Smokes & 'ld Calico Chimney

Smokes & 'ld Calico Chimney, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew [In hospital & out of action].

Camera Settings:
-----------------------

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 720
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Heron at Thol Lake

Sirius Crane at Thol Lake, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Settings:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
Flash: No Flash

About Heron (Wikipedia):

The herons are wading birds in the Ardeidae family. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called egrets or bitterns instead of herons. Within the family, all members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as bitterns, and - including the Zigzag Heron or Zigzag Bittern - are a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. However, egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white and/or have decorative plumes. Although egrets have the same build as the larger herons, they tend to be smaller.

The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and there is still no clear consensus about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. Similarly, the relationship of the genera in the family is not completely resolved. However, one species formerly considered to constitute a separate monotypic family Cochlearidae, the Boat-billed Heron, is now regarded as a member of the Ardeidae.

Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises and spoonbills, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees; others, notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.

Water Duct

Water Duct, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

A pseudo-HDR creation

Sun Temple Modhera

Sun Temple Modhera, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Sarkej Roza

Another Sarkej Roza Image, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Settings:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Entrance to Sarkej Roza - World Photography Day

Entrance to Sarkej Roza - World Photography Day, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Today is World Photography Day. So, best wishes to all the upcoming amateurs and pros out there!

Settings:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 22 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

The Backend of the Sun Temple

The Backend of the Sun Temple, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Sarkej Roza

Sarkej Roza, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Settings:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Lake Placid?

Lake Placid?, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

SETTINGS:
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Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/18.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

I walk a lonely road... GreenDay

I walk a lonely road... GreenDay, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

SETTINGS:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 34 mm
Focal Length: 33.6 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Drummer Girl

Drummer Girl, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

This is a photograph of a friend of mine who happens to a drummer and was featured sometimes back in India Today's Gujarat Special magazine. In order to create a model like face, I air brushed the image in Photoshop CS3. Air brushing technique enhances the face value and adds appeal to the portraits.

SETTINGS:
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Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode

Where To???

Where To???, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

SETTINGS:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Something to ponder over this morning's cuppatea

Something to ponder over this morning's cuppatea, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Settings:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/36.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 280
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Line of Containers

Line of Containers, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/18.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 220
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Pan Shot - 1st Try!

Pan Shot - 1st Try!, originally uploaded by Aaroon Matthew.

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
ISO Speed: 200

Front View - Sun Temple Modhera

This is another photograph from the Modhera Sun Temple series. I hope you guys have enjoyed viewing the images as much as I enjoy bringing them to you all.

IMAGE:



SETTINGS:

Camera: Nikon E4600
Exposure: 0.004 sec (5/1117)
Aperture: f/6.1
Focal Length: 10.4 mm
ISO Speed: 50
Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

Mayna ~ Another Test Shot with Sigma 18-200mm

Another test shot taken using the new Sigma 18-200mm OS HSM & Nikon D40. Its been just a couple of days and I'm yet to get a hang on this lens. I'm still unsure of its "Sweet Spot" ~ the aperture & shutter setting wherein the picture is pin sharp & at its best.

Most of the times, I just forget using the OS button while trying to go shake-free and as you can see in this picture, its not as sharp as it could have been. Need to find more time to play around with this lens and get a real hands on to ensure that the viewers and myself get to view some great pictures.

IMAGE:



SETTINGS:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/6.0
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Kite ~ Test Shot using Sigma Lens

SETTINGS:

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

WRITE UP:

Here comes my test shot using the new Sigma 18-200mm OS HSM lens I purchased for approximately 23k from Mumbai. After days of reading all the possible reviews of the lens on the internet and waiting impatiently for it to arrive, I finally got a chance to test fire it.

Well, the pictures didn't turn out to be that interesting as the reviews or the users mentioned in their write-ups. Maybe, it was because I was too impatient & with illness, I couldn't stay perfectly still to capture the best image possible. All my fault. LOL.

This picture was taken from my window as soon as I got up from bed in afternoon & felt a bit better from the fever. Spotted the 'Kite' flying in search of food and I knew I had to grab the camera, fix up the new lens from the box and shoot the best one I could possibly find.

So there you go! After seeing the picture on the camera screen, I was not at all impressed. So, I transferred the image to my computer and found that the image wasn't tact sharp. I forgot to keep the OS ~ Optical Stability button engaged prior to the shoot. Also, I could find the "Purple Fringe" on the bird's feather. Not good mate, I cursed myself.

I played with it in Photoshop and cropped the image so that it appears fairly large and used "Unsharp Mask" filter to make it a bit more sharper. The outcome is the picture mentioned above. I hope everyone likes it, least to say!

Work Is Worship

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/14.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Lunch Break

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Dam Site - A Reflection

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/18.0
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Cross Word - Game Anyone?

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 6
Aperture: f/36.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 560
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Created an Album Art

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 26 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

L O S T

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Ruined Times

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/13.0
Focal Length: 22 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Criss Cross Lines

Camera:	Nikon D40
Exposure:	0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture:	f/32.0
Focal Length:	38 mm
ISO Speed:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash

Train - Pan Shot Image

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OS HSM Lens - My Travel Partner

After months of debate and exhaustive research, I finally decided to get myself a lens I was interested in acquiring for my DSLR. Since, my Nikon D40 DSLR doesn't have an in-built motor, I needed to get a versatile lens that had a motor inside it which could help me while auto focusing any fast moving objects.

Now, getting such a lens was a daunting task as it would be too expensive and India doesn't have a big market base for photography equipment. I searched my city and found that here Sigma lens weren't available and the Nikkor ones were too expensive without including the 15% VAT. Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens would have been a better choice, if I had real deep pockets filled with loads of Ghandhi heads! But, looking at my budget, I should be lucky to get a Sigma. :D



Finally, I asked my friend Fenz in Mumbai to get me a Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OS HSM lens for me which has set me back monetarily by 23 grands. This is a sort of an all rounder lens with an F mount for Nikon camera and would cover approximately 11x zoom range, good enough to be on your camera while travelling as it covers the wide- to tele- photo range without the worry of having dust in your sensors while changing lenses.

With the 1.5x camera crop factor the lens would give an amazing range of 27-300mm range on a 35mm film camera. Further, I heard that the OS - Optical Stability system is the best of its class, but not a real silent performer. It gives you a 3-4 stops advantage while shooting hand held in tight situations, but it would be of any use just in case you use a tripod.



The only itch is that I still haven't received it in my hands to try and test this baby! I'm hoping that the calender jumps to 15th April, when I get this lens and go around shooting some great street scenes in Delhi the next day. This is not a fast lens but would be much better in comparison to the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and would cover a good range for my bird & candid street shots. It should be a perfect travel partner for a photographer as one lens and the camera would suffice instead of a whole camera bag filled with an assortment of lenses.

* DISCLAIMER : The images used above for this article are not mine & have been taken from the internet. They are not my work and still belong to the actual owners.

Still Life - Trying a Josef Sudek

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 280
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Read more about Josef Sudek here

Lotus

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash