Category Archives: Photography

Google Apps for AndPictures

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For the ones who did not know, if you have your own domain, you can use Google Apps (Gmail, Calender, Docs, Chat, and some more) for free, in case your users are less than 50.
It takes a bit of effort to configure everything, and I have been trying to get Google Apps up and running for my photography portfolio website : www.andpictures.net
All settings have been done, configurations completed, and all I need to do is to wait for the back-end sync to complete and I should be good to go! Being google, it should also work nicely on my Android, which makes it nice!

To each their own

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A still from one of my favorite places in India… Old Delhi

To each their own

Every saturday Hindus offer Mustard oil, and earthen lamps with mustard oil to Shani Dev in India. Shani is one of the “Navgrah”, 9 planets and is the elder brother of Yamraj, God of death! Shani is probably one of the most feared ones however if placed favorably in a horoscope does wonders!

What a loss!

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Lost the best of my street shots from Panaji, and some really beautiful pictures of Pooja!

Memory – 1GB
Cost – a few thousand rupees
Actual worth – Priceless!

I am so angry right now, that I don’t even feel it! The photographs were just alright the last time I was viewing them on the camera, and now the bloody card just does not want to work!!! the photographs are all messed up of whatever i can see in the thumbnails… the camera freezes when I try to preview the images on it! what a loss!

On the brighter side, it gives a big reason to go back to Panaji sometime!

Felt like a friday

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Been a very strange week this one!
Since Monday, every day felt like Friday! not because it was festive, but something inside me really wished that the next day is a Saturday (read a holiday), and now that its Friday finally, it does not feel like one at all!
I, however, am still waiting for the saturday 🙂
I think I need to go dancing!!!
Ye !

T-Time

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There are certain times when resisting the need of having a hot cup of tea is almost impossible!!!

Some of them are
1. When it rains
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2. When you have been driving for a while, and want to take a quick break
3. When you want to talk at length with a friend
4. When someone has a packet of Parle-G Glucose biscuits
5. When its really cold outside and you are sitting in a balcony enjoying the chill
6. When you just want to sit on the top of a hill watching the valley in front
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7. When you don’t want do much and relax in the morning
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8. When you want to stop thinking for a while
9. When you want to think about something important
10. When there is a lot of work to do
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11. When there is nothing to do
12. When you want to crib about things at work
13. When its a long weekend (thanks CP for the idea)
14.
15.
16….
am leaving some points for the readers to fill in! When do you like to have tea?
All photographs from a recent trip to the hills (Ranikhet, Dist. Almora, Uttarakhand)

Thanks to the visitors of CKD, here is another long list 🙂
* When I miss home a lot – V
* When you have a headache – Saguna
* When I enjoy looking at the hedges across the road, from my balcony – Mepretentious
* Anytime and everytime… its theraupatic… i can never say no to tea unless too sweet – Raina
* When you are writing a blog (post) – Raina
* Samose ke saath – Raina
* When you’re sitting on a swing… the three-seater kind that is in the backyard or frontyard or indoors. 🙂 – Kanan
* Chai anytime anywhere & everywhere!! – Purnima
* When you have to wake up.. – Komal-Niksha
* When you can’t think or do anymore..a cup of chai almost always seems to re-enrgise you.. – Komal-Niksha
* When you want to pen some beautiful lines.. – Komal-Niksha
* When you want to go back in time.. – Komal-Niksha

Getting better!

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I used to like the amazing photograph, lovely pictures, what a shot sorts of comments on my flickr page a lot! And to be honest, I really like them today as well! But I struggle to improve in absense of the comments which tell me what can I do better!
There is a huge number of extremely talented photographers who showcase their work online on websites such a flickr, and a favorite, or a small comment from them does help continue with the effort!!!
And there are people who keep you going by coming back to you work, and encourage you! Its amazing how such people keep you going, if not help you improve!
However that is not enough all the time!
Here is what I did in the recent past to work on my photography…
1. Distinguish between what I am clicking just to document that “I was there”, and the photographs which show a different side to the usual
2. Reduce the number of photographs that I click! Though this is in disagreement with a lot of experts, I feel that I want to see more than I click! hence a little more time spent behind the camera, or looking at pictures, or reading about them! and reduced time clicking! Not really sure if that has helped, as I am yet to reach a significant difference in my work
3. I follow the people who my contacts follow as their favorites! So let’s say I really like how Tushar clicks, I would go to his favorites page, and see what does he follow! There are chances, that what he follows is a couple of steps ahead of him… and if I like his photography, the chances that I would like what he “really likes” a lot more! so I follow both! Over a period of time, I look at images that inspire me the most!
4. Stop following groups which are just a dumping ground for digital junk! I have spent a lot of time trying to find good pictures, from large groups! And did not end up learning! Instead I spent more time doing what I mentioned in step 3 and have gained a lot of “where could I get better” knowledge! How I get better is another chapter totally!
5. Stop getting emotional about my own work! Just because its me who has clicked a picture, does not mean its a nice picture! Reviewing every picture as an independent viewer has helped me break a lot of bonds with my images, and delete them from my collection (After a backup ofcourse; you never know when you need to go back to your originals)
And that’s not it! I am nowhere close to what I can be!
But I am getting there!

“Sun”Day started with Rain

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Had a perfect start of the day today!!!
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Woke up at 6:45 while it was raining heavily…
Went out to get drenched in the rain, and enjoyed walking around in the water logged streets…
AND
planted 14 Jamun saplings which I had in a small pot on my balcony… All of them from the seeds I had planted a few months back!
I hope all of them grow and grow well 🙂
Had some amazing breakfast and lovely lunch as well!
Off to sleep early tonight, to wake up early morning tomorrow.. gotta catch a train to one of my favorite cities for a one day work trip!

Chai ki Dukaan by Fredcan

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Local chai wallah. India

In Fred’s words, “A portrait of a chai wallah (tea maker), in his shop, in Haridwar. I took this during my stay in Haridwar for Maha Kumbh mela 2010, last April. This little chai shop had become a shelter for me, when the crowds and the sadhu camp became a bit overwhelming. In a way, it was like spending time, not just in a chai shop, but at the man’s home itself, as the tiny shop seemed to tell of the man’s life story with photographs and objects displayed in every corner.
He said he had seen many Kumbhs in his life before, and was no longer impressed by the whole thing. Yet, he admitted that for his little business, Kumbh time was the best !“

I have been followed Fred’s work for a few years now, and have not seen a lot of people capture India with such simplicity. I really admire his street work, and am thankful he allowed me to post this photograph on Chai Ki Dukaan.
Please do visit his flickr page here, and his website here.