul)
After spending a few years with just the essentials, I’ve decided it’s time to move everything to my new place. Although it’s a small house, it boasts a stunning view of the hills. While packing, I discovered a drawer full of 35mm slides and transparencies, accompanied by a small portable slide viewer. This discovery was quite nostalgic and prompted me to take a moment to reminisce. Surrounded by these priceless memories, I let packing tape and cartons sit for a few extra minutes.
My parents recently came to visit, and we went on a couple of outings together. While I was busy composing my shots, they were happily snapping away with their phones. I couldn’t help but notice their photos lacked clarity—poor composition, bad lighting, and sometimes the faces weren’t even recognizable. When I mentioned this, their response took me by surprise: ‘The photos may not be perfect, but they’ll help keep our memories clear!’ It was a simple, yet powerful reminder that sometimes the meaning behind a photo matters more than technical perfection.
Lately, I have been asked the same question in many different ways –
… and so on! First and foremost let me clarify, there is nothing special that tells who is a beginner and who is not. Second, the fact that a person is a beginner or has been in the field for donkey years, does not correlate to photography skills.
Yesterday, I was reading a philosophical book about actions that can be similar to sins. We, as photographers, also commit some gross mistakes, which in my opinion are no less than sins. Are you committing any of these?
A very happy new year to all my readers.
Today morning, I got up with a warm inner feeling. It is the first day of the new year after all. What exciting things to do? The best thing, I could think of, was to walk down to a neighborhood kiosk and have a cup of piping hot tea with milk (or better known as masala chai) and enjoy some early morning photography. Packed a camera with a normal lens and I was on the road, striding towards the tea-stall.
A picture is worth a thousand words – so the famous saying goes. How I see it is that pictures have a language of their own. They express feelings. Feelings of joy, love, despair, sadness, pain, happiness, belonging… This language is the language of photography. It is a visual language!
Yesterday, I was listening to a wonderful song by Oscar Hammerstein / Richard Rodgers and performed by Julie Andrews –
Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things …
Yes, these would be favorite things for most and make anyone feel happy. For the photographer in me, there are a few other favorite things, that never fail to exhilarate me.
(Photographing grapes while they remain untouched by human hands and then tasting a few, fresh off the vines!)
We, the photographers, exist in various forms. There are different levels and types. From beginner hobbyists to the names that the world recognizes, from serious hobbyists to plain professionals, photographers who click only wildlife to ones who capture water droplets… we are a diverse lot.
English is rapidly becoming the language of choice even for non-native speakers. Due to the proliferation of the internet (which happens to be mostly in English), English is now the de facto language in many places. English is not my native language and yet I also write these articles in English. So, for the literary bend in the photographer’s mind, here are some phrases every photographer should be aware of. I have compiled this list from various sources and will keep adding to it in the future.
Recently, I have been witnessing a huge number of photography competitions being conducted online. Today I sat for many hours visiting all these photography competitions and was shocked. How low is the photography going? It seems that now some people come together, form a group and conduct photography competitions. Some of these are on a daily basis too!
(Photograph to fill the space and break the monotony of text.)
Some of the things that I noticed consistently in most of these photography competitions –
Sometime back I was discussing with a group about spirituality. The discussions went towards how things around us have developed, how people strive to find inner peace and how spirituality is slowly and slowly getting away from the general public, all of whom are involved in a rat-race trying to prove themselves, keep up with the joneses and accumulate all kind of materialistic possessions.
What about photography? Something that starts with more materialistic possessions! Top of the line cameras that people in general stretch their budgets to buy, ultrasharp lenses and camera accessories that can do everything (apart from making coffee). Can photography be a way to spirituality?
Photography has been my passion since a long time, and a profession lately. On some days, when I am unable to take my camera out, blogging on photography helps me remain in touch with what I love. What started as a small website and some basic articles for a handful of friends to read, has now begun to make its presence felt. There are many new things that I learnt about blogging which I never imagined existed.
Photographs were once a treasured possession. Families proudly got photographs clicked on special occasions. First day of the child at school, every birthday, graduation ceremony, marriage, family get together… there was a photograph to celebrate each of these and many more moments. Some families owned a camera and others visited a neighborhood photographer. These were treasured memories.
Forests are beautiful. They are an integral part of the nature’s support system for us to be able to live. How do we pay back? Cutting trees, destroying everything that supports us and wasting away these precious gifts of nature. Why am I writing about this in a site related to photography? I witnessed a forest fire and photographed it. I’ll be writing about the photography aspect too but first let me express how I felt while I photographed the incident.
Friends come and go. Some stay for long. Others become sweet memories. Some others fade away. Today I was sitting alone in the morning, on a high vantage point, gazing at the rising sun, fog clearing up and a shining river in the center. I was planning to capture some photographs. The time spent with oneself can sometimes be the best. Today while watching the scenes unfold in front of me, I also remembered various incidents with friends and photography.
Are you a die-hard Nikon fan? If you are, then here is a compilation of some interesting facts about Nikon. Some of these are just bits of history whereas some others are crazy.
(Nikon F3 camera with some Nikon lenses)
Continue reading Facts about Nikon (which you did not know, or did you?)
Point and Shoot cameras are quite famous with occasional ‘shooters’. I was wondering about the expression of ‘shooting’ a photograph or video. When and how did this term come to be used in photography and cinematography?
In the process of relocating to another city, we had to pack up our photography equipment as well. While opening the boxes, I realized the amount of clutter that builds up over time. This is worse than the Gear Acquisition Syndrome that most of us suffer from time to time. The clutter I am talking about is the justifiable purchases that gather up.
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.” – John F. Kennedy.
I have come across various schools of thoughts on different topics that some of them are now like widely propagated myths. Are these really myths or just my mind fighting against itself? Has the whole photography fraternity got it wrong and just a handful of photographers can understand the truth or is it me who is confused? Here is a list of top facts that I consider to be myths.
(Nikon Df with Nikkor 50mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO 100, +2 EV compensation on center-weighted metering)
Rain rain go away, Come again another day. Rain rain go away, Little Johnny wants to play… I get reminded of this nursery rhyme whenever I see my photographer friends who are scared to take their cameras out in the rainy season. Rains create wonderful opportunities for photography, so unpack your camera and other photography equipment and get ready to click.
In the world of today, where more and more people are using cameras to capture everything that seems attractive to them, the question of “Model Release” often pops up. How are amateurs or non-professionals affected by it? If there is a recognizable person in the photograph, how and where can the photograph be legally used? What are the liabilities of such a photograph? I am not a lawyer but based on what I have learnt from various photographers, lawyers and magazine editors, here are the basics relate to Model Release.
Continue reading Model ReleaseManaging with the least resources is what minimalism is all about. This can be a fantastic way to regain vision and clarity of thought. Photographers in general, tend to look down on this and other similar lines of thoughts as weird but the truth is entirely opposite. Minimalism helps in creating some of the best images. It also makes the whole process from initial visualization till the final photograph, more enjoyable. Minimalism is about the freedom and not about restrictions.
I was recently a part of a group of photographers and judges in a photography competition. I am not a famous photographer but yet there are some people who value my opinion. It was quite an ego boost for me. I was one of the less-influential and quiet ones in the group, but I did notice a trend which I felt was an interesting topic to pen my thoughts about. What are the judges in these photography competitions looking for?
Continue reading Photography Competitions – Behind the Doors!
I have moved to digital cameras almost entirely now. It is comfortable and I feel that I have better control over my photographs. There still are times when I remember my film cameras and miss those wonderful time. Many of the photographers who have started with digital ask me about what it was that film still tends to touch my emotional chords.
(Clouds and Tea Plantations – Nikon FM10 with Nikkor 35-70mm lens, Kodachrome)
Risk of thefts always weighs heavily on the minds of photographers, considering the amount most of us end up spending on the gear. Cameras and lenses are also an attractive target to thieves. So, here is a list of precautions that may prevent thefts to some extent.
I thought of compiling a list of things that people say or do related to photography that really gets me going mad. I maintain my calm but my insides all start burning. So here is a small list of these annoying little things that people do or ask –
For most, photography is a hobby, for some it is a passion. Every serious hobbyist sometime or the other faces the question- to continue photography as a hobby or take it up as a profession?
(A photograph of a stone pathway. This photograph has earned me good amount of money and has been used on a book cover as well.)
Why not make some money while enjoying the wonders of photography? With this thought in my mind, I have explored various stock image sites and sold some photographs too. Here is a list of pointers to improve your sales if you are thinking of selling at these stock-images sites.
(A photograph of hills. This image has been selling quite frequently on Shutterstock for reasons unknown to me. Nikon Df with Nikkor 18-35mm lens)
Recently I came across some really old photographers who were cribbing about the surge of digital cameras, mobile phone cameras and so on. In their opinion this had really brought down the overall quality of photographs created. They were not ‘real’ photographers in their opinion. I agree to some extent. There are lots and lots of people with easy access to good cameras, but this is not a bad thing. Large amount of sales translates to good profit for the camera companies and in turn this leads to reduction in prices of otherwise expensive pieces of equipment. More sales also lead to investments in research and development and therefore progress in technology. The bad thing is that when these buyers of photography equipment do not want to learn to use their new acquisitions and churn out hoards of average looking snapshots. Snapshots, which could have been better with just a little bit of awareness. Another sad thing is when these camera users or mobile phone users try to capture images of people without any kind of permission or create disturbance or even nuisance while doing so.
Very frequently I come across the comparison of eyes and camera. Photography students are frequently taught that the camera works like a human eye and medical students are taught that the eyes work like a camera. This gets one wondering how are they similar and where does each of them stand out.
Cameras are now showing up everywhere. They are more prolific than mushrooms in rains. Everyone has them. Some use the cameras in mobile phones, others use compact cameras. Combine this with the cultural insensitivity of tourists and we have a big nuisance being faced by religious places. It is therefore natural that photography is prohibited in many such places.
I have a special attraction to religious places. Regardless of the religion, the peace, the atmosphere of faith combined with the mystery of religion which has trickled down the ages, makes these places intriguing for me. I have an urge to take my camera out and click everything that I see.
When I was a small kid, I found a book on photography in my grandfather’s library. I remember browsing through it and being amazed by the full-page photographs. The ones that attracted me most were that of a church and a photograph of a large rock with moon shining on top. When I could read the book, I understood that these were clicked by a photographer named Ansel Adams. There was no internet then and it was hard to find any information which was not easily available. A search in the school library gave me some more ideas about who Ansel Adams was.
