Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tranquility In Symmetry

A Foot Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2.8, 1/100 secs, ISO 80

This is the full image, from which a cropped version was created for an earlier post titled 'Under The Bridge'.

The Picnic Crasher

The Picnic Crasher, English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/5.6, 1/250 secs, ISO 640

This small little gate crasher was captured with the 85 1.8G and the close up lens combination. This post is more about the detail that can be had with this combination, than any purer photographic objective.

To give a sense of how small this fellow was, and how much cropping has gone in to get to the image above, check the original capture below,


And to put the size of the bag into perspective, see the image below where the same bag sits besides a Nikon 1 10-30 VR lens and a Parker roller ball pen.


Sunday, May 27, 2012

85mm 1.8G Macro?

English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/1.8, 1/500 secs, ISO 200

A tripod, or a steadier hand, would have made a significant difference to the picture above. Nothing extra has been done to the background, the Canon 500D close up and the wide open 85mm ensure you get a smooth OOF background.

The shot below is taken after stopping down. These flowers are very small and scattered all throughout the grass.

English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/5.6, 1/60 secs, ISO 200

Another Daisy Close Up

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/250 secs, ISO 200

Here is another daisy, up close and personal. The combination of the 85 1.8G and the close up lens appears to be a great alternative for times when you don't want to carry a dedicated macro lens.

Below is the center portion of the flower, cropped heavily, and this shows that this combination can deliver the goods.


Daisy, close up with the 85mm

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/1000 secs, ISO 200

This is a close up of a small daisy, using the recently released Nikon 85mm 1.8G combined with a Canon 500D close up lens, on a Nikon D300s. While I do use a 105 VR, the purpose here was to test if this combination could help me get close and sharp if I were to just carry the close up lens along with a 35 and 85 when traveling light. My conclusion is a resounding 'yes, I can'.

The un-cropped version of the image is below.

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/1000 secs, ISO 200

Under The Bridge

A Foot Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2.8, 1/100 secs, ISO 80

Blackbird and the 85mm

Blackbird foraging in the English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G
f/1.8, 1/500 secs, ISO 200

Blackbird foraging in the English Gardens, Munich
Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G
f/1.8, 1/500 secs, ISO 200

Lonely Daisy

English Gardens, Munich
Nikon 1 V1 + 10-30 VR
f/3.8, 1/100 secs, ISO 140

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Munich prepares for the finals

A random set of pictures from a walk into the city, as it gears up for the UEFA Champions League finals, to be held at Allianz Arena tonight, between FC Bayern (the home team) and Chelsea. The city has been buzzing, and good weather combined with copious amounts of beer consumed adds to the mood.


Crowds start to gather around, and these first pictures show the area close to Starbucks and Luigi Tambosi on Ludwigstrasse. In the picture above, tourists stare down from their city-tour bus. There is enough excitement to have a Sky Sport News van cover the proceedings.


There is no lack of support for the home team, even the tricycle below screams 'all in for fc bayern'.


Below, Frauenplatz ... which seemed mostly populated by Chelsea fans.


 And then, of course Marienplatz and Kaufingerstrasse ... a spot which is always very busy on weekends, doubly so today.


A bright Adidas hoarding fits in perfectly with the fans milling around, in reds and blues.


A bunch of fans eyeing a hot dog stand.


A group of Chelsea fans brave a lot of cheering and jeering as they pass through crowds of Bayern supporters. Despite all the beer and excitement, it all appeared under control, and in good 'spirits'!


And finally we reach the end of Kaufingerstrasse,  the Karlptatz Stachus. The huge water fountain at the Karlstor was a convenient spot to congregate as temperatures touched 24 deg C.


Tonight, Munich comes alive! Who are you rooting for ... ?

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Love Locks, Prague


Love locks on a small bridge, Prague, Czech Republic


Panasonic LX3
f/3.2, 1/100 secs, ISO 80

It appears that several cities around the world have their version of love locks, on a bridge or a similar structure, where lovers leave behind padlocks to symbolize their love. Read more at Wikipedia.

Here's a wider view ...


The Lennon Wall series, #7

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/13 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #6

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/8 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #5

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/8 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #4

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/8 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #3

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/13 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #2

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/8 secs, ISO 400

The Lennon Wall series, #1

Lennon Wall. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/8 secs, ISO 400

Another colourful piece of Prague, the Lennon Wall ... a brightly painted wall, with layers of graffiti.

Collage on a door, Prague

A door that stops you. Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/80 secs, ISO 400

An interesting door, while walking around in Prague, and a lesson in composition and foresight. I focused so much on the colourful door panels that I clipped the peak of the cement arch on top. Something I only realised once home. Have attempted to de-emphasize the outer areas in LR.

Who are you today?

Masks, at a souvenir shop, Prague, Czech Republic
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/100 secs, ISO 80

Charles Bridge (Eastern Gate), Prague

Charles Bridge, Prague
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/100 secs, ISO 80

The eastern gate on the famous and beautiful Charles Bridge at Prague, Czech Republic. Read more about this landmark at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Water Bowl Show

Candles in a turpi

Nikon D300s + Nikon 16-85 VR @ 85mm
f/5.6, 1/13 secs, ISO 1600

A turpi is a water bowl, and it is a common practice in India to add some floating candles and/or flowers to it as a calming decorative item at home. Here, there are some flower shaped floating candles, each burning with different intensities, putting together an interesting collection of shadows and light.

Girgit on the bottlebrush

Garden Lizard, or Girgit

Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/6.3, 1/320 secs, ISO 400

A mug shot of a girgit ... which is Hindi for a Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), a common garden resident. This fellow was sun bathing on a bottle brush branch ... and got curious when I approached and disturbed the siesta.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Coconut Pool

Coconut Pool
Panasonic LX3
f/2, 1/40 secs, ISO 80

A coconut shell, with some rain water ... and reflection of the sky in the collected pool. If you look closely, you can see two yellow mango flowers in the water.

Overlooked

Overlooked ...
Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/8, 1/250 secs, ISO 500

One of the true joys of close up / macro photography is discovering and highlighting things that are all around us, but almost never taken note of. Once the eyes set in, and you prowl around with a camera and an appropriate lens, a whole different set of things start to catch your attention in the same patch of the garden that you normally stomp across.The closer you look, the more you find.

Beetle on Basil

Beetle on Basil

Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/8, 1/250 secs, ISO 500

Beetle in search of a vantage point to launch off, on a Basil (Tulsi) plant. The 70-300 VR makes for some good close up shots, and turns into a nice macro when combined with close up lenses like the Canon 500D close up lens.