These cranes were spotted @ a lake abt 10kms from Mysuru towards Nanjangud on the NH212 aka Kozhikode/Ooty road. The colony was huge and apart from the birds in the pic, I also spotted a huge flock of Pelicans a little away, but failed to get any decent pics coz of the distance.

All pics are using my new Canon EF-L f/5.6 400mm lens @ ISO-100 and f/5.6 for exposures higher than 1/500s (anything lower would've caused blur @ 400mm). I did have the lens tripod mounted but didnt tighten it (except for the first pic) so that I can move it around to capture the flying birds.

One more drive to Kozhikode and while passing via Gundulpet ... I reached the same farm I encountered in this post: Once again in Gundulpet and Mysuru and farmers were sweating out there today as well. Here are some more pics from the place:

The first two pics are taken using the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, in Av mode f/5.6. I was actually in the middle of the field while taking them. The third and forth pics are taken from the road, using the EF-L 180mm f/3.5 lens @ Av mode f/6.3. Since it was almost noon by then and very bright, I had enough exposure time to play with. Wish I had used a thinner shutter atleast for the first pic.

The color of the soil actually rmeinds me of the malayalam movie "Thenmavin Kombathu"! Infact, apart from this same place, I've tried to capture this soil color also in these pictures: Construction Workers near our Office. Another common factor in all these pictures is the bright colored attire of the workers, to give this high contrast.

I got the new Canon EF-L f/5.6 400mm lens today and had to try out the range as early as I can :) The following pics are from a paddy field near Maddur in Bengaluru - Mysuru road:

This being my first experience with a real tele photo lens, with a not so impressive maximum aperture (f/5.6) and no IS, I decided to play safe with ISO-400. The first two pics are 1/1000s @ f/5.6 and the last one is 1/640s for the same aperture. For the third pic, I tried out ISO-100 and had 1/250s and f/5.6.

I also got a 2X converter and tried it out, but didnt get any decent pictures @ f/11 (2X converter will make f/5.6 of 400mm lens to f/11), no Auto Focus (EOS400D cannot Auto Focus @ a max aperture of f/11) and no IS.

There is a building coming up next to our office building and construction is happening at a furious pace there. Here are some pics:

The bright red color of the soil is tha main reason that tempted to me to do these shots as I've found this color of the soil interesting in a few occassions before, like in this post: Once again in Gundulpet and Mysuru. Add the bright colored attire and the ebony hue of the workers themselves, I just luved the contrast :)

I was in the terrace of my office and the distance was just right for the EF-L 180mm. All pics are taken @ Av mode f/5 and ISO 400 to avoid shakes (camera returned 1/200s, 1/160s and 1/125s for these pics, even after bumping up the ISO, since it was a li'l cloudy). I later color saturated and darkened the pics a li'l bit in GIMP.

And yeah ... if u havent noticed (which I doubt), the stone in the 2nd pic is airborne :)

Pics from a corn stall near the Tv tower, on my way to office :)

All pics are using the EF-L 180mm lens @ Av mode f/6.3 and exposure times of 1/125s (for the 1st pic alone) and 1/60s (for pics 2 and 3).

Reflections on water droplets is something that I cant stop shooting :) Here are a few more pics on a rainy day in Bengaluru, from our office terrace!

The light was a li'l less, no tripod and I wanted a li'l higher DFO (f/6.3). Finally, resorted to ISO 800 for these pics. Av mode for 1/250s, using the EF-L 180mm macro lens.

More water drops and reflections in it :) Once again with the EF-L 180mm macro lens, high ISO (800) and higher DOF (f/8) @ Av mode for a 1/60s exposure.

The 3rd pic is water dropping from the ceiling. ISO-800, f/8 and 1/400s. Its highly cropped and focused more on the ceiling rather than the water drop. That should explain the sharpness.

These are a couple of macro pics I took during a trek trip to Edakkal caves and Meenmutty falls. One problem with both the pics is the excessive sunlight and the reflections, as if a flash was used :( All this while, I had found it tough to have enuf DOF to cover life size macro pics, now that I had enuf light to bump up the DOF, there are reflections! When will I learn to do it right :(

The dragon fly was a large black one, spotted hovering around near the base of Meenmutty falls. I waited patiently for about 20 mins for this cutie to sit down and it finally did ... just a few seconds. Light was ample again and I used Av mode f/8 for a 1/125s exposure @ ISO-100. Finally, I guess the pic was slightly blurred and didnt have enuf details I'd have liked.

Pics taken after a strenuous trek to Meenmutty falls :)

I know Sai looks happy coz we just had buttermilk!

Both pics are from EF-L 180mm @ Av mode. Vishal's pic had ample sunlight and I used f/5, but for Sai's there was not enuf light and I had to go to f/3.5 and ISO-800.

The grass stem seen here is taken @ a paddy field near Maddur. I initially wanted sun's rays to come in the pic, but looks like the sun was too bright and I settled with the light @ one corner and the shine around my subject :) Btw .... the sun in this picture is not direct, but reflected from the paddy field!

The pics are taken with the EF-L 180mm macro lens@ almost life size. Av mode @ f/16, with 1/250s and 1/320s.

The first two pics are reflections, in a tank bund after Mysuru in the Nanjangud road. Tank bund had very clear / still water and good reflections. The shot is not near enough for the focus and detail I wud've liked to have, but still liked the frame :) Simple shot @ Av mode, f/3.5 with EF-L 180mm and bright outdoor light.

The 3rd pic is a group of pelicans fishing in another tank bund just ahead. Again, in Av mode f/3.5.

While I was taking the 3rd pic, a black cormorant came out of the water and on seeing us, sprinted in the water and took off. This is the best I could manage.