Videoblogging..

After searching high and low, finally found the SONY Imagemixer install CD this weekend!

That means, I get to videoblog again. So downloaded some clips from the old(?! I guess a 2003 DV camcorder is OLD) camcorder from the recent trip. Found out soon enough that the sound was not being recorded. Then remembered having the same problem 4 years ago, fixed it and now after some rush editing, you have

The quality is actually better than what the old Canon S30 was dishing out during its last days.

Now that I can take secret videos again, I am thrilled..

I was reminescing about my first video blog, which happened to be my 100th post! It took me forever to do that videoblog, in days before Youtube. Had to sign up for many accounts, create your own image for the file, link it to windows media player, etc., but it still worked!

We get so used to these improvements that anything old school (which may be just 4 years or even 2 years old) seems arcane!

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Mono Lake

A truly breathtaking view of the lake from the visitor center. You can see the volcanic origins of the lake, the tufa towers, the rock that looks like it is moving (because it is full of gulls jostling for space) and the clear blue alkaline waters.

The water that collects in the lake becomes more and more alkaline as it dries off.

That is the reason only the alkali flies, brine shrimp and california gull are the only things that survive in this environment.

I would love to continue uploading pictures, but blogger gives me an error.

Will try to post a flickr link...

Feeling better now after a days rest. Also saw that SS tagged me. Should probably take a month to work on that one!

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Kaakaas and Kuruvis..

Kaakaa is crow and Kuruvi is sparrow in Tamizh.

We did not see those, but the local flora and fauna of California and we went to some really scenic places to see them.

Mono Lake and Yosemite.

Travelling with small kids is highly over rated. Especially if not to Disneyland, Lego Land, Sea World etc. If Half dome were to wear a costume or the Tufa towers had a mascot with a DVD franchise, things would have been a lot better.

We learnt a valuable lesson over this weekend. Do not take kids to see nature, especially if it means

1. they sit in a carseat
2. we are driving in 95 degree heat with the AC on full blast
3. We travel for 4 hours, open the doors and say "ta da. Behold Mono Lake!"
4. and the kids go "you dragged me here to see these plants, animals, flies and this lake ?!?! You could have taken me to the local park in Cupertino!!"

So, if you are a parent out there, planning a trip to Mono Lake (which is definitely a star attraction in the top 10, for a nature lover, but is going to be on the bottom 10 list for your kids), go without your kids, if that is possible.

That said, the pictures did turn out nicely..

Finally, this post answers the question "What has physical fitness got to do with Photography ?". The answer is "Everything!! especially if you are trying to take pictures like the one below."

I am way out of shape. I had 10 seconds to run down from the tripod and make it to the group. It was probably 10 meters max including two leaps across wooden barricades. But NO! I could not make it on the first try.

The second lesson that came from this trip is that I should take better care of my health! (I was defending the position that I had misjudged 10 seconds and started towards the camera rather slowly, but the entire group told me that, it was not my problem).

The scenic shots, the panoramas, stitch photos will probably hit this blog tomorrow or day after.

Until then, ta ta..