New Look - Another Beginning

After a very long absence on my blog, I have decided to start posting again and it is a promise – more than anybody else to myself! I hope that there are still people following me here.

You may get hiccups to access the blog with the previous address as I have a decided to give it a makeover with a new logo (thus new look) and a new address. I am migrating my blog from Lens StOp (lenstop.blogspot.com) to V-I-B-G-Y-O-R (vibgy0r.blogspot.com). 

V(iolet)-I(ndigo)-B(lue)-G(reen)-Y(ellow)-O(range)-R(ed) : the seven colours of rainbow.

The 'retired' Lens StOp logo

Temporarily I have suspended all the previous posts as the embedded hyperlinks need some attention; not to worry – they will all become live soon.

After deciding the new name of the blog, I started working on the logo – the result was not disappointing but not appeasing either. If you have seen my latest posts on flickr or 500px, then you may noticed the logo.

The first draft of V-I-B-G-Y-O-R

However, my good friend Pradnya was my saviour and provided me the fantastic new logo which I loved. Thank you very much my friend. Let me know what you think about the new logo. 

The new avatar

I also have started posting on Instagram recently, you can follow me there if you like my work. 

So, Cheers! To the new beginning and wish to get your continuous support and appreciation which will motivate me to the miles! See you there!

Anjuna Flea Market

Goa – Goa Reloaded – Goa Revolution! What’s this suggests? Any guess?

In 2015, I went to Goa for 3 times – nothing can be better.

Lost some of the mobile snaps and wasn’t getting the required time to post the snaps. Finally I’m done with a section – some random photos that I have clicked in Anjuna’s weekly (Wednesday) Flea market are here for your treat.

Hippie selling Ninja shoes

The market is an interesting place, where you can see handcrafts from across globe.

The place is full of colors and life. On purpose, I developed all these snaps in monochrome - wanted to highlight the vibrancy using black-n-white only.

See the high resolution images of this post here in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.
© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

A weekend in Shimla, 2014

Went to Shimla over a weekend, back in 2014. Wanted to take a break from July’s hot and humid Delhi.

Clicked few snaps and they were pending since a long time due to other commitments of life!

Finally came out with them. Hopefully you will like them.

See the high resolution images of this post here in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.

© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

Learning to play with birds

I'm experimenting with Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED and what could be better than trying this telephoto zoom lens on bird photography? This lens in my hand and my hand in bird photography - both are new to me. Very clearly I realized that this is the field of photography where I need most sincere patience to capture quality.

I did not tried though that seriously, I did not went outside for my so far venture in this area. All the snaps I captured either through my window or from rooftop of my room; need to get rid of this laziness soon.

These are what I achieved so far, hope to learn more and more in coming days.

See the high resolution images of this post here in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.
© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

From Mumbai to Delhi by Rajdhani

Mumbai - the city which helped me becoming what I'm now. After 3 long years, I have been there recently. Old friends, familiar roads and places, good communication (specifically the local train), hospitality, the best auto/taxi culture and many more - all these are there in Mumbai for my 'Welcome' sake.

I was down with health issues in this 3 days/2 nights trip. Many plans were not met. The drama became sweaty due to traffic congestion and I almost missed my train. Thank god, I was just in time and departed safely from Mumbai. Destination Delhi.

On the way to Delhi, I received a gift from the setting sun of Mumbai - a picturesque sunset and I was quick with my mobile.

Through the window of Rajdhani express

From Mumbai to Delhi

To conclude - the trip was not that disappointing.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.

© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

An Indian Bride

NOTE: I'm not taking interest in wedding photography neither I want to turn myself as a wedding photographer.

One of my closest childhood friends recently got married (very stupid act!) and she asked me to capture few candid shots of her marriage. I agreed and gave it a try, I also tried the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G on this occasion for the first time since it was purchased.

God bless you my dear!

See the high resolution images of this post here in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.
© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

Weekend diaries: an evening in Dubai (19-April-2013)

I admit often that living in Dubai is a lifetime experience. A visit to Dubai always thrills me, it has many things to offer. It attracts me with it's engineering marvels, with it's beautiful cityscape, glamorous lifestyle, global population and what not!

This time I was in Palm Jumeirah. The weather disappointed me in one hand and gifted something else from the other hand. From Jumeirah, all the landmarks of Dubai are visible - I planned a shot. The weather was so cloudy that the visibility was very poor. I waited and waited for it to be in my favor but not. Finally it was the time of sunset and clouds played their role for something good - a drama.

The dust bug of D600 did not spared me, that is evident from the photographs but the day ended with a smile on my face. It was time for the evening. I was in Jumeirah Lake Towers to visit one of my friends, the view from his balcony was something spectacular, here is a glimpse

 That is why Dubai is so beautiful in everyone's eyes.

See the high resolution images of this post here in flickr. More stories of Dubai:

1. AT THE TOP
2. My last weekend in Dubai
3. Happy New Year 2013
4. Exploring Festival city


Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.
© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

Weekend diaries: Al Aqah on 22-Feb-2013 and 12-Apr-2013

22-February-2013

Al Aqah mesmerized me last time and I promised myself that I will visit again but this time to capture sunrise. On 22-Feb early morning (5.30am) I bid adieu to my weekend sleep, left for Al Aqah with my friend and this time my new D600 accompanied me. 

We were there on time and had the allowance for setup. Mr. Sun started to rise from the confluence of sea and horizon. 

It is difficult for me to choose only one and show here. I captured a series of snaps and posted them here in sequence. Reflection of rising sun on Hajar mountains on the opposite side was beautiful too.

Leaving the bed early was beautiful and obviously fruitful. Another good Friday!

12-April-2013

I woke-up early to see the sunrise in Al Aqah again and headed straightway with one of my colleagues. Nature is not always in your disposal to fulfill your wish! It was a heavily clouded morning - so no sunrise. But nature never let someone to return from her door empty handed! Drama of clouds! This is one of my most favourites from UAE.

On Aqah beach we came across a Filipino family, they were collecting wild oysters from the rocks. Delicious weekend lunch!

Life is easy with a caring partner

Al Aqah! see you soon. High resolution images are in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.

© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.

Weekend diaries: Khor Fakkan and Al Aqah on 08-Feb-2013

Friday - the most awaited day of the week in my working life since last 3 years. Friday is my weekly day-off so the day for relaxing, outing, cooking, sleeping, photographing, blogging and doing whatever! The Fridays of November to February are the best here, weather is cold and soothing - perfect for going out.

On one of such Fridays, I went to Khor Fakkan with my friends and colleagues. It was a beautiful sunny day, the sky was blue and the clouds were white.

On our way to Khor Fakkan

I captured the above video on our way. The day was really beautiful - one of those days when you get perfect sky colors. I kept on capturing till we reached Khor Fakkan beach.

Some dark clouds were also there but they allowed me more dynamic sky like the following:

Afternoon we reached Khor Fakkan beach, spent a good time on beach. After 2-3 hours of playing and swimming we were very much hungry!  Had lunch, ate ice-cream on the beach - ah! felt like school days... We went further north from Khor Fakkan - destination Al Aqah.

Al Dana - Way to AL Aqah

The cloud formations were so beautiful! One of such rare days when nature is very much pleased on you and decided to show you her incredible beauty! We reached Al Aqah and the sun was on his course of setting!

The beach of Aqah is not sandy, it is full of small and big rocks - but they do an incredible job to magnify the beauty of the place. I was unable to capture the sunset as it happened behind the Hajar mountains. But I was able to experience and capture one of the most beautiful blue hours I had ever seen.

 

That's all what I had on that Friday, I will always remember 08-February-2013. Hope that I successfully showed you what I experienced and you enjoyed and more - you wish to experience on your own, then welcome and good luck!

See high resolution images of this post here in flickr.

Please feel free to comment. All comments (criticisms & appraisals) are welcome. Please do not reproduce the images for commercial purposes without prior permission.
© Arunangshu NathSarkar | V-I-B-G-Y-O-R | flickr | 500px | Instagram.