Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Canon EOS 60D Sample - 20.11.2013

My neighborhood cat shot with Canon EOS 60D & Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens. JPEG capture (no RAW) and some minor Photoshop enhancements.IMG_0015

Full Image Specs:

Camera Model: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ 200mm
Shutter speed: 1/400 sec
Aperture: 3.5
Exposure mode: Program
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400

Friday, September 27, 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Wild Boar family, Bandipur - September 2013

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Nilambur - Gudalur Road, September 2013

Nilambur-Gudalur high range road on the way to Ooty & Mysore via Muthumalai, Bandipur from Kochi. 

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Safari Track, Bandipur - September 2013

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Tea Estates, Gudalur - September 2013

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Safari Jeep, Bandipur - September 2013

Type of Vehicle used for jungle safari at Bandipur. One and half-hour trip costs INR.2000.00 for a maximum of 6 persons per vehicle.

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Peacock, Bandipur - September 2013

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Grey Jungle fowl, Bandipur - September 2013

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Sambar deer, Bandipur - September 2013

A lone female Sambar deer, Bandipur.

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Fort Kochi Jungar Ferry Video - September 2013

Fort Kochi – Vypin Jungar (Ferry) service video.

Stay at Bandipur Forest Department Cottages - September 2013

We stayed at Vanasuma cottage which is at the corner edge of the Bandipur Forest Guest House campus adjoining the Tiger Reserve.
_P6A5857View of spotted deer herd from Vanasuma cottage
The boundary is not restricted with any wall or fence; hence we get a reel feel of the jungle and can watch wildlife right from our cottage verandah or window. Vehicles are allowed near the cottages at day time; however between 6.00pm and 6.00am the vehicles are not permitted to run inside the campus and should be parked at the parking area near the reception. That’s because there are a lot of wild life movements inside the campus including elephants at night. Big cats are also said to be spotted inside the campus rarely.

When we checked in by noon, we saw hundreds of Chital deer's at the edge of the forest about 100 meters from our cottage.
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_P6A5883 Same place encroached by a herd of spotted deer at dusk
By dusk they started to move towards us and were found grazing the entire meadow of the guesthouse campus. Some came very near to our cottage door step. Seeing hundreds (that’s right, in hundreds) of Spotted deer who have made the forest rest house meadow their night camping ground was simply amazing.
Video
The bus & Jeep Safari starts from the reception center near the guest house gates.
Points to Note:
1. This is not a luxury tourist resort. Most cottages are more than 30 years old, the facilities are minimum; We didn't even get hot water in bathroom although the facility was installed there and was not working. You get a 2 bed cottage right in the midst of the forest for 1000 bucks with the luxury of watching the wildlife from your room. In that sense, you won't get a better deal than this anywhere in Bandipur.
2. Food is veg only and is made against order at least 2 hrs.' before which are reasonably tasty. That also comes cheap @ INR.70.00 for lunch & dinner, INR.40.00 for breakfast per head.
3. Bus & Jeep safari timings: 6.30 A.M to 9.30 A.M & 3.30 P.M to 6.30 P.M
4. Sighting wild animals is sheer luck, so don’t blame me if you didn't come across anything while you stay here. Good Luck.
5. Cottages can only be booked online through Karnataka forest website and not from the reception center at Bandipur. Tariff for two-bed cottage is INR 1000.00 including tax plus INR.200.00 park entry fee per person. When you stay at forest department cottages, you do not have to pay this 200.00 park entry charges while taking safari ticket, pay only 100.00 per person for jungle safari in mini buses, because you already paid that at the time you check in (all rates mentioned above are for Indian Nationals).  
    For more details & booking visit : http://www.bandipurtigerreserve.in/

DSC03590 That’s myself with a group of Chital deer near our cottage
DSC03734 Dining hall of the guest house
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