A Walk in the English countryside with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
April 10, 2009
“The road is long, boy. Lined with uncertainties of all kinds. I have no idea of what I've done with my life. So many people I've met, with some, I fell in love, some I detested, I know not why.. After 65 years of life, I feel like a looser, big time.” The man was speaking more to himself than to Adrian. He was drunk, Adrian was sure, for he reeked of alcohol. He pressed hard on the accelerator, keen to drop him off at 4th street, and cursed himself for having offered to give him a lift. Adrian kept mum with his eyes on the road. The man rumbled on, disparaging himself more and more. Adrian pulled over with a sigh of relief. “This is where I turn right, Mr. Griffin. You can take the straight road.” The man gaped at him for a second and said, “Oh, thanks boy. Allen, right?” “Adrian.” came the curt reply. The man shuffled his huge form outside with a lot of difficulty, and Adrian did fell a bit sorry for the chap. He seemed wealthy, his expensive-looking tweed said as much, so did the Rolex at his wrist. When he stood at the pavement, looking around as though he was lost, his shoes untied, buttons undone and his expression hapless, Adrian sighed and got out of the car, held him by his arm and brought him back to the car and took him home. The man needed help, and Adrian was not going to let him get mugged.
Mr. Griffin, obeyed with not a bit of revolt. He followed Adrian like a puppy. Once home, Adrian made him a hot cup of tea and offered him a sandwich. He put him to rest in his couch and went to the balcony for a smoke. Mr. Griffin, thought Adrian, whoever he was, was in a really bad state of mind and was in need of help. He stood there, he knew not how long, and went to sleep in a couch there. He awoke when he heard movements in the living room and saw Mr. Griffin walking towards him. “This is very kind of you, son. Thank you so much. I...could've gotten myself killed, in the state I was in.” He looked around, his face flushed, he was in a state of such high embarrassment. “I, uh, I'll leave, right away. Sorry, for all the mess.” He took a few quick strides towards the door. Once there, he took out a piece of paper, scribbled a few lines, and left without a backward glance. The note read thus: “Such kindness will never go unreturned. I will be honoured to have you for dinner at my house.” Below was an address at Rotherfield, near East Sussex.
This was why Adrian was sitting with his brand new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 digital camera, by the window of a chug-chugging train to Tunbridge Wells. Rotherfield was 6 miles from there, and Adrian decided to visit the place, he had never been there. The invitation was not the only reason he was heading there, he wanted to visit the English countryside, it was quite sometime since he did some serious traveling and he thought he would spend the weekend there. The DMC-G1 was his choice for this trip and he was exploring the 12.1Megapixel camera. He smiled, thinking of the new kid at Evan's. He was in his early teens, all too eager with his new job. “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is perfect for your trip sir.” he had started. “It is easy to grip, for it is built such that hands of an average size can use it with ease. It measures about 124x83.6x45.2mm, the body weighs 385g and the lens a decent 195g. Look, it's so comfortable to handle.....” Adrian had given him a huge tip, he liked his sincerity.
Coming back to the camera, Adrian felt that it was a cross between a DSLR and a compact digital camera, as it had the features of both. It had interchangeable lenses and point-and-shoot ability, that is what Adrian liked about it - it was not a DSLR camera since it did not have a mirror system, but had certain features of a DSLR. It had a 14-45mm lens kit to go with it and was powered by a Li-Ion battery. But the view outside pulled his eyes like magnets to scrapes of iron. Rolls and rolls of pastures, a solitary cow grazing with her head bent low, a hidden creek that sparkled as it caught the sun, a shepherd boy laying with his arms stretched wide, a herd of hop-skipping sheep, what a sight that was! When the train stopped at Tunbridge Wells, Adrian disembarked with his mind and body so full of peace.
He reached Rotherfield sooner than he expected and it was time for his G1 to start its job. It had continuous AF, single AF and manual focus systems, of which he used the manual focus to get some shots of his first impressions. It gave him several choices for manual exposure and combined with the shutter speed of 60sec to 1/4000sec, the shots came out very well. He decided to first find a good place to eat and took several shots on the lookout. The on screen Quick Menu was comfortable, for it provided access to several settings from a centralised location. He found the 76mm flip-and-twist LCD interesting and also felt that the electronic viewfinder provided 100% coverage along with 1.4x magnification. Thus he walked on and finally settled for a meal at Joey n Jenny's. He drank and ate along with the villagers of Rotherfield, what a cheerful lot they were! He feasted on authentic mash and sausages and drank ale from a cask!
After that heavenly meal from yesteryear, Adrian decided to walk along the quite lanes and take some shots of the woodlands and meadows of the English countryside. With no one but the wind singing in his ears, Adrian was spell-bound by the pristine beauty of the countryside that he wondered if he time-traveled to the past. A thin sheet of mist, played behind the trees, and Adrian decided it was time for his camera to play. His Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 came with live-view, which was an asset, and the Intelligent Auto Mode made things so simple. Once in this mode, the G1 was on its own, choosing the precise scene mode from Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scenery and Night Portrait, and also ISO speed. Not just that, this mode also turned on the quick auto-focus, image stabilization and face detection. This mode was so brilliant that it also included Intelligent Exposure, so that when Adrian shot at a landscape that was in the shadows, the under exposed areas were exposed, adding brilliance to the image.
Though an experienced photographer himself, Adrian let the Intelligent Auto Mode of his camera do most of the work. He then saw an exotic bird, oh how beautiful it looked! He focused it and took one stunner of a shot just as it spread its wings - the AF Tracking gave him a hand with this shot, which tracked the moving bird and kept it in focus. The Film Mode was yet another interesting feature, using which Adrian took shots choosing from 6 different colour options and 3 monochrome types. He played with this for a while, the LCD clearly reflecting the options that he chose. All the shooting and focusing and walking made him tired and Adrian decided to visit the village for a drink, thinking of the smooth ale he drank that morning.
The path criss-crossed several fields and meadows, with shepherds and cattle walking lazily, at peace with the world. How he wished he was one among those snow-white lambs, with not a care in the world! Dreaming this way and that, stopping at an elegant church, all Adrian could think of was how he spent his life locked up in a concrete world of computers and television, when there was a totally magical part of the world, waiting with its arms spread wide. He took some shots of the church with his G1. Using the 23 focus points and selecting from metering options such as spot, multi and centreweighted, the historic church was caught with such magnificence. In the bright condition, Adrian discovered that his camera could focus and shoot in just 0.4 seconds.
The sun sinked lower in the orange-tinged sky and Adrian took out the address of Mr. Griffin's from his pocket. He debated whether he should visit him or not, and finally ended up standing in front of the most beautiful mansion he had ever seen. It was huge, constructed with the finest of architecture. The brass door knocker looked quite intimidating and Adrian thought he would return back when the door opened.
Mr. Griffin stood there in his expensive tweed, smiling. “Come in, come is son! Am I glad you came.” Dinner was an elaborate affair, served by three butlers, atleast one of whom, thought Adrian was named Cadbury! They ate in silence, after which Mr. Griffin invited Adrian for a walk in his vineyard. (He had his own vineyard!)
“I must look like a spoiled snob, eh?”asked Mr. Griffin. Breaking the silence. “Not at all, sir. You are very kind.” “Not as kind as you, son” Adrian remained silent, and the conversation shifted to more mundane matters. When it was time to leave, Mr. Griffin offered to drop Adrian at the village, for which he refused. “I shall walk, sir, this place is so very beautiful.” From the very beginning, Adrian felt that Mr. Griffin wanted to tell him something, but kept refraining himself.
Finally, he said, “I have everything that a man would desire, son. I have earned enough for the next three generations. I have over 20 butlers to serve me, wear the top brands, drive the best car in the world. But, I'm not happy. No, not a bit.” To this, Adrian did not know what to say, for he was no philosopher. But he spoke what his heart told him to. “Take a walk around the solitary lanes, Mr. Griffin, there is peace there, talk to the shepherd boy, laugh with him. Drink at the village pub, fall in love, it's not too late. Come out, Mr. Griffin, life is more beautiful than you think.” Mr. Griffin smiled, a tear peeked from his eye.
A Jaunt to America with Olympus MJU Tough 6000
February 28, 2009
Adrian was walking home late that evening, in quick, long strides. His car broke down and he decided to take a short cut home. But the dark alleys with a dolorous, wicked atmosphere about them gave him the chills that he almost ran all the way till he reached the safety of his home. Once home, his groped in the darkness for the light switch, when the shrill cry of the door bell made him jump. He opened the door to see the smiling form of Marge, the kid next door. “Oh, hi Marge, come in. What brings you here?” “Hi Mr. Woodsbury! I heard you're leaving to the US tomorrow. Well, I was just wondering, you always buy these cool digital cameras for your trips. Could you show me what you have this time? I'm thinking of buying one for my dad and....”
“Oh, sure thing, sit down, will you, I'll get you some thing to drink.” Adrian made her a cup of hot chocolate and brought out his new digital camera. “This, Marge, is the Olympus MJU Tough 6000 digital camera. It's tough, like the name suggests. It's shock-proof, water-proof and freeze-proof.” “I just love the Sunset Orange! It'll be perfect for the mountain climbing trip dad's planning for us!” Adrian smiled and went on, “Its a 10 megapixel camera with 3.6x optical zoom lens and a 2.7" screen. It has Dual Image Stabiliser that promises cutting-edge shots. It is also compatible with xD-Picture Card and microSD Card . It'll be perfect for your trip, Marge.” “Yes, thanks Mr. Woodsbury! I better go. Enjoy our trip. And, oh, Take a snap with the President!” “The President?” asked Adrian with his brows furrowed. “You'll find out in New York!” saying this, Marge left him with a giggle.
Adrian landed in La Guardia, New York with all the cheer in the world. The climate was pleasant and he instantly decided to spend the day shopping in the Mecca for shoppers. Once in his room, he unpacked instantly and put on his clichéd tourist outfit with a smile. He booked a shopping tour at Shop Gotham and the two-hour walking trip was as flamboyant as ever. Using the 3.6x wide optical zoom of his camera, Adrian took some splendid shots, as it could be extended to about 102mm, bringing even far-away objects close. “So, enjoying your tour, eh?” asked a smiling lady with a bulging shopping bag. “Yes, yes, a lot.” “First trip to the US?” enquired the lady. “Actually, no. But, its my first time in New York.” They chatted for a while and Adrian asked her if he could buy her a drink, for which she politely refused. “I'm leaving to Las Vegas.” Adrian informed her. As they were about to part. “Oh, Don't, lose all your money in the fancy casinos.” said she and Adrian added “Hey, I was a actually planning for a Jeep Tour in the Zion National Park. And ofcourse, to the Grand Canyon.” “And, please, could I take a snap of you?” for which she agreed readily.
Her golden hair shone in the sun and Adrian took an admirable shot and the Advanced Face Detection of his MJU Tough 6000 made sure that her face was focused perfectly. He also got a good preview in the 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal III LCD, inspite of the brightness. Before retiring to bed, Adrian feasted on a mouth-watering hot dog and a huge ham burger that was dripping with mayonnaise. He washed them down with a huge mug of frothy beer and slept like a log that night, tremendously tired from all that walking and feasting.
'Unfortunate' is not the word to describe Adrian's next day. What a beginning it was! He got up way behind the schedule of the jeep trip, his shower did not work, his tooth-brush got flushed by accident, he cut his cheek while shaving and ate one of the most disgusting breakfasts ever. On top of that, half way down the road, he discovered he had left his camera behind and had to walk back all the way to the room. To top all that, he slammed the door with his finger in between the hinges and spent the whole afternoon at a doctor's clinic that smelt of some horrible chemical.
With a throbbing finger and an aching head, Adrian sat by himself at a park bench. He was on the verge of tears. “Well, this is life.” said a voice behind him and he ignored it. Conversation was the last thing on his mind. “You spend one heck of a day with a damsel in Gotham and the next day, here you are, all alone at a park bench ruminating over the twists and turns of life.”
That was how Adrian met Ray. He was in his late teens, with a sardonic attitude about him. With his nonchalant chatter and cheerful demeanour he slowly brought Adrian out of his sullen mood. He spoke on, unhindered and snatched Adrian's camera and said “Now this looks slick. Tell me bro, you look like those photographing tourists. I like these gadgets. Tell me about your camera.”
Adrian started, tentatively, clearing his throat. “This is the Olympus MJU Tough 6000. It is a hardy digital camera fit to take even on a rafting or hiking trip. Look at the resilient body...it's rock solid. It's waterproof to about 3m, shockproof to1.5m and freeze proof to -10°C.” “Whoa, now that sounds cool! Hey bro, take a shot of me would ya? Here, now how's that for a pose?” Ray lunged forward and did a series of tap-dance movements with such style and gusto. Adrian sprang into action and at once operated his camera using the TAP control that enabled him to start the camera with just a tap on the casing. He shot Ray's every move making use of the Intelligent Auto Mode that automatically selected the best possible settings for the shot.
After that short, buoyant performance, Ray sat down next to Adrian and said, “I saw you yesterday at Gotham...you looked so damn funny in those tourist outfits, shooting at everything you saw!” Adrian feigned a punch and said “Come on! This is what I love doing. I feel like I capture a bit of every place I shoot with my camera.” “Oh, really? So tell me, which is the most unforgettable place you visited?” “It's India.” came Adrian's reply in a flash. I came face-to-face with the king of all snakes, and what cuisine, what culture! I liked the Swiss Alps too.” Ray picked up the MJU Tough 6000 as Adrian went on and explored the natty camera. He saw that the on-screen menu was intuitive and was available in 39 languages.
Noticing his inquisitiveness, Adrian said “Hey, Ray, quick take a snap. Cheese!” Ray's shot was indeed a good one. He even noticed that the camera had a Smile Shot feature that took the shot just as Adrian smiled. ”Look, Ady! This camera is so good that it makes even you look handsome.” Adrian lunged forward to grab him, but Ray scampered off, his guffaws echoing about the empty park.
Later that evening, Adrian and Ray dined at a grubby-looking restaurant that served the best food possible - Pumpkin Pie, Grilled Cajun Fish, Spicy fried chicken, Waldorf salad and utterly delicious chocolate brownies that you can die for. With dusk round the corner, the twosome decided to take a stroll around Manhattan. What a show of lights and sounds that was! He took some stunning wide-angle shots using the focal length spectrum of 28-102mm of the 3.6x wide optical zoom lens of his Olympus MJU Tough 6000. He also found that his camera was immune to blurs and shakes, as it boasted some fine image-enhancing features. Adrian also recorded Ray's crazy antiques using his camera, for it came with movie recording with sound.
“Hey, wanna meet our President?” asked Ray to Adrian who was busy gobbling up mouthfuls of fries. “What? I can meet Obama?” “Why not, man? He's a friendly bloke. Come on, I'll take you.” Adrian was rather puzzled, but was eager all the more. He could not help but feel a few butterflies in that tummy of his. Was he actually going to meet Barack Obama himself?
Yes he did, why he even took a snap with him using this Olympus MJU Tough 6000. The President stood smiling, in an elegant tailored suit, in his ever stylish poise in front of his Oval office. Adrian smiled, “Greetings Mr. President.” said he to the smiling form of Barack Obama at Madame Tussauds.
He also took shots with various other celebrities and found the Beauty Mode quite handy, for it smoothened the skin of the subjects, adding on to their already ravishing looks. He then met Ray's friends at a pub and had the time of his life. Adrian was guffawing with a gang of loquacious boys when Ray pulled him out in to the cold. “Lets go for a ride, bro.” said he. “Ray,” said Adrian, “I didn't visit Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon or whatever. But, I had the best time in my life with you. Thanks dude.” Ray just smiled and said “Any thing for you, bro.” Then, just as the moon was at its fullest glory, Ray took Adrian on the wildest car rides ever. He flew at top speed with the wheels screaming in friction. Adrian went berserk and screamed at the top of his voice with the wind howling in his ears. “STOP!! IN THE NAME OF GOD!! STOP!! “ But would Ray listen?
In The Trail of a King With Olympus E-3 D-SLR Camera
January 30, 2009
Adrian was sitting at the park bench that evening, with The White Tiger in one hand and a sandwich in the other. He was half way through the book when a fine looking lady distracted him. She had with her a bulky book that had the picture of a coiled snake on the cover and Adrian peeked to read the title. "It's 'An Account of Indian Serpents on the Coast of Coromandel' by Patrick Russell" said she with a smile and Adrian blushed. Thus began one of the most interesting conversations in Adrian's life.
She was a herpetologist who specialised in Ophiology. "It is the study of snakes and their behaviours." said Odette back at a French restaurant in Earl Street. Adrian felt himself drawn to her and her passion for snakes that when she mentioned she was leaving for India to do a documentary on snakes, he immediately asked if he could join her. She too seemed to take an interest in him for she immediately agreed.
After dropping her, the first place that Adrian went to was Evan's for he needed the perfect digital camera for this trip to India. He picked Olympus E-3 D-SLR Camera, which was deemed to be the perfect choice of a professional photographer. It was of 10.1 megapixels with Live view and a 7x digital zoom. It also had a large view finder and the black body was dust and splash proof. Adrian immediately bought it, as he felt it could meet his stringent demands.
Adrian and Odette flew from Heathrow to Mumbai, the financial capital of India. All along the nine hour journey, Odette spoke of her chilling snake encounters. "The most chilling of all, was with a Black Mamba in South Africa. He was such a trickster. But you know what, Ady, I want to see a King Cobra up close at least once in my life" On that note, they disembarked from the plane at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Adrian braced himself for his first view of India, the country for which he had so much awe and respect. Odette had plans for a treat in the event of Adrian's first visit to India. They got into a taxi, which had loud music blaring and a queer fragrance about it. "Incense sticks" said Odette as the taxi started moving.
Adrian took out his Olympus E-3 immediately, for he wanted to capture his first impressions of India. What a ride that was! The taxi flew at top speed even in the most crowded streets of Mumbai that Adrian and Odette were holding on to dear life. But that didn't stop Adrian from shooting. A gang of garrulous boys playing gully cricket was an interesting scene to shoot and Adrian made use of E-3's world's fastestauto-focusing speeds to take some interesting pictures. The auto-focus system of the E-3 gave way to calculate the correct focus using 44 different data points. "Hey, will the pictures be good inspite of the shakes?" questioned Odette. "Oh, yes" replied Adrian. I'm proud to say that My Olympus E-3 has an outstanding image stabilisation system. That means sharp pictures that are blur-free inspite of shakes."
Adrian was surprised to see that the taxi stopped at hotel Taj. He walked inside, speechless. They sat at a cafe and Odette ordered Butterscotch muffins and ice tea. "What is it Ady?" she asked. "This place makes you uncomfortable?" "No. Not at all. I'm just awed at how well these people have recovered from the terror attacks. It's...I don't know what to say. I just feel that, nothing can shake the spirits of steadfastness. The people of this country too are no exception. They are strong. Really strong."
After the short stop in Mumbai, Adrian and Odette flew to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. "It's the city of the snake God, the abode of the sacred serpent Ananta" Explained Odette. Once in the taxi, Adrian unveiled his camera. He was struck at the sudden change in the landscape. Thiruvananthapuram seemed to have a green shadow following it around. It was much cooler and greener compared to Mumbai. He captured Kerala's vivid landscape with his Olympus E-3. The 2.5"/6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD enabled continuous live view and it also gave Adrian various avenues to explore.
Once at their hotel, Odette explained what they were to do next. "I've arranged for a taxi to pick us up after an hour. We'll be going to Agastyakoodam, the second highest peak in Kerala. We will be trekking there for a day. Then, we leave to Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed to catch a glimpse of The Highness atleast this time" "Who? Highness? Is there a king here?" asked Adrian. "No, silly. I meant the King Cobra"
Now begins the real adventure, thought Adrian. His heart skipped a beat at the mention of the king of all snakes. He even secretly wished that they do not encounter him during the trip. But he didn't dare mention it to Odette!
Ady and Odette reached the Bonaccord estate just as dusk was lingering by. Surrounded by greenery and semi-darkness, Adrian went on a photographic spree. The camera took some splendid shots with excellent image quality, which can be attributed to the advanced TruePic III image processor that gives way for good colour reproduction, fast processing speeds and improved noise suppression. They were met by an Amritha, their female guide from the forest department. "This trek is a pilgrimage" said she with a serene smile. "We believe that sage Agastya offered penance here." They spent the night at a tent that was pitched amidst the dark woods. The magic of the forest at night, with all its hair-raising sounds reminded Adrian of Nigeria. But he felt that Agastyakoodam was unique in a way he did not know how.
Adrian and Odette defeated the sun in the 'who-wakes-up-first' race and were out with their back-packs and camera. The crunch of leaves, the sound of their breaths and a rare bird-call was all that was heard.
Adrian did not want to miss out in capturing the dew-drenched woods. Even in the dull light, his E-3 managed decent shots, for it came with a built-in GN13 flash. He also noted that his camera had an excellent automatic white balance. This gave his shots faithful colour reproduction. Odette did not utter a word, she was indulged in her search for snakes like a Tapas (penance) Suddenly she stopped. "Look" she whispered to Adrian. "Right below that brush amongst the foilage.” “It's a Chembadutha Snake", shouted Amritha. “Is that how you call it? Great nomenclature”, exclaimed Odette. “A wonderful name for a hump-nosed pit viper.”
At first Adrian thought it was just another branch. But when it moved, he realised it was his first sight of an Indian snake. The snake was of the exact colour of the branch, except that it had a black pattern that ran along its body. Adrian was thrilled. He used the 5x/7x/10x magnified view and took a stunning macro shot, as well. "Careful, Ady. It's venomous" said Odette as he was moving closer and closer to the snake. Adrian jumped at the mention of 'venomous' and Odette chuckled. They moved on a few feet without any utterance when suddenly Adrian jumped. "It's a snake! It's a snake! It's inside my shirt!" Odette rushed to him in a flash and plunged her hand into his jacket. When she saw what it was, she split into laughter.
"It's a bicoloured frog Ady!" she said in between peels of uncontrollable laughter. "It's harmless!" Adrian blushed in embarrassment. Cursing himself under his breath, he walked on, ignoring Odette's laughter. He hid behind his camera. He shot away at everything he saw and was impressed with his E-3's 1/8000 second shutter speed, the three ZUIKO DIGITAL Supersonic Wave Drive lenses and the continuous shooting mode that provided 5 frames-per-second.
"Sir! Ma'am! Here's a Saw-scaled viper!", shouted Amritha again. “Right, Ams. Ady, would you like to check?” But, Adrian blatantly ignored her invitation, for he was not ready to be fooled anymore. "Please. Stop. Look ahead of you!" There it was in front of him, coiled around a branch, a Brownish snake with reticulated patterns that was about 3 feet long. It's head was triangular and the neck had a beautiful white-arrow mark. Adrian went right ahead to shoot it with the best angle possible. But he kept a safe distance from it, for he knew the snake was haemotoxic.
The dual-axis swivel 2.5-inch Live View LCD covered all possible viewing angles and the image monitoring of exposure and white balance gave him the reigns to control the settings accordingly in order to capture the perfect shot. He could also get a perfect view with the help of the large optical view finder. He felt that the view finder's 1.15x magnification enhanced it's accuracy. Odette scribbled away in her notepad. She extracted a measuring tape, tongs and a sack from her back-pack. Adrian watched as she handled the snake with practiced perfection. She held the head with one hand and signaled for Adrian for come over. Adrian went ahead tentatively. He held the other end of the tape and helped her measure it. It came upto 3 feet. When she carefully released it, it slipped into the bushes in an instant.
The Viper’s arrival and the action thereafter was like a dream to Adrian. He was stunned for several minutes later on. Sensing this, Odette let him be, and took his camera instead and decided to explore it. The first thing that struck her was the camera’s bulkiness. It was not portable and it bothered her a bit. She examined the LCD at the rear and was mildly surprised at the various shooting settings that were displayed. She felt she could grip it well enough for shooting and she off shooting very fast, all she had to do was flick the on/off button. The Supersonic Wave Drive lens not only enabled high speed auto-focus but also operated with minimum noise, making it perfect to shoot nature.
When Adrian was back to normal, he realized how different Odette’s life was from his. She enjoyed the company of one of the most dreaded creatures on earth. When he told her this, she said there were many like her, who have dedicated their lives to study and spread conservatory messages about these slithering beauties. “There’s Romulus Whitaker, the Snake Man of India for example. We can actually meet him, you know. He lives in Chennai”
Later that evening, they came across several non-poisonous snakes, some as swift as the wind, and some as lazy as a snail. Odette measured some and kept scribbling in her notepad. They even encountered pond terrapins, geckoes and mongoose, all of which were shot with Adrian’s Olympus E-3. He brought a tripod along, for his camera had a screw thread for a tripod at its base. He discovered that there was an illumination sensor present below the LCD that measures the lighting conditions automatically for better visibility. He got some stunning macro shots and was indeed proud that the E-3 enhanced his photographic skills.
Adrian and Odette bid adieu to Agastyakoodam and Amritha by night fall and stayed at a downtown hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. The next morning, they dined at a small restaurant along the road. It was an interesting meal for Adrian, who had never laid eyes on Indian cuisine before. They went berserk at the display before him. They did not know what to taste- The fluffy white idlis with steaming sambar with brinjals floating in it or Vellayappams with Meen vevichathu, which is fish cooked in a fiery red chilly sauce. He loved the Pootu that was served with grated coconut and sprinkled sugar. The Malabar biriyani made his mouth water with its well-cooked meat and spicy rice. It was indeed a wonderful meal!
Just when they were about to board a bus, a commotion at a near-by shop distracted Ady and Odette. They rushed to see what it was and Adrian had his E-3 out. The commotion was inside the store room of a hotel; men were rushing inside shouting “Vellikettan!” “Mothiravalayan!” Adrian saw Odette’s expression and realized that she could sense the presence of a snake. She asked the men to move aside, which they did obediently. She brought out her hook and inserted it in the gap between two jute sacks. When she took it out, there was a loud murmur in the crowd, for she had with her a bluish grey Krait. Adrian switched his Olympus E-3 to panning mode that enabled him to track Odette who was moving with the writhing Krait.
Odette placed the snake inside one of her sacks, to be released later on. After the incident, Adrian nurtured a new found respect for Odette and her love for snakes. ‘Hey Ady!’ said Odette. “What say we look around the fields there? We could meet up with cobras you know” Adrian and Odette thus decided to walk around the fields nearby. The sun was dipping low and Adrian used an external flash as his E-3 had a hotshoe in order to fit external lens. He even got a glimpse of critical information such as Exposure information, Metering modes, Flash, White balance, Activated AF points and ISO. He was using the navigation pad to find his way around the menu systems when Odette started running. She stopped short and said “It’s a cobra. Not the king” she added, a little ruefully.
But the spectacled cobra was indeed a good-looker. Adrian focused his camera and got a masterpiece of a shot just when the snake was about to strike. Their first cobra was a good luck charm, for they came across several cobras and a Rat snake, the prodigal rat-eaters. There was no stopping Odette, for she was not leaving the Indian soil without the sight of a King Cobra. They took a night bus to Pollachi and reached Topslip early next day. Adrian was glad that his camera had a good dust-reduction system, for even after all that action the previous day, it stood rock-solid.
They began their search for the king across the slopes of the western ghats. Odette seemed obsessed with the desire; she uttered not a word and walked like she was possessed. They came across several snakes - Anaimalai Earth Snake, Bamboo Pit Viper, Banded krait and even a herd of majestic elephants. Adrian took some splendid shots by customizing the white balance controls and also tried out the modes such as My Mode Test picture mode, Spot focus mode,19 consecutive Raw images.
It was almost dusk and Adrian and Odette slouched against a boulder, dry to the bone. Just then, a huge dark snake, with cross bands across its fore body slithered by. There was something about it that made Adrian think ‘This is no ordinary snake’ He shook Odette who was having her eyes closed. She opened her eyes and blinked for a few seconds. Her entire body tensed in an instant and she grabbed Adrian’s hand. “It’s…a King!” she whispered.
The king was about 4m long. He stopped just for a second, just enough for Adrian to catch a glimpse of his eyes. In those eyes, he saw the pride, the ruthlessness, the power of the king. Adrian moved back, with all due respect for the king of all snakes. The beast slowly started rising. And rise it did on them with its hood as raised as Odette's structure. A chill caressed the spine of Ady, as Odette moved forward. “Do you really mean that, Odette?”
Precisely Addy. This is a rare chance...an opportunity of a lifetime.....nothing less than a dream come true for me.” whispered Odette back. The king was hissing subtly sensing the intimidation, preparing for the deadliest of the venomous strikes that would impart a copious flow of un-adultered neurotoxic fluid. Addy was poised with his Olympus E3 that evoked the reminiscence of a Masai warrior. But, Odette's aims were apparently obscure...or why should she tread so near to the deadly reptile with a golden glow shrouding its golden yellow rings running over its glossy black skin, and a satanic glow in its jade eyes?
Addy shifted his shooting mode to burst shooting mode and went on a capturing spree, akin to a terrorist in murderous action with his Kalashnikov, as he watched in live display of the E3, Odette hopping like a flamingo around the serpent, and finally settling just a couple of feet away from the lowered hood of the tired looking animal that was trying for a retreat apparently. He watched her stretch her left arm behind the ferocious reptile and slowly resting it on the creature's hood from behind pressing it downwards gently.
The nature around stood still watching the next scene, as Addy's throat dried up in fright. How he wanted to scream. Odette leaned forward, her left arm still pressing the beast down. She leaned, leaned and leaned and leaned, to finally plant a kiss on the back of the serpents black glossy hood. For a moment everything stood still. The moment eloped. Odette sprang back on her feet in a jiffy for she definitely wanted to live to savour this moment of glory, of conquest for the rest of her life. What more, Addy had sponged the events explicitly on his Olympus E3's memory card, and he lives too, for a bout of circumlocutory amidst the concrete jungles of London.
An Alaskan Adventure with Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 and Samsung NV9
January 2, 2009
The street was deserted. The air was enrobed in a sublime silence that was interrupted only by a twitter or two of a faraway bird. At the far end of the street was an elegant little cottage, that seemed to have been taken out of a fairy-tale. A man was poised a few feet from it, shooting it with a sleek digital camera. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice the darkening of the clouds overhead. 'Adrian! come inside or you'll be drenched before you know it!' called a voice from the cottage.
It was then that Adrian realised where he was. For, this cottage in the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska was so spell-binding that he spent nearly an hour photographing it with his brand new Samsung NV9 Digital Camera. A sudden drizzle started unannounced and Adrian ran inside. The Lonely Lark Bed-and-Breakfast was indeed lonely, for it was far away from the vibrant city of Anchorage. 'Rain is our accomplice' said Mrs. Imelda, the caretaker. Adrian smiled in response and sat down for tea in the picturesque balcony. Mrs. Imelda joined him with her cup of black coffee.
She chatted on and Adrian found himself warming up to the friendly nature of Americans. They spoke about everything from peanut butter-jelly-sandwich to the world economy. There was not a single lull in the conversation and Adrian enjoyed the company of this white-haired, plump, chirpy American. When he told her that he had a passion for photography, she was eager to know what camera he was using. 'I have two beauties with me Mrs. Imelda' began Adrian. 'Samsung NV9 and Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 Digital Camera. The NV9 is of 10.2 megapixels with a 3.6X Schneider Kreuznac lens, face, smile, and blink detection.'
He showed her the stylish camera and added 'I actually fell for the looks, as you can see'.
Mrs. Imelda surveyed the camera and said 'I see what you mean'
'And the EX-Z1050 is of 10 megapixels with a 3x optical zoom lens. It's pocket sized and is a little plain when it comes to looks' .
Eager to start off his jaunt, Adrian took leave of Mrs. Imelda and dressed to visit the first place in the itinerary, The Anchorage Museum of History and Art. He hitched a ride to downtown Anchorage and was quite keen to visit the museum for it was ranked among Alaska's top ten visitor attractions. It was an informative and enjoyable walk through the history of Alaska and Adrian admired the paintings of the Alaskan scenery and walrus ivory. With the EX-Z1050 he took some appealing shots that gave him a taste of the anthropology of the state. It came with two shooting modes: Program AE and Best Shot.
The Best Shot mode had a whooping 38 options to choose from and Adrian was confused, which one to choose from the menu and finally settled for the portrait mode. He enjoyed the docent tour with a group of American tourists, who were a friendly as well as a cheerful lot. He took some memorable pictures with them using the NV9. The various features of Samsung's Perfect Portrait System was a surprise package.
Features such as "Face Detection", which locates the subject's face within the frame and automatically adjusts autofocus and auto exposure to ensure better composition enabled him to take some fine shots. The tour was more enjoyable with his new American friends and together, they formed a garrulous gang. They lunched together at the Marx Brothers Cafe, located in the Museum's atrium.
In all his tours around the world, Adrian had never had such a delightful meal. The food was delicious and he tasted almost everything on the menu -Style King Crab Cake, Melitzano Salata, Seared Alaskan Silver Salmon and the most expensive dish, Broiled King Crab Legs. But it was not just the food that made the meal enjoyable. It was the company. His new friends Mark, Ben and 'Mean' Matt were so loquacious that the entire restaurant reverberated with their laughter. Adrian was clicking away his NV9, as he wanted to record every moment of this convivial meet. The "Blink Detection Mode" of the NV9 was of good use now as in this mode, the camera took a series of shots when closed eyes were detected, ensuring that his friends were captured with their eyes open, even in the midst of intermittent guffaws.
They parted without the trivial exchange of phone numbers, but Adrian was satisfied just the same, for his friends were right there, inside the memory card of his NV9. He then took a shuttle to the The Ulu Factory and shopped for some Ulu knives for his colleagues. He then rented a Ford and drove north to Thunderbird Falls. He now took out his EX-Z1050 and shot pictures along the way and this time used the Program AE mode that provided fast, automatic shooting for any situation.
It was Adrian's thirst for nature that led him to the Thunderbird Falls. The one mile hike was easy for Adrian's legs that were now well accustomed to hikes in the wilderness. The walk along the wooded trail was a magical experience and the nearly florescent Devils' Club leaves along the path added to the charm. Using the 5x optical zoom of the NV9, Adrian captured the fractal patterns of the oak ferns. He then decided to experiment his EX-Z1050's 3x optical zoom lens which has a focal range of 38-114mm and shot the star flowers strewn along the way.
The results were mixed, as the lens took some sharp pictures but Adrian felt they could have been a little brighter. As Adrian walked closer and closer to the falls, his ears pierced the air to pick the thundering of the Thunderbird falls. But there was none. An eerie silence was all that greeted him and Adrian felt a bit queasy. Was he lost? He felt unsure of the path he was taking. But he hid behind his camera.
Using the Auto Contrast Balance of the Samsung NV9 that corrected shadows, Adrian shot the Birch canopy. When he viewed the shot in the 2.7in TFT LCD, he realised that this feature was perfect for this time of the day. It was indeed a spell-binding shot. He walked on admiring the Mini-Dashboard status gauges of the NV9. It gave easy access to information about the camera's battery and memory status.
A tiny creek flowed by the trail noiselessly and Adrian wondered again if he was on the right track for he had heard that one can hear the Thunderbird falls several yards away. But a few feet into the trail, he felt reassured for there, in front of him was the fall. But it was imprisoned by the ruthless cold. Frozen to a ghostly aqua-blue hue, it presented an enthralling sight. Adrian went berserk with both his cameras. The EX-Z1050 captured the magical glow quite well and the Soft Flash mode added a dash of control when he shot the frozen mass up close. He also found the continuous shooting mode of up to seven frames a second quite comfortable. The temperature was getting colder every minute and Adrian rushed to his car. He had plans for fishing the next day and wanted to get a good night's rest before the venture.
As he drove to the cottage, Adrian was admiring the dark Alaskan sky. After a heavenly sleep in the warm cottage, he was up before sun, all dressed up for fishing. Adrian drove south towards Kenai river, the most famous sport fishing destination in Alaska. When he walked towards Drifters Lodge, the sight that he was the first to come that morning gave him thrills. He also remembered his dad's advice to him when they went fishing when he was young: 'Be the first to come or don't come at all!'
Adrian mused that the same rule applied to photograph a landscape in its most immaculate sense. The Kenai river looked enchanting at this time of the day when it was untouched by the rays of the sun. All plans of fishing for king salmon and rainbow trout left him and Adrian was at once busy with his cameras. He first shot the panorama using the 'Landscape' mode of the NV9. It was indeed quite impressive when he viewed the shot in the LCD. He also experimented with the EX-Z1050's presets such as tungsten, daylight, fluorescent and cloudy. He also found that the EX-Z1050 had good colour balance.
When the photographer in Adrian took the reigns there was no stopping him. It was only long after the arrival of several fisher-men that he realised that he had some fishing to attend to! He hurried to the Drifters Lodge for he had booked for a professional fishing guide. He was just in time as a group of tourists were just leaving for a half-a-day fishing trip to the upper Kenai river as this was the best section of the river for beginners. Adrian now made use of the MJPEG Movie recording of his NV9. It allowed him to edit and zoom during the filming and he enjoyed this feature of the NV9.
The fishing trip along the Kenai river with their guide Quint was one of the most amazing experiences in his life ever. Quint was an expert in shark-fishing and was a huge fan of the famous Frank 'Quint' Mundus. He also enjoyed fly fishing and that was why he was working in Anchorage. Their party was lucky, thanks to Quint, for they caught a king-sized halibut. Adrian shot all the action with his EX-Z1050 that came with motion analysis technology. It enabled to keep the moving subjects within the frame and sharply focused. The resulting pictures were amazing; all the action was frozen to perfection.
Right after yet another scrumptious meal Adrian drove back to Anchorage for the last activity in his itinerary, for which he was looking forward to. Dusk hung around longer than usual and the entire city seemed to be bathed in a heavenly glow. Adrian disembarked from his Ford and entered the Ruth Arcand Park. He walked inside wondering if such things existed. In answer to all his doubts, there stood the authentic horse-drawn sleigh in front of him. The driver welcomed him with a smile and Adrian embarked upon the one hour sleigh ride. As the sleigh glided over the frozen path, it began to snow. The snow, the sleigh, the slow, rocking movement together cast a spell on Adrian that he wondered if Santa would drop in, asking for a lift to fly around the world! He kept his EX-Z1050 and NV9 at the ready, for who knows, the white-bearded man might actually decide to come!
A Trip To The Thai Jungles With The Olympus MJU1050SW and Canon EOS D60
December 15, 2008
The steaming glutinous rice burnt his tongue and Adrian lunged for the water jug. The diners around the wooden table concealed their sniggers and Adrian felt a little better, for his sudden movement caught the attention of his fellow diners. He was having a traditional Kantoke dinner in a tiny restaurant that seemed out of place in the crowded streets of Bangkok. Very soon the ice was broken and conversation flowed.
‘I’m a globe-trotter’ said Adrian, slurping his Tom kha gai ‘I don’t just travel places…I capture them in my cameras to be treasured for eternity….I’m headed to Uthai Thani now. I’ve arranged for a camp in a wildlife sanctuary there. ’ ‘Oh, to the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary?’ asked a bearded old man. ‘That’s a biodiversity haven…It’s a paradise’ ‘Yes’ said Adrian, I’m all geared up for yet another trip to the wilderness’ He unzipped his back-pack to reveal his comrades for the adventure – Olympus MJU1050SW Digital Camera and Canon EOS D60 Digital SLR.
‘The Olympus MJU1050SW, my friends, is a 10.1 megapixel digital camera, which is shockproof, waterproof and freeze proof!’ Said Adrian to the five men around the Kantoke banquet. ‘And this is the 6.3-megapixel Canon EOS D60, which is Compatible with all Canon EOS system lenses. I’m looking forward for some fine shots of wildlife with this one’
The men took turns to admire Adrian’s digital gadgets and were full of praises for both the gadgets. It was time to leave and Adrian’s heart was heavy, for now a warm camaraderie had formed between them. With an Advanced Face Detection of up to 16 persons, his Olympus MJU1050SW shot a picture, which when seen in the HyperCrystal II LCD, revealed 6 smiling faces tracked perfectly within the frame. It was yet another picture, which went straight to Adrian’s heart. He now had a special album, composed of photos of friends he had made during his trips around the world, and this shot he mused, will indeed be special.
Uthai Thani, a place known to be once inhabited by prehistoric people, was about 219 kms from Bangkok. All through the bus journey, Adrian wished that Tia was there with him for this wild sortie.
The abundance of natural resources was the first thing that Adrian noticed, the minute he set foot in Uthai Thani. He immediately took out his chic Olympus MJU1050SW and shot some sharp pictures with the high-precision 3x optical zoom. The Sakae Krang River, which formed the backbone for provincial trade provided some interesting pictures. Even as the afternoon sun was at its brightest, the assiduous life of the raft residents was caught with panache, thanks to the Shadow Adjustment Technology of the MJU1050SW.
Lunch was an elaborate affair and Adrian enjoyed it immensely. He especially relished a spicy pork sausage called ‘name’, which was a regional specialty. Before leaving for the sanctuary, Adrian decided to visit Wat Tha Soong, a sprawling Buddhist temple complex. He took another bus to reach the temple and this time, he had his Canon EOS D60 at the ready to capture the brilliance of the temple.
What a place that was! Spread across hundreds of acres, the temple housed thousands of Buddha images in different postures according to Buddhist scriptures. It was a field day for Adrian. He flourished his D60 across every image he could see. In the Continuous Shooting mode, the D60 shot 17 large images at up to 3 frames per second. Combined with a shutter speed of over 1/250, the D60 produced some splendid shots.
After the spell-binding experience at Wat Tha Soong, Adrian took a night bus to the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. It was past mid night when he reached the sanctuary. After a refreshing sleep at the Huai Mae Di Ranger Station, where he had pre-booked for his stay, Adrian was up before day light all set to capture the Thai wilderness in his Olympus MJU1050SW and The Canon EOS D60.
Adrian trekked to Namok Hin Lat, a waterfall near the Ranger Station. He captured the multi-layered waterfall with the Canon D60's TTL auto-focus that came with three focusing points. However, Adrian was not extremely satisfied with the D60’s auto-focus, as the cascade was not captured with the sharpness that he desired.
He then decided to try a shot with his Olympus. Using the high-precision 3x optical zoom, he shot a pleasant shot of the waterfall, which was shot with ease, for he shot with reasonable clarity without moving a single step forward. The vigour of the fall was captured even in direct sunlight and Adrian found it easy to compose and shoot due to the extra-wide angle and anti-glare technology of the 2.7’’ HyperCrystal LCD.
The breeze from the rattan forest surrounding the waterfall pulled Adrian with invisible strings and he decided to mellow out a bit among the shady trees. Along the path of the short hike, Adrian discovered a wild flower in full bloom that exuded a wild fragrance. The daring display of colours thrilled Adrian and his Olympus was busy again, with the TruePicTM III Image Processor, the blood-red flower was shot with true-to-life colour.
The leaves of the rattan forest, known to change colours in different seasons, were a beautiful shade and it was the D60’s turn now. Adrian discovered that the lens of the D60 had two stabilization modes, the first to capture stationary targets and the second, to capture targets that are moving horizontally. He used the first mode now, and shot the brilliantly coloured flora and was delighted with the clarity.
Adrian decided to break for a quick lunch, for the hike left him exhausted. He lounged a while at the Ranger Station and prepared himself for a four hour long hike along the Khao Hin Daeng Nature Study Route. He put on the hiking boots that he had saved especially for this particular hike, for a four hour hike required the perfect shoes, the perfect clothes, the perfect mood, but most importantly for Adrian, the perfect digital camera.
The Khao Hin Daeng Nature Study Route provided the perfect platter for a nature-lover and for a photography enthusiast like Adrian, it definitely was Eden. The pristine air and the lush, wild vegetation did wonders to Adrian’s photographic skills. The Nature Study Route provided for a variety of vegetation that included the deciduous forest, deciduous dipterocarp forest, mixed deciduous forest, and dry evergreen forest. With the Perfect Shot Preview of his MJU1050SW, Adrian viewed the effects of various settings including zoom, exposure, white balance and metering before taking the shot. This provided him an extra edge over the camera settings and it put him at ease.
Along the route, was a marsh that was surrounded by a mess of smelly twines and muck and Adrian decided to take a closer look. He stopped short within a few steps, for a sudden movement caught his attention. Coiled around a decomposing branch was a Wagler's Pit viper. It took a few seconds for Adrian to realize the importance of such an encounter, for he was now facing one of the most deadliest snakes in Thailand. Without a moment’s hesitation, he took several shots with his D60 in the "shooting priority mode," so that he could view the pictures in between shots. Adrian was at arm’s length to the snake and he felt like Steve Irwin, for he was so close to the unpredictable, yet so bold. He had never been so daring!
He stood there, shooting the beauty with a reticulated pattern of greenish tint, until it moved on. Adrian suddenly realized that he was almost knee-deep in the marsh. A smooth body of a marsh Iguana slithered against his feet and he leaped with a slurpy noise to run for his life! And lo! He dropped his MJU1050SW in the water amidst all the commotion. But his MJU1050SW was as sturdy as a cowboy, for it was shockproof up to 1.5m and waterproof up to 3m.
Though Adrian was a bit shaken by all that running and the sudden pump of adrenalin in his veins, he was not a bit shaken in spirit. And there is good reason for that, for there still exists a good number of English men who thinks monitors are venomous. Then this one was a giant, even if not as big as a Komodo. He hiked on, and reached the sight-seeing point, Pong Thian. He rested his tired legs for a while and fantasized about shooting a tiger or a leopard when a 
shrill bird-cry caught his attention. On closer inspection, he identified it to come from a red-breasted parakeet. All thoughts of shooting tigers and elephants left him and Adrian readied his D60 for some bird photography.
His Canon EOS D60 6MP Digital SLR, which came with interchangeable lenses that supported all Canon EOS series lenses presented many avenues to experiment. Adrian used a Phoenix 100mm f3.5 macro lens and panned the camera along the motion of the bird. It was indeed an excellent camera to shoot birds, but on rare occasions, it also produced some blurred images. Adrian even shot some pictures of the elegant and lineated barbet and was proud that he was evolving as a decent bird photographer.
Adrian also shot some wild orchids along the way with his 
Olympus MJU1050SW Compact Digital Camera and he found the TAP Control Menu very convenient, as he was spared the press of a button every time. It was pitch dark when he walked back to the Ranger Station. He took a different route, that was less used. His mood was quite dull, for his flight was due the next day. He couldn’t imagine living amidst the hustle and bustle of London after such a lullaby in the lap of mother nature. Just then, a sound behind the near-by bushes distracted him. He looked right into the very spot and thought he saw a flash of bright orange. His heart raced and he tugged at his D60. But then, it was gone in the wink of an eyelid. Was it a tiger? Well, Adrian never did find out!
