Sense of Photographs

2012-01-31T11:04:00.000+05:30

2012-01-26T19:43:00.000+05:30

2012-01-26T19:16:00.001+05:30

2012-01-22T15:08:00.000+05:30

2012-01-20T19:48:00.000+05:30

52nd Youth Festival

2012-01-20T19:44:00.001+05:30

2012-01-11T19:37:00.000+05:30

2011-12-22T20:47:00.000+05:30

Lalbagh, Bengaluru

2011-12-22T09:44:00.006+05:30

2011-12-22T09:41:00.000+05:30

2011-12-04T00:51:00.000+05:30

2011-12-01T00:13:00.000+05:30

Kanheri Caves, Mumbai

2011-10-12T01:10:00.006+05:30

The Kanheri Caves are a group of rock-cut monuments, located north of Borivali on the western outskirts of Mumbai, India, deep within the green forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It is 7 km from the National Park Main Gate & 10 km from Borivali Station. Tourists can go in after 7.30 a.m. Kanheri Caves signify a golden beginning and the end of Buddhism in the northern India. Buddhist Monks as well as traders, who traveled for religious favors, used to make use of these caves on a frequent basis. Kanheri Caves are signs of Buddhist influence on art and culture in India. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri meaning black mountain. They were chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock outcropping.

These caves date from 1st century BC to 9th century AD. In total in the basalt there have been carved 109 caves. Unlike the elegant splendor of Elephanta Caves nearby, the earlier cells are spartan and unadorned. Each cave has a stone plinth for a bed. A congregation hall with huge stone pillars contains the stupa, a Buddhist shrine. Farther up the hill are the remains of an ancient water system, canals and cisterns that collected and channeled the rainwater into huge tanks. Once the caves became permanent monasteries, they began to be carved out of the rock with intricate reliefs of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas carved into the walls. Kanheri had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the 3rd century A.D.

Most of the caves are the Buddhist viharas meant for living, study, and meditation. The larger caves were chaityas, or halls for congregational worship are lined with intricately carved Buddhist sculptures, reliefs and pillars, and contain rock-cut stupas for congregational worship. At the top of the caves stand exquisite sculptures of goddess Tara and Goddess BhruktiAnother major attraction of Kanheri Caves is the Chaitya Cave, dating back to somewhere between 4th century AD and 5th century AD. The central structure is that of Avalokiteswara, with five symbols, each in the right as well as the left. The Avalokiteshwara is the most distinctive figure. The large number of viharas obviously prove a well-organized existence of Buddhist monks' establishment, which was also connected with many trade centers such as the ports of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan and Ujjain. Magnificent decorative woodwork embellishes the roof of this cave. The outer sides of the wall are adorned with sculptured statues of Buddha, mainly the Avalokiteswara incarnation. Kanheri was a University center by the time the area was under the rule of the Maurayan and Kushan empires. In the late 10th century, the Buddhist teacher Atisha (980-1054) came to the Krishnagiri Vihara to study Buddhist meditation under Rahulagupta.

It is credited with the largest number of cave excavations in a single hill and it thrived due to its proximity to ancient sea port towns like Sopara (Surparaka, the Supara of Greek; Subara of Arab writers; the ancient capital of northern Konkan), Kalyan a thriving port. It is generally believed that Buddhism first arrived in Aparantha (Western India) at Sopara which is very close to Kanheri. The caves were mentioned by early visitors like the Portuguese in the 16th century A.D. and other travellers and voyagers of Europe. Of the numerous donor inscriptions found here mention of ancient cities like Suparaka (Sopara); Nasika (Nasik); Chemuli (Chemula); Kalyana (Kalyan); Dhenukakata (Dhanyakataka, modern Amaravati in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh) are found. The donors were from all class of the society, from the members of the royal families to the commoners.

Fig: Vihara - Prayer hall

The most prominent among the excavations at Kanheri is the Cave 3, which is a chaityagriha which was excavated during the period of Yajna Satakarni (c. 172-201 A.D.) On plan it consists of a large rectangular hall with an apsidal back, a verandah and a spacious court in front, the dimensions of the hall being 26.36 X 13.66 X 12.9 m (l x b x h). A row of 34 pillars divide the hall into a central nave and flanking aisles. The roof of the nave is barrel vaulted while of the aisles are flat. There are evidences of provision of wooden rafters to the vaulted ceiling of nave which are gone now. The pillars of the hall are not uniform and of different styles and shapes and devoid of symmetry. A stupa is provided at the apse of the hall which measures 4.9 m in diameter and 6.7 m in height. The façade of the hall is pierced by three doors with two groups of two couples, each group carved in the oblong recesses between the doors. A huge chaitya window bereft of any ornamentation was provided for the passage of light.

The side walls are sculpted extensively with two massive images of standing Buddha in varada mudra and other Bodhisattva images. These sculptures are of later additions and are datable to around 5th – 6th centuries A.D. Cave 1 is an unfinished chaityagrha, originally planned to have a double-storied verandah and a porch, apart from the pillared hall. The cave is dated to 5th – 6th centuries A.D. as the pillars with compressed cushion or amalaka top appears generally during this period. Cave 11 which is also known as ‘Darbar Hall’ consists of a huge hall with a front verandah. The hall has a shrine on its back wall and cells on two sides. The floor of the hall two low stone benches resembling Cave 5 of Ellora. Buddha in dharmacakrapravardana mudra adorns the shrine.

Fig: A Brāhmī stone inscription at Kanheri

Nearly 51 legible inscriptions and 26 epigraphs are found at Kanheri, which include the inscriptions in Brahmi, Devanagari and 3 Pahlavi epigraphs found in Cave 90. One of the significant inscriptions mentions about the marriage of Satavahana ruler Vashishtiputra Satakarni with the daughter of Rudradaman I. One of the inscription dated in Saka 775 (A.D. 853) of the reign of Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha and his feudatory the Silahara prince, Kapardin. The inscription records the donation of various gifts and funds provided for the purchase of books and repairs to the damages. Even if you are not a history buff, it is worth the visit for the wonderful views that you get on the way to the top and from the top. It is an invigorating trip that one would not mind; whether one has interests in history, culture or just plain adventure. Cave number 34 has unfinished paintings of Buddha on the ceiling of the cave.

How to get there

Nearest Railway Station: Borivili on the Western sector.
Entrance fee to the Park: Rs20/-per head and Rs.50/-per vehicle.
Entrance to Kanheri caves: Rs.5/-per head.
Timings: 0730hrs to 1730hrs.
Buses available from Main entrance to the caves at regular intervals at Rs.30/-per head.

Around the caves

Kanheri caves offer picnickers a good getaway, especially during the rainy season. The hilly terrain of the caves creates several large and small waterfalls. The road from the entry point of Sanjay Gandhi National Park to Kanheri caves is intercepted at several locations by small rivulets where families can enjoy a lazy weekend get-together.

2011-10-07T00:18:00.000+05:30

2011-09-29T13:56:00.002+05:30

Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Goa

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is located in Old Goa and 9 Km away from Panaji. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is sited in the same complex, where Se Cathedral is situated. The church is a stunning building, constructed during 1517-1521 AD. A church sanctified to the Holy Ghost was built in 1521 and was later demolished. The present church was then built on the same spot in 1661 with Tuscan facade and a Baroque interior, maintaining only the foyer of the earlier church. There used to be an educational institution within the church. The Portuguese government closed the convent in 1835. The Archaeological Survey of India renewed the church into a museum in 1964. The church displays relics and paintings of Hindu temple sculptures from Goa.

The main entrance of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is in Manuline style and the exterior of the church is of the Tuscan order. The main altar is Baroque with Corinthian features. The internal buttress walls, separating the chapels and supporting the gallery on top, have frescoes showing intricate floral designs. In a niche on the facade, stands a statue of our lady of miracles brought from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. A wooden statue of St. Francis of Assisi adorns a pedestal bearing the insignia of the Franciscans. A wooden pulpit, richly carved with floral designs is to the left as one enters. There is a statue of St. Michael right at the entrance of the church. The main altar is gilded and has a richly carved niche with a tabernacle supported by the four evangelists. Two huge statues of St Francis Assisi and the other of the Jesus on the Cross are placed above the tabernacle. A painting on the ceiling near the doorway has a unique Indian feel to it. The architecture is a blend of the Tuscan style on the outside and the Mosaic-Corinthian style on the inside. The internal area of the church is beautifully decorated with the scenes and depictions from the Bible and wall carvings show very fine and intricate floral designs.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi houses the archeological Museum too (convent turned into an Archaeological Museum for public). The Museum architecture has a touch of the Indo-Portuguese Baroque style. The inscribed tombstones pave the floor. The Archeological Museum was established in the convent in 1964. The double storied structure, 230 feet long and 108 ft wide was the residence of Archbishop till 1695, when they moved to Panelim. Its eclectic collection comprises 60 portraits of the Portuguese viceroys and governors of Goa. Other appealing exhibits are a statue of Albuquerque, a model of Vasco da Gama, the bronze statue of St Catherine from the Viceroy Arch, Grey basalt statues of Lord Vishnu and a standing Statute of the God Surya, both belong to the Kadamba period. Exhibits at the museum include prehistoric items from a distant tribal past as also reminders of Goa Dourada, Golden Goa, also known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' or 'Rome of the East' during its heyday. The museum also exhibits stone slabs with inscriptions in Marathi and Persian, hero stones, sati stones, coins and Christian iconography in wood.

The church is open for the public from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm except on Sundays and the museum is open 9 am to 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 6:30 pm.

2011-09-22T23:34:00.001+05:30

2011-09-20T23:59:00.000+05:30

2011-09-20T14:11:00.001+05:30

Kamala Nehru Park, Malabar Hill, Mumbai

Perched on the top of Malabar Hill, Kamala Nehru Park is essentially a vantage point that presents a panoramic view of the glittering city - Mumbai. It extends to 3,300 sq. m. in the most luxurious and posh residential area of the Bollywood city of India and was opened in the year 1952. The park was christened after Kamla Nehru, who was the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. The park is a pleasant place with foliage all around and well-maintained green lawns.

Apart from the striking shoe-shaped structure, it has little to brag of regarding amusement. However, on the whole, Kamla Nehru Park is a nice place to spend sometime away from the hustling city. In fact, you might have seen this shoe-shaped structure in Hindi movies. As said, this structure has been inspired by the nursery rhyme 'There was an old woman'. Frequently visited by schoolchildren, Kamla Nehru Park is amongst the favorite hangouts of kids.

You can drop in here any day of the week, between 05:00 hrs and 21:00 hrs. Being sited at height, the area is comparatively cool and less sultry, as regards the city. From different points in the garden, you can glimpse the spectacular sights of the city, including Chowpatty Beach and the scintillating Marine Drive that appears like shining Queen's Necklace. In concise terms, Kamala Nehru Park offers a green retreat to the people of Bombay.

You can reach here by taking a taxi from Grant Road railway station.

2011-09-19T23:12:00.001+05:30

Nikon D3000 Exposure

2011-09-19T16:35:00.000+05:30

Exposure Modes. The Nikon D3000 gives you all the exposure options you'd expect in a consumer SLR. Available exposure modes include Full Auto, Program AE, Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority modes with shutter speeds from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds available in 1/3 EV steps, as well as a Bulb setting for longer exposures. Also provided are the six standard Scene modes found on most consumer Nikon SLRs (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Macro, and Night Portrait), and a Flash-Off Auto mode. New for the Nikon D3000 is a GUIDE mode designed to help users through complicated settings by letting them select what kind of photo they want to take and the camera makes the settings from there.

A very nice touch that's common to other Nikon DSLRs is that, while in Program AE mode, you can rotate the Command dial to select different combinations of aperture and shutter speed settings than those normally chosen by the autoexposure system. (That is, if the automatic program would have chosen 1/125 second and f/5.6, you could instead direct the camera to use 1/60 at f/8 or 1/30 at f/11, to get greater depth of field.) This is a very handy option for those times when you need some measure of increased control, but still want the camera to do most of the work for you. We personally use this capability more than Aperture- or Shutter-priority metering in our own shooting.

An interesting feature when using Manual exposure mode is the electronic analog exposure display visible in the optical viewfinder data readout. This shows the amount the camera thinks an image will be over- or underexposed, based on the settings you have selected, and helps you find the best exposure for the subject.

Exposure Metering. Nikon has one of the most sophisticated and flexible metering systems on the market today. Like most SLRs, there are three main metering modes on the Nikon D3000: Matrix, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering. Where Nikon's system differs is in the capability of these modes. Nikon's matrix metering is called 3D Color Matrix II, as it takes color as well as distance into account. (Distance requires the use of CPU-equipped lenses.) It covers a wide area of the frame with a 420-pixel RGB sensor. The Nikon D3000's Center-Weighted metering mode gives a weight of 75% to an 8mm diameter circle in center of frame. Spot meters a 3.5mm diameter circle (about 2.5% of the frame) centered on the active focus area. (Most DSLRs only meter the very center of the frame in Spot metering mode.) The 420-pixel RGB sensor also serves to ascertain automatic white-balance, and provides assistance for focus tracking when the subject leaves the AF sensor area. Metering range is specified at 0 to 20 EV in Matrix or Center-Weighted, and 2 to 20 EV in Spot metering mode.

Exposure Lock. The AE-L/AF-L button locks the exposure and/or autofocus, useful for off-center subjects in tricky lighting. It can be programmed for AE lock, AF lock, AE + AF lock, or various other functions via the custom menu. You can also program the button to toggle instead of requiring the button to be held.

Exposure Compensation. Exposure compensation on the Nikon D3000 is adjustable from -5 to +5 exposure equivalents (EV) in 1/3 EV step increments, and is controllable in Program, Aperture-priority, or Shutter-priority modes. Note that in Manual exposure mode, the EV button becomes a shift button that changes the function of the Command dial from controlling the shutter speed to changing the Aperture. The Nikon D3000 does not support exposure bracketing.

ISO Sensitivity. ISO ranges from 100 to 1,600 and can be extended up to ISO 3,200 (Hi 1). ISO can only be adjusted in single EV steps (100, 200, 400, 800, etc.). Nikon's excellent Auto ISO feature is carried over as well, which allows you to set both the upper ISO limit (up to ISO 3,200) as well as the minimum shutter speed (selectable from 1s to 1/2,000s) required before ISO is increased automatically.

White Balance. The Nikon D3000 offers the usual white balance settings: Auto, six presets consisting of Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, and a manual mode where white-balance is determined from a white or grey card. The Fluorescent preset has seven sub-settings consisting of Sodium Vapor (2,700K), Warm-white (3,000K), White (3,700K), Cool (4,200K), Day White (5,000K), and High Temperature Mercury Vapor (7,200K), and the manual setting allows one custom white-balance measurements to be stored. All the presets and manual settings are tweakable via a 2D fine-tuning grid display.

Active D-Lighting. D-Lighting has proven a popular post-processing feature in Nikon's consumer digital SLRs, as well as some of the company's point & shoot models. It's a quick software process that attempts to overcome underexposed images, and bring detail out of shadows. Active D-Lighting on the D3000 doesn't have the many options found on higher-end models, though, just Off and On.

Picture Control. Nikon has standardized its Picture Control system so that camera settings for sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue can be finely adjusted and ported to other Nikon digital SLRs that support the system. The D3 was the first camera compatible with the option, and all Nikon SLRs since, including the D3000 follow the standard. The Nikon D3000 has six presets called Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape.

Sharpness can be adjusted in ten steps, along with an Auto setting; contrast, saturation, and hue can be adjusted in seven steps, while hue is adjustable in three steps. There is also a five-step "Quick Adjust" setting which exaggerates or mutes the effect without having to adjust each slider individually. When Monochrome Picture Control is selected, Hue and Saturation are replaced by Filter Effects and Toning respectively. Filter Effects offers Off, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Green settings, while Toning offers B&W, Sepia, Cyanotype, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue Green, Blue, Purple Blue and Red Purple settings. Note that Picture Controls are only active in Program, Aperture-priority or Shutter-priority and Manual exposure modes, as the Scene modes already apply preset image adjustments. Of course, the Nikon D3000 also offers sRGB and Adobe RGB settings, in a separate Color Space menu.

Noise Reduction. The Nikon D3000 offers high ISO noise reduction, but only one level: Off and On. Noise reduction is performed at ISO 400 and higher. When set to Off, minimal noise reduction is performed at ISOs above 800.

Release Modes. The Nikon D3000's release modes are selected via the menu system. Release modes consist of Single Frame, Continuous, Self-timer, Delayed Remote (two second delay), and Quick-response Remote. The Nikon D3000's Continuous mode is rated by Nikon for up to 3 frames per second (we got 2.99 frames per second in our testing), for a total of 16 Large/Fine JPEGs before the buffer fills and the camera slows. Also, when shooting JPEGs of a very complex scene with a lot of sharp, fine detail may also compress less and result in lower buffer capacities.

Self-Timer mode opens the shutter by a delay of 2 seconds) after the shutter button is pressed. The Remote release modes are for use with the optional ML-L3 wireless remote. The 2-second delay option is useful for hiding the remote when taking photos that include the operator.

Retouch Menu. The Nikon D3000 has an extensive Retouch menu, though not as extensive as the D5000's. The amount of image alteration that can be performed in-camera is starting to rival what basic image editing software packages can do on a computer, so much so that many users may not feel the need to use a computer for Nikon D3000 image editing at all. Retouch options include adjusting D-Lighting, red-eye correction, image cropping (trim), converting to monochrome, applying up to seven filter effects, adjusting color balance, resizing to small images (for TV, Web or email), image overlay for combining two RAW images into one JPEG, NEF (RAW) processing, "Quick Retouch" for fast adjustments to saturation and contrast, color outline, miniature effect, and stop-motion movies. The D5000 adds: straighten for fixing slanted horizons, distortion control for fixing lens distortion, fisheye effect, and perspective control.

Nikon D3000 Capture Modes

2011-09-19T15:52:00.000+05:30

The mode dial on the right side of the Nikon D3000's top panel provides access to its various exposure modes, the same arrangement of Auto, three semi-auto, and one Manual as found on all Nikon digital SLR, plus a total of seven Scene modes (which Nikon calls "Vari-Programs"), plus a Guide setting that offers a user-friendly interface that guides beginners through the capture and review process, with the Nikon D3000 explaining the various options on offer. Here's a list of what's available:

Auto: The camera sets everything. Used for snapshots or users who just don't want to be bothered with the details of how the camera will do its work. The AF-assist light will come on if needed, and the camera selects the AF point covering the closest subject.
Guide: Provides access to the camera's Record, Playback, and Setup options through one user-friendly, graphically rich menu system. The user is prompted to select the type of photo they're looking to achieve, and then the camera provides a recommended setup. These can then be further customized by the user, with the camera explaining the effect of each individual setting. Fully manual shooting isn't possible in this mode, but manual aperture or shutter adjustment can be made for certain types of photos.
Program: Puts the camera in charge of aperture and shutter speed, though all remaining camera settings are available. You can vary the combination of aperture and shutter speed the camera has selected by rotating the Command Dial.
Shutter Priority: The user controls shutter speed, from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, while the camera sets the aperture value.
Aperture Priority: The opposite of Shutter Priority mode, this mode lets the user control the aperture, while the camera sets the shutter speed. Available apertures depend on which lens is mounted on the camera.
Manual: Gives the user complete control over the exposure (both shutter and aperture settings), and provides access to the camera's Bulb shutter setting for exposures longer than 30 seconds.
Night Portrait: Uses slow shutter speed with flash, balancing the two so that night portraits look natural even with flash. Closest-subject AF is used. Use a tripod to avoid blurring.
Close up: Reds and greens are pumped up, camera selects center focus point, but other points can be chosen with the Multi-Selector. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim; tripod use is recommended.
Sports: Uses higher shutter speeds, camera switches to continuous focus while the shutter button is held down halfway, tracking the subject in the center focus area. If the subject leaves the central AF area, the camera will follow it and judge focus from the other focus areas. The beginning AF area can be chosen with the Multi-selector. Both flash and AF illuminator are turned off and will not fire.
Child: This mode boosts sharpness and saturation for clothing and background details, but renders skin tones soft and natural-looking. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim.
Landscape: Boosts color saturation, contrast, and sharpening for city and forest landscape shots. Closest-focus AF is used, and the flash and AF-assist light are turned off in this mode. Use of a tripod is recommended in low light conditions.
Portrait: Adjusts the lens aperture to soften background details to help the main subject stand out more clearly. Sharpness and color saturation are moderated somewhat, to give softer, more natural-looking skin tones. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim.
Auto (Flash Off): In this mode, exposure is automatic but the flash is disabled, and the camera will vary the ISO up to a maximum of 3,200, to capture images using available light. The AF-assist light will come on if needed, and the camera selects the AF point with the closest subject. This mode is great for museums and other places where flash isn't permitted, more natural-looking indoor shots, etc.

2011-09-16T07:08:00.000+05:30

2011-09-13T23:45:00.003+05:30

Mount Mary Church, Bandra, Mumbai

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Bandra West, Mumbai was built initially around 1640 by the Portuguese. The church is one of the most visited churches in the city. It is very close to Bandstand. Every September, the feast of St. Mary is celebrated on the first Sunday after 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. This is a week long celebration known as the 'Bandra Fair' and is visited by thousands of people.

The church stands on a hillock, about 80 metres above sea level overlooking the Arabian Sea. It draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims annually. Many of the faithful attest to the miraculous powers of St. Mary. The shrine attracts people from all faiths who pray to Virgin Mary for expressing their gratitude or requesting favours.

During the Bandra Fair, the entire area is decorated with festoons and buntings. Many pitch up stalls selling religious articles, roasted grams, snacks and sweets. Wax figures of the Virgin Mary, along with an assortment of candles shaped like hands, feet and various other parts of the body are sold at kiosks. The sick and the suffering choose a candle or wax figure that corresponds to their ailment and light it in Church, with the pious hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.

Although the current church edifice is just 100 years old, the history behind the current statue of Our Lady goes back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the statue to the current location and constructed a chapel. In 1700 Arab pirates interested in the gold-lined object held in the hand disfigured the statue by cutting off the right hand. Apart from the main statue, there is another statue of Mother Mary installed outside the church, in front of which people light candles and pray for the welfare of their near and dear ones.

In 1760, the church was rebuilt and the statue was substituted with a statue of Our Lady of Navigators in St. Andrew's church nearby. This statue has an interesting legend. It goes that a Koli fisherman dreamt that he would find a statue in the sea. The statue was found floating in the sea between 1700 and 1760. A Jesuit Annual Letter dated to 1669 and published in the book St. Andrew's Church, Bandra (1616-1966] supports this claim. The Koli Fishermen call the statue as Mot Mauli, literally meaning The Pearl Mother (Mot= Moti= pearl and Mauli= Mother). Both Hindu and Christian Kolis visit this shrine often giving it a kind of syncretic nature. In 1761, the original statue was renovated with a child in her arms and is worshiped here ever since.

Here is the Mount Mary Prayer:-

Hail Mother, full of grace divine,
Sweet Mary of the Mount,
With fervor we approach thy Shrine,
On thy protective count.

Take us, O Mother by the hand,
These pilgrims faint and weak,
And guide our footsteps to that land,
Th' eternal home we seek.

2011-09-13T23:42:00.000+05:30

2011-09-13T07:00:00.000+05:30

2011-09-08T22:43:00.000+05:30

2011-08-18T00:06:00.004+05:30

Bandra Fort (Castella de Aguada), Mumbai

Castella de Aguada (Portuguese: "Fort of the Waterpoint"), also known as the Bandra Fort, is a fort in Mumbai. It is located at Land's End in Bandra. It was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim. The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay that lay to the immediate south of Bandra to the British. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available in the form of a fountain ("Aguada") for Portuguese ships cruising the coasts in the initial period of Portuguese presence. The fort lies over several levels, from sea level to an altitude of 24 metres (79 ft). One can visit the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Point at the end of the fort towards the sea. This Point offers an amazing view of the sea to your right. And on your left and front you have the the Bandra Worli Sea Link and another remaining arch. At almost all times, this area is a favourite for couples. The place overall is filled with litter and to for a history lover. Castella de Aguada has been featured in several Hindi films, such as Dil Chahta Hai and Buddha Mil Gaya.

The Portuguese, who had established a base in the area in 1534 after defeating Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, built several sea forts along the western Indian coastline. Castella de Aguada was one such strategically located fort, overlooking the Mahim Bay to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, the islands of Worli to the south and the town of Mahim to the south west. The fort also guarded the northern sea route into Mumbai Harbour. This sea route, a large estuary, was later reclaimed from the sea in the nineteenth century. During the Portuguese rule, it was armed with seven cannons and other smaller guns as defence. A freshwater spring in the vicinity supplied potable water to passing ships, thus lending the fort its name.

After the decline of the Portuguese in the early 18th century, the Marathas became the largest threat to British possessions. Sensing an impending Portuguese defeat, the British partially demolished the fort as a precautionary measure. The demolition would obviate the possibility of the fort being captured by the Marathas, with the possibility of it being used as a forward military base to attack British Bombay.

In 1739 the island was invaded by the Marathas; it was ruled by them until 1774 when the British gained possession of the area during the First Anglo-Maratha War. In 1830, the British donated large parts of Salsette Island, including Land's End, to Byramjee Jeejeebhoy, a Parsi philanthropist. Jeejeeboy then established his residence on the hill where the fort is located, and the cape was renamed Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Point.

In 2003, a conservation program was started by Bandra Band Stand Residents Trust to save the fort. It was spearheaded by a local Member of Parliament (MP), Shabana Azmi, who funded part of the effort from her allotted funds. The brick arch of one of the gateways on the verge of collapse, and the foundation masonry of the fort wall that was in danger of tidal erosion were repaired. The nearby Taj Land's End hotel is responsible for maintenance of the fort, having inherited it from the previous owners.

The fort is owned by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Included in the fort makeover are the preservation of the natural rock formations, providing pathways, and the creation of an amphitheatre. The architect for the makeover was P.K. Das, who had earlier redesigned the Carter Road area.

From Bandra West Station, take any public transport (auto or bus) to reach there.

2011-08-18T00:04:00.006+05:30

Mani Bhavan, Mumbai

Mani Bhavan is a simple old-style, two storied building on Laburnum Road, Mumbai. Whenever Gandhiji was in Mumbai between 1917 to 1934, he stayed here.It is now converted into a museum and research centre.

Mumbai and its inhabitants have played a very prominent part in India's unique struggle for freedom. Gandhiji was rightly proud of its patriotic and cosmopolitan citizens. Mani Bhavan is one of the few important places hallowed by Mahatma Gandhi's close association.

Mani Bhavan, a modest two-storied building on the Laburnum Road in the comparatively quiet locality called Gamdevi, served as Gandhiji's Bombay head-quarters for about seventeen long and eventful years (1917-1934). It belonged to Shri Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, who was Gandhi's friend and a host during that period. It was from Mani Bhavan that Gandhi initiated Civil Disobedience, Satyagraha, Swadeshi, Khadi and Khilafat movements. In 1955 the building was dedicated as a memorial to Gandhiji and to the very important activities of great significance he initiated from that place.

Mani Bhavan has a story to tell as it housed Gandhiji occasionally during the times when he grew in stature and strength, from a queer type of an agitator to a world figure by successfully introducing satyagraha (individual as well as mass) as a new and effective weapon to fight all evil and injustice.

The visitors from all over the world come to Mani Bhavan, to see the Room that Gandhiji occupied, its Picture Gallery, the Library Hall and the Terrace where he was arrested on January 4, 1932.

Gandhiji was a dynamic person and he kept on evolving. Even a change in his outward dress indicated an inner change. Soon after his return from South Africa, he flung away the European style of dressing and took to the Indian style. Then again his original Kathiawadi turban was replaced by a Kashmiri cap which in its turn was discarded in favour of a white-cap popularly known as the Gandhi cap. The change ultimately culminated in a bare loin cloth- a significant symbol representing the Indian peasantry and its poverty. Perhaps Mani Bhavan is the only place besides the Sabarmati Ashram, where he donned all these dresses in their sequence.

Inside the museum

Library: It consists of around 50,000 books & periodicals in reference and lending sections. It contains books on and by Gandhi, Gandhian thoughts, freedom movements and allied subjects. Our Library boasts of many out of print books. The Library is open on all weekdays, from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm. and on Saturdays, 9.30 am to 2.00 pm. It remains closed on public holidays.

Auditorium: On the first floor is the auditorium where films on Gandhiji are shown from time to time and recordings of his speeches are played on request. It is also used for holding meetings, seminars, discussions and various competitions for school and college students arranged by the Gandhi Study' Circle.

Gandhiji's Room: The room on the second floor which used to be the living room and working place of Gandhiji has been preserved as far as possible in its original setting.

Glimpses of Gandhi In Mini Figures: Adjoining Gandhiji's Room is the exhibition depicting Gandhiji's life through mini figures in about twenty-eight tableaux, prepared by Smt. Sushila Gokhale-Patel.

Picture Gallery: The rooms on either side of the exhibition have been turned into a Picture Gallery which gives glimpses of Gandhiji in Mani Bhavan and important events in his life. It displays photographic posters depicting important events and Photostats of some significant letters, articles and documents written by and about Gandhiji with appropriate captions in Hindi and English. A few replicas of Gandhiji's belongings and models of his birth place, Sabarmati Ashram, Sevagram Kutir, Phoenix Ashram and his prison cell are also on display.

The Terrace: A bronze plaque with an inscription now marks the place of the tent in which Gandhiji was arrested in January, 1932. He used to sleep and hold his prayers on this terrace.

Research Institute: Mani Bhavan is recognised as a Research Institute preparing students for Ph.D. degree in Gandhian Thought and Rural Development by University of Bombay.

Sales Counter: At the sales counter in the entrance hall are sold Gandhi Postage Stamps, Photographs, Gandhian Literature, Statues, Medallions etc.

Location: 19 Laburnam Rd, Near Malabar Hill, Gamdevi, Mumbai Phone: 022 23805864

Visiting Hours : The Museum is open on all the days of the week from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

- Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali, 1912

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Golconda Fort, Hyderabad

Golconda Fort is one of the most wonderful monuments, located 11 km. from Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The name of Golconda originates from the telgu words "Golla" and "Konda" which means 'shepard's hill'. One of the most important features of this fort is that the sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard quite clearly at the top of the hill.

The 13th century Golconda Fort was built by the Kakatiya kings. The existing structure was later built by Qutub Shahi Kings into a massive fort with granite walls having eight gates and 87 bastions spread upto 7 kms, in circumference over a span of 62 years. Golconda Fort, popularly known in Telgu as "Golla Konda", which means "Shepherd's Hill", has an exotic story behind it. In 1143, on the rocky hill known as 'Mangalavaram', a shepherd boy came across an image and conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The 10km long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad was a fantastic market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other gems, popular in all over the world.

One of the most interesting look of Golconda Fort is its system of acoustics. The sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard clearly at 'Bala Hissar', the highest point, a kilometre away, palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous 'Rahban' cannon, that was used during the last seize of Golconda by Aurangazeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.

You can see two separate pavilions in outside of Golconda Fort, built on a rocky prominence the Taramathi Gana Mandir and the Premathi Nritya Mandir, both the legendary sisters Taramathi and Premamathi resided. Both gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied structure, the Kala Mandir, which was visible from the king's durbar (king's court) on top of the Golconda Fort.

You can enjoy Golconda Fort with the sound and light, the show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. People gather to see and hear this show in the evening. The show has voice-over of Bollywood living legend Amitabh Bacchan. The show starts with a spectacular interplay of audio and visual effects. The timings of the show are different for winters and summers. In winters, that is from the months of November to February, the show starts at 6:30 pm. In summers, that is in the months of March to October, the show starts at 7:00 pm.

The English version of the show is presented on Wednesdays and Sundays and the Hindi version is presented on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Apart form these, the Telugu version is presented on Thursdays. There is no show on Mondays. The duration of the show is about 55 minutes.

2011-08-05T23:29:00.005+05:30

Horniman Circle, Mumbai

Horniman Circle Gardens in Mumbai is a mega park in the Fort District of South Mumbai. Encompassing an area of 10.101 sq meters, the Horniman Circle Gardens is surrounded by premier banks.

Primarily known as Bombay Greens in the 18th Century, Horniman Circle Gardens was meant to be an open space in the middle of the Walled city. With well laid out walkways, the Bombay Greens had trees planted all around. Later the whole complex was renamed as Elphinstone Circle after the then Governor, Lord Elphinstone.

In the late 19th Century the condition of the park became atrocious and appeared as the dumping ground for the debris. However, the then Police Commissioner Charles Forjett resurrected the circle with active support from governors Lord Mountstuart Elphinstone and Sir Bartle Frère. By 1872, the Garden gained a new and captivating look. It was renamed after India's Independence in 1947 into Horniman Circle Gardens, after Benjamin Horniman, a pro-freedom editor of the Bombay Chronicle.

A replica of London's Park Crescent, the Horniman Circle has the neoclassical colonnade that faces a small park, flanked by the Historic Asiatic Society Library. Consisting of a circular ensemble of buildings, the Horniman Circle Gardens is one among the most dynamic urban design settlements in Mumbai with pioneering structures from British Colonial era.

Years of neglect since 1947 caused deep damage to this historic landmark of Mumbai. However, with an active citizen initiative, the Horniman Circle Gardens saw another phase of restoration. Today the Horniman Circle Garden Trust and the Horniman Circle Association are making some praiseworthy works of restoration of this colonial vestige.

One can easily reach Horniman Circle Gardens by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city. Board a local or hire a taxi/auto or bus.

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St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai

The island of Bombay which was a Portuguese possession became a part of the dowry of the Portuguese princess Infanta Catherine of Braganza on her marriage to Charles II of England under the Anglo Portuguese treaty of June 1661. In 1668 King Charles transferred it to the East India Company for a loan of pounds Sterling 50,000 at 6% interest and with a rental of pounds Sterling 10 per annum!

At that time the main center of the East India Company in Western India was Surat. The President of the Company in Surat assumed the additional role of Governor of Bombay from 1668. Gerald Angier, who was the Governor from 1669, took the initiative to build a Church for the English community. The foundation stone for the Church was laid in 1676 at the present site of the St. Thomas' Cathedral. But construction was suspended for almost 40 years due to several setbacks such as shortage of finance, revolt against the Company in 1683, the siege of Bombay by Sidi Yakub in 1689, a plague epidemic from 1686-96, etc.

One of the gates in the Fort which the East India Company had built to protect their settlement was the entrance to the St. Thomas Church. It was called Churchgate. That is why the whole area towards the West of the Church is called “Churchgate” even today. The street leading to the Church was originally called Churchgate Street and has been more recently renamed (like many streets in Bombay) and is now known as Veer Nariman Road.

In 1714, a 27-year-old, enthusiastic Chaplain, Richard Cobbe, M.A., arrived on the scene and took the initiative to complete the building of the Church. It was opened for divine service on Christmas Day 1718. Ever since then, it has been in use as a Church.

This church was named after St. Thomas who was one of the 12 Disciples of Christ and was the Apostle to India. After the crucifixion of Christ, Thomas came to the South West (Malabar) coast of India along with traders who traditionally imported spices from Malabar. He established the Christian Church in Kerala in the first century A.D.

St. Thomas Church in Bombay became a Cathedral in July 1837 when the See of Bombay with a Bishop was founded. The tower and the clock at the Western End were added in 1838. About 25 years later a major renovation scheme was launched to enlarge the chancel. This was completed by 1865.

In the 1920's the original tiled roof over the chancel was replaced by a concrete slab. Cracks in this slab allowed seepage of water into the porbandar stone walls in the apse. The leakage became a serious threat to the structure by the turn of the 21 st century. Therefore a second major renovation of the Cathedral was undertaken in 2002-03. The leaking concrete slab roof over the apse was replaced by the original tiled roof. Simultaneously the stained glass windows over the altar and the St. Thomas Chapel on the southside were restored to their original condition. Completion of this renovation was marked by a special service on Xmas day 2003.

The Cathedral, which is located within a few yards of Flora Fountain, is open on all days from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. The monuments on the walls inside the Cathedral are a witness to the history of Bombay Presidency from early 18 th century.

All are welcome to visit and to spend a few moments in meditation. Holy Communion Service is held every Sunday at 8.45 a.m.

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Understanding ISO

2011-03-28T14:29:00.004+05:30

It is extremely hard to take good pictures without a good understanding of how ISO works and what it does. Camera ISO is one of the three pillars of photography (the other two being Aperture and Shutter Speed) and every photographer should thoroughly understand it, to get the most out of their equipment. Since this article is for beginners in photography, I will try to explain ISO as simple as I can.

The Sensor Chip

A typical digital camera sensor and mount.

The sensor inside your digital camera actually works on the same principle as a solar cell. When light hits the chip, a tiny electric current is generated: the brighter the light, the stronger the current. Instead of there being one giant solar panel generating lots of electricity, there are millions of extremely tiny solar cells collecting very small and precisely measured amounts of light. These photosites will eventually create the pixels in the image you capture.

It should be noted that a photosite is not the same as a pixel. Several photosites will add their captured light, which is filtered and processed and eventually combined to make a pixel. That’s a complex topic for discussion in another lesson.

All of this carefully measured electrical current, which reflects light intensity, is measured and stored by the camera’s circuitry. This data is called the signal. The signal, however, must compete with the noise inherent in all electrical equipment.

Signal vs Noise

Noise is at a constant background level to the signal.

An unavoidable fact of electronics is noise. While the sensor is measuring the tiny electronic currents generated by the light, there is also a tiny electric current that comes from other places. This unwanted current is called noise, and it mostly comes from the ambient heat of the sensor. The difference between the value of the signal and the value of the noise is called the Signal to Noise Ratio. When the ratio becomes smaller, the noise is more apparent, and the signal may get lost in it.

There are two ways that the signal to noise ratio can become low: by a drop in the signal, or an increase in the noise. In modern cameras, the noise is mostly a constant value, so we only need to worry when the signal drops – that is, when we’re photographing a dark subject. The graph to the right may help to visualize the situation.

What is ISO?

ISO (I.S.O.) is the abbreviation for the International Organization of Standardization, a governing body based in Europe that provides the standards for a wide variety of subjects.

For photographers the key standard is Film Speed ratings. In the past this was known as ASA or the American Standards Association (Now discontinued and replaced by the American National Standards Institute or ANSI), and you could buy your films in ASA 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600. There were specialist films that would go higher or use infra-red although these were generally known as the standard speeds. Since digital cameras do not use film but use image sensors instead, the ISO equivalent is usually given.

Most decent cameras now have interchangeable ISO settings which are especially useful for digital photography.

In very basic terms, ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light, while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera. The component within your camera that can change sensitivity is called “image sensor” or simply “sensor”. It is the most important (and most expensive) part of a camera and it is responsible for gathering light and transforming it into an image. With increased sensitivity, your camera sensor can capture images in low-light environments without having to use a flash. But higher sensitivity comes at an expense – it adds grain or “noise” to the pictures.

Take a look at the following picture (click to open a larger version):-

ISO 200 and ISO 3200 Comparison

The difference is clear – the image on the right hand side at ISO 3200 has a lot more noise in it, than the one on the left at ISO 200.

Every camera has something called “Base ISO“, which is typically the lowest ISO number of the sensor that can produce the highest image quality, without adding noise to the picture. On most of the new Nikon cameras such as Nikon D5000, the base ISO is typically 200, while most Canon digital cameras have the base ISO of 100. So, optimally, you should always try to stick to the base ISO to get the highest image quality. However, it is not always possible to do so, especially when working in low-light conditions.

Typically, ISO numbers start from 100-200 (Base ISO) and increment in value in geometric progression (power of two). So, the ISO sequence is: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 and etc. The important thing to understand is that each step between the numbers effectively doubles the sensitivity of the sensor. So, ISO 200 is twice more sensitive than ISO 100, while ISO 400 is twice more sensitive than ISO 200. This makes ISO 400 four times more sensitive to light than ISO 100, and ISO 1600 sixteen times more sensitive to light than ISO 100, so on and so forth. What does it mean when a sensor is sixteen times more sensitive to light? It means that it needs sixteen times less time to capture an image!

ISO Speed Example:

ISO 100 – 1 second
ISO 200 – 1/2 of a second
ISO 400 – 1/4 of a second
ISO 800 – 1/8 of a second
ISO 1600 – 1/16 of a second
ISO 3200 – 1/32 of a second

In the above ISO Speed Example, if your camera sensor needed exactly 1 second to capture a scene at ISO 100, simply by switching to ISO 800, you can capture the same scene at 1/8th of a second or at 125 milliseconds! That can mean a world of difference in photography, since it can help to freeze motion.

ISO Examples

A series of images taken with the Canon 5D MkII, changing the ISO and other setting to keep a constant exposure. Noise increases dramatically at higher ISO settings.

The lower the ISO number, the slower the speed. The higher the ISO number, for example 1600 the faster the speed.

Take a look at this picture:-

Black Skimmers, 1/2000th of a second at ISO 80

What would have happened if I had ISO 100 on my camera instead? My sensor would have needed 8 times more time to capture the same scene, which is 1/250th of a second. At that speed, I would have introduced motion blur into my picture, because the birds were moving faster than that. In short, I would have ruined the picture.

When to use low ISO?

The standard ISO that most people use everyday, giving accurate color rendition and "clean" noise-free images is ISO 100.

You should always try to stick to the lowest ISO (base ISO) of your camera, which is typically ISO 100 or 200, whenever possible. When there is plenty of light, you should always use the lowest ISO, to retain the most detail and to have the highest image quality.

There are some cases where you might want to use low ISO in dim or dark environments – for example, if you have your camera mounted on a tripod or sitting on a flat surface. In that case, bear in mind that your camera will most likely need more time to capture the scene and anything that is moving is probably going to look like a ghost.

Oh No! It's a GHOST ATTACK!

Camera is set to the lowest ISO to retain the detail, which also resulted in a long exposure of 5 seconds. The person sat still, while other person stepped in for a brief moment to introduce the ghost :)

When to increase ISO?

You should increase the ISO when there is no enough light for the camera to be able to quickly capture an image. If you want to shoot indoors without a flash, set the ISO to a higher number to be able to freeze motion. Other cases where you might want to increase ISO are when you need to get ultra-fast shots, like the bird picture. But before increasing the ISO, you should think if it is OK for you to introduce noise to the image.

The biggest problem when using high ISO's is the quality deterioration. If you have ever used high I.S.O. film such as 800, the emulsion used on the film contained larger, more sensitive "grains" which were perfectly visible in your images thereby reducing quality.

On many of the newer DSLRs, there is a setting for “Auto ISO”, which works great in low-light environments. The beauty of this setting is that you can set the maximum ISO to a certain number, so when the ISO is automatically increased based on the amount of light; it does not cross the set barrier. So, if I want to limit the amount of grain in my pictures, I typically set the maximum ISO to 800.

How to change your digital cameras ISO setting?

To change the ISO setting on your SLR camera, press the ISO button then use the 'up down left and right buttons' to change the speed. Again, if you don't have this option refer to your cameras manual as it may be slightly different between brands.

General Rules and tips for ISO Settings:

Use an ISO of 100 or 200 when taking photographs outside in sunny conditions.
If the sky is overcast or it is evening time, then use an ISO within the range of 400 to 800.
Night time or in cases of low light you might need to set your digital camera ISO to 1600. If you don't then your photo will appear too dark if at all.

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Se Cathedral, Goa

Se Cathedral is one of the oldest and most celebrated religious buildings in Goa, the Se cathedral is one of the largest churches in Asia and it took eighty years to get completed. It is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria and is located in Old Goa. This monument truly represents the royalty of Goa in the early days, during the rule of Portuguese. One of the most sacred buildings for the Christians, Se cathedral has been declared a heritage site by UNESCO.

The history traces back to the time of Dominicans, who were the first missionaries to be sent to India by the Portuguese. The Se Cathedral nearby is dedicated to St. Catherine, as it was on her feast day, 25th November 1510 that Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa. Thus, this cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. The Dominicans were originally the chaplains of the fleet brought by the conquering Portuguese naval general Alfonso de Albuquerque.

The original church erected was that of mud, stones and straw. Subsequent modifications were made and a second church came up in 1515. Later the status of church was elevated to a cathedral and the structure demolished to make way for the subsequent building. Designed by engineers Julio Simao and Ambrosio Argueiro, It was commissioned by Governor George Cabral to be enlarged in 1552 on the remains of an earlier structure. The actual construction began in 1562 under the reign of King Dom Sebastião and substantially completed by 1619. This west facing church is made in shape of a cross and the Blessed Sacrament was placed on the altar on the feast day of the Guardian Angel amidst great solemnities.

The main altars however were not finished until the year 1652. The main altars however were not finished until the year 1652. It was consecrated in 1640. The Cathedral was built for the Dominicans and paid for by the Royal Treasury out of the proceeds of the sale of the Crown`s property. Viceroy Dom Francisco Coutinho, Count of Redondo (1561-1564) was instructed by the Portuguese government to build "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and fame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific".

The Cathedral has been built on a raised plinth of laterite, covered over with lime plaster. The Cathedral stands to the west of the great square called Terreiro de Sabaio and has its façade turned to the east. Its beautiful courtyard is approached by a flight of steps. The architecture style of Se Cathedral is Portuguese-Gothic. The church is 250 ft in length and 181 ft in breath. The frontispiece stands 115 ft high. The west- facing cathedral has a Tuscan exterior with square towers flanking the 30.3 metre-high façade; whereas the intricately-detailed Corinthian interior has huge pillars dividing the 76.2 metre-long central space from the side aisles.

The Se Cathedral is famous for its five massive bells. There were originally two towers, one on either side of the façade, but the one on the southern side collapsed in 1776. The loss of one bell tower, which was never rebuilt, has given the building a unique look. The existing tower houses a famous bell, `Golden Bell` which is one of the largest in Goa and one of the best in the world. On account of its melodic tone, it has been commemorated in a Portuguese poem.

The main entrance in the façade has Corinthian columns on plinths supporting a pediment containing an inscription in Latin recording that, in 1562, in the reign of King Dom Sebastiao, this Cathedral was ordered to be erected, the Archbishops and the primates being administrators and that the succeeding kings continued the same at the cost of the Royal Treasury. Inserted in the Corinthian columns are two marble basins for holy water. Beneath the choir is a large painting of St. Christopher. The cathedral has fifteen altars and eight chapels. The main altar is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, where on either side of the altar stand images of St. Peter and St. Paul. Beautifying are engravings depicting Matyrdom of St. Catherine of Alexandria (307 A.D.). The altar has frames carved depicting scenes from the life of St. Catherine and a majestic crucifix. Close to the altar is placed the throne of Archbishop of Goa. In a gallery close to nave is placed an eighteenth century organ. To the right is a door leading to the barrel vault structured sacristy which has a model of St. Peter`s church in Rome.

On the right in the order of placing are the Chapels of St. Anthony, St. Bernard, Cruz Dos Milagres or the Miraculous Cross and The Holy Ghost. It is said that a vision of Christ is said to have appeared in 1919 and that the cross is growing in size. Se Cathedral also houses a baptismal font made in 1532 which was used by Saint Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, in order to baptize several Goan converts.

On the left side are the chapels dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Necessidades, St. Sebastian, the Blessed Sacrament and the last to Nossa Senhora de Boa Vida. Among these, Chapels of Blessed Sacrament and The Miraculous cross are noteworthy. They are adorned with some outstanding filigree work (delicate and intricate ornamental work made from gold, silver, or other fine twisted wire).

Further, in the interiors are placed six altars in the transverse part of the Cruciform of the church, three on either side of the main altar. To the right are those of St.Anna, Our Lady of Doloures and St.Peter and on left are those of Our Lady of Sorrows, Our lady of Three Necessities and Our Lady of Hope. The arches of four of these chapels are adorned with paintings depicting scenes from the life of saints. The neighboring convent is now an Archeological Museum for public viewing and behind the cathedral is the two storied Palace of Archbishop. However, this is not in use anymore.

How to increase the sharpness of a photo?

2011-03-08T23:50:00.000+05:30

So many times, we don't get as sharp images as we wanted. You went to a very good hill station, took some snaps and one of the best one is not having a good sharpness. Now you cannot go back to there frequently. So Photoshop comes in handy at that time. You can use one of the following methods to increase the sharpness of the images.

Method 1:
You can directly change the sharpness from the Filter>sharpen>sharpen.

But all know about that very well, and I don't have to write a post for that. But recently, I learned one nice method to increase the sharpness without making it much obvious.

Method 2:
STEP 1: Open Image in photoshop.

STEP 2: Change the color mode to Lab from Images>Mode>Lab color.

STEP 3: Go to Windows>channels. You will see following image.

STEP 4: Click on the "lightness"
STEP 5: Go to FIlter>sharpness>unmask sharpness

I did the following changes. You can try what ever suits with your snap.
Generally, I don't increase Amount more than 150. Keep Radius between 1-3. Threshold 1-2.

Most important, change the color Mode back to RGB. Images >Mode> RGB color.
Here is the final results.

Additional Steps

STEP 1: Right click on the image>duplicate layer> ok.

STEP 2: Change the blending mode to "Overlay".
Here is your result.

2011-03-08T23:26:00.005+05:30

Azad Maidan, Goa

Azad Maidan is the small plot in Panjim town, a pavilion in the center presently built and in the middle is the statue of Dr. Tristao de Braganza Cunha, the former Goan Freedom Fighter, He was the ‘Valiant Hero of Goan Fight for Freedom’. Previously during Portuguese in 1847 the State of Afonso Albuquerque made of bronze and two meters tall was built, after conquering various sites in Goa which is now place in Museum at Old Goa. Close to this is one monument dedicated to those who fought to liberate the Goa from Portuguese Rule.

On the west side of the square is long broad building; behind this is a Police Headquarter; previously it was the former Portuguese army barracks and Military Headquarters which was built in 1832. Just further end of square is Menezes Braganza Institute having huge library, original known Vasco da Gama Institute built in 1871 to promote the Literature, Arts and Science, and in 1953 was renamed in respect of Luis de Menezes Braganza (1878 – 1938), a great crusader for social, religious and political.

Opposite to Institute, next to ferry terminal is a monument dedicate to the victims who died in 1901, when ferry drowned in Mandovi River going from Panjim to Verem, eighty one people died in this accident. This memorial was built Goan family living in Aden, since they have lost their relatives in this incident.

On the opposite of this square towards the finishing part of it, is the Government Printing Press and at the back of this full building in a big quadrangle view is conquered by the other State Government Offices.

Moving further on from here and taking the route on the opposite side of the square from Police Headquarters, walking little distance you reach to Municipal Garden.

How to create a soft edge border in photoshop?

2011-03-08T11:24:00.000+05:30

This tutorial is to help you learn how to give a photo a soft edge. This technique is mainly used for collages, but it can also be used for displays, reports, or just to make a picture more pleasing to the eye. Once you have your photo open in photoshop:

1. Select either the Rectangular Marquee Tool or the Elliptical Marquee Tool. For this example I used the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

2. Make a good sized selection around what you want in the final product. Allow a little extra room as well to create enough space for the soft edge so you won’t lose some of what you would like to keep.

3. Then choose Feather under the Select Menu. (Select>Feather). For this photo I entered 45 pixels, you may wish to choose a different amount.

4. Then Copy that selection (Edit>Copy)

5. Make a new document (File>New)

6. Paste the selection into the new document (Edit>Paste).

How to add frames to photos?

2011-03-08T11:18:00.000+05:30

Let's make a nice border around this lovely lady of 250*166 pixels.

First we add a black border of 2 pixels around the whole photo.



Secondly I added a 5 pixel border with a grey color of 225,225,225



Then I added a border of 25 pixels of the same grey color to the bottom alone. Such a space underneath is ideal to put text into.



And finally I did put a 2px black border all around to give a better display against the white background of this webpage.

2011-03-07T23:13:00.002+05:30

Dona Paula Beach, Goa

Dona Paula beach is located just about 7-km from Panaji. This place is called the Lovers Paradise in Goa, named after Dona Paula de Menezes. A myth has been attached to this place and according one legend the Viceroy's daughter after facing objections from her family about her love affair with a poor fisherman jumped of the cliff.

The enticing story is about a girl named Dona Paula de Menzes, after whom the Goa beach has been named. She was the daughter of a viceroy in colonial India, who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias.

Another legend says that punished for captivating Francisco de Tavora- the Count of Alvor with her charm, the Viceroy's daughter was pushed off a cliff to drown in the waters below. Her irrepressible spirit still continues to haunt every visitor with legends of her lovers. She is even supposed to have been seen emerging from moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace.

This beach is the meeting point of the Zuari and Mondovi rivers with a very good view of the Marmagao Harbour. This is a spot to sunbathe and relax. Jet Skiing is a very common sport at this beach.

Tranquil and blue, Dona Paula unravels the ultimate in aquatic sport and fun. The Dona Paula Sports Club at Dona Paula offers some of the best water sports facilities to the sports enthusiasts including Water-scooter rides, Motor-boat rides, etc. Dona Paula is also famous for bird watching, where you can spot both migratory and local birds.

Goa Dona Paula beach associated with a romantic myth, is one of the hottest tourist spot in Goa. People flock to the Dona Paula beach not only to enjoy the sun and the sea but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.

The beauty of Goa Dona Paula beach has been enhanced by a poky past which has the tourists thronging to this place. History goes that the beach is named after Dona Paula de Menses, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India) who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The beach has also been the location for many Indian movies. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become popular among the tourist spots in Goa.

The alleged statue of 'Dona-Paulo', the statue seen today at the jetty in Dona Paula is in reality the sculpture of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Knox. It was a Dutch sculptress, Baroness Yrse Von Leistner who etched the sculpture as she was in awe of the philosopher Robert Knox.

What is a DSLR(Digital SLR)?

2011-03-04T23:19:00.003+05:30

DSLR stands for “Digital Single Lens Reflex”. In simple language, DSLR is a digital camera that uses mirrors to direct light from the lens to the viewfinder, which is a hole on the back of the camera that you look through to see what you are taking a picture of.

Components of DSLR Camera

Take a look at the following image of an SLR cross section (image courtesy of Wikipedia):

Lens
Reflex mirror
Shutter
Image sensor
Matte focusing screen
Condenser lens
Pentaprism
Eyepiece/Viewfinder

How DSLR Camera works?

When you look through the viewfinder on the back of the camera, whatever you see is exactly what you are going to get in the photograph. The scene that you are taking a picture of passes through the lens in a form of light into a reflex mirror (#2) that sits at a 45 degree angle inside the camera chamber, which then forwards the light vertically to an optical element called a “pentaprism” (#7). The pentaprism then converts the vertical light to horizontal by redirecting the light through two separate mirrors, right into the viewfinder (#8).

When you take a picture, the reflex mirror (#2) swings upwards, blocking the vertical pathway and letting the light directly through. Then, the shutter (#3) opens up and the light reaches the image sensor (#4). The shutter (#3) remains open for as long as needed for the image sensor (#4) to record the image, then the shutter (#3) closes and the reflex mirror (#2) drops back to the 45 degree angle to continue redirecting the light into the viewfinder.

Obviously, the process doesn’t stop there. Next, a lot of complicated image processing happens on the camera. The camera processor takes the information from the image sensor, converts it into an appropriate format, then writes it into a memory card. The whole process takes very little time and some professional DSLRs like Nikon D3s can do this 11 times in one second!

The above is a very simple way to explain how DSLR cameras work.

To read a lot more about DSLRs, check out this great article at Wikipedia.

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