Processing with Capture One
For the past few weeks I have been processing my raw files using Capture One Pro rather than Adobe Camera Raw. I am finding the RAW processing engine in Capture One to be exceptional. Mark you, I have not upgraded to Version 8 and am still using Version 7.2.3In brief I love the way the the software handles skin-tones. The amount of detail it can draw out of dull highlights and shadows is great. The HDR sliders make it possible to bring out natural looking HDR tonal ranges from a single RAW file - exceptional.Now I just need to get more familiar with all the features and then upgrade to Version 8.Here is an example of an image processed using Capture One Pro. The image was captured in Iceland during my workshop this past September. Please do click on the image to see a larger version.
2014 Fall Wanderings - 4
With most of the foliage gone in the northeast and what is left will be gone after this semi nor'easter or tropical storm here are two more images from Ithaca region.This image is of Taughannock Falls taken from the deck by the parking lot above the gorge. This vantage point give the falls a totally different perspective.I am planning on doing a winter trip to capture these falls when the sides and rock faces are covered with ice. 
This next image is from the gorge that leads to Lucifer falls. Another area that could be interesting in the winter. If any of my blog followers have experienced these falls in the winter, please share your thoughts.
2014 Fall Wanderings - 3
Walking through the gorges of New York's Finger Lakes region yield some incredible photo opportunities. There is no dearth of intimate and grand landscapes and occasionally even the saturated fall colors, when simplified, yield memorable images.This is from the entrance to the Taughannock Gorge in Ulysses.Please click on the image for detail.
2014 Fall Wanderings - 2
The Finger Lakes region in New York State is truly a landscape photographer's paradise. We spent an afternoon exploring Enfield Glen, an exceptional gorge in Robert H. Treman State Park. The gorge has multiple waterfalls (some just great cascades) - and the 115 foot Lucifer Falls. This image is of one of the three tiered waterfalls in the gorge. Each tier has its own set of cascades. Please click on the image to see detail.
2014 Fall Wanderings
Columbus day weekend (Sunday and Monday) we drove to the Finger Lakes region in New York State. Spent most of the time in and around Ithaca. Our main objective was to photograph some of the region's waterfalls with some foliage as a bonus.Taughannock Falls is located in Ulysses, NY, within Taughannock State Park. Noted as the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains with a drop of 215 feet. Niagra Falls is about 170 feet. The image is from the base of the falls in the gorge. You need to hike about 45 minutes to get to the base of this waterfall. For the non hiking photographer there is a viewing deck and a parking lot that gives you an elevated view of the falls and the gorge.
Good to be back
It has been many weeks since I have posted anything. Excuses and reasons: I conducted my Iceland workshop with Deborah Sandidge as co-leader. Spent 8 days in a state of anxiety as my mother was in the ICU and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest lapsing into a coma. My wife Monica went to India the day the Iceland workshop started, keeping me abreast of the situation. On my return to Boston, I rushed to India and was fortunate to spend a little time with her before she passed away on the 24th.I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family and friends for all your support, kind words and prayers. Time is a healer, I am blessed and fortunate to have such an incredible community of friends and family at a time like this. Thank you.Respectfully,Shiv
A Portable Wireless Drive with an SD Card Reader - Perfect for Photographers
Think Tank adds a new color style to its Mirrorless Mover line
Think Tank added a new Heathered Grey colorway to the popular line of Mirrorless Mover shoulder bags. The Mirrorless Mover bags are designed specifically for compact mirrorless systems and accessories. Now you can add a touch of elegance to your mirrorless shoulder bag by adding a Heathered Gray accents to an already great looking and practical carrying solution. Mirrorless Movers are available in four sizes with the Mirrorless Mover 30i able to carry your full size iPad or equivalently sized tablet.All bags in this series have a pass-through belt loop, iPhone storage divider, seal-sealed rain cover, and a removable shoulder strap.Click on the Think Tank Logo to order:
Zakim - Three Views
Zakim Bridge is probably the most photographed bridge in Boston. Google search and one sees thousands of views of this iconic structure. The following three are my interpretations captured on August 23, 2014. These were shot from the park below the bridge. Please do click on the images to see a larger rendition.
Where were these feet wanting to go?
Street photography can be so much fun. One can click away and get lots of street photographs but I would much rather spend a few hours observing and capture just one unique moment, mood or expression.I spent a few hours in Boston's Quincy Market last weekend while my wife and her friend were shopping. Camera in hand I was people watching. The light and shadows on the pavers was intriguing and I was hoping to capture something different. I noticed some confusion in the expression of this lady and that confusion seemed to be conveying a message that was reflected in her footsteps.
Diaphanous Flowers - Rose of Sharon
This is the fourth flower in this series. A Rose of Sharon from the yard. This one was lit from the side and the back with a low intensity cross fill. All lighting for these images have been cool LED lights, daylight balanced. Once again please click on the image for a larger view.
Diaphanous Flowers - Mandevilla
This mandevilla bloom was photographed last week. This is the third flower in this series. Currently I am working on a Rose of Sharon and hoping to post the result in a day or two. Please click on the image for a larger rendition.
India - March 2015 - Tribes of Gujarat & Kavant Fair
March 4 - 19, 2015 photo tour through the western region of India. The “Tribes of Gujarat with Kavant Fair” is a tremendous opportunity to get one of the finest cultural experiences possible in India.For details on the trip please visit - http://tinyurl.com/meq6ge8This trip will immerse you in an India that few get to see or experience. Feel free to share this with with your friends. The trip is all inclusive, round trip air fare included (from a US gateway city) and will have a maximum of 12 participants. Register ASAP as this one will fill up very fast.
Diaphanous Lily 2
This is the second image in the series. The process is the same as Diaphanous Lily with the exception of lighting. Here I used two lights instead of the single light in the first image. Please click on the image for a larger view.
Super Moon - August 10, 2014
The August 10, 2014 super moon captured in the Provincetown Dunes. Tried two other locations before settling on this one. I have moved the moon a bit lower in the frame. Shot with the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Panasonic Lumix Vario 100 - 300 mm lens at 300 mm (600 mm equivalence). Please click on the image for a larger view.
Diaphanous Lily - another twist on flower photography
A yellow lily from my yard. It takes a long lime to set this up but in the end it is worth the effort. Please click on the image for a larger view.
Eagle Island - Time-lapse
[video type="youtube" id="WCiMgyGEFOM" width="420"]Default Message[/video]I had posted an image stack of the stars in Eagle Island, Botswana a few days ago. This is the rendered time-lapse of the same sequence. Please view this as a 1080p HD video for the best visual experience.
Star-trails in the Southern Hemisphere
Finding Polaris or the North Star is easy in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, finding Sigma Octantis is very difficult. The star lies in the constellation of Octans and has a magnitude of 5.5 making it barely visible even on a clear night. One can use the Southern Cross to make an attempt at locating its position but it will never be really accurate. I did my best and set up my cameras to do a time-lapse. This was the night Germany played Brazil in the World Cup.My tripod and camera must have aroused the curiosity of the night security guard at Eagle Island Camp. He kindly moved my rig to a more secure position on the tiles of the swimming pool. This was after 395 images had been captured with about 105 to go. Sequence disrupted but in my opinion the stack is interesting. Sigma Octantis is in the top left corner of the frame - INVISIBLE.Stars in Africa are incredibly bright as indicated by the EXIF data. These images were captured using the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the 12 to 35 mm Lumix Vario lens. Exposure triad: f/2.8, 13 sec, ISO 200 - no noise reduction required.In hindsight, I should have added an ND filter and increased the exposure to 25 seconds or closed down the aperture to f/4. This would have extended the individual trails.Your comments would be appreciated.
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
It was a rare but awesome opportunity to see this pair of Carmine Bee-eaters in Botswana. The Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) is primarily found in sub-equatorial African region. These are migratory birds that spend the winter August to November (breeding season) in Zimbabwe. They move south to Botswana and South Africa for the summer and then migrate to equatorial Africa from March to August.
The Okavango and Termite Mounds
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the largest inland deltas. Most of the Okavango river’s water that feeds the delta is either evaporated or transpired and none of it flows into the ocean. Some of the water (about 2%) does feed the Lake Ngami.
The termites of the Okavango are critical to the formation of the islands in the delta. Nearly every island was formed by a termite mound. During the floods, termite mounds are the usually the only land formation that is above water. This make the mounds a surveying point for animals and birds. It offers the creatures an elevated view allowing them to seek out prey.
This pair of lions are siblings who are keeping away from a large male who is pursuing them for territory dominance.
