Atheist Angel

He is a follower of Richard Dawkins and strongly believes in rationality. He is also a soft kind soul. This was sort of inspirational - using my niece's fairy wings on his head - to explore the relationship between atheism and theism.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

No Parking

Parking, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Bloom - HDR with a Phone Camera

Bloom - Baner-Aundh

This is an HDR. Clicked with the phone camera of Nokia Lumia 925. The Nokia camera software allows us to take bracketed exposures. I have been meaning to exploit this feature to do some HDR's since I got the phone. The problem is that even if there is a slight movement while clicking the various exposures, the resulting HDR become blurry and messy. There is a in phone HDR software available, but the results are strictly ok as it also suffers from the motion issue and the alignment of the individual exposures. A tripod is strictly required. So I got a Joby Griptight Phone Mount which attaches to any standard tripod. I had a small tripod available. I was ready to experiment.

So from my office terrace I shot a few of the above scene and got decent bracketed exposures.  Then, using Luminance HDR on my Mac, I got the above result. I am still new to this HDR game, so the result is not too impressive.

But the bloom on that tree definitely is. 

Sahyadri mountains

Sahyadri mountains, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.
~Benjamin Franklin

Auto

Auto, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

From Kalyan

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Urban clearing

Urban clearing, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Pradeep Chavan

Pradeep mama sits on this wall, smokes his cigarette and generally chills.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Ennuied Curiosity

Ennuied Curiosity, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Lines

Lines, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Stripes

Stripes, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life.
~Michael LeBoeuf

Lights

Lights, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

I do not enlighten those who are not eager to learn, nor arouse those who are not anxious to give an explanation themselves. If I have presented one corner of the square and they cannot come back to me with the other three, I should not go over the points again.
~Confucius

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Mr Sawant

Mr Sawant, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Busy with some serious gaming.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.
~Edgar Allan Poe

House

House, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Practice from Vilas Kulkarni's book.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. 

~Mark Twain

Stream

Stream, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Some improvements. But some glaring issues. Like my father pointed out, I clean forgot the atmospheric perspective.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tree and tank

Tree and tank, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Be Still

Be Still, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

To dream, we must be still.
To live, we must dream.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

House

House, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

More practice. Small size.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Fisher folks and a boat

Fisher folks and a boat, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

First in large size. Lots of mistakes. Learning.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

Sunday Flower, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
~ Oscar Wilde

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

“The earth is enjoyed by heroes”
— this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero.
Always say, “I have no fear.”

~ Swami Vivekananda

Sasurwadi

Sasurwadi, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

It is strange to pass through my city as a stranger. And I did literally pass through a tiny corner - Mulund check naka - on my way to my in laws in Kalyan. After a break, the first impression of this great city is dirt, stench, smoke, heat, sweat and a mind numbing shitload of people. And I am just coming over from a stone's throw away Pune.

I travelled in a local train after a while. I sat there on the proverbial fourth seat and watched the ebb of humanity around me. It was a curious experience. I felt like a researcher on an observation trip among some native population. In front of me was a Aagri couple from the rural community at Diwa. The guy wearing glasses with golden frames through which he meticulously scanned an entire newspaper. This left hand thumb nail was at least an inch long. His wife was wearing a large amount of gilt or gold - I could not tell - jewellery. Her green net saree had gold, silver, purple and yellow flowers on it. She was past forty but carried herself well.

Then on the backside was a young chap from some village from up north. He looked like a young Bacchan wannabe right out of some 70's movie. His super tight full shirt with two front pockets with triangular flaps and tight white trousers with shiny vertical stripes made his lean figure look leaner. The wore a band in his right ear and carried a focused mean look.

...

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Spirituality

Spirituality, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

“The mainspring of every race lies in its spirituality, and the death of that race begins the day that spirituality wanes and materialism gains ground”

~ Swami Vivekananda.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

~Albert Camus

Earth

Earth, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

The original frontier.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

transporter

transporter, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sunday Flower

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."
~Albert Einstein

Sunday Flower

Rose

Life is a song - sing it.
Life is a game - play it.
Life is a challenge - meet it.
Life is a dream - realise it.
Life is a sacrifice - offer it.
Life is love - enjoy it.

~Sai Baba

Sunday Flower

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."
- George Bernard Shaw

Practice from book

Practice from book, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Practice...

Practice..., originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sasurji

Sasurji, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Abstract

Abstract, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Married!

Married!, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

So I finally got married on 18th June 2013. I am lucky to have found such a wonderful partner. Thank you all for your blessings and wishes.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Sketch

Sketch, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Trying to befriend the watercolours.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Early attempt

Early attempt, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

I attended a watercolour painting workshop conducted by eminent artist Milind Mulick. It was a great experience to watch the master at his art. I feel overjoyed that I may still, in this life, be able to paint to make myself happy. I feel inspired.

I used to paint as a schoolboy. My father's friends wanted me to pursue fine arts education. But I was a 'science' boy too. Then I gave up painting for reasons, which in hindsight, appear so distant. Life is funny.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Cloudscape

Cloudscape, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

3^rd March '13.  Soft/Dry Pastel on common sketching paper. Took about 25 minutes. This is from a photo I had taken several months back from a moving vehicle for this very purpose.

Recently I have been doing (trying, actually) some random sketches. The words have dried up.  I feel sorta bad for the blog to ignore it so. When I look back at the last 3 years there is precious little to recollect and rejoice. But with the help of my random ramblings in the earlier times at least those years are still richer with the memories of the happenings.