Nikon Basics Workshop

Recently I was gifted NikonD5200 D-SLR by my husband.  This is the second camera he has gifted me.  The first digital camera presented to me by daughter has ignited my childhood interest in photography.  The digital camera allowed me to take loads of photos, check them on computer screen and delete the worst ones, store not so good ones on CDs and share on net with family, friends and public on different sites those I thought were good.  I would take pictures of the places I travel and use them in my blogs.

Observing my interest in photography my husband presented me Samsung Galaxy EK-GC 100 two years ago, and now to improve my skill further NikonD5200 is presented.  I was happy clicking my Samsung Galaxy, but with D-SLR I found it bit uneasy.  I read the entire manual, watched the video tutorials.  Camera was heavy (compared to digital camera that could be held in one hand and click!) and there was no zoom.  So I got another lens with zoom.  It required some practice to hold the camera in right hand, view through the view finder and adjust the lens to focus objects sharply with left hand.  I felt the need to have advice from a professional photographer on proper use of the camera. 

Along with the camera the Nikon Company had given their website address nikonschool.in.  I logged on to the site to know and learn what the school teaches about its camera and photography.  Fortunately I found that Nikon is holding a workshop on basics of D-SLR and also photo walk in Hyderabad on 5th and 6th of December.  I had to first register on Nikon School by giving them a serial number of my camera.  There was difficulty in registering as camera was purchased in the name of my husband and there were two warranty cards with serial numbers as I had two lenses.  Finally I could register online for the walk but not for workshop as on line enrollment is closed.  The toll free number and another number that was given to enquire were not working.  The Nikon Hyderabad services office responded and gave me a number.  That man responded and told me to come to the venue and can have spot registration.  As he quit his job a day ago he said he does not know the venue, but gave a clue how to get it.  Following that clue I could know the venue of workshop.  This made it possible for me to attend the basic workshop and photo walk.

I was at the venue in time, spot registration was allowed.  The workshop started on time.  The workshop was useful.  Mentor was friendly and cleared all the doubts.  Snacks at tea break were delicious.  Overall the workshop was excellent.  Many of my doubts were cleared.  Mentor welcomed us all for the photo walk the next day.  He also said we can come with family members, so that we can enjoy our day at Zoo after the photo walk.

I was very eager to attend my first photo walk.  We were asked to come to Nehru Zoological Park by 6.45 AM.  I reached there by 6.10 AM itself.  Zoo gates were locked and I did not see anybody.  As we (my husband, niece and her father) had time we went to a nearby hotel had tea and got our breakfast packed.  By the time we returned I saw one guy with Nikon bag.  It was 6.40 AM.  We have seen a security man behind the zoo gate.  We went and asked him if he would allow us in. 

As the photo walk venue is at Zoo I presumed that the photo walk organisers will take permission from the Zoo authorities to enter before the regular time of 8.30 AM.  The security guard denied any such knowledge, but still enquired his higher authority who spoke to us and said nobody had taken any special permission and we can enter only after the official time of opening of the Zoo gates.  Meanwhile the organisers have come and told us that we had to walk to a lake nearby and come back by the time the gates are opened.  Just then Nikon mentor had come, after exchange of greetings he took a photograph of a boy waiting at a closed stall.  He showed the picture and explained about composition and lighting.  We started walking.  As we walked Mentor showed some interesting things alongside the road and how to frame them.

  All of us moved forward clicking pictures of objects and persons of interest.  It was partially like street photography with persons missing as it was Sunday early hours.  After walking about a kilometer we reached a spot, open area with a grave yard at one side.  Then the organisers told us we cannot go further as gates to go towards lake are closed.  So we all had to walk back again to Zoo.  It was past 8.30 AM and Zoo gates were open.  The organisers took entry and camera tickets.  All of us moved in again Mentor gave few tips about photographing animals.  All along as we took photos and showed to him.  Positively appreciating our skills he explained us how that photo could have been better. 

I am glad that I attended the workshop which was excellently organised, and photo walk which was interesting, making us apply the knowledge gained in the workshop.

  I am looking forward to attend advanced workshop and also a well organised photo walk in future.

Water Hen

White breasted water hen is greyish black bird with white face, throat, breast and part of abdomen.  It is has a very short tail.  The body part under the tail is brownish red.  The bird usually lives in the marshy areas.  It is generally silent except in rainy season, the breeding season, it becomes noisy.  During breeding season it is crepescular in activity.   It makes loud noise; the repetitive croaking calls are something between the quack of duck and a newborn’s cry.

It mostly feeds on insects and worms and shoots of paddy and marsh plants.  This bird is mostly seen in Asian countries Pakistan, Maldives India, Srilanka China and Indonesia.

The pictures of this bird are taken from my neighbouring miniforest (open plot covered with wild trees and bushes).  The area is marshy in rainy season.  During this season I regularly hear the noises these birds make.  In the beginning I would wonder some newborn is crying nonstop.  Soon I realized that it was some birds.  These birds are rarely seen outside the bushes. Twice I have seen young birds flying on to low branches but disappeared immediately.  They are uniformly greyish black with yellow beak.  This is the first time I spotted the adult birds and could take pictures and a short video.  I had to search the net for identification of this bird. 

Though I hear it regularly in the rainy season, only this season I could see the bird and was happy to know about it.  

Laknavaram

Laknavaram cheruvu is a picturesque lake surrounded by verdant hills and forest in the village Laknavaram in Govindraopet mandal of Warangal district in Telangana.  It is about 70 Km from Warangal.  It can be reached by own vehicle or RTC buses.  It is 70 Km from Warangal and can be reached via NH 202. After passing Mulug Taluq, we reach Jangalapally.  Here a right turn should be taken and travel for another 8 Km to reach the mesmerizing tourist spot.  The journey after Mulug passes through forest.  The greenery on either side of the road makes the journey pleasant. 

Laknavaram cheruvu has become a favourite tourist sight for the visitors to Warangal.  The construction of 160 metres hanging bridge that connects to an island in middle of lake makes it a memorable visit.  There are 13 islands on this lake which occupies an area of 10,000 acres. The bridge that leads to the island has a restaurant and rooms for the tourists.  There is an area for children to play.  This is the spot from where boating services will start.  There are cottages on other island.  In rainy season the tank is full and walking on the bridge that is just above water and boating around in the lake makes it a delightful family holiday.  For youth it will be a beautiful spot to chill out in the weekends. 

The lake was constructed during the reign of Kakatiya rulers of Orugallu.  Kakatiya kings have encouraged agriculture by constructing lakes and reservoirs.  As agriculture was regarded as main occupation the rulers have encouraged development of water resources by its officials and the rich people in the kingdom.  Wherever ground water was detected wells and lakes were dug or tanks were built.  Laknavaram cheruvu was built by Kakatiya King Ganapathi Deva*.  This is based on one of the tributary of river Godavari*.  The stream that was flowing was fully utilized to construct Laknavaram reservoir.  The surrounding hills have become strong and perfect boundaries of the reservoir with an area of 108 Sq. miles.  This reservoir stores rain water, when the tank overflows the water will reach Saddimadugu.   From here irrigation canals will run.  The right is 32.8 Km irrigating 5928 acres and the left which runs for 14.2 Km irrigates 2500 acres.  The overflowing water of Laknavaram stream will join river Godavari in Eturinagaram.  Laknavaram cheruvu makes the lands fertile in 6-7 villages that are surrounding it.  Rice is the main crop and they harvest two crops in a year.

Laknavaram is nature’s gift to man, a serene place surrounded by lush green hills.  The development of tourist attractions makes the visit ecstatic.  It is one of the must see places not only in Telangana but in India.

*Information source:  Warangal Zilla Vignyana Sarvaswam, Orugallu Vignyana Sarvaswa Samithi, Warangal (2008).

Abdul Kalam Tuje Salaam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam born on 15 -10 - 1931 had taken his flight into the Universal space on 27 - 7 – 2015 at 7.45 PM.  The ‘Missile Man of India’   left the nation doing his favourite assignment of encouraging and inspiring youth of India.  The man born in small village in South of India became President of the Nation.  ‘Youth Icon’ , and ‘Peoples’ President’ is the first scientist and bachelor  sworn in as President of India on 25^th July  2002 and remained in the office till 20^th June 2007.  The great son of soil, ‘Bharat Ratna’ was apolitical and secular teacher dreamed of developed India and worked towards that goal by igniting the young brains with inspiration. 

Ordinary people leave heirs and great people leave behind a legacy.  Saints and Karma yogis leave behind a legacy which will be carried forward by generations.  India had given three great Karma Yogis, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Abdul Kalam to this world.  Swami Vivekananda revived India spiritually, Mahatma Gandhi achieved freedom with non-violence and Abdul Kalam had made India a nuclear power and self reliant in national defence.  They stand as ‘World Heroes’.  They are not only heroes but will be remembered as 'World Icons' in their respective fields and great human beings who have changed the world perspective of human relations and living.

Abdul Kalam aapko hum sabka Pranaam

Image source: Google Images

Digital Photography

My brought up is in a city.  I have visited my uncle’s village just twice in my childhood.  Those days were spent mostly roaming about to relatives in the village and playing with cousins.  I have never been to any forest.  The only place I visited to see animals is Nehru Zoological park in Hyderabad and Tarapur acquarium, Tarapur in Maharashtra in my teens.  I remember the beings seen here vaguely.  In my childhood days we would regularly see sparrows, crows and pigeons regularly around our home.  Now I rarely see sparrows.   I read that they have become almost extinct.  Even crows have become a rare sight in the place I live. 

For the past 3 – 4 years I am having more leisure time.  This time I spend either reading books or roaming around my home, watching plants and trees and the beings that are sheltered by the trees.  As I was gifted a digital camera (Kodak easy share M753) by my daughter it has become my habit to photograph things I found interesting.  I love to take photos as I feel that it is a way of keeping pleasurable memories treasured.  My brother-in-law, who knew my interest in photography had presented me a camera in 2002.  But then I had to spend money for the film, I had to be choosy in taking pictures.  But owning a digital camera made me click whatever I wanted without restraint and programming.  It costs me nothing, and I can take and delete pictures as many as I want to.  The disadvantage with digital camera was I had very few prints of the pictures, just stored them in CDs, few posted online in my blogs.  With the old camera every picture that was good was printed out in the studio and I have an album of those events.

Since two years I have become a bit serious about pursuing photography as a hobby.  Two years ago my other half has presented me with Samsung galaxy camera EK-GC 100.   This is a tiny beautiful camera with good picture quality and multiple options.  I experiment all the stuff I learn in digital photography lessons.  Capable of capturing few awesome pictures (as per my standards) I became more passionate to capture photos every day. I keep my camera handy always.  If I have no other work and lighting is good I try to click everything interesting in different modes. Then one day I sit and load them into my computer and edit.  I have very few options to edit, MS photo editor and picasa.  I used photostage for some time.  Now I am trying online editor, Pixlr.  Next I should try Adobe photo shop. 

My interest in photography had led me to capture few birds that would perch on the trees around my house.  These I posted in my blogs “Beings around my home”.  My interest led me to always have a keen eye on my surroundings (at home).  I was lucky to catch glimpse of birds which I have not seen previously and do not know the names. 

Last month with rains plants have grown in the open plot beside my house.  The flowers attracted butterflies of different colors and sizes.  I have become obsessed with photographing as many pictures of these beautiful creatures and could obtain a few good one.  I would sit watching their flight and behavior. That made me interested to know more about these lively creatures.  Wikipedia has given details of different stages of butterfly and its life style. 

In childhood I remember reading the life cycle of butterfly.  Then I remember reading that a butterfly in its final form will live for 24 hours only.  I used to feel bad that such beauty of nature had such short life.  Now I came to know that depending on species a butterfly in its adult form will live from a week to a year.  It is also surprising to know that Monarch butterflies live for more than a year and they migrate from Canada to Mexico (about 2000 miles).  It is believed that direction of sun rays will lead its way to Mexico.  The sense of taste is 200 times stronger than that of human.  Many species of butterflies maintain territories and actively chase other species, individuals that may stray into them.  Each group will have its own host plant range, some restrict to just one species while few others use a range of plant species. As I was watching butterflies for the past few days I could observe this behavior, but I was doubtful.  Wikipedia had confirmed my observation.

I used to sit for hours (when possible) focusing one area where I thought certain butterflies frequented.  The moment I want to click they would fly off.  But still my perseverance gifted me  few good pictures of butterflies. 

Now and then I would suddenly find a bird or any other being and if I am lucky I would get a picture or two of the same.

I have seen this bird first time in my life.  I have checked the web for images of similar bird, couldn't find one.  I think it could be a species of  heron.  May be it is a migratory bird.

Digital camera had sparked my interest in photography as I can experiment a lot without spending much money.  In fact digital photography is making everybody to treasure their all special moments and share with world.

 

I have seen only the pictures of owl.  The common picture we see is different.  But this is also owl.  Again it was a surprise sight and chance click.

Chattarpur Temple

Chattarapur temple dedicated to Maa Kaatyayini is the second largest temple complex in India, the first being Aksharadhaam temple in Delhi.  The man behind the development of temple complex in Chattarpur village is Sant Nagpal.  Sant Nagpal, Durgacharananuragi Baba, was born in the state of 

Karnataka on Full moon day – Holi – on 10^th March, 1925.

 He visited all the pilgrim places in India, lived for many years in Kashmir before moving to Delhi and building Maa Durga Temple.  Later he moved to Chattarpur village and built Durga Ashram and other Temples.  He utilized 70 acres of land with bushes and shrubs to construct a beautiful temple complex.  The final picture of area we see now had taken about two and a half decades from mid seventies to early nineties.  He left his mortal body at mid-night 15-16^th December 1998.

 

The main deity at Chattarpur is Maa Kaatyayini.  There are many temples in the complex that extends on either side of wide road.  The temples are of Gods Laxmi Ganapathi, Hanuman, Shiva in Linga form, Parvati - Parameshwar, Ram – Laxman – Sita, Radha – Krishna, Yashoda – Krishna – Balaram, and Maa Kaatyayini holding Karthkeya.  Sant Nagpal Samadhi surrounded by Nag with Shiva Linga on top is also present.

The temple complex is well maintained.  The temple complex also has diagnostic centre, a school and other training institutes. 

Most of deities are made of marble and full of life and look magnificent.  There is also a dressing, dining and bedroom for Devi Maa. 

It takes a day to visit all the temples leisurely and feel divine vibrations.

Sultanpur National Park - Gurgaon

Gurgaon in Haryana is a fast developing area in India.  The urbanization was at rapid pace since the establishment of automobile industry Maruti Suzuki Private Limited.  The city and district is of historical importance; it is believed that the village Gurgaon – “village of Guru” is donated to Dronacharya for imparting warfare training to Pandavas and Kauravas. 

Recently when I visited this place and enquired about local places of tourist interest everybody talked about those seen in Delhi which is about 35 KM from Gurgaon.  As I have already visited places in Delhi, I asked for those specifically present in Gurgaon, in particular about Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary.  Many could not give any information about it.  The taxi driver we were traveling with initially took us to Sultanpur in NCR region and from there to Chattarapur temple.  After explaining him that I want to see birds park at Sultanpur he finally understood and took us to Sultanpur National Park. 

Sultanpur National park is about 15 Km from Gurgaon.  It is actually a jheel (lake) where many resident and migratory birds visit.  Peter Jackson a famous ornithologist who had seen the birds wrote to the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to protect and accord it the bird sanctuary status.  Accordingly was done in 1971.  Later in the year 1991 it was upgraded to National park by including some areas in the surrounding villages and increasing that jheel area from 1.21 Sq. KM to 1.42 Sq. KM.  People in this area are more familiar with name Sultanpur Jheel, rather than Bird Sanctuary or National Park. 

Since it is upgraded to National Park it is developed to attract and maintain the resident and migratory birds.

  Mounds and pitches are built for the birds.  Bore wells are dug to maintain water levels.  When there are no rains water is supplied from nearby canals or bore wells.  There are four watch towers to watch birds.

When a visit is planned to this place, binoculars are a must.  I couldn’t find any binoculars being provided for charges at ticket counter.  One young boy approached us with his binoculars and said he will show us all the birds with his binoculars and will be our guide in the Park.  He wanted us to pay two hundred per head for the two hour tour.  As true Indians we bargained and settled for Rs.150/- .

  He took us around the Park and showed different birds and explained what little he knows about the bird and its habitat.

In this park there are also nilgai and some abandoned bulls. 

Sultanpur National Park is a beautiful place which has more than 250 species of local birds and also hosts migratory birds from Siberia, Europe and Afghanistan.

  There is also a library and museum which educates visitors about different birds and their habitats.

Here are few pictures of the birds seen at Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon. 

Beings around my home

Here are few birds spotted around my home but I do not know the names for sure.

Beings around my home

Bulbul

Bulbul is commonly seen around my home.  They often try to build nest inside our home.  I strongly discourage.  

 The bulbul is generally seen in twos.
 The birds courtship and coquetty behaviour is great fun to watch.
 These birds are monogamous.