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“On the Shoot”

Most poor pictures are caused by camera movement. A camera must not be hand held at shutter speeds less than 60. At the least, a tripod must be used.

I had been going over the basics, I had learnt over the last decade. I do that whenever I am nervous. I have been doing my stuff instinctively and as of now, I have been pretty successful. But this time had to do my homework, I can’t take chances, you see. Not this time.

Most photographers are often fearful of close-up photography. Dewdrops on grass, details of a butterfly wings, vein structure of a leaf, all of close-up photography is concerned with recording details of the subject. It is essentially a balancing act. The subject being too close to photographer, sometimes just overawes him. Every detail, if taken care of, still calls for luck. Other than static subjects, mobile subjects should be confined without hurting or upsetting.

The depth is extremely important. Depth!! How do I estimate depth? Depth has indeed been a worrying factor. I will probably have to rely on my instincts. Smaller aperture settings would allow more depth of the field while larger aperture setting would allow to blur the foreground or background while keeping the subject in focus. But then what about light? If I read my newly bought light meter, I would have to estimate the shutter speed to allow enough light. Faster shutter speeds are used outdoors in bright lights and will freeze action. Slower shutter speeds are used in low lights and will blur movement or action.

I am hopeful that everything just gels in. Please, let the photograph be perfect. That is all I want at this point of time in my life.

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The picture did not come out. Never was it shot. I did not have the guts.

How could I love a picture? A picture to live out a life. That would have been an injustice. A photograph does not have the smell or the magic that memories have. I may not remember her the way she was, but at least remembering the right way for as long as possible, is the minimum I could have decided to do.

People think it insane to part ways with people they are affectionate with. They all say that never is the time to part, if people have decided to stick together, they can and should. All the time that passed between us was great and it was tantalizing, the way you oomphed life in my life. All that time will always remain as it was and that makes me happy.

I have always wanted to be satisfied in life, but it so happens that I am afraid to commit and I am afraid of showing that I might be interested. All my desires have been slaughtered by the harsh realities. I feel as if life has seemingly turned into war for quenching my parched soot-lined throat. I always thought that this would be my last mistake but then I continued to live on and continued to make the mistakes.

"Shoonya"


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