First look

The bride looks up to the groom for the first time after the marriage ceremony at a traditional Bengali marriage at Calcutta sometime this year.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 VR

Leaving Riyadh

Taken with my Moto G as we took off from Riyadh for our flight back to Jubail.

Moto G

Moonrise

Moonrise over Al-Jubail.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Take Off 2

This is the preceding frame to the earlier picture. I have a feeling that this is a much better shot to the shot I had posted earlier.

The flight preceding us in the queue takes off at the Hamad International Airport at Doha, Qatar.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Take Off

Our flight lines up on the runway as the prior one in the queue takes off. Shot from the aircraft window at Doha, Qatar.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Doha from air

The fishing harbor glistens in the setting sun.
Taken from the aircraft as it came in to land at Doha.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

In the queue

We wait for our turn for take-off at the Hamad International Airport at Doha, Qatar.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Landing at the new airport at Doha

Landing at the new Hamad International Airport at Doha. Shot from the aircraft as we landed at Doha.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Traveling through the new Hamad International Airport @ Doha

My first travel through the new Hamad International Airport at Doha during my short visit to Calcutta. Lovely design but a completely impersonal airport terminal. I did prefer the old airport with its hustle and bustle.

My flight from Dammam was delayed and I had a mad rush for the boarding gate. I guess I have to wait to explore the rest of the terminal at a later date.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Durga Puja 2014 | Offbeat pictures

Two vendors wait for customers in a typical ‘shikari’ pose on a quiet side street on Maha Sasthi morning.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Underpass

Driving to Al-Khobar last night along the Dammam-Khobar highway.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Orchids

Flower Break!

Shot last week at my friend's house. Slightly muted colors due to an overcast sky.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f2.8-4 OIS

The Fish Seller

Freshly caught prime quality fish. Delivered right to the doorstep. Cleaned and cut-up as per requirements. A part of living in Calcutta.

Nikon D7000 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Durga Puja 2014 : Abasar Sarbojanin Durgoutsav

Motifs made of recycled materials at the Abasar Sarbojanin Durgoutsav on Townshend Road .

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

More wide angle fun

Alipore Bridge (now called Dhana Dhanye Bridge) shot with my Sigma 10-20 mm lens at 10 mm on a rainy day.

Nikon D7000 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Lady with a candle

Rush during Sandhi Puja at the New Alipore Association.

Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Smart phone photogs

Photographers with tabs, iPads and smart phones were in profusion at the pandals this year with each of them taking eons to compose and shoot.

Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Walking in the rain!

Two friends walk in the torrential rain shower that hit Calcutta today afternoon.

Shot from the comfortable confines of my car while traveling back from my friend's house in Bhawanipore.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f2.8-4 OIS

Durga Puja 2014 : Dhakis

Dhakis (drummers) playing during Sandhi Puja today morning.

Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Durga Puja 2014 : Sandhi Puja

Sandhi Puja at the New Alipore Association Durga Puja today morning.

Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Durga Puja 2014 : Sandhi Puja

Sandhi Puja at the New Alipore Association Durga Puja today morning.

Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Durga Puja 2014 : Abasar Sarbojanin Durgoutsav

Abasar Sarbojanin Durgoutsav on Townshend Road, Bhowanipore. The eco-friendly pandal made of recycled household goods was uniquely different from all others that we had visited yesterday.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Durga Puja 2014 : New Alipore Association

Maha Saptami puja at the New Alipore Association. A very traditional deity keeping with the theme of yesteryears.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4 OIS

Durga Puja 2014 : Pandal Hopping | Shibmandir

Shibmandir, South Calcutta on Maha Sasthi.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Durga Puja 2014 : Maha Sasthi - Pandal Hopping

Abasar Sarbojanin Durgoutsav on Townshend Road, Bhowanipore, welcomes a canine visitor, who seems to love pandal hopping!

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Maha Sasthi – Durga Puja 2014

Maha Sasthi. A sudden squall hits Calcutta in the late morning.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Chaturthi - Durga Puja 2014 | Fuji X-E1

Chaturthi. Preparations for the pujas are on at the Hatkhola r Datta bari at Calcutta.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f 2.8-4 OIS

New Delhi T3

Yesterday at the New Delhi IGI T3. The couple's antics, Buddha's expression and the billboard copy some how complements each other in the frame.

Panasonic G1 | Lumix 14-45 mm Vario

Red Corvette | Fuji X-E1

A lady driving a red corvette in Bahrain. Quite a revelation after a few months in the KSA.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f 2.8-4 OIS

Abstract

The World Trade Center in Bahrain.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f 2.8-4 OIS

Reading | Fuji X-E1

I had shot this picture about a month back along with the one I posted on this blog in B&W. I was going through my pictures and found this one, which I think looks quite good in color.

Shot during my 6 hr layover at Dubai Airport while traveling to Calcutta  in July this year.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f 2.8-4 OIS

Portraits | Fuji X-E1

My friend's mother, after she moved to her new apartment, in June this year.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4 OIS

My Baby | Fuji X-E1

Ringo on his 6th birthday. He has just turned 6.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4 OIS

Off to work | Fuji X-E1

Daily labourers walking to work on a sunny July morning.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4 OIS

Leaving Dubai | Fuji X-E1

Our Emirates connection to Calcutta takes off from Dubai Airport. The Burj Khalifa is visible in the center of the frame.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm OIS

Reading | Fuji X-E1

A lady reads on in spite of the hustle and bustle around her at the Dubai International Airport.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f2.8-4 OIS

Bahrain | Fuji X-E1

Driving towards Manama to catch our flight to Dubai.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f2.8-4 OIS

The back door | Fuji X-E1

Still experimenting with the Fuji X-E1. This was taken yesterday at a friend's house at the Kanoo Compound in Jubail. The playground with the bright yellow fittings is reflected in the glass door.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 mm f2.8-4.0 OIS

Curves

Somewhere along the Jubail Dammam highway.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm

The Mobile Generation | Fuji X-E1

At a dinner at the Intercontinental Al Jubail.  Her face is lit up both by the light of the mobile as well as the light reflected off the mobile device.

Fuji X-E1 | Fujinon 18-55 f2.8-4.0 OIS
4000 ISO | f2.8 | 1/50s

Sombreros | Fuji X-E1

Sombreros on an orange wall at the Tex-Mex restaurant at the Intercontinental Al Jubail.

Velvia Film Mode
Fuji X-E1 | 18-55 mm | 4000 ISO | f4 | 1/40s

Moonset | Fuji X-E1

Moonset. Jubail. 5.27 AM.


A similar picture taken on my Nikon D7000 can be seen at Moonset . One can compare the tonal differences of the two cameras even though this was taken in mid May and the earlier one in March this year.

Shot on Velvia film mode.

Fuji X-E1 | Fuji 18-55mm f2.8-4 OIS lens

Conversations

First outing with the Fuji X-E1. Taken at a get-together at Safwa in the KSA, just before the start of the programme.

Shot at 1/60s at 2000 ISO with the Fuji X-E1 & Fuji 18-55 mm f2.8-4 OIS.

Reflections | Fuji X-E1

Finally after literally counting hens, chickens and sheep, I succumbed to the lure of the X-Series and bought a Fuji X-E1. By the time I made up my mind, the stocks had disappeared from B&H, my usual shopping joint. Adorama had it in stock in their Mothers’ Day sale . . . the silver and black one with the handgrip thrown in. That was that and I had the camera in my hands exactly 5 days later.

This is one of the first few pictures. Thats me, reflected in the kitchen tiles, in front of the kitchen window.

Fuji X-E1 | Fuji 18-55mm f2.8-4 OIS lens

Architecture

Another experimental architectural shot of the Grand Mosque in Juffair, Bahrain.

Converted to B&W on Perfect Effects 8.

Nikon D7000 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Misty mornings!

Shot last December at the Strand at Chandennagore.

A boatman waits for passengers and tourists in the early misty morning.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 10-20 mm

Backlit flowers

Back to the terrace garden after a while. The twin hibiscus flowers were glowing in the morning sun.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Moonset

Moonset over Jubail, with the rising sun lighting up the early morning sky.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

On the road

Strangely empty roads on a Friday night in Al Khobar. We were en route to Jubail after a visit to IKEA a couple of weeks back.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR

Back to the future?

Looks something out of Star Wars! Its a building under construction at Al Khobar in KSA.

Nikon D7000 | Nikon 18-200 mm VR