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How to practise a 365-day

project on a single subject


Exploring the world of the
Parsi settlement in Udvada
Eric Kim on the importance of
contact sheets in the digital age
Raju Shinde and the stories
behind his compelling photos
ON ASSIGNMENT PHOTOFEATURE VISUAL MUSINGS PROFILE
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www.betterphotography.in
Rajesh Bedi reveals beauty
under Rajasthan's desert sky
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DISCOVER 10 FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR CAMERAPHONE 50+ UNIQUE TIPS ON HOW TO USE GEAR
October 2013 Rs. 150
(Total 186 pg + 100 pg Pocket Book)
EXCLUSIVE TESTS
Pentax K-5 II
Nikon COOLPIX P330
Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM
India's top photographers unveil
what goes into their camera bags
GEAR
THE MYSTERY BEHIND THEIR
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B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
7
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B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
8
e di tori al
an imagined Conversation between legends
You all say you
are confused?
Use this confusion.
May there be
some churning.
A chinkara fawn
in a cradle
at a Bishnoi village
by Rajesh Bedi
One of Indias most
celebrated wildlife
photographers,
Rajesh Bedi captures
the beautiful purity
of a simple people.
Everything changes so
soon... I wanted to get
the essence of the place
before technology and
the instinct to survive
brought about permanent
change, he says.

To read more about
Rajesh Bedis thoughts on
photography and life
Turn to page 120
K Madhavan Pillai
editor@betterphotography.in
When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they
do when they want to read a line of a poem twice, Robert Frank said.
There was appreciative silence. A few heads nodded. Younger heads,
mostly those of students, bobbed enthusiastically. Some brooded.
I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same
as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing.
To me, that makes photography more exciting, Harry Callahan retorted.
The little Leica whispered in the midst of it all. Some caught the sound and looked towards
Winogrand, only to fnd him looking at them. He impishly released the shutter again.
Photography is about fnding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges
around some facts, you change those facts, he said. A photograph is the illusion of a literal
description of how the camera saw a piece of time and space, he added, looking to the left to
fnd a wizened man peering at the Leica intently.
Ansel Adams chuckled, thinking of his own enormous cameras and how he needed to plan
carefully if he had to make a picture. To visualise an image, in whole or in part, is to see clearly
in the mind prior to exposure, a continuous projection from composing the image through the
fnal print, he proffered, even as he interestedly watched a young man shake his head.
Why does photography have to be about something specifc, asked Prabuddha Dasgupta
quietly. Isnt this language capable of transcending the subject and focusing on something
bigger than itself? He did have a point there, thought Adams, but decided to prod the young
man a bit more. There is nothing worse than a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept, he demurred.
By now, the students heads were snapping back and forth excitedly, threatening to roll off.
Yes, yes, loudly exclaimed Rick Steves, a young travel enthusiast. I shutter to think how many
people are underexposed and lacking depth in this feld!
The excited nodding stopped. Huh? What? Come again? I dont get it! That was
confusing... The befuddled students looked at one another in bewilderment. A brooding
Pablo Bartholomew, who was enjoying all the nodding more than anything else, boomed
out at them, You all say you are confused? Use this confusion. May there be some churning.
Perhaps then it will help you fnd the light.
62
TeST
Sony Xperia ZR
The best camera phone
from Sony yet
64
Flickr
How does this app fare?
66
CellPHoNe TeCHNiqUe
The Humble
Cameraphone
Fun facts to improve
photography
70
CellPHoNe Profile
Natasha Hemrajani
Explore the nostalgia of a
city using Hipstamatic
76
CellPHoNe diArieS
Dinesh Khanna speaks
of the fascinating colours
that dene travel
30
TeST
Fujilm X-M1
Raises the bar at the
entry -level price point
36
Pentax K-5IIs
A great performer with a
few glitches
40
Fujilm HS50 EXR
Offers more than what
you would expect
46
Nikon COOLPIX P330
RAW capability at an
affordable price!
52
Canon PowerShot N
Is this a good response
to cameraphones?
54
Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM
Great for video, but how
does it stills?
56
Tokina 12-28mm
The new ultra wide for
cropped sensor cameras
SnapShots
October 2013
29
Look Whos Shooting
Pooja Jain
24
Book Review
Rajasthan: Under
the Desert Sky by
Rajesh Bedi
39
Visual Musings
by Eric Kim
GearGuide
ON THE COVER
96
CellphonePhotography
PHOTOGRAPH: RAJESH BEDI
DESIGN: SANTOSH D KAMBLE
How to practise a 365-day
project on a single subject
Exploring the world of the
Parsi settlement in Udvada
Eric Kim on the importance of
contact sheets in the digital age
Raju Shinde and the stories
behind his compelling photos
On Assignment PhOtOfeAture VisuAL musings PrOfiLe
B
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P
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exc
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: Fu
jiFilm
x-m
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cAm
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AsTer
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AjesH
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B
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2013
www.betterphotography.in
rajesh Bedi reveals beauty
under rajasthan's desert sky
f
r
e
e
100-PAge suPPLement
201 Amazing facts on Photography
DiscOVer 10 fun fActs ABOut YOur cAmerAPhOne 50+ unique tiPs On hOwtO use geAr
October 2013 Rs. 150
(total 186 pg + 100 pg Pocket Book)
exclusive TesTs
Pentax K-5 II
Nikon cOOlPix P330
canon 40mm f/2.8 sTm
India's top photographers unveil
what goes into their camera bags
gear
themysterybehIndtheIr
favourite
the VerDict On
fujifiLm x-m1
the first entrY LeVeL
x-trAns cAmerA
112
Profile
Raju Shinde
Stories from everyday life
118
MY BeST SHoT
Neeraj Priyadarshini
120
GreAT MASTer
Rajesh Bedi
Travelling and capturing
Rajasthans purity
126
1000 wordS: SPeCiAl feATUre
MFI 2013
A look at the best images
from the contest this year
132
PHoTofeATUre
Living On a Prayer
The Parsis of Udvada
184
STorY BeHiNd THe PiCTUre
Early Tornado Chaers
by F N Robinson
82
SHooTiNG TeCHNiqUe
Whats in Your Bag?
8 photographers on how
they use their favourite
camera equipment
96
oN ASSiGNMeNT
1 Lighthouse, 365 Clicks
different perspectives of
a single lightshouse
104
TiPS & TriCKS
Capture everyday objects,
dedicated projects and
self portraits.
InFocus
ShowCase PhotoFinish
120
BetterPictures
104
Regulars
feedBACK ............................................................12
reAderS GAllerY ................................................74
PHoToGUide ...................................................... 100
q & A ................................................................. 108
YoUr PiCTUreS .................................................. 138
Feedback
Send your feedback to
The Editor, Better Photography, Network 18 Publishing,
Ruby House, A Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W),
Mumbai-400 028, India
Email: feedback@betterphotography.in
Discovering the Flash
I am new to photography and a fairly
recent reader of BP. Let me be honest,
I really dont like using my kit lens. I use
it for occasions like family gatherings and
birthday parties...etc, and prefer my 50mm
over it anyday. That is, until I read the
article The Basic Kit Lens in the last issue.
I was blown away.
I would struggle a lot of trying to get
everything in focus with the AF but now
I know that I can simply shift to Manual
focus to fne tune for acheiving the perfect
focus. To add to the useful tips, the lovely
photos in the article inspired me to start
using my kit lens more often. This article
coupled with The Onboard Flash story,
removed all the misconcepts I had about
their abilities to make a good picture.
Using the fash in daylight to counter
backlight is something I was unaware of.
I am excited to explore the streets with
my new found knowledge. Many thanks for
the stories, do keep the good work up!
Zinnia Singh, Gurgaon, via email
Adapting to Change
Over the years, I have had to shift my
base out of India more than I would like
to remember. Each new place has been a
wonderful adventure for me. I am still a
vagabond of sorts but, for every journey
I have set out on, I have had a copy of
Better Photography with me. On every
visit to Mumbai, I make sure to grab the
latest copy of the magazine and catch
up on the issues I have missed. With the
international subscription and the
website, I was happy that I could fnd the
magazine in most places!
Over the years, I have observed that like
me, the magazine also believes that the
only thing constant in life is change.
While our core beliefs and values remain
the same, (in Better Photographys case
excellent stories and a drive to stay true
to the art), we adapt and move with
the surroundings. Embracing change
is the only way to survive and the only
way forward. Thank you for evolving
gracefully. It is one of the most urgent
needs of our time.
Akshay S , London, via email
Cellphone Cynic
Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed
using a flm camera to capture anything
and everything around me. The shift
to digital was not something I took to
instantly. Then came the transition of
using smartphones for photography.
Being a hard core cynic about cellphone
cameras, I was quite surprised to fnd
what cellphone cameras can do for
photography today.
This new trend of cellphone
photography is certainly quite interesting.
The Better Cellphone Photographys profles
continue to enlighten me. Who knew
the wonders a cellphone could do.
I still have mixed feelings about using a
cellphone for photography but as always,
the magazine is opening my eyes to the
new techniques and methods that keep
coming up.
Priyanka Jayaram, Chennai, via post
Embracing
change is the
only way to move
forward and fow
with time.
The article, The Basic
Kit Lens spoke about the
how the kit lens of the
camera could be used for
interesting techniques.
The Better Cellphone
Photography section
was started in May 2013
and features cellphone
reviews, cellphone
photography tips,
profles and a lot more.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
12

FEEDBACK
The review of Panasonic GF6 in Gear Guide
(September 2013) carried a test shot of the White
Throated Fantail. I would like to point out that this
bird is perched on a nest. One of the ethics of bird
photography is to not take pictures of nesting or
feeding birds or when they are in their nests. As an
amateur wildlife photographer, I try to inculcate the
dos and donts of this branch of photography into
beginners and at times into professionals too! A well
read and admired magazine such as yours could
misguide some individuals into assuming that such
nesting shots are acceptable and cause much damage,
which I am sure was not your intention.
Capt Abhijeet Avate, Pune, via email
Ethical Bird Photography
Write in to
Better Photography
with your feedback,
and if your letter
wins the Letter of
the Month, you
will get a Envie
Speedster charger!
Twitter: twitter.com/betterphoto
Facebook: facebook.com/betterphotography
Youtube: youtube.com/betterphotoindia
Website: betterphotography.in
FIND US ONLINE!
Mobile Apps the Way to Go!
I recently accessed the BP website from
my phone and was disappointed. The site
is not visually appealing and takes a time
to load. Considering that BP has stepped
into cellphone photography, the magazine
should update the site for mobiles.
Also, the magazine should consider
creating an app. As smartphones are more
accessible today, an app would be the
ideal platform to garner more followers,
especially in younger readers.
Suyash Katdare, Mumbai, via email
BP, The Teacher
I am a Grade 7 student interested in
photography. Even if our teachers try
to, they are unable to go beyond the
lengthy syllabus and teach us about
photography. We celebrated Teachers
Day on 5 September and I want to thank
Better Photography for being a teacher to
me. I always refer to it for tips to make
good pictures. I make the photographs for
my school projects. In the future, I will be
studying about light, lenses and mirrors in
my physics syllabus and I know that Better
Photography will be a wonderful resource for
me to understand it better.
Dishita Ashar, Mumbai, via email
The Cellphone Diaries
I am quite enjoying the Cellphone Diaries
section. Specifcally the Kissa Kursi Ka
story in the previous issue. I found it to
be quite intriguing and I cannot wait for
the continuation in the next issue! I fnd
that all the topics in the section hold my
attention and are interesting especially
since the medium is a cellphone. I hope
to see much more from this section.
Tara Bhatnagar, Nainital, via email
Editor: By itself, a nesting image of any species is a
sensitive issue the world over because an uninformed
photographer can inadvertently disturb the
creatures environment, especially in the wild. In India,
unfortunately, this sensitivity is yet to be cultivated,
resulting in an outright embargo of nesting images.
This holds true with photography contests as well.
Yet, photographers and documentary lmmakers
are continually commissioned by conservation and
research organisations to record the life cycle of
various species as they are extremely careful with
their work. The photograph that was published was
shot through a window, in a housing colony. In fact, the
photographer has not moved beyond the window grill.
Moreover, he has made the bird accustomed to his
presence with a camera.
Conservation agencies in India promote the use of
bird feeders and nesters in cities, on terraces and
backyards, as long as the location of the nester poses
no threat to the bird or animal. If an individual can
enjoy the presence of wildlife without harming it or its
environment in any way, making pictures in the same
manner is not an offence. That said, as a magazine, we
do not condone nesting photographs, if only to prevent
poorly informed people from damaging what remains
of our urban wildlife. Your sentiment is appreciated.
With BPs foray
into cellphone
photography, a
mobile app would
be ideal for a lot
of smartphone
using readers.
Cellhphone Diaries is
Dinesh Khannas monthly
column on his tryst with
cellphone photography.
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
14 14
Leica C
Drawing inspiration from the Panasonic LUMIX
DMC-LF1, Leica has introduced the frst of the whole
line of C-series compact cameras. The camera
features a 12MP
camera with a 1/1.7
inch sensor with built-in
WiFi and full HD video
shooting capability.

Canon EF-S 55250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Lens and New PIXMA printers
Canon released its STM lens, designed
to enable silent and smooth focussing
for videos. It also introduced two
of its PIXMA printersMG7120
and MG5520, both of which have
WiFi capability.
Fujiflm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic
The new Fujiflm Instax camera
comes in a retro design and
is feature packed with several
shooting modesMacro, double
exposure and even the Bulb
Mode that allows images to be exposed for upto 10
seconds. Additionally, it also sports an adjustable
high-performance fash and retails for USD 210
(Approx Rs. 13,400).
Acers Liquid S2 Phone
The 6-inch phone has a 1080p IPS display
with a 13MP camera accompanied by a
LED ring fash for shooting in low-light
conditions. The real highlight is the ability
of the cameraphone to record Ultra-HD
4K video, a title that it held only for a
brief period.
Ricoh Theta and Pentax Flash Units
Ricohs new WiFi camera, Theta shoots
360-degree panoramas in just one click and
is priced at USD 400 (approx. Rs. 25, 500).
Ricoh also introduced the weather resistant
AF540FGZ II and AF360FGZ II Pentax fash
units. Apart from this, an HD update to
their Pentax DA Limited Primes has also
been announced.
American photographer Arnold Newman is best known for his environmental portraits of artists and politicians. He believed that an image should excite
the viewer even if the subject is forgotten. He was also one of the few photographers who got to photograph the legendary Henry Cartier Bresson.
In 2004, he was awarded The Royal Photographic Societys Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship for his contribution to the art of photography.
whAT S NEw
A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera theyll
be able to take better photographs. A better camera wont do a thing
for you if you dont have anything in your head or in your heart.
ARNoLd NEwMAN (19132006)
Eric Kim Releases Photos to Public for Free
The Flagship of Olympuss OM-D Returns to Rule
S
treet photographer, Eric Kim, recently
made an announcement on his blog.
He mentioned that all his photographs on
his Flickr account will be available in high
resolution for free download to the public.
If you have ever liked any of my photos
and wanted a print, feel free to download
O
lympus new fagship model OM-D
EM-1 borders between the retro
looking EM-5 and their E-5 DSLR camera.
But, many features in the EM-1 set it apart
from most mirrorless cameras. Unlike
the previous OM-D, the EM1 is bulkier.
But the main distinguishing feature in the
camera design is the right handgrip that
makes for better handling of the device.
EM-1 also maintains the optical system
of E-M5 but in a new image processor and
in an 16MP MFT sensor. E-M1 also has a
new, faster phase- and contrast-detection
hybrid autofocus system. Coupled with
the cameras shutter speed of 1/8000
of a second, it allows upto 6.5fps with
continuous AF and 10fps otherwise.
Additionally, the device has a 5 axis-in-body
stabilisation which aids in video
shooting. The EM-1 is defnitely expensive
at USD 1400 (Approx. Rs. 88,600) for the
body alone and USD 2200 (Approx. Rs. 1,39,
250) when combined with a 1240mm f/2.8
kit lens. Olympuss M Zuiko Digital ED
1240mm 1:2.8 PRO lens was launched to
match the zooming capabilities of the EM-1.
(them)... And no, you dont need my
permission. Since the very beginning, Eric
has been in favour of promoting free public
access and distribution of knowledge. He
feels that as with most art forms, there is a
sort of elitism that exists in the photography
community too, which is exactly what he
wants to dispel.
Having grown up in the lower-socio
economic class in America, he mentions
how it was diffcult to even purchase the
costly text books for school. For this reason,
all the material that he puts up online on
his blog in the form of videos or e-books,
are free for anyone to use, alter and share.
In this process, he hopes to enlighten more
photographers, especially students.
Greg Heisler
Eric Kim
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
16
The Innovative Flash Technology in the iPhone 5S
A Nuclear Plant in My Backyard Wins Second Place
Sonys New Offering: A Mirrorless in a DSLR
T
his time around, Apple introduced not
one but two new phonesthe iPhone
5S and the iPhone5C. The iPhone 5C is
Apples frst venture in a slightly affordable
version of their otherwise expensive
mobile phones. The iPhone 5S comes with
a 15% active sensor area, thus boasting
of a larger 1.5 micron pixels. This only
means that there will be an improvement
in low-light photography. But the best
feature yet is the special True Tone fash
which is made up of two LEDswhite and
amber, which when used together can
result in the perfect colour temperature in
the photograph.
The iSight camera also has a feature that
lets you shoot slow motion 720p video at
120fps. In your video, you can select which
parts need to bein slow motion and those
that remain in regular speed.
On the other hand, Apple has not really
introduced any major improvements in the
iPhone 5C whose camera features are the
same as the iPhone 5.
F
ive photographers were nominated
from South-Asia for the Colourful
Guizhou, Sixth China International
Photography Festival.
The event which took place on 16
August in the Guizhou province of
China, saw Amirtharaj Stephen win the
second prize as well as a cash award of
1000 Yuan (approx. Rs. 10,350) for his
series Koodankulam: A Nuclear Plant in
My Backyard.
The series also won him the Best Photo
Story category in the MFI-YES Bank
National Press Photo Contest 2013, the
coverage of which you can read about on
page 126 0f this magazine.
Sony NEX-5T and E-Mount Lenses
Sony NEX-5T has similar specifcations to its
predecessor, the Sony NEX-5. New features to
the NEX-5T include Near Field Communication
technology that facilitates
tap-to-transfer functionality
for photos as well as videos.
Additionally, Sony also
introduced three E-mount
lenses the ZEISS Vario-Tessar
T E 1670mm f/4 ZA OSS, ZEISS E PZ 18105mm f/4
G OSS and Sony E 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.
Jobys GPod Mini Magnetic and MPod
Mini Stand Flexible Tripods
The GPod Mini Magnetic is designed to support
compact cameras. Due to the magnets present in
its feet, it helps to secure the camera on a metallic
surface. The MPod Mini Stand on the other hand,
can hold a 3.2 inch smartphone.
Fancier Camera Backpacks
The Kingkong I 10 (WB-9062) and the I 20 (WB-9063)
are build to carry a DSLR with attachable lens along
with an additional lens or fash, cable, charger and
other accessories. Both bags are
of the same size but the later one
is slightly heavier. The Kingkong I 30
(WB-9064) and the I 40 (WB-9065)
both have the same capacity as
the ones mentioned above but
with slightly bigger dimensions.
The backpacks are created from waterproof nylon
material and the distributor in India is Big Trends.
JJC Flash Trigger Kits
The JF-G and JF-U wireless remote control and fash
trigger kits come with a wired and wireless remote
control with a remote socket for DSLRs along with
a wireless fash trigger and an
optional shutter release cable.
The JF-G has a wireless frequency
system of 2.4GHz while the JF-U
has a wireless frequency system of
433MHz. The distributor of JJC in
India is Big Trends.
Pelican 3315 LEd Flashlight
Pelicans light-weight LED fashlight works on 3
AA batteries and has a runtime of 9 hours and
45 minutes. It has a beam
distance of 153 meters.
Also, its design allows for a
good grasp of, especially in
gloved hands and is created
out of an indestructible
polymer material and a lockable battery
compartment with lifetime warranty.
Sony RME USM-U Pendrive
The RME USM-U pendrive from Sony is a recent
addition from the company and comes with the
latest USB 3.0 compatibility. The Pendrive comes in
8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities.
whAT S NEw
Amirtharaj Stephen
S
ony Alpha A3000s look can have you
fooled but this DSLR looking camera is
in fact a 20.1MP APS-C sensor mirrorless
camera. The camera comes with full HD
video capabilities, including the same
E-mount as Sonys NEX cameras for
interchangeable lenses. It retails for USD 399
(Rs. 25,260) which is quite cheap for a DSLR
looking body. With such a confusing design,
it seems that Sony is struggling to fnd a
place in the traditional DSLR segment.
Sonys Action Cam HDR-AS30V also
comes with an update of a smaller, lighter
and less rugged waterproof housing and
GPS. The camera can make 11.9MP images
as well as record full HD video. Moreover, its
lens has the ability to photograph 170 degree
view of the scene and now can also capture
upside down video and stills. The camera is
priced at USD 300 (Approx. Rs.19,050).
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CALL FoR ENTRI ES
Metro Photo Challenge 2013
The competition: The seventh annual Metro Photo
Challenge invites participants from around the world to
submit their entries to their new theme this year.
Theme: Sensestaste, touch, smell, hearing and sight.
Prizes: An eight day trip to Ghana in partnership with
Reach for Change.
website: www.metrophotochallenge.com/
Entry Fee: Free
deadline: 13 October 2013
Lights Up MINI Space Competition
The competition: Participate and win a chance of
showcasing your images on the MINI Space website.
Theme: Capturing light in its various forms.
Prizes: First prize winner will receive a 21.5-inch Apple
iMac 2.9 Ghz and a MINI Liquid Mouse. Second Prize
winner will receive a Nikon D5200 camera and a MINI
Britcar USB Stick
website: www.minispace.com/en_us/background/25/
Entry Fee: Free
deadline: 15 October 2013
UNFCCC/CdM International Photo and
Video Contest 2013
The competition: Highlight the benefts of the Kyoto
Protocols Clean Development Mechanism in the
form of photographs and personal videos
Categories: UNFCCC/CDM Photo Contest 2013 and
UNFCCC/CDM Video Phone Contest 2013
Themes: CDM Changing Lives and People Should
Know About This CDM Project Because?
Prizes: Grand Prize winners in each category will
receive USD 4000 (approx. Rs. 2,54,502).
website: www.cdm.unfccc.int/contest/13/
index.html
Entry Fee: Free
deadline: 30 September 2013
Pikto Top Pick Contest
The competition: Interested photographers will have
to submit 15 images from their current body of work
or work they intend to exhibit.
Prizes: Grand Prize: USD 5000 (approx Rs. 3,17,686)
which will be used for the opening of the winning
photographers two-month exhibition in Toronto.
website: www.pikto.com/cad/pikto-top-pick/
Entry Fee: Free
deadline: 1 November 2013
Photomicrography
is the process of
photographing minute
objects using only a
camera and
a microphone.
PRo TALK
Participate in Metro
Photo Challenge to win
a rare chance to create
a social impact in the
lives of the children
in Ghana.
31 August30 october
A Journey
Through Asia
Sua house, Bangalore
For the frst time,
Tasveer Gallery
will be exhibiting
renowned landscape
photographer, Michael
Kennas images in
India. This work is
a showcase of his
journey through
different parts of Asia.
25 September9 october
Coded Elegance
India International centre,
New Delhi
The exhibition
will explore Pablo
Bartholomews work
and interaction with
the tribes in Arunachal
Pradesh, Manipur
and Nagaland.
16 october
Asiatic Lions at
Gir National Park
India International centre,
New Delhi
The exhibition will
be showcasing
the images by
photographers, N
Shiva Kumar and
Sharad Khanna.
There will also be a
talk on 5 October on
the present situation
of the Asiatic lions and
their habitat.
1213 october
IndiPix
Photography
workshop: The
Foundation Series
IndiPix gallery, New Delhi
A workshop designed
to strengthen a
beginners foundation
in photography
through feld trips
and assignments. For
more details contact
+91-9810231011
EVENTS
20
Harveys Images Enter Into Interstellar Space
T
wo of photographer David Alan
Harveys photographs were sent
to space in NASAs Voyager 1, in 1977.
One image was of a Malaysian man holding
his daughter and the other one is of geese
fying into a red sunset, both of which were
shot for National Geographic.
Recently, NASA reported that the Voyager
1 has left the infuence of the sun and
has entered the interstellar space. Of this,
Harvey said, Its safe to say that, if theres
any life out there, theres at least one photo
theyll see of life in the Tidewater area.
Microsoft Acquires Nokias Smartphone Business
M
icrosoft struck a deal with Nokia and
bought its smartphone business
for USD 7 Billion. Nokia took this step so
as to level up its own cellphone business,
which is now facing tough competition
with Apple and Samsungs android devices.
There was a time when Nokia dominated
the cellphone market business. Now, having
sold their mobile phone division, Nokia
will channel their attention towards
their telecommunication and mapping
technology areas.
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X-Synchronisation
is a part of the
cameras ash
synchronisation mode
that helps the ash
achieve a quick peak
light output.
PRo TALK
Google Celebrates world Photography day
On World Photography Day, 19 August, Google
hosted an event in Mumbai with talks by various
emiment photographers. The keynote session was
given by Raghu Rai. Google also collaborated with
photographers Prashant Panjiar, Pradeep Sanyal and
Sumit Sen for the event.
An Introduction to the Early Masters of
Photography workshop
The Head of the Social Communications Media
department at the Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai,
Professor Jeroo Mulla conducted a workshop, where
she spoke about the early masters of photography.
The event which took place on 8 September, had the
photography mentor talk about legends like Man Ray,
Robert Capa... and their amazing body of work.
Photo Talk by K Madhavan Pillai
Better Photographys Editor, K Madhavan Pillai
presented a talk at the NCPA, Mumbai on 13 September.
With the on-going debate about cameras getting smaller
and lighter while post-processing can be completed
with a touch of the button, the future of photography
seems rocky. Mr Pillai provided his insights on this topic,
giving examples of the constant transitions that the
camera has been going through, over the years.

Photography Exhibition
The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi,
Ministry of Culture, Government of India organised
two exhibitionsThrough a Lens, By a Mirror:
The Parsis by Sooni Taraporevala and A Certain
GraceThe Sidis: Indians of African Descent by Ketaki
Sheth. The exhibition was inaugurated by the eminent
Raghu Rai on 16 September. The show displayed 125
images shot by Sooni Taraporevala and 65 photos by
Ketaki Sheth.
The Red Room Exhibition
This exhibition was a part of The United Art Fair and
was held from 1517 September in New Delhi. The show
highlighted 8 images from Bandeep Singhs ongoing
work, along the theme Shringaar, the Indian rasa that
encompasses thoughts and expressions of beauty and
love. Bandeep used a single dominant element, the
colour red, to create the sensual and nuanced photos.
The images form a part of his 10-year long project of
which a preview was displayed at the exhibit.

EVENTS
NCPA, Mumbai
hosted a talk by
K Madhavan Pillai.
2325 october
Serai-Canon
Photography
workshop
Bangalore
Canon in a partnership
with Serai resort
will be presenting a
workshop with ace
wildlife photographer,
Sudhir Shivaram.
The workshop will cost
Rs. 21,500. For more
details visit: www.
theserai.in/shutterbug
259 october
My Life is My
Message
art heritage, New Delhi
Police Offcer and
photographer B S
Shivaraju will be
presenting two
bodies of work, which
represents the duality
of his own lifehaving to
juggle between his day
time job as a cop and
practising photography
in his leisure time.
259 october
Studio Suhag
art heritage, New Delhi
The exhibition will be
presenting around 2000
or so images, salvaged
by visual anthropologist,
Christopher Pinney
in collaboration with
Suresh Punjabi, the
owner of Studio Suhag.
27 october
The Art hop 2013
Bandra, Mumbai
A one-day festival that
celebrates art in the
city. 20 artists, including
photographers, will
show their work across
12 locations. The Art
Hop will also play host
to workshops, talks and
other activities. For an
updated schedule, visit
www.arthop.in
22
Z1: Largest Sensor Amongst Sonys Smartphones
Adobe Offers Affordable Subscription for Photoshop
S
ony fnally unveiled the
Xperia Z,1 which follows
in the foot steps of the
Xperia Z, but with some new
signifcant improvements.
While it still maintains a
similar design as the Z, the
Z1 does come with a more
powerful processor and a
waterproof body. But the main
exciting addition though, is the
20.7MP camera ftted in a 1/2.3
backside-illuminated CMOS
sensor. This is by far, the largest
sensor size amongst all of Sonys
cameraphones and is something
that users will fnd only in their
consumer level compact cameras.
As of now, the Xperia Z1s main
competitors are Nokias Lumia 808
and the Lumia 1020, because of
their larger sensor. The phone was
launched in India on
18 September and retails for
Rs. 44,990. It comes in the colours
black, white and purple.
A
dobe announced the Photoshop
Photography Program which will
provide photographers with an affordable
subscription to their software.
The subscription will be available for
USD 9.99 (Approx. Rs. 634) a month,
where users will be given access to Adobe
Photoshop CC, Lightroom 5, Behance,
and 20 gigabytes of cloud storage in the
Adobe Creative Cloud.
This offer will only be available to
those who use Photoshop CS3 or higher.
Users can sign up for this subscription till
31 December 2013.
NCPA
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Untill May 2013,
Tamron India had been
operating as the Liaison
offce and since June
2013, it has became
a 100% subsidiary of
Tamron Japan.
Tamron India is now
authorised to support
their partners and
distributors across
India, through direct
implementation of their marketing and sales
strategies. At present, Tamron India has three
authorised service centers. Apart from this, a
master service center set-up is in process.
We want to offer best quality products with
unique range and a very robust after sales
service, back to our customers. Our frst and
foremost mission is to increase our target
audience and generate our brand awareness,
not only in metro cities but also in remote areas.
We are not only targeting amateurs but are very
much focused on high end professionals as well.
Recently, we won EISA award for two of our
lenses SP 70200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD and Macro
SP 90mm f/2.8 VC USD.
We are in the midst of increasing our sales
and marketing staff to provide customers with
better service. Tamron India has appointed a
new Vice President whose expert comments
and skill sets will surely help us to grow further
in Indian market. Also we would like to provide
customers with an opportunity to test our full
lens line-up as much as possible, thus expanding
the experience zone.

as told to Conchita fernandes
i NDUStrY Voi Ce
our mission is to reach more customers
and generate brand awareness.

Right from the cover, to the simple captions accompanying the images, this book is a honest look at Rajasthan.
The cover itself is completely unique for a book titled Rajasthan and is so refreshing and nonconforming to
stereotypes that you cannot help but warm to the open, inviting expressions of these simple people.
The text, written by Gillian Wright, is almost lyrically simple. It reects the
photographers attempt to capture the purity of the region. From huge vistas that
render cattle and herds of deer into miniscule fgures to aerial views and portraits,
this book has it all. The book opens in the landscape format, rather than the usual
vertical format. It is also meant to be viewed from right to left, as you would do an Arabic
or Urdu book. Each picture, occupies the left hand side, while the right is reserved solely
for captions.
Surprisingly, the book does not have any double spreads. While the format it has been
printed in does not lend itself to horizontal double spreads, perhaps a vertical double
spread would have been quite enjoyable. In a world of guidebooks flled with amazing but
repetitive photos, this book is truly the result of a photographers soul searching in the
land of golden sand.
(For more on Rajesh Bedi and his photography, turn to page 120 for our Great Masters article.)

written by ambarin afsar
title: Rajasthan: Under the
Desert Sky
author: Rajesh Bedi
iSBN: 9788174368867
Publisher: Roli Books (www.
rolibooks.com)
Price: Rs. 3995
Book reVi ew
Nitin goyal
President and ceo
tamron India Pvt Ltd
N
ikon released an updated version of
the P7700 compact camera called the
P7800. The specs of the P7800 is similar to
its predecessor but with the addition of the
921k-dot EVF. This explains the price hike to
USD 550 (Approx. Rs. 34,500).
Another release is the Nikon
COOLPIX SO2 which has taken
the crown for being Nikons
smallest camera. The SO2 has a
13.2MP CMOS sensor, a 2.7-inch
touchscreen and can shoot
1080p video, an improvement from the S01.
Besides this, Nikon also announced the
LD-1000 LED Movie Light, meant for
Nikon 1 system users to improve their video
shooting. The movie light comes with a
removable bracket that will allow users to
adjust direction and height and
even teh distance of the light from
the subject when the bracket is
attached to the bottom. The cost of
Nikon LD-1000 LED is USD 100
(Approx. Rs. 6,300).
The Revolutionary 921k-dot EVF in Nikons P7800
The Sheer Arid, Dusty Glory of Rajasthan
Lorenz Holder Wins 2013 Red Bull Illume Award
T
he 2013 Red Bull Illume Award
winners were announced in a grand
ceremony on 29 August in Hong Kong,
China. The competition is dedicated
to action and adventure sports with a
purpose to showcase the most exciting and
thrilling adventure sports.
The competition had 10 categories
that saw the participation of 124
photographers. Each category had fve
winners and German photographer
Lorenz Holder took the prize of the
overall Winner. He also received a Leica
S camera, a Broncolor Move Outdoor kit
and Sun-Sniper gear.
Red Bull also plans to showcase the
top 50 images worldwide, as a unique
illuminated night-time exhibition.
Walker Evans
Lorenz Holder
Lorenz holders winning image is a photograph of a
snowboarder next to a giant satellite.
If you dread edited high-resolution fles that take
forever to upload on your social media networking
sites, then Fotor comes to the rescue. Fotor is
an online editing software that provides you with
various editing options. Under Photo Editing,
Collages, Photo Cards and an HDR mode, the
software allows sub-options of adding effects like
Lomo, Vintage, Funky and so on. Under Collages,
you will fnd a large number and range of templates
you. Have a special day coming up? You can create a
fun flled greeting card with the variety of templates
Fotor offers under that category.
Surprisingly, the online software even offers photo
stitching for both vertical and horizontal panoramas.
The HDR maker is nothing too great, though. All
the images are saved in a small size with a decent
resolution. You can edit pictures that are on your
computer, Facebook, Picasa or Flickr. It could have
saved at a better resolution, but if your aim is to
make a not-too-serious edit then head to www.fotor.
com to download this software.

Natasha Desai
Software of the moNth
fotor
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Canon Adds WiFi in Latest PowerShot Cameras
SanDisks Develops the Worlds Fastest Card
S
anDisk recently debuted what can
easily be called the worlds frst fastest
Compact Flash CFast 2.0
memory card. The Sandisk
Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 faunts
read speeds of 450MB/s and
write speeds of upto 350MB/s.
TAs of now, the card is only
compatible with the ARRI AMIRA
documentary style cameras. The fast
performing card will defnetly
support the 4K video technology
in the future. Currently, the card
will be available in selects stores
across USA and Europe in 60GB
and 120GB capacities.
C
anons premium compactsCanon
PowerShot G16 and the S120, feature
aWiFi update that enables the devices to
easily connect to a smartphone. While the
WiFi feature is not new to the S120, the
newer Canon models allow instant sharing
and uploading to social
networking sites without
the need to install
Canons Image Gateway.
Using Canon Camera
App, users can wirelessly
back up photos to a PC or
send them to their iOS or
Android device.
Simultaneously, Canon also introduced
the PowerShot SX510 HS and SX170
compact superzoom cameras. Unlike the
former SX500, the SX510 HS has a 12.1MP
sensor with built-in WiFi. Alternatively,
the SX170 has the same specs as the
SX160 but uses a rechargeable
lithium-ion pack instead of
the AA batteries.
Additionally, the Canon
PowerShot N digital camera
features a committed
Facebook button to make
sharing on the networking
site, a much easier process.
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B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
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The 64:9 Ultra-Wide Experience
P
anasonics has developed a new ultra
wide camera that will beneft the sports
industry. The new 64:9 ultra wide camera
system stitches feeds from four 16:9 cameras,
resulting in a 720p, 64:9 panoramic view.
Moreover, the system requires a person to
control the cameras simultaneously, while
it is being used. One can view the pictures
by using four side-by-side 16:9 widescreen TVs. While viewing a
game in a panoramic view would be something, the system has been
designed to help coaches make informed decisions during games.
EISA 2013-14 Photo Awards
Largest Camera Collection Ever!
F
or 30 years, the European Imaging and Sound Association
(EISA), has been giving away awards to the best products under
its various categories. The association represents 50 leading camera,
imaging and audio magazines in 20 European countries who
nominate and award the winners .
Some of the winners this year are Canon EF 200400mm
f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens for the European Professional
Lens award, the Canon EOS 100D also won the European SLR
Camera award, the Canon EOS 6D won the European Advanced
SLR Camera title, the Fujiflm X100S won the European Advanced
Compact Camera award whereas the European Camera award
was given to Nikon D7100. Olympus PEN E-P5 won the European
Advanced Compact System Camera award.
Other winners include the Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
Macro 1:1 lens which won the European Lens award and Tamron
SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD lens which took the title of the
European Zoom Lens award. To know more, visit www.eisa.eu
M
umbai-based photojournalist Dilish Parekh, recently broke
his previous Guinness Book World Record, for owning the
largest camera collection. Dilish currently owns a staggering 4,425
cameras, a craze that began when his father handed over his own
collection of 600 cameras to him. One of the jewels in his collection
is the Leica 250 Reporter. Only 1000 of its type were ever made, thus
making it rare.
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Better Than the Hubble
U
ntill now, telescopes made sharp photos only
in infrared light and could render blurred
images in visible light. A new system developed by
atronomers from University of Arizona, the Arcetri
Observatory in Italy and the Carnegie Observatory
makes higher resolution images than that of the
Hubble telescope in visible light. The VisAO
camera took over 20 years to develop and uses a
mirror of 21-feet in diameter, compared to Hubbles
8-foot mirror. It also employs 1/16th-inch thick
piece of curved glass that foats on a magnetic feld
30 feet above the telescopes primary mirror and is
able to change its shape 1,000 times per second at
585 points on its surface. This allows the system to
deal with the atmosphere which Hubble does not
need to worry about.

what started out as
a mere curiosity, has
turned into a serious
project for Pooja Jain.
She will display her
pictures at DPf 2013.
Pooja Jain
Documenting the Spirituality
Look who S Shooti Ng
Being a nun is
more than just
shaving the head,
wearing a robe or
commuting on
barefoot. I wanted
to unravel the
hidden stories
behind their
simple lives.
While in Rajasthan, Mumbai-based Pooja Jain found
numerous monographs published by the Jain monks
and nuns which fascinated her. Further she found
the book Nine lives: In Search of the Sacred in
Modern India by William Dalrymple that explores
the lives of nine people, one of which is the story of
a Nun. I was intrigued by the powerful nature of the
story, culture and the people and I wanted to know
more, she says.
Renunciation: is it a path of spirituality, an attitude
or a way to approach life or a step to solitary? It
was this question that inspired Pooja to explore the
world of nuns and their simple way of life through
the medium of photography. Poojas photo series,
Renunciation has been selected to be exhibited at
the second edition of Delhi Photo Festival 2013. This will
be her frst ever photo exhibition in the country.
The series began with Pooja photographing the
conversations between the nuns. I wanted to see if
there was any visual potential in my concept. While
documenting the series, Pooja also gained a formal
training in photography. The series began in 2009 and
Pooja hopes to continue the series sometime in the
future.
At present, Pooja has a few conceptual ideas
in mind. I need to work on these ideas a bit more
and see how they will be executed before I can talk
about them.
written by Chandni gajria
NASA Brings Astrophotography to Instagram
I
nstagram just got a lot
more cooler with NASA
joining it as a user. The space
agency created its account on
6 September and currently has
182,000 users and counting.
Every image is accompanied
by a lengthy and detailed
caption, talking about the
photo, which is an educational
opportunity for the viewers.
If you want your feed to
showcase some out of the
world astrophotography, then
go ahead, search NASA by the
handle @nasa and follow them!
28
Pooja Jain
How Studying Contact Sheets Can
Make You a Better Photographer
Eric Kim is a street photographer who is extremely popular for his educational initiatives. Besides being a huge supporter of shooting flm in todays digital age, Kim is
an avid blogger (www.erickimphotography.com/blog), and often writes about the history of photography and all that can be learnt from the mediums masters.
V i s ua l Mu s i n g s
Bresson often shot multiple shots and later chose the one that resonated the most.
Here, he captured the decisive moment early and the magic fades, later on.
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O
ne of the biggest misconceptions I know runs rampart in
street photography is the myth of the decisive moment.
What do I mean when I talk about the decisive moment
simply being a myth? Well of course there generally is a decisive
moment when you hit the shutter, to capture that exact moment
you desire in a photo.
However one of the common misunderstandings that plagued
many street photographers (including myself) was of the decisive
moment simply being one shot. After studying many contact sheets
from the book titled Magnum Contact Sheets, I was able to gain a new
level of insight to read the mind of a street photographer.
Henri Cartier-Bresson defnes The Decisive Moment as follows:
There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a
picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life
itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the
camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The
Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever.
When I frst read that paragraph, I thought that Henri Cartier-
Bresson (as well as many other famous street photographers) would
simply wait for the decisive moment and click the shutter once when
it happened.
However I was mislead when thinking this way because Henri
Cartier-Bresson didnt only take one single photograph when he
saw a decisive moment ready to happen (David Hurn refers to this
as a pregnant moment) but rather took several images of the same
scene. One of the best ways to learn how to get into the mind of a
photographer is to study his/her contact sheets.
What is a contact sheet exactly? A contact sheet is when you shoot
a roll of flm, lay your strips of negatives on a single paper, and then
develop it so you can see all the shots you took on a single roll on a
piece of paper. Of course the shots come out tiny, so you need to use
a loupe (a small magnifying glass you hold to your eye) to inspect
your images. Pulling a good picture out of a contact sheet, Bresson
said, is like going down to the cellar and bringing back a good bottle
to share.
Therefore when you are studying a contact sheet of a
photographer, you can get into their brain. For example, you can see
what shots he/she took during an entire scene, as well as what image
they fnally decided to choose.
One of my favorite excerpts from Thomas Leuthards book,
Going Candid was a chapter he titled Killers Shoot Twice. It is a
phrase that is very raw and graphic, and stuck with me. In street
photography, if you see a pregnant moment (the decisive moment
about to happen) dont just take one shot. As the analogy Thomas
used, killers shoot their victims twice to make sure they are dead.
I am not saying that in street photography you want to shoot your
Eric Kim
victims. I am simply using this analogy because I have found it to
stick in my mind!
So if you see the pregnant momentwork the scene. Shoot it
from different angles, and get as many shots as you can. Take your
frst shot by instinct, then take a step to the left and take another shot.
Perhaps crouch down and take a vertical shot. Then if the person
looks pissed off or annoyed, smile and say thank you and head off.
When David Hurn saw a decisive moment about to happen, he
would take around 56 shots if possible. Personally I try to take
that many, but in reality, the most I can take before I suspect that
the moment is over is about two shots. I know that shooting on the
streets at times can take a lot of courage, and after getting that one
shot, we just want to get out of there. However if you sense that the
people dont mind or are quite friendly, work towards the magic.
A word of warning though. One question I get asked is whether to
use Single Shot or Continuous mode. If you choose the Continuous
mode, exercise it with caution. Dont just go into a scene and spray
your shots like a machine gun. Rather, use it but still try to be
selective when shooting with continuous. I dont like holding the
shutter in continuous mode, but rather click every time I think that
there may be a subtle or interesting gesture.
There will be times you cant take more than one shot. For thats
the way its meant to be. Just get your photo, smile, say thank you,
and move on. Remember, it can sometimes be the smallest detail
that can make or break a shot. The small eye contact, the subtle hand
gesture, or the look on the persons face.
H
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arbus iconic photograph of the kid with the toy hand grenade was the frst she shot in
a series of portraits of the child, but it was the one with the most impactful expression.
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b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
30
HOW WE TEST
Product categorisation
We frst segregate products
into categories for the purpose
of equitability in testing.
The DSLR is divided into
entry-level, semi-professional
and professional categories.
For compacts, we distinguish
between advanced and basic
compact cameras. Similarly, we
also test consumer and pro
lenses, ashguns, printers, and
other photographic accessories
and gear.
The Process
We primarily test for features,
performance, build, ergonomics,
warranty and support. While this
remains constant, the weightage
we give to these parameter
differs from category to
category, because different
types of consumers have diverse
expectations from products.
Final ratings
Under each main parameter,
we list out hundreds of individual
variables (for eg. colour accuracy
for individual colours in different
lighting, individual features,
dynamic range, center-to-edge
defnition, light falloff, etc) against
which we either give points
or simply mark yes or no.
Thus, we arrive at a score for
that parameter, and then, the fnal
score, denoted as a percentage.
Additionally, based on the current
pricing of a product, a star
rating for Value for Money is
considered. Value for Money does
not affect the fnal percentage,
because prices for products
change constantly.
our seals of approval
Any product that scores 80%
or higher in individual tests gets
BP Recommendeda seal
of approval from our team.
In comparison tests, we also tag
products as BP Best Performer
and BP Best Value for Money.
BP Excellence awards
At the end of the calendar year,
the highest rated products in
each category automatically
win the Better Photography
Excellence Award. This is
Better Photographys recognition
of the very best products
launched in the course of the
year, and the companies that
made them.
october 201 3
Raj Lalwani tries to understand the myriad of moods presented
by the pleasing, but often confusing Fujilm X-M1.
Fugitive in Disguise
L
et me say this upfront. No camera
has left me with such mixed
feelings, as the Fujiflm X-M1.
Some sweet pleasantries, a few
nasty surprises and a bundle of
possibilities are there in this camera that
signals a new path for Fuji. Its like meeting
someone and knowing that they are nice,
but yet not knowing whether you are
drawn to them or not.
Over the past one year, I have tested a
number of Fuji mirrorless cameras, and
almost always felt like personifying the
camera. They feel different. Gadgetry and
techspeak left aside, the X-Pro 1, X-E1 and
X100/X100S are cameras that make you
see differently. They feel just right.
Features
But though the X-M1 seems to share a lot
with its older siblings, it somehow does not
inspire immediate affection like the others.
One obvious reason for this is the fact that
it is full of features. This might seem a little
strange, but the charm of some of the older
cameras was that they were no-nonsense
cameras targetted at photographers, and not
feature-packed gadgets aimed at geeks.
Before we discuss the features though,
lets deal with the most important
characteristic of the X-M1... its fantastic
sensor. The camera uses the same X-Trans
sensor that was used in the X-E1, X-Pro 1
and X100S, and thus delivers fantastic image
quality. This is arguably the best non-full
Fujilm X-M1
test test
GearGuide
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
20%
WEigHTagE oF
ParamETErs
Features
Performance
build Quality
ergonomics
Warranty &
support
30%
15%
5%
20%
30%
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
31
october 201 3
frame sensor in terms of noise performance,
and the lack of an AA flter helps deliver
extremely sharp results.
The X-M1 has no viewfnder, so it
obviously targets those who are stepping up
from compact cameras. This philosophy is
seen in its large feature set, which includes
Scene modes, creative effects and even WiFi.
The WiFi functionality is straightforward
and smooth. The camera transfers 3MP
fles to a cellphone app, and also allows
to transfer full-resolution photographs.
I was disappointed by the fact that one
cannot control the camera remotely using
WiFi. Competing models from Panasonic
and Samsung have this feature and it is
extremely useful for a wide range of genres.
Admirably, the camera includes
focus peaking, a feature that assists
the use of manual focus. And while its
implementation is not as smooth as we have
seen in some other cameras, it is defnitely
X-M1body
1650mmkitlens
Lithium-Ion
BatteryPack
BatteryCharger
LensCap
USBCable
ShoulderStrap
CD-ROM
WHaTs in THE BoX
test
a handy addition. Unfortunately, you
cannot use focus peaking while shooting
video. Considering that the technology
frst originated in video cameras, this is a
strange omission.
All photographs by Raj Lalwani
test
Pentax K-5 II
We test this rugged
mid-range DSLR
36
test
Nikon P330
The cheapest RAW
shooter, ever?
46
test
Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM
How does this video
dedicated lens work?
54
along with olympus,
Fujiflm probably has the
best JPEg engine today.
Detail is crisp and there
is a lot of control over the
fnal colour rendition.
Exposure: 1/80sec at f/5.4
(ISO 320)
The camera has two control dials. However, the
one at the back is very diffcult to use, especially
if you have large fngers. Your index fnger would
naturally be controlling the large top dial and
so, you would be forced to use your thumb to
manoeuver the back dial. Now, this dial is so tiny
and recessed that it becomes very diffcult for
the thumb to move it quickly, especially as the
dial is aligned vertically.
a change in Design Philosophy
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
32
october 201 3
The X-M1 is noticeably smaller than the X-E1 as it
loses the viewfnder. The kit lens is not as small as
Sonys 1650mm, but it is very sharp. The small body
pairs best with the 28mm f/2.8 though, and becomes
an incredibly compact, budget low-light package.
Ergonomics
Dense and
comfortable grip
Front Top rear
SonyNEX-5R
OlympusE-PL5
aLso LooK For
Test Shots
FastestFujiflmInterchangeable-lensCamera,ButisThatEnough?
The focusing is much faster than that of the X-E1 and X-Pro 1. However, the autofocus
is not near as fast as the X100S, or Olympus and Panasonics latest cameras.
BestLow-lightPerformanceatthisPricePoint
X-Trans is the best APS-C sensor at the moment in terms of noise performance, and
for the frst time, it is available at this price point. ISO 6400 is virtually noise free!
test
Though the video functionality is stunted, this is the
frst mirrorless camera from the company that has a
direct-record button. The LCD has 920k dots and can
tilt both upwards and downwards. The buttons are
large, but thin and consequently, diffcult to press.
cumbersome back
exposure dial
A conventional mode dial and exposure dials, this is a
regular, modern design unlike the other Fujis that are
largely retro. It must be noted that the shutter button
isnt threaded for a mechanical cable release, unlike the
X-E1 and X-Pro 1 that have this useful option.
Hot shoe
absence of
aperture ring
Kit lens
Top exposure dial
High resolution tilting
screen with no touchscreen
Pop-up fash
Quick menu
button
But then, video is not the strongest point
about the X-M1. The quality of footage is
something that will please most hobbyists,
but it has nowhere near the amount of
control offered by mirrorless cameras from
Sony or Panasonic.
Handling
This is where the story becomes a bit of
a contradiction. The older Fujis handled
brilliantly on feld, with dedicated dials for
Exposure Compensation and shutterspeed,
and a ring around the lens to adjust
aperture. The X-M1 abandons all of that,
and sticks to a regular modernist approach
where you need to press a button and turn a
dial to change the vital settings.
Nothing wrong with that, but if you
currently use an X-E1/X-Pro 1, and
want the X-M1 as a backup body, be
warned. The handling philosophies are
diametrically opposite.
The new lenses launched along with the
camera (the kit lens and a superbly tiny
28mm f/2.8) do not have any aperture ring.
So while you can mount them on the X-E1
and X-Pro 1, you can change aperture only
once you have upgraded the frmware of
those cameras. On the other hand, if you use
a lens that has an aperture ring on the X-M1,
you can then change aperture by simply
rotating the ring. Two approaches to do the
same thing is not ideal, and can confuse the
user on feld.
stereo mic
Awkwardhandling
Videonotasgoodas
thecompetition
mi nus
Imagequality
MFexperiencewith
focuspeaking
Built-inWiFi
Verysharpkitlens
PLus
Hot shoe
mode dial, a frst
in this series
aF-assist lamp
customisable
Fn button
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
34
F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
WiFi, focus peaking, no viewfnder
25/30
Performance
Class-leading image quality, average video
27/30
Build Quality
Largely polycarbonate but feels decent
16/20
Ergonomics
Awkward dials, no touchscreen
9/15
Warranty & support
Two-year warranty, limited service facilities
3/5
Value for money
Who should buy it? Low light enthusiasts who are
on a budget, and do not care much for fun features or video.
Why? The X-M1 has some serious handling issues that
would irk X-E1 and X100 users, but such brilliant low light
quality has never been available at this price.
oVEraLL

80%
sPEci Fi caTi ons
Modelname Fujiflm X-M1
MRP Rs. 42,999 (body only),
Rs. 47,999 (with 1650mm
f/3.5-5.6 OIS kit lens)
Effectivepixels 16 megapixels
Max.resolution 4896 x 3264 pixels
Sensorsize,type APS-C, CMOS
sensor cleaning Yes
Aspectratio(w:h) 3:2
Focusing modes Multi-area, Center, Tracking,
Single, Continuous,
Face Detection
AF type Contrast AF system
AF points 49 focus points
Metering Multi, Average, Spot
Shutterspeedrange 601/4000sec
Exp.compensation +/- 2EV (in 0.3 steps)
colour space sRGB, Adobe RGB
ISO Auto, 2006400
(Extended Mode: 12800
and 25600)
Whitebalance 7 presets
Drivemodes Single, Continuous (5.6fps),
Self Timer
Built-inash Yes
Externalash Yes
Flashmodes Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed
Flash, Slow Synchro, Rear-
curtain Synchro, Commander
Flashrange 7m at ISO 200
LCDsize 3-inch LCD, tiltable
LCDdots 920k dot
Viewfnder No
File format RAW, JPEG, H.264
Imagestabilisation Only optical, not in-body
LiveView Yes
remote control Yes (RR-90, sold separately)
Self-timer Yes, 2, 10sec
storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Movieclips Yes
USB Yes
environmentally sealed No
HDMI Yes, Mini HDMI, Type-C
battery Lithium-ion
Dimensions(WxHxD) 117 x 67 x 39mm
Weight 330g (body only)
iso 12,800 (Hi 1)
As seen in the X-Pro 1, X-E1 and X100S, the
noise performance is astonishing, by cropped
sensor standards. Image quality at ISO 6400 is
fantastic. There is a lot of detail you can see in
the fles with the sharp kit lens and effcient noise
reduction (which cant be switched off in JPEG).
Images are eminently usable at ISO 12,800 and
25,600 as well, in small sizes, though you lose the
option of shooting in RAW.
Noise Test
iso 6400
iso 25,600 (Hi 2)
Also, though Fuji has adopted the same
button/dial approach that a lot of others use,
the X-M1 does not do it as nicely. There are a
lot of external buttons, but they are diffcult
to press. The back command dial is also
cumbersome to operate. Due to this, I found
myself using the Program mode most often,
unlike other mirrorless cameras, where
I either use Aperture Priority or Manual.
That said, the automation provided by
the camera is very effective. Metering is
extremely accurate, and the ash does a
fantastic job of balancing ambient and
artifcial light.
Performance
The X-M1 does not have phase-detect AF
off the sensor, and the focusing is thus, not
as fast as the X100S. But it is still better than
the X-Pro 1 and X-E1, and largely accurate
on feld. I never found myself missing a shot,
but it must be said that competing models
like the Panasonic G series and Olympus
PENs are way faster.
The impressive Film Simulation mode
produces fantastic JPEG fles that do full
justice to the excellent sensor. Do keep
in mind that the Film Simulation options
are lesser in the X-M1 as compared to the
high-end models. There is no ProNeg option
and there are no fltered B&W looksonly a
basic Monochrome mode.
conclusion
Fujiflms mirrorless journey has been
interesting, to say the least, but it seems
to have taken an important twist with the
X-M1. In terms of features and handling,
it doesnt quite appeal to the serious
photographer. And if you want a feature-
packed camera, there are plenty of other,
more refned products in the market.
The redeeming factor, though, the reason
why you may even ignore every handling
quirk, is the image quality. The fact that the
X-Trans sensor is available at Rs. 47,999 for
the kit, is a revelation!
And this is what makes this Fuji so
different. The older cameras had their heart
in the right place, in terms of the way they
felt in ones hand. The X-M1, with all its
handling dissonance, seems confused about
its aspirations, like someone in disguise... it
is primarily its imaging brains that make it
such an exciting proposition.
R
E
C
O
M
M
E
N
D
E
D
october 201 3
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
36
october 201 3
Many strangely opposing factors bring the hugely enjoyable
Pentax K-5 II at odds with K Madhavan Pillai.
A Study in Contradiction
D
uring this test, I was surprised to
realise that I had captured over
3000 frames with the Pentax K5II.
Generally, I tend to shoot a lot
more when I fnd myself enjoying
a camera. And being a slow photographer,
this is saying a lot. The K-5 II and its sibling,
the K-5 IIs, were released last September.
Both versions are identical, except that the
IIs lacks an anti-aliasing moir cutting flter.
Features
Pitched against semi pro DSLRs from other
companies, the 16.3 megapixel K-5 II is
the smallest amongst its peers and is built
of magnesium alloy with a stainless steel
frame. It is the only DSLR in its category to
offer extreme weather sealing against dust,
rain or snow, with a minimum operating
temperature range of -10
o
C, when combined
with its weather sealed 18-55mm kit lens.
This lens differentiates itself from other
cheaper kit lenses by having a much
sturdier construction, including a metal
lens mount. It uses a much older screw
driven AF motor, which is bound to be
noisy. Unfortunately, almost all of Pentaxs
prime lenses are not weather sealed.
Like Sony DSLTs, the K-5 II features
in-camera sensor shift image stabilisation,
eliminating the need for stabilised lenses.
Considering that the camera can also
accept older manual focus legacy K and
M mount lenses (some of which can
be bought secondhand in India for a
extremely low prices) and a wide variety of
lens adapters, this is a big advantage.
The K-5 II has more handling
customisability options than other DSLR in
this range. For instance, the Hyper-program
function lets users move seamlessly
between Shutter or Aperture Priority and
Program or Manual modes. The Program-
line function lets you set the camera for
standard, hi-speed (giving priority to higher
shutter speeds), depth-of-feld (smaller
apertures) or MTF (for optimum apertures
depending on the lens used).
Shadow and highlight detail retrieval
can be both customised in nine steps,
and set individually for each of the nine
customisable picture presets. Similarly, noise
reduction can be set in varying levels for
individual ISO settings.
A singularly useful feature is that the
K-5 II can retain or reset the memory for
Pentax K-5 II Kit
PentaxK-5II
18-55mmlens
Li-ionbattery
Bodymountcover
Lenscap
Lenshood
Rearlenscap
USBcable
AVcable
Shoulderstrap
Viewndereyecup
Viewndercap
FrameMatte
focusingscreen
PCsocketcap
Hotshoecover
Batterycharger
CD-ROM
WHaTs in THE BoX
WEigHTagE oF
ParamETErs
Features
Performance
BuildQuality
Ergonomics
Warranty&
Support
15%
20%
45%
15%
5%
tESt
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october 201 3
All photographs by K Madhavan Pillai
A
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p
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K

M
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in-camera low intensity
HDr with auto align
turned off gives some
interesting results.
i personally enjoyed the
B&W images produced
by the K-5 ii.
Exposure: 1/40sec (+/- 1)
at f/5 (ISO 200)
tESt
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
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The on/off switch on the shutter release also doubles up
to switch top LCD illumination on. A longer pull on this
spring loaded switch enables DOF preview or a image
preview when picture settings are enabled. The lens
release button is a recessed and a bit tough to get to.
Ergonomics
ir remote
signal reciever
Front Top rear
NikonD7100
CanonEOS70D
aLso LooK For
Test Shots
Wonderfullyvariedin-camerapicturesettings
The camera allows switching between various picture
presets, which can be further tweaked for various
options, including highlight and shadow detail recovery.
Excellentsharpnessandcoloursaturation
The sharpness, grain structure and wonderfully
saturated colours remind me of good, old transparency
flm. With a slight boost, welcome to Velvia.
Superbin-cameraRAWprocessing
Coupled with an accurate LCD, in-camera RAW
processing has almost every option and picture settings
to choose from, and is an extremely useful feature.
tESt
Despite the large LCD, an impressive number of buttons
layer the back, with buttons changing its functions under
different settings and modes. While it is daunting initially,
they are fairly easy to get used to. They are also well
thought through and make handling extremely speedy.
rear input,
playback zoom dial
AF pattern, AF modes and metering modes are enabled
using switches, which is hugely appreciable. The mode
dial features a locking design which I am not in favour of.
It prevents the very rare accidental rotation, but means
that there is one more button to push to change modes.
onboard fash Hot shoe
Front input dial
Focus mode
lever
iso
button
3-inch, 921k dot,
air gap free LcD
aF-assist lamp
4-way controller with
dedicated functions
auto
exposure
lock
aF point selection
mode switch
exposure modes and settings, once a mode
has been changed or when the camera has
been switched off.
Other features include a 11-point AF
(meager by todays standards, but rated to
function at a pathbreaking -3 EV), built-in
levels, and a horizon-fxing Composition
Adjustment function that can shift and
rotate the sensor (useful when the camera is
mounted on a tripod; interesting, but odd).

Handling
I cannot overstate the fact that I thoroughly
enjoyed using the K-5 II. Very few DSLRs
handle well enough to let you change
settings for almost every shot. Yet, here is
where the contradictions seep in. While the
sound of the shutter is wonderfully
dampened and soft, and while the AF is
responsive, the lens motors whine loudly.
Writing speeds are a bit slower than
expected, even on a Class 10 UHS1 card.
While data is being written, the preview
locks out, but you can get the next shot.
In Live View, the camera locks down
completely after a burst in the continuous
shooting mode, or even after one frame,
until the buffer is cleared fully.
Exposure
mode dial
Price
Someoutdated
features
mi nus
Imagequality
Noiseperformance
Weathersealing
Handling
Customisability
PLus
Playback, image
delete buttons
Power switch
Exposure
compensation
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
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F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
Extreme weather sealing, customisability
11/15
Performance
Exemplary noise control, colours, sharpness
35/45
Build Quality
Steel frame, magnesium alloy body
14/15
Ergonomics
Small, button and menu functionality
18/20
Warranty & support
Two-year warranty with a rather limited
service network
3/5
Value for money
Who should buy it? Photographers who are really
looking for an extreme all-weather camera.
Why? It is small, well built, with plenty of shooting controls,
while delivering excellent noise performance and colours.
oVEraLL

81%
sPEci Fi caTi ons
Modelname Pentax K-5 II
MRP Rs. 95,995 (with 1855mm
weather sealed kit lens)
Effectivepixels 16.3 megapixels
Max.resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels
Sensorsize,type 23.7 x 15.7mm, CMOS
Sensorcleaning Yes
Aspectratio(w:h) 2:3
Focusingmodes AF-C (Continuous) / AF-S
(Single) / MF
AFtype Phase detect AF system
AFpoints 11 focus points (9 cross type)
Metering Multi, centre-weighted, spot
Shutterspeedrange 301/8000sec
Exp.compensation +/- 5EV (in 0.3 steps)
Colourspace sRGB, Adobe RGB
ISO Auto, 1006400
(Extended: 8051200)
Whitebalance Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Shade/
Fluorescent (4 settings)/Flash/
Tungsten/CTE/3 manual, 3 Kelvin
presets/copy WB from image
Drivemodes Hi: 7fps (30 JPEG, 20 RAW)
Lo: 1.6fps (JPEG no limit, 10 RAW)
Built-inash Yes
Externalash Yes; hot shoe
Flashmodes On, Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow
Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain
Sync, Wireless
Flashrange 13 (in meters at ISO100)
LCDsize 3-inch TFT LCD, air gap free
LCDdots 921K dot
Viewnder Yes, 100% FOV
Fileformat RAW (DNG, PEF), JPEG,
AVI (MPEG)
Imagestabilisation Sensor shift IS with rotational
compensation (4 stops max.)
LiveView Yes
Remotecontrol Yes
Self-timer Yes, 2, 12sec
Storagetypes SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Intervaltimer Yes (999 shots, 1sec to 24hrs)
MultipleExposure Yes, 2 to 9 shots
Environmentallysealed Yes, extreme sealing
Battery Lithium-ion
Dimensions(WxHxD) 132.0 x 96.5 x 73.7mm
Weight 740g (body only, with battery)
iso 3200
ISO performance is quite brilliant. So is the colour
rendition across the ISO range. Noise becomes
faintly visible at ISO 800, but is extremely well
controlled all the way up to ISO 6400. ISO 12800 is
quite usable with a slight reduction in image size.
I also liked the non-aggressive noise reduction
flters, which allow images to retain more detail.
Noise Test
iso 1600
iso 6400
Button response becomes slightly
sluggish while the camera is working on
processing or writing data. But it does not
signifcantly hinder shooting. As easy as it
is to use the camera with stills, video is just
as cumbersome to record, as it involves
rotating the mode dial with no direct record
button dedicated for it.
Performance
Image quality with the K-5 II is exemplary.
Apart from the superbly crisp sharpness,
I particularly enjoyed customising image
presets. RAW images contain plenty of
excellent latent detail, and about nine stops
of dynamic range to play around with till
ISO 1600. I found myself underexposing
my shots by a third of a stop to maintain
highlight detail, because the shadow detail
could be retrieved so easily. The excellent
noise characteristics and control over noise
reduction also saw me use the camera with
the Auto ISO set at a maximum of 6400,
without bothering too much about it.
The 18-55mm lens displays some of the
problems also seen in other kit lenses,
including visible distortion at the wide
end and a loss in sharpness, at the edges, at
the ends of the aperture range. Fringing is
surprisingly well controlled across the range.
The sweet spot in terms of sharpness that
supports the sensor well, is from the middle
of the focal range to the telephoto end, when
the lens is stopped down to f/8.
conclusion
In terms of image quality, colours and noise
performance, the Pentax K-5 II stands up
to the competition brilliantly. Yet, at a price
of Rs. 95,995 for the kit, and with the Nikon
D7100 and Canons latest EOS 70D being
priced slightly lower (with certain better
features), one begins to think of the 11 AF
points, screw driven lens AF motors, video
functionality that are all outdated today.
One also begins to consider the slightly
slower performance and non-existent
system backup (at least for now).
Spending for the K-5 II does not
make much sense, especially if you
have a previous set of lenses from
other manufacturers. Eventually, the
decision rests on how badly you need the
superior weather sealing, handling fnesse
and customisability.
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iso 12,800
october 201 3
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The Fujilm FinePix HS50 EXR may look like a cosmetic upgrade
but packs in a lot more. Ketan Kundargi puts it to the test.
Reinforced Bridge
T
he Fujiflm FinePix HS50 EXR is
the companys latest offering in
an already populated superzoom
segment of advanced compact
cameras. I feared that the
upgrade would simply come with higher
zoom and a few simple improvements
like a lot of other cameras in this segment.
And although it is diffcult to differentiate
between the two at the frst glance, the
company has built on the excellent
features of HS30 EXR to offer a camera
with equally good performance.
Features
The moment you see the EXR label on the
camera, you know that the camera packs
Fujiflms proprietary EXR technology.
It allows the sensor to adjust such that it
can be optimised for High Resolution,
Wide Dynamic Range or High Sensitivity
and Low Noise shooting conditions.
In fact, the Fujiflm FinePix HS50EXR
takes it a step ahead and has an improved
16MP 1/2 inch EXR CMOS II sensor and a
more powerful EXR Processor II.
The camera comes with an image
stabilised Fujinon lens that boasts a
lens of almost 42x. It covers a 35mm
equivalent focal range of 241000mm.
Almost every other standard bridge
camera, especially those with a zoom
range of over 40x, is only capable of
reaching a maximum wide aperture
of f/3.5 at the widest point of the lens.
The FinePix HS50 breaks this norm
and starts at an impressive f/2.8 at the
widest end of the lens. Add to that the
mechanical rotation rings on the lens
barrel for operation that is akin to a DSLR
lens. This makes zooming and manual
focusing a breeze.
Fujilm FinePix HS50 EXR
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
test
WeiGhtaGe oF
PaRaMeteRs
Features
Performance
build Quality
ergonomics
Warranty &
support
20%
15%
40%
20%
5%
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
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The biggest improvement over the
previous HS30EXR model is the inclusion
of Phase-Detection pixels just like a
DSLR. The Intelligent Hybrid Autofocus
system then chooses between the high-
speed Phase Detection AF and the more
accurate Contrast Detect AF for the most
appropriate autofocus for each situation.
Fujiflm claims that focusing time can be
as little as 0.05sec making it the worlds
fastest autofocus in a compact camera.
In addition, shot-to-shot time is as less as
0.5sec while in Continous Shooting mode,
the camera is capable of shooting a burst
of 11fps at full resolution. All these factors
make the Fujiflm FinePix HS50 EXR fast,
very fast.
The 3-inch 920k dot LCD monitor on
the back of the camera can not only be
Lithium-ion
battery pack
Batterycharger
Lenscapandcord
Lenshood
USBcable
Shoulderstrap
CD-ROM
Ownersmanual
Whats in the box
tilted, but also swivelled now. And if
you want to use it like a DSLR, you can
simply switch to the impressive 920k-dot
electronic viewfnder.
handling
The look and feel of the HS50 EXR can
easily make one mistake it for an entry-
level DSLR. The rubber-covered body, as
opposed to the more plastic fnish on other
cameras makes it a sturdy camera with
a better grip. The lens itself has a ridged
rubber ring for zoom along with a second
smaller ring for manual focus. However, the
small size of the focus ring and location
behind the zoom ring rather than front of it
makes focusing inconvenient.
A traditional mode dial on the top of
the camera body can be used to switch
All photographs by Ketan Kundargi
effective optical
is, combined with
great handling
lets you use much
lower shutterspeeds
than usual.
exposure: 1/4sec at f/4 at
200mm (ISO 125)
test
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
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The large rubberised grip on the front makes holding
and operating the camera with a single hand very
convenient. This leaves your second hand free for
handling the lens when using manual focus or to
zoom while shooting.
eRGonoMiCs
Large rubberised
comfortable grip
Front top Rear
CanonSX50HS
NikonP520
aLso LooK FoR
Test Shots
LightiningFastAutofocus
Phase-detect sensors along with a f/2.8 lens help the lens to focus instantly and
accurately even when shooting from a moving vehicle.
test
To rest the thumb on the back there is a rubberised
thumbrest. It is good to see that though there is a sensor
to switch to the EVF, Fujilm has provided a button to
manually toggle between the two. This can be very
helpful when shooting from the hip with the tiltable LCD.
Dedicated video vutton
On the top, there is a rather large onboard ash
along with a hot shoe for using external ash.
Additionaly, Fujilm has provided two helpful shortcut
buttons for Exposure Compensation and Shooting mode
next to the standard dials and shutter release button.
hot shoe
Flash
button
Lens
Zoom ring
tilt-and-swivel
LCD screen
EXRSN(LowNoise)Mode
The EXR technology allows you to shoot better quality images in extremely low
light at a reduced yet still usable 6MP resolution.
aF mode
button
Customisable
Fn button
between the wide variety of manual and
automatic scene modes the camera has.
A second dial is used to adjust aperture or
shutter speed, depending on the shooting
mode you are in. On the back, the camera
has a traditional four-way pad that lets you
toggle between different options in the
Menu. You can also use them as a shortcut
to the Macro mode, Flash mode and a Self
Timer mode. The fourth directional key is
a customisable function button that you
can set to access your most used setting.
Interestingly, the camera borrows the
excellent AF Mode switch from high-end
cameras. With a single ick, you can switch
between single AF, continous AF and
manual focus. Hidden here is the AF-point
button used to switch between the different
focusing points the camera has. This makes
it diffcult to make the change quickly
needing you to use both your hands to
change a focus point. An easier option is to
set the centre point and then recompose to
your liking.
While shooting, you can choose
between the electronic viewfnder
or the display screen to see what you
are shooting. The camera has a built-
in sensor that activates the EVF the
moment you bring it close to your eye.
Lackssharpness
Averagevideo
Mi nUs
Ergonomicdesign
Extremelyfastand
accurate focusing
ImpressiveEVF
EffectiveIS
PLUs
high resolution eVF
Focus ring
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
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F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
Hot shoe, RAW, optical image stabilisation.
18/20
Performance
Great AF system, fast functioning, lacks
sharpness, video quality not great.
33/40
build Quality
Sturdy, rubberised body, stiff zoom ring.
12/15
ergonomics
DSLR-like layout makes for great handling.
17/20
Warranty & support
Two-year warranty, limited service facilities.
3/5
Value for Money
Who should buy it? A serious hobbyist who wants
the feel of a DSLR with a wide zoom range.
Why? It is packed with several features that make for a
great photography experience with decent image quality.
oVeRaLL

83%
iso 1600
iso 800
iso 3200
Alternatively, you can manually switch
between the two displays with a button.
Performance
The Fujiflm FinePix HS50 EXR might
indeed be the fastest compact camera
in the market right now. There is almost
zero shutter lag, instant start up and the
camera is ready to take the next picture
the moment you have shot one. While the
company claims that the 11fps burst mode
is limited to six frames at a time, one
can effectively shoot almost seven-eight
frames in RAW+JPEG before it has to stop.
If you are shooting in JPEG only, then
the camera can go on shooting without
a break.
Autofocus is blazing fast at the wide end
as promised but slows down considerably
at the telephoto end. However, it
continues to be impressively accurate
throughout the entire focal length range.
october 201 3
Noise Test
Noise starts showing images shot at ISOs as low as
400. Even at ISO 800 and 1600, the details are still
recoverable and can be xed if shooting in RAW.
Images shot at ISO 3200 les lose considerable
details and are almost useless.
iso 1600
iso 800
sPeCi Fi Cati ons
Modelname Fujilm FinePix HS50 EXR
MRP Rs. 32,999
sensor size, type EXR CMOS II
Effectivepixels,
max.imagesize
16 megapixels,
4608 x 3456 pixels
LCD 3-inch, 920k dots
Focal range 241000mm (35mm equivalent)
ISOrange Auto, 1003200 (expandable
up to 12,800)
Aperture range f/2.811
Shutterspeed 301/4000sec
Meteringmodes Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
File formats Still: JPEG, RAW;
Movie: H.264, MOV
Hotshoe Yes
battery Li-ion
storage SD,SDHC, SDXC
Dimensions(WxHxD),
weight
134.9 x 101.3 x 145.9 mm,
808g
iso 3200
The optical image stabilisation in the
camera helps you make the most out of
it by delivering sharp, shake free images
even at 1000mm. You can compensate
by almost three to four stops below the
standard shutterspeed of 1/1000sec with
OIS switched on.
Both the predecessors of this camera,
the HS30 and the HS20 offered some
very interesting features but continued
to fail when it came to image quality.
Fujiflm seems to have picked up on
this as the HS50 offers a considerably
better quality though it is still does
not come close to being the best.
Colour reproduction is excellent,
distortion controlled and purple-fringing
almost non-existent.
When viewed directly out of the camera,
the fles are just a little soft and require a
little added sharpness in postprocessing.
However, if you are shooting in RAW,
you can recover the details easily while
developing it. The cameras Photometry, as
Fujiflm calls its metering system is usually
spot on. But when faced with large areas
of highlights, the camera is tricked into
slightly underexposing.
Switch to video and the shortcomings
of the camera start showing up. Quality is
disappointing with a signifcant loss
in details. And while the autofocus is
impressively silent, it can get very diffcult
to focus or zoom manually.
Conclusion
While the Fujiflm FinePix HS50 EXR
might look like just a simple cosmetic
upgrade from the outside, it is a
completely different story. The EXR II
technology makes sure that the camera
delivers a performance that compliments
the excellent features that the camera
has. It is undoubtedly one of the best
superzoom bridge cameras currently
available in the market.
Why go for the Fujiflm when you can
get the Canon SX50 HS with a longer
focal range for a few lesser thousands?
For the truly ergonomic design, fast and
accurate focusing and a high quality EVF.
The Canon may deliver slightly better
images, but the speed and handling that
the Fujiflm offers, makes it an equally
strong contender.
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october 201 3
Nikons frst pocketable RAW shooter, the COOLPIX P330, enters the game
rather late, but pleasantly surprises Raj Lalwani with its attractive price point.
Revolutionary Pricing!
W
hen we had tested the
Nikon COOLPIX P310, we
had largely appreciated the
camera, but lamented the
fact that it did not have RAW.
Of course, at that time, we thought this was
wishful thinking. No camera at that price
point had ever had RAW shooting, and
even other f/1.8 compact cameras that had
RAW were at least Rs. 10,000 more.
But wishes do come true! The new P330
not only has RAW shooting, but also comes
at an attractive price point of Rs. 16,950!
This is revolutionary for several reasons.
Features
With the P330, the company has taken
its best performing budget compact
and improved its capabilities by a
large degree.
First things frst, the sensor is now
larger. The older P310 had a regular 1/2.3
inch sensor. This was smaller than the
1/1.7 inch sensor found in cameras like
the Canon S110, though to its credit, the
Nikon was also much cheaper. The P330,
on the other hand, uses a 1/1.7 inch sensor,
at the same price point as its predecessor!
Coupled with RAW, four-stops VR and
a fast f/1.8 lens at the wide end, this
dramatically improves the cameras low
light capabilities.
The camera uses the same 12.2MP
back-illuminated CMOS sensor that is seen
in the higher-end P7700. While several
compact cameras (and even cellphones)
Nikon COOLPIX P330
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
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WeiGhtaGe oF
PaRameteRs
Features
Performance
build Quality
ergonomics
Warranty &
support
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B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
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october 201 3
are touting more megapixels than these,
we have observed that a conservative
megapixel count has always improved low
light performance, all other things kept
equal. So despite the fact that the P310 was
16MP, I believe that the resolution choice is
a good decision.
The lens focal length is a useful 24
120mm. At the telephoto end, the lens is
quite slow, but its f/5.6 aperture does give a
hint of subject-background separation.
As expected, the camera has the usual
PASM and Scene modes, but sadly, there
are no flters or creative effects, the kind
that a lot of other manufacturers are
including. It has GPS and though it does
not have built-in WiFi, the camera is
compatible with the companys WU-1a
WiFi adapter.
Lithium-Ion
battery pack
Batterycharger
USBcable
AVcable\
Wriststrap
Cameramanual
SoftwareCD
Warrantycard
Whats in the box
Like a lot of cameras that have a fast
lens, the P330 has an inbuilt Neutral
Density flter, so that you can use f/1.8 for
depth separation, even while shooting
in bright light. Thoughtfully, the option
of switching this flter on and off is also
available in the quick menu that the Fn
button activates.
The good thing about the P330 is that in
appealing to the serious photographer, it
does not compromise on video. Of course,
the overall functionality in terms of movie
shooting is rather basic, but the Full
HD 1080p60i video is remarkably sharp
and smooth.
handling
The dimensions of the camera are identical
to those of the P310. Considering the extra
All photographs by Raj Lalwani
the lens of the P330
is exceptionally sharp
and the JPeG engine,
virtually identical to the
companys DsLRs.
exposure: 1/200sec at
f/6.3 (ISO 800)
test
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
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october 201 3
The camera is very well built for its price and feels
quite good in ones hand. There isnt much of a
physical grip, but the matte fnish ensures that the
camera is not slippery. Unlike its higher-priced
counterparts, it does not have a Lens Control Ring.
eRGonomics
meagre, but
comfortable grip
Front top Rear
CanonS110
OlympusXZ-2
aLso LooK FoR
Test Shots
VividColourswithoutBlown-outHighlights
Picture Controls are identical to the ones found in Nikon DSLRs. Considering that the
interface is also the same, the camera would appeal to the companys DSLR owners.
test
To rest the thumb on the back, there is a rubberised
thumbrest. The LCD is nice and sharp with a
resolution of 921k dots. There is no direct-access ISO
button, but the four-way controller and back control
dial are well designed.
Rubberised
thumbpad
On top, the P330 camera is rather minimalist. It has
a zoom rocker, an exposure control dial and a simple
mode dial. Also seen is a pop-up fash, which needs
to be raised physically by pressing the fash button
on the side.
stereo mic
onboard fash
Lens
Zoom rocker
high resolution 180
fip-up LcD touchscreen
ASuperblyEffectiveVibrationReductionSystem
I consistently shot sharp photos at four stops slower than the required shutterspeed.
With the Burst mode on, the P330 managed sharp results even fve stops slower.
aF-assist lamp
second Fn button
zoom and larger sensor, this was pleasant
surprise. Of course, the older RX100 is
only slightly bigger and has a much larger
sensor, but then, it is in a different price
league altogether.
The layout of buttons is akin to the P310,
which means that the handling is largely
good. The two control dials are easy to access
and turn, and changing settings on the fy
is quite simple. I was disappointed at the
lack of a dedicated ISO button, but you can,
of course, access it directly by using the Fn
button. Unlike the companys DSLRs, the Fn
button in the P330 is not just something that
you customise for accessing one feature. It
also gives complete access to a quick menu,
which includes other settings like WB,
Metering, AF Area mode and so on.
Like some of the companys DSLRs, it
is possible to save a bunch of settings as
one particular user preset. This is actually
very useful on feld. Imagine that you are
shooting landscapes with a bunch of settings
(Vivid Picture Setting, Multi-point AF and
so on). Then, all of a sudden, if you shoot
a portrait, you dont need to change every
setting individually. All you need to do is
turn the mode dial to U (which indicates
SlowAF
Poorbatterylife
mi nus
Attractiveprice
RAWshooting
Excellentoptics
Relativelylarge
sensor size
PLus
mode dial
exposure dial Fn button for
quick menu
b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
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F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
RAW, f/1.8 lens, no Lens Control Ring
18/20
Performance
Slow AF, excellent image quality
36/40
build Quality
Polycarbonate outer case with metal top
13/15
ergonomics
No tilting screen, not much customisation,
useful User Settings mode
15/20
Warranty & support
Three-year warranty
4/5
Value for money
Who should buy it? Low-light photography
enthusiasts who are on a tight budget.
Why? The P330 is much cheaper than its closest
competitor, and also has f/1.8 and RAW.
oVeRaLL

86%
iso 1600
iso 800
iso 3200
sePteMber 201 3
Noise Test
The P330 produces usable images at ISO 1600.
Even ISO 3200 is not too bad, if you shoot RAW and
increase the contrast to mask the shadow noise.
iso 800
iso 1600
iso 3200
sPeci Fi cati ons
Model name Nikon COOLPIX P330
MrP Rs. 16,950
sensor size, type 1/1.7 inch, backlit CMOS
Effectivepixels,
max.imagesize
12.2 megapixels,
4000 x 3000 pixels
LCD 3-inch, 921k dots
Focal range 24120mm (35mm equivalent)
ISOrange Auto, 1006400 (expandable
up to 25,600)
Aperture range f/1.88
Shutterspeed 601/4000sec
Metering modes Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot
File formats Still: JPEG, NRW;
Movie: MPEG-4
Hotshoe No
battery Li-ion
storage SDHC, SDXC
Dimensions(WxHxD),
weight
103 x 58 x 32mm,
200g
User Settings) and the settings you had
saved for a different genre or situation are
automatically switched on.
Performance
As expected, the image quality does show
quite a bit of improvement, as compared
R
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admirably, there is no
colour shift at high isos
and the detail retention
is excellent, considering
this price point.
exposure: 1/25sec at f/2.8
(ISO 3200)
to the P330, and matches the competition in
most aspects. The lens of the P330 is quite
exceptional. Images at the lowest ISOs are
extremely sharp and fringing and faring are
virtually absent. The high ISO performance
of the camera also, is superior to other
cameras in this price range.
Though the camera can shoot at 10fps, it
is not a fast camera. Forget about shooting
frantically if you are shooting NRW + JPEG.
In fact, you need to ensure that you use a
top-of-the-line card to ensure that the RAW
writing speed is not sluggish. Focusing is
usably quick, but not the best I have seen
The fashs output is pleasing and balances
well with ambient light, typical to the way
Nikons DSLR fashguns work. Battery life
is disappointing. 200 shots as per CIPA
standard (as opposed to the P310 which
was rated at 230), and I often found myself
running out of charge, while shooting for an
extended duration.
conclusion
Its closest competitor, the S110, costs Rs.
10,000 more! With a decent sensor, an f/1.8
lens and RAW, this is a great low light camera
if you are on a budget. This is probably
the best way to combat the cameraphone
threatno nonsense, high quality and a
super competitive price point. The P330 is a
gamechanger and in a very refreshing way,
keeps the humble compact camera, alive.
test
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
52
TEST
The Canon Powershot N is billed as a cellphones
companion. But is it any good? Supriya Joshi tells all.
TEST
The Tiny Tot
Canon PowerShot N
T
he growing craze with cellphone
cameras is changing the market
in a big way. So manufacturers
have been putting out a lot of new
features recently, perhaps to stay
relevant to avid photographers who are big
on social media. Which is the exact reason
why Canon launched the PowerShot N.
features
The Canon N features a 12.1MP CMOS
sensor, 8x optical zoom (28224mm in
35mm parlance) and a 2.8-inch TFT 460k
LCD screen. The strangely named Hybrid
Auto mode is actually more than just any
automated mode. It shoots four seconds
of video before you make a photograph,
and at the end of the day, the videos are
automatically stitched together to make a
movie, much like a daily diary.
The Creative Shot mode shoots six
images at once, one original and fve others
with various flters applied. There is no set
formula, and each burst of images present a
cornucopia of results. Along with applying
flters, the camera also crops some frames
as it pleases, sometimes removing the main
subject from the frame entirely!
Handling
The N looks nothing like the compacts
we are used to seeing. It is square in shape
and measures a mere 2.4 x 3.1 x 1.2 inches.
Even so, the camera does not feel imsy. WeiGHtaGe of
paRaMeteRS
Features
Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Warranty &
Support
30%
35%
15%
15%
5%
Heres What Happens in the creative Shot Mode
the camera has
nfc capabilities,
but cannot
directly upload
to social media.
the n has a new
facebook-ready
version, but it
isnt in india yet.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
53
test
Speci fi cati onS
Model name Canon PowerShot N
MRP Rs. 20,995
Sensor size, type 1.23 inch CMOS
Resolution 12MP, 4000 x 3000 pixels
ISO range Auto, ISO 806400
Focal range 28224mm
Aperture range f/35.9
Shutterspeed 11/2000sec
Metering modes Evaluative, Center Weighted
Avg., Spot
File format JPEG, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Battery D-LI92 Lithium-Ion
Storage SD, SDHC, SDXC
Dimensions, weight 12.5 x 6.45 x 3.2cm, 229g
the unique form factor
allows you to position
the camera in hard-to-
reach places.
Exposure: 1/200sec at f/9
(ISO 125)
Diffculttooperate
Weakfash
Mi nuS
CreativeShotmode
Uniqueformfactor
pluS
F I N A L R A T I N G S
features
Creative Shooting mode, shutter release ring
23/30
performance
Good image quality
28/35
Build Quality
Highly pocketable, unique form factor
11/15
ergonomics
Shutter ring takes time getting used to
9/15
Warranty & Support
Two-year warranty, widespread service network
in India
4/5
Value for Money
Who should buy it? Teenagers looking for a quick
fx or people who dont have smartphones.

Why? The camera is fun to use, with its form factor
and unique flters. But for someone who enjoys cellphone
photography, getting a secondary device is sort of pointless.
oVeRall

75%
The touchscreen is so responsive that even
the slightest touch will fre the shutter, even
if you did not want it to.
Another unique feature of the camera
is the zoom ring and a shutter-release ring
(unlike a conventional button). Both these
are located next to each other on the front
of the camera. You have to press the ring
just righttoo little pressure, and it wont
shoot, too much pressure and it will shoot
without focusing. Since it is right next
to the zoom ring, it is quite easy to get
confused between the two.
performance
The target audience for this camera is not
one who would really bother about noise,
aberrations and grain. But, the Canon N
shoots good photos. Images are noise free
up to ISO 400, beyond which noise and loss
of details start creeping in. But even at ISO
1600, the images are usable on the internet.
IS works effectively and focusing is quick.
conclusion
I get what Canon is trying to do with the N.
In its efforts to compete with the cellphone
photography market, it has produced a
potpourri of sorts... but it does not smell as
good as it could have.
If you are trying to target a cellphone
enthusiast with the unique form factor,
WiFi and randomised flters, allow people
to upgrade the camera! After all, iOS and
Android users can download a new app
from time to time. With the N, what you buy
is what you get. Canon could have released
dedicated features and flters as add-ons for
the camera, much like Sony is trying with
some of their NEX cameras. Also, a shutter-
release button is much required.
The overall experience could have been
more, and should have cost less. Phones do
not have the quality and zoom of this
camera, but in trying to target the serious
cellphone photographer, the N ends up
being a half-hearted attempt.
A
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B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
54
Ahead of its Time
W
hen Canon launched
the EOS 650D in
2012, the company
launched two STM
lenses along with
it. With the increasing importance given
to video, the company felt that older
technologies like USM were not able to
do full justice to continuous autofocus
during video capture and while shooting
with Live View. And thus was born STM
lenses that have a stepping motor inside,
to ensure smooth and silent autofocus.
Features
Besides being the rst STM lens, this is
also Canons rst pancake lens in the EF
series. This makes it the smallest lens in the
entire lineup! It is also the lightest, though
the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 is also equally
lightweight (130g).
Popularly, it is believed that 50mm is
a normal focal length, but technically, a
normal lens is one whose focal length is
closest to the diagonal of a sensor. In the
case of a full frame sensor, this is around
4243mm, which is why the 40mm f/2.8 is
actually closest to it.
The lens elements are coated with a
special Super Spectra coat, which claims to
improve colour consistency and reduced
are. There is a seven-bladed aperture
diaphragm, which renders extremely
attractive bokeh in the out-of-focus areas.
While STM is ideal for video, Canon
should have included stabilisation, even if
it would have meant a slightly bigger lens.
Handling
For a majority of time, I used this lens on
EOS 6D, as I was interested more in knowing
the stills-shooting capabilities of the lens.
The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM has some new technology that will cater to
video enthusiasts, but whats the stills quality like? Shridhar Kunte checks.
TEST
For a xed lens
with a normal
focal length, the
distance scale is
a disappointing
omission, but it
was obviously
done to keep the
size down.
WEIGHTAGE OF
PARAMETERS
Features
Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Warranty &
Support
15%
25%
35%
20%
5%
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
55
The video capabilities were tested on a 70D.
The lens is made up of polycarbonate and
feels sturdy. Unlike Canons 50mm/f1.8
lens (which is largely plastic), the mount of
this lens is made of stainless steel.
The hood is not provided with the lens.
If you buy it separately, keep in mind that
it is attached to the lter thread. This
basically means that it cannot be reverse
mounted, so when the hood is not in use,
you need to keep it separately.
Because of the internal focusing, the
front element of the lens does not rotate.
This makes easy to use a circular polariser.
Interestingly, the manual focusing is done by
the y-by-wire methoda technology often
found in mirrorless cameras, but are seeing
for the rst time in a Canon EF lens. This
means that if the cameras power is off, you
cannot adjust focus and prefocus the lens.
The focusing ring is tiny with a knurled
nish and can be rotated very easily.
Performance
The AF speed is faster and quieter than
the Canon 50mm/F1.8 lens. But when you
compare the focusing speed and noise with
50mm/f1.4 lens, you will realise that the
50mm/f1.4 lens is superior in both these
parameters. STM technology ensures quiet
focusing in video, but in stills shooting, it is
not completely silent.
It exhibits good centre sharpness
through the aperture range. The best
overall results I got when using the lens,
was at f/5.6. Wide open, there is quite a bit
of vignetting, but it diminishes when you
stop down to f/4. There is a tiny amount of
barrel distortion, but it is barely a bother in
the real world. Chromatic aberrations are
superbly control. AF in video is fantastic,
but only when used with the new 70D.
Conclusion
At the end of the review, I was a little
confused. Canon has put an attractive
price tag of Rs. 9995 for this lens. But if
you need a value-for-money lens for still
photography, the 50mm f/1.8 is even
cheaper. The build quality of this 40mm is
better, but 50mm has a faster aperture and
is equally lightweight.
Of course, this is a fantastic lens for
someone who shoots both stills and video,
but the catch over there is... the only camera
that really uses the video capability of this
lens is the 70D. And though this is a full
frame lens, there is no Canon full frame
camera that can get the video AF advantage
that this lens offers! So curiously, one can
say that the 40mm f/2.8 STM is a fantastic
value buy, but only if you use a camera that
can take advantage of its STM capabilities.
Clearly ahead of its time!
SPECI FI CATI ONS
Model name Canon EF 40mmf/2.8 STM
MRP Rs. 9995
Lens construction 6 elements in 4 groups
Min. focusing distance 0.3m
Diaphragm blades 7
Filter diameter 52mm
Dimensions 68.2 x 22.8 mm
Weight 130g
TEST
This tiny pancake, when
mounted on a small
body like the 100D or the
full frame 6D is great for
street shooting.
Exposure: 1/125sec at f/5.6
(ISO 4000)
No IS
Focus speed
MI NUS
Sharpness
STM motor
PLUS
R
E
C
O
M
M
E
N
D
E
D
Shridhar Kunte
F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
Pancake size, fulltime MF, no IS 17/20
Performance
Excellent sharpness, good bokeh 32/35
Build Quality
Metal mount, engineering plastic outer shell 22/25
Ergonomics
Small MF ring, no distance scale 12/15
Warranty & Support
Two-year warranty, wide service network 3/5
Value for Money
Who should buy it? Street photographers and
video enthusiasts who own a 70D.
Why? The STM capabilities work magic while shooting
video, but only on the latest 70D. In terms of stills, you
lose f/1.8, but get a solid performer for a good price.
OVERALL

86%
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
56
Making a Mark
T
he newly launched Tokina AT-X
1228mm f/4 is the successor
of the popular AT-X 124 PRO
DX II (1224mm F/4). With an
increased focal length, the lens
just seems a lot more versatile. After all, it
now becomes a wide-to-normal lens.
The 28mm focal length at the telephoto
end gives a eld of view of 42mm or 45mm
(based on whether you use Nikon or
Canon) and would make this a far more
convenient lens. Plus, the company claims
that with the improved optical design, the
lens has superior resolving power, which
allows one to get the best out of the latest
APS-C DSLRs, whose resolution is often
around 20MP. We put the lens to the test to
see if this stands true.
Features
The constant f/4 aperture automatically
differentiates this Tokina lens from its
variable-aperture competitors. The lens
is built with 14 elements in 12 groups
and its lens construction features ultra-
low dispersion glass which is suppose
to eliminate distortion or any kind of
aberration. It also features Silent Drive-
Module for quieter AF. This motor
ensures that entry-level Nikon users who
own bodies like D3200 and D5200 can
use autofocus with this lens.
Handling
Physically, the lens is slightly larger than
its successor. Because of its largely plastic
build, the lens is not exactly tough, but
it is decently built, and also quite light.
I used the lens with the Nikon D7100
and the lens balanced quite well with
the mid-sized body. On a smaller body,
the lens will be a little front heavy, but
the balance is still quite good. When you
zoom in or out, the rear groups inside the
Tokinas wide lens for cropped-sensor cameras has an update. How does this
new lens match up to the competition? Chandni Gajria nds out.
TEST
Tokinas tradition
of excellent
wide-angle
optics continues
with this lens,
and distortion is
remarkably low.
WEIGHTAGE OF
PARAMETERS
Features
Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Warranty &
Support
15%
25%
35%
20%
5%
Tokina AT-X 1228mm f/4 PRO DX
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
57
lens adjusts and the outer barrel does not
shift at all.
The lens is not weather sealed but I did
not face any problem, despite using it
slight rainfall. Unfortunately, it does not
feature constant manual focus override,
which is quite disappointing. That said,
the manual focus experience is redeemed
by the fact that one can easily shift to
manual focus, with the push/pull focus
clutch AF/MF mechanism. Pulling this
ring is far easier and faster than operating
a switch. Additionally, the lens features a
distance scale, but not a DOF scale.
There is a lens hood supplied, which
may increase the apparent size of the
lens, but it really protects the front
element when working in crowded areas
with. Both focus and zoom ring come
with a rubber lining which makes it
comfortable for one to swiftly adjust.
Performance
The photographs from the lens are
constantly sharp in quality at all focal
lengths. The corners are a little soft at the
widest aperture, but they improve once
you stop down the aperture. The sweet
spot of the lens is f/8.
The most impressive bit about the lens
is its exceptional control over any linear
or barrel distortion. If you enjoy shooting
architecture and want a convenient zoom
lens, this is denitely a good option.
Flaring is well controlled, and vignetting,
minimal. Autofocus is pretty good, fast
and responsive, but it slows down at focal
lengths 24mm to 28mm.
Conclusion
Priced at Rs. 51,000, the Tokina 1228mm
is denitely cheaper than Canon and
Nikons APS-C wide lenses that start in
the range of around Rs. 65,000. But it
is important to note that the price
difference is not as much as it used to
be in the past... when we had tested
this Tokina lens predecessor, it was
almost half the price of its Canon/Nikon
equivalent (at that time). So should you
buy this third-party lens or invest a little
more to get the proprietary ones?
It primarily depends on what you are
using the lens for. The Tokina is the only
wide DX lens that also reaches a nearly
normal focal length, which makes it
useful for street, event and all-round
photography. And the control over
distortion is exceptional, something that
most other lenses cannot match. If these
are two factors that are important for you,
this is a good buy.
SPECI FI CATI ONS
Model name Tokina AT-X 12-28mm f/4
PRO DX
MRP Rs. 51,000
Lens construction 14 Elements in 12 Groups
Min. focusing distance 0.25m
Diaphragm blades 9
Filter diameter 67
Dimensions 90.2 x 84mm
Weight 530g
TEST
The lens performs
extremely well even at
12mm where very little
distortion can be seen.
Exposure: 1/800sec at f/5
(ISO 200)
No DOF Scale
No fulltime manual
focus override.
MI NUS
Fast AF
Less Distortion
PLUS
R
E
C
O
M
M
E
N
D
E
D
Chandni Gajria
F I N A L R A T I N G S
Features
Built in AF motor, Silent Motor Drive, no
stabilisation, useful focal length range
17/20
Performance
Decently sharp, Fast AF, less aring and
fringing, slight softening at the corners
31/35
Build Quality
Plastic build, lightweight, convenient to carry
20/25
Ergonomics
No MF override, No DOF scale, useful push/
pull focus clutch mechanism
10/15
Warranty & Support
Two-year warranty, limited service centres
3/5
Value for Money
Who should buy it? Serious enthusiasts with APS-C
size sensor cameras who want a wider angle of view.
Why? At Rs. 51,000, the lens is not exactly cheap
but it is comparatively affordable to what other lens
manufacturers are offering.
OVERALL

81%
10 rarely discussed tricks with cameraphones
Remember Flickr? We test its new lters!
Natasha Hemrajani on Hipstamatic & nostalgia
Dinesh Khanna on cellphones and colour
Flickr for iOS
Sony Xperia ZR
Apps You Must Try
Seeing in Squares
Readers Gallery
Fun Tricks to Try
DID YOU KNOW?
Cellphone
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With
And More!
Get all your answers in an enlightening session
with the biggest name in wedding photography.
FOR REGISTRATION WITH SUPPORT FROM
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20 October 2013
Date
24 October 2013
Date
27 October 2013
Time
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Time
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Venue
Ravindra Natya Mandir-Mini Theatre, Near Siddhi Vinayak Temple,
Next To ICICI Bank, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Venue
Seminar Hall, Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA Campus,
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Marg, IIM-A Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad
Venue
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How do I make
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What are the best
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How do I
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B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
61
The best
photos, like the
best of chai,
take time to
brew, time for
the magic to
come by.
Editorial
I never know beforehand. Until I see it. It just happens all at once.
I take a picture very quickly and instantly forget about it.
WILLIAM EGGLESTON
Lets Be in a Hurry to Slow Down
I have always wanted to y, and sometimes, when I have a camera in my hand, my
imagination takes ight. That is what photography does, I guess, creating superheroes
of us mortals and making us believe that we are powerful enough to be able to capture
time. But it is time that has a bit of a laugh right then. Time, the one that blinks as we
blink, the one that moves a moment forward as we capture the moment gone by. It is
time that our ights seem to transcend. But it is time that brings us crashing down.
That photography is about time may seem like a boring generalisation, but it speaks of more than just the
obvious. A photograph is not just about the moment when the picture is made. It is about all the moments that
have led to it. Not just the hours that lead to that fraction of a second, but the years that lead to those hours.
After all, no photograph is an island. It is a result of vision... a vision that develops over time and not
one that is born in a ash. Vision, even for the most studied of photographers, is your aatma, your instinct,
responding to all that you have seen before. To all that you have learnt, all you have practised, all you
have done and all you have tried.
This is why dreams of ight remain just that, dreams. We all aspire to be great photographers, but despite
the Insta-ness of the world we live in, the best chai is the one that is brewed over time, and brewed with love.
The latest cellphones may re away 60 photos in two seconds, but a memorable moment is one where you
hold back, slow down and allow the picture to form itself.
I still want to y. But lets pause and ponder over what we are ying towards. A materialistic goal? To be
better than the rest? To the next big camera? Or to preorder a phone whose name ends with 5s? Lets y,
but with our vision. Lets wonder and wander to better our own selves, to be on that neverending
journey where photos come by.
Artspective
by Chanatip Bhandhavee
The sights and sounds
that serenade your
daily walk, the moments
you experience while
getting from one place to
another, the books you
read while you travel...
all form a huge bank of
ideas that cultivate your
photographic instinct.
Chanatips surreal
photomanipulations
created with just a
phone, will be featured in
an upcoming issue.
10 things you didnt
know about the humble
cameraphone... fun tricks to
improve your photos
Turn to page 66
Cover photograph by
Priyanka Chharia
Raj Lalwani
raj.lalwani@betterphotography.in
Always at war with the obvious, Egglestons pictures are iconic studies of the sights and sounds that inhabit the mundane. His 1976
exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art was controversial but revolutionary, the rst solo show at MoMA to feature colour photos.
Chanatip Bhandhavee
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
62
Xperia ZR
The speedy Xperia ZR delivers the same
image quailty as the Xperia Z, at a lower
price, discovers Conchita Fernandes.
A Neat
Experience
A
fter the success of the Xperia Z, it
was predictable that Sony would
launch a phone with similiar
features in a lower price range.
After all, arent most Android
phones doing this? So by ousting the glass
cover on the back and featuring a 4.5-inch
display, Sony came up with the Xperia ZR.

A Few Improvements
In many ways, Sony has kept up with the
sleek interface and the features similar
to their Cyber-shot cameras. Packed in a
new shell, the matte looking cover of the
Xperia ZR may not appeal to many but
I found that I had a better grip on the phone.
It conceals fngerprints and scratch marks.
One feature that I particularly enjoyed was
the Superior Auto mode which decides the
nature of the scene and sets the exposure,
brightness, contrast and clicks the picture.
But sometimes the camera did get confused
with the scene and took a few extra seconds
to fnalise on the mode. The battery life
isnt as bad as the Xperia Z and I managed
to squeeze in seven hours of shooting and
Instagramming. On the other hand, in a
rather surprising twist, the Xeperia ZR is
more water resistant than the Xperia Z but
only in 1.5m in water for 30 minutes.
On the other hand, since the ZR has the
same sensor as the Xperia Z, the image
quality is largely the same. The colours in the
photograph are quite vibrant and generally
performs well under most light conditions.

Minor Drawbacks
But the most surprising thing took place
when I used the phone for the frst time.
I was going about shooting and after a while
the screen went blank and a small box
appeared. It stated that the device was too
test
A photographer
will fnd the ZR
ergonomically
superior to its
bigger sibling,
the Xperia Z.
hot and I would be able to resume once it
has cooled down a bit. Bizarrely, this only
happened on the frst day of usage.
All in all, there is not much to complain
about in the Xperia ZR. But if you want
to improve shooting under low-light
conditions, then the Nokia Lumia 925 at
a slightly higher price, is a better choice.
Nevertheless, the ZR is a steal solely for its
water resistance which is unique in the price
range that it is available for.
At A glAnce
spEcificAtioNs
13MP with autofocus, LED Flash, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 1080p video,
4.5-inch HD screen of 1280 x 720 pixels, 1.5GHz quad core processor, 2GB
RAM, 8GB storage (expandable to 32GB), Rs. 30,990.
whAt wE likE
Improved water resistance, great video and colour, sleek interface.
whAt wE dislikE
Front camera, 1MP images shot during video recording.
why buy it?
If you want the experience of the Xperia Z with a better battery life and a
smaller, easy to hold size and as long as you do not mind a smaller display.
FInAl RAtIngS 81%
cAMERA fEAtuREs Good 13MP sensor, fast burst mode at 15fps, HDR in video.
13/15
iMAGE QuAlity Vibrant colours, too much noise reduction, oversharpening. 26/35
VidEo QuAlity Decent in low light conditions, good audio recording. 16/20
hANdliNG Good grip, water resistant, photographer friendly interface. 13/15
spEEd & REspoNsiVENEss Speedy interface, prompt touch focus. 13/15
the ZR produces good
colours in its images,
which is not too saturated.
It even performs quite
decently under low
light conditions.
Conchita Fernandes
Say goodbye to your
cameras mediocre
cartoon effect and
welcome the Cartoon
Camera app which in
plain words allows you
to shoot in a cartoon
mode. Whats more is
that you can choose
between a range of
colours and strokes,
depending on the look
you are going for. It is
free to download on
Andoird and iOS.
APPS YOU MUSt tRY
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
64
flickr
Does Flickrs revamp bring anything
new to the image-editing apps market?
Natasha Desai investigates.
reinventing
the wheel
F
lickr users have seen big changes
over the last year with a site revamp
and a corresponding app update.
Flickr is now treading into the
cellphone camera app and photo
editing territory, in what seems to be an
effort to rival the intensely popular biggies
like Instagram and Snapseed. With the new
update, Flickr is trying to establish that it is
not just a photo uploading website, but a
place where you can create images too.

the Basics
The update made the free to download app
much slicker with smoother transitions
when viewing images. However, it is
currently only available for iOS devices.
Like the website, you can view your contacts
and groups, popular photos and images shot
near your location. A search bar here would
have been better, because currently one
has to go to the options tab and then search.
TEST
the update
is out for iOS
but is taking
too long to be
released for
the android
platform.
the throwback lter
has options to make your
image look more worn.
The profle view is organised quite neatly.
You can view your sets, groups, favourites,
photos of you and contacts. You can also
change how you view your photos with a
grid and list view toggle.
capturing with Flickr
When shooting with the Flickr app, a two
fnger tap shows you the focus and exposure
points. You can then move them around
to your desired focus and exposure areas.
Once decided, a tap on the point locks it.
The camera app responsiveness is not as
much as the native camera of the iPhone.
Another new feature is the live flters. As you
shoot, you can see what you frame would
look like with a flter on it.
The downside is that when the flters
scroll bar comes up on the screen, it covers
quite a bit of the frame. I would have much
preferred a smaller preview of the flters.
Swiping from right to left in the camera
Using the focus and
exposure points for this
picture was easy but
applying the lter in the
editor was a much better
option than using the live
lter view.
All photographs by Natasha Desai
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
65
at a glance
specifications
iOS 5.1 or higher. The photo editing update is not yet on Android.
what we like
Animated interface, the focus and exposure control, the cool flters, levels
what we dislike
Large flter view in camera, cannot apply Tilt and Shift, Vignette and Light
Bursts together, cannot save edited phots without uploading to Flickr.
why Use it?
You can create and edit images on a more serious platform for your
cellphone photography.
FInal RatIngS 82%
featUres Focus & exposure control, good flters, easy upload over platoforms.
19/25
perforMance Enhances photos with good editing options, maintains resolution. 26/30
ease of Use Interface is clean and easy to use. 30/35
speed & responsiVeness Works better as an editing app than a camera app. 7/10
Have many photos
from one event?
Instead of uploading
all and spamming your
friends timelines,
use PicsGrid, a handy
collage-making app.
There are many
templates to choose
from for different
formats. And you can
adjust the size of the
boxes too.
aPPS YOU MUSt tRY
app, you get different grids like the rule of
thirds, the golden mean and so on.
the editor
The photo editing feature is quite good
and the range of flters are fun to use.
Within each flter you can apply Tilt and
Shift, Vignettes and Light Bursts. To apply
the Light Bursts, you have to twist both your
fngers on the screen. This requires you to
keep removing your fngers to see are you
picture. Also, you cannot apply multiple
effects, the way a Snapseed would do.
Apart from the usual suspects of
brightness, contrast and so on, Flickr offers
Levels control, Colour Balance in RGB and a
decent Sharpen tool. All quite effective for a
cellphone camera app.
the Uploading Hitch
The app allows multiple uploads at once
across Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr apart
from your Flickr stream. Here lies the major
catch to the app. Only the original image is
saved to your camera roll. The edited version
of your photograph is saved to your camera
roll only once uploaded to Flickr.
This can easily be bypassed by changing
the privacy to Only Me if you want to
save the photos without uploading to your
Flickr stream. But then, this is extremely
tedious and may be a point that you need
to consider if you are not a regular on the
Flickr platform.
That said, with this new update, Flickr has
upped its game. Barring a few annoyances,
it is fresh. By not trying to be Instagram
it offers a more serious mobile platform
for photographers and photo enthusiasts.
Combining flters with effects and control
over your editing, Flickr seems to be in
contention as a serious player.
For outdoor portriats that are shot in sunlight, the crossprocessed look this
flter offers is perfect. Otherwise it is just an average flter.
This exciting flter can add the drama of Fritz Lang or Hitchcocks hollywood
flms to a picture you have shot with a yesteryears theme.
The Tilt and Shift feature does not give you control over how much blur you
can apply. You can only choose the area of focus.
What Do these new Filters look like?
Dublin
noir
louisiana
The Humble Cameraphone
Conchita Fernandes gives the cellphone camera a second look while at the
same time introducing you to facts you were unaware about.
octoBer 201 3
F
ood? Check. Cat? Check. Selfes?
Check. Havent we all taken
innumerable photos of the items
mentioned above? Plus, there is
so much more to be added to the
list. Also, Does this mean that we have
mastered the cellphone camera? Not quite.
1

Tailor-made Just For you!
Your cellphones camera is the
most customisable camera you have
on you. Want to shoot panoramas?
Done. HDR images? Not a problem.
Want to give your photo a lomo effect?
Easy. Of course, you may have to download
a few apps to achieve some of these, but
as long as you are not restricted by your
cameras default settings. P
r
i
y
a
n
k
a

C
h
h
a
r
i
a
2
everything in Focus
Did you know that your phones
camera has a large depth of feld? Try it out
by pointing your camera towards a very
Paromita Deb Areng Raj Lalwani
ceLLPhoNe techNIQUe
Cameraphones are great
for creating grainy
images, especially in
low-light. It is not always
a bad thing and can add a
nice feel to your image.
Shot with: Blackberry
8900
66
Besides allowing you
to shoot self portraits,
cellphones make for
easy editing of images,
like creating this collage
for instance.
Shot with: HTC Wildre
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
ODDS AnD enDS
Place a tiny piece
of coloured gelatin
paper, in front of your
cameraphones fash
to give your photos a
monochrome effect.
The Silent mode
helps switch off the
shutter sound, for
discreet shooting.
Shot with: Micromax
Canvas HD
A
d
i
t
y
a

N
a
i
r
busy street. You will notice that everything
within the frame is in focus. You can credit
this feature to your phones tiny sensor.
Having said this, the camera is capable of
producing a shallow depth of feld too but
not as apparent as in a compact or DSLR.
3
Lenses for Your Gadget
Many users fnd it surprising that
cellphone cameras too, have lenses that can
be attached to it. Although their availability
is still not widespread in India but this
situation will change soon.
4
My Cellphone Camera Zooms!
Wrong! What you are actually doing
is digitally zooming into the image. This is
different from an optical zoom where
chances of reducing the quality of your
photograph is slim. So next time, just take a
few steps closer to your subject and shoot.
5
The Silent Photographer
How many times have you startled
someone because of the sound produced
by your cameras shutter? A simple way to
avoid this is by switching your phone to the
silent or vibration mode.
Shailendra Singh Rawat
cellphone Technique
67
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
67
Cellphone cameras are
versatile. It lets you shoot
in the square format and
others as well.
Shot with: HTC One X
In many ways, the
cellphone today is
like a digital Polaroid.
So during assignments,
it can be used as a
testing device before
grabbing an expensive
DSLR to shoot the
fnal image.
Shot with: HTC Butterfy
Use your
cellphones
front camera for
effortless selfes
or for shooting
group pictures.
Sometimes waiting for a few
seconds more gives your frame the
perfect element.
Shot with: Micromax Canvas HD
6
A Sluggish Phone
Back up your photos constantly onto
another device. If you dont then your phone
can get slow because of the several images.
7
Beware of Downsizing!
With the exception of a few, most
photo apps will downsize your image after
you have processed them. So take care and
do a little research before you edit an image.
8
A Less Pondered Over Matter
Did you know that cellphone cameras
are traditionally built to shoot portraits.
Compare this with your DSLR, which is
built to photograph horizontally. This has
defnitely changed over the years, as now,
cellphones come with a button on the side to
enable landscape photography.
9
Cranking Up the ISO
Although some of the newer phones
today, like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the
Xperia ZR are doing a better job in shooting
in low light. However, cellphones still have
a long way to go in this regard. So what do
most people end up doing? Increasing
the ISO in their phones which just lead to
grainier images.
10
A Multipurpose Device
So what if you do not use your
cellphone to shoot? It is a great tool for
photographers who may for instance want
to know the direction of the sunrise or
calculate depth of feld. This is possible
because of the numerous apps available
for download.
But the best thing yet is the fact that
consciously or unconsciously, you end
up photographing much more than
you would with a DSLR or a compact
camera. This means that a lot of people are
practicing photography on an everyday
basis. Isnt that great now!
A
m
b
a
r
i
n

A
f
s
a
r
Raj Lalwani
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
68
cellphone Technique
Are you aware that
your phones camera has
different flters that you
can shoot from? You do
not always have to
download apps for this.
Shot with: Micromax
Bolt A65
You can tone
down the
intensity of your
cameras fash
by reducing
the exposure
value in your
cameraphones
settings.
Cellphone cameras
let you shoot action
photos. Like this one,
where the photographer
locked focus and shot
the image as soon as the
subjects jumped.
Shot with: Micromax
Canvas HD
SeeInG In
SqUAReS
Instead of letting your
subject take over
the entire frame, you
could instead place
the subject on the
right or left corner of
the image while leaving
the remaining space
blank. This is not only
visually appealing but
also conveys a sense
of space.
Autosmart.indd 202 17-06-2013 17:09:00
Hello, Goodbye
Over a wam cup of chai and omellete toast, Natasha Hemrajani reminisces
about what Bombay was and has become, with Conchita Fernandes.
october 201 3
T
he frst time I met Natasha was at
a photography adda in Mumbai.
A few weeks later, I found myself
inside her home, a living space that
reminded me of a beautiful time
gone by. While we sat for breakfast, we were
joined by the crazy sounds of traffc outside
her home, which inspired my frst question.

The Bombay She Knew
Natasha was born and raised in Parel,
Bombay. The view outside her fat was very
different from the bustling fyover today.
She explains, When I was growing up, Parel
Natasha Hemrajani
Sheisanindependent
PortraitsandLifestyle
photographer.
Beforefreelancing,
sheworkedasthe
PhotoEditorat
Graziaandlateras
aphotojournalistat
HindustanTimes.
Shelovesanimalsand
currentlysharesher
apartmentwithadog
andacat.
Instagram:
@radiantbear
Flickr:www.fickr.
com/50mm
Website:www.
natashahemrajani.
com
Facebook:www.
facebook.com/
natashahemrajani
find naTaSha here!
natasha misses the
serene aesthetic of
the city which she has
attempted to recreate
through this series.
FindingtheRightAppForYou:Download several photo editing apps. Play around
with them for a while till you discover the one which you are most comfortable
working with and which also helps you achieve the effect you are going for.
DiscoverYourFrame:What do you enjoy photographing the most? It could be the
people who pass by your building everyday or the children playing in the park. Once
you have discovered it, see how you can shoot it in a way that best represents your
feeling towards the subject.
MaintainaFlow:If you are creating a series, make sure that the images are
consistent. Avoid editing them too much so that they do not look mismatched.
WanttoBeginaSimilarProjectofYourOwn?
70
b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
PROFILE
was a land of mills. All this has changed with
the rise of swanky malls and skyscrapers.
A part of her wanted to hold onto the trees
and the ramshackled buildings of her
childhood. Her series, Hello, Goodbye was
created because of this longing and is an
ode to the city she fondly remembers, now
buried underneath new construction.
TurningMemoriesIntoPhotographs
Despite growing up in a place surrounded
by trees and gardens, she still felt lonesome.
Most of the tenants in her building were
old folks. Plus there werent a lot of kids
of her age to play with. Nevertheless, her
favourite memory while growing up is the
time she spent at the terrace. I would
Growing up, she
wasaveryimaginative
kidandspentalotof
time reading.
With the hipstamatic
app,shetalksabouthow
itletsuserstakecontrol
overtheimage,oneway
beingbylettingthem
choosethelens.
Mostofthe
superimpositions that
you see in the series are
effects that are hard
to recreate with the
app. natasha fnds this
factor intriguing.
71
b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y october 201 3
71
PROFILE
Althoughshe
has experimented
withseveralapps,
Hipstamaticistheonly
onethatsheistruly
satisfed with.
When out
photographing with her
cellphone,shefnds
herselfcompletely
immersedinthesubject
andisobliviousto
her surroundings.
sit there and enjoy the cool breeze while
my grandmother would feed the birds.
Eventually, she began photographing her
favourite parts of the city while she traveled
in the taxi back and forth. Using her iPhone
4S and the Hipstamatic app, she noticed
how it allowed her to superimpose objects,
one on top of another. The app was just
right as the effects let her convey the idea of
Mumbai being an amalgamation of new and
old structures.

HerVivaciousPersonality
As soon as you meet Natasha, she charms
you with her charisma and makes you
feel right at home. Additionally, she has
INSTAFOLLOWNOW
Fine Art and
Commercial
photographer,
Stephen Wilkes
(@stephenwilkes)
is an avid cellphone
shooter and maintains
a visual diary of
his assignments
on Instagram.
72
b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y october 201 3
PROFILE
Sheenjoysshooting
in the square format.
To her it is a new way of
seeingeverydayobjects.
Attheageofseven,
her dad gifted her, her
frst camerathe Kodak
Hotshot.Althoughthe
pictures were not great,
butitestablishedher
loveforphotography.
She is saddened
bytheuglifcation
of the city and thinks
thatMumbaiisgetting
moreclaustrophobic
by the day.
FUNTRICKSTOTRY
With Instagram, you
will fnd that the image
appears to be slightly
cropped at the bottom
or sides. To avoid this,
ensure that you do
not have any frames
selected for your
photo. But if you still
want to add a frame,
leave some extra
space at the sides so
that no portion of your
image is cropped.
worked on several foreign assignments,
some of which she has shot using her
cellphone. Currently, she is working
on a few personal projects, one being,
. The series is not as racy as
it sounds but is a collection of cellphone
pictures of Natasha kissing some of her
famous celebrity clients on the cheek.
So just before I could leave, we briefy
engaged in a rather amusing conversation
about pets. Then as I made my way down the
dilapidated stairs and outside the building,
I could not help but look around and
register every single portion of this dynamic
city. Whos to say that what is today will also
be there tomorrow.
PROFILE
b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y october 201 3
73 73
Today, natasha
fndsherselfshooting
alotmorewithher
cellphoneandenjoys
photographingavariety
ofsubjects.
readers gallery
Send us your best shots to entries@betterphotography.
in, or give us a shoutout on Facebook (www.facebook.
com/betterphotography) or Twitter (@betterphoto).
Or simply, tag us on Instagram (@betterphotography)
On Cloud Nine
Siddharth Bhatia, Dubai

What made me shoot this:
I liked how the clouds,
a rare occurrence
in Dubai, formed an
interesting pattern
making it look like
they are emerging
from the horizon.
What I learnt: The wings of
the aircraft can
be a great compositional
element when
framing cloudscapes.
Shot with: Apple iPhone 4s
The World Below
Keyur Apsingekar, Mumbai

What made me shoot this:
The sudden fall in altitude
from the clouds back into
civilisation made it a
must-click picture.
What I learnt: The time a
little after the fight has
just taken off, and a little
before it is about to land
is the best time to get
pictures of the cities and
villages below.
Shot with: Apple iPhone 4

octoBer 201 3
reADerS GALLerY
B e t t e r P h o t o G r A P h Y
74
Eye of the Bird
Vir Nakai, chandigarh

What made me shoot this:
I was waiting on the
tarmac to board the plane
when I saw this interesting
face-like portrait
of the plane.
What I learnt: Aerial photos
need not be restricted to
scenes outside the plane
window. Patterns on the
runway, shapes of the
aircraft and the coloured
signages are other things
you can shoot.
Shot with: Apple iPhone 4s
Aerial Paradise
Adarsh Saxena, chennai

What made me shoot this:
The fight to Leh is an
experience like no other
with stunning visuals of
river valleys and the snow-
covered Himalayas.
What I learnt: Moving away
from the window while
taking a picture helps
avoid any refections in
the glass and makes for a
great frame.
Shot with: Apple
iPhone 4s
octoBer 201 3 B e t t e r P h o t o G r A P h Y
75
reADerS GALLerY
75
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y august 201 3
76
When You Are Surrounded
By Colours, Sounds & Sights
Dinesh Khannas career path veered from being a calculator salesman, a garment quality checker, a busboy in a New York bar and a client servicing executive, after which,
he fnally gave in to his desire to make images. He cofounded the Delhi Photo Festival and regularly conducts addas in Delhi to encourage discussions on the medium.
Cellphone Diaries
G
oa. A place I have always loved and am now lucky enough to
go to regularly since I teach at a photography school there.
Its a place which uses colour with total abandon, and not just
the people who live there, but nature herself too. I have never seen
such an incredible range of greens, for instance, as Goa has to offer
during the monsoon. And for a person like me, who lives in dreary,
dusty and supposedly modern Gurgaon, the experience is magical.
An absolute visual smorgasbord of colours, tones and shades.
Fortunately, I got the chance to travel to Goa twice during
August this year and though the monsoon was very much active,
there were enough gaps between rainy and dry spells during the
Dinesh Khanna
day. This gave me a chance to walk around the area, both in the
lyrically named village, Ucassaim and the lovely coastal one called
Arpora. Goa has these wonderful roads lined by green felds,
which connect small hidden towns. And both, these roads and the
lanes within the towns, have these charming sights, ranging from
paddy felds to awesome churches and from local bars to lovely
heritage bungalows.
I have always been attracted to colour, to frames where the
colour is a statement in itself, and contributes to something more.
My ubiquitous cameraphone helps me record the colours of Goa,
which speak to me like an eloquently shared language.
There are
colours and
shades that
trigger a certain
response
in you, as a
traveller, and
will create the
same emotion in
the viewer.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y august 201 3
76
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SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
BetterPictures
2MP Works Well Too!
While better image quality is
desirable, dont underestimate
an older cellphone that may
have a low megapixel count.
Visualise Postprocessing
While shooting with the default
camera app, you should adjust
camera settings based on the
eventual postprocessing.
Use Shortcuts
Keep the camera app on your
home screen to gain immediate
access to it. You will not have to
navigate menus.
Explore Inbuilt Settings
Have you ever tried changing
the White Balance preset or
shooting in the Monochrome or
Negative modes?
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
BAG?
WHATS
IN YOUR
The one question that everyone longs to ask a professional photographer is now
answered by eight of them. Ambarin Afsar takes a look at the camera bags of some
of the nest names in photography in an attempt to decode the gear they carry.
D
oes equipment maketh a
photographer? Very often, we are
curious about the gear that our
favourite photographera peer, a
contemporary, or a legenduses
to make the kind of pictures that make us
stop in our tracks.
This curiosity about equipment is only
natural since of course, cameras and lenses
are the tools of our trade. It is much like
asking a baker which our he uses to make
that fragrant bread, or which oven does he
use to make crunchy cookies. To give an
example that is closer to photography, it
is like asking a painter about the paints he
uses or the paper he chooses as his canvas.
These things go a long way in the making
of a perfect nal product. But, what we
often forget is that it is the manner in which
these professionals apply the tools of their
trade, which really makes all the difference.
Their technique is what sets them apart, and
not the technology they use.
So, the idea behind this story is to take you
through various kinds of kits to help you
understand how the right sort of equipment
can simplify the process of imagemaking.
This story is also an effort to create portraits
of these eight photographers through the
things they value the most.
T
IP
2
T
IP
1
T
IP
3
T
IP
4
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...is the one that is always with me. I enjoy shooting on the cellphone,
and I love the fact that I can share my images with the world over.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
ON ASSIGNMENT
1 Lighthouse, 365 Clicks
Discover a unique
year-long project
96
PHOTOGUIDE
Take a walk with Jagdish
Agarwal as he analyses
your photos
100
Q&A
Simple and practical
answers to your
photographic queries
108

Sooni Taraporevala
is a Mumbai-based
photographer and
an internationally
renowed lmmaker.
While she has shot on
both lm and digital,
she speaks about the
camera she usually
carries along with her.
THE SIMPLEST KIT TO HAVE...
Be Selective About Apps
There are plenty of apps out
there. Read reviews, try out a
few and nally, keep only the
ones you will really use.
Curate Your Portfolio
Be your own critic. Instead of
putting up random snapshots,
think about the overall style of
your cellphone portfolio.
Give Yourself Tasks
Treat cellphone photography
like any other discipline and
give yourself daily challenges
like making a great pet photo.
View, Print, Gift
Do something more with
your imagesmake a wall of
cellphone photos or even gift a
100 portraits to someone!
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Boosting Contrast
While the app has a variety of lters,
I nd myself using the contrast setting
more often. Very often I use no lters,
sometimes I do, and the choice of
lters depends on each image.
The Square Format
I love the square format and have
worked with it very often. While making
photos on the cellphone, I shoot using
the iPhone and crop later. There are
practically no challenges.
The Joy of Instagram
I started photography in the days when
the only way you could share photos
was through exhibitions or books. It was
all very exclusive and difcult then, so
I love this new world where I can share
my photos instantly.
Privacy at Your Fingertips
Having the ability to share photos
instantly also brings along with it
privacy concerns. However, Instagram
allows me to choose who will view my
photos, which is very useful. Everything is a Subject
You do not need to limit your subjects
to only photos of your friends.
My photos include those of my family
members, pets, people I meet on the
street, behind-the-scenes stills from
exhibitions, nature and so on.
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Using Mid-range Zooms
The 2470mm f/2.8, which I use with the
D700, is my favourite lens for portraits,
documentary shots and landscapes.
I also use a 24120mm with the D3S,
but I believe that extra zoom makes
you lazy.
Bags for Transport and Travel
I carry a large but lightweight backpack
that ts in all my equipment. But when
I am on eld, I only carry one body, one
lens and a notebook in a small slingbag.
I leave the other equipment wherever
I am staying.
Varying Camera Bodies
While both cameras are amazing,
I keep one body as backup. It doesnt
really matter which one ends up being
a backup option, I usually take the D3s
when I set out to shoot in the evening.
Plenty of Storage
I usually carry only the Epson hard
drive with me on eld in order to dump
my cards. When I return, I make it a
point to transfer the data to two 1TB
hard drives for safekeeping.
In Hot Weather
I wear a cap gifted to me by my
daughter. Besides offering obvious
protection against the elements, it
is somewhat like a fond memento.
The cap always nds its way into my
bag every time I pack.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...is one that is light enough to travel with and yet comprehensive
enough for a project that can last as long as a fortnight.
Sudharak Olwe
is a photojournalist
who has received
acclaim the world over
for his documentation
of the changes and
the issues that society
is aficted with.
He speaks about the
gear he takes along
when he is out for days
at a stretch.
A GOOD DOCUMENTARY KIT...
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Divide Your Kit
Carrying only one body and a
few cards will help you blend in
easily. Sometimes, you have to
practically steal into places.
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Adequate CF Cards
Take along about 5060 GB of
storage if you know you will
shoot plenty of RAW les or
video. Dont run out of space.
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Switch Off Your Phone
Keep your phone on the
Airplane mode or put it on
silent. Phone calls can annoy
you as well as your subjects.
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Be Really Quick
It doesnt matter if you own the
fastest AF system in the world.
Your camera needs to be an
extension of your reexes.
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HP Laptop
Epson Photone
hard drive
Seagate 1TB
hard drives
Lowepro DSLR
Fastpack 250 AW
Nikon D3S with a
24120mm f/4 lens
Cap
Batteries
Battery chargers
Nikon D700 with a
2470mm f/2.8 lens
Lens caps
CF cards
Internet dongle
Card reader
Notebook
Spectacles
USB cable
Mains cable
Laptop charger
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Writing Notes and Ideas
I prefer talking to people for an
emotional feel, which, sometimes,
cannot be captured visually. I include
such details in the writeup. So, I carry
two notepads and one diary to write
how the entire story is shaping up.
Carrying Necessary IDs
I carry my press card, and a copy of
my visa, if I am travelling internationally.
You can be asked for identication at
any given point, and it just makes things
easier, if you have everything at hand.
One Multipurpose Lens
I use a 60D with a 1585mm lens.
I prefer this lens since it gives me both,
a wide focal length as well as a decent
telephoto option. Wide focal lengths let
me get close to the subject and help me
capture surrounding elements as well.
Mapping a Region
It is always reliable to carry maps along
with you. Sometimes, GPS and other
tracking services dont help in no-
network areas. Also, you can plot your
progress on the map.
Canon EOS 60D with a
1585mm f/3.5 lens
Identity cards
Notebooks
SD card
Pens
Maps
Diary
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...is one that allows you to be unobtrusive. Earlier, I used to carry two
bodies with two lenses, but people would get very conscious of the gear.
Pattabi Raman
is a biologist-turned-
photojournalist
based in Pondicherry.
His work on the
aftermath of the
Sri Lankan war
has won him plenty
of critical acclaim.
Here, he shares his
secret for blending in.
AN INCONSPICUOUS KIT...
Analyse Your Photos
Look at 50 of your remarkable
photos. Figure out which focal
length is helping you portray a
story best.
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Dont Worry About Gear
Use whatever equipment is
available to you. It is the person
behind the camera who makes
great images happen.
Include Your Notes
You can include handwritten
notes along with your nal
images. This always makes for
a nice personal touch.
Travel Light
If it is a road trip that you are
making, carry only the bare
essentials. Dont pack things
you really wont need.
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Jealiot Photo Royale
camera bag
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Spare Batteries for Emergencies
While on assignment, there is no time
to charge batteries. So, I carry a spare
battery pack in order to make sure that
I have extra repower with me always.
Two Separate Bags
I use two lightweight bags. One of them
is solely meant for my camera body and
lenses. The other accessories are neatly
packed into another bag.
Sand Bags for Stability
A little bit of weight goes a long way in
further stabilising a tripod, boom stand
or light stand. It is also useful during
outdoor shoots on locations that have
the slightest bit of breeze.
A Hard Drive with a Screen
I carry a hard drive that comes with a
screen. It allows me to back up my cards
after I nish the shoot. It is compact and
lightweight and saves me the hassle of
carrying a laptop or notebook.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...is inclusive of all the little things that can simplify the process of
shooting and help you achieve the perfect nal image.
Nrupen Madhvani
is a famous commercial
photographer and has
shot fashion, still life,
automobiles, interiors,
food and much more.
He is of a meticulous
bent of mind, and this
is quite evident in his
kit as well.
AN EFFECTIVE INTERIORS KIT...
Turn On All the Lights
Use all the help you can get in
order to make your exposures
easier. Then work backwards
and try combinations of lights.
Aim for Symmetry
Try to keep lines as straight as
possible. Use the gridlines of
your camera to perfectly align
vertical and horizontal lines.
Use Fill Flash
You can balance ambient light
by exposing for the exterior
and lling light with a ashgun,
or by using strobes.
Wait for the Right Time
You dont always have to use
ash light. Waiting for dusk
when the light outside matches
the light inside, is a good trick.
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Secondary
camera bag
Primary camera bag
Elinchrome remote
transmitter
CF cards
and case
CF card reader and case
Medicines and mints
Anti-static brush
Sand bag
Epson external hard
drive and case
Nikon D300
Spare batteries
and charger
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Specialised Lenses For Interiors
A large percentage of my work
involves architectural and interiors
photography, which is why I rely on a
1116mm aspherical lens to minimise
barrel distortion.
Chasing Light with a Compass
Usually there is no time for a recce of the
location or site, so the compass provides
an orientation vis--vis the sun when I am
indoors, allowing me to sequence my
shots and catch the light properly.
Cardboard Pieces for Levelling
Sometimes, when I am shooting interiors
or still life, I nd that the surface needs
some more levelling. Sometimes, it
is a vase that needs a small piece of
cardboard beneath it to appear straight.
Organised Ziplock Bags
Not only do they keep dust out, but they
can also be labelled. You dont need to
constantly hunt for things in your bag,
when you know exactly where each piece
of equipment is stored.
Sturdiness with a Heavy Tripod
A good, heavy tripod is invaluable
for all-round work, be it in the studio
or outdoors. You dont need to be
worrying about it toppling over at the
slightest gust of wind.
A Handy Checklist
I dont know how many photographers do
this, but I have always carried a checklist
of my equipment. This list also has the
serial numbers of all the gear.
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Let it Blow Out
Observe the location. If there
is nothing scenic outside the
window, you can probably let
the view be tastefully blown out.
Understand Filters
Polarisers cut down on
unwanted reections on
smooth, shiny surfaces. The
tradeoff is longer exposures.
Adjusting White Balance
Try AWB rst, then move to
other presets. If nothing works,
try Custom WB. Use whatever
looks good to you on the LCD.
Always Use Tripods
You are only likely to get
misaligned lines if you go
handheld. Also, some interiors
demand long exposures.
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Polarising lters
Minolta light meter
and case
Compass
Checklist
Ziplock bags
Spirit levels
Notepad
Grey card
Cardboard pieces
Step-up rings
Lens hoods
Blower
Nikkor 1870mm f/3.5
Tokina 1116mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor
105mm f/2.8
Tripod with ball and
socket head
Nikkor 80200mm f/2.8
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Blending into the Surroundings
This hide, which is mainly used for bird
photography, is made out of super
strong mesh that is lightweight and
allows me to blend into the countryside.
Ferrying Heavy Telephoto Lenses
This light backpack can hold both the
Canon 800mm and the Canon 400mm
f/2.8 lenses at the same time. I can easily
carry it as hand baggage in ights.
Bean Bags for a Special Trick
I cannot think of doing a safari without
my bean bags. They provide excellent
support and help me with my double
decker technique which involves
stacking two bodies xed with two
telephotos on top of each other, to get
two variants of the scene.
Charging in the Wild
Chargers usually have a regular 240V
cable to be connected to wall sockets.
This cable helps connect to the car to be
able to stock up on power on the move.
2TB external
hard disk
Battery charger
Samsung Galaxy S3
cellphone
Car battery
charger cable
USB cable
Apple Macbook Pro CF cards
Grau Vario
ND2-400 lter
Canon EOS 1D
Mark IV
Canon EOS 1D X
Flat bean bag
Gura Gera
Kiboko 30L
camera backpack
CF card reader
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...is one that helps me prepare for any eventuality. In the wild, where
nature rules the roost, situations can range from the tricky to the bizarre.
Sudhir Shivaram
is one of Indias
leading names in
wildlife photography.
Despite working
as a Senior Project
Manager at an MNC,
he manages to nd
time to fuel his passion.
Here, he speaks about
his lifetime investment.
A COMPREHENSIVE WILDLIFE KIT...
Easy Exposure Estimates
When shooting nature, a light
meter saves time by estimating
exposure so that you can solely
concentrate on imagemaking.
Jackets for Extra Space
A multi pocket jacket can hold
accessories like CF cards and
small lenses. It is very useful
on eld and also in ights.
ND Filters for Creativity
The wild is full of situations
that beg long exposures in the
daylight. So, pack in an ND lter
to get those silky waterfalls.
The Speed Factor
Choose a body and lens
combo that gives you a blazing
fast autofocus system in any
lighting condition.
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Toehold DimBu
beanbag
Lightweight camouage
bag hide
Camera jacket
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Close Range Focusing
I occasionally use this with a macro
lens or standard lens to get additional
magnication, as it helps me focus at
closer range.
Extending the 800mm
This helps me get additional reach for
bird or even mammal photography.
However, the focusing speed reduces,
hence I use it in good lighting situations.
Substituting the 800mm
This converter enables me to get
more reach on the 70200 f/2.8 or
the 400mm f/2.8 lenses when I am not
carrying the 800mm.
The Clamp Solution
An extremely useful accessory while
shooting from a vehicle, you can clamp
this to the bar or windows of the jeep
and mount the ball head to support any
long lens like the 800mm.
A Flexible Tripod Head
I use a specialised tripod head for
telephoto lenses. Its easily manageable
design allows me to rotate the lens
around its cenre of gravity and
manipulate very large lenses.
Lightweight Tripod Support
These 6x carbon bre legs are very
light to carry around, and I use them
extensively when I am on foot, to support
the 800mm lens. During safaris, I use
them if I am alone in the vehicle.
The Monopod Alternative
It is always good to carry a monopod for
situations where tripods are not feasible.
In places like the North East, you have to
do a lot of trekking and photograph birds
that suddenly pop out of bushes.
The 800mm Monster
This is my primary lens for bird
photography coupled with the Canon 1D
Mark IV. I mainly use it when the subject
is cooperative as this is an f/5.6 lens and
not fast enough for action photography.
The 400mm All-rounder
This is my main wildlife photography
lens coupled with the Canon 1D X.
This combination is my most used setup
for action wildlife photography and I do
all my shooting with it handheld.
Kenko extension tubes
Canon EF
1.4x III converter
Medicines
Canon EF
2x III converter
Manfrotto 035
Super Clamp
Wimberley
Gimbal Head
Joby GorillaPod
Focus
Canon EF
800mm f/5.6
Baby toothbrush for
cleaning gear
Swiss Army knife
Canon EF
70200mm f/2.8
Blower
Sekonic L308s
light meter
Canon EF
400mm f/2.8
Gitzo 3530 LS
tripod legs
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Medicines and Salves
Carry medicines for basic
ailments like fevers, stomach
aches and sprains. Also, pack
plenty of insect repellents.
Handy Tools and Devices
Keep a Swiss Army Knife or
a light tool kit of some sort.
Penknives, torches, scissors
etc can be useful in the wild.
Card Reader Transfers
Instead of connecting the
camera to a laptop, use a card
reader as it helps you conserve
much needed power.
The Invaluable Assistant
Cellphones often have GPS
tracking that can help at times.
They also help you make some
behind-the-scenes photos.
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Microbre lens
cleaning cloth
Manfrotto 682B
monopod
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The 1D C Choice
The best thing about this full frame
beauty is that it gives me great high
ISO quality, along with the best video
functionality possible in any DSLR.
Basically, it is a pure visual treat.
The One-size-ts-all Bag
I never allow any equipment to be
checked in while travelling, and so
I have chosen a large trolley bag.
When lled, it weighs slightly more than
the allowed limit and I usually have to
argue my way through.
An Optical Viewnder for Video
Weddings are hectic and conrming
focus through the LCD is tough.
This loupe covers the LCD and acts as
an OVF. So, I can bring the LCD to my eye
and see what is being recorded.
A Continuous Light Source
This LED light has variable colour
temperatures and lters that range
from white to yellow. It also acts as
a ll light and sidelight.
ThinkTANK Airport
Roller Bag
Canon EOS-1D C
Lightchrom
Light Shaper
Speedlite 580EX II
ashgun
LED Light
Earplugs
Zacuto Z-nder Optical Viewnder
Loupe and plates
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...helps me create that perfect blend of high quality multimedia to offer
to clients in an increasingly competitive market.
Prakash Tilokani
is a name to be
reckoned with, in
wedding photography.
Decades of expertise
and a bent towards
video has greatly
inuenced his kit.
He shares what goes
into a professional
wedding photo kit.
A VIDEO AND PHOTO WEDDING KIT...
Drown Out Noise
Wear earplugs to cut down
on the deafening noise that
accompanies weddings.
This will help you concentrate.
Carry Business Cards
This allows you to share
your contact details with
prospective clients whom you
meet during other assignments.
Take Everything
Never compromise on
packing all that you might need.
Often, you end up needing the
gear that you did not pack.
Figure out Stopgaps
If something stops working,
dont waste time. Switch lenses,
tripods or even bodies, but
dont stop shooting.
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For Large Venues
The 135mm f/2 helps me especially
when I have to make a lot of portraits
in spacious venues. It is also simpler to
cart around this lens, than its heavier
70200mm sibling.
The 50mm Magic
My favourite lens for portraiture and
candids is the 50mm f/1.2. I love the
focal length, the aperture range and
composing frames becomes a breeze
with this lens.
The 85mm Advantage
The 85mm f/1.2 follows close on the
heels of the 50mm in terms of being
my favourite. It is sharp, offers crisp
quality, wonderfully saturated colours
and extremely shallow depth-of-eld.
Soft-focus Portraiture
A soft-focus lter coupled with a
70200mm f/2.8 lens helps me make
classic soft-focus portraits that
people love. While the effect can be
created digitally, I prefer shooting it the
traditional way.
Convenience with a Monopod
During weddings, I am always running
a lot. A monopod is lightweight,
convenient and useful for relatively slow
shutterspeeds. It also offers support
for heavy lenses and entire rigs.
Accessorising the Main Body
A twin hot shoe bracket helps me
attach a ashgun and an LED light, or an
LED light and a mic, at the same time.
These combinations transform the
camera into a complete rig.
Hot Shoe Mic for Sound Bytes
Since I create multimedia slideshows
for my clients, which involve both stills
and video, I try to be innovative with the
format. This directional mic helps me
record interviews and sound bytes.
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2
Canon EF
1635mm f/2.8
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8
Canon EF
70200mm f/2.8
Rode VideoMic Pro
Business cards
CF cards and case
Camera battery
charger
Rechargeable
battery charger
Manfrotto 561BHDV-1
Fluid Video Monopod
and Head
Sonia Twin Hot Shoe
Extension bar
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2
Canon EF
2470mm f/2.8
Canon EF 135mm f/2
Soft-focus lter
Battery
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Carry a Sound Recorder
A sound recorder helps you
capture ambient noise as
well as acts a substitute for a
boom mic.
Drink More, Eat Less
When you have little time to
sleep, try not gorge on food.
Drink more liquids, non-
alcoholic, of course.
Use Fast Cards
If you are shooting a lot of HD
video, ensure that you are
using fast cards that have
high read-write speeds.
Think Holistically
Plan your gear so that you are
able to deliver something extra
like short wedding lms, large
blowups and so on.
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Wireless Radio Triggers
This lets me remotely control and re
my ash units. It can also work in E-TTL
mode which allows me to control the
exact ratio of ambient to ash lighting
in my scene. I can also remotely release
the shutter of my camera with it.
Backpacks Rather than Slings
Plenty of photographers get skewed
horizons and have levelling issues due
to slingbags. While backpacks are not as
comfortable as slings, my work does not
involve walking around too much.
A Benevolent Gift
This rosary was given to me by a very
old person in Pakistan in 2003. I always
keep it with me as a reminder that the
best pictures are the ones you receive
without much doing from your side.
Portable Reector
A portable reector is very useful in
general. In emergencies, it also doubles
up as a softbox. All you need to is bounce
the ash off it.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...is one that enables me to produce extremely stylised pictures in a
timeline that can range anywhere from three minutes to an hour.
Bandeep Singh
has a longstanding
experience of 20
years and is known
for his stylised
editorial work and
ne art photography.
His personal work is
deeply layered and
conceptual. He speaks
about the studio
lighting setup that he
uses on location.
AN EDITORIAL AND PERSONAL KIT...
Brush the Dust
Do a quick cleanup of your
camera and lenses with an
anti-static brush, especially
when you are in a dusty area.
Carry Lens Cleaners
Dont wipe the front lens
element or lters with your
shirt. Use a cleaning solution
and a microbre cloth.
Be Wise About Storage
An 8GB or 16GB card is safer
than a 32GB card, unless you
are shooting video. If the card
fails, you will not lose all work.
Grey Cards for Accuracy
Often, a grey card can be
of immense help in tricky
lighting situations. Pack an
inexpensive one to take along.
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Elinchrom FX400 lights
Grey card
Sonia wireless trigger
Portable reector
Painkillers
Rosary
Vanguard backpack
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The Reason to go Digital
Before this, I could never get White
Balance right. I remember shooting my
rst image with this camera... thats when
I thought, now you can leave lm entirely.
Earlier, I would shoot my personal projects
with both lm and digital.
Disengaging from the 1635
I use this lens only when I am shooting
documentary or in natural light settings.
But I am increasingly moving away
from it because it creates a lot of
unnecessary drama at the extreme
wide angle which I am trying to avoid.
Colour Fidelity with the 70200
This lens is my standard lens to use
when I want absolutely faithful colour
reproduction, be it in the studio or
anywhere else. I nd it also very stable to
use because of the tripod collar.
Honeycomb Grid for the Flash
While I do use the ashgun sometimes, to
ll light or to trigger strobes, I generally
detest working with it. But when I use
this grid along with the wireless trigger, it
allows me to chisel light from the ashgun
however I want.
Controlling the Intensity of Light
This set of grids is key equipment for
me. The one in the centre is a 32 grid
that you dont nd too often these days.
They help me focus light with a particular
intensity on a particular area.
Emergency Rations
This is something that I learnt from my
photojournalism days. If you are on the
move and are travelling, a few packets
of tea, coffee and milk powder can keep
you fortied.
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Use Spirit Levels
The bubble levels on tripods
are not always accurate.
Use an external spirit leveller
to get accurate readings.
Versatile Macro Lenses
A macro lens offers great
quality and extremely fast
apertures for good detail in
critical studio work.
Employ Light Modiers
Snoots, honeycomb grids,
gels and other accessories
can transform a lighting setup.
Find out all you can about them.
Experiment with Flash
Use a remote trigger to control
and re ashguns during long
exposures. Try ash pumping,
slow sync and other tricks.
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Canon 1635mm f/2.8
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon 70200mm f/2.8
Canon Speedlite
600EX ashgun
CF cards
Spirit levels
Lens cleaning uid
Light stands
Canon EOS
5D Mark II
Circular polariser
Small screwdriver
for lens screws
Anti-static brush
Honeycomb grid
for the ash
Set of
honeycomb grids
Tea, coffee,
milk packets
USB cable
Charger
Manfrotto 055X
ProB tripod
Expodisc White
Balance lter
T
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4
5
T
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4
6
T
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4
7
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SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
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The Speed Graphic Trunk
This was the custom trunk in which the
view camera and its ash unit, bulbs,
lmholders and lm were stored.
A hardy metal thing, it must have also
been quite heavy to carry around.
Using What Was Available
Kulwant Roy was a part of the Royal
Indian Air Force, but was dismissed
after he refused to bow down to the
discriminatory ways of the British.
His friends in the Air Force smuggled
out lm for him, and he used whatever
he could.
Switching to Flashbulbs
One day, Roy and a few fellow
photographers were waiting to
photograph Jawaharlal Nehru coming
down a dark stairway. They asked
Roys assistant to light up a pinch of
magnesium powder for the ash.
Nehru came down, and there was a mini
explosion. Turns out, the assistant used
six teaspoons of magnesium instead of
one, since there were six photographers!
After this, Roy switched to ash bulbs.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
...tells us that the process of imagemaking transcends technology.
Aditya Arya, nephew of Kulwant Roy and archivist of his work, shares his kit.
Kulwant Roy
was responsible for
some of the most iconic
images in Indian
history. However, for
a long time, his images
lay largely forgotten,
till his nephew
brought them to light.
Here, Arya shares
Roys treasure trove
with us.
A HISTORIC ANALOGUE KIT...
Think Before Upgrading
Start out with the most basic
camera. Move to the next level
only when you think you have
earned the upgrade.
Limit Yourself
Shoot with a xed lens or tape
your lens to one particular
focal length. If you need to
zoom in, move closer.
Get the Most Out of It
Wring your kit dry. Dont worry
about wear and tear. The worst
thing to do to a camera is to
keep it high and dry in storage.
Be Conservative
Just because you can shoot
unlimited number of frames,
does not mean that you should.
Make every single frame count.
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Graex Speed Graphic Trunk
Flashbulbs
4 x 5 large format Eastman
Kodak and Gevaert lm
T
IP
5
0
T
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4
9
T
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5
1
T
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5
2
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
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The Best of those Days
Roys equipment was the best he could
buy and arguably the best equipment
available those days. He used a select
few things, but ensured that each piece
of gear was well worth the investment.
Precise Metering
During its time, the Weston Master
was the most accurate light meter
available. It was the only tool to easily
measure ambient light falling directly
on the subject. Considering that there
was no instant feedback with LCDs in
those days, this was possibly the most
important piece of equipment in the kit.
Analogue Beginnings
This large format camera was used
for reportage. It could do just about
anything, on eld as well as in the studio.
Margaret Bourke-White also used this to
make her famous pictures of Gandhiji.
Switching to 35mm
When Roy reached a certain pinnacle,
he decided to buy himself a Leica M3
with a complete kit of wide, normal
and tele lenses as well as the Weston
Master. He bought this kit from a German
photographer who was visiting Delhi.
Customising the TLRs
TLRs changed the viewpoint of their
users, because they offered waist-level
viewing, unlike the view camera or speed
graphic which could be held at eye level.
Roy and his contemporaries started
making wonderful waist-level photos, but
later, he bought himself this viewnder so
that he could hold the TLR up to his eyes.
The Shift to TLRs
As things progressed, the Speed Graphic
grew old. Roy, too, desired speed and
mobility. But he also wanted large format
negatives so that he could crop them,
and so, he shifted to TLRs.
SHOOTI NG TECHNI QUE
Go Manual
Dont move on autopilot all the
time. Learn what it is to have to
work hard to get the focusing,
metering and framing right.
Spend Time on Images
Dont just postprocess
them multiple times and get
confused. Spend time in
processing one version well.
Old is Gold
Manual focus lenses are great
learning tools, and legacy
lenses of the K mount and
F mount are available cheap.
What to Check For
Beware of scratches, stuck
motors, rust and dents,
light leaks, fungus and stuck
aperture blades or shutters.
95
4 x 5 large format
lmholders
Mamiyaex C2 TLR with a
Mamiya-Sekor 80mm f/2.8 lens
Yashica Mat-124 G TLR
Prism viewnder for
TLR cameras
Leica M3 with a Summicron
50mm f/2 lens
Graex Speed
Graphic
Leica Elmar
135mm f/4
Mamiya-Sekor
180mm f/4.5
Weston Master IV
light meter
Mamiya-Sekor
105mm f/3.5
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Alves Filho captures an iconic landmark in different ways, varying the
vantage point, composition and style every day.
L
ike with many other photographers,
the city I live in is subject to my
work. I am lucky to live in a city like
Salvador, Brazil, where there is a lot
to be photographed. There are just
so many historical sites, beautiful beaches,
cultural events happening all the time!
The city has been my muse for a long time
already. And so, when I decided to start the
365-day project, it was just a question of
choosing the perfect place.
My Perspective
I chose the lighthouse because it
offered me innumerous possibilities
and the challenge of coming up with
unique photos of one of the most
photographed locations.
The area in which the lighthouse is
situated also inuenced my decision. It is
a stunning place to be inwaking up early
to go there and spending a few hours was
certainly not a problem for me.
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Description
To photograph the Barra Lighthouse, in 365 ways
making each picture unique in its own right.

Duration
365 days

Notes
Get creative with your compositions and do not be
afraid to try out diverse photographic techniques.
My Assignment
The lighthouse is located
in a peninsula and close to
buildings on the land.
I lowered the camera close
to the grass and zoomed
all the way to 300mm.
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octoBer 201 3
I wanted to show
the family-friendly
environment that you
fnd on any given Sunday
around the lighthouse.
Also, a lighthouse is the symbol of hope
that guides us when in we are in peril.
The Process
The frst few photographs were easy, since
I was starting from square one and every
angle was a new one. After the obvious
photos were gone, it started becoming
more challenging. Not only were there less
compositional options, but I had raised
the bar higher. This is why the last 50
photographs became special for me.
Capturing different angles required
going to places where access was restricted,
dangerous and expensive. It involved
I jumped in the water
and snapped this photo,
timing it carefully as
a wave passed by.
Keeping balance and
focus at the same time
was challenging.
a lot of emails for permissions to shoot
from nearby hotels and buildings. I even
went to the extent of renting a helicopter.
Also, since the project was available online,
Begin at Once: If I had to give any advice, the frst on my list would be to get
started! In my case, I decided to share the photos on a daily basis online. Receiving
feedback from viewers is great motivation to keep you going.
Observe: Take a few minutes to look around, before you start photographing.
Trees, street signs, windows and many other common objects can be used to
compose creative images. Raise and lower your camera in search of new vantage
points. Photographing the same place at different hours, weekdays and seasons
also result in very diverse photos.
Know Your Equipment: Master your equipment before you go out on feld. There is
plenty of information available at no cost online.
Tips to Get You Started on a 365-Day Project
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
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on assi gnment
It took me more
than 330 photos to
fnd these charming
fowers that most people
consider weeds.
The beach towel reads
Reminder of Bahia
and is an emblematic
souvenir of the city
of Salvador. I asked a
street vendor to hold it
against the wind.
I used two DSLR
bodies along with
a 1020mm lens, a
100300mm lens
and an 18105mm
kit lens. I also used
Neutral Density and
polarising flters for
long exposures.
My Equipment
it made explaining things to the relevant
authorities easier.
Prior to this project, I had only
photographed the lighthouse on beautiful,
sunny days, at sunset. While we do not
have drastic changes in seasons, and the
weather ended up being one of the main
elements that shaped this project. I worked
with the rain, the position of the sun,
ocean tides and the phases of the moon to
make unique photos that have a strongly
characteristic mood.
For varietys sake, I had to get to the
equipment wet, salty and full of sand. It got
a bit dangerous sometimes, especially
when I was trying to compose with big
waves splashing down in my direction.
Publishing a new photo every day
was one of the key points of the project.
It forced me keep the project going even on
days when I was not in the mood. To top it
all, the response was very heartwarming.
I was pleased to have completed the
marathon but was heartbroken at having
to stop. I wished I could keep the project
going, and I even considered continuing to
publish new photos to the website.
To view the rest of the photographs from this series,
you can visit www.alvesflho.com/365/
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PhotoGuide
B e t t e r P h o t o G r a P h y
Want your photographs reviewed? Send your photographs to
The Editor, Better Photography, Network18 Publishing,
Ruby House, A Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W)
Mumbai - 400 028, India
E-mail: photocritique@betterphotography.in
Shooting the Streets
Jagdish Agarwal, the father of stock photography in India, has an
exceptional eye for creating images. He takes us through his process of
imagemaking on the streets of Dadar, Mumbai.
E
very photographer has his own
process of creating images,
and anything can trigger this
creative process. In that sense,
street photography has immense
potential to trigger the refexes that make
you press the shutter-release button.
Before I go out to shoot for the day,
I meditate in the morning. It defnitely
helps me be more focused on my
photography. When I reach the location,
I walk around the place and try to absorb
the three Sssight, sound and smell.
This helps me understand what I can
shoot that day.
When I start shooting, I actively look for
the three Cscharacter, charm and colour.
Once you have these basics down, you will
notice how images just start appearing in
front of your eyes.
September marks the festival of Ganesh
Chaturthi, and the hub of all festive activities
in Mumbai is the area of Dadar. Despite the
chaos and the large crowds, there are quieter
moments too. Therefore, I felt this image was
my best shot from that day.
For street photography, I prefer shooting
in black and white. It helps me concentrate
on light, lines, forms, shapes, textures and
importantly, on the content of the image.
octoBer 201 3
Jagdish Agarwal
While shooting,
look for the
three Ss
sight, sound
and smell.
I liked how the shop
owner had arranged the
vegetables. The repetitive
patterns look interesting.
101
SePteMBer 201 3

Tips & Tricks
More than gear, invest
in a good quality
camera bag. Street
photographers need
quick access to their
gear. So choose a
backpack that allows
you to reach your gear
with ease.
DON T FORGET
101
Find Your
Visual Language
It is important to nd
a way to communicate
with your audience.
Develop your style
and stick to it.
Perfect it before you
decide to move on to
something else.
Read a Lot
read books and
learn from the works
of great masters.
It will greatly help
you to widen your
perspective on
photography.
Be Inclusive
Street photography
is not just about
photographing people.
even spaces and
things constitute as
street photography.
Find an interesting
street corner,
and shoot!
Be Prepared
one is bound to have
an unproductive eld
day, when nothing
seems to be going
right. Dont be
let down by such
excursions... they are
an important part
of your journey as a
street photographer!
Make a Routine
Shoot every day for
at least 10 minutes
to an hour and make
a habit out of it.
regular shooting
will improve your
skills and help you
understand the areas
in which you need
further work.
Check Your
Local Listings
Be aware of local
events or festivals
happening in your city
and document them
from start to nish.
additionally, you can
also document local
music concerts,
street theatre
performances or even
wedding processions!
Behind the Scenes with Jagdish Agarwal
The Ideal Gear
What is the best gear to use for
street photography?
Ramneet Singh, New Delhi, via email
For street photography, like any other genre
of photography, there is no good or bad
equipment. Choose your gear according
to your needs. Ask yourself which piece of
equipment will best translate your vision into
images. Dont forget that even cellphones offer
good image quality and sharpness.
Being Conscious
I feel conscious while making photos of
people on the streetswhat do I do?
Tia Asgaonkar, Mumbai, via email
Start by shooting subjects and situations that
do not involve people. Learn how to immerse
yourself in the act of shooting and forget about
your surroundings. Apply this learning to
photographing people as well.
The Choice of Medium
What is best for street photography?
Black and white or colour?
Bharat Joshi, Udaipur, via email
Capturing an image in colour or black and white
is not dependant on the genre of photography,
but on what your preference is. B&W helps
you emphasise patterns and lines, while colour
images can be equally graphical and gritty.
Ask yourself what it is that you wish to convey.
What exactly goes into the making of the perfect photograph?
Here are some frequently asked questions about street
photography, answered by Jagdish Agarwal. Q&a
octoBer 201 3
Blend into your surroundings by being as unobtrusive as you can. Wearing simple clothes can help you mingle with the crowd.
Arun Kumar
In photography,
what matters is being
present in the moment.
Choosing between colour
of black and white will
happen naturally.
J N Jegannathaan
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PhotoGUI De
B e t t e r P h o t o G r a P h y B e t t e r P h o t o G r a P h y
Gaurav Prabhu,
Mumbai
Camera: Canon PowerShot
SX100 IS
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutterspeed: 1/100sec
ISO: 80
Jagdish says:
The red bag is disturbing the frame.
The evening glow is well captured.
This could look better in a square format.
Amrita says:
The highlights around the boy and the bag look great.
The waft of dust adds a movement to the frame.
Critical focus is missing overall.
Jagdish says:
There is a lovely contrast between the fgure and the
clouds. They both look like they are dancing!
The placement of the fgure and the boat are
well balanced.
Despite the movement, the frame is focused.
Amrita says:
The sky is mimicking the lustrous colours of seashells
and looks very attractive.
The blurred fgure is adding drama to the frame.
The foreground seems unecessary.
Amith Nag,
Bengaluru
Camera: Canon EOS 550D
Aperture: f/22
Shutterspeed: 1/1.3sec
ISO: 100
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october 201 3 B e t t e r P h o t o G r a P h y
Jagdish says:
The light in the centre echoes the bars in the foreground.
The shadows add more character to the frame.
However, the excessive noise looks disturbing.
Supriya says:
The two bars add a lovely frame to the image.
The B&W tone adds a cinematic feel to the photo.
A 16:9 frame would look good too.
Jagdish says:
The skys patterns match the rivulets of the sand.
The placement of the fgures is quite apt.
I wish some fsh were visible in the net.
Supriya says:
The warm tones in the image are refreshing.
A closer crop would make the frame dramatic.
Changing your angle a little by moving around would
have given more defned refections of the fgures.

Jagdish Agarwal
founded Dinodia
Photo, Indias biggest
stock photography
picture agency in 1987.
his work is deeply
rooted in black and
white photography, but
his eye, while being
classical and practiced,
is always looking
for stories, which he
tells compellingly.
Supriya Joshi
makes photographs
which are much like
herunusual and quirky,
with a fascination for
the extraordinary in the
mundane. She is not
fussy about gearit
could be a DSLr or even
a cellphoneas long
as what she is shooting
makes her smile.
Amrita Ganguly-
Salian
befriended the camera
22 years ago, and
continues to inspire
many students of
photography. her critique
is rooted in classical
theories and balances
the photographers
opportunity with the use
of technique.
Sayantan Ghosh,
Kolkata
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-H55
Aperture: f/5.5
Shutterspeed: 1/40sec
ISO: 3200
Sintu Bhattacharjee,
Kolkata
Camera: Olympus FE-240
Aperture: f/3.3
Shutterspeed: 1/160sec
ISO: 50
Our Experts
always carry an
identity card with
you. It can help
you get out of an
unforeseen situation.
alternatively, you
can use your driving
license, a PaN
card or any other
authorised document.
DON T FORGET
Davorka Andjelic
Weave a Story
We all have special attachments to a certain
trinket or toya gift that means more than
its monetary value ever could. It could be
an action fgure, a wedding ring, or even a
curio. Bring it to life by photographing it
in different locations and take the special
feeling associated with it to the next level.

Plan the Scenes
There are many situations for a quirky
object. A toy by your plate of food, your
favourite action fgure on a stack of
fles these situations make for a fun series.
Using other toys or props along with the
main object, can add dramatic value.
ONE OBJECT SERIES
Make Your Frames More Interesting
You could make the object tower over the
surrounding landscape, by bringing it close
to the camera and shooting from a low angle.
You can also create drama with lighting.
A simple table lamp or a torch does the job
effectively. You can even explore natural
light at different times of the day to further
create a specifc mood.
Juxtapose the Object
Photos from your (or even your parents)
childhoods like picnics, school trips,
vacations, and so on, can serve as fun
backdrops to place the object on.
Jewellery could adorn the sides or the toy
could be looking at you in the picture.
You may just fnd yourself going through an
old memory while making a new one!
The quirkier the
object, the more it
stands out amongst
other regular things.
Want to share your ideas and tips? Write to
The Editor, Better Photography
Network18 Publishing
Ruby House, A Wing
J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W)
Mumbai-400 028, India
Email: editor@betterphotography.in
104
ocToBER 201 3
Finding a subject that
is close to home can be
a good focal point for a
365-day project.
The Three Ds
Taking up a 365-day photography project
is no mean feat. It requires Discipline,
Dedication and remembering the
Deadline. You will need to have a different
concept for your chosen theme, each day.
Photographing every single day requires
patience, and when you look back, you will
observe your growth as a photographer.
Choosing a Topic
One of the most diffcult things to do, is
selecting a topic for your project. It needs
to be something that will sustain the
interest of both you and your viewer
for a year. It could be a certain area of
your locality, your child or it could even
be a theme that changes every month.
From capturing silhouettes, textures,
portraits, or even observing unusual
shapes and letters in naturethere is a vast
number of topics that you could take up.
Organise & Share
Given the amount of dedication that a
365-day project requires, popular photo
sharing sites like Flickr and Instagram are
a great way to share and catalogue images.
DOCUMENTING 365 DAYS
Albert Normandin
Albert Normandin
Observing the
changing settings around
your subject brings out
visual dynamism.
When using long
shutterspeeds during
daylight, use a Neutral
Density (ND) lter to
cut out the excessive
light entering the lens.
QUICK TIP
Also, daily uploads require organsisation,
ensuring your work does not go haywire.
Over time, the followers you gain can act as
just the push you need.
B E T T E R P H o T o G R A P H Y
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Experiment with long
exposures to create
ghosts of yourself!
Gautam Basu
TURN TO YOURSELF
Observe Yourself
Creating a photo series on you can
pan out quite like a journey. We all go
through certain rituals, habits, commutes,
interactions every day. How do you feel
about yourself today? What are your
thoughts on various issues? What activity
makes you happy or sad? What emotion
does a certain piece of music evoke?
Examining yourself can help you emote.
Self portraiture also helps you understand
posing. This can aid you in directing poses
when shooting other people.
Get the Gear Right
An effective way to shoot self portraits
is with a tripod and a remote trigger.
This allows you to shoot tethered. You can
perfect your composition without having
to run back and forth to check the frame.
If that is not an option then you could also
Bringing out what is within,
is the key. In this long
exposure, the lens was frst
pointed at the tree, then
covered with a black card
and then turned, to capture
the photographer.
Nirvair Singh Rai
Sanjay K V
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What you see in the photograph, is a very common
sight, but it has little to do with what you see and
everything to do with the way you see. When I noticed
these gloves drying on a wire, it evoked a sense of
a human bonding. Before I decided to capture it,
I already had visualised this frame as a silhouette
(they fascinate me). The bright sky helped me render
the gloves as silhouettes and the clouds lent a
dramatic background to the overall composition.
Deciding whether your picture should be B&W or
colour in post procesisng totally depends on the
balance of colors in the frame. The only colour in my
frame was the blue of the sky, which was taking away
all the attention from the subject I decided to turn it
to black and white.
You can involve your environment or
surroundings to compose a strong frame, all you
have to do is to observe these situations and make
a picture in your mind before you make a picture
in the camera.
Saurabh Bhatia
READERS TIP
Hand in Hand
When panning to
capture a subject
in motion, use the
Manual or the Shutter
Priority modes so
that the shutterspeed
remains constant.
QUICK TIP
Saurabh Bhatia
Playing with colours
and form can be an
interesting way to bring
your personality out.
use the Self Timer in Burst mode which
will ensure that you get a large number of
frames without having to check too often. It
also allows you to capture a variety of poses
and expressions to get the perfect shot
from the various ones that you try out.
Getting the focus right is one of the
main challenges of the perfect self
portrait. To ensure this, use AF to focus
on a stand-in object. Once it is in focus,
switch to manual focus. This will let
you change settings without having to
refocus repeatedly.
Keep the Confdence
Turning the camera to yourself can be a
daunting task. One way to get over this,
is to visualise photographing a friend or
a loved one. Simply place yourself in the
frame and shoot. You can bring out the
different aspects of your personality by
using the right lighting, background and
even props. After a few shots you are sure
to loosen up in front of the camera. All you
have to do is remember that it is you who
is shooting yourself and no one is else is
privy to the shoot.
Shoot in Parts
Having your face clearly visible is not
always needed for a series of self portraits.
There are different ways to represent your
presence, while creating an interesting
frame. It could be where your feet are at
the moment, or even just your left hand
holding an object.
You can get creative with shadows too, and
fnd interesting textures for the shadow to
fall on. Reections in puddles, mirrors, glass
tables, windows are a few other lovely ways
to include yourself in the frame.
To capture more detail in the sky or in the clouds, underexposure works best.
Tonmoy Saha
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Want your doubts cleared? Write to
The Editor, Better Photography
Infomedia18 Limited
Ruby House, A Wing, J K Sawant Marg
Dadar (W), Mumbai-400 028, India.
E-mail: editor@betterphotography.in
Full Frame Lenses on APS-C
Are there any advantages and disadvantages
to using full frame lenses on a cropped
sensor camera body?
Harish Rajagopalan, Cochin, via post
A full frame lens is designed to project the
image on a large sensor. When you use this
on a APS-C DSLR, the smaller size of the
sensor causes the lens to have a smaller
eld of vision. This means that the corners of
the image that would otherwise been visible
of a full frame camera get cut. What people
assume as a change in focal length, it is, is in
reality just a smaller eld of view.
This is, in fact, a great advantage as the smaller
sensor erases out corner softness, a common
lens problem. It also results in an apparent
extended zoom with the same lens. Also, the
reduced eld of view helps reduce other corner
aberrations like vignetting and fringing.
The disadvantage is that you lose the original
eld of view. Wide angle shooters need to keep
this in mind, especially. The overall package
becomes heavier since full frame lenses tend to
be bulkier than their equivalent APS-C ones.
Camera Strap Woes
I suffer from pain when I hang the camera
around my neck for a long time. How do
I reduce this?
Yash Mehta, Surat, via email
The strap that comes in your camera box is
ideally optimised to handle the weight of the
camera body very well. However, when you
add bigger and heavier lenses to the camera,
the strap often fails to able to take the load
causing it to transfer the weight on your neck.
There are several third-party camera
straps available in the market. They often
come at a premium cost but they do offer
a great solution. They have higher elasticity
and better padding around the neck making
carrying a bulky camera an easy and
comfortable task. Some of these even let you
take the strap off your neck and turn it into a
sling strap or even carry two camera bodies
using a single strap.
You can also choose from a wide variety
of clips and belts that let you hoister your
additional lens or ash on your waist. There is
a strap for almost every individual need in
the market.
What features
do I look for
when buying a
travel camera?
Buy a camera that has
a large zoom range,
good battery life, several
scene modes, supports
video and is compact and
portable in size.
BRI EFLY
STM Focusing Mechanism and is it the Same as USM?
The terms STM and USM are used specically
by Canon to dene the mechanism used by the
lens. This in turn helps to elaborate the purpose
of the lens. Different companies have different
names for lenses often meant for the same
purpose. For instance, Olympus uses the term
MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) and SWD
(Supersonic Wave Drive) for the STM and USM
mechanism respectively. Nikon uses the terms
SWM (Silent Wave Motor) instead of USM.
STM Lenses
The term STM stands for Stepping Motor and is the
latest range of lenses offered by Canon. The STM
lenses are optimised for video. The mechanism
in these lenses makes use of contrast-detect
autofocus and allows smooth and silent autofocus
making it excellent for shooting videos. It also
features focus-by-wire technology to enable full
time manual focus mode while recording.
When used with latest Canon cameras, these
lenses provide continuous autofocus in Live View
video recording, a rst in DSLR cameras.
However, this technology is still new and only four
Canon lenses of this nature are currently available
in the market.
USM Lenses
Most high-end and professional lenses incorporate
this technology. USM stands for the Ultrasonic
Motor that drives the lens to get the focus
right. USM lenses are best when shooting still
photographs. The lenses with this mechanism
are fast, consume less power and optimised for
phase-detect autofocus sensor making them
precise for DSLRs. It consists of two metal rings
which vibrate at a very high frequency making high
speed focusing a possibility. It is also called as
ring-type USM.
Canon has also introduced lenses with a new
micro motor USM. It replaces the magnetic
motor on a standard lens with a ultrasonic motor.
Though cheaper, these budget lenses do not come
close to the focusing speeds of a ring-type USM.
There is very little advantage of an replacing
a normal motor with an ultrasonic motor in an
otherwise standard lens.
WHAT I S
When buying a camera
strap, look out for
padding, adequate length
and sturdy elasticity.
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y
108
OCTOBER 201 3
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On ground venue partner :

Typically, the center
focusing point is always
a cross-type AF sensor
making it the fastest and
best option.
No Snow White
On a trip to Himalayas, I realised that the
snow in my images looks grey. Why is
this happening?
Neha Shaikh, Hyderabad, via email
Photographing a snow covered landscape is
always tricky. The large amount of white in every
photo tends to fool the camera light meter.
Typically, the cameras understanding of exposure
is relative to a specic tone of grey (known as
18% grey). It compares every colour to this grey
in order to get the exposure right. But when
the frame is predominantly white, the camera
gets tricked causing it to underexpose to make
the white equal to the 18% grey tone. An easy
solution is to overexpose the camera by a stop
to compensate for this or simply use the Snow/
Beach mode in your camera.
For A Fast AF System
What is a cross-type autofocus point and
how does it help?
Parmindar Singh, Ludhiana, via post
Most DSLR cameras come with a phase-detect
autofocus sensor that is made up of several
tiny points. Each of these is used to identify light
patterns coming in from the lens and focus right.
These points are divided into two types, linear
and cross. A linear point is a sensor in the shape
of a vertical line that can recognize only a single
pattern of light. If the light is in a different pattern,
the lens is required to move for the linear point
to recognize it. This makes autofocus very slow.
On the other hand, a cross-type point that is
made of two diagonal linear sensors is much
faster. It is two dimensional and can recognise
both the patterns of the light for fast focus.
What is the ideal
ISO when using the
Aperture Priority
mode on a DSLR?
It completely depends on
the light! Just ensure that
the shutterspeed that
the camera indicates
is fast enough for you
to handhold the frame.
This, in turn, depends
on the focal length you
are using.
BRI EFLY
Send in your
queries to Better
Photography. If your
letter wins Question
of the Month, you
stand to win a Lexar
8GB 100x SDHC
media card!
I nd that the RAW to JPEG image processing by
the camera is much better than doing the same
myself in Photoshop. How true is this?
Indranil Choudhary, Mysore, via email
When you take a photo in the camera, the electronic
signals are saved as raw data by your camera. You
can either save the image in this orignal RAW le or a
more standard and compressed JPEG le. When you
choose the latter, the camera applies a set of standard
adjustment settings that it believes are appropriate for
that image and delivers a nal JPEG le. This can be
then shared and viewed across any platform.
If you prefer using the RAW format, you have to open
the le in a postprocessing software such as Adobe
Photoshop, Nikon Capture NX 2 or Canon Digital Photo
Professional to convert it to a usable JPEG or TIFF le.
During the conversion process, one has to ne tune
the basic settings such as exposure, contrast and
sharpness for a decent nal image.
With respect to the problem you are facing, there
are two possibilities that may be happening. Either, you
havent edited the RAW le well enough. If you do not
adjust the required sliders properly, you may end
up with a rather bland result. Alternatively, in some
cameras, the JPEG processing is so good that what
you get from the camera is almost to the optumum
level that the RAW le can reach. Of course, the usual
advantage of using RAW as a safety net to correct any
exposure/WB errors still remains.
Facing Problems with RAW Conversion
A
n
d
r
e
a
s

K
r
a
p
p
w
e
i
s
Do not make the
error of mistaking
this underexposure as
wrong White Balance.
110
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
Raju Shinde
Hehasover13yearsof
experienceintheeld
ofphotojournalism.
Recently,Rajuwon
theRedInkAward
forPictureofthe
Year2013.
currently,heisthe
chiefPhotographer
oftheMumbai
Mirrornewspaper.
Raju Shinde talks about growing up in Mumbai and his career as
a photojournalist, in conversation with Conchita Fernandes.
A Bag of Stories
b e T T e R P H o T o G R A P H Y ocTobeR 201 3
PRofI Le
112
ShowCase
Rajus work focuses
on visuals that look
disturbing, yet are so
commonplace in everyday
life. Here, two men climb
a high-tension tower
to cross a 50m wide
open gutter.
b e T T e R P H o T o G R A P H Y
PRofI Le
113
ocTobeR 201 3
MYbeSTSHoT
Neeraj Priyadarshi
Talks about his
favourite photo
118
GReATMASTeRS
Rajesh Bedi
On his vast repertoire
of photography works
120
1000WoRDSSPecIAL
The winning entries
of the MFI National
Photo Contest
126
H
aving arrived at The Times
of India Building an hour in
advance, I was preparing myself
to interview photojournalist,
Raju Shinde. Soon, I received a
phone call. It was him. A warm handshake
and smile greeted me, followed by, Hi, I am
Raju. What followed was an hour of an
insightful conversation.
Since a tabloid
is visual heavy,
Raju mentions that it
is important that the
picture conveys the story
in a single view.
Some of his stories
have an underlying tone
of individuals emerging
against all odds. In many
ways, it is quite similar
to his life and struggles.
Hecurrentlyuses
aNikonD300,
whichhecallshis
favouritecamera.
Thatsaid,he
maintainsthat
visionshouldnot
bedependent
onequipment.
Therightgear
isimportantfor
photojournalism,
butitisnomagic
trick.Thebest
cameraisno
DSLR.Itis,
simply,empathy.
GadGetS & GeaR
a Fascination of Photography
Rajus interest in photography began at
a young age. Each morning, he would
spend hours looking at photographs in the
newspaper. School vacations were spent at
his aunts photo studio in Mumbai Central.
After a prolonged wait, he was fnally
gifted a Kodak flm camera by his parents.
He shot a lot. But since money was short,
114
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
PRofI Le
the cut-throat competition in the news
photography business. It is important to
have a good network of sources who can
ensure exclusive photographs.
the Formidable Side of the Job
While he has photographed several exciting
assignments, some have been alarmingly
risky. The 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack
was one. He narrates, My source called me
Raju mentions how it
has become diffcult to
photograph in Mumbai.
Most of the time,
either the police or the
subjects are hesitant
of being photographed.
Nevertheless, this has just
made his resolve stronger.
I admire the
works of arko
datta and Pablo
Bartholomew.
their images
gave me a new
way of seeing.
Raju captures
emotions that are
universal, thereby
helping the viewer
connect to the situation.
he would only develop the flm rolls and
see the results of his shooting after four or
fve months.
developing his Skills
Fast forward to the year 2000 when he
joined the Hindi edition of Saamna. Here, he
was allowed to work on the condition
that he would photograph as well as write
his own stories. He went on to mention
115
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
PRofI Le
Raju mentioned the
importance of arriving
early at a scene in order
to get an exclusive shot.
Inorderto
beagood
photojournalist,
youhavetobe
activeandreadyat
alltimes.
Itisimportant
toinformthe
editoraboutyour
assignmentsand
whereabouts.
Theycancometo
yourrescueifyou
fallintotrouble.
tIPS By RaJu
Raju feels that a lot
of young photographers
look for a quick fx, when
in fact they should be
shooting a lot more.
up and said that there was a fring at the Taj
hotel. Luckily, I was in the offce and my
boss had just handed me a brand new Nikon
D300 that morning. As soon as I left the
offce, I heard gunshots at the CST station.
At the station, I saw two men dressed up like
tourists, with guns. At the time, I was only
carrying a 1755mm lens and photographed
Kasab. This was also the frst photograph
that I made with the new camera.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
Profi le
ocTobeR 201 3
116
His images have
interesting interactions
between the subjects
present in the frame.
this man was taking
out haunches of meat
when arif saw him.
as arif drew closer, the
man posed for himthe
expression was just
right, indifferent and
yet amused.
even though
my aunt never
taught me
how to use the
camera, I would
just sit there
and watch how
a photograph
is made.
During this time, Raju also witnessed the
death of a constable. Considering this, his
family asked him to quit his job because of
the dangers involved. I refused. I will die
when I have to.
the Right device
As the interview progressed, I asked him
whether he shoots with his cellphone,
a trend several photojournalists are
adopting today. Although he is not
an avid cellphone photographer, he
mentions instances when the device has
been helpful. He narrates, During the
11 August 2012 riots at Azad Maidan,
Mumbai, rioters were bashing up
photographers who were seen with their
cameras. In such situations, cellphones are
great because you are not seen as a threat.
As the interview came to an end, I could
not help but admire the man sitting
in front of me. Rajus is a great story of
what perseverance and belief can yield.
He has come a long way from his humble
beginnings in Malad. But the thing that
touches you the most about him is his
outward gratitude and modesty for the
various turning points in his career.
His profession
often takes him on
dangerous assignments
and hazardous terrain.
It is this nature of his
work that he fnds
most thrilling.
117
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y ocTobeR 201 3
PRofI Le
118
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y august 201 3
My
Best
Shot
Why it is my best shot
Having just moved from Mumbai to
New Delhi, this event was my very frst
major political assignment. It was also
my frst introduction to Rahul Gandhi.
This image shows him being formally
inducted into Indias mainstream politics,
when rumors of him being the next Prime
Minister candidate were already abound.
Another very notable part of the image is
Sant Ram, the person in the white uniform
with a bouquet in his hands. A loyalist with
the family, he has been around the Gandhi
family since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Where and when I shot this image
The image was shot at the All India
Congress Committee offce during the
Lok Sabha election manifesto release on
24 March 2009.
How I achieved it
I shot just a single frame, and it
happened out of sheer intuition. Amidst all
the Congress bigwigs arriving at the venue,
this was the small fraction of a second
when I felt that a historical moment was
unfolding itself in front of me.
The gear I used to shoot this image
I used a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III with a
Canon EF 70200mm f/2.8L USM lens.
Inspired by Marc Riboud, Neeraj Priyadarshi
began an exhaustive and compelling journey of
visual storytelling, documenting almost every
signifcant event across India in the last 24 years.
Apart from being the National Photo Editor of
The Indian Express, he also teaches photography at
the Indian Express Media School.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
Neeraj Priyadarshi
119
august 201 3 B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3 B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
120
great masters
120
october 201 3 b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
great masters
121
october 201 3 b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
Ambarin Afsar engages in a candid conversation with Rajesh Bedi in an
attempt to peel away the layers to his immense repertoire of photography.
F
amously known as one of Indias
best wildlife photographers,
Rajesh Bedi has no qualms with
the tag. Wildlife photography is
my frst love. I enjoy it, and it is
something I fnd peace in. But, his travel
and documentary work is just as versatile
as the images from his time in the wild.
He has published an array of photo books
on Ladakh, Sikkim, Varanasi and has even
compiled a historic look at sadhus.
Nature Walks Deep into Forests
Bedis father was a botanist and often, his
search for medicinal plants or rare seeds and
herbs would take him deep into forested
areas. He would carry along a camera and
make pictures of rare specimens. On these
These women from the
Jaisalmer district still
have to walk long distances
to fetch precious drinking
water, since each caste has
their own well.
A father and son from
the Rabari community
relax as they wait
for buyers for their
camels at the annual
livestock fair.
122
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
great masters
b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
122
Lying in a cloth
cradle, this chinkara
fawn is treated with the
same care as a human
child. Herds of blackbuck
and chinkara congregate
near Bishnoi villages,
where they seem to know
that they will be safe.
Raghubir Singhs
book, The Ganges,
is a landmark
work. No other
work comes
close to it.
october 201 3
trips, he would be accompanied by his two
sons, Rajesh and Naresh Bedi, aged 8 and 10
years. He would point out pug marks to us,
and tell us which particular print belonged
to an elephant and which one belonged to a
tiger. He would also take us along to watering
holes frequented by a variety of animals,
and this is how photography travelled in our
family. It was only natural that our love for
wildlife grew.
The Changing Face of Photography
Bedi has been shooting for nearly 40 years
now, and therefore is liable to have noticed
a shift in the aesthetics of photography
in general and wildlife photography in
particular. The digital age has transformed
everything. Cameras, and therefore
images, are more accessible. People do
not need to worry about flm stock and
are not conservative about the quantity
of images they shoot. I am not averse to
digital photography or postprocessing, but
I believe that if you do not know the basics,
and think that equipment or software can
help you, then you are misleading yourself.
A Conservationists Aesthetic
There are many methods related with
wildlife photography as well, right from
the documentary to the creative and fne
art approach. But, Rajesh Bedis personal
opinion is that despite some outstanding
work being done by the current crop
of photographers, a certain kind of
imagery is missing. We, as photographers,
sometimes fail to make images that show
animals struggle with its environment on a
day-to-day basis.
Pictures where the animal is dwarfed
by the enormity of its habitat or images
that show mans interference with nature
are rare. In a world where conservation is
important and we are losing more and more
forest cover, these images are essential.
123 123
october 201 3 b e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
great masters
From above, the Chand
Baori stepwell resembles
a mandala, or a sacred
pattern. The enormous
effort put into building the
well reects the central
importance of water.
The havelis of
Shekhawati are all
individual works of art.
The exterior of this
one draws inspiration
from European and
Indian elements, most
noticeable in the
cusped arch.
Italian ballet dancer
and choreographer
Francesca Cern
ballet dancer and
choreographer
Francesca Cerrito.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y october 201 3
great masters
124
LIFE and National
Geographic
have been
constant sources
of inspiration.
They make me ask
myself why I cant
do work like that.
The Purity of the Desert
It is perhaps this emphasis on the
surroundings that translates to Bedis latest
photo book, Rajasthan: Under the Desert
Skya work that took four years to culminate
into a single book, and one that promises to
spill over to yet another volume.
Instead of the typical, yet spectacular
images that fll ones imagination when
thinking of the princely state, one sees a
more rooted, humble approach. Plenty of
work and quite a few books have already
been published on Rajasthan. While those
showed the picture postcard glory of the
place, I was more interested in capturing
the purity that I have felt every time I have
been there. Everything changes so soon...
I wanted to get the essence of the place
before technology and the instinct to survive
brought about permanent change.
Floating Over the Desert
Most of the images have been shot
using hot air balloons and kite rigs.
124
great masters
A shepherds son
returns from delivering
his fathers lunch.
He proudly wears new
sandlas on his arms to
save them from falling
into the deserts dust.
125
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
great masters
october 201 3
My working
days and my
holidays are one
and the same.
Every assignment
helps me travel
to new places and
experiences.
I had a 14-member crew along with me,
including a superb pilot and other fellow
photographers. But, even the leisurely
pace of the hot air balloon was not without
its challenges. It was important to time
my shots well. I made most of the images
in the early hours of the morning before it
got too hot. Sometimes, we would have to
revisit a particular place three or four times
because the direction of the wind was not
favourable and we would even have to wait
several hours before the balloon could be
steered. An aerial photo of cattle grazing in
the desert took us more than three days as
clouds covered the sun for most of the day.
A Mixed Platter of Images
An image that makes you think, which
drives you, and makes you admire its
content, is a good image. This thought
is quite evident in his choice of images.
The subjects range from deserted forts
and primitive rock shelters of the Aravalli
range, the colourful and cheerful lives of
indigenous tribes, bustling cities and melas,
villages where solar panels have made
inroads and Bedis trademark wildlife shots.
Bedi truly enjoys his experiments with
photography, and this is very evident.
There is a simplicity and a humility to him
that also touches his work. Photography is
the best thing I have known. What better
way to live life than to travel all over the
world and bring back images to share with
family, friends and viewers alike.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
126
special feature
Flying through the Water
A participant races his cattle in a risky but
popular sport played during the Onam
festival in Kerala. Freezing this enthusiastic
moment in the midst of a rollercoaster event
was an effort worthy of accolades.
Sibu Bhuvanendran,
Winner, Sports
Malayala Manorama
The Cost of Mining
Two-year-old Babua of the Ho tribe, who
died a sudden death, is buried in the
backyard of his house. His hands are in a pot
of brass and a glass, in accordance with tribal
customs in Jadugoda, Jharkhand. This image
is a stark comment on the sudden deaths of
newborns, congenital deformities, cancer,
and lung diseases that have been reported in
areas around uranium mines in the
mineral-rich region of Jharkhand.
Chinky Shukla,
Winner, Picture of
the Year
Freelance
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
127
Media Foundation of India (MFI) recently announced the winners of the MFI-YES Bank
National Press Photo Contest 2013. The competition saw more than 8000 images from
over 340 photojournalists across the country. The MFI 2013 awards were judged by an
elite jury of awardwinning photojournalists Pablo Bartholomew and Saurabh Das along
with photographer and flmmaker Rafeeq Ellias. The contest, in its third year, is one of
the most renowned competitions for press photographers in the Indian mainstream
media. Here is a showcase of some of the prize-winning images.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
128
Rajanish Kakade,
Winner, Daily Life
Associated Press
The Conjoined Leap
Two swimmers dive into a swimming pool
in Mumbai during the scorching month of
May 2012. The vantage point chosen by the
photographer, along with the compressed
perspective, makes the overlapping swimmers
seem as if they are frozen in the middle of a zen-
like embrace.
Freedom Ablaze
27-year-old Tibetan exile Jamphel Yeshi
runs engulfed in fames after he immolated
himself in order to protest Chinese
President Hu Jintaos India visit in March
2012. The image speaks volumes about
the agony Yeshi put himself throughan
agony that is all too familiar to most Tibetans
seeking their freedom.
Money Sharma,
Spot News
Associated Press
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
129
special feature
The Ugly Face of Poaching
A Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros
was shot and dehorned by poachers near
the Kaziranga National Park in Assam in
2012. The image, which shows villagers
trying to take a look the wounded animal,
is representative of natures brutal
exploitation by man.
Biju Boro,
Winner, General News
Asomiya Pratidin
Shadab Khan,
Winner, Art and Culture
Mid Day
Mirroring the Ramayan
Artists prepare for a Ramleela show being
staged in Mumbai in October 2012.
The image is a wonderful peek into the
furry of activity that happens backstage
and refects a few of the grand, mythical
characters in their all-too-human avatars.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
130
B E T T E R P H o T o g R a P H Y oCToBER 201 3
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
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B E T T E R P H o T o g R a P H Y oCToBER 201 3
special feature
Up Against Nuclear Power
Titled In My Backyard, this series narrates the story of the strong, courageous
protests of a local community against the commissioning of a nuclear power
plant in Kerala. But in May 2013, the Supreme Court disposed their petitions.
Amirtharaj Stephen,
Winner, Best Photo Story
Freelance
Shantanu Das
is a Mumbai-based
photojournalist.
When he was a child, he
was fond of his uncles
120-format Agfa
Click III. Somehow, he
started believing that
someone resides in a
camera and creates the
plants, hills, sunsets
and human beings
who always smile.
Years later, this fantasy
and magic revolving
around photography
still lives.
Y
ou are not likely to fnd
young people in Udvada.
Most of its residents are over
50, since the youth have
moved to other places in
search of opportunities. But the old ones left
behind are quite resilient and interesting.
One such person is a 90-year-old hotel
owner who wheels himself around his
ancient home within his hotels premises.
He is hard of hearing but likes his daily dose
of glamour that comes with the newspaper.
My idea was simple, I wanted to capture
the spirit of this heritage town, and gradually
ease myself into the homes of many such
inhabitants. I found rare glimpses into one
of Indias most private communities, and
into a people who live in the hope that a
faith that has managed to exist since 6th
century BC will survive the tests of time.
Living on a Prayer
Shantanu Das explores a diminishing community of Zoroastrians keeping
the faith alive in the historic seaside town of Udvada, Gujarat.
Photo
Feature
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
132
octoBer 201 3
To cover Udvada in a
true sense, I decided to
capture the people in the
daily chores that they
would be busy with.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
133
octoBer 201 3
This lady rarely
ever leaves her home
but is one of the most
respected within the
community because she
weaves the kusti on an
ancient loom.
Most of the
seniors are
dressed in
traditional Parsi
garb, their
heads either
covered by
velvet caps or
muslin scarves.
These pictures were
not fled as they did
not connect with the
reporters story.
This just proves the
adage that a story can
have many sides.
Udvada allows a
visitor open entry
into the communitys
characteristics, their
love for food, undying
faith in their religion
and the ability to laugh
through a crisis.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
134
PhotoFe ature
I wished to depict
the nostalgia that this
place evoked through its
architecture, furniture,
and the lifestyle of
the people.
Speak to the people and spend a lot of time listening
to their stories. It is really diffcult for someone to
open up to a complete stranger, and empathy is the
only bond that can help.
Be respectful towards their rules and culture and
accept the people as they are. If someone tries to
be friendly and offers you a glass of water, take it.
It will help you enter their world.
How to Familiarise Yourself with the Members of a Community Alienation is as grave
a threat to the seniors of
this community, as the
raging sea that is eroding
the coastline of this idyllic
little town.
Udvada has an
immense need
for restoration.
Its historic
importance is
gradually fading
away in this
fast-paced,
rushed world.
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y octoBer 201 3
135
PhotoFe ature
YourPictures
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
138
october 201 3
Want your photographs showcased?
Send in your photographs to
The Editor, Better Photography,
Network18 Publishing, Ruby House,
A Wing, J K Sawant Marg,
Dadar (W) Mumbai-400 028, India
Email:
entries@betterphotography.in
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
139
october 201 3
Silence of
the Monsoons
Arun t P, thalassery
Walking around on one
rainy day, I happened
to see some very
interesting refections.
Despite the raindrops
in the picture, it
refects the calm after
the monsoons.
Camera: Fujiflm
FinePix S1800
Aperture: f/4.2
Shutterspeed: 1/125sec
ISO: 200
Deer Far Away
rajesh Pamnani,
Hyderabad
On a trip to Poland,
I wandered around the
villages of Szamocin
with my camera.
Even in temperatures
like -8 C, one can fnd
deer in the colourless
yet scenic landscapes
in Poland.
Camera: Sony Alpha
NEX-C3
Aperture: f/9
Shutterspeed: 1/500sec
ISO: 200
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
140
october 201 3
Your Pi ctures
Starry Night
Kunal Ghatani, Kalimpong
It is usually cloudy
throughout the month of
October. When the sky was
clear, I made a 30 minute
exposure to get these
star trails. Though I had
to wait quite a while for a
clear sky, I was happy with
this photograph.
Camera: Canon EOS 550D
Aperture: f/11
Shutterspeed: 1800sec
ISO: 100

b e t t e r P H o t o G r A P H Y
141
october 201 3
On a Rainy Day
sumon Das, Kolkata
It was raining heavily
in Darjeeling and I was
crossing the tracks. I saw
a man in front of me
doing the same. The fog,
and the rain added to
the composition.
Camera: Nikon D5000
Aperture: f/5
Shutterspeed: 1/80sec
ISO: 640
Gush of The River
Gaurav Gupta, New Delhi
This happens to be one
of my favourite pictures
which I made without the
use of a tripod. I love the
feel of the motion as the
rocks seem to dissolve
by the sheer force of
the nature.
Camera: Panasonic LUMIX
DMC-FZ50
Aperture: f/11
Shutterspeed: 1/2sec
ISO: 100
W
I
N
!
BLOG OF THE MONTH
Septembers winning entry
Soulless Soles
Manish Wahal, via SMS
Provide a caption for this picture, photographed
by Supriya Joshi, to get a chance to win Camelion
batteries and charger worth Rs. 1455.
The selected entry will be published in the
November 2013 issue of Better Photography.
Once in a while, a blog comes along that whets your
appetite for the visual arts and all the wonderful
things you can do with the medium. Visual News is a
blog which showcases new and upcoming projects
by various artists around the world.
The blog is run and curated by 27 people!
These contributors all come from different art
streams, from photographers to painters and
sculptors and more. In fact, one of the contributors,
Steven Shoppman received the Adventurer of the
Year award by National Geographic Adventure
magazine for his expedition of driving two trucks
around the world.
The design of the blog is quite bare boned and
plain, which offsets the creative works featured in
the various posts. The layout pays more emphasis
to the images rather than the text. Visual News is
a great blog to visit for an all-in-one perspective of
what is new in the world of art.
From photography to design, sand sculptures to
dance, this blog pretty much covers it all. Not only
can it satisfy the art hungry, it is also a great
resource for those who are looking for inspiration to
work on their own project.
Curated Visual Delight
Today, it is difcult to
imagine what life was
like without cellphone
cameras. 13 years ago,
this was not possible.
However, in the year 2000,
the very rst cellphone
was released which
featured a camera as well.
This cellphone,
released by Samsung,
was called the Samsung SCH-V200. This phone
featured a VGA camera with a 180 rotating
lens, so you could even take seles with the
cellphones camera!
You could make images at a maximum
resolution of 352 x 288 pixels. Sadly, it was only
released in South Korea.
DID YOU KNOW?
The First Cellphone to Feature a
Camera was Released in 2000
Send your captions to
E-mail: entries@betterphotography.in,
or SMS BP Oct <your caption> <your name> to 51818
(for eg. BP Oct Mooing away! Sana Kirmani)
Last date to receive entries
5 October 2013
CAPTI ON THI S!
www.visualnews.com
B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y OCTOBER 201 3
183
B e t t e r P h o t o g r a P h y
184
Early Tornado Chasers
T
his dramatic picture is the second known image captured of a tornado. On 28
August 1884, as large storm systems converged, tornadoes ripped through Dakota
in USA, causing around six deaths and property destruction. Photographer F N
Robinson was able to capture two or three exposures of one of the tornadoes.
As the tornado approached Howard City, it was visible over the horizon for quite
some time, allowing Robinson to set up the cumbersome camera equipment with the
help of an assistant. The angry clouds above the funnel were retouched. In the 1800s, not
many people had seen tornadoes, let alone capture pictures of them.
Surprisingly, Robinson was not the only person to have photographed the tornado.
Another photographer, J C Judkin captured a tintype image of the tornado, but it was lost
by the people who he gave it to for engraving. Robinson made a souvenir card based on
this photograph and copyrighted it, depositing a copy in the Library of Congress.
Because of its popularity, this picture is frequently, and incorrectly, credited as the
frst known photograph of a tornado. The souvenir cards too had this mistake in their
captions. There is a tornado photo that was captured four months earlier by A A Adams in
the state of Kansas. Adams had captured the tornado just as it was dissipating, is a lot less
dramatic and is not too well known.
Photograph by:
F N Robinson
Image Source:
Wikimedia Commons
october 201 3

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