Leaves and Rust : Experiments with the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 ED

An experimental shot taken with the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 ED AF at f2.8 of pristine leaves growing next to a rusty fence.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF ED

Jazz again . . .

Critically acclaimed Norwegian saxophonist Frøy Aagre, known for her powerful compositions and her individual style of characteristically lyrical Nordic jazz, at the start of the Congo Square and DI Jazz Fest 2012.

Nikon D300 and Nikon 18-200 mm VR

The making of Jagadhatri 2

Patuapara, Kalighat.

The idol of Goddess Jagadhatri, under a leafy tree, being readied before the pujas. Shafts of light highlight through the foliage highlights parts of the idol.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

The making of Jagadhatri

Patuapara, Kalighat.

Artisans race against time to complete the idol of Goddess Jagadhatri before tomorrow's puja deadline.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR. Processed in LR and Nik Silver Efex 2

Jazz in B&W

One more picture from the recent jazz concert.

Frederik Köster of the Fredrick Köster Quartet plays a number, accompanied by the bassist.

I have made a square crop of the image, reminiscent of older B&W square format images.

The picture has been cropped and processed in LR and B&W conversion in Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR. 

The Festival of Lights

A child holding sparklers for the first time, supervised by his mother, on the night of Deepawali, the Festival of Lights.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

Diwali evening blues

One of my neighbours, in a pensive mood, on Diwali evening.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

Diwali 2012

Decorations for Diwali, the festival of lights, in north Calcutta.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

Fireworks!

Its 11.45 pm as I write this post. Crackers are being burst in wild abandon, the official deadline of 10.00 pm not withstanding. Its easy to blame the administration and police for not implementing the deadline, but the actual fault lies with the people, who think that they can get away with anything and flout any and every rule in the book.

Anyway, these pictures are from my first experiment of shooting fireworks, taken today evening with the Nikon D300 and the Nikon 18-200mm VR.

 800 ISO, f3.5 and 1/6s

 800 ISO, f3.5 and 1/8s

800 ISO, f3.5 and 0.7s

1600 ISO, f3.5 and 1/90s

Happy Diwali everyone!


Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR.

Diwali lights

Nawn er Kalibari, a 100+ year old temple, in north Calcutta, bedecked with lights on the occasion of Kali Puja.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

The run up to Diwali

Yesterday night. 10.30 PM. Central Avenue. Calcutta.

With the Kali Puja starting tomorrow, there is a rush in getting the idols to the pandals.

Shot from a moving car at 3200 ISO, 1/20s at f3.5, to capture the movement, the rush of transporting the idol of the goddess to the destination.

Nikon D300 & Nikon 18-200mm VR

Jazz in wide-angle

Outstanding Norwegian Saxoponist Frøy Aagre with her Quartet performs on 31st Oct at Jazz Fest 2012.

Frøy Aagre - Saxophone
Erlend Slettevoll - Piano
Audun Ellingsen - Bass
Jonas Barsten Johnsen - Drums

Taken with the Nikon D300 & Sigma 10-20mm at stage level. Handheld.

Jazz Fest – An Alternative View

Another shot of The Tarun Balani Collective playing at the Congo Square and Di Jazz Fest 2012.

Conversion to B&W done on Nik Viveza and then tweaked in LR. More drama, but slightly marred by the fact that the bassist is partly obscured by the cymbals.

Nikon D300
Nikon 18-200mm VR

Jazz Fest in B&W - 1

The Tarun Balani Collective plays at the Congo Square and DI Jazz Fest 2012.

Shot in color and converted to B&W on Nik Silver Efex Pro. Liked the spot-lit effect on the musicians.

Nikon D300
Nikon 18-20mm VR

Jazz Concert - 5

Noam Wiesenberg of the Tarun Balani Collective plays the Bass during the Congo Square and DI Jazz Fest 2012 at the Dalhousie Institute, Calcutta.

Nikon D300
Nikon 18-200mm VR

Jazz Concert - 4

The Fredrick Koster Quartet plays on Day 1 at the Congo Square & DI Jazz Fest 2012 at Dalhousie Institute.

Nikon D300
Nikon 85mm f1.8
ISO 800
1/250s at f2.4

Jazz Concert - 3

Frederik Köster of the Fredrick Koster Quartet plays at the Congo Square & DI Jazz Fest at Dalhousie Institute.

Nikon D300
Nikon 85mm f1.8D
ISO 800 | 1/1000s at f2.4

The Jazz Concert - 2

The Tarun Balani Collective performs on 31st of October at the Congo Square and DI Jazz Fest 2012 at the Dalhousie Institute.

Noam Wiesenberg (Israel) on the Bass during the concert.

This I think is my best concert picture till date. I had taken a risk and brought along my Nikon 18-200VR and it has definitely paid off, especially with the VR making the low light image possible.

Nikon D300
Nikon 18-200mm VR at 95mm
f9.5 | 1/45s | 1600 ISO