Map In My Pocket

Tag: Landscape Photography

What’s in my Camera Bag?
Let two people interested in Photography come together and the conversation immediately veers to what lenses one has, which camera body one uses and so on and so forth!

So, for all those who wanted to know what gear I use, here it is.

This is what’s in my camera bag.

Camera

Nikon D810

My first DSLR was a DX, Nikon D7100 (18-105mm) DSLR Kit. It was feature loaded for its time and still is amongst one of Nikon’s bestsellers. & then sometime last year as I was shooting a night wedding, outdoors in a low light setting (totally out of my depth here) it suddenly stuck me that it was time for a Full Frame.

Bigger Sensor = More Information Captured = Better Image Quality

That is when I got my Nikon D810 Body.
& now even my time lapses come upload-ready. ?

*I would recommend that you only upgrade when you know you have outgrown your current system. I had used my D7100 for a full three years under different conditions to know exactly I was looking for.

Lenses

Nikon AF-S Nikkor VR 16-35mm F/4 G ED

Genre of Photography | Architecture

Now that I was upgrading and I pretty much knew what kind of photography I enjoyed the most, I decided not to get the kit lens and opted for this lens instead.

It is a brilliant choice for shooting architecture.

I am not a “digital nomad” and I only do a few big trips a year. What I do though, is to go on a whole lot of road trips, hunting down ruins, temples, forts et al. And, this lens not only gets in a lot more of that into the frame but it also gives you wonderful depth when shooting with clouds as a backdrop.

So for those days, which is most of the time, this lens is the only lens I carry.

Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

Genre of Photography | Landscape

The last lens I got myself was the 24-70mm as my ‘alternate primary lens’. Now, whatever that means!

Here is why.

The 16-35mm is still my primary but when it comes to good old landscapes it is a bit limiting. For you cannot really play around with your composition where landscapes stretch away infinitely in to horizon. (Read mountains, deserts..)

Also there are trips where I can only carry one lens and then there are those where I can take along all my lenses but the conditions are such that it gets tough to change them too often. For instance, shooting winter landscapes in the subzero tempertures of the Himalayas.

It has in fact become my go-to lens and it rounds out my camera system perfectly.

Nikon AF-S 85mm F/1.8G Prime

Genre of Photography | Portraits, Food, Macro

I use this lens only rarely. I can vouch for its picture quality though. It is super sharp and the background blur just about perfect.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II

Genre of Photography | For everything else!

This one is a work horse and is probably one of the most loved Nikon lenses ever. And, rightly so. I use it for just about anything from Bird Photography to Portraiture.

Got this one even before I got my D810 and it works just as good on a DX body.

Camera & Lens Accessories

Tripods

Benro T600EX Tripod with Head

This basic Benro tripod is the one that I have always used.

An inexpensive aluminium tripod like this is perfectly good for most kinds of photography unless you intend to use it in difficult terrains. Besides you wont feel irresponsible for sending it off in check-in baggage!! ?

Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

Because a sturdy, carbon fibre tripod can be used even in rough weather. For, it isn’t recommended to handle aluminium tripod legs without gloves in sub zero temperatures, also aluminium tripods are not sturdy enough in strong winds. Plus, this one is compact and lightweight too, making it ideal for Travel Photography.

& yes, it fits perfectly in the side pocket of my camera bag.

Velbon Sherpa 200R with PH157Q Pan Head

Sturdy. Available in India only now.

Camera Bags

Manfrotto Travel Backpack

National Geographic NG W5050 Small Rucksack

Memory Cards + Backup

Saves me the worry on those long trips entirely dedicated to photography. Also, it is safer to divide your memory into smaller units rather than risk putting all your photos and videos on one large memory card.

CF Cards

SanDisk Extreme PRO CF Card 32GB
SanDisk Extreme CF Card 32GB

SD Cards

SanDisk Class 10 SD Card 32 GB
SanDisk Class 10 SD Card 16 GB
Sony Class 10 SD Card 32GB

Card Reader

Transcend Card Reader for SD & CF Cards

Card Case

Memory Card Case (unbranded)

External Hard Disks

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB Hard Disk
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 4TB Hard Disk

I can never have enough of Hard Disks shooting RAW!

Spare Batteries

Nikon EN-EL15 for my D810. Extreme weather conditions, far out places lacking access to electricity call for these.

Lens Cleaning Kit

I have a basic Photron Lens Cleaning Kit but if don’t mind splurging a little then I would say go whole hog with the Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit. Besides being Zeiss, this one comes with a cleaning brush and a little pouch to carry it all in. Because, I know we all love our cameras and photography is one hobby that once you are in, you just cannot seem to stop coveting the brands or forever adding to the wishlist.

Camera Rain Cover

The Neewer Camera Rain Cover is the one accessory that I can not stop raving about! I have always just used my camera bag’s rain cover whenever I found myself stuck in a downpour while out shooting and had never really felt the need for this. And, then I got this camera rain cover as a gift and it was only after I used it in the Goa Monsoon, that I realised how much I loved it.

Extension Tubes

Kenko Extension Tubes + 85mm Prime = Macro Photography

Extras

iPhone 7+

Useful For| Portraits, Food Photography

Well, it is more of an essential rather than an extra. But yes, I use it for my Food Photography, Flatlays and whenever I want to quickly freeze a travel memory. That way I dont lose out on a moment looking for the right lens and I can still get a sweet enough background blur with the dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus.

Samsung Note 8

Useful For| Anything!

A mini point and shoot this one. Almost my secondary camera.

Manfrotto Pixi Smart

Useful For| Tripod for Videos, Selfies

Allows you to use the time-lapse and timer modes on the iphone.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8

Useful For| Fun Polaroids

It was a present and I take it along on trips when I can afford to pack a little extra. For just a little behind the scenes fun!

Got anything specific to ask about photography or camera gear? Let me know in the comments below.

You can also get in touch with me here.
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July 30, 2018
20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Spiti Valley this Summer

Here are 20 Photos to Inspire you to visit Spiti Valley this Summer. Ladakh’s lesser known cousin.

Separated from the popular Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh by the Rohtang Pass, this middle land between India and Tibet is home to some of the most stunning lakes and monasteries in the world.

Of which, the mythical Chandratal Lake is one. Roads to the lake open mid July. So, peak tourist season in the Spiti Valley (for lack of a better word, tourism is yet to catch on here the way it has in Ladakh) is July and August. A difficult terrain as is, the four months of summer is when this desert valley in the Himalayas is most accessible.

Road Trip through tricky terrains, along rocky roads.

Be amazed by the stark landscapes.

Or the ‘moonscape’ of this land, as it has come to be known.

Rediscover colour.

Vivid skies, cloud shadows, wild flowers et al.

Fall in love.

With the starry nights.

Find peace amidst the many Himalayan Monasteries.

Befriend the most adorable kids you will ever see!

Stay with the locals in a homestay and experience life, their way.

Get to know them. In their houses that are built to shelter them in the harsh winter months when they can only be indoors. Over soft, doughy bread which is but a variant of our regular Indian roti and sweet milky chai.

& of course, no trip to Spiti Valley is complete without a visit to the Chandratal Lake.

Did You Know? The Chandratal Lake reflects the colour of the sky. So the lake is a bright turquoise blue at sunrise and a lush serene green at sunset!

Besides, it isn’t just this one lake in Spiti Valley that is breathtaking. There are more.

Read Next: a Fortress, a Monastery & a Lake: Dhankar

Read More on Spiti:

Driving through Lahaul & Spiti
Where The Monasteries are.
The Road to Serenity: Chandratal

July 18, 2017
Armoor: Of Rocks and Hidden Temples

In Nizamabad, is a temple. Though not quite as legendary as the Dichpally Ramalayam, but just as historic. Popularly known as Armoor Siddula Gutta, this is the Navanatha Siddheswara Temple and a series of cave temples inside the rock formations of Armoor.

Armoor Rock Formations

As you drive along the highway from Nizamabad to Armoor, you will go past a long stretch of hills that look like they were made by someone who has artistically and quite laboriously piled up boulders to form them. These are the Armoor Rock Formations. Naturally weathered rocks crafted by mother nature for over millions of years. They are so distinctively striking that they are but a natural stopover for anyone driving that way and rightly so.

Sitting in a cave somewhere in those rocks is the Navantha Siddula Gutta, gutta for cave and Navanatha Siddhas for the sages who are believed to still reside in them.

Armoor Siddula Gutta

Fifteen years ago a ghat road was built through the rock formation, leading straight to Siddulagutta. There is also a walkway from the Gol Bungalow for pilgrims wishing to do the climb up to the temple by foot.

Inside these caves is a Shiva Temple, where the Shiva Lingam is said to be swaymbhu or self-manifested. It is said that the lingam here has always been worshipped by devotees, since the Tretayuga. That is the second age of mankind, in Hinduism! We are currently in the fourth.

The entrance to this cave temple is a door that is barely three feet. Once you crouch through it, the cave opens up and skylight filters in. You walk along in the designated route through the caves and you will come across many little temples in interconnected passageways. Even one dedicated to the Goddess Durga.

Just outside the exit point of this narrow cave is a Ramalayam and the temple tank, Jeeva Koneru. Legend has it that during the construction of the temple, when this tank was dug, it failed to well up with water. So, Rampriyadas Maharaj, the person who built the temple took up a tapasaya, that lasted forty-one days. At the end of which Lord Rama himself came to him in a dream and the water in this is believed to have been blessed with curative powers. Making the armoor siddula gutta popular amongst pilgrims undertaking the journey to be healed.

Otherwise quiet and forgotten, the temple tends to get crowded on the festival of Sri Rama Navami. Work is currently underway to build facilities to accommodate these devotees and also other temples around it on the flat ground between the rocks.

Beyond the Cave Temples

Further up the rocks, the summit flattens out into a breezy plateau. The village of Armoor with its houses of redbrick roofs and the setting sun glinting off the black rocks lend the landscape such beauty, that it has actually been the location for many a movie shoot.

Just about perfect for that evening picnic.

Explorers Guide

Distance from Hyderabad: 184 Kilometres
Trip Duration: Day Trip
Getting There: Armoor is around 37 kilometres from the town of Nizamabad, along the intersection of NH7 and NH16.
Other Places of Interest: Pochampadu Dam (Sri Rama Sagar Project)
30 kilometres from here this dam on the Godavari River is widely accepted to be the lifeline of Northern Telangana. It is quite a sight to behold when its forty-two floodgates are open.

Read More on Temples in Telangana

Town of Hymns: Manthani
Lost in Time: Nagunur Ruins
South India’s City of Moksh: Alampur
A Song of Stone: Dichpally Ramalayam

July 1, 2017
Driving through Lahaul & Spiti

I travelled through the Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal for 10 days and most of that time was spent driving on rocky roads and glacial streams. All that time, I stared awe-struck at the magnificence of the Himalayas, as we went from one place to the next, winding amidst them.

So, here is an attempt to take you down that road – a photographic journey of Driving through Lahaul & Spiti.

January 14, 2016
Islands of Singapore: Pulau Ubin

Just off the coast of mainland Singapore is Pulau Ubin, a boomerang shaped island, meaning ‘Granite Island’.

This was once home to thousands of settlers dependent on granite quarrying. Though abandoned since the 1970s and reclaimed by nature, these quarries remain a picturesque relic of the past.

Now, the few remaining villagers subsist on farming and fishing.

The fact that, this is the one last bit of the heavily urbanised Singapore that still retains its rustic village ways is what makes this a popular day trip destination.

You can go exploring this quiet island on foot or by cycling along the many bike trails. Stopping along the way for a birds eye view of the luxuriant tree canopy and flourishing bird life from the viewing tower.

A cape, surrounded by wetlands rich in bio-diversity, lies at the tip of Pulau Ubin. This is Chek Jawa and its popularity precedes it. So much so that, we were not the only ‘tourists’ who had packed a picnic lunch to eat at the lookout-jetty on the boardwalk.

& The view from here is made even more interesting with the flights taking off and landing at the Changi airport! :)

The Coastal Boardwalk runs along the coast for almost a kilometer and leads you through the mangroves to the jetty right in the middle of the Straits of Johor.

Though made of concrete, this boardwalk is built to look like wood so the effect is not jarring but goes well with the unspoilt feel of the island.

The Island of Pulau Ubin boasts of a variety of ecosystems in and as one. Coastal Forests, Mangroves, Seagrass Lagoons, Tidal Flats – both mud & sand and Coral rubbles. Where, even rocky shores and sandy beaches co-exist.

Mangroves – Protectors of shorelines.

More than even the ‘exploring on a cycle’, it was the walking through these shady mangroves that I enjoyed doing the most on this island.

May be it was my coming from the country of the Sundarbans. Or my counting The Hungry Tide and Midnights Children amongst my favourite books. I admit that ‘mangroves’ did hold a certain fascination for me. Even before I ever saw them for real.

But the experience of walking through a mangrove forest, where the sun-rays play hide and seek with you, as you hear and feel the distant breeze from the surrounding sea, definitely heightened that fascination.

Found in calm waters of low salinity, the Nipah Palm is the only true mangrove palm. Like the other palms, it is tapped for its sap that is fermented to make alcohol. While its mature fronds are used for thatching roofs & are also woven into mats & baskets. Locally though, its most recognizable use is its edible seed.

Only a short boat ride away, this island has a lot to offer and is totally worth the time!

December 19, 2015
a Fortress, a Monastery & a Lake: Dhankar

Meet Dhankar. A village, a Fortress, a Monastery & a Lake.

Above the Dhankar Village, sit the Fortress and the Monastery, watching over the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers.

This spectacular setting is what gives the place its name, Dhankar, meaning ‘Fort on a Cliff’.

The village of Dhankar lies somewhere between Kaza and Tabo in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. At a height of 12,774 feet, looking over the village is the Dhankar Gompa, built like a fort, just like the Ki and Thiksey Monasteries.

Looking over the monastery is the Dhankar Fortress, which served as the traditional home of the royal family when Dhankar was the capital of the Spiti Valley Kingdom in around the 17th century.

and, around 1.5km away from here is the Dhankar Lake.

Though the hike uphill felt more like 10kms, it did have me going over and over in my head “I climbed a mountain!!” :D.

(the views as I climbed..)

By the time I got to the lake, I felt like I had finally achieved something for the first time in my life!

Another first at a Himalayan Lake. The other being my first ever ‘night in a tent’ at the Chandratal Lake, amidst the Himalayas. and, also that it was my first time in the Himalayas!

Which is why these 2 lakes are my Top2 in The Lahaul & Spiti Valley and till today remain my most memorable ones.

Read Next: Where The Monasteries Are

Read More on Spiti Valley:

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Spiti Valley this Summer
Driving through Lahaul & Spiti
The Road to Serenity: Chandratal

December 12, 2015
Royal Ruins: Shey Palace

On the road from Leh to Thiksey, atop a hill, sits The Shey Palace and Monastery. It is by far the most picturesque of monasteries in India. Little surprise then that it was once the summer palace of the Kings of Ladakh.

The views that the Shey Palace commands are like no other. Despite the persistently thick cloud cover that dogged us through our week in Ladakh, it made for some beautiful pictures.

All you need to do is pick your vantage point!

It is said that the lake right across the road, once mirrored the entire palace, lending its name ‘Shey‘ – meaning mirror – to the palace and the village.

Though overrun now, it still is a thing of beauty and joy.

& it is not just the setting, but the Shey Palace in itself which is stunning. The wooden accents to the doors and windows only add to the beauty of the facade and make for striking pictures.

Here, it all comes together in a picture window framed in wood. :)

The monastery in the palace boasts of a large Buddha statue gilded in copper, brass and gold that spans across the two storeys of the split-level temple. So, you spend a good few hours not just paying your respects at The Temple of Sakyamuni Buddha, but also climbing around and exploring the hillside ruins in the crisp fresh mountain breeze.

There are chortens and stupas, prayer flags and wheels at every turn & corner.

Read More on Ladakh:

Little Ones of Ladakh
Celebrating Life & Beyond
In The Realm of The Passes: Khardung La
5 Reasons You Should Travel to Ladakh Off-Season
In The Nomadic Settlement of Puga

December 6, 2015
Sunrise on Surfers Paradise

This week, I am revisiting some old memories!

Last year when I was living in Sydney, we had a study break when we were supposed to work on a project. Instead a bunch of us (read most of the class) rented an apartment on Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast & took off.

Some, including me took a flight, while other lucky ones drove down. Though I did miss taking the scenic route, I woke up to this!

A Sunrise on The Beach.

There I am in the living room, waking up, sticking my head out & see it getting light outside. So, I wake up others and we walk across from the apartment to sit on the beach and catch the sunrise.

Each of us wanders off to pick a spot & indulge in some peace and thought.

& Then, just like that, the wait is over.

and a glorious dawn breaks.

The time is more than perfect for a quite walk on the beach,

to the sound of crashing waves.

I believe a beach at this twilight hour has a completely different personality from when it gradually assumes its character as the day wears on.

Do you know of any other beaches where one could wake up to the rising sun?

Tell me! Would love to go there one day. :)

Read Next: Abseiling in The Blue Mountains

October 27, 2015
In the Realm of The Passes: Khardung La

I have been to the Himalayas twice. Both times, my most memorable moments have been at the Lakes & the Passes. Their beauty is incomparable & my love for them is eternal.

With the crisp mountain air in our face, listening to the Buddhist Morning Prayer, Khardung La or the ‘Pass of the Lower Castle’ is where we headed to first, after a day of acclimatisation. This Himalayan Pass’s claim to tourist-fame is that at 18,380 feet it is the highest motorable road in the world. But this is a fact that is more often than not disputed.

While being photographed with this signboard is a classic tourist must-do. These three Stupas with the fluttering prayer flags crowning them remain the photographers’ favourite.

A short climb gets you here, to the quaint little temple & these stupas.

The mountainside disappears in prayer flags & as you find your way through them, you might come up short of breath, for the climb though short gets a little tough. The rarified atmosphere of Khardung La, at its immense height is known to cause altitude sickness. Though no one in the group had to tackle with this, it is recommended that you check your oxygen levels & blood pressure before you decide to undertake this journey.

Once you reach level ground & catch your breath, you cannot help but be overwhelmed! The Himalayas just never cease to surprise you with all that they have to offer. The scenic beauty, which inspires in you a sense of achievement & pride in just being able to witness it. The solitude, which makes you feel like you have found your own little space of peace in this crowded world, ‘far from the madding crowd’ so to say!

Also Read: The Goat Village: Take me away!

Right opposite to the stupas, a series of steps lead you to a rain-washed cabin & from this edge, the snow covered peaks are almost within touching distance and the wooden cabin only adds to the intrigue of the scene.

PS: When you come back down, DO NOT miss the Qahwah at Rinchen Cafe. The only canteen amongst the few structures on the other side of the road.

While the Arabic Qahwah is coffee based, the Kashmiri version is tea based. Nonetheless, you will love the lingering taste of the cardamom from this warm drink, right after being out in the sharp chilly breeze. Atleast I did!
& I still miss it. ;)

Read More on Ladakh:

Little Ones of Ladakh
Ladakh Festival: Celebrating Life & Beyond
Royal Ruins: Shey Palace
5 Reasons You Should Travel to Ladakh Off-Season
In The Nomadic Settlement of Puga

October 13, 2015
A Day on The Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a popular holiday island in Western Australia eighteen kilometres off the coast of Perth. This island framed by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean is a ferry ride away. Making for an ideal day trip destination.

Separated from the mainland around 7000 years ago, it is famous for its secluded bays, pristine beaches & crystal clear waters.

An A Class Nature Reserve, it is home to a range of rare and remarkable species of plant, marine & wild life. Its extensive seagrass beds provide shelter & nutrients in the shallow marine environment.

The population of Quokkas – who have lately become popular as the World’s Happiest Animal – led the Dutch seaman Willem de Vlamingh to name this island, their island, the Ratte nest (rat’s nest); which eventually became Rottnest.

I was in Sydney last year & travelled to Perth for my birthday weekend.
& that is how I found myself for a day on the Rottnest Island.

The first thing we did as soon we got to the island was to find a map & hire a bike.

Bikes are the transportation of choice on this island! (As you can see from the picture above :D)

But, you can also choose to hop on & off the bus or book one of the tours including a historic train ride, which bring to life the colonial heritage of the island.

So, what else can one do besides enjoying the sweeping ocean views, scenic salt lakes & moors and the sights of trees shaped by years of oceanic winds?

Eat at waterfront restaurants with a view like this.

Swim, dive, snorkel, fish, sail.. laze on the beach!

Discover shipwrecks.

There are such a number of great trails to follow & brilliant sights to explore that I came away feeling a day is just not enough!

PS: Google Maps are just as fun, though not so pretty!

Read Next: Sunrise on Surfers Paradise

Read More on Australia:

Abseiling in The Blue Mountains

September 6, 2015