Learn to see like camera

As a beginner first mistake I learned was not to see like camera. Yes it is at first difficult to digest, but slowly as you observe, you will realize that your eye and camera sees differently. Even different lenses, bodies, focal lengths etc. behave differently. So as a photographer it is very important to learn to see like a camera. Is it tough to do? I will say NO, but it is not easy as well. I will share few things that helped me to see like a camera, hope this helps you too. If you have more tips to share, feel free.

1.       READ, READ, READ – The first thing you need to do is read you camera manual, cover to cover. Carry with you wherever you go, it’s just a small booklet. Read and reread, understand the working of your camera. Once done, start reading any material you can get your hands on regarding photography.

2.       PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE – What you read from the manual, practice it with your camera. There is no reason to stop just because you can’t get to a new location. Start at home, photograph anything and everything. Join communities like Project 365 and force yourself to use your camera daily. Pick up any aspect like ‘Aperture’ and practice it in real life to see how it behaves differently. What does the settings mean, how they change based on other settings. In nutshell, practice so much that all settings are your habit and you don’t need to think about them when making images. They will come naturally to you.

3.       ANALYZE, ANALYZE, ANALYZE – Scrutinize your own work. Read histogram, check the settings and compare them with results. See how same scene behaves in different settings. Once you master settings, you will know exactly to what to dial in to get a desired output. Less time post production, more time shooting :)

My camera does not have live view. If I wouldn't have learned to see like camera, this would not have been possible without getting my cloths dirty. I just kept the camera close to ground, dialed in the settings, put in a focal length and Voila!

4.       OBSERVE, OBSERVE, OBSERVE – When not with camera, take mental images. Choose a subject or a scene and think what would be the best way to capture that. And if you get chance again, then make an image and compare the settings whether what you thought will actually give you the perceived result. This will also help you develop your vision. Your eyes get trained to see the world like a camera.

5.       BE HUMBLE AND RESPECT YOUR CAMERA – Treat your camera like a companion and not like some fancy gadget. It will give you wonderful results. See it as a friend who teaches you to look at the world with new perspective and vision.

What is photography Blog Post - Click Here 
Chasing Light Blog Post - Click Here

Culinary Colonization

Chai Samosa

One of the unifying snacks combination of India is Chai – Samosa. It transcends the boundaries of region, case, sex, age. It doesn’t matter if you are a school goer, a house wife or someone who only sits only in air conditioned environments, you will always say yes to this snack combo, especially in winters or rainy season. With this combination in hand, there have been many talks of politics (national and office), movies, books, liberalization, and globalization. Then Species, cultures and languages going endangered or extinct. 

However no one has paid attention to the two items in their hand. With liberalization and globalization we see onslaught of culinary items from foreign lands putting up a competition for local cuisine.

I have observed among the environment I live in, where both options are available. People now prefer a sandwich, burger or pizza with some fancy named drink to wash it down instead of chai-samosa. I am no one to judge which one is good. Calories conscious will tell you both are not good. 

If I am samosa, will I feel culinary colonized by a burger taking over my turf. Or like those master masons I am secretly colonizing culinary kings of the other unknown plates around the world. Maybe find a restful place under a fork and knife.

2 Es of society

I was born and brought up with 2 E boons of modern society. Education and electricity. If we can stop corruption, many like us will be able to enjoy these two boons too.  

things to know before you visit India

In recent times I have noticed that we get many foreign visitors to India. Some for backpacking some on business trips or on student exchange programs. Even being an Indian, I have been into cultural shock many times when I travel to different parts of India. So I thought to summarize some of the basic good to know facts if you are planning to visit India. But as advised if in India, be open to ideas and do not generalise.

·         Body Parts  In India body parts have different meanings and hierarchy. Feet and left hand are considered to be dirty. So if you are visiting any religious site or even in homes, it’s always better to remove your shoes and cover your head unless asked against it. Do not eat or give/receive money with your left hand.

·         Dress Modestly Even though kamasutra was written in India, Indians have this notion that white skin people are sexually active than black/brown skin. So it’s better to dress modestly covering your body parts and not revealing specially if you are travelling to rural areas or religious sites.

·         Public display of affection like kissing and hugging is strict NO-NO.

·         Being hounded and cheated  Unfortunately begging and touts have become business for many. Especially in major railway/bus stations, tourist and religious sites. Foreigners are generally considered cash rich, so be ready to be hounded by beggars and cheated. Know the actual rates through your friend or local acquaintances. If you feel you are being harassed or cheated approach police. (Though might be of help always)

·         Be ready for stares Common people in India consider foreigners to be some sort of celebrity. So be ready for those stares on public transport, roads, or most of the places you visit. Also you be might be asked umpteen times for a photograph to be taken with common people.

Above stated information shouldn’t deter you from visiting India, because it is one of the countries where you will also be overwhelmed by the hospitality and your sense being tested for different kind of views, smell and taste.

why save nature?

In today’s world, lot of talk is going around for saving nature. I also thought why do I need to save nature? Then I became selfish and thought that if we don’t have what we have today for years to come, the life which I see around me now will not be sustainable. Then I will not be able to photograph and not do the only thing that gives me peace. You will ask why suddenly this blog post. I was photographing flowers on my roof after a morning rain, and I noticed that due to sun, roof floor was clean dry; however there were still water droplets, smiling and sparkling on flowers and plants. This simple scene made me realise, how plants, trees and nature are important for sustenance and survival of living things on earth. Today you have become selfish and are destroying ecology around you. I don’t ask you to change your attitude. I still ask you to be selfish, be selfish for your coming generations. Take small steps to make sure you contribute rather than destroying, and let your future generation enjoy the same environment you are enjoying today.

So this is my inspiration for saving nature. What’s yours??

Water droplet on flower-

Crumpled Life

We are all born with one thing, and that is life. Rest all are either inherited or earned. But sometimes we take this freebie for granted. We forget the fact that what precious gift we got as life.

So be happy, help others, spread knowledge and don’t let others to turn your life into crumpled life.

Lord of the ring or ring of the lord?

Hi, my name is ring. No I am not the ring from ‘ring ring ringa ’ of Slumdog Millionaire. I was born out of human need to create art and vesting authority on non-living objects. It is believed that I and most of my cousins of our ornament family were created for purpose of show off. Sometimes we were created as per needs of the tribe we represent, with initial designs reflecting patterns of nature. Later on with advent of computers and auto designing creativity and price both have reached high ends. Earlier most of the work on us was done with human touch and feelings.

We rings have also been kind of representation of authority in non-living objects, which no other single community in our ornament world enjoy, our only competitor and winner being crown. In most cultures, Kings passed on the ring to next king. In many places, especially in Indian societies, mother in law passes on rings to eldest daughter in law, symbolising transfer of authority in managing homes. Rings also work as negotiators and a seal of deal in marriages, where rings are exchanged.

So what’s your story on rings?

Thumb rings, with inscription of ‘Om mani padme hum’ in Tibetan script

"Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"

-- H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, "Om Mani Padme Hum