2006 Photo A Day

s h i f t e d . . .

2007-04-03T09:23:00.000-04:00

h a p p y - n e w - y e a r ! ! !

This year I decided to move my photo-a-day blog to a new website. I really appreciate the comments that I got here and would love to continue receiving them.

http://www.vikas-garg.com/pad2007/
( n e w - l i n k )

update your bookmarks, rss feeds, ..
see you there with a freshly brewed cup of coffee :-)
Lets talk some pictures!

S L I D E S H O W

2007-04-03T09:22:00.001-04:00

Balloon Boy

2006-12-12T21:54:00.000-05:00

Sugar Rush

2006-12-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Children Kids People Candid

Seasons...

2006-10-29T11:55:00.000-05:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Waterfalls Ithaca

Lost in these eyes!

2006-10-10T23:04:00.001-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Eyes

Aurora

2006-10-07T16:29:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Portrait People Fashion

Touch My Soul

2006-09-27T10:19:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Nature Landscape Ithaca

Let me fly ...

2006-09-25T20:44:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Nature Landscape Ithaca Birds

Calm

2006-09-23T23:55:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Nature Landscape Ithaca

A New Beginning

2006-09-21T21:01:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Insects Nature

Secret Falls

2006-09-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Waterfalls Ithaca Nature

Love is in the air ...

2006-09-15T08:18:00.000-04:00

While the title suggests something, that is not the reason for me being away from my blogs lately! Sorry for not being able to reply the comments. Hopefully I should be back on track from Monday .. unless the title turns out to be true ;)

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Love Couple Stairs Candid

Let me flow !

2006-09-07T23:35:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Nature Landscape Vermont

Light me up !!

2006-09-06T08:06:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I just press the shutter. Shot and title were suggested by Aditya - on my trip to Wilmington, VT

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Candles Colors Still Life

Indulge in 3rds...

2006-09-05T22:22:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Still Life Travel China

2006-08-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Flowers Close up Macro Nature

Drink Fresh

2006-08-29T23:18:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Ithaca

Growth

2006-08-28T20:11:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Nature Cornell Ithaca Architecture

Sitting alone ...

2006-08-27T21:48:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Nature Water Ithaca Seascape

Finding the way..

2006-08-23T23:17:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Nature Water Ithaca Waterfalls

Saving from the tides ...

2006-08-22T22:59:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Nature Water Ithaca

Feel

2006-08-20T22:36:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Nature Water Ithaca

The Run ...

2006-08-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

Tags : Nikon D50 Photoblog Landscape Field Nature Green

Hay while the sun shines

2006-08-11T19:45:00.000-04:00

Tags : Landscape Field Nature Green Nikon D50 Photoblog

18th - Hole

2006-08-10T08:41:00.000-04:00

Tags : Sports People Golf Candid Sky Green Nikon D50 Photoblog

Self-portrait

2006-08-09T00:14:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait People Strangers Candid Photoblog Nikon D50

Not Again ..

2006-08-08T08:07:00.000-04:00

'Not Again' - Taking the brush in hand, Adriana* dipped it in the bottle of red face-paint - as she worked on her next masterpiece. Every stroke made the little girl happy, but every wait disgusted her, or it was just the scorching sun.

I took 3 shots; first one was the artist in focus, 2nd with the girl smiling and this was the third one. Why I used this? I like the expression of the girl; it makes you wonder!! Leaves the story open for the imagination of the viewer!

Equipment: Nikon D50, with Tamron 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6
Taken at: 300mm - 1/1000, f/5, ISO 200Post Processing: USM (Unsharp mask - 277%, Radius 0.4, Threshold 11), Noise reduction (very little) and Save for Web
*Adriana - assumed name.

Tags : Children People Strangers Photoblog Nikon D50

Swing with me

2006-08-07T00:22:00.000-04:00

Tags : Dance People Strangers Action Candid

Reaching the sky

2006-08-06T13:40:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait People Strangers Action Sky

Megan

2006-08-05T14:53:00.000-04:00

Just another day and another walk through Commons in Ithaca with my camera. Sidewalk sale was going on, I snapped some pictures of local bands and started walking when I saw Megan walking in the crowd. I had seen her at the library few minutes back and had thought 'I wish I could take her picture'. And here she was, I decided its definitely worth every risk to ask her for a picture. What is the worse that could happen, a no - well I can take that. So I went closer 'Excuse me, do you mind if I take your picture'. Obvious question to come up next was, 'Why?' - 'Because you look beautiful, and I believe it will be a great picture!' - 'What will you do with it?', I do photography as a hobby and will put it up on my website, I will give you the link to the website and you can always see it there! .. This was the first time a stranger was asking her that question and this was the first time I was asking a stranger this question. 'Only if you are comfortable' - and she nodded .. I was happy .. I asked her to move a little to get the perfect light. She gave a beautiful smile, but I wanted a more natural pose, the way I had seen her walking, 'Relax and just be as if you were walking' - got this shot and we both loved it!

@Megan if you visit this page, I would love to know if you like this picture and I will be happy to give you a copy - just leave me a comment here (use the link below the post that says '# COMMENTS')

Tags : Portrait People Strangers

Peace-Palace

2006-08-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

Tags : Architecture Cornell HDR Nikon D50

Lost & Found

2006-08-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

Tags : Grafiti Colors Stills Streets Abstract

Dartboard

2006-08-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Tags : Grafiti Colors Stills Streets Abstract

Thoughts

2006-07-31T00:05:00.000-04:00

Tags : Grafiti Colors Stills design Abstract

Shades

2006-07-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

Tags : Still-life Colors Stills design Abstract

Musical Chair

2006-07-29T22:18:00.000-04:00

Tags : Still-life Colors Stills Chair

Acquired

2006-07-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait Candid B&W People

Rust

2006-07-26T22:06:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait Candid B&W People

Ranger

2006-07-25T22:50:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait Candid B&W People

Real!

2006-07-24T23:39:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait Candid B&W Mother Child

Clearance Sale!

2006-07-23T22:55:00.000-04:00

Tags : Portrait Candid B&W

Camouflage

2006-07-21T23:38:00.000-04:00

Tags : Red Leaves Macro Close-up

Open up

2006-07-20T23:59:00.000-04:00

Tags : Flowers Close-Up Macro

Colors of Green

2006-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Tags : Green Leaves Macro Close-up

Colors of Red

2006-07-18T23:17:00.000-04:00

Tags : Flowers Close-Up Macro

Sealed

2006-07-14T07:51:00.000-04:00

Tags : Window Abstract Wall

Rainy Night

2006-07-12T23:58:00.000-04:00

Tags : Rain Night Water

Mumbai Blast!

2006-07-11T15:16:00.000-04:00

Useful link for anyone trying to get in touch with people in Mumbai, looking for resources and are willing to help

http://mumbaihelp.blogspot.com/

This blog started by a group of people from Mumbai and around has a list of people (updating) who have been injured, phone numbers of hospitals, ways you can sms to find out about your families and friends, links to places that need help!

Fé - Nunn

2006-07-09T09:44:00.000-04:00

TAGS : People Musician B&W Portrait Nikon D50

Evolution

2006-07-06T23:13:00.000-04:00

As I was shifting my boxes in the new apartment, I noticed Michael sitting at the bench reading NY Times. There was a handmade walking stick, a backpack and a tarp all tied to a chest besides him. For the next 4 days I would notice him sitting at one of the benches.

This evening as I returned from work, he was still there, at a coffee table listening to one of the local bands perform. I approached carefully and mentioned him how I have been seeing him from last 4 days and was just curious to find out if he is travelling around and how long has he been in Ithaca. We started talking and I found out Michael is a painter from Maine and has been travelling all over the US from last few years in search of evolution; evolution of the human race. He had interesting things to tell about the education system in US and how much he hated the capitalistic world and wars. We talked for over an hour ...

Will post the conversation in some other blog..

To success !!

2006-06-27T08:13:00.000-04:00

Blog down for a week

2006-06-24T17:20:00.000-04:00

I will be busy for the week as I am moving - no, not back to India; not yet, just changing apartments. I am excited about the new place (I always am about anything new), its a nice studio in downtown Ithaca, right at the place called Commons. Most of my candid shots are from this place, remember - Shakka!

After that I am going to Boston for 3 days, on a huge get-together with 12+ friends...we are going camping and then maybe to a beach. Hopefully once I am back on the 4th of July, I should be able to start putting up pictures again!

Apartments - Commons West - Everyone is invited for the house warming party on Saturday, 8th July :-)

Every morning ..

2006-06-22T23:24:00.000-04:00

News Update : If you could have seen me today you would have noticed a big :-) ...
Why, you may ask?

No, I didn't buy another car or motorcycle .. sure that would have been good news as well
No, I am not getting married .. that would have been a big :-( ..
you maybe right this time, my picture bagged 2nd place at betterphoto.com for the month :-) (out of 25,600 pictures - its one of the 10, second place winners in its catergory 'Details and Macro') .. I got a premium online gallery as a prize! -> Drop by drop <-

Where are you going?

2006-06-21T22:14:00.000-04:00

John was dressed up in red jacket, a big winter cap barely showing his eyes, wind was blowing the hard hit snow from 2 days - as he tried smiling for the camera. As the dreary winter months passed by, kids started showing up on the grounds. Every evening as I parked my motorcycle in front of the apartment, I would notice him sitting on the stairs. I would wave at him and say 'hello', he would smile and run inside. It was our routine conversation. One evening, I was working on my motorcycle; John came out running and started talking - in child language or maybe it was Chinese - I nodded and it seemed like I was answering his questions. As time passed, he started returning my greetings with 'hi', 'hello', the sweet smile and run inside.

Another weekend as I cleaned my car, John came up to me

John : What are you doing?
.. surprised to hear him talk - in English,
I answered : I am cleaning my car..
John : Why are you cleaning the car?
me : because its dirty
John : dirty? why dirty?
I said something and he got confused - rather I got confused - someone got confused
me : you should clean your cycle
John : What?
me : you should also clean (moving my hands and pointing) your cycle, use this water
He brings his little beach bucket, takes some water and starts cleaning his cycle ..

Every time he sees me he comes up running "Where are you going?"
It's been such a long time since I had to answer this question - it always puts me to surprise and I struggle with the answer - an answer that this 4/5 year old would understand!

Look there papa ..

2006-06-20T22:21:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day

A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the high spirits sing!

Like being the hypnotic music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night, life.

Like being the bright sun
That rises in her heart
And shows her the way home
When all else falls apart.

Like giving her a shoulder
That is her only strength
Being there by her side always
When she needs him the most.

Like giving her the love
That is her ocean and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there.

- Saloni Sonpal

News update : Another picture made it as a finalist at betterphoto.com. About the last one - I didn't win but being a finalist was a great feeling by itself :)

Hair Dryer

2006-06-19T08:38:00.000-04:00

the experience I have almost every morning driving down to work...

WHAT A ROADSTER IS ALL ABOUT.

Somehow, the miles and the hours have slipped by almost without notice, and now you're in a place you've looked at, but never really seen before. It's something you'll have to get used to. It happens all the time to Miata owners.

Is it the rush of the wind? Or the warmth of the sun? Maybe it's that mellow, almost comforting, sound the Miata makes, or the way this roadster lets you handle a brand new road like you've been driving it all your life. Reasons for loving the Miata are as many and as varied as the conversations that take place in them. But whatever your particular reason is, there's a very good chance that what started out as just a pleasant Sunday drive has put you many miles from home, and forced you to answer a couple of serious questions: "Do we leave the top down?" and "Is there an even longer way home?"

text source : http://www.cse.ucsd.edu/users/paloma/Miata/miata_92.html#PASSION

I was thinking of writing something myself ... but copy + paste was much simple :)

Top Horse in the Stable

2006-06-18T16:34:00.000-04:00

Braking the zooom

2006-06-17T11:49:00.000-04:00

0-62mph in 3.4 seconds ; 60-0 in 104 feet

Escape...

2006-06-16T00:14:00.000-04:00

A new story ...

2006-06-15T08:52:00.000-04:00

Finishing an old story to begin a new one...
As she reads through the last pages of her book, there is a new story - new book for her life watching her, waiting for her to begin something new, something wonderful .. I don't know the end but the beginning looks great!

Remember the walk...

2006-06-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

It was starting to get dark and I had only one decent shot to take back home. Another 15 minutes – and no luck, I placed the camera on self-timer and ran to the location. These 2 shots would work but I was not happy; I had the perfect picture in mind, and I was forced to return without one after waiting 40 minutes.

As I walked back through the trails I passed a couple, a nod and smile as we continued walking in opposite directions. After about 10 steps I turned around, followed them. They turned into the corner - they might have noticed me, following, but they continued – I wanted them to continue and not notice me. I was 5 yards behind them - perfect – just the perfect distance…I turned into the corner, pointed the camera and took 15 shots in less than 30 sec – turned around and walked back to the car…. Shot was much closer to what I imagined it to be :)

Moments are created ….a photographer strives to capture them …

Journey so far

2006-06-13T07:38:00.000-04:00

Celebrating 100 pictures on the blog (actually more than 100) - click on the picture for the bigger version of the collage!!

1. G U A R D E D, 2. S H A K K A, 3. C L O S E D - W I N D O W, 4. L O N E - S T A R, 5. W H I L E - I T S - R A I N I N G, 6. P I N K, 7. S A V E D - B Y - R A I N, 8. C O F F E E - N - F R I E N D, 9. P O W E R - N A P, 10. T R A I N - S T A T I O N, 11. 1 - 2 - C H A - CH A - C H A, 12. C H A I N - n - L O C K, 13. W I T H I N - B O U N D A R I E S, 14. R E A C H I N G - T H E - S K Y, 15. T A K E - T H E - J U M P, 16. S T I L L - S O B E R, 17. R E L A T I V I T Y, 18. M A G N I F Y, 19. Y E L L O W, 20. B A L A N C E, 21. F I R S T - D A T E !, 22. S H A K K A, 23. L E T S - P L A Y !, 24. L A S T - S M O K E !, 25. A N O T H E R - C O F F E E, 26. T R O U B L E S !, 27. F L O W E R M A N, 28. T H O U G H T - M O V E & W I N !, 29. O N - T H E - E D G E !, 30. S I L E N T - N I G H T, 31. S L A S H E S - O F - W I N T E R !, 32. R E N T ! !, 33. B Y - T H E - R E D - W A L L S, 34. L O O K I N G - B A C K, 35. R E A D Y - T O - F L Y ! !, 36. D R O P - B Y - D R O P

Thank you all for the wonderful comments!!

Guarded!

2006-06-12T21:40:00.000-04:00

Shakka

2006-06-11T14:15:00.000-04:00

He was worth visiting again. My previous - Shakka

Closed Window

2006-06-10T07:39:00.000-04:00

Lone Star

2006-06-09T08:21:00.000-04:00

I felt like going back to one of my old shots, taken with the Canon G5 some time back

Power-nap

2006-06-08T06:51:00.000-04:00

While its Raining

2006-06-07T06:52:00.000-04:00

Coffee and a Friend

2006-06-06T07:09:00.000-04:00

Saved by Rain!

2006-06-05T07:11:00.000-04:00

Pink

2006-06-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

Train Station

2006-06-03T10:06:00.000-04:00

A shot from the sequence of Time Lapse..

1-2-Cha Cha Cha!

2006-05-31T23:26:00.000-04:00

Why the weird title ?
Answer lies behind that closed door ;)

I am travelling next few days, might miss out on some PAD entries!!

Chain & Lock!

2006-05-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

Cheating within Boundaries!

2006-05-29T23:58:00.000-04:00

Reaching the sky!

2006-05-28T22:07:00.000-04:00

Take the jump!

2006-05-27T11:34:00.000-04:00

Still Sober

2006-05-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

L a s t - m a r t i n i - S h o t

Relativity

2006-05-25T23:04:00.000-04:00

Magnify

2006-05-24T00:28:00.000-04:00

Yellow

2006-05-23T06:23:00.000-04:00

Balance of Curves

2006-05-22T00:15:00.000-04:00

First Date!

2006-05-21T11:15:00.000-04:00

The distance, the conversation..the walk they all show the elements of being a first date but the age tells you a different story.. just a mystery that the world of candid photography offers!

Bigger picture / New Blog <--

Shakka

2006-05-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

As I stepped out of the coffee shop I could hear music; someone singing not too far from where I was. The song although unfamiliar was some sort of blues. Shakka was sitting on the window sill; tabbing on his rustic guitar with Jon on some kind of drum. I took some pictures and stood there for him to complete the song.

As I was about to start walking I hear the coarse voice 'hey, what are you doing?', I turned around 'yes, what are you doing?'. A bit scared - I went closer.. ' I was taking some pictures'...pushing the glasses up he looked at the 2 inch LCD screen 'Ohhh I like this one' ' I like that one too' .. - 'do you want these?' .. 'yes, can I have them, this one is nice too'...

Shakka moved to Ithaca two summers back from Oregon, his guitar had a sticker of Oregon with number '420' and a picture 'ganja' .. he showed me the picture and started talking about the places he plays, how much he hates the winters in Ithaca and how he enjoys coming down to the commons.. he then played me a song while I continued taking some more shots!

Link to the new blog <--

Lets Play

2006-05-19T07:14:00.000-04:00

Haven't shifted yet, but link to my new blog...

Last Smoke

2006-05-18T05:57:00.000-04:00

I have finally created a blog engine on my website. I will soon be moving there...Suggestions are always appreciated on design issues .. right now it's just a regular template from pixelpost.org!

Another cup of coffee

2006-05-17T06:27:00.000-04:00

Troubles!

2006-05-16T06:17:00.000-04:00

As I took the shot, his looks made me think I wish I knew what was troubling him, I wish I could do something to help. He just came and sat there thinking, disturbed by something I will never know!

Spring makes me happy !

2006-05-15T07:13:00.000-04:00

The Thought, move & the win!

2006-05-14T18:16:00.000-04:00

Ithaca Commons - place for friends to meet and chat, guitarist to fill the air with music, coffee-bar and restaurant - place where time is for just another move in chess!

Settings : (1) f/4.5, 1/250, 155mm (2) & (3) f/6, 1/125, 300mm
Post Processing : First 2 shots are crops from other pictures. Resize, framed

On the edge!

2006-05-13T21:17:00.000-04:00

Cornell Plantations - Ithaca

My second try with 'High Dynamic Range' (HDR) picture. It is when you merge 2 or more pictures taken from the same place while changing the exposure compensation.

Settings : f/22, 1/2 to 1/10 (4 shots), 18mm
Post Processing : Merge in HDR, 32bit -> 16bit using Local Adaptation, Curves, Resize

Ready to fly!

2006-05-12T06:39:00.000-04:00

Finally the view I have talked about so often in my previous posts ..

Settings : Aperture f/20 ; Shutter 1/125, Focal length 24mm
Post processing : Crop, Resize, Curves

Rent!

2006-05-11T07:37:00.000-04:00

Man walked outside the store, while I was showing off my camera... and offered me a perfect pose for the 300mm to capture :)

Taken outside 'Patel Brothers' - grocery store in Edison, NJ.

Settings : Aperture f/6 ; Shutter 1/125, Focal length 300mm
Post processing : Crop, Resize, Unsharp Mask, Desaturate, Levels, Duotone

Looking Back

2006-05-10T06:28:00.000-04:00

Settings : Aperture f/20 ; Shutter 1/100, Focal length 18mm
Post processing : Crop, Resize, Curves

Drop by drop...

2006-05-09T00:08:00.000-04:00

I know this has been done before a million times, but not by me :) .. Limited props and 365 days of shooting makes you want to do everything you can imagine with the same thing!

Exif data for the curious ones :

Aperture : f/1.8
Shutter Speed : 1/60
ISO : 200
Flash : ON (used a cardboard for bouncing the flash off the ceiling)

Post Processing :

Crop
Cloning some reflections
Color Balance

Still Waiting ...

2006-05-08T06:32:00.000-04:00

Those following my blog might remember the entry 'Waiting...' that was posted in the middle of March.

I visited the same place again and managed to find the tree. Except that earlier it was a foggy winter day and the tree was waiting for the spring, now its spring but the wait is still on!

Aren't we always waiting ?

Geometry

2006-05-07T10:14:00.000-04:00

Silent Night!

2006-05-06T22:33:00.000-04:00

2006-05-05T23:37:00.000-04:00

Taken with my G5, few months back! Colors and features are flat because of the on camera flash...Something you should never use!!!