Waves of Happiness

Diveagar Beach


golden sunsets and serene beaches,
crispy mornings and the mountain reaches,
peaceful days dancing in the sea,
the long roads twisting and turning with glee.



Watching the sun go down near Arvi Beach


Arvi Beach

Hanging box

Got out the Minolta 50/1.4 out after a long while.

The Minolta 50/1.4 has been one of my favourite lenses. It's quite a story how I got hold of it. A couple of years earlier I had purchased the Minolta Dynax 5 for ₹19000/- (all my savings) odd from JJ Mehta & Sons. The 28-80 F3.5/6.3 lens on it was pretty decent but a faster lens with creamy bokeh was the dream. I had started hanging out on the online photography forums. One such was the Minolta forum.

There was a minor panic going on at that time as Minolta would probably shut shot and would never go digital. So a lot of the old photographers were jumping ship to Canon/Nikon. So there was a lot of old equipment for sale for reasonable prices. A photographer from Jackson, Minnesota USA had this 50/1.4 for sale for $100 + $10 US shipping. I did't have a credit card at that time so I think I used Rashmi's card to make the online payment via paypal and then reimbursed her. I had the lens shipped to Anthony in Texas. One of his friends traveled to India after about 6 months and got the lens to me.

But the wait was worth it: I instantly fell in love with this fantastic lens. The Naka photos, the Dombivili Fast photos were all shot with this lens on the film camera.

With the Sony A100 replacing my film camera this full frame lens was a little less used as it was about ~75mm on the corpped sensor, which I did not prefer.

It still sits on my shelf waiting for a full frame sensor...

Update 18-Nov-2020: I finally acquired a FF. A Sony A7R3 in Nov of last year. I also acquired a used LA-EA3 A-mount to EF-mount adapter. The Minolta 50 lives on.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Of two cups

It is so sad that Microsoft killed the Lumia series of phones. I love my 1020 – the camera on it has a feel to it unlike any other. This one is edited with an app called 'black'.

The new babe

The Royal Enfield Himalayan.

Finally I went for an RE.  Because this is unlike any previous RE. Because they designed for a purpose.

Sunday Flower

What is it we are looking for?

Red Flag

Goa

Cockeyed Metal Pig

Peeping through the wall.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Reading

.. in the dark.

Play

The multitudes of my playthings lay behind me - for I was most interested in what was in my hand.

Mumbra Hills

Oh so long ago we came here with Errol D'Douza to learn rock climbing. Me, Vivek and Shabbir. We started with the nursery at Kanheri. Then did the slab there at 34. Mumbra was harder – there were lots of loose rocks around.

It must have been sometime in '97 or '98. One early morning we travelled from Kurla by slow train to Mumbra station. We had to go towards the right - towards Kalva. The slums were not as widespread as now but we still had to navigate them. Errol told us of the Nutan (film actress of old) bungalow which was perched on a ridge. It was a famous landmark at that time. From our spot we could see the railway line below us and the water body beyond. Errol was a super fun person with amazing stories. He was also a kickass teacher.

A few years ago I went to stay at a friend's friend's place in Kalva. We reached very late and partied all night. In the morning when I woke up and looked out of the window, lo behold our old rock climbing spot right outside! The buildings have taken over now. Everywhere.

Approaching Monsoon

\

A pink blush late in the sky.

High ground

I so wish to be walking these footpaths..

Kalsubai from Panzare

Beautiful memories.

A Room

Nothing to do.

Kille Peth

Of times long gone...