Smiling Gladiolus welcoming you in 2012 !!!

Although it's an old photograph, but thought of sharing as I wanted to start 2012 with something colorful and this photograph added a special fragrance as well. 

So Happy New Year !!!

'May the New Year bring to you and your loved ones all the happiness you could wish for and all the strength you need to pursue your dreams.'(courtesy - www.vibhamalhotra.com)

Papaya Tree @ Tarangi Resort, Jim Corbett National Park, Uttranchal, INDIA

Recently we went to Jim Corbett for an office trip and stayed at a resort called Tarangi. This photograph was shot at same place. This resort was amazingly beautiful and many such plants were around the cottages. To see more photographs of this resort, click on the photograph above. 

Monsoon Freshness dipping down !!!

Monsoon season brings back all the freshness in whole environment, with green plants all around and wonderful fragrance of colorful flowers. With this it also bring good opportunities for photographers to play with rain-drop, clouds and colorful plants all around. Although Monsoons are not good for many regions in our country, but at the same place important for most of the states in India, who are dependent on Agriculture. 

This Photograph was clicked three years back during Monsoons at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA !!!

Mobilegiri with a Kitten during MTB Trip in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA

In Oct'2011, I was in Himachal Pradesh and traversed various regions of Shimla, Kullu and Mandi Districts. During one of the camping stations, we found this cute kitten. She played with us for hours and also had some breakfast at our camp. It was sad but finally we had to move on  by leaving her with her Mom in nearby cottage. It was Shavadh, I remember the name correctly. This photograph is clicked with HTC Desire HD Mobile.

Lunar Eclipse 2011 - 10th December

Most of the photographers in India were really excited on 10th December because we had lunar eclipse that day and it was in December, which is comparatively good for Dehlites.  Many photographers moved to different cities in India to shoot this Lunar Eclipse. Some of my friends had special permissions to shoot at various monuments in Delhi and I also joined one of the group at Humayun Tomb. I know this photograph is not very special, so will share the real project with all shapes of Moon with Humayun Tomb in foreground. Some of the casual shots can be seen HERE

Colorful Birds on a bamboo tree @ Jim Corbett National Park, Uttranchal, INDIA

New Bus Stand of Capital City of Himachal Pradesh - Shimla

During one of the recent trips to Shimla, I visited Indian Institute of Advanced Studies and Shimla Bus stand was visible from the way which connect IIAS with Boileuganj. Shimla has got this beautiful bus-stand with lot of space. It is located near Tootikandi which is not very crowded region in Shimla. Supposedly this one of best Bus-Stand in North-India till 2011.

Holiday Cottage at Jim Corbett National Park !!!

This photograph was clicked during one of my recent trips to Jim Corbett National Park. We stayed in Tarangi resort which is approximately 8 kilometers form Bijrani Gate of Jim Corbett National Park. It's showing one of the holiday cottage at Tarangi. Tarangi resort has lot of space around and density of cottages is very low wr.t. total area available in the resort. Very well maintained, full of flora n fauna and appropriate place to relax during holidays !!!

Reached Hatu Peak again - A wonderful place at 3400 mtrs. (11152 ft.)

Hatu Peak is near Narkanda. There is beautiful climb of 6 kilometers form main highway. Hatu peak has a temple and tourism come here for experiencing less-explored nature. It's an amazing place with wonderful weather on the top. It's situated at 3400 mtrs. Place has got one HPPWD guest house as well. Many bollywood moviews have been shot at this place.

In above photograph, Aneesh is jumping with excitement of reaching the place again. I am not sure if you noticed link on 'Place again' :)

A colorful flower from garden of Five Senses, Delhi, INDIA

This photograph was clicked in 2007 when I had just started carrying camera with me :) ... It was an office outing some of friends. Although place is mainly for couples who need privacy in crowded cities like Delhi, but we didn't disturb them. Garden of Five senses has nice collection of flowers and plants.

Best use of harsh light while Photographing small objects

I know it sounds stupid to emphasize on doing photography in harsh light but what to do when you don't have an option and time to wait for right lighting. Of course, it's extremely challenging while shooting landscapes but small objects like Flowers, Leaves, Abstracts etc can be tried in Harsh light.

THe photograph above is clicked during noon time. This flower was very well lit from back side and there was a brown wall in the background. That wall was not getting any light or negligible as compared to light on this flower. Metering was set as spot metering, by pointing on this flower. I tried few shots and realized that Nikon D200 was not cirrectly metering the light. Then I used exposure compensation of negative 1 stop to achieve this result. And this photograph has hardly any post-processing. I like this shot and now I need not to wait for early mornings or evenings to shoot such things :) ..

Just came back from Jim Corbett !!!

Last weekend we were out for a trip to Jim Corbett, a wildlife sanctuary with maximum number of Tigers in India. Theoretically probability of  seeing a tiger at Corbett should be high but huge area and disproportional distribution make it near to impossible. It was third time when I visited Corbett, and haven't seen Tiger. 

We stayed at Tarangi Resort, which was a decent place to stay. Above photograph is clicked inside the resort.

Beautiful lady in Reshta @ Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh

During my recent trip to Himachal Pradesh, we were roaming around some villages in Narkanda region and having lunch at roadside. This lady was walking through the side-by road and I really liked her dress. I requested one of my friend to ask her in local language, that if we could click one photograph. She happily agreed and I was delighted to have a shot of this lovely dress called 'Reshta' !!!

Tani Jubber Lake near Thanedar in Shimla region of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA

Here is a photograph of Tani Jubber Lake which is near Thanedar and Narkanda.... It's not a very popular tourist destination but a wonderful place to spend some time while roaming around Shimla or going towards Kinnaur... Since it's not popular, it's very well maintained and clean :) ... Will be posting a complete PHOTO JOURNEY on this lake soon...

Values in Next Generation Indians !!!

She is Anisha Berry and great nature lover. Although I am not sure if plantation is her main passion or not, but she had a nice garden at her home and love to take care of her plants. She believes in applying her education in life and do things practically. She has learned a lot about Go Green n related stuff, but she wanted to apply that... I had a quick chat with her and she is really a sweet girl who thinks lot about our nature and environment. It feels really great after meeting such kids who have real passion for nature and also applying all good morals in life... Kudos to Anisha and hope other children will learn from her !!!

A very old Church hidden by long deodars on the way to Mcleodganj, Upper Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh !!!

Most beautiful natural colors I have ever captured in India !!! It's rare to see colorful and neat places in India.. Many times I saw wonderful photographs from various countries with lots of colors and cleanness, but never encountered such places in India. It was a very quick visit to Dhamshala/Mcleodganj and we stopped our car near a church on the way. When we started moving towards the church, I saw this wonderful view !!! It was right time of the year to see these colors of deodar cones !!

Green Resort: Lake Village Resort in Naukuchiataal, Uttrakhand, INDIA

Last year, our office outing was planned for hills and Uttrakhand being the nearest hilly state, we thought of visiting Naukuchiyataal in UK :)


At Naukuchiyataal, we stayed at Lake Village Resort and it was a wonderful place to stay around the lake... Resort was spacious, green and safe !!! Part from normal facilities inside the resort, they also arrange for kayaking, boating, paragliding, paint ball etc... All of us enjoyed a lot and no one can miss the  evening masti around bonfire and DJ !!

A noisy photograph of Live Band @ Lake Village Resort in Naukuchiataal, Uttrakhand, INDIA

I was just looking through some old photographs and liked this particular photograph which was clicked during our office trip to Naukuchiataal last year. During the evening there was a music band performing at the place where everyone was near bon-fire. This band was enough to ignite the musical sense of some folks and they were also singing along. btw, there were some very talented folks in our group who knew singing, guitar and many other musical instruments... We stayed in Lake Village resort and they had planned this for us.

Beautiful Cricket Stadium surrounded by snow capped hills of Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges of Himalayas @ Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA

I am not a cricket fan but recently visited Dharmshala to cover final match of T20 Mahasangram organized by HPCA and Jaypee Cement was sponsor of this great event. This tournament made a world record and that was a big thing. But for me, Stadium in Dharmshala was more special. What a stadium is was ! Unimaginably beautiful and snow covered hills in it's surrounding make it far better !! Let me share that beauty of this place can be captured in a Photograph. One has to visit the place to really appreciate the beauty !!!

Flower-Pots just outside the window of a cottage in Lake Village Resort of Naukuchiataal, Uttrakhand, INDIA

A series of flower pots on the widows of Lake Village Resort at Naukuchiataal !!! It was a good experience staying there... Lovely flora and Fauna around the cottages and suites they have !! This Resort is just in front of the lake where road ends... The point from where boats ca be hired to have a ride in the lake.. Events like Boating, Kayaking and paintball are organized by resort staff  !!!