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2013-06-20 05:54:00 (12 comments, 5 reshares, 106 +1s)

A bird and flowers!
This Purple Sunbird is for my dear friend +Mylah Nazario who celebrates her birthday today. Happy Birthday Mylah!
#puprlesunbird   #birds   #India  

2013-06-19 04:26:05 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 142 +1s)

Sunlight and Shadows
A forest pool at Gir National Park, India.
I have a tight day and will not be able to respond to comments, hence they are closed. Pluses are always encouraging! :)
#girnationalpark   #India  

2013-06-18 07:08:45 (75 comments, 20 reshares, 273 +1s)

Look how long my tongue is!
Male Purple-rumped Sunbird.
#kolkata   #birds   #India  for #birdloversworldwide  by +Robert SKREINER and #breakfastclub  by +Gemma Costa 

2013-06-17 13:23:24 (0 comments, 7 reshares, 183 +1s)

''Knowledge in the Sky''
Bushmen shoot under the Kalahari skies.

2013-06-17 06:07:15 (75 comments, 14 reshares, 216 +1s)

The Silence of the Mountains!
Singalila range from Sikkim Himalayas, India.
For #mountainmonday  curated by +Michael Russell 
  #Himalayas   #Kabru   #Kanchenjunga   #India   #Sikkim  

2013-06-15 12:24:01 (100 comments, 11 reshares, 284 +1s)

The Take Off!
There are different degrees of difficulty associated with bird photography. Flight or action is difficult and something like this one, shot from a moving boat, is even more difficult (for me, that is :)). So I was happy to have pulled this one off.
Best seen large
Red-crested Pochard male.
  #birds   #India  

2013-06-14 10:04:41 (69 comments, 10 reshares, 189 +1s)

Times Change - Your Tradition Does not!
The image on the left was acquired from internet while I was studying the Konyak tribe of Nagaland, India. It was shot in 1937 by Nicholas Haimendorf who visited the Mon district with the British Army.
The image on the right was shot by me in 2010 at a festival in Nagaland. Much has changed between 1937 and 2010. Today most Nagas are Baptists, speak English and show western influence in choice of clothes. But they still preserve their heritage and keep it alive, as you can observe here.
Much to learn.
(Citation: SOAS Library PPN19_6_NAGA_2557 for image on left)

2013-06-13 05:59:58 (99 comments, 21 reshares, 258 +1s)

The Elegance of Flight
Indian Pond Heron, Kolkata
  #bird   #India   #kolkata  

2013-06-11 14:44:18 (103 comments, 26 reshares, 288 +1s)

Indian Roller
A dazzling species that used to be common in the Indian countryside. Pesticides and chemicals are taking their toll these days.
  #birds   #India  

2013-06-10 07:29:40 (85 comments, 10 reshares, 218 +1s)

He Walks With Lions!
This man is a 'Maldhari', a nomadic tribal herdsmen who lives in the Gir National Park, the home of lions in India.  Maldharis have co-existed with the lions for hundreds of years and share a symbiotic relationship with them. Lions periodically take the Maldharis water buffalos/cows for food, but the Maldharis understand the cycle of life and take it in their stride. The lions in Gir have no history of hunting humans. All you need to keep them at bay is usually a sturdy bamboo stick.
This is an old favourite film image which had been scanned. 
  #Maldhari   #Gir   #India  

2013-06-10 02:58:38 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 68 +1s)

Always a happy moment to see your image in +Jarek Klimek 's selection for the day. Better still if it makes the cover. Great shots from 6 others too. Have a look. Thanks Jarek.

2013-06-09 09:12:58 (119 comments, 50 reshares, 411 +1s)

A Composite Image
I was encouraged to try this based on the recent posts by my friend +Darryl Van Gaal . You can check them out by visiting his page.
While the best composites need that you plan both (or all) the elements, I searched my archives to find two that went along well. Or so I think! :)
I used a clear blue sky for the birds in flight shot which was easy to remove. So, this effort took about 10 minutes to put together in PS.
The backdrop is from the Nainital Hills and the parakeets were flying over the outskirts of Kolkata city. #birds   #India  

2013-06-08 14:47:30 (82 comments, 15 reshares, 256 +1s)

Himalayas
This one is for Jim Marsh who was a source of constant encouragement on GPlus. Jim passed away yesterday. I will miss him.

2013-06-07 12:23:54 (115 comments, 19 reshares, 328 +1s)

Lunchtime!
#bee   #flower   #silkcotton   #kolkata  

2013-06-06 16:16:55 (14 comments, 20 reshares, 50 +1s)

The Sheer Immensity of the Threat!
For #threatenedthursday  by +Diego Cattaneo +Sandy Schepis +Anette Mossbacher and myself.
Share so that others know what elephants face in Africa and elsewhere,

2013-06-06 15:17:35 (90 comments, 12 reshares, 235 +1s)

Hanging On!
Coppersmith Barbet #birds   #Kolkata   #India  

2013-06-05 12:50:42 (76 comments, 7 reshares, 216 +1s)

Little Terns - Big Flock!
I'll post the colour version some day. It is looking too vibrant to me and I need to play around with it a bit! :)
#birds   #India  

2013-06-04 14:02:56 (82 comments, 23 reshares, 238 +1s)

This is where I would rather be!
Blue waters and a pristine forest. River Ithun, Arunachal Pradesh, India
  #India   #Ithun   #river  

2013-06-03 14:38:26 (87 comments, 7 reshares, 189 +1s)

A Red Fiddler Crab for Daniel!
Today is the birthday of my dear friend, +Daniel Chen . Daniel is a great photographer and (I am told :) ) a great cook too! But he likes to photograph  food, cityscapes and architecture. I am a wildlife photographer and have no cityscapes or architecture for him. The best I can do is "food on the hoof' - this delicious looking crab!
Happy Birthday mate - Have a great day filled with food and fun!
  #crab   #wildlife   #India   #macromonday  by +Kerry Murphy +Jennifer Eden 

2013-06-03 06:03:31 (31 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

Poor Birthday Notification Algorithm!
GPlus has got this birthday notification completely messed up. It will show me people who are absent-on-leave for months  or have little interaction with me - AND never show birthdays of people I interact with daily! Useless waste as it is! #gplusfail  

2013-06-02 15:43:41 (101 comments, 18 reshares, 254 +1s)

New Cover Image
A little artwork, a little camera work and a little friend - that's the latest recipe for a cover image :)
Purple Sunbird #bird   #coverphoto   #India  

2013-06-02 13:13:29 (53 comments, 3 reshares, 127 +1s)

Tribal Folk Dance
This one may not appeal to many, but an image that helps me remember a memorable night. A bitter cold dark night in an Indian village  broken by the sound of rhythmic drums and feet. The only light coming from a raging fire and oil lamps. 
  #India   #dance  

2013-06-01 09:24:21 (79 comments, 4 reshares, 226 +1s)

Perfectly Balanced!
Grey Heron taking off!
  #birds   #India   #birdloversworldwide  by +Robert SKREINER 

2013-05-31 04:39:30 (75 comments, 23 reshares, 220 +1s)

Something bright and cheerful for a Friday morning! :)
Red Avadavat or Strawberry Finch
  #birds   #kolkata   #India   

2013-05-30 09:19:25 (92 comments, 8 reshares, 237 +1s)

The Blackbuck
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope species found in the Indian Subcontinent. It is the only living species of the genus Antilope. The males can have horns as long as 79 cm (31 in)
The primary threats to the species are poaching and habitat loss. They are listed as Near Threatened.
My submission for #threatenedthursday  curated by +Diego Cattaneo +Anette Mossbacher +Sandy Schepis and myself.

2013-05-29 14:08:54 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 150 +1s)

Women in Red
My India!
Comments are disabled :)
  #India   #westbengal  

2013-05-29 07:03:29 (72 comments, 6 reshares, 180 +1s)

Lost in His Trade
He repairs kerosene stoves.
Kerosene is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid and is called paraffin in some countries. It is a common household fuel in India. It is subsidized and rationed to be sold to those who cannot afford cooking gas.
  #kolkata   #india   #canons90  

2013-05-27 16:59:39 (98 comments, 10 reshares, 229 +1s)

Lord of the Sky!
The Himalayan Griffon   Gyps himalayensis  is the largest bird of prey in our parts with wingspans reaching 10 feet in some birds. It is found in the high Himalayas, as the name suggests, and adjacent parts.
  #birds #India     #monochromemonday  by +Jerry Johnson 

2013-05-26 16:43:12 (147 comments, 42 reshares, 436 +1s)

A Sunset to Remember!
This is one of the 1st images I shared on GPlus almost 2 years ago. But that was a smaller sized image, and was casually processed. I had occasion to revisit the image and thought I might as well share the reworked version here. #Sundarbans   #India   #breakfastclub  +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS +Gemma Costa +Robert SKREINER 

2013-06-06 04:32:35 (83 comments, 11 reshares, 227 +1s)

Mist and Memories
As photographers we very often see an image and remember where we shot it. But some memories are different. These are memories of places that remind you that you did take a photograph to try and preserve what could not really be recorded.
It was like that for me when I shot this image of the River Teesta enveloped in fog and mist in the high Himalayas. The roar of the river escaping through the cover like an unseen beauty telling you that she was there for you, and eternity!
  #Teesta   #India   #Himalaya   #westbengal

2013-05-24 09:02:37 (72 comments, 7 reshares, 205 +1s)

Dancing in the Streets!
Dancing to drums in a street procession is a quintessential part of ceremonies in many parts of rural India. Some communities keep the tradition alive in cities where they come to work. 
My India!
Kolkata, India #dancing   #kolkata   #India  

2013-05-25 07:35:29 (52 comments, 10 reshares, 157 +1s)

Won't be Long Before He Adorns the Sepia Pages
The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is threatened with extinction due to the demand for its horn. There are only -3,300- 3,298 left in the world and many of these face enormous pressure from poachers. It is not unlikely that our grandchildren will not see them in the wild unless we act now to stop the demand.
For #threatenedthursday  curated by +Anette Mossbacher +Sandy Schepis +Diego Cattaneo and myself.
Update: There are now 3.298 left after this (25th May) : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/poachers-kill-two-kaziranga-rhinos/articleshow/20254587.cms

2013-05-22 07:46:54 (75 comments, 7 reshares, 216 +1s)

Correcting an error!
I normally don't share the same subject here. But had to make this exception because of a serious complaint I received. Apparently, I posted the wrong profile yesterday and my model is furious! So folks, please expunge the earlier image from your files and only look at this one ! :)
Oriental Garden Lizard , Kolkata, India

2013-05-21 08:01:02 (77 comments, 12 reshares, 228 +1s)

I had a visitor to my studio this morning!
I think he fancied some of the coffee that I was drinking! :)
Oriental Garden Lizard   Calotes versicolor
  #lizard #Kolkata

2013-05-20 15:29:03 (74 comments, 7 reshares, 178 +1s)

There is a New Wonder at Every Turn when you walk the forest.
So wonderful that even a bird photographer is moved to record and share.

2013-05-20 13:44:11 (63 comments, 16 reshares, 195 +1s)

The First Flight
Best Seen Full Screen!
I do a lot of bird surveys and use photography as a tool. The skill needed here is that you must get all the birds in a flock - and you should be able to identify almost all of them. This image is resized about 40% of original. In full size you can, if you have the skill, identify 99% of the birds in the flock. This one is almost all Garganeys, but there are a couple of other species in there as well.
  #birds #India

2013-05-19 08:50:28 (42 comments, 5 reshares, 151 +1s)

Getting Ready for the Indian Wedding!
Applying mehndi or henna during the day so that it looks fresh for the ceremony at night. This is the 1st step, and the application takes time to dry and peel off to leave the temporary  design  behind.
  #India   #wedding  

2013-05-18 13:01:44 (89 comments, 14 reshares, 243 +1s)

You Can't Beat Nature's Studio
Yellow-bellied Prinia singing for a mate.
Kolkata, India #birds #India

2013-05-17 08:12:06 (82 comments, 14 reshares, 235 +1s)

Crested Serpent Eagle
Another go with portrait orientation in the new GPlus layout :)
The bird actually does prey on serpents!
Kolkata, India #birds  +BIRD LOVERS Worldwide +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS  by +Robert SKREINER 

2013-05-16 09:26:50 (128 comments, 35 reshares, 354 +1s)

Nothing like a Good Meal on Your Birthday!
This one is for my friend and fellow bird photographer - Gaurav Mittal who celebrates his birthday today +Gaurav Mittal . Many Happy Returns of the Day mate!
Also to test out how the new G+ treats vertical images :)
Coppersmith Barbet on a Rubber Tree. Kolkata, India #birds   #India  

2013-05-15 11:35:25 (63 comments, 9 reshares, 195 +1s)

The Lonely Lady
Life is not always filled with colour and joy - there is darkness and pathos mixed in equal amounts!
Kolkata, India

2013-05-14 13:21:14 (72 comments, 6 reshares, 182 +1s)

Just Some Wild Flowers
An old image which I have reprocessed.

2013-05-13 06:22:33 (111 comments, 20 reshares, 216 +1s)

Good Day to Share an Old Image
The way GPlus is messed up over the last two days, most (who have me in their circles) will never this image anyway :)
Chestnut-tailed Starling on a Silk Cotton branch.
Kolkata, India.

2013-05-12 05:12:34 (70 comments, 17 reshares, 176 +1s)

Portrait of a Mother
Bonnet Macaque at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, India
  #mothersday   #happymothersday  

2013-05-21 13:36:35 (94 comments, 9 reshares, 221 +1s)

Another Sundarbans Sunset
To follow up on yesterday's post!
Sundarbans, India
For #mirrorsandreflections  by my friend +Gemma Costa 

2013-05-10 09:02:26 (81 comments, 15 reshares, 191 +1s)

Sunset and a Fisherman
Sundarbans, India
  #breakfastclub  by +Gemma Costa 

2013-05-09 16:08:55 (80 comments, 6 reshares, 184 +1s)

Indian Wild Ass Equus hemionus khur at 45mph!
The top speed of this animal is 70 kmph, and you get one chance to shoot them while the jeep is going at over 80 kmph over uneven terrain. Also, you get only a minute to get your shot - the chase stops thereafter. Very satisfying if you get something presentable in the frame at the end!
The Indian Wild Ass is a large member of the horse family. They are  endangered with only 4,000 odd left in the world! Only found in desert and semi-desert areas of Gujarat in western India.
Foe #threatenedthursday  by +Sandy Schepis +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and myself.

2013-05-09 11:44:43 (15 comments, 3 reshares, 47 +1s)

With less than 200 left, will this magnificent bird be the first mega species to go extinct in India in recent times? Or can it be pulled back from the brink of extinction? Your voice is powerful. Make it heard now to save the Great Indian Bustard!. 

2013-05-08 14:11:58 (121 comments, 26 reshares, 274 +1s)

Colours as Camouflage!
Despite its bold plumage you will find it hard to pick up the Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker in this mess :)
  #birdloversworldwide  by +Robert SKREINER 
  #breakfastclub  by +Gemma Costa 

2013-05-08 05:36:17 (67 comments, 2 reshares, 162 +1s)

Boarding a train, Indian style!
This image would never have been shared here in the normal course because it is far too experimental - trying to convey motion while holding some elements still.
But today is not a normal day here. Today is the birthday of the very special +Gene Bowker who just happens to love trains. And this is the only train image that I could find :) 
Incidentally, it is common for Indian males to board a running train when it starts leaving the platform, even if they have all the time in the world to get up while it is not in motion. A habit that leaves me perplexed for want of a logical answer. 
Many Happy Returns of the day Gene! Have a blast!
  #happybdaygene