Back on Digital

This post comes on this blog after a long gap of five years. This was one of my recent pics, clicked on HTC ONE V. I am rather surprised by its output... On film one would get such a saturated sky only on using Polariser... But these days, digital imaging has made photography too simple...

Perversion

U & me

"Let there be light"

This is one of my favourite photographs. The location was Loyola college, Chennai-the road leading to LIBA from Church. It was shot on a Diwali day. The smoke gave a foggy effect. When i looked at that place, instinctually i felt the urge to capture. But, available light was only the street light. But with long exposure i wanted to make it. So, here is the outcome. the exposure was about three minutes. The cam was on tripod.

ISO: 100 (Kodak Colour Plus)

Shutter: B (appx. 3 minutes)

Aperture: 16Focal Length: 35mm

Serenity

These were shot during one of my trips to Sileru, situated at a high altitude in southwest of Visakhapatnam Dt, bordering Orissa. These were shot from a dam built on the river Sileru in the dense forest. Its a bit eerie, to walk on the dam as the dam is very high and narrow. These were shot on cloudy day.

Conscience

Often imagination leads to innovation, wel, there's n't much innovation here. one day as i was shooting clouds, i imagined a dark sky with silver like clouds. For a moment 'how' perturbed me. I'm aware of the result of the polariser. But not enogh to match my imagination. Then i thought why not use two polarisers? Immediatly i was curious to use two polarisers. It was a bit difficult alighning both. one is threaded to lens and another was hand held. wel, now u see the result.

ISO: 100
Shutter:1/60
Aperture: 3.5
Focal length: 35mm

Synergy

This was one of my earliest images. The clouds could have remained ordinary, but for the zoom out effect. Dynamism was added to the stationary clouds. This effect was achieved by zooming out as i clicked.

ISO: 100

Shutter: 1/30

Aperture: 11

Focal Length: 35mm

Fuji loves green

Fuji has been my choice since i learned to shoot. Green is best rendered by fuji, ofcourse, it has to be developed in fuji chemical and printed on fuji paper (it may sound old fashioned in this digital era)।

The first one was shot early in the morning। Itwas raining. The light was very dim and diffused. But i was sure that it would make a gud image.

ISO: 100

Shutter:1/2

Aperture:5.6

Focal Length: 70mm

The second one was shot from below the leaves. The sun light was actually passing through the leaves, leaving the leaves vibrant.

ISO:100

Shutter:1/125

Aperture:8

Focal Length: 35mm

Purple

Purple hue always adds a cool effect to the sunset, making the sky look more softer and romantic.
80B color correction filter was used to get this purple effect. Two stops of exposure had to be compensated, using this filter.

ISO: 100
Shutter:1/30
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 35mm

Waiting ...

There was a time I was caught up with Macro mania. This was shot in kodai, about three years back.
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 70mm

ECR Road, Chennai.

It was shot three years back. It was clicked from a bike ride. U... Prabhu do u remember?? No biker from Chennai, would miss riding on this road. A road, destined for dating and weekend partying...

ISO:100

Shutter:250/1

Aperture:8

Focal Length: 35mm

Christ the King Church, Loyola College, Chennai

This Gothic stucture leaves everyone with awe and wonder। Each glimpse of the church left me with new experience and inspiration। Anyone with camera cannot but shoot।

Designed and built by an Indian mason, commissioned by French Jesuits, this fine example of gothic architecture stands proudly in the middle of Loyola College campus. Its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, rose windows, three-aisled nave and the flying butresses are a worthy testament to the Gothic style. The Loyola Chapel was built in 1933. Covering an area of 150 feet by 60 feet, with stained glass windows, this church is a captivating sight, inside as well as outside. The spire is 157 feet high and has a stairway leading to the top, where a cross stands.
An interesting snippet about this church is that its architect S. A Gnanpragasam Pillai, did not have any formal training in civil engineering or architecture. He was responsible for planning, designing and building the whole of Loyola College. The church, which is synonymous with Loyola College is a wonderful piece of architecture and defines the idyllic environment of Loyola college(text courtesy: www.chennaibest.com)

All these were shot at different timings of a day and on different days.

Enigma

The passion for varied colors and forms always drives me shooting clouds. This was one such shot. It was shot in 2004.

ISO: 100

Shutter: 1/30

Aperture: 5.6

Focal Length: 100 mm

Lost in...

It was, one of my instinctual shots. When I looked at it, i was sure it would make a gud image. So, its here now. Source of the light was tungsten bulb, that was lit about 100 feet away. Light was totally dim. But i was sure long exposure will compensate for it. What is more interesting is formation of light and shadow, setting a heavy mood.

ISO: 100

Shutter: B (2 mints)

Aperture: 16

Focal Length: 35mm

Suspended Rhythm

It was very much intended. I was waiting for almost half an hour to get this action in right place and in proper lighting.
ISO: 100
Shutter:1/125
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 150mm

On Edge

It was shot during one of my wild trips in Bhadrachalam forest range. It drained quite a much of my energy to focus, as the object was only an inch size, and camera was handheld. Shot it using macro adaptors(+3,+4).

ISO: 100

Shutter: 1/30

Aperture: 5.6

Focal Length: 70mm

Chasing Heights

It was Shot a year ago. I was on shoot for two hours, trying to capture birds. The task was very difficult, as birds never model for camera. I was a bit more ambitious to get better depth and gud saturation of the sky. So, the polariser was on my tele-lens. As a result exposure lattitude was limited. I found it difficult focussing, adjusting exposure, shutter speed and polarizing in a fraction of seconds - One knows the difficulty, when one uses completely manul focus camera to shoot birds and moving objects, where the focus has to be tracked manually. i failed for quite a long time. Then I removed the polariser for rest of the shoot. This was one of a few, I succeeded to shoot. This image was cropped a bit to zoom the bird.
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/250
Aperture: 4.5
Focal Length: 240mm (Nikkor 75 - 240mm)

Distortion

Some times one indulges in distorted reflection, to that extent one may not find ones real self.
It was just a casual click. I found the reflection interesting with ripple.

ISO:100
Shutter:1/125
Aperture:8
Focal Length:35mm

Reach Out

It was shot during one of my hunts for images in Bhadrachalam forest range. It was a mid afternoon shot. The exposer was adjusted to the sun, so as to darken the sky and to get this deep blue effect. Polariser was on to add to the effect.

ISO: 100

Shutter: 1/500

Aperture:11

Focal Length:35mm

Fire Within

No chennaite can miss this visual on going to Marina beach. This image was in my mind to shoot for quite a long time. Fianlly i shot it after four years.

ISO:100

Shutter: 'B' on Tripod (2 sec)

Aperture: 11

Focal Length: 35mm

Dew

It is something that we usally miss. It's dew formed on cob web in the grass. Droplets are so minute. we fail to observe. accidentaly i noticed. it was unusaul. couldn't resist but click it. It is a cropped image. i found the image too shallow lacking depth, due to high opening of aperture and and use of three macro adptors. i cut the that part which is in gud focus.

ISO: 100

Sutter:1/30

Aperture: 3.5

Focal length: 70mm

Forever...

This was one of my earliest photographs shot in 2000, as part of learning the art. I think good contrast and composition makes it interesting. The film was developed and printed by me manually. It was a great fun developing and printing, but needs an accurate analogue(mental) caliculation and patience, in case u need to repeat the process. Now, I almost forgot D/P.

Camera: Nikon F2

Shutter:1/125

Aperture:5.6

Focal Length: 100mm

Volcanic Eruption

On the top of the image i have used a graduated blue gel, to get a purple effect.

ISO:100

Shutter: 1/250

Aperture:16

Focal Length: 35mm

Gud Morning

This was shot using macro adaptor. it was a bit dificult focussing as the subject was very small.

ISO: 100

Shuter: 1/125

Aperture: 5.6

Focal Length: 70mm

Macro Adaptor: +1, +2

Veins

As I was on my hunt for images in Bhadrachalm forest, something that caught my attention was this dreid teak leaf. At a longer distance, it was just a leaf, but when i had a closer look, it was marvellous. Immediately I took my camera, attached macro adapter and shot it.

ISO: 100

Shutter: 1/30

Aperture: 5.6

Focal Length: 70mm

Unknown-Self

As, i was walking in kodaikanal looking for objects to shoot, just suddenly i turned back, and i was amaged to see my own shadow, and there was an echo in my mind-'unknown self' that I leave behind. I was also reminded of Plato's 'Allegory of cave'

Everyone gets shadowed, limiting one's knowledge of himself/herself and unknown self comes into play. Getting beyond the shadow and an encounter with the Unknown Self would attain one to 'Super Ego'. The shadow interested me with its great depth, and i clicked it.

ISO:100

Shutter: 1/125

Aperture: 8

Focal Length: 35mm

Correction

This image has too much of depth. The subject has lost its importance. As i had not taken tele lens, i just had to shoot with 35 mm lens. So, it gave way to too much of depth. Even the polariser wasn't with me. so I couldn't cut the reflections on leaves. They draw unnecessary attention. So, the subject is very much muted. but i wanted to retain the photo, as i liked the flower. So, i went on to digitally modify it in Photoshop. Its simple. But time consuming, demands patience. One can see the modified image.

ISO:100

Shutter:125

Aperture:8

Lens:60mm

The subject was selected with polygon lasso tool, which involved accuracy, then I inverted the seletion. This new selecton was blurred, brightness was controlled, color levels were adjusted. On the subject, buds were brightend. Finally I flipped the subject horizantally to have the oreintation (right 2 left)towards viewer.I think now the subject captures attention of the viewer.

Sui Motio

Sui motio - self-motion towards the self-perfection to its original 'Form', i.e the soul traversing back to its Source.
Oneday, as i was waking up i was caught by this image, and reminded me of this concept of sui motio, and i found the image unusual. Immediatley, i jumped off my bed, and got to click. Wel, the image is actually is of smoke emitted from a mosquito coil, and illuminated by golden light of the dawn coming from a window, made it dramatic.
ISO: 100
Shutter:1/250
Aperture: 5.6
Lens: 35mm

Bloom

This was shot on cloudy day. So available light was minimal and soft. i have used polariser to get a better saturation and to do away with reflections on the leaves so as to drive the eye towards flower.
ISO: Fuji Pro 100( mostly I use only fujim, for its dominance of red and green grains, i get a better result for all outdoor shoot)
Shutter:1/8 (hand held)
Aperture:5.6
Lens @ 70mm

Fetters Free

This Photo won 1st prize in a still photography Competetion conducted by Film & TV Institute of Tamilnadu as part of the 'Inter Collegeiate Festival of Film Art-2004.

Camera: Nikon FM 10

ISO: Fuji Proplus 100

Shutter: 250

Aperture: 11