Photofinish

Got a DSLR after nearly more than 10 years of not having a decent camera . My last camera was a Nikon 35mm film SLR with a 200mm Tamron lens which got nicked  - the thief very kindly left behind the tripod!
I was watching digital photography grow - but remained unconvinced about its low light capabilities until now...
The main advantage I see in Digital is that you could afford to be careless - there is no other cost other than having missed the shot. Add to the fact there are very few labs these days who can develop film properly..
Oh thanks to my brother I d also resurrected a Nikon  F70 35mm film camera which had an amazing full frame 28mm-85mm lens.. this has a macro mode that I ve just discovered and have fitted to my DSLR.

For the curious kind, said DSLR is a Nikon 5100.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few shots that I ve been playing around with - untouched by photo correction software!Mind you this lens doesnt have a motor nor does the D5100, so focusing is completely manual.
Now thanks to a neat tip by my friend Yuri Sysoev - I can get near perfect focus ( seen in the first pic of the watch)..
Now to find a way to automagically link and enlarge each pic on click..

After 4 months, Im back again.
I am a Ranger after all.

Back to the future

After a 4 year hiatus, I am back.

Solving Chennai's Bane - Call an Auto service!

If Chennai has one single quality that can drive off a visitor or tourist, it would easily be its notorious auto drivers who as a tribe are very democratic in ripping off every one in sight -irrespective of whether they are domestic or foreign tourists or even the local populace.

In a previous post I'd suggested that the Tamil Nadu tourism department could offer incentives to auto drivers who would stick to fares fixed by the government. Looks like some one else has had the same idea and actually done something about it.

The T Nagar based Gates India has enlisted a number of Autorikshaw drivers to participate in its scheme.A passenger will have to pay fares fixed by the Government (Rs. 14 for the first 2 km and Rs. 6 for every subsequent km) and a service charge of Rs. 6 per trip. The service charge will go to the driver, who will have to pay a fixed amount of Rs. 65 a day to the company. Gates India will not own or operate vehicles. It will only do the `call transfer' service between an autorickshaw driver and a passenger.

A passenger could hail a `call auto' over the phone. The company would keep a track of the location of autos in the city and pass on details to the driver located nearest to the passenger. Each driver would be provided a post-paid mobile phone SIM card by the company. Any prospective passenger can call 39993999 to book an auto.

This is certainly a laudable idea and one that needs to be supported. I only hope that unlike many well meaning ideas and schemes, this one is sustained and does not run out of steam quickly.

One Fine Day

One fine day you wait for your last months paycheck and are told its not likely to come.
One fine day you learn that the phirangi company you worked for has decided to go bust -"under administration" as they call it euphemistically - and they dont even have the courtesy to tell you beforehand that its likely to happen or ask for help.
One fine day, 6o other employees are asking you about their future and you dont know your either.
One fine day, you decide to try rescuing the local office and..
One fine day, your former boss decides to call back and accuse you unjustly of selling out his (non existent) assets!
One fine day, you decide enough is enough, there will be troubles ahead but you will strike out on your own.
One fine day, you say you will start a company that will grow into an organisation.
One fine day.
The human adventure is about to begin.

Improving Chennai Infrastructure Part 1 - Autos

Im not ashamed to say I like Madras, thats called Chennai these days.
Its a bit more laid back less frenetic than other metros in India, dare I say cleaner as well in many parts..
But in my opinion the bane of Madras that is Chennai is its notorious Auto rickshaw drivers. Very democratic bunch they are - they fleece residents and tourists in equal measure.
The present government revised the auto fares and introduced some rules hoping to instill some discipline - fat chance indeed, the auto drivers simply turned a Nelsons eye and continue flouting all rules with impunity.
So what could be a solution ? Well the Tourism department is keen on attracting more tourists to visit TamilNadu. But with Autodrivers like these , They don't need enemies -the autodrivers would simply turnaway the tourist crowd with their belligerent attitude.
So the TD could enlist autodrivers who would be willing to display a special board - something like Friendly and Honest Auto . These drivers would agree not to charge anymore than the fixed fares - the condition would be that if they tried doing that they would lose their licence.
I'm pretty sure tourist and even locals would not mind paying a small premium if they were assured of polite and honest service.
Any takers i wonder?

Grew in Sixty years, Gone in Sixty seconds

Im referring to a barren G N Chetty Road, bereft of avenue trees. Alright it may have taken more than 60 seconds to clear a tree but it took more than 60 years to get these gentle giants there.

Im told they want to build a flyover .. sure but they should have used the middle of the road for the pile foundation. Thats right , now the sun shines relentlessly where there was the cool shade and a wafting breeze.The destruction is now complete.

It s called modernisation and development after all.