I have been highly irregular with this blog.

Instagram kept me away for a while.

Then this new DSLR happened.

One thing led to another and before I knew I was back to my shutterbug days.

(That apart from the usual cribs of how hard we work, how less we are paid and how little time we have)

So let me say sorry to the few kind folk who have actually written in saying they miss my writing.

That IS rather kind of you. Thank you.

And then I thought the best way of saying Hi again would be to tell you a little bit about what I have been up to.

It’s called Birding.

Yup. Have been introduced to it by a colleague just a few days back and it’s gotten me hooked.

It’s no way as fancy as it sounds on wiki. Yet.

Simply put, you go to these bird-friendly areas.

You walk through bushes, tall grass, ‘unfriendly terrain.’

You pretend to be invisible to the bird eye and try to take bird pictures.

In the process you discover it is not exactly the easiest job in the world.

Birds have wings you see. They tend to fly away just as you are all set to press the shutter.

Anyways. One you are done with all this, you come back and find out the names of the species you didn’t recognize by scanning the web and bird books.

Jokes apart, the shooting is tough but heady.

The search for the names of the birds you shot – it’s exciting and fulfilling.

I know I sound like a noob.

Well, I am a noob at this. And it feels awesome

It’s like going back to kindergarten.

Millions of ‘Birding’ basics to be learned.

And shooting birds is no joke. As I have discovered.

You can see an album containing some pictures from my first informal Birding experience.

Click HERE :

There are various Birding groups online with operations in almost all major cities.

If you like taking pictures and like birds, give it a shot.

Who knows you might land a rare picture of a rare bird pretty soon?

Yeah. Noob optimism

As far as regular blogging goes…

Well, I hope to be at it a lot more regularly

Cheers

I am still at it.

I mean iphoneography & instagramming.

(have kind of surprised myself)

Here are two ways to keep an eye on how bad I am at this.

1. Via Inkstagram - Here

2. Via Webstagram - Here

The interface is simpler – it’s easier than navigating my photoblog.

And it really is a fascinating world full of some remarkably talented people out there.

I have a few social media friends to keep me company.

And yes, they all shoot better than I do.

Till now

I have compiled the Instagram pictures into a photoblog:

There is no defined theme.

Random pictures – taken on the spur of the moment.

The photoblog is at http://24blvd.tumblr.com/

And I hope to keep it updated.

Comments/feedback/brickbats are welcome.

Okay, do go easy on the brickbats

So I was quite delighted when I discovered Instagram.

I can take pictures with my iPhone.

And an Instagram App allows me to choose from a set of filters that, when applied, make the end product look pretty good.

Then there’s this community of awesome Instagram photographers as well.

They, of course, have gone way beyond the level of just applying filters.

Their pictures are, in any case, fabulously taken.

Trust me.

I guess it’s still a newish thing because I couldn’t find too many developer apps for it.

Of the ones around, I found Carousel to be apt for me.

It let’s you explore the world of Instagram simply and nicely.

(If you look to the top right of my blog, you can see how it’s made my pictures look interesting. I believe if you refresh the page, you’ll see different ones.)

Oh yes, it’s nice to be writing again.

The nicer part?

Now if I see a writer’s block, I’ll simply shoot it  :-)