Trip to Snake Park, Badu, Madhyamgram

January 5, 2015 (Monday) was a wintry day. However, that did not stop me from going out for a trip to Snake Park at Badu, Madhyamgram. I have been contemplating to visit that place for a considerable period of time but was not getting the time due to my busy schedule. I got it on Monday and did not miss the opportunity. So, I picked up my trusted mid-range DSLR Canon EOS 1100D and set off for Madhyamgram. My companion on this tour was Kunal Putatunda da, a man who is also interested in photography like me. At around 9 am in the morning, we boarded the Garia-Barasat long route bus from Garia bus stand. We reached Madhyamgram Chowmatha at around 11 am and took an auto rickshaw from there to reach Badu, our destination. Calcutta Snake Park was established in 1977 and its distance from Madhyamgram Railway Station is around 5 km and from Dumdum Airport, it is 10 km. Bus no 93 from Bagbazar can also take you there.

The Snake Park houses a number of venomous and non-venomous snakes. The ornamental snake or Kalnagini is a top draw of this zoo. We also saw a number of monitor lizards in the zoo such as the yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens), the water monitor (Varanus salvator) and the land monitor (Varanus bengalensis). Crocodiles are a major attraction of this zoo and park. There are a number of marsh crocodiles (crocodilus palustris), drawing a significant number of visitors. In addition, there are some rare species of birds (avifauna) which include both Indian and foreign birds that you can see. We kept on clicking the shutters till the time we really got exhausted. After eating lunch at a streetside hotel in Madhyamgram Chowmatha, we returned home by 4 pm that day.

Photo album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.900200173345675.1073741873.672990912733270&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/