Life in the Wetlands (Mangroves)

The Creatures of the wetlands are showcased here




Mud Skipper
as the tide gets higher, the mud skipper starts to climb the trees
Lens: EF 100mm Macro @ 100mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/100 & Flash @-11/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore




Hiding in a hole
Lens: EF 100mm Macro @ 100mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200 & Flash -12/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Exposure Compensation@ -1/3 f Stop
Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore





Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 230mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/20 & Flash @ -2/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Exposure Compensation: -2/3 f Stop
Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore







Mud Skipper and the Crab
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/25 & Flash: -1/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore






In the Shade
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125 & Flash @ -1/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore







In the Shade
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 230mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/80 & Flash -1/3 f Stop Compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore

In the Shade
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm

Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/100 & Flash @ -1/3 f Stop Compensation

Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Camera mounted on tripod

Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore

Having my Breakfast

Saw this crab eating a fish. Shot at 8pm in a small pool of water.

I used a torch light to light up the subject as flash would bounce from the

water surface
Lens: EF 100mm Macro @ 100mm

Aperture Priority Mode @ f2.8

Shutter Speed: 1/100 & Sensitivity: ISO 400
Camera mounted on tripod

Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore

In the Shade
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 220mm

Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/100 & Flash @ -2/3 f Stop Compensation

Exposure Compensation -1/3 f Stop

Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Camera mounted on tripod

Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland reserve, Singapore

Lets Fly - a collection of Bird Photos

The pictures below are a collection of birds photos from across the worlds (places I have travelled to ofcourse).




Hey Who is it?
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f8
Shutter Speed: 1/100
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Camera hand held
Location: Singapore Zoo, Singapore







Eagle
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 200mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/500
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera hand held
Location: Ranganthittu, Bangalore, India.









Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 200mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/4000
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthitu, Bangalore, India.









Mating
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 200mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/4000
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthitu, Bangalore, India.







Guarding a nest
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/25000
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthitu, Bangalore, India.







Profile
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/4000
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthittu, Bangalore, India.





At the Roost
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f9
Shutter Speed: 1/2000
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthittu, Bangalore, India



Looking out for Food
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 280mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f11
Shutter Speed: 1/1600
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Ranganthittu, Bangalore, India





Love
Lens: EF-s 18-55mm @ 38mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f14
Shutter Speed: 1/30
Sensitivity: ISO 1600 & Camera Hand held
Location: Jurong Bird Park, Singapore




Hey look at our new home
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Jurong Bird Park, Singapore




Flying High
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 130mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Sensitivity: ISO 800 & Camera Hand held
Location: San Francisco, US.

Golkonda fort - a lost granduer

A diamond that brought fame and fortune to a small kingdom in ancient Deccan India (South India). A fort that assured the kingdom of its perpetuity. A diamond that triggered a war. A war that brought down the grandeur of the legacy of three dynasties. A fort that stood a mute witness to its own growth and downfall. Now standing an awe inspiring tourist attraction. Legacy of three dynasties have added grandeur, culture, legend and myth to the historical Golkonda Fort. In the native language of the region, Telugu, the two syllables of the word Golkonda – Gola and Konda mean Round and hillock respectively. Alternatively Gola is also used to refer to a shepherd and hence some scholars suggest that the fort was actually called Shepherd’s hillock.


Art at the main entrance




History of the Golkonda fort starts with the native Kakatiya rulers of Deccan India building a fort reinforced with mud walls. The first such fortifications were said to have been built at around 1143 AD. From then on the fort stood witness to its own growth to pomp and splendor. The Kakatiyas were followed by the state of Warangal which was eventually conquered by the muslim rulers of the Bahmani Sulthanate by 1364.


A water source in the fort



A grand palace inside the fort




View of the fort




A complete view of the fort




The Bahamani Sultans made the fort the capital for a major province that was attached to the fort. The Bahamani Sultans appointed Sultan Quli Qutub Mulk as “Subedar” (Governor) of the state of Telangana in 1463. The year 1518 marks the historic beginning of Golkonda as a Sultanate, independent and standing tall. That is the year in which Quli Qutub Mulk assuming the name of Sultan Quli Qutub Shah declared independence and started a stupendous Qutub Shahi Dynasty. Over the next 171 years, the fort saw stupendous growth as a kingdom of wealth, culture and knowledge. In this period, the Qutub Shahis established themselves as patrons of art and culture. It is recorded history that the Qutub Shahis encouraged a new form of dance called Kuchupudi. The fort was expanded and the defense of the fort was laid out in 3 layers of walls with the outermost wall covering a circumference of 10km overall. The fort was rebuilt and fortified with granite stones and state of the art Canons of the time. A moat was built around the fort with 8 gates and 4 draw bridges. A part of the moat can still be seen today if you take the pains to walk around the middle wall of the fort. In this 171 years, Golkonda produced some of the world’s best diamonds that include Darya e Nur, Nur Ul Ain Diamond, Koh I noor, The Hope Diamond, The Regent Diamond. The finding of diamonds along the river beds and the establishment of mines made Golkonda a Diamond Trading Centre of the ancient times. As oft repeated in history, wealth attracted the eyes of the bigger neighbor. This time, the neighbor was the Mughals from Delhi. Aurangazeb eyed the wealth that Golkonda possessed and laid siege to the fort in 1686.


The granduer of the fort




The siege lasted for months and he retreated in frustration only to return in 1687. He laid siege for 9 months and was eventually able to persuade a treacherous General to open the fort’s gates for him at the night.


A View of the Complete fort

Main entrance to fort hidden by the wall

A royal mortuary

After the fall of the Golkonda, Aurangazeb promptly killed the general who opened the gates for him and appointed Asaf Jha as the “Subedar” of the Fort. In the year 1713 AD, Asaf Jha declared independence as Nizam Ul Mulk and thus the Nizams became new rulers of the Deccan region till 1948. In the year 1948, Union of India was formed. Today, one can see amongst the ruins the splendor and pomp of the fort at the pinnacle of its glory.


A canon that has not fired since 17th Century

Seascapes and Ships

This is a collection of seascapes and ships.

Creative Digital Images

For a while, I have been inspired by the advertising photographs that show so much of creative digital image works.

I tried some with my own images and here are some of the results.

Works of Vicky

Photography chose me at an early age. I started off as a photo assistant at an early age to my uncle. I was then gifted a Canon AV-1 by a very noble family friend. Digital SLR happened when I was able to afford it 3 years ago.


I see everything through my real eye




Water for the Gods

Water for the Gods
Lens: EF 75-300 mm @ 230 mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200
Sensitivity: ISO 100 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, India






Its been a long day and I have to rest said the Sun



Its been a long day and I have to rest said the Sun
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm
Shutter Priority Mode @ f14
Shutter Speed: 1/100
Sensitivity: ISO 100 & Camera mounted on a tripod.
Location: Between Nagarajun Sagar and Hyderabad on the way to Hyderabad, saw this beautiful sunset and those road workers winding up their work for the day.






Always Alert

Always alert
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 200mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f11
Shutter Speed: 1/200 & Flash @ -11/3 Flash exposure compensation
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Exposure compensation: -1/3 of an f Stop
Camera mounted on a tripod.
Location: The Magnificent white Tiger at the Singapore Zoo, Singapore.








Enlightened One

Enlightened one
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 90mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f8
Shutter Speed: 1/500
Sensitivity: ISO 200 & Camera mounted on tripod
Location: Nagarjun Sagar Dam, Hyderabad, India.

Hey Who is it

Hey Who is it?
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 300mm Aperture Priority Mode
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125
Sensitivity: ISO 400 & Camera mounted on a tripod.
Location: Jurong Bird Park, Singapore




Let there be Music

Let there be music
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 100mm
Aperturure Priority Mode @ f4.5 Sensitivity: ISO 800
Exposure compensation: -1 f stop, Camera was hand held
Location: Streets of Hyderabad during the Ganesh Chaturthi festivals.

Climbing away from Danger

Climbing away from Danger
Lens: EF 75-300mm @ 230mm
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6
Shutter speed: 1/80 & Camera mounted on a tripod.
Location: Sungei Bulogh Wetland Reserve, Singapore. A mangrove habitat.

Grass Flower

Lens: EF-s 18-55 mm + macro adapter lens @ 55 mm, Aperture Priority Mode
Aperture Priority Mode @ f5.6-, Sesitivity: ISO 100, Exposure Shutter Speed: 1/160 & Sensitivity : ISO 100
Camera mounted on a tripod. Location: On the banks of Osman Sagar Dam, Hyderabad