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Kashi 3.0

Memory is unpredictable . One never really knows what we will remember and what we will forget. Which is why nostalgia arrives in unpredictable waves, highlighting something and skimming over others. Recently, I have found myself thinking of how memory works, as I was assailed by nostalgia over a trip to Varanasi, a city I prefer to think of, as Kashi. The nostalgia hit right as we landed at Varanasi airport. The last time I was here, it was 1988, I was 13 years old, the airport was brand new… regular flights hadn’t started yet (I think) … flights landed about once a week, and for the rest of the time, everything was open to those of us who lived in the airport quarters nearby. There were fields everywhere, vast expanses of green… I have vague memories of corn and sugarcane… and being overwhelmed by the vastness of the fields (this was the first time I was in such close proximity to them), and the warm hospitality of complete strangers who lived and worked amidst these fields. I h...
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Hoopoe

The Hoopoe is said to be quite a common bird, usually found in fields. However, to those of us who get to see it rarely, it is as good as any of the exotic birds!! We first saw hoopoes on our trip to Binsar, but this time, at Jaipur, we got to see them in large numbers. I saw plenty of them, but photographing them turned out to be a challenge!! They moved so quickly, that most of my images came out blurred. Here is the one decent image I managed to click.....





And here is one I clicked while visiting a temple near Jaipur. The sun was shining brightly in my eyes, and I wasn't even sure I would get a decent shot, but I clicked anyway, and here is the result...



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Comments

  1. AartiMay 25, 2012 at 10:59 AM

    This was the 1st bird i spotted when i began bird watching and then in Hampi i spotted not one, but 5 of them one after the other... joy knew no bounds:))

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    1. Anuradha ShankarMay 25, 2012 at 11:25 AM

      wow!!! we didnt see a single Hoopoe at Hampi! but then we didnt see as many birds as u did there ;( but they looks so beautiful!

      Delete
  2. Santosh BsMay 25, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    good images, for moving birds switch to Tv mode on your camera and increase the shutter speed to say 1/500 or 1/1000 or higher and then you freeze the birds in motion.

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    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMay 25, 2012 at 7:18 PM

      Thanks so much, Santosh!!! will write this down and try it out with the birds I see at home...

      Delete
  3. Samaresh BiswalMay 25, 2012 at 10:22 PM

    beautiful pic

    ReplyDelete
  4. HaddockMay 26, 2012 at 5:41 AM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMay 26, 2012 at 10:10 AM

      Hey, Haddock, sorry your comment just disappeared..no idea what went wrong. one moment i was approving it and the next moment it vanished... but i did read it and thanks so much!!!! would love to see the pics u take with the technique santosh mentioned!

      Delete
  5. IndraniMay 26, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    Great captures.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AshJune 1, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    Excellent pics!

    ReplyDelete

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