Macro, in photography, is an extreme close up. They also can be a pain to shoot because the slightest movement in the object leads to a blurred image. the interesting facet of macro photography is that the image is usully many times the size of the original object.

Macros can be of anything. My first exposure to macro photography – actually macro filming – was almost 15 years ago. We were filming a project – the client was Bajaj, and the brief was to show the audience – mainly roadside mechanics – the correct way of fixing a 2 wheeler. It took us for ever to shoot. There were multiple issues. Firstly the object – usually a tiny nut or bolt – had to be lit up. Usually this was made of steel and would reflect light. You had to account – in terms of light- for the human hand bringing an implement – a spanner, a screwdriver – to fix that object. Given that the human hand is flesh and blood, dark and doesn not reflect light – you needed to compenate in terms of lighting. And then, because the camera would focus on such a small field, the slightest movement would lead to the shot going out focus. And just when everything would be correctly aligned the client would walk across the frame and say -but this is not what i want. That project taught me two things

• How to shoot macros
• Patience and the ability to curb my inner homicidal maniac

Death by shooting macros.

One would think that I would have had my heart’s fill of shooting macros after the project, but it worked the other way. Macros became a challenge. Seeing them, framing them, and shooting them. The advent of digital cameras made life easier – because I could shoot without worrying about wasting reel. In the last few years since i got my DSLR – my tendency to shoot macos has increased.

If you are an aspiring photographer, there is no better way to improve technique than shooting macros – they are a pain to shoot. And like all things painful they improve your ‘character’.

Coupled with my tendency to shoot macros is my tendency to shoot portraits – but that is for another post.

________________________

I shot this on Thursay at the Sophia College Gardens. A dying flower. there was something innately graceful and dginified – and terribly beautiful about the double shaded hibiscus

And, this is one from yesterday. Had gone to visit my friend KS -after a long, long time… lots of conversation and laughter. And some time spent on developing an interesting business idea. But, amidst all the fun – shot a few macros – this one of a fake flower

KD got me the 35 mm f3.5 lens when he got here from the USA – i have been really enjoying using it. Amongst the things that photograph well with the lens are portraits

And this, again at Sophia – a bud that looked like an alien soldier

___________________________________________________

Have just begun reading the absolutely engrossing book “Poor Economics” by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. The book is an easy read, without trivialisng the issue. Ages since I read anything in the area of economics. And, i realised, while reading the book, how much I have missed it – and how easily it comes back to me.

Memory is a strange thing – wonder where it stores all the unused data – and how does it manage to keep things so crisp and fresh ..

______________________

Returned home by rick driven by  this rickshawallah from Allahabad. At the 4 bunglow signal, while most cars were stationary – A Benz broke the signal. The rickshawallah said “woh sab mombatti leke brashtachar ke khilaf sangharsh karenge …lekin khud kanoon todenge”  – (they will carry candles to protest corruption, but will break the law themselves)…

We got talking. His father was an honest cop from Allahabad. Apparently he took a bribe once following which his youngest son fell very ill. At which point of time the father promised God that he would never again take a bribe. The rick guy is a BA in Economics – chooses to drive a rick rather than bribe to get a Government job. Will go back to UP to vote in the elections. He believes that neither the Congress nor the BJP have a chance in the State, and it is going to be a fight between SP and BSP – dono ko mein pasand nahi karta hoon (i don’t like either of them) he said. But, he is going back because ‘vote dena mera dharam hai” – it is my duty to vote.

He also said that ‘jaati hamare dimag mein hain. kyonki mein ricksha chala ta hoon log mujhe ullu bhi samajte hain.’ – caste is in our brains, because i drive a rickshaw – people think i am aslo stupid . He hopes to buy a second hand large car next year to start a taxi business…

🙂