Changing Lanes

A old wooden pier where I found two Pathans fishing. For those who don't know that is Festival city buildings in the background. Shooting Date/Time : 1/7/2009 5:35:41 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/250
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 800
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

I really love this shot and consider this as one of my best shots. Unfortunately not many seem to agree as I haven't received many positive comments about it....let me try my luck here!!
An old tube well motor...The sky got its blueness due to the polariser. This was also taken with a little bit of fill flash with my 430EX external flash.Shooting Date/Time 12/9/2008 : 11:57:02 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/160
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

Did you people know that taking a picture of an Adnoc petrol pump is not allowed...weird!! I was stopped by two guys from taking a shot, but I had already taken one even before they realised what I was doing. Hail the fast focusing DSLR!!! :D

Anyway in this shot I am trying the Tilt and Shift lens effect. Basically the lens lets you achieve focus at specific points in the picture while keeping the rest of the picture out of focus. Obviously I can't afford that lens as it costs a bomb so photoshop to the rescue. A bit of post processing and I've achieved the effect. Though it's not as clean as the real thing...Shooting Date/Time : 1/16/2009 6:14:23 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/6
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

Here's a 7 shot panorama I took from the Emirat Petrol pump on the Dubai-Al Ain highway on the 15th of January....Shooting Date/Time 1/16/2009 8:29:47 - 8:30:04 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

This open sign is above the door of the Taj Mahal Restaurant in Deira near the demolished Dubai cinema. Btw their Mutton Biryani is quite good!!!Shooting Date/Time 1/15/2009 9:00:40 PM
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/40
Av( Aperture Value ) 2.8
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
Focal Length 50.0 mm

These seems like Wheatear birds though I might be wrong though I'm sure they're the same specie, just one is male and the other is female....Shooting Date/Time 1/14/2009 10:11:36 AM
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 200
Lens 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 200.0 mmShooting Date/Time 1/14/2009 10:12:02 AM
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 200
Lens 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 200.0 mm

Mom had asked me to wake her up at 9am instead of the usual 10am. So I had to wake up early myself. So the alarm rings at 9am, I wake up mom and realize that the house is dark meaning the weather outside is cloudy. I walk out of the kitchen balcony door and look at the sky. After a few moments I notice the rainbow. I rush back inside, grab my camera without bothering to change my lens or mount the polarizer. Took as many shots as I could before it faded away after a few minutes. This is the best shot I managed. Not a great shot, possibly the worst rainbow shot ever but I'm happy I was able to capture my first rainbow....so that!!!Shooting Date/Time : 1/13/2009 9:20:53 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/2500
Av(Aperture Value) : 4.5
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

This is officially the clearest moon picture I've ever taken with my Sigma 18-200mm lens!!!Shooting Date/Time : 1/10/2009 7:29:21 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/320
Av(Aperture Value) : 7.1
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm

Shooting Date/Time : 1/4/2009 10:59:51 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/100
Av(Aperture Value) : 4.0
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

Yes that is my reflection in my cats eye. I'm posting this picture cause I've been tagged by Neel where I have to say 10 honest things about Myself which makes me feel I'm under the spotlight or something like that. Anyway I hope I do this right and don't scare off the people who read my blog ...

1) I like to see myself as a loner...I'd prefer spending time by myself staring at the sky, making shapes in the clouds instead of having fun with family or friends.

2) But I'd love to be liked by people in general for once...

3) I believe in Revenge!!!

4) I hate the feeling of being second to somebody (except in studies that is...) and would do almost anything to get rid of the competition.

5) I want to sleep on a Bunk Bed all my life...I hope my future wife wouldn't mind that...

6) I think I'll end up in depression if I find myself unable to run up the stairs like a 16 year old...

7) Photography wasn't my first passion. I initial loved videography and my parkour video is proof of that.

8) I want to get rich so that I can look down on the people who have scarred my family's memories with pain.

9) I like counting the number of lights or tiles that are there in a room when I have nothing else to do.

10) I don't have a emotional span of a teaspoon as many guys tend to have.

That was too much effort...I tag who ever visits my blog!!!

I wish I could buy a new telephoto lens giving me a reach of 500mm. I'd love to get shots of the moon with greater detail.Shooting Date/Time : 12/30/2008 7:08:42 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/50
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm

Took this after taking some macro shots of green vegetables and found the knife to be a more interesting subject...Shooting Date/Time : 1/3/2009 3:40:50 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

Shooting Date/Time : 1/2/2009 1:37:39 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/125
Av(Aperture Value) : 2.8
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

My Mom screams out to me from the kitchen asking me to get rid of the house flies buzzing around her head as she cooks some fish. I hurry to the kitchen and spot a house fly and manage to somehow make it fly out the door (leading to the balcony). I look around for some more flies but spot none. I walk back to the computer. After some time my Mom tells me there is still a fly buzzing around. I get back to the kitchen look around but can't spot the fly. I looked carefully at the food and spotted a fly walking on some uncooked fish completely wet and unable to fly. I take a dry tissue, managed to get the fly to walk onto it and laid it down outside. Then I stood there and took a few shots while I watched the fly for a good 10mins as it dried it legs, eyes, wings. It was fascinating to watch such a small creature go about drying it self.Shooting Date/Time : 12/31/2008 12:35:23 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : 4.5
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mmShooting Date/Time : 12/31/2008 12:35:54 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/100
Av(Aperture Value) : 4.5
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

Spotted this guy buzzing around in the front yard of a villa in Jumeirah next to Ijaza cafeteria...Did you know that a Wasp is a social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting (off google search)....'formidable sting'...hmm....Shooting Date/Time : 12/19/2008 8:45:17 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/250
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

A shot of shattered glass lying on the ground behind a bunch of schools in Garhoud opposite Lifco supermarket....Shooting Date/Time : 12/23/2008 3:27:07 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/640
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

Wrote this poem last night. Don't like it too much apart from the ending I guess.....

Read to understand live...
16/12/2008

Read between the lines
To survive in this world
Understand how it works
Live the normal life

Read between these lines
To see what I feel
Understand my emotions
Live through my eyes

Read between any lines
To just kill time
Understand what it depicts
Live believing it fiction

Read between my lines
To see into my eyes
Understand that I cannot read
Live without seeing the lines

-Stained

This is a shot of the sunset last evening taken from the roof of my building. It's a three shot panorama.Shooting Date/Time : 12/16/2008 5:24:17 PM - 5:24:21 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/50
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Partial Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

Got my self a new lens. A Sigma 50mm f2.8 Macro. Not the best lens around though optically amazing and it was being sold second hand at a bargain price of AED450/-, so I picked it up.

Here's a picture of a flower growing in my balcony.Shooting Date/Time : 12/14/2008 12:13:44 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/125
Av(Aperture Value) 2.8
Metering Mode : Partial Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50.0 mm

On the 6th of this month I went for an off-road trip with some other local photographers. A trip to see the sunrise from the desert and to visit a mountain/hill called fossil rock. Unfortunately we could only managed to get to Fossil Rock Minor due to inexperience off road drivers though we plan to tackle the tracks to the Large fossil Rock another time.

1) A two shot Panorama of the sunrise over Maliha Mountain.......btw the two dots on the right are hot air balloons and not dirt on my sensor... Shooting Date/Time : 12/6/2008 7:01:39 AM - 7:01:41 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/400 - 1/320
Av(Aperture Value) : 5.6
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed 100
Lens 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 35.0 mm

2) I tried a different approach to process this pictures. Might look like an HDR but it isn't. Well not completely. I played around with the Exposure and highlights/Shadows option in PS3. Btw the white glow on the right was mist rising as the sun rose....was very cool to watch it....Shooting Date/Time : 12/6/2008 6:58:39 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/125
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 24.0 mm

3) 6 shot panorama of Fossil rock minor....I know it doesn't look like much but the view was great...also a bit too much sky for my liking but I wanted to frame that plane into the picture...Shooting Date/Time : 12/6/2008 7:34:46 AM - 7:34:53 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/320
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 18.0 mm

Note: Been kinda lazy to make any new posts...so didn't post much over here.