Blue, blue, blue

[madamasu]

I started taking pictures in the mid-sixties (with Nikon) , photographed extensively, when I lived in Japan from 1979 to 1983, sold almost all my
equipment, when I moved to Taiwan, and almost didn't photograph at all between 1983 and 2003. Then I was back in Germany, a friend showed me his big Canon DSLR, and I was impressed and lured into photographing again.

My first camera was a Nikon D70 and the 18-70 kit-lense, and I must say, that a lot of pictures I like, were taken with this combination.
2006 was my first trip to India, I fell for it head over heels and am looking forward to my next trip in about a week. I have seen many countries, and I think India is by far the most colourful country I have been to. The colours are so intense that sometimes I de-saturate, because the pictures just look exaggerated. Especially blue is a colour that's often encountered in India, many people colour their house-walls in bright blue. Many reasons are given for this, but no matter why they do it, it just looks stunning.

Here are two pictures from my first trip to Rajasthan in 2006/2007, both with the D70 and the 18-70 kit-lense:

1. A girl in front of a blue temple-door in Udaipur:





2. A grinnig goat in the small village of Nawalgarh:





The last picture was taken with the D200 and the same kit-lense. I have a 50x70 cm Lambda print of this picture and I can't see any pixels or other artefacts. The detail right down to the structure of the shirt is extraordinary- and that from a kit-lense @ f 4.5!

2. A little girl in Mandu, who smiled broadly after I gave her some sweets
(yes, it's bad for the teeth, I know):

[Shiladitya]

Hello Thomas,

Fantastic images as usual.

Welcome to India, do let me know if you want any help while you are here.

[madamasu]

Hi Shiladitya,

thanks for your praise and the offer. I'm going to do almost the same thing I did three years ago, just go to some more place I haven't been to in Rajashtan and stay a little longer in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
I sent you a PM. We absolutely should meet in Delhi and have a beer (or more) together.

Looking forward to our meeting
Thomas

[dakoo]

Love the first shot..
Nice to hear u love India.
Being in rajasthan, u should not miss visiting Ranthombore National Park too.
It's a beautiful forest to photograph, specially this time of the year.

If you have any Russian lenses they may rock in Rajasthan, due to their coloring...

[madamasu]

Dakoo,

thanks for the hint. I have not yet exactly decided, what I'm going to take, but it looks like they will all be MF-lenses, because I'm so used to them now.

Thomas