Travel Tales from India

Parrots in the Vicinity

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:30:00 +0000

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

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:30:00 +0000

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

Lazy Sunday Photo- Jungle Babbler

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:30:00 +0000

The Jungle Babbler

Mynas Take Over the Chandigarh Railway Station

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:42:00 +0000

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

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Dusk at Morecambe, UK

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

Mint Issue- An Update

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:36:00 +0000

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)

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:40:00 +0000

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.

Oriental White-Eye

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:25:00 +0000

An Oriental White-Eye at Jim Corbett National Park, Uttrakhand

I think this is the best bird picture I have managed to take on the recent trip to Jim Corbett. But then for this one good one I have deleted almost 50!

Streak Throated Woodpecker

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:27:00 +0000

A Streak Throated Woodpecker at Jim Corbett National Park, Uttrakhand

Bird (Jungle Babbler) and the Mirror!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:08:00 +0000

While Chhavi is shouting in the background, I forced Sesha to make

this video of the Jungle Babbler playing with the mirror.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Juvenile of a Crimson Sunbird

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:59:00 +0000

Juvenile Of a Crimson Sunbird at Jim Corbett National Park Area

As I have no luck with tigers I try and capture as many birds I can! And this juvenile of the Crimson Sunbird did not give me much trouble. I would only spend good 45 minutes t an hour near the flowering bushes and delete at least 50 blurred photos that I clicked!

Another Shot of the Juvenile Of a Crimson Sunbrid at Jim Corbett National Park Area

Birds are a fascination I am developing after I bought the the 70-300mm zoom lens. Before that it was so difficult to capture them! I have accumulated some money in my paypal account and I am wondering which lens to buy first, a 100-400 zoom or a 15-20 wide angle. And it has to be from a store that accepts paypal payments.

White Capped Water Redstart

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

White Capped Water Redstart at Kosi River, Jim Corbett National Park

That is the name of the bird, and if you give the bird a closer look you would find that it is an apt name! I took a few shots of the bird near Koshi River too. But there it would not let me creep in close enough.

White Capped Water Redstart

But then I got lucky inside the Jim Corbett National Park's canteen. This bird was merrily hopping around the canteen where I had tea and did not run away when I ventured in close.

Friday Flowers- Marigolds

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:56:00 +0000

Marigolds at the Wild Crest Resort at the Jim Corbett National Park Area

I clicked these big fat Marigolds at the resort where we were staying. I looked at the website of the resort today and I must say the place looks much better in reality than in the pictures available on the website!

Skywatch Friday- Sunset at London Heathrow!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:46:00 +0000

The Sunset at London Heathrow!

I took this picture in 2008 June while my plane was preparing for take off.

For more skies from across the world, please visit Skywatch Friday Blog.

Reflections on the Water!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Taking Pictures, Side by Side

I am told that one of my colleagues came back from the Jim Corbett trip has told others, she takes a lot of pictures! The truth is I do and yet so few of them turn out well. But I did manage to get at least two good bird shots. Will upload them soon.

Dew Drops on the Bus Window

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Dew Drops on the Bus Window

We were not sure if we would be able to leave for the Jim Corbett National Park on the last Friday. There was a lot of fog and it makes no sense to leave in fog. But if we did not leave then the next day would have gone. So we left late at night from Gurgaon (this was a college trip but then I usually do not blog about work but I will give an abridged version anyway) and there was a dense fog. The Gurgaon Delhi Expressway Toll was so crowded even at 12.00 at night!

I was about to catch cold and feeling generally a bit tired. After a while I decided to take my avomine and go to sleep! The first time I woke up was at 4.00 am when we got down for tea. And then again it was just fog all around!

By breakfast time (don't ask me when I was too sleepy to know) we had just reached Gajraula. In my avomine induced sleep I refused to wake up and get down for breakfast. I really have to thank my colleagues that they sent the breakfast for me in the bus. Because we made no stops after this!

Finally after 1.00 pm we reached our destination. The journey that should have taken us 6-7 hours took us around 12-13 hours. Yet all of us managed to reach safe and the weather at Corbett was uniformly bright and sunny.

Back from Jim Corbett National Park

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Pug Marks of a Tiger at the Jim Corbett National Park

Went to Jim Corbett National Park starting on a foggy Friday. And that reminds there is already dense fog at this hour here today. I wonder how it will be tomorrow for the morning drive for work!

Once again I am back after having seen the pug marks of a tiger. This was a trip from my college. And at least 3 of our jeeps full of students actually saw tigers. But not us. Too tired as of now. More later.

Beautiful Eyes!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:30:00 +0000

High Up- Squirrel in the Trees

Oyster Catcher!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Oyster Catcher at Morecambe, UK

Morecambe by Night

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:30:00 +0000

Morecambe at Night, UK

I am Off!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Though I have schedules a few posts I will be able to respond to the comments once I am back.

There is fog tonight too!

Skywatch Friday- Sky at Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:31:00 +0000

Sky at Spiti, 2007

And the model is my elder nephew.

For more skies from around the world go to Skywatch Friday.

Recalcitrance- A Novel by Anurag Kumar

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:30:00 +0000

Lucknow

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Recalcitrance by Anurag Kumar from him via Twitter. Whenever I have promised anyone to do a book review I freeze like anything. I am no reviewer or critic. So I decided to do a post where I share 10 things about the book.

I would just give you a short background. The book is set in Lucknow and the time period is the war of 1857. Now off to the 10 things I liked about the book.

10. There is a love story in it and it is subtle and well integrated. It does not feel like an add on to the main story.

9. The author knows his Lucknow well.

8. It is a short novel (by my standards, it is less than 200 pages) and yet the characters are not unidimensional.

7. The pace of the book is excellent.

6. It is not preachy in spite of its subject matter.

5. The narration moves from one story to another quite well.

4. The 'heroes' of the book are human and not super heroes.

3. The feel of the era is invoked well (or so it seems to me, I mean I have not seen that era only read about it).

2. The description of the city made feel as if I was time traveling through Lucknow, some of the spots are known to me.

1. There is hope in it, I cannot take books that end up without a shred of hope for the main characters.

Fog Tonight!

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Light and Fog Tonight!

Wonder if it will get less by the morning or driving it going to be a nightmare. And I am glad we decided to take a short walk outside tonight or else I would not have seen the street light getting dispersed due to the fog. Also it helps to have the SLR in hand rather than the cell phone.

Another Day of Fog, Lots of Fog

mridulablog@gmail.com (Mridula) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:51:00 +0000

Another Day of Fog at Gurgaon