I installed the Instagram app on my budget mobile handset, a Nokia Lumia 520, as soon as it became available on Windows App Store. Was eager to try the popular app and dabbled with it for a few weeks. Loved the square image format, liked the spontaneity associated with it, of capturing photographs quickly and casually (since a mobile phone is frequently carried in a pocket), applying filters (something like quick fix post-processing), seeing the final result soon after and the ability to share images on social media (without first having to download them on a computer). However, while using the app, missed the (old-fashioned, if I may say) handling, control and image quality of a physical camera and ended up switching (back) to a pocket, carry-everywhere point-and-shoot camera for casual photography. Perhaps I will go back to Instagram, but for now, am pleased to share some images taken in the short period I used the app. Thank you for looking!

Reflections on the windscreen of a parked cab in New Delhi

Door detail, in Jaipur

Fallen stem with leaves, in a Jaipur park

Raindrops, trees outside and reflections on the window of a moving train

Monochrome landscape, at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India

Scratches on a wall, in Jaipur

Tree shadows on floor, in Jaipur

Late afternoon walk in Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi

Stains, at a tea shop in Jaipur

Reflections on the foggy windscreen of a car at a New Delhi parking lot

Monsoon clouds and lush green fields, as seen from a moving train

Water mark on a table, left by a glass of cold water

The Light Came Through the Window (Part 2)

January 13, 2015

Light Came Through the Window

Getting Serious with Digital

January 10, 2015

Getting Serious with Digital

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After dabbling with a basic point-and-shoot digicam and enjoying the experience (see the previous post Digital Curiosity), in 2006, I felt the need to shoot with a more advanced or serious digital camera, particularly one with manual (PSAM) modes. After a brief but exciting search, Canon PowerShot A95, which, during those days, was a highly regarded compact digital camera, was zeroed-in on. Went for it and started shooting with it as soon as it arrived. Thoroughly enjoyed using it and as luck would have it, we travelled quite a bit around Rajasthan in subsequent months and the camera went on all the trips too🙂 My tryst with the A95 lasted for only 4 months after which I bought a Digital SLR. The following are some of the better photographs taken in those 4 months (from August to November 2006), hope you will like them! They are available as affordable prints on archival paper, print sizes: 16×12 inches or 12×12 inches.

Long exposure photograph of Statue Circle, Jaipur

Statue Circle, Jaipur, at dusk (long exposure)

Landscape photograph Birders at dusk, from Taal Chapar

Birders at dusk, at Taal Chapar wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan

Undershrub Aerva Persica at Smriti Van, Jaipur

The Ripple, beautiful photograph of a wetland

‘The Ripple’, at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Sculpturesque trees at Tal Chapar wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan

Landscape shot taken at Harsh parwat, Rajasthan

Vegetation and the land beyond, as seen from Harsh, Rajasthan

Wild grasses in afternoon light, at Smriti Van, Jaipur

Salt lake, an impression. Near Sambhar lake, Rajasthan

‘Lady of the lake’, on a cold evening in New Delhi

Photograph of flowering Kair or Capparis decidua shrub

Flowering ‘Kair’ shrub at Taal Chapar wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan

Colours of twilight, a landscape photograph

Colours of twilight, at Taal Chapar wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan

Indian Skimmers at Chambal river, Uttar Pradesh

Peahen at dusk, at Smriti Van, Jaipur

A sunset shared with trees, in the countryside around Jaipur

‘Duet’, at a New Delhi lake on a cold winter evening

Grassland and Blackbucks at Tal Chapar wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan

The sun setting over Jaipur, as seen from Smriti Van

Digital Curiosity

July 4, 2014

Digital Curiosity

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In 2004, everyone seemed to be buying pocket digital cameras, which had finally become affordable. After resisting for a long time, I too took the plunge out of curiosity but also for the sake of convenience. Bought a basic 3 megapixel point-and-shoot ‘digicam’, a Sony Cyber-shot DSC P72, which became my introduction to digital photography. Coming from a fully manual film SLR, I did not consider the digital camera as a serious photography tool but enjoyed using it off and on and carried it on birding trips. Recently dug the photos out which were taken between 2004 and 2006 and thought some could be published here. Hope you will like them🙂

Bird on a wire, near Nahargarh fort, Jaipur

Stone quarry, on the outskirts of Jaipur

Fallen pink and yellow flowers beautifying a pavement in Jaipur, India

Natural pavement beautification, Jaipur

Pink Bougainvillea flowers and fresh green leaves in Jaipur, India

Bougainvillea flowers and fresh leaves, Jaipur

Scrub forest veil, at Sariska National Park, Rajasthan

Reds and green colours of the forest at Rose Garden, New Delhi

Forest colours at Rose Garden, New Delhi

Leaning towards the lake, at Hauz Khas, New Delhi

Rockscape and barren tree at Samode, Rajasthan

Rockscape at Samode, Rajasthan

Dusk colours of cloud, sky and hill at Samode, Rajasthan

Dusk colours at Samode, Rajasthan

House Swifts at above rocky ramparts of Nahargarh fort, Jaipur

House Swifts at Nahargarh fort, Jaipur

Feathered Friends (Part 2)

October 12, 2013

Feathered Friends

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This is the second part of the series Feathered Friends (Part 1 here) featuring black and white photographs of birds in groups taken during evenings in and around the city of Jaipur, India. These images, shot with a variety of compact cameras, attempt to portray the beauty of birds in our environment and are available as affordable prints on archival paper.

Black and white photograph of four Rose-ringed Parakeets sitting symmetrically on some overhead wires

Parakeets at Central Park

Black and white photograph of Eurasian Collared-Doves resting on overhead wires right beside an electricity pole

Doves at the University campus

Black and white photo of five House Crows sitting symmetrically on overhead wires

House Crows in Bapu Nagar

Black and white photograph of pigeons sitting symmetrically on a street light pole at dusk in the Pink City of Jaipur

Pigeons in the walled city

Black and white photo of Doves roosting for the night on wires at Central Park, Jaipur

Doves at Central Park

Black and white fine art photo of Doves sitting near a joint of overhead wires at Central Park, Jaipur

Doves at Central Park

Black and white, artistic photograph of Doves sitting on an electricity junction at dusk

Doves at Central Park

Connaught Place : Unfocussed

October 11, 2013

Connaught Place : Unfocussed

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Connaught Place, New Delhi, is one of most iconic marketplaces in India. Visually, it’s a blend of colonial architecture characterised by arches, pillars and corridors interspersed with shops, restaurants, signages, decorative lighting, kiosks and of course, people! Connaught Place used to be my favourite haunt and much like the Pink City : Unfocussed series, a series of unfocussed photographs of Connaught Place was attempted, which aimed to capture the flavour of this unique marketplace. Taken in 2007, these images are available as affordable prints on archival paper.

Out of focus, artistic photograph of a corridor and archway at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Out of focus photograph showing architecture, shop signs and people at Connaught Place, New Delhi, at night

Deliberately out of focus photograph of the evening sky, a tree and shop glow signs at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Unfocussed photograph of people walking in an inner circle corridor at Connaught Place, in the evening

Out of focus photograph of an archway, people and decorative lights at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Deliberately unfocussed photograph of Connaught Place, New Delhi, showing the pavement, iconic pillars and a kiosk selling bottled drinks

Unfocussed, fine art photograph of archways and people at Connaught Place, New Delhi, India

Unfocussed fine art photograph of Connaught Place, New Delhi, showing iconic pillars of the inner circle, a tree on the pavement, light decorations and people, in the evening

Blurred night photograph of pillars, Christmas lights and shop windows at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Out of focus photograph of an inner circle corridor at Connaught Place, New Delhi, India

Unfocussed, impressionistic photograph of an inner circle corridor at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Deliberately blurred photograph of Connaught Place showing the inner circle pavement, the iconic pillars, light decorations, people and a tree

Impressionistic photograph of a busy inner circle corridor at Connaught Place, New Delhi, at dusk

Impressionistic photograph of a busy inner circle corridor at dusk, at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Out of focus photo of an inner circle facade in perspective, showing Christmas lights and shop banners at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Impressionistic fine art photograph of shoppers going past a shop window at Connaught Place, New Delhi

Feathered Friends (Part 1)

October 8, 2013

Feathered Friends

—Pics by Mayank

New Delhi and Jaipur (India) based fine art photographer Mayank Bhatnagar's weblog

Instagram Dabblings

The Light Came Through the Window (Part 2)

Getting Serious with Digital

Digital Curiosity

Feathered Friends (Part 2)

Connaught Place : Unfocussed

Feathered Friends (Part 1)

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