The world through my eyes

Published!

2009-01-17T06:24:00.002+05:30

Alright, let the title not fool you too much into thinking I've achieved something remarkably great, but one of the PAD photos was picked up by NowPublic for inclusion in the gallery attached to one of its online articles. The author of the article contacted me via Flickr and requested permission to use the photograph, which is really nice.

So, for the first time in 4 years someone's found one of my photographs interesting enough. This gives me a fillip to push more of my photographs online and organize and "market" them more effectively.

The photo in question is The pile-up and it shows up in the gallery attached to this article.

This is a direct link to the photo on NowPublic.

A new beginning

2009-01-01T12:57:00.004+05:30

All done. I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to comment and critique the pictures and encouraged me along the way.

APAD 2008 was great. I'm not going to be continuing it in 2009, just as I had thought at the beginning of 2008. It was planned as a one-year exercise, and so shall it be.

It's going to be a very different year. For starters, I can already sense that days - at least the initial 30 or 45-odd ones - are going to get much longer, more relaxed. It'll be a bit strange to go to bed without having taken a picture for the day.

The primary reason I took up this project for 2008 was to inject a shot of creativity into my photography. 2007 was a bad year for me in terms of photographic output. I had a few golden opportunities in 2007 to take some really nice photographs but I could feel that the output was just not up to snuff. Ideally one's most recent work should be his/her best, as Martin Bailey says, and I knew 2005 and 2006 were probably better and more importantly, more consistent, than 2007. I wanted to change that in 2008, and hence, the APAD project.

Did I achieve my goals? Yes and no. Let me elaborate.

The successes or positives first. Upon going through the archive I find quite a few photographs that are print-worthy. That is good. I have at least a few that are worth printing and even framing. The exercise has been good that way. I have also gotten a better handle on the gear that I have in terms of how it behaves under specific situations. That's not to say I was bad on this count before, but my sense of "knowing" the gear has become better. This is very helpful in tricky situations where the window of opportunity to get a shot is very small.

I have learnt a lot more about the direction I should in the future. I have developed an interest in project-oriented photography, where one takes a few (15 to 20) images on a theme or story, and I am keen to explore this style of now on a variety of subjects.

I have identified things to improve upon. In my mind this is the biggest return on the investment I have made in time and effort on this project. I will talk about these things as I write about the negatives below.

Finally, and most importantly, I am still as much, if not more, in love with photography as I was when I first took it up as a serious hobby. 2007 was an aberration, but not one that was caused by a lack of interest in the art and craft of photography.

A good photograph must tell a story. It is very important to have compelling subject(s) arranged in the most aesthetically pleasing manner and shown in the best possible light, but the story is paramount. I believe I have not managed to tell compelling stories through a vast majority of my photographs. There have been a few instances where I've managed a humorous or thoughtful take on mundane objects (and there are many of those considering I've mostly only shot stuff in my home), but I should have done more.

There is no substitute for a great subject. There is no substitute for wonderful light. Above all, there is no substitute for a story if a photograph is to merit a second, third, fourth and thousandth look. I've failed on most of these counts. While I have learnt lessons along the way, I have unfortunately not been able to apply them on the go.

One of the fundamental mistakes I've made at times (and this shows up in the corresponding photographs) is to treat the day's PAD exercise as a ritual or formality, as something to be done and dusted with. That doesn't work. Meticulous planning is just as important as being agile to capture a fleeting moment. The side effect of my approach on such occasions has been horrible light (usually from the fluorescent/incandescent bulbs at home). Double whammy.

The other thing that probably worked against my favour was my self-imposed restriction that each photo should be "different". Different in terms of what? Subject matter? Composition? Meaning? Many of the 366 images are repeats of others in all of these senses. I am not going to list examples here but they are easy to find. Not only did I fail in sticking to this self-imposed restriction, but I have also missed a few opportunities along the way, needlessly in hindsight. This also ties in well with my idea of exploring theme-based projects.

Finally, I just need to go out more. And when I do go out I must leave my hindrances behind and be ready to take photographs in a variety of situations without really thinking about what others might think of me. I have gotten a few pictures on my daily commute or when I was travelling by train, but they have all been in the comfort of relative privacy. Good stuff to photograph just does not materialize in front of you in your private confines.

So overall, what would I call my effort? I look at it as a success because of all the positives and because of what I have learnt and identified courtesy of the negatives. Are the results even a patch on projects like this or this or tons of other great collections out there? No. That doesn't mean, however, that my efforts were in vain.

I'll wrap this up with a few thoughts on what I want to do in 2009 and beyond. I'm obviously not continuing the PAD in 2009. I may some year in the future, but I don't know which. However, I have identified two concrete things that I want to work on in 2009. Both are more technically oriented - photographic workflow and post-processing technique. I won't go so far as making resolutions, but I intend to make significant improvements on both fronts by the end of this year.

The thing with photography, as with anything else in life, is that the learning never stops. Under constraints imposed by time (mainly), one can only prioritize a few things over others, and workflow and post-processing technique are what I'm going to focus more of my attention on this year compared to other technical aspects.

I will keep updating this blog with the odd post once in a while, so please keep it in your list of bookmarks or feeds. One of the things I plan to do in the very near future is to compile a set of those pictures from this PAD that I think are the best of the lot. I don't know how many I should put in there. 10? 20? Definitely not more than 20, I think. Do I even have that many, is the more pertinent question.

Once again, thank you all very much for reading this photo-blog and making it a part, however small, of your lives. It means a lot to me.

(Photo taken at Vizag a few minutes after sunrise on New Year's Day, 2009.)

31-12-2008 - Shoutout to AP Tourism

2008-12-31T21:37:00.002+05:30

We went on a day trip from Vizag to Araku Valley and Borra Caves today. This was a package deal by AP Tourism, with the ride up to Araku in a passenger train (1VK) that takes us through some of the most stunningly beautiful scenery in the Eastern Ghats and the ride back by bus, once again on scenic ghat roads.

I took a few pictures of the scenery. I could've taken a lot more but I just decided to absorb it instead of trying to take pictures. I have some photos of the horticulture garden and tribal dance (organized by AP Tourism) at Araku, and some from Borra Caves, but I decided to use this post to appreciate AP Tourism on the fantastic job they've done.

When I last visited Araku/Borra some 16-odd years back (school excursion) there was absolutely no tourism infrastructure in place. AP Tourism has done a fantastic job now of not only providing infrastructure (resorts for overnight stay, better roads/pathways etc.) but also of conducting the tours efficiently. The tour guides are extremely courteous, helpful and knowledgeable. They are very punctual and stick to the schedule while still giving the tourists enough time to soak in each individual attraction. And the food (breakfast, lunch and evening snack is included in the package) is just absolutely awesome.

At 600 INR per head for this rail-cum-road package (train ride by 2nd sitting compartment and not first class) I would strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to tour these areas. Also, an overnight stay at Araku is recommended if you have the time.

30-12-2008 - Vizag beach from atop Kailasagiri

2008-12-30T23:31:00.002+05:30

A view of the Bay of Bengal (with some ships out in the distance waiting to enter the port), the beach (along with on-beach attractions such as the VUDA childrens' park, open-air theatre and Kursura submarine museum), beach road and most of Vizag town as seen from atop the Kailasagiri hill.

Hand-held shot at ISO 1600 and f/1.8 with the 50mm lens, so the picture isn't exactly the sharpest or the most detailed.

29-12-2008 - Inside the travel bag

2008-12-29T23:30:00.000+05:30

28-12-2008 - Tea-time

2008-12-28T23:27:00.001+05:30

Chinese herbal tea. Nice way to soothe a sore throat at the end of a tiring day.

27-12-2008 - Getting ready

2008-12-27T19:48:00.002+05:30

Time to search for some tie-tying tutorials on Google/Youtube.

26-12-2008 - Tenacious

2008-12-26T16:23:00.001+05:30

25-12-2008 - Late night rush

2008-12-25T23:22:00.001+05:30

24-12-2008 - My window to the world

2008-12-24T23:59:00.000+05:30

23-12-2008 - Nothing better to do

2008-12-23T23:59:00.000+05:30

22-12-2008 - Pretty dangerous

2008-12-22T23:59:00.001+05:30

21-12-2008 - Ser-pen-tine

2008-12-21T23:59:00.001+05:30

20-12-2008 - It's been a while - Part II

2008-12-20T23:04:00.001+05:30

19-12-2008 - And we all go marching down

2008-12-19T23:39:00.000+05:30

Company trip/climb/trek to Rangaswamy Betta.

18-12-2008 - It's been a while - Part I

2008-12-18T22:38:00.000+05:30

17-12-2008 - Drawing lines in the sand

2008-12-17T23:46:00.001+05:30

16-12-2008 - Reliving childhood... priceless!

2008-12-16T23:34:00.000+05:30

Not that you'd buy candies and chocolates on a MasterCard.

15-12-2008 - Busy silhouette

2008-12-15T23:33:00.000+05:30

14-12-2008 - Take a punch!

2008-12-14T23:51:00.000+05:30

13-12-2008 - Illumination

2008-12-13T23:20:00.001+05:30

12-12-2008 - Odds and ends

2008-12-12T23:49:00.000+05:30

11-12-2008 - Down but not out

2008-12-11T23:18:00.000+05:30

10-12-2008 - Ports and vents

2008-12-10T23:16:00.000+05:30

09-12-2008 - UFO

2008-12-09T23:14:00.000+05:30

08-12-2008 - Princess ted

2008-12-08T23:59:00.000+05:30

07-12-2008 - Snowted

2008-12-07T23:35:00.000+05:30

06-12-2008 - Letting off steam

2008-12-06T18:33:00.000+05:30

05-12-2008 - Berries

2008-12-05T17:30:00.000+05:30

04-12-2008 - Meals for two

2008-12-04T17:28:00.001+05:30

03-12-2008 - Droplets on cucumber

2008-12-03T21:25:00.000+05:30

02-12-2008 - The double helix

2008-12-02T23:21:00.000+05:30

01-12-2008 - The big smile

2008-12-01T20:19:00.001+05:30

In hindsight, I should have zoomed out a little bit.

30-11-2008 - They're everywhere!

2008-11-30T23:47:00.000+05:30

29-11-2008 - Don't ask me why I shot this

2008-11-29T23:59:00.000+05:30

28-11-2008 - Charging up

2008-11-28T23:07:00.001+05:30

27-11-2008 - The Matrix

2008-11-27T23:04:00.000+05:30

26-11-2008 - Bell

2008-11-26T23:31:00.001+05:30

Today is testament of the fact that we as a race can do a lot worse than not following the teachings of The Buddha.

25-11-2008 - Similar yet different

2008-11-25T22:59:00.000+05:30

24-11-2008 - Scratch-magnet

2008-11-24T22:57:00.000+05:30

23-11-2008 - Count the number of cameras

2008-11-23T16:52:00.000+05:30

22-11-2008 - Winter blossom

2008-11-22T16:46:00.001+05:30

21-11-2008 - Happy birthday, d00d!

2008-11-21T23:45:00.001+05:30

20-11-2008 - Green and gold

2008-11-20T16:44:00.000+05:30

19-11-2008 - Starfield

2008-11-19T23:42:00.000+05:30

Without adequate depth-of-field, of course.

18-11-2008 - Blur

2008-11-18T23:49:00.000+05:30

17-11-2008 - Arrangement

2008-11-17T23:55:00.000+05:30

16-11-2008 - I believe I can bite

2008-11-16T23:53:00.000+05:30

15-11-2008 - Flowerfall

2008-11-15T23:52:00.000+05:30

14-11-2008 - Flower time

2008-11-14T23:49:00.001+05:30

13-11-2008 - Hot and cold

2008-11-13T23:47:00.001+05:30

Capsaicin/chilly is hot, but the ointment feels bloody cold on the skin when applied.

12-11-2008 - Burnt offerings

2008-11-12T23:46:00.000+05:30

11-11-2008 - Nice puppy

2008-11-11T23:45:00.000+05:30

10-11-2008 - Shoddy paint job

2008-11-10T23:44:00.000+05:30

09-11-2008 - Unnatural gait?

2008-11-09T22:02:00.003+05:30

We were too engrossed in the antics of the pup to remember that there was a camera with a reasonably large zoom lens at home. By the time I got around to taking pictures the pug and his (or her, whatever) owner were ready to leave (from my field of vision). This is the only picture I could get and the pup is unfortunately blurred a little bit.

After looking at the picture I noticed something unnatural in the way the dog's running. 5 brownie points to anyone who points out exactly what it is.

08-11-2008 - Random bug

2008-11-08T23:01:00.000+05:30

07-11-2008 - Sunburnt

2008-11-07T23:40:00.000+05:30

06-11-2008 - Haven for dust

2008-11-06T23:20:00.000+05:30

05-11-2008 - Time to trim

2008-11-05T23:59:00.000+05:30

04-11-2008 - Years of pillage

2008-11-04T23:59:00.001+05:30

In no particular order - NFS, programming, FIFA, general typing...

03-11-2008 - Improvised demotion

2008-11-03T23:47:00.002+05:30

That's one of the finest pieces of trouser cloth I've ever had, now unfortunately doing interim duty as a makeshift curtain.

02-11-2008 - Musty gift-pack

2008-11-02T20:48:00.002+05:30

The gift pack was bought from Almond House, one of the finest sweet shops in Hyderabad. How long they can hold on to that distinction with inventory like this is anybody's guess. Reaching the top is always easier than staying there.

01-11-2008 - The pile-up

2008-11-01T23:46:00.001+05:30

Accumulated over a period of over an year. Seems a bit less for nearly 400 newspapers, doesn't it?

31-10-2008 - End of (useful) life

2008-10-31T23:42:00.002+05:30

This belt would've seen 5 years on the job in a few days' time. First the phone (which hasn't yet reached EOL actually), and then this. Now my wife has started entertaining doubts that I'll ditch her in another 4 years' time! Hey, I didn't ditch my belt or phone. They ditched me!

30-10-2008 - The sword is mightier than this pen

2008-10-30T23:42:00.000+05:30

29-10-2008 - Entry to gymnasts only

2008-10-29T23:39:00.002+05:30

It doesn't show up very clearly in this picture, but none of the side berths in this particular compartment (a very old AC 2-tier coach) feature steps to help one get into a side-upper berth.

28-10-2008 - Age no bar

2008-10-28T22:36:00.001+05:30

Age can only slow one down physically. Spirit is always indomitable.

My grandfather is usually a very quiet man, and this is how he expressed his great happiness at having my wife and I around on Deepavali.

27-10-2008 - Two-in-one

2008-10-27T23:34:00.001+05:30

Or one-by-two, whichever you prefer. I've reached a stage in this PAD effort where just about anything goes. Please bear with me.

26-10-2008 - To be fit and safe

2008-10-26T22:33:00.001+05:30

300 up, incidentally!

25-10-2008 - Enjoying the rain

2008-10-25T20:31:00.001+05:30

24-10-2008 - On and off

2008-10-24T23:59:00.001+05:30

23-10-2008 - Just another day

2008-10-23T23:58:00.000+05:30

...in the IT capital of Asia.

22-10-2008 - Oriental silhouette

2008-10-22T23:56:00.000+05:30

21-10-2008 - What are we supposed to believe?

2008-10-21T23:45:00.000+05:30

20-10-2008 - Branches, loops and deadlocks

2008-10-20T23:23:00.000+05:30

19-10-2008 - Birds at twilight

2008-10-19T19:31:00.001+05:30

Don't be fooled by the colour. This is another fine example of how even a modern camera's auto white balance can be tricked by conditions. Quarter of an hour or so later, though, the sky really took this colour, albeit much darker. It's a constant game of one-upmanship between nature (human eye) and engineering (AWB).

18-10-2008 - Clean sweep

2008-10-18T22:47:00.000+05:30

Well, almost.

17-10-2008 - Springs

2008-10-17T23:59:00.001+05:30

Seeing this reminded me of many things - giant springs, transformer coils and other industrial stuff.

16-10-2008 - Clean teeth, dirty brush

2008-10-16T23:45:00.000+05:30

15-10-2008 - Zor lagaake

2008-10-15T17:44:00.000+05:30

14-10-2008 - Don't use more force

2008-10-14T22:43:00.000+05:30

Use a larger hammer.

13-10-2008 - Seeing red again

2008-10-13T23:59:00.000+05:30

A different kind of red this time.

12-10-2008 - Affection

2008-10-12T21:36:00.000+05:30

That's my friend Mohit totally lost in his new pet Joey, an 8 week-old Golden Retriever pup. It was difficult to take a clear picture of Joey because he just wouldn't sit still unless he had something to chew on. Here you can see him content chewing Mohit's right index finger.

11-10-2008 - Roadblock ahead

2008-10-11T17:28:00.001+05:30

Sometimes, especially when I'm not driving, I don't want divided 6-lane highways without speed limits. I just want to amble along and enjoy the scenery.

This picture was taken between Kothagudem and Vijayawada. Hot and humid as hell outside, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.

10-10-2008 - Garden at night

2008-10-10T22:53:00.003+05:30

My in-laws have this wonderful garden at home. Oh, the joys of living in a small town where time and space are not at a premium!

09-10-2008 - Dasara fireworks

2008-10-09T21:50:00.002+05:30

They have this grand and very creative (ground-effects such as the spinning tree and hissing, spitting snake) display of fireworks just before the Ravana samhara in the colony in which my in-laws live. I couldn't get good pictures last year. This year was better.

08-10-2008 - Bridge over calm water

2008-10-08T23:49:00.000+05:30

One of the many bridges over the irrigation canal that accompanies the road from Tenali to Vijayawada. I caught this shot "blind" (without looking through the viewfinder) out of the window of a moving car. I'm pretty glad at the way I lucked out.

07-10-2008 - Rat-infested KGBS

2008-10-07T23:43:00.000+05:30

I think there were more people than rats and cockroaches at KGBS (Kempe Gowda Bus Stand, or Majestic as it's called but definitely not what it looks like) today because of the coming long weekend.

I even had a flying cockroach crawl over me (didn't notice it for a while).

Painful night -- I sprained my ankle while scouting the busy and haphazard platforms for any sign of our bus, which eventually got delayed by 3 hours because of the traffic jams caused by the hordes of people and vehicles.

06-10-2008 - CFL through frosted glass

2008-10-06T23:55:00.000+05:30

05-10-2008 - Wind power

2008-10-05T23:51:00.001+05:30

Self-explanatory, I guess.

04-10-2008 - Settling in for the night

2008-10-04T23:39:00.000+05:30

Unfortunately, I disturbed it.

03-10-2008 - Woof, woof!

2008-10-03T23:39:00.000+05:30

02-10-2008 - Chocolate chess, Singapore style

2008-10-02T15:38:00.000+05:30

I love hazelnut!

01-10-2008 - Found it!

2008-10-01T23:54:00.001+05:30

Touchdown from (especially international) travel always entails a frantic search for that one small key which was pushed into some pocket of some bag in the hustle and bustle of a security check at the airport.

30-09-2008 - The preparation for my favourite dish starts

2008-09-30T23:51:00.002+05:30

Roselle (Gongura in Telugu). Better than sliced bread.

29-09-2008 - Circles II

2008-09-29T23:58:00.001+05:30

28-09-2008 - Where's the bunny?

2008-09-28T23:54:00.000+05:30

27-09-2008 - A project reaches its conclusion

2008-09-27T23:45:00.001+05:30

Progress documented here and .

26-09-2008 - Cracked

2008-09-26T23:39:00.001+05:30

A new kind of roti, crispy and roasted to (almost) brittleness.

25-09-2008 - Group photo

2008-09-25T23:57:00.000+05:30