Durga Puja Parikrama 2015

As I mentioned earlier in my posts that I am a resident of Baishnabghata Patuli Township, which of late has witnessed a number of changes over the past few years. Lying in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, Patuli has seen development in the areas of electrification, provision of water, maintenance of roads and lanes and sewage. All these developments have benefited the inhabitants of the area in a number of ways. As far as festivities and celebrations are concerned, Patuli is not lagging behind either. Durga Puja is observed here with the same pomp and glory as in other parts of Kolkata and West Bengal.

Durga Pujas celebrated in our area have garnered noteworthy recognition and awards in different categories including pratima or idol, pandal decoration, illumination, theme and others. I have been sincerely covering the Durga pujas celebrated in Baishnabghata Patuli Township and the adjacent areas for the last three years (2012, 2013 and 2014), and this year was no different. I picked up my camera to catch some of the moments of this famous Bengali festival.

The following pujas were covered by me: Baishnabghata Patuli Upanagari Sporting Club Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Baishnabghata Patuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab (H Block), Uttar Purba Baishnabghata Patuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Patuli Central Club Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Jatrashuru Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Kendua Shanti Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Rabindrapally Jubak Sangha Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Patuli Ghoshpara Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Briji Kalyan Samiti Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Srirampur Kalyan Samiti Sarbojonin Durgotsab, Garia Park Sarbojonin Durgotsab and Chaitali Club YMCA Sarbojonin Durgotsab. Besides, I went to SIRSA, the place where I lived from 1985-1995, to take few snaps. It is always a pleasant experience to go out during the Durga Pujas along with your reliable camera. I was surprised to see the zeal of people of all age groups to go out and catch the glimpses of this vibrant festival. I mostly used Canon EOS 1100D, Canon PowerShot SX500 IS, Micromax Canvas Doodle 3 and Nokia X mobile to take these snaps. Next blog coming up soon! See
you till then.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1059903314042026.1073741894.672990912733270&type=3

Shield bug in my room (30/06/2015)

Yesterday evening, when I was browsing Facebook and other sites on my personal computer, I noticed an uncommon type of bug on the floor of my room. When I observed it closely, I found that it was a shield bug. The size is not bigger than a conventional 50 paise coin (quite rare nowadays) but it is quite different from the ants and insects that we see on a daily basis. It spurred my curiosity.

About shield bug

The shield bug belongs to the Pentatomoidea superfamily of insects of which the stink bugs and chust bugs are also a part. The shield bug is a part of Acanthosomatidae family (order - Hemiptera) and there are 54 genera in this family, comprising approximately 200 species. The Acanthosomatidae family is one of the least varied families of the Pentatomoidea superfamily. All bugs of this superfamily are characterized by their sucking mouthparts.

The scutellum or the toughened elongation of the thorax above the abdomen is quite well developed in these bugs. The shape varies from semi-elliptical to triangular and there are normally five sections of the antennae. There are two or sometimes three parts of the tarsi.

There is a gland in the thorax of the shield bug within the 1st and 2nd pair of legs which they use to emit a stinking liquid. They use this liquid as a means for protection from probable predators and also when they are treated incautiously.

The nymphs, like the adult bugs other than tinier and minus wings, have stink glands as well.

Some of these bugs feed on other insects and most of them (both adults and nymphs) make use of their sharp mouthparts for absorbing sap from plants. When these bugs create big groups, they can turn into substantial pests. The photo album link is given below.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1001731619859196.1073741886.672990912733270&type=3

My first experience with Canon EOS 1100D

As expected, I got my consignment of Canon EOS 1100D on September 8, 2014. It was a pretty delightful experience for me since it is the first time I am purchasing a DSLR camera. I ordered for it on the fourth and received it on the eighth. So, Flipkart delivered it within four days, thanks to the online retail giant.

The Canon EOS 1100D DSLR Camera has a black body with EF-S 18-55 mm IS II Lens. The package also contained Canon EOS Digital wide strap, battery charger, interface cable, and software (CD-ROM). The camera has a maximum resolution of 12.2 megapixel (4,272 × 2,848) and moreover, it is compatible with a broad range of lenses including Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and Carl Zeiss. You can use this entry-level DSLR camera for shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, and travel photography. Since I am a newbie as far as DSLR cameras are concerned, I am concentrating on the Full Auto mode in which the autofocus, brightness, and flash firing are automatically set. I will be gradually focusing on other modes of shooting such as Portrait, Full Auto, Close-up, Landscape, Night Portrait, Sports, Program AE, No Flash, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Auto Depth-of-field (ADEF), Manual, and Creative Auto. I am uploading one sample image that I have shot with this new camera. See you soon with my next update!

(ƒ/5.6 55.0 mm 1/80s ISO 1000) Flash (off, did not fire).

Why Canon EOS 1100D is going to be my next camera

For photography enthusiasts who are just beginners in the field, Canon EOS 1100D can prove to be an outstanding camera for them. It is a digital single-lens reflex camera with a maximum resolution of 12.2 megapixel (4,272 × 2,848). Canon Corporation launched this camera on February 7, 2011.

The most attractive feature of this camera is that it substitutes the EOS 1000D with the introduction of movie mode which was not there in the entry-level DSLRs made by the company. However, unlike other DSLRs made by Canon, this camera is manufactured in Taiwan. In Japan, its name is EOS KISS X50 and in the US, it is available in the name EOS Rebel T3.

Features explained:

• It features 12.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for good picture quality and speed.
• Has improved EOS HD movie mode with expanded recording (720p HD video quality). There are in-camera movie editing options as well.
• ASA/ISO range 100 – 6400 which helps you take shots from bright to dim light.
• Dual-layer, 63-zone metering system allows enhanced metering to ensure precise metering between exposures.
• Focal plane shutter.
• Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 s and bulb 1/200 s X-sync.
• Continuous drive up to 3.0 fps which helps you shoot up to roughly 2 fps for 5 RAW frames or around 3 fps for 830 JPEG frames.
• Dependable 9-point high speed AF system employing a high precision, f/5.6 cross-type center point.
• File formats supported: RAW (14-bit CR2) and JPEG.
• Flash: Automatic in-built E-TTL II pop-up flash. 
• Focus modes: One shot, AI Focus, AI Servo.
• Advanced imaging features including the Quick Setting function, new Basic+ function, and Creative Auto help you express your creativity without any hassle.
• Has 2.7-inch wide rear TFT LCD monitor (230,000 pixels) with Live View function for better view. 
• It is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards.
• New Feature Guide provides Quick Control screen for simple operation and small descriptions of every function.
• Enjoys compatibility with the complete range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
• Metering modes: Partial (approximately 10% at the center of viewfinder), Evaluative, and Center-weighted average.
• Viewfinder: Eye-level pentamirror Single Lens Reflex, 0.87x magnification, 95% coverage.
• Custom White Balance: Daylight, Auto, Cloudy, Shade, White Fluorescent Light, Tungsten Light, Manual, Flash, and user-set.
• Exposure modes: Portrait, Full Auto, Close-up, Landscape, Night Portrait, Sports, Program AE, No Flash, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Auto Depth-of-field, Manual, and Creative Auto.
• Dimensions: 5.11 × 3.93 × 3.07 inches (130 × 100 × 78 mm)
• Battery: LP-E10 Battery Pack
• Weight: 495 gm (1.091 lb) (only body)

Image source: http://www.photoshopdaily.co.uk/