11 Things To Pack For A Photography Trip - Other Than The Camera!

While it is only rare that I am accompanied by any friends on a serious photography trip (well, I cannot and would not like to try their patience…) but on many occasions they have a look at my backpack/bag and are really curious to know what might possibly be in there. 

Here is a sneak peek into my bag for outdoor photography. 

I would skip my DSLR and the Lenses from the list, simply because these two things are so very obvious to be there in the bag when you go for a dedicated photography trip.

THE TRIPOD!

I try and make it a point to use it at least for landscape photography. Also, it is great when you want to shoot outdoor self-portraits!

MANUALS OF THE CAMERAS!

It's good to refer to your camera manuals every now and then, and the best time to do this, is while you are on your way to your photography destination. 
It helps two ways, it prevents you from getting in that rut of a certain style of photography (Of course! The more you explore your camera, the more you experiment!), and secondly, in case  your camera mal-functions or gets damaged all of a sudden, you know exactly what is to be done.

MINI-LAPTOP!

You never know when you stumble upon that treasure of frames, and run out of memory in your camera. A Netbook/Mini laptop doubles up as back-up storage while providing for an instant review of the images on location as well!

USB CABLE OF THE CAMERA!

Obvious when you carry that laptop!

THE COMPACT CAMERA!

There are certain situations when you don't want to put your costly DSLR at risk, or simply it is too bulky to handle for the given situation, you can always take out your compact camera and make sure you don't miss a good frame entirely.

A NON-PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK, OR TWO!

This applies more when your trip is made of days and not hours... It is always a good idea to read something not related to photography, not only it refreshes you; it may provide some unique inspirations too!

THE BUSINESS CARD!

There are circumstances when you are photographing at certain places, and you are breaking some laws (of-course not the serious ones :) knowingly or unknowingly...at these times, you can always hand over your business card and make your situation more convincing.

A SMALL NOTEPAD & A PEN!

I have a habit of jotting down things- about the location, the lighting conditions, the mistakes I may have made during capturing some shots and so on...Sometimes, I draw tentative sketches of some noteworthy compositions too...

PLASTIC BAGS!

In case of sudden downpour, nothing can be more handy and portable for saving the camera. Also, in windy situations, you can change the lens by putting the camera inside the plastic bag!

A CLEAN NAPKIN!

Be it water or dust, it is always better to keep the enemies of your gear at bay!

BATTERY CHARGER!

Last but certainly not the least…particularly when you want to shoot for long hours or stay overnight at some place!

Images & Article © 2012 Gyaneshwari Dave

Photography Tip # 4

While photographing famous historical monuments, always INCLUDE SOME HUMAN element in your frame.

This makes a big difference because the person/persons in the photograph serve as a reference point to determine the giant size and scale of the structure. It helps to create the “sense of place” in the photograph too.
 
Structure in the Photograph: The Roman COLOSSEUM, Italy.

Image Copyrights ©2012 Gyaneshwari Dave

Tagore's thoughts in images - An interpretation.

When I had read “Gitanjali” the very first time, I was in high-school. I had received the masterpiece as one of my prizes for the Best Student of the School Award. All through these years, I have read the poems of the book for several times, and still, it has not lost its charm. I am a huge admirer of Rabindranath Tagore, the philosopher, the poet, the creator of the National anthem of India (& Bangladesh too).

To Indians, Tagore needs no introduction. But as many readers of this blog are non-Indians too, who may not know him, let me add here that he was the first Nobel laureate from Asia winning the prestigious honor for his collection of poems, “Gitanjali”, in 1913.

I am in absolute awe of the way he has contemplated nature and life through his simple but surreal words…And therefore while creating photographs, unknowingly or knowingly I keep getting inspired by those words. 

Here is a collection of some of my photographs where I have attempted to translate some short jottings of Gurudev Tagore into the form of images.

(1)

 

I do not ask thee into the house.

Come into my infinite loneliness, my lover.

(From:"Stray birds")

 

 (2)

”What language is thine, O Sea?”

“The language of eternal question.”

“What language is Thy, O Sky?”

“The language of eternal silence”

(From: "Stray birds")

(3)

 

The earth looks up at the midnight moon and muses,

‘What language is this she speaks,

When she wordlessly smiles and gazes?’

(From:"Jottings")

(4)

The leaves of the trees,

In the spring and the rains,

Tell a tale

Of which nothing remains

 

When they fall

To blend with the soil

(From:"Sparks")

(5)

 

"How may I sing to thee and worship, O Sun?" 

asked the little flower.

"By the simple silence of thy purity," answered the sun.

(From:"Stray birds")

Images & Article Copyrights © 2012 Gyaneshwari Dave

A Telephoto Lens For iPhone!

So you are enjoying your iPhone camera, but don’t you wish you could zoom more, that it had a Telephoto lens? 

Well, in case you did not know this, at around $35 you can actually attach an 8X Telephoto lens to your iPhone4/4S.

Looks like some seriously handy stuff to me... 

Here is a nice hands-on review of this lens:

For once you can slip your “Telephoto Lens” into your trousers’ pocket! :)

You can buy it here: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/iphone-telephoto-lens/

                                                    Article © 2012 Gyaneshwari Dave 

“YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!”- Top 5 Myths & Realities Of This Statement!

This post is for the benefit of those who believe, that there was a VERY GOOD TYPEWRITER behind a best-selling novel, A VERY GOOD FRYING PAN behind a mouthwatering dish, A VERY GOOD GUITAR behind a melodious music, and A VERY GOOD PAINT-BRUSH behind a beautiful painting...

“My images are not as nice, should I buy a “Better (Costlier)” camera?” Well, this is the question and these are the top 5 myths that (almost always) accompany it...

Myth : Your images are so sharp; YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!

Reality: No matter how advanced the auto-focus or image-stabilization features of a camera get, it cannot help shaky hands and tilted focus (of eyes).

It is the manual judgment of right focusing distance, optimum shutter-speed, and perfect aperture that will make razor sharp Images, which no “Auto” mode of any given digital wonder can ever achieve.

Only the person who is behind the camera can attain this perfect co-ordination of mind, eyes & hands, not the camera.

Myth : Your images look so "Different"; YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!

Reality: Well, one can create “Different” images even with the help of a cell-phone camera if he/she has the eye to look at things differently.

The insight to capture a subject from unusual angles, the ability to shoot a cliched subject from a fresh perspective or the sense to see a story  in common subjects are all human. No camera ever, will be able to suggest you the “compositions”.

Myth: Colors of your images are so vibrant; YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!

Reality: Sure, the sensor quality of a camera affects the colors to a certain extent but that is where it ends. 
Even the best of best cameras can produce “flat” or “dull” images. It is your job to instruct the camera about the ISO, white balance and overall exposure. After all, human eyes can handle much wider dynamic range of colors than what a camera can “see”.

Also, it is your call on when and where and what you choose to photograph. For instance, if you choose to shoot a flower on an overcast day, your camera won’t be able to render those vibrant colors. It is your choice to shoot it in the early morning light that makes your flower photographs stand out in terms of colors.

Myth: Your images look so "Bright" YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!

Reality: Well honestly, it can take books to break this myth or it can be done in a second- provided you know the simple fact that the whole tale of a photo begins and ends with one thing, “The light”.

“Exposure (Combination of ISO, Shutter-speed & Aperture)” is one thing that decides “Brightness” of an image. And with digital cameras exposure set manually is always more accurate than its “Auto”-counterpart, simply because metering systems of even the most sophisticated of cameras is not superior to a human’s judgment of light distribution in a given condition. Your camera can only capture the scene on its sensor; it’s your job to actually “see” that scene in the right light and make your camera “see” in the right light as well!

Myth: Your images look so "unusual/unique”; YOUR CAMERA MUST BE VERY GOOD!

 
Reality: Now this one is the funniest...It is not the camera but the photographer who goes to unusual places, at unusual times, chase that illusive bird, wait for hours to get everything right, get down and dirty, afford to look weird, rise really-really early in the morning...and so on...

… And yes, the button to rise early in the morning too, does not come with a camera…

Bottom-line...

First explore and understand your camera to the fullest. Make it do everything it can. And when it actually starts holding you back with “genuine technical limitations”, stopping you from creating the images you desire, then only upgrade to the next level camera.

Until then remember, that it is never the camera, it is the photographer!

“Before I learned the art, a punch was just a punch, and a kick, just a kick.

After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick, no longer a kick.

Now that I understand the art, a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick.”

-- Bruce Lee

Article Copyrights ©2012 Gyaneshwari Dave

Cartoon strip courtesy: whattheduck.net

Photography Tip # 3

While photographing food, always try to highlight the "Yum factor", use shallow depth of field to achieve this.

View more Food Stock photos - Still life and candid,  here.

Image Copyrights ©2012 Gyaneshwari Dave

Lensdepictions Images Of The Year - 2011

    The clock will soon tick over to the New Year’s Eve after this post goes live. At this juncture, I want to take a moment out and send a quick personal greeting to the readers of lensdepictions. Thank you for your readership, appreciation and support. Wish you all the joy, peace and love for the coming New Year!

Here is sharing with you - the lensdepictions Images that have made their mark in one way or another in the year 2011. Have a look and leave your comments about what do you think... 

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Wildlife

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

Conceptual (Surroundings)

 

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

Conceptual (Still-life)

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

Birdlife

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

 

Food Photography

            

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

 Landscapes

Most Liked Image...

Most Downloaded Image...

Flowers

Most Liked Image... 

Most Downloaded Image...

“Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it”

-Dee Hock

     Well, what better thought to have on a New Year’s Eve?

All Images Copyrights © 2011 Gyaneshwari Dave

(Visit www.lensdepictions.com for buying/licensing of the Images)

"Last day at school before Christmas: through the fence" - A Photo Essay.

This is a special post for Christmas...

Christmas time's for dreaming,
Thoughts of long ago…
Holidays of childhood,
Memories all aglow.

Alice Kennelly Roberts 

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

Christmas gift suggestions from Oren Arnold

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;

Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

-Johnny Mathis

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing:
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.

-Grace Noll Crowell 

Your friendship is a glowing ember
Through the year; and each December
From its warm and living spark
We kindle flame against the dark
And with its shining radiance light
Our tree of faith on Christmas night.

-Thelma J. Lund

The world's alive with Christmas joy!
Come join the merry throng.
You'll find upon your lips a smile,
Within your heart a song. 

-Nadine Brothers Lybarger 

All Images Copyrights © 2011 Gyaneshwari Dave

The Success Story Of A Tree...

As the countdown to bid farewell to year 2011 begins, it is the time to look at the year being left behind, in retrospect…Also, the time to review the Images’ statistics and various analytical reports of http://www.lensdepictions.com/ for the year. The next post of the blog will feature all the images that have topped the charts for various interesting categories this year.

Personally however, the “Most Searched lensdepictions Image of The Year” is somewhat special of them all. It has made me wonder about certain things, made me pause for a while, and think…

Here is presenting the lensdepictions image getting the maximum number of views through the medium of search engines this year, titled- “Palash branch against summer sky”!

Most Searched lensdepictions Image of The Year...

 

Well, there are still few days left for the year to conclude, regardless, I can safely declare this image as the most searched lensdepictions Image of the year, right now itself. Simply because, this image is way ahead of the number two image in this category!

And, like any remarkable photograph, it has a story behind it too…

It was March- the month of spring, and I was on my way to a well-known Jyotirling temple of Lord Shiva in Maharashtra, India. Sitting in the back seat of the car, I was casually looking outside the window, watching the green agricultural fields on the side of the highway, passing by in front of me… all of a sudden, I spotted this amazing tree… It looked absolutely magical to me- A brown tree loaded with abundance of beautiful, fresh, rich pink flowers but… without a single leaf! However, before I could examine it or think any further, the car just zipped past the spot. 

Through the rear window of the car, I kept staring back at the tree, as long as I could… Until, it faded away from my sight, completely. I inquired everyone in the car, including the driver, if anyone knew which tree that was, but nobody had the knowledge.

...Now that I know everything about the tree, it feels strange, how come I was so unaware of such a wonderful tree (Actually, not entirely my fault; Palash generally grows in rural/forest areas and people like me who spend their whole lives in cities often tend to remain deprived of these natural wonders only a village can educate one about)…

The next thing I did was, I quickly remembered few landmarks that could help me spot the very same place on my way back. In the return journey, I kept my eyes firmly glued to the view outside. At no cost I was ready to miss the tree again. After a long wait (or it felt to me that way), finally, I saw the tree from a distance; As soon as it approached closer, I got down, hardly waiting for the car to stop...

The tree was standing there lonely, in the middle of someone’s agricultural land protected with barbed wires fence. But, trespassing comes naturally to me, when the reward is nature.

Without thinking much, I slipped inside, the watered earth under my feet made my footwear and clothes laced with mud. But, what I longed for since hours was right in front of me. Its leaf-less branches was a mystery, its flowers were divine, there was beauty in its peace, and there was wisdom in its silence. And I knew, I had made my day…

But what I did not, was the popularity of the tree. Apart from having a number of medicinal values, in Indian culture, Palash is considered a very a sacred tree used in many religious rituals. Also known as the “Flame of the forest”, the tree, they say- is nature’s way of playing “Holi- an Indian festival of colors”. 

Now that a Palash image has managed to top the list of most searched lensdepictions images this year, it makes me realize how much in demand the tree must be. Be it among botany students, nature lovers, spiritual seekers or NRIs missing their roots, so many people from all around the world have searched images of “Palash-tree” on web, and hundreds of time, they have found it on lensdepictions. This is humbling, indeed!

The triumph of the simple image, and thereby a simple tree, confirms my belief that it is the most simple things in our lives that are the most extra-ordinary!

 Images & Article ©2011 Gyaneshwari Dave

The ocean enigma

 “In nature’s infinite book of secrecy, A little I can read” – Shakespeare

"Beach OR Mountains?" They ask you once you express your love for the nature...

“Mountains!” I always reply in the same breath.

Every creation of nature, small or big, beautiful or ugly, has its own enchantment and appeal, there is no denying that… but, I have always had this soft corner towards mountains as against the beaches.

In the heights of the mountains, I feel at home, in the lap of the hills, I feel secure. I just cannot get enough of watching those mammoth peaks talking to the clouds smoothly sailing over; the passions in the depths of the valleys fascinate me no end…

People prefer watching the sunset at a beach, but for me, the sun hiding behind that enormous mountain make for one perfect painting on the canvas of the sky. 

I admire the beauty of the beaches and as photographer, am well aware of how gorgeous beach images can look. But somehow, I don't feel high-spirited in front of an ocean.

Being at a beach always fills my heart with a strange, unexplainable void. 
My wandering soul - always successful in finding something photogenic in any given place, comes to a halt all of a sudden every time I stand in front of an ocean. 
There, perhaps my mind becomes calm but the rebel heart of mine becomes uneasy, sinking into those infinite looking waters, assuming a silence - which sometimes, grows deafening…

My eyes starts searching for unknown, scanning the vast breadths and lengths of the ocean, only to come to a discomposed standstill at the horizon.

Perhaps it is that photographic eye of mine that keeps playing tricks on my heart there.
Possibly, the color-rich, engaging fabric of the mountains keeps me content in terms of the compositional variety of my photographs. 
Whatever be the reason, beaches had never made me experience that euphoria within that I feel at mountains.

However it occurred once, when for a brief moment, I actually got a crush on the ocean, something that had not been successful to woo me before. And I am glad about the defeat!

It was well past evening, dark, and so for the first time ever, I bothered to listen to the ocean  more than to look at it.  
I watched the radiant trails of the moon-beam being scattered by the waves of the ocean.   When reaching the shore,those waves smashed on to the beautiful pebbles lying on the beach and generated a carefree music of their own...

I realized how much deceiving the plain appearance of an ocean can be when I listened to its songs. 
Those songs were rebellious, unbothered, unanxious! 

I felt so delighted, I could not complain the least …after all, it was the very first time when I met the ocean and found it to be just like me too... it was actually like discovering a like-minded friend after a long time…

As the moments passed, I sensed myself savoring the unique, airy, oceanic smells of the waves...

For the first time ever, the ocean did not suffocate me and I was not restless at a beach.  

For once, my heart felt settled there, for once, I wanted to be there… a little more…

God is too big for just one religion. And if nature is God, which, for me, at least is, how can I  confine myself to just one religion, dwelling in a familiar territory forever… That way, I will never get lost. 

And I want to get lost… may be, to find myself.

To have a look at some of the beach and mountain photography by me, go here.

Image & Article © 2011 Gyaneshwari Dave