Parrots in the Vicinity

Parrot on a Clothes Line

These parrots were clicked on Sunday while Chhavi was playing around. There are two consequences of this. She knows when mom is pointing the camera away from her and particularly at the birds it is time to pick up a little mud and put it in her mouth!

Green Parrot

The second and the better consequence is that when she spots a bird she makes her baby noises and tires to draw my attention towards it.

A Goods Train in the Evening Fog at Chandigarh

A Goods Train at the Red Signal at the Chandigarh Railway Station

Lazy Sunday Photo- Jungle Babbler

The Jungle Babbler

Mynas Take Over the Chandigarh Railway Station

Mynas making a Din and Clatter and then some more at the Chandigarh Railway Station

On the Thursday I (along with Sesha and a friend) was waiting for the 2012 Kalka Shatabdi Express at the platform no. 1 of the Chandigarh Railway Station. There were Mynas everywhere. And making quite a racket. I took some still shots (but my SLR is still not talking to my computer) but then decided to capture the voice of the Mynas as it is to be heard to be believed.

I searched on the net for more information and found this dismal piece of news about the Mynas at Chandigarh-

The Ambala Railway Division is determined to shoo away birds from the Chandigarh Railway Station. A senior official said, “We will definitely ask them what kind of gadgets they are going to put and what rays they would emit. We would ensure that the rays are not harmful to the birds.”

The good thing is that the news is dated July 2009 and I took the video on February 4,2010. The Mynas are still there and I hope they will remain there a long time.

PS. This is my first attempt at including my voice in a video and how tired (which I was) and unsure I sound!

Skywatch Friday- Dusk at Morecambe

Dusk at Morecambe, UK

For more pictures of beautiful skies from around the world visit the Skywatch Page.

Mint Issue- An Update

I quite like the steps that Mint team took after my picture appeared on their website without my knowledge.

I tweeted and wrote to @Sidin, who had responded to my case with Brunch for plagarism.

To be honest, I was foaming at the mouth when I wrote to Sidin Vadukut. I mean that is my natural reaction when I find my pictures lifted but this time I was real mad because it was only November when I was battling HT and here in February I was staring at the same issue again from the same media house! The natural question to ask is WHY ME! I know the partial answer Google indexing and full size images but still you don't expect to get published 3 out of 4 times in print via plagiarism and twice via the same media house!

I also need to mention that I got a mail from the editor of Mint and never once did they try to say anything but that they goofed up! When I said I am traveling but I need to vent out, he even replied to say he would wait for that mail!

The only time I have managed to get in print with half way decent information is with Spicejet (I know there are past issues with them with bloggers). They had asked beforehand for taking a picture of mine of Barog and use it in their magazine. No offer of rates or anything though. So, I wrote back saying from commercial enterprises I like to charge an amount and they said they pay 300 rupees per picture. For someone like me, who doesn't make a living out of photography or blogging it is still less than pizza money but I wonder what real photographers do? But I am sure there are tricks of trade I do not know. I never hear from the editor again (in spite of follow ups) till last week or so, saying they wish to pay me for use! I was suspicious and said I want to see the copy. The editor is in hurry and says the checks are being cleared, I hold my ground. So, today I saw the online version (if you go to page 75, the Barog picture is mine) and was convinced that all was fine and will now wait for the check to arrive.

But I digress, this one is about Mint. This is what they wrote at the official Mint blog among other things.

We apologize to not only the photographer concerned, but to all readers.

I had not even gone to the stage to ask how do they apologize, they did it on their own.

• What I really want to see, however, is a consistent policy for such incidents. For example in a web based publication, they more often than not offer to take down the image which seems like (I know they don't intend it that way) a double insult. Should this be the policy or the credit should be given for use to the photographer?
• And then what should be a fair compensation amount in such cases? 2K doesn't seem to be the right price even though I readily agreed to it. And I am not complaining personally but questioning it as a policy. Anyway, I still need to put a more coherent issue about this stuff.

I have to grant it to Mint, Sidin Vadukut and his team knows how to clam down photographers foaming at the mouth though.

My Plagiarized Picture Ends up On Mint (WSJ India Partner)

Click on the Full Size and then see the Passport Image from a file picture of Mints' Web Page (not available anymore) I hope they find my use of the screen shot a fair use.

That passport picture belongs to me. They have taken it down from the website now.

By now this is the second time I am dealing with the Hindustan Times.

I know who to write to.

They immediately acknowledge the mistake and offer to take that image down, as if that would be enough.

When I retort that I need compensation and credit, they say they will not use the picture but give me the money.

I have to ask how much,

They say 2K and it is high because this is a plagiarized image.

Like a fool who is hard pressed for time I agree, I am equally the culprit.

This is a very hurried post as I am out of town for work. More thoughts on this when I come back.

And I am waiting to hear more from Spicejet too but that is another story and a little different than the straight lifts.