We had spent the whole afternoon taking candid street pictures & portraits of saints & sadhus along the holy river Ganges. The river runs through the city of Kolkata & has a whole culture & people developed around the banks. We were out taking street pictures in Nimtola, the burning ghats of Kolkata, along the Ganges.

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People around pointed out to Lalbaba, the Saint in Red, & suggested that we take his pictures. “Everyone with a camera takes his pictures” they said. He sat under the tree, unconcerned, unconnected. He kept preparing his tobacco in his palms. He did not speak to us, just kept looking straight. People told us he rarely speaks & that he is a very accomplished sadhu.

Dakshineswar Temple has been an integral part of the Hindu culture for hundreds of years as much as Ramkrishna Deb’s sermons. Everyday thousands of devotees offer their prayers to Goddess Kali. The temple opens from 6 AM in the morning till 12 noon & again from 4 PM through 8 PM in the night.

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After you make your offerings to the deity, it is customary to take a holy dip in the Ganges. The river runs along the temple &you would see people of all cultures, communities & religion gathered for a touch of the holy water.

This picture is taken at mid-day after we offered our puja at the temple. It is taken on hand-held Nikon D200. To avoid dark-eyes & partial wash-outs due to the extreme sunlight, I used a 2X Singh Ray gradual neutral density filter. The picture is cropped in Adobe Photoshop.

He is an extremely quite person. He was observing us as I & my brother were crouching close to him trying to take his portraits. His neighbors told us his name “Lalbaba“, which translates to “Priest in Red“, probably from the red clothes that he has always got on him.

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Lalbaba does not care for anything materialistic. He lives off donations from people coming into the Hanuman Temple nearby. And sometimes, some rich person would offer clothes & food to saints & sadhus. Its a cleansing ritual in some cultures to offer food & clothes to the sadhus & saints.

All the while we were taking his pictures, he did not blink, nor did he take his eyes off me & neither did he utter any syllable. I figured that his intent looks were not inquisitive. It was kind of an indifferent glare as if he wasn’t quite there!

This is a very old tradition prevalent in many of the Asian religions & cultures. People would feed the unprivileged & the poor on occasions that are auspicious to their families.

In the old days of Rajas & Maharajas, people would sit in long rows along the streets while they are offered clothes & food. It usually had to do with the birth of a child, or a marriage or even a death in the family.

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In this candid street photo, we caught this long line of people sitting along a street near the Ganges. They had been offered food & they were busy eating. Although the times have changed, some of these old Indian cultures still remain.

The picture was taken on hand held Nikon D200 & fill flash at around 7 PM in the evening. I sat on the road next to them to take this picture.

“Do good unto others” & while you are in Calcutta, India, you would see a lot of people going out of their way to help others. The holy place of Dakshineswar is strewn with people asking for alms. And they find people willing to offer them a few coins or food.

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This picture shows Shyama, a middle aged person, who has been handicapped all his life from a strong attack of polio, asking for alms from bystanders. An old lady stoops to offer Shyama a handful of changes. She would have given it to anyone on the way had Shyama not been there!

This street picture is taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a 2X Singh Ray graduated neutral density filter & a wide angle lens.

The Dakshineshwar temple, located about 15 kilometers from the heart of Kolkata city, opens at around 6 AM in the morning everyday. The devotees line up to offer their pujas to goddess Kali. After the “darshan” & the pujas are over, the devotees will walk over to the holy Ganges. The river runs along the Mandir & its holy water has cleansed the spirit for ages.

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The day we were at Dakshineswar, it was extremely hot. With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the river offers the visitors a chance to dip and cool off too.

People would also carry the holy water of the Ganges in bottles back to their homes. The water is a spiritual cleanser & is used to keep the house sacred & the people safe.

BH Photo has announced the sale of Nikon D700. They have 2 variations on the offer:

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      1. Nikon D700 Body only &
      
      
      2. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 24 - 120 mm VR Lens
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

Both these variations of the new Nikon D700 has US warranties on them. As always, the Nikon D700 cameras from BH Photo are backed up with International Warranty from SageMax.

BH Photo expects the cameras in store in August 2008.

The Key Features listed on the website for the Nikon D700 include:

• 12.1 Megapixel Resolution FX-format CMOS Sensor

The Nikon-original 12.87 Megapixel FX-format (23.9 x 36mm) CMOS sensor is nearly identical to the size of a 35mm film frame -provides a high signal-to-noise ratio, wide dynamic range and 12-channel readout to delivers breathtakingly rich image quality with an effective resolution of 12.1 million pixels, while also reducing noise to unprecedented levels, even at high ISO sensitivity.

• Durable and Dependable

The D700 body is built from a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy, and has been designed for a high level of dust and water resistance, while the camera’s shutter has been tested for 150,000-release cycles, thereby continuing Nikon’s long tradition of sturdiness and durability

• Self Cleaning Sensor

The D700 incorporates a self-cleaning image sensor unit, which vibrates at high frequencies using four different resonance frequencies to remove any loose dust on the surface of the sensor’s optical low pass filter. Image Sensor Cleaning can be set for automatic activation when the camera is turned on and off, or can be activated at any time the photographer feels it’s necessary.

• Enhanced Images and Performance with EXPEED

The EXPEED image processing system is at the heart of the D700’s ability to capture and process high definition image data so quickly. It features 14-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion with 16-bit image processing, both of which contribute to delivering results with Nikon’s signature ‘look and feel’ of rich accurate colors, smooth skin gradations and exceptional detail.

• Fast Performance

The D700 can support continuous shooting up to 5 frames per second (up to 8 frames per second with the optional MB-D10 Multi-power Battery Pack), making it a powerful performer for a wide variety of shooting disciplines, particularly for action sports, wildlife, or news gathering applications. It also provides fast power-up (0.12 seconds), quick responsiveness (40 millisecond shutter lag), and outstanding timer and shutter flexibility to meet the needs of a wide variety of photographic assignments.

• Wide Range of ISO Sensitivity

The camera has a broad ISO range from 200-6400 plus Lo-1 (equivalent to ISO 100), Hi-1 (equivalent to ISO 12800) and Hi-2 (equivalent to 25600) sensitivity settings. There is also a convenient Auto ISO setting that automatically adjust the cameras ISO when shooting under constantly changing lighting conditions.

• Fast, Accurate 51-point Autofocus

The D700 incorporates Nikon’s Multi-CAM 3500DX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors that keep your subject in focus, even with quick and/or erratic subject movement, across a wide extent of the frame, and the highly responsive AF sensor detects your subject in EV as low as -1.

• Versatile AF Area Modes

The three AF area modes provide appropriate focus control for any shooting situation. Single-point AF ensures that the most important element in your composition will be sharply focused. With Dynamic-area AF, you can select from several focusing options, utilizing 9, 21 or all 51 points, depending on the nature of your subject, and using the 51-point option allows for 3D-Tracking which uses image color information to automatically follow moving subjects across the AF points. Auto-area AF also uses color information along with special face recognition algorithms to automatically focus on an individual’s face, extremely helpful for situations when there’s simply no time to select a focus point or when using Live View in Hand-held mode at high or low angles.

• Exclusive Scene Recognition System (SRS)

The Nikon Scene Recognition System uses the acclaimed Nikon 1005-pixel RGB color sensor modified to recognize subjects’ shape and position before the image is captured. This also aids the Autofocus system, while enhancing the accuracy of the auto exposure, i-TTL control and white balance metering.

• Active D-Lighting Mode

The Active D-Lighting mode provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast, producing broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because Active D-Lighting is applied as images are captured, image editing time can be reduced.

• Built-in Flash and i-TTL Flash Control

The built-in flash of the D700 has 24mm lens coverage, and works as a wireless commander for up to two groups of remote Nikon Speedlights using Nikons Advanced Wireless Lighting system. The camera is also compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System, which supports i-TTL flash control and the camera’s Scene Recognition System further provides for a more refined flash metering evaluation, to reduce overexposure, and other exposure inaccuracies - even with small subjects or scenes containing highly reflective objects.

• Accurate Auto White Balance

The Cameras Auto White Balance works together with Nikon’s Scene Recognition System in calculating the characteristics of the scene, cross-referencing it with 5,000 actual picture data examples among the over 20,000 images stored in the D700’s AWB database. This lets you shoot with confidence, even in tricky conditions so white stays white, and yellow appears as yellow - just the way you see it.

• Lateral Chromatic Aberration Reduction

To overcome the chromatic aberration effect produce by even the highest quality optics, the D700 incorporates Nikon’s exclusive lateral chromatic aberration reduction function which compensates for the differences in the resolving index for each color. And since this aberration is corrected regardless of lens type, this feature delivers sharper images whichever Lens you use.

• Picture Control Settings

Nikon’s Picture Control System makes it easy for users of all experience levels to select and apply adjustments to how their pictures are rendered and create optimized settings to suit their individual preferences. The Picture Control System offers four basic setting options - Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, that can be directly customized with image parameters, such as sharpening, tone compensation, brightness and saturation. Furthermore, users can store up to nine customized options or export up to 99 to a CF memory card, enabling photographers to share settings among multiple cameras.

• 3.0″ Color LCD Display

The 3.0-inch super density 920,000-dot VGA color monitor provides a crisp clear view of your images with 170-degree wide-angle viewing and tempered-glass protection making critical image review possible. The camera also includes an information display on the rear LCD screen that can change color according to the ambient lighting conditions, and an easy-to-view top LCD panel.

• Live View Feature

The D700 includes the Live View system, which presents photographers with a live image on the LCD screen, with two modes suited to either hand held or tripod shooting. The Live View system is particularly useful when shooting in a studio, Utilizing remote shooting or when shooting from challenging angles.

• Tripod & Hand-held Live View Modes

The Tripod Mode is ideal for photographic applications that require precise focus and composition, such as still life, architecture and macro photography. In this mode, the contrast-detect AF system provides exceptionally accurate focusing from any point in the entire frame (an area wider than the 51-AF point area), so you can easily rearrange your subject while simultaneously confirming your composition, or confirm your focus by enlarging the focus point image up to 13 times. For low- and high-angle compositions where you’re unable to look through the viewfinder, the Hand-held Mode can be a tremendous assistance - letting you select your focus point or use Auto-area AF, then use the Live View LCD with its 170-degree viewing angle for composing your shot.

• Electronic Virtual Horizon

The innovative Virtual Horizon provides instant, accurate confirmation of the D700’s position relative to horizontal level. When using Live View, you can choose to display the virtual horizon on the LCD, a feature ideal for landscape and architecture photography. You can also level the D700 while looking through the viewfinder using the convenient analog scale.

• Comfortable Controls

The controls of the D700 were designed for ease of use with easy access, via buttons, to functions often required while shooting, eliminating the need for time-consuming menu searches. The controls are also consistent with Nikon’s other professional D-SLRs to make the use of multiple camera platforms substantially easier. In addition, the intuitive menu system provides fast access to many of the fine controls and setting available in the camera.

• Wireless Networking

The optional Nikon Wireless Transmitter WT-4, not only provides the ability to transmit (’push’) images to servers and remotely control the camera from afar, but also enables remote browsing of the camera’s image thumbnails as well. Furthermore users can set up a network of up to five D300 so thumbnails from all connected cameras can be browsed simultaneously from a remote server and relevant image files ‘pulled’, while the photographers continue shooting.

• Long-life Battery and Power Options

Using the included EN-EL3e, the D700 lets you shoot up to 1,000 frames per charge (CIPA standard) thanks to intelligent power management. And by adding the optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10, you can choose between using rechargeable Li-ion Batteries (EN-EL4a/4/3e) or eight AA-size batteries, and get up to 2,900 frames (with EN-EL4a). the MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack is also equipped with a shutter-release button, AF-ON button, multi selector, and main- and sub-command dials for more comfortable camera operation when shooting in a vertical orientation. Furthermore, all of these power options enable you to monitor the level of battery power and shots remaining on a charge.

• A Total Imaging System

The D700 isn’t just a camera, but part of a complete Nikon system to help photographers create great images. The D700 is compatible with the Nikon Total Imaging System of NIKKOR lenses, Speedlights, accessories and software that provides a complete solution for any photographic challenge.

People come to the temples of Dakshineswar from far away places. After offering the pujas to goddess Kali they would stroll into one of the food stalls along the road & sit for some breakfast, lunch or maybe just for some sweet meats & tea!

For as long as I can remember, every time we had been to the Dakshineswar Temples with parents & family, we have always spent time over hot pan cakes (Kachori, as they are called locally), sweets & tea.

Even the extremely high temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit that day did not make us change our family traditions.

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The shops look exciting from all the boards & the boys trying to yell the menu to passers by to attract them. The prices are quite low. The four of us had a hearty breakfast with tea for a little over a dollar!

Hari had been a baul singer. Baul (pronounced like baa-ool) is a tradition of folk songs, similar to ballads of the English countrysides, typically sang by priests, saints & sadhus in the olden days. They would sing of life, of people & generally of cultures & the goodness of human beings. Hari had been a singer till he became incapacitated due to old age & ailing health.

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Now Hari spends most of his time in the ashrams near the Hanuman Mandir next to the Ganges. He lives off donations & whatever people would offer him as food or clothes. He would still sing at the temple occasionally when his heart feels heavy. He wished us well & hoped that we make some great pictures!

This picture is taken with a hand held Nikon D200 & wide angle lens with a fill flash set at -2 EV.

As was anticipated, Nikon made the announcement of the new Nikon D700 in a press release today:

THE AGILE NEW NIKON D700 FX-FORMAT D-SLR CAMERA DELIVERS PERFORMANCE INSPIRED BY THE NIKON D3 IN A SMALLER, LIGHTER DESIGN

Nikon’s Second FX-Format Camera Delivers Peak Pro Performance in a Versatile Form-Factor

The Nikon D700 is sold at for USD 2,999.

Here is a quick look at the specs:

• 12.1-effective megapixel Nikon FX-format sensor that measures 23.9 x 36mm


• D700 incorporates Nikon’s EXPEED Image Processing System


• 51-point auto focus system with 3D Focus Tracking


• two Live View shooting modes that allow photographers to frame a shot using the camera’s three-inch high-resolution LCD monitor


• Scene Recognition System


• new active dust reduction system


• ISO range of 200 to 6400

The press release, made on July 1 2008, announcing the camera gives an estimated selling price of $2,999.95 (body only).*

Kanika is just 4. With her ragged dress & tears in her eyes she stood in front of me asking me to take her picture. I obliged. She made me promise that I would show her picture to “everyone”. And for that, she brought out a naive smile.

Kanika is raised along the river Ganges that runs through the city of Kolkata. She was born to a family who works in the crematorium of Nimtola. But that does not make her sad or morbid. Like her friends, her mother would dress up for school every morning, and she would spend the afternoon playing on the streets.

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While her parents are working during the day, the local shop owners & the priests of the nearby Hanuman Mandir, would watch over Kanika & her kid friends. Most of the people in this community of Nimtola work in the crematorium. But Kanika wants to grow up & become a teacher some day.

This picture is taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a fill flash set at -2 EV.

It may not be a rumor any more, with not only pictures of Nikon D700 going around, reputed shops in UK & Europe have already started announcing that Nikon D700 will be available for sale from July 2008. Digital Depot of UK announced on 27th June 2008 that they would have the Nikon D700 for sale from June 30 2008.

The Nikon D700 is a hybrid between the Nikon D3 & the Nikon D300 & is supposed to have a 12.1 MP full frame sensor.

Many of the online retailers had shown the price list before, but that caused a confusion. And people wanting to buy the high priced Nikon D3 are now holding back. Here is a price list of the Nikon D700 quoted from the European retailer.

The site has taken the prices down, but still has the updated specifications to view. Here is what the Nikon D700 specs look like:

The new D700 is a “hybrid” of D300 and D3 - and available after only 6 months with the latter.

The D700 features:

• 36×23,9mm CMOS sensor FX format 12,1mp effective


• RGB Color filter array, build in low pass filter


• EXPEED processor, 14-bit


• NEF, NEF+jpeg, TIFF, Jpeg file formats


• Auto crop when using DX lenses. All other lenses usable.


• 51 point AF, 15 cross type sensors


• Live view mode


• 3D Colormatrix II metering modes


• ISO 100 - 25600


• CF card slot FAT32


• Accu and grip same as MB-D10 (from D300)

Photographica is accepting orders for Nikon D700.

Other pictures & posts available on: Photoduniya.com

Its been sometime that the news of Nikon D700 is running on most blogs & websites. Nikon fans are searching crazy for any information they could find. The camera seems to have been spotted, used & photographed in China.

This Chinese website posted the picture of the Nikon D700 camera again. I will translate in English (thanks to Google) a part of the post for my readers:

EVO D700 again this week received a kind of information, physical map with the exposure we discussed earlier on the D700 is the built-in flash also been confirmed, EVO can tell you is responsible D700 built-in flash.

Through the straps on the part of the body map “D7″ the words once again confirmed the existence of the authenticity of D700, of course, with the exposure also on the map and brought the body of another on the D700 to Lens by the message.

The article gives a detailed specification of the Nikon D700 camera. Translated in English:

Price (body only): US $ 2999 (2999 dollars)

Sensor(感光原件) : Sensor (photosensitive Original):

• 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor • 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor

• FX format • FX format

• RGB Color Filter Array • RGB Color Filter Array

• Built-in fixed low-pass filter • Built-in fixed low-pass filter

• 12.9 million total pixels • 12.9 million total pixels

• 12.1 million effective pixels • 12.1 million effective pixels

• 3:2 aspect ratio • 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor(影像处理器) : Nikon EXPEED Image processor (video processor): Nikon EXPEED

A/D conversion(数模转换器) : 14 bit A / D conversion (DAC): 14 bit

Image sizes(图片尺寸) : Image sizes (picture size):

(FX format) (FX format)

• 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP] • 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP]

• 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP] • 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP]

• 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP] • 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP]

(DX format) (DX format)

• 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP] • 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP]

• 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP] • 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP]

• 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]] • 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]]

File formats(文件格式) : File formats (document format):

• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW) • NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)

• NEF + JPEG • NEF + JPEG

• TIFF • TIFF

• JPEG (EXIF 2.21) • JPEG (EXIF 2.21)

Lens mount(镜头接口) : Lens mount (Lens Mount):

• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts • Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts

• No field of view crop (full-frame) • No field of view crop (full-frame)

• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop • When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop

Usable lenses(可使用镜头类型) : Usable lenses (to use the camera type):

• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported • Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported

• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36×24)/5:4 (30×24) image size • DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36 × 24) / 5:4 (30 × 24) image size

• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II • AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II • AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data • Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data

Auto Focus(自动对焦方式) : Auto Focus (AF method):

• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors) • 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)

• Multi-CAM 3500FX • Multi-CAM 3500FX

• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV • AF working range: -1 to +19 EV

• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode • Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode

Exposure modes(曝光模式) : Exposure modes (exposure mode):

• Program Auto [P] with flexible program • Program Auto [P] with flexible program

• Shutter-Priority Auto [S] • Shutter-Priority Auto [S]

• Aperture-Priority Auto [A] • Aperture-Priority Auto [A]

Metering(测光模式) : Metering (segment):

• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed) • 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)

• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame • Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. Circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame

• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used) • Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. Circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

White balance(白平衡) : White balance (White Balance):

• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor) • Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)

• Presets (seven) with fine tuning • Presets (seven) with fine tuning

• Manual presets (four) • Manual presets (four)

• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps) • Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)

• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps) • White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)

Sensitivity(感光度) : Sensitivity (equivalent):

• Auto (200 - 6400) • Auto (200 - 6400)

• Up to ISO 25600(expanded range) • Up to ISO 25600 (expanded range)

Flash Sync Mode(闪光模式) : Flash Sync Mode (flash mode):

• Front-curtain Sync (normal) • Front-curtain Sync (normal)

• Red-Eye Reduction • Red-Eye Reduction

• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync • Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync

• Slow Sync • Slow Sync

• Rear-curtain Sync • Rear-curtain Sync

Languages(菜单语言) : Languages (menu language):

• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) • Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)

• Dutch • Dutch

• English • English

• Finnish • Finnish

• French • French

• German • German

• Italian • Italian

• Japanese • Japanese

• Korean • Korean

• Polish • Polish

• Portuguese • Portuguese

• Russian • Russian

• Spanish • Spanish

• Swedish • Swedish

Storage(存储) : Storage (storage):

• Compact Flash Type I or II • Compact Flash Type I or II

• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported • UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported

Power(电源) : Power (Power):

• Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) • Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)

• Included battery charger MH-18a • Included battery charger MH-18a

• Optional AC adapter EH-5a • Optional AC adapter EH-5a

• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip • Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip

Vertical grip(外接手柄) : Vertical grip (external handle):

• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip • Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip

• One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, EN-EL4 or EN-EL3e or eight R6/AA-size alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or nickel-manganese ZR6 batteries • One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, EN-EL4 or EN-EL3e or eight R6/AA-size alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or nickel-manganese ZR6 batteries.

Reference: On the Nikon D700 Full-Picture (FX) digital SLR D700 detailed parameters exposure

Of the famous holy temples of Calcutta, Dakshineshwar has been able to maintain its glory & keep the annoying “pandas” out of the complex. Pandas have traditionally been the temple priests. But when one becomes a priest (or Pujari as they are called in the local language) just because it has been a family occupation for ages, there is little to do with godliness or goodliness.

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The temple management has created a few stalls well outside the temple complex who could sell memorabilia, items necessary for the pujas or simple keepsakes. Ganesh, pictured here, is from the adjacent state of Bihar. He has followed his father & his uncle into this small roadside makeshift store outside the Kali Temple.

The earning is not much, but with a couple of stalls like this, the family makes enough money for themselves as well as send some money back to his extended family back in Bihar.

The picture is taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens & fill flash.

The streets of Calcutta (now politically rechristened Kolkata to inspire patriotic feelings!) is always beaming with life & activity. If someone were to give an impression of the city, they cannot leave the spirits of the city streets.

Apart from the fact that most of them are as old as the city itself, most of them have witnessed happiness, fun, sadness & even India’s fight for freedom.

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The picture here is of Hari. He had always been a folk singer (also known as a baul - pronounced baa-ool) till his age & ailment caught up with him. Now he walks with a limp & sings, rarely, at the nearby temple. He lives a peaceful life, happy with what people offer him for food or clothes.

The baul culture is so deeply entwined with the Indian folk cultures that it is almost hard to see a baul in pain! He did not ask for it, but my brother would always empty his pocketful of changes to people like Hari. I photographed him with the two bucks that my brother offered, & the gratifying look in his eyes.

The Dakshineswar Kali Mondir (Temple) is located on the banks of the river Ganges about 15 kilometers from the heart of Calcutta (Kolkata). The temple was built between 1847 & 1855 by the then ruler Rani Rashmoni.

The story says that the Rani (Queen) was longing for a pilgrimage to the holy Hindu lands of Kashi along the Ganges (now in the state of Uttar Pradesh) when goddess Kali appeared in her dreams & asked her to create a temple at Dakshineswar.

(Click on the picture for Photoduniya.com pictures)

Later, the Dakshineswar temple had Ramakrishna Deb as the devout priest for over 30 years. The temple still maintains the room where Ramakrishna Deb & Sharada Maa lived & died. The temple is a part of the life of Hindus & the Bengali community of Kolkata.

North Kolkata has these tiny lanes, hardly about 10 to 12 feet wide, criss crossing the area like a complicated nervous system. These serpentine lanes have existed ever since Calcutta was born in 1700 AD. And as time moved on, more people moved in, new buildings were built over & around the old ones but the roads & lanes did not change.

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The activities in these lanes continue busily through out the day. These lanes serve many purposes - first as roads, then as places for people to meet & exchange small talks & then as play grounds for kids. There are also small street side shops that help hungry pedestrians with snacks or a mere cup of tea.

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The picture was taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens in available fluorescent light without any flash light. The cropping & minor color temperature correction was done using Adobe Photoshop.

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Street side shops are an extremely common scene in almost all of Asian countries. The same holds true for Calcutta, one of the oldest & most populous metropolis on the eastern part of India. In the early morning, between 6 AM till about 10 AM every morning, farmers & vendors with garden fresh vegetables & fresh poultry would line up along the streets selling their wares to the city residents.

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We were driving by through one of the busiest parts of Kolkata at around 10:00 AM. As the market was winding up for the morning, we found this poultry vendor selling his last stock of chicken. Lately the city was worried with cases of bird flu reported at random. Vendors & poultry farmers have to take extra precaution to make sure that their chickens are not infected. Although prices are almost fixed for meat & poultry, the picture shows a buyer examining the chicken while it is being cleaned & packaged.

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The picture was taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens in available fluorescent light without any flash light. The cropping & minor color temperature correction was done using Adobe Photoshop.

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Yadav has been a resident of Calcutta (Kolkata) for over 25 years. He had come into the city holding his father’s hand & after trying his luck at many different occupations to support his family, Yadav finally settled with a road side tea stall.

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It was about 8:00 PM in the city & the weather was humid. The temperature, even after sundown was about 95 F but Yadav, probably from his long habit, did not mind the bellowing heat, smoke & soot from the earthen oven. His customers were the local folks who came bye almost every evening after work. He also cooks up some quick tiffin with bread & eggs for the hungry ones, but most of what he sells during the day is tea - for about INR 1.50 a cup!

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The picture was taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens in available fluorescent light without any flash light. The cropping & minor color temperature correction was done using Adobe Photoshop.

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The tiny serpentine lanes are not wider than 12 feet, and somehow they manage to weave in and out of locales & houses in a complex manner reaching out to every house. The norther part of Calcutta (Kolkata) is well known for such lanes lined up with houses & big mansions some over 100 years old. In the evening the lanes take on a different look, part eerie from the low hanging street lights casting shadows on the walls & partly because of the immense business from all the small businesses and factories that run in the alongside buildings.

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This area of North Kolkata is very near to Calcutta’s lifeline, the Ganges. In fact this area, called Sutanuti, was one of the first towns that slowly expanded into the City of Kolkata. In local language, Sutanuti, the name of the place, refers to the tiny household business of weaving cotton yearn. At night the days work is piled up on pick-up trucks & shipped to the city to be auctioned to various textile shops.

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The picture was taken on hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens in available fluorescent light without any flash light. The cropping & minor color temperature correction was done using Adobe Photoshop.

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Since I take the train to New York, the Grand Central Station and just outside the building is one of my usual locations to photograph people. And truly enough, with so many people around the place, and so many taxis pulling in and out of the station and the surrounding big star hotels, there could not be more confusion.

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A family crossing the street in front of Grand Central

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By itself, this is a very ordinary picture. But I like the way in which the father is carrying the youngest kid and watching out for on coming cars while the others followed. That apart the American flags at the corner of Grand Central Station also adds to the mood of this candid street picture.

I like photographing bi-cycles, especially the single ones tied and chained to metered posts. I found this bunch of bi-cycles parked outside a deli in New York City Broadway. I peeped in to see a group of youngsters buying lunch.

Bicycles outside a deli in Broadway, New York

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I fell flat on my behind, and had to wait for a few minutes before a couple of people came out of the neighboring shop. People always make the difference in a picture. With the cycles laid across the entire path, they had little chance to avoid me sitting on the road while I got this shot.

This image is taken on hand held Nikon D200 without flash.

Poverty is everywhere. And walking hand in hand with all the richness one could imagine. This image is taken right opposite a five star hotel lobby on 42nd Street in New York City. On one side of the road you could see the millionaires fancying over fur & cashmere coats, and a homeless poor begger scavenging for food in the dumpster right on the other.

Poor person looking for food in New York

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New York, unlike San Francisco where I have spent the last couple of years photographing street life, has absolutely no concern for the poor. The city appears to be completely indifferent to the poverty all around. And the poor have stopped asking for any grace!

One street musician who I had photographed in San Francisco’s Mission once told me that no one ever lives hungry in San Francisco. I have seen how true that is while I was doing my street photography. I am still very eager to hear someone in New York City say that to me!

Times Square is dug up for 11 months out of 12 in a year. The roads are split, the dividers are cordoned off in many places and the city maintenance workers have dug deep trenches in many places. Cars squeeze through the narrow alleys now - not avenues any more! And policemen find it extremely hard to run after faulting traffic.

Policemen busy in Times Square

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They are cautious though. Cautious from all the terror that is spread in the city. And more from the inconvenience they might unknowingly cause to any of the Very Important People of the city while trying to keep the law.

This picture of Times Square is taken on hand held Nikon D200 with no flash.

I was wandering off in and around the Grand Central rail station. My camera bag, now that I am shooting only digital in the streets, is now reduced to a Northface backpack, and I could move around more and a lot faster. But all I did for four hours in the Big Apple was to stare at the advertisements.

 Billboards, Advertisements & Posters in New York City

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They have never failed to amaze me. I will post a few more ones, huge, immense billboards in Times Square, that simply add a distinct flavor of New York’s inclination towards hugeness (!). Most of the tourists pay a minute’s attention but the residents are probably so used to them, it don’t matter.

For images like this, I usually sit flat on my behind on the other side of the pavement. I hold my camera at an angle so that the vertical lines of the buildings come out vertical in the view finder. I set the shutter speed to between 10 & 15th of a second. I set the flash on rear sync TTL and wait patiently! I wait for a few pedestrians to cross in front. They add a local flavor to the image. Since the pedestrians see me sitting from a distance, nothing alarms them and they walk by naturally and I get my pictures.

This image was taken in New York City on hand held Nikon D200 with fill in flash at -1EV.

The Times Square and Broadway is all dug up in various places. Road barricades and lane closures make it difficult for the pedestrians, the drivers as well as for the maintenance workers.

Sometimes, they get anxious visitors too. All inquisitive to look into their work and into the deep pot holes along their walk. This picture is taken on hand held Nikon D200 with fill in flash.

A tiny circle in Strawberry Field in Central Park marks Imagine. This is the John Lennon memorial and people come over to offer their respect. A musician along with his group had decorated this place on a weekend with fruits and flowers.

This picture is taken on a hand held Nikon D200 with a wide angle lens. A lone guitar forms a part of the tribute along with the flowers, fruits and saddened hearts.

It might be a little cold in New York City in February, but a lot of money and the visitor’s eagerness to make a close up picture with the naked cowboy keeps him warm and his wallet growing.

In this picture the naked cowboy took 2 dollars from each of the 4 guys to pose with them. From a distance it seemed that he was trying to show them their future!

The picture is taken on a hand held Nikon D200 with fill in flash. The naked cowboy does not charge you for taking his picture. He only asks for money if you are asking him to pose with you.

For every 10 cars that you see in the Big Apple, seven turn out to be the yellow taxi cabs. For one, because of their rash driving, outsiders prefer not to drive within the city. And for the other, parking in the city is very costly.

It is quite intimidating to cross a wide lane with nothing but the yellow devils staring and roaring at you. And most of them would not even wait for the signal to go green before they jump the zebra crossing.

This picture is taken on hand held Nikon D200 behind the Times Square.

It is not only the usual afternoon strollers and children who are preparing for the spring and the coming summer, a lot of street musicians and chess players are spending time in Bryant Park. These two gentlemen enjoyed the mild warmth of the early spring afternoon and did not seem to mind the intermittent chill playing chess.

I spend some time watching them play. And with their permission took a few pictures. I did not use the flash which could have distracted them and had to hold the camera very steady at the low shutter speed.

It has been months since this person from Texas has dropped all his decency and garments along with it, only to make his point to the city officials. Playing his guitar right in front of the police station in Times Square seems to be more obnoxious. That apart, he is having fun and lots of dollar bills by the end of the day.

There have been all sorts of people who like the nakedness. Young and old, men and women. The mother of this child was more than happy to pay the naked cowboy a five dollar bill to take a picture with this pre-teen girl. Is that insanity or just naked stupidity?

The active members of the United Homeless Organization regularly set up pickets in the busy Times Square and Broadway to raise money for the homeless. I have been seeing a few of the fund raisers for over a few months and appreciate their work.

This gentleman here, on the left of the picture has a very amiable way of asking for donation. He is one of those people who you would stop for to listen to. And quite so, he was collecting quite some donations.

His partner though, shown next to him in the distance with a red apron, was just the polar opposite. His vulgarity and rudeness towards the pedestrians was making it very difficult for him to ask for money. And all he could do in shame was apologize in silence.