Calcutta Trams | Experiments with the Nikon 18-200 VR

6.00 pm at the Park Street - AJC Bose crossing in Calcutta. All of a sudden, two trams come barreling out of the traffic at the intersection and continue their journey onwards, down Park Street.

Started in Calcutta in 1880, its been over 125 years that trams have been plying in Calcutta. Now, they are a dying breed, losing out in competition with buses and other forms of vehicular traffic.

Shot from the front seat of my car. Nikon D300 and Nikon 18-200 VR @ 200 ASA, 18mm and 1.0s at f5.6.

Yellow Marigold | Micro Nikkor 60mm AFD

A yellow marigold in the winter morning light.

Shot on the Nikon D300 and the Micro Nikkor 60mm AFD.

Times have changed !

We have rung out the old year and ushered in the new.

I was going through my pictures last night and came across the pictures of my trip to Egypt in 2008. Tahrir Square – at that time – was a quaint old square, smack in front of the Egyptian Museum. People came, sat and saw the world go by.

Never did we expect that the people's revolution with its epicenter at the same Tahrir Square would force Hosni Mubarak out of power in 2011. Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters there, intensified pressure on president Hosni Mubarak to step down. The square - according to the media reports - was flooded with an estimated 500,000 Egyptians clamouring for change.

We were not destined to see history in the making. May be it was better that way. The picture last night brought memories flooding back.

Tahrir Square circa May 2008
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The world has changed since then. Starting with the Tunisia, we have seen revolutions across across Africa and the middle east. Whether the regime changes will work out for the better or the countries make a slow descend into a quagmire - only time will tell.

As conflicts rage on and with a few more wars on the anvil, how the world shapes up in the new year remains to be seen.

Anyway, lets wish the best for everyone. . .

Here’s to wishing all my dear readers a very happy new year.

Cheers,

Honey Bees : Micro Nikkor 60mm AFD

The winter flowers has blossomed on the terrace. Unlike earlier years, there seems to be a profusion of honey bees busy collecting sap from the flowers.

I was really surprised at how sharp the 60mm AFD is.

The photos below have been taken with the Nikon D300 and the micro nikkor 60mm AFD.

200 ASA  f6.7  1/500s
Perfectly formed. One wing fits perfectly over the other !

200 ASA  f6.7  1/250s

200 ASA  f6.7  1/350s

200 ASA  f6.7  1/350s

200 ASA  f6.7  1/250s

Portrait | Experiments with the Nikon 18-70mm

A long discussion with two of my closest childhood friends post the Christmas lunch. The discussion centered around photography.

This photo was taken in ambient light with the D300 and the Nikon 18-70mm at 70mm at f4.5 and 1600 ASA.

Light & Dark

Ringo (Dec 2011) on the bed. 12 C is too cold for him.

Shot in available light with the micro Nikkor 60 mm and the Nikon D300 at f3.2 and 1/45s.

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Monochrome

Poinsettia on the terrace.

Nikon D300 | Micro Nikkor 60mm @ 200 ASA