Changing Lanes

Was asked to photography the Holy Quran that was hand written 300-400 years ago.Shooting Date/Time : 07/24/2009 15:46:21 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/100
Av(Aperture Value) : f11
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f2.8 Macro
Focal Length : 50 mm

Re-edited some of the pictures I had overlooked last time...Shooting Date/Time : 03/08/2009 17:21 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/200
Av(Aperture Value) : f6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5
Focal Length : 22 mm

Shooting Date/Time : 1/07/2009 17:13 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/100
Av(Aperture Value) : f6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 18-200mm f3.5-6.3
Focal Length : 21 mm

Shooting Date/Time : 7/16/2009 20:43:44 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/40
Av(Aperture Value) : f1.8
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 800
Lens : EF 85mm f1.8
Focal Length : 85 mm

I bought a Swatch about 6 years back for AED375/-. Since then I haven't bought a new one to replace it as it still works fine though lately it's been scratched up a little. Anyway since coming back from India this February, I've noticed that my watch gets more than second glances i.e. I've seen people staring at my watch as if it's some branded AED5,000/- worth diamond encrusted or something like that watch. Odd!!! I don't know if this is an after effect of recession but it does feel like it. And it's not just the blue collar job people, even white collar job people have been spotted staring....wish things would become better......

I like the lens flare created by the headlights in this shot....Shooting Date/Time : 7/16/2009 19:56:27 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/125
Av(Aperture Value) : f1.8
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 800
Lens : EF 85mm f1.8
Focal Length : 85 mm

Was asked to cover the press launch of the 2010 Ford Mustang. They started the event at 6pm while the track section of the event started at 7:10pm. A little too dark for my 400D that had trouble focusing even with the faster lens I had. Had to bump the ISO up to compensate for the lack of light and my 400D isn't the best high ISO camera(it's one of the worst as it's old). Got a few still photos while the actions photos gcme terrible. Anyway it was a nice day out though I had a bath in my own sweat as it was HOT!!!Shooting Date/Time : 7/16/2009 20:35:20 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/80
Av(Aperture Value) : f1.8
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 800
Lens : EF 85mm f1.8
Focal Length : 85 mm

I wish I could be a photographer for a car advertisement.Shooting Date/Time : 7/12/2009 18:54:20-18:54:37 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/2 - 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : f11
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 10-22mm f3.5-4.5
Focal Length : 10 mm

Do I need to say anything!!! :D :D

Tagged by neel

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. My next camera
2. Winter
3. Metro
4. August 2010
5. A new computer

1:30am
06/07/09

Falling pieces
Devastating my fantasies
Are you going somewhere...
Will you take me there?
Is this the instigation...
Of something new
Will you understand me?
I’m not here to stay...

Forward and backwards
Trapped in your arms..
Please have faith in me
Don’t want to hurt..
Dawdle for a moment
Watching you smile
Will you understand me?
I’m not here to stay..

The last second
Final goodbye
Why am I crying
I’m not here to stay...
Will you understand me?
After it ends...
Will you forgive me?
Don’t want to hurt..

- Stained

Yup, I've started writing poetry again. As someone told me once, I write best when depressed...and depressed I am!!!

Borrowed my friends car to take some shots of it to initiate a start in building a portfolio of car shots that are possibly advertisement worthy to spam advertising agencies. Here are a few shots from that shoot....

Shooting Date/Time : 6/29/2009 16:40:52 PM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/60
Av(Aperture Value) : 8
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f2.8 macro

25/06/09

Steer clear of my way
I need to get down on my knees
Pleading for one more opportunity
Eternally forgotten in the mob

Manoeuvre myself to the dais
Squealed out loud to seize attention
Move along...
There’s nobody to appreciate here

Then I call out to my people
Wishing they’d bail me out
They look around seeking something
Unearth stones and hurl them at me

Crushed and battered I clamber under the sheets
I slump there entirely disregarded
The world passes me by
And someone has yet to miss me...

I found a box under my bed that had some of my old toys. Most of the toys I had have either been given away to charity or have been locked away in some box. The last time I saw these, I was still in school, possibly 6 years back. So having bought a umbrella for my stand I decided to have some fun.

Basic setup: 430Ex on stand on the left shot through the umbrella at the reflector placed on the right.

Trying some off camera flash work. Canon speedlite 430ex on a stand on the left side shot through a white umbrella and a reflector on the right...Shooting Date/Time : 6/28/2009 14:37:46 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1/200
Av(Aperture Value) : 3.5
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 200
Lens : 50mm f2.8 macro

Wednesday 25th March

Shot of the Roman Bath that was part of our package trip. Boring place but got some cool shots.

Shot of the Church near by. This was a rondevouz spot

The place had funky corridors and ancient rooms to photograph

A shot of the water pool and a part of the structure built. The water flows from a primary pool to this open to public pool though it is not allowed to enter the pool as the water might be harmful to the human skin. There were two ducks happily swimming around in the pool.

This sign was next to the water flowing from the primary pool to the main pool warning people. I found it interesting and snapped it up.

Another Church next to the shopping center.

Monday 23rd March

Then we made our way back home as some of my friends were flying back to Dubai so there was some packing to be done.

Saturday, 21st March

Today we planned to visit three Museums i.e the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum

1) Natural History Museum was huge. I wasn't even able to cover 40% of it in the 4 hours I spent inside. It was one of the best parts of the trip. Loved the place and wish I had atleast a week more in London so that I could spend all of it in the Museum.
2) Some not so prehistoric animal bone structure at the Natural History Museum...3) Blue Whale skeleton....The biggest whale at the Natural Histort Museum.
4) Food area
5) The Earth Section....They have an earthquake section where the ground starts to shake replicating the feeling millions of japanese had in the devastating earthquake they experienced about 20 years back.
6) Being the only one left inside the Natural History Museum, I was made to join the others in the Victoria and Albert Museum which had some more nudity in the name of Art. I exited the place immediately and made my way to the Sciene Museum. This Science museum isn't as interesting as the Natural History museum but it's still a lot of fun if you're into electronics, space technology and mathematics etc...

A shot of the WWI plane hanging from the ceiling.
7) Not sure if this was the real thing (can't remember). The shuttle used to come back to earth..
8) I spend about 2hours in the Science museum where I broke my head trying to figure out things that were just above my intelligence. I felt quite dumb in the end. After that, all alone I made my way to Hyde Park. Not sure where I was going I somehow managed to wander off into the Park. There I met with D and fell in love.....with the Park.. :P
9) Hyde park is a must see and I just spend most of my time there lying on the grass watching the tress and the beautiful sunset. Unlike Dubai, you are allowed to play on the grass, skate, cycle etc so you'll find a lot of people in groups enjoying themselves. I had a lot of fun watching a bunch of skate boarders practising with 2 dozen cones. Their skill level was great.
10) I experienced one of the best sun sets of my life over the Beautiful Hyde park as we made our way to Kensington Palace where we were supposed to meet the others.
Sunday, 22nd March

Today was shopping day or in other words the most boring day. I was in a very bad mood and spent most of my time wandering off all alone. Oxford street is known to be the Hub for shopping so while the other shopped, I decided to walk towards this huge tower towards the west of where we were. It's called the BT tower and is very tall. It used to be open to public but now is used for telecommunication so is off limits. Would have made a great shot from up there.