Changing Lanes

Postsecret....

Posted: Monday, November 28, 2011 by Stained in Labels: CC, Love, postsecret

I've made it a routine to check PostSecret every Monday. I was introduced to it by my CC and I've been addicted to it since then. It's slightly unsettling when once in a while you come across a secret that hits the nail on the head. You get lost in those words and the feelings it unravels. This is one those.... (-_-)

2011 Dubai Motor show

Posted: Sunday, November 13, 2011 by Stained in Labels: cars, Dubai Auto Show, Dubai motor show 2011, Ferrari 250 GTO

I'm not a petrol head. I don't watch motor sport (saw my first F1 a few weeks back because it was in India) and I don't grip over horse power numbers or turbo sizes. I like to keep a general knowhow of what kind of cars are available in the market and their specifications. What I do generally obsess about is the design of the car and lately its handling (thanks to my awesome Mondeo).

With my foray into photography over the past 4 years, this obsession has quadrupled thanks to my constant visual play with light on sheet metal. So when you put a few hundred cars under one roof i.e. the Dubai Motor Show, I go a little crazy (Read: me standing in awkward positions to absorb the aesthetics of the car). Oddly this year I didn’t go crazy even though I spent a whopping 8 hours at the show shooting videos and photos while listening to the boring and rather long press conferences. I had access to some of the most exotic cars available i.e. from a McLaren MP4 12C to a freaking Lamborghini Aventador to a customised special edition Rolls Royce Phantom convertible but simply put I was bored.

I remember the days I used to cycle down to a car showroom called ‘Classic Cars’ on Salahuddin Road where I’d spent most of my time wiping my drool off my face. I was around 10 years old as I’d watched my friend hug a Lamborghini Diablo while I stared dreamily at the under body of a Ferrari 348. And then there was the Ferrari F40 and I was sold.

Like every other person I have a few dream cars. A Porsche Boxter S being the more attainable one whiles a 1969 Corvette Stingray being the not so attainable one. And then there is the one I don’t talk about much i.e. the Ferrari 250 GTO. Quoting Jeremy when he had a 250 GTO parked at the Top Gear track; "I wish, almost more than anything, I could get into this now, and take it for a drive. But, even though Top Gear is made by one of the largest and richest broadcasting organizations, we simply cannot afford the insurance." Do I really have to say how much a 250 GTO costs?

I have a matchbox car model stashed somewhere that I’ve own for the past 15 years. I love it to bits and got extremely possessive when my niece tried to lay claim on it.

Anyway here are a few pictures from the 2011 Dubai Motor show.

Somebody else’s words...

Posted: Saturday, October 29, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Love, poem

...sometimes becomes your own...

19.04.2006
19:57

No matter how hard I try
No matter how much I want it
I can't move away from you
I can't detach myself from you
Your image is burnt in my mind
Your voice echoes through my head
You've taken a hold on me
That I wish you'd relinquish
Because I think I'm addicted to you
And I need to get over you
I need to move away from you
I need to detach myself from you

- D

The way of the wild..

Posted: Friday, October 21, 2011 by Stained in Labels: poem

Random poem wrote while being bored at Gitex...

10.12.2011
09:19pm

It's not the way of the wild
Lost in the fleeting madness
Draped for an error
Not in an instant
Maybe an illusion
Tripping over the edges

With your secret incense
Going down the sacred stature
Mesmerized instants
Going going gone
Lost in frames
Slipping away at the edges

Maybe the way of the wild
Is the only path around
You fit into the frame
Define within the borders
Goes the saying
Or so it seems...

- Stained

Screaming silence

Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Car, Gitex, rant, work

Warning: Angry Rant ahead

I adore the car I drive. Love the way it handles corners, the way it feels in control. But why the fuck does it have to fail on me so many times. The number of problems I've had with the car, you'd wonder how it's still running and it's just 20 months old. And it's not like it's wear and tear or abuse (which I don't do anyways). The weather today is wonderful with clear skies; you can see the stars in the city. So I open my sun roof to enjoy the view at a signal. I lower my seat cause I sit quite high and looking up from my default position strains my neck. Guess what, the seat button stopped working and now the seat is stuck in a position I can't drive in. Fucking brilliant and I have work for the next two days. This is the second time the seat buttons/motor has stopped working. If the car wasn't under warranty, I'd have lost a fortune trying to fix it not that I haven't already with the insurance, parking card and tires. Argh...

My best friend for the past 9 years is getting married this month and I can't go to his wedding in India because I don't have the money nor can I afford to absorb the opportunity cost. I don't have work as usual which is quite obvious from the several previous rants. Desperate times means desperate measures and so I'm working at Gitex shoppers doing promotions. I feel like a failure especially when conveniently the people strutting around as managers are people I knew in college...my juniors. And then you have the ones that flunked out of college roaming around as business men shrugging off my photography cause here I was promoting a camera that I would never buy hired by the company because I'm a photographer. And I unfortunately bumped into my best friend who wasn't too happy with the fact that I wasn't coming for his wedding...I felt horrible. No eye contact was made...

And then the fucking fact that among all the kids doing sales and promotions, I perfectly blend it. I'm 25 even if I may look like a teenager and that isn't a compliment when you're trying fucking hard for people to take you seriously. I'm tired of fighting the battle of being taken as a adult. I get enough of being the kid at home stuff as I am the youngest but when people ask me which school/college I'm going to; I feel like fucking killing someone. Best part is even the people who I work with and who know my age don't take me seriously cause of the way I look.

I know I should stop ranting but it's better to let it out here than on someone you care about....I miss my CC...more than ever....

Ego won't stop fighting...

Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2011 by Stained in Labels: money, rant, work

I'm an arrogant person with a colossal ego. I don't accept defeat easily....oh wait! I never accept defeat; I just burble something and act as if it never happened. Anyway as quite apparent from my unvarying work related blog rants, I’m not making a lot of money *points at the lack of cash inflow in the past 60 days*. Irrespective, I have lifestyle and work related expenses I’ve got to sustain on a daily basis which doesn’t go down well with my father who keeps a tap on my depleting bank balance. This has led me to depend financially on friends who frequently lend me money that I have a tendency to pay off by helping them with work and/or hard cash (if needed). Unfortunately for me, the amount of money I owe everyone now due to certain incidents (lost and then found my wallet that someone conveniently emptied, online purchases etc) is weighing down on my ego. My arrogance is in denial but I need to face the fact; I don’t have any money. I’ve been literally living off friends for the past 45 days or so and it feels horrible even though no one shows even the slightest inclination or pretence that they're doing me a huge favour. I’ve lost this battle and it does make sense to accept defeat before there is nothing left to salvage. I need a job and give up on this freelancer facade I’m hiding behind but I’m refusing to stop fighting; I don’t know why....

Ramadan: The beginning

Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 by Stained in

Keeping it short: I’ve not managed to pray 5 times a day forget praying at the mosque …. Breathless due to a cold-wheezing-asthma fit …. Still managed to fast (fasting right now) …. Burning up with fever and what feels like a migraine …. Coughing out blood due to an irritated throat ….
So here’s hoping things get better (-_-)

And Ramadan Mubarak everyone...

Season end...

Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Cricket, Dubai, UAE

A battered knee, a strained ankle, a lens kaput and a new group of friends later; Friday cricket season has finally ended, 2 months past the initial date we had deliberated to end it as (shockingly) everyone still wanted to play even with temperatures soaring to 43'C by the time we ended our match. Astonishing was the passion showed by the comparatively newbie’s to our group that inspired us oldies (not age wise) to push ourselves. A month long break to recuperate from our injuries and to allow the fasting Muslims (Ramadan is tomorrow) not to miss any of the action. We might have ended on a slightly downbeat note with two members being asked to leave due to impertinent behavior but that won't stop us from returning with a bang. Looking forward to a proper 4 innings test match...

Bad things...

Posted: Thursday, July 28, 2011 by Stained in Labels: random, rant

Bad things happen to bad people or so they say. I'm a ruthless horrible person so life is brilliant right now in a not so good way. Whoppeee!!! What fun....
Another day another broken heart...

Dearth of sand

Posted: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by Stained in Labels: poem

26.07.2011
17:45

Dissolution of the musical essence of silence
Motion sickness from rocking on heels
Numinous shadows sealed to ones soul
Historical wisdom accrue the seers
Darkness within the eye lips
Spoken the fleeting moment away
Fallen before the dearth of sand
Thoughts of corpses encircle beyond
Sleets of numbers frozen midair
Counting down the crackle beneath
Stops the mist one designs
Fashion the smile all over again

- Stained

Rent payments

Posted: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 by Stained in Labels: house, money, Rent

Last November, we moved into a larger house (read: 3 bedrooms) as my sister was back with us post divorce (wife beating abusing reasons). The rent till now was paid by my dad’s company but this being a larger house (we've always stayed in a 2 bedroom flat), the rent is higher and therefore the company has refused to pay the complete amount leaving us with around AED15,000 to fill in. I have an older brother and two older sisters with stable (if not well paying) jobs but knowing my dad, he'll not ask for any money from them and doubt any of them will put their foot down and give him the cash. This year has been financially a good year for me (compared to the disaster it's been before) even though my savings haven't really increased due to car and other miscellaneous expenses but I'm expecting payments (pending since last year) worth AED15,000 next month so plan to hand it over to dad or deposit it directly into his account. Let's see how this works out...

Mere Bina

Posted: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Hindi, Song

Currently the song that plays on repeat in my head and the borrowed (more like stolen from SJ) freebie mp4 player....

Mere Bina
Rehne laga hun
Teri hawaon me
Behne laga hun

Jaane main kaise
tera hua hu
Mujhe to lagta hai main shayad tere
Dil ki dua hu

Tujhko jo paaya ahan
To jeena aaya
Ab ye lamha theher jaye tham jaye bas jaye hum Dono ke darmiyaaaaan

Shying away from those eyes

Posted: Friday, July 08, 2011 by Stained in Labels: poem

08.07.2011
01:25am

Shying away from those eyes
The belief...
Approval and care
Coupled before rationale
Amused - bemused
Familiar ground
Uncertain forever
Misdeeds to shatter
Drops of spice...
Left for pretense
Regret and disgust
Shying away from those eyes
The loss of a child...
Squabbling left over
Salty water

-Stained

Hair Cut...

Posted: Sunday, June 26, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Love, postsecret

Surprises and all that...

Posted: Saturday, June 25, 2011 by Stained in Labels: 16-35mm f2.8, 7D, Birthday, Cake, Canon, Capri Italian Grill, CC, dots, Dubai, EOS, NA, Nizam, Pascal Tepper, SJ, UAE

My CC had once tried to surprise me on my birthday. The idea failed miserably due to the failure on the part of our (then) common friend Ash and a sloppy execution. Then last year Begg and Biela tried to surprise me a day before my birthday and failed because it was obvious to me what they were up to. I’m not easy to surprise or so I thought.

After a not so exciting birthday, I drudged along to pick up NA a day after for a meeting. We drove to Capri Italian Grill (located near the Trade Centre metro station) to discuss details regarding my photography brand over dinner. On entering the restaurant I asked the waiter for a table for two but NA jumped in and said we didn’t need one as we made our way to a table hidden in a corner that had three people already seated i.e. SJ, Dots and Nizam. As SJ later pointed out, the look on my face was priceless; a mix of embarrassment and surprise. A decent meal followed by a birthday cake that was devoured by me. A dark chocolate mousse from Pascal Tepper that would melt away in your mouth leaving an after taste that would last for several minutes. Delicious...

In my defense, I blame the extremely stressed/lack of sleep state I've been in for my downfall... (>_<) On a side note: I’m glad the waiter/s didn’t break into a birthday song when they placed the cake on our table. That would be highly embarrassing...

Camera Model : Canon EOS 7D
Shooting Date/Time : --/06/2011 21:52:06
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/20
Av(Aperture Value) : f2.8
Metering Mode : Pattern
ISO Speed : 3200
Lens : EF 16-35mm f2.8 L IS
Focal Length : 35mm

Lunar Eclipse

Posted: Friday, June 17, 2011 by Stained in Labels: 15th, 2011, 600mm f4 L IS, 7D, Canon, Dubai, eclipse, EF, EOS, June, Lunar, Moon, UAE

A teaser from the eventual time-lapse me and SJ are working on.

Camera Model : Canon EOS 7D
Shooting Date/Time : 15/06/2011 22:39
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/200
Av(Aperture Value) : f5.6
Metering Mode : Pattern
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : EF 600mm f4 L IS
Focal Length : 600mm

Beaten Down

Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2011 by Stained in Labels: Photography

Dear World,

Thank you once again for reminding me that talent and dedication counts for zilch when you don’t own one of those fancy passports. Right now I am at the bottom of the pile but I’ll allow it as I need the money but someday I'll whoop all the charlatans and have the last laugh.

Regards,

Beaten down photographer

Friday Cricket

Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 by Stained in Labels: 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS, 60D, Canon, Cricket, EF-S, EOS, Summer, Zabeel Park

As summer barbeques its way into our lives, we believed that our Friday cricket days were over. But that hasn’t been the case due to the passion some of us have towards the sport. With some smart changes to the rules, we’ve been able to shorten the number of hours we spend under the sun which has greatly helped the less passionate to convince themselves to turn up. Unfortunately sooner or later the heat will become unbearable and we will end the season (to restart a new one in September) but before that we are headed to the Zabeel Park cricket field; think concrete pitch and grass. It will be the perfect end to what has been a brilliant season with over 40 people being involved at some point or another. Skadoosh!

Camera Model : Canon EOS 60D
Shooting Date/Time : 10/06/2011 07:03:12
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/800
Av(Aperture Value) : f6.3
Metering Mode : Pattern
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS
Focal Length : 18mm

Lego DVD

Posted: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 by Stained in Labels: DVD, Lego, Printing, random

After just two months the Lego collection has been put on hold due to lack of funds. As recommended by SJ, I’ve decided to put aside a percentage of my earning every month to fund this hobby; that percentage stands at 5% starting next month. I plan to save up for the next six months and splurge it all on a bulk purchase online instead of buying locally as everything is a lot cheaper assuming the courier charges isn’t too high. This also means the Lego photo series is on hold… *sulks*

On a brighter side I can now use printable DVDs when delivering images to clients. Got a new printer shipped from Canada (via SJs little sisters luggage) that I made sure does everything I need (more details on awesome printer later). Even though my photography brand is still under construction, this is a positive move in the right direction to make things look more professional.

Camera Model : Canon EOS 7D
Shooting Date/Time : 01/06/2011 00:40:09
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/50
Av(Aperture Value) : f4
Metering Mode : Pattern
ISO Speed : 6400
Lens : 50mm f2.8 L
Focal Length : 50mm

Architectural photography

Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2011 by Stained in Labels: 16-35mm, 7D, Architectural, Canon, CC, HDR, Interior, Photography, SJ

I am awful at conversing with people (anti social as my CC used to put it) which has affected the kind of photography I want to focus on i.e. corporate and industrial photography. I would have added architectural photography but sadly I suck at it due to either the lack of 'the eye' for it or the experience.

Now recently I had to shoot the interiors of a hotel that was hosting a small exhibition for a select few Oil & Gas companies that were in the employment market looking to hire. I was honestly freaked out having no idea what was required of me and what I was going to do. I went for the shoot expecting an art exhibition based on which I had done a bit of google image research. There was nothing artsy about the exhibition throwing any ideas I had in my head out of the window. And then I saw the lights hanging from the ceiling and then I knew what I had to do. And as they say….the rest is history.

Camera Model : Canon EOS 7D
Shooting Date/Time : 23/05/2011 17:58:17
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/4 | 1/15 | 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : f5
Metering Mode : Pattern
ISO Speed : 400
Lens : EF 16-35mm f2.8 L
Focal Length : 35mm

I showed SJ one of the pictures today and she seemed quite proud of my effort which I think is a good thing cause she's the architectural photography wiz... (^_^)