Apr 6 - E for Exposure #AtoZChallenge

Settings - shutter speed 4 seconds, f stop 16 & ISO 100

E for Exposure. Exposure is foundation of photography. Exposure is amount of light reaching the image sensor when the shutter of the camera is released (photo is clicked). Amount of light let into the camera is determined by aperture (f-stop or the opening of the lens), shutter speed and ISO, collectively known as exposure triangle.

When shooting in manual mode, these three settings are adjusted to get a well exposured photo. Just like aperture, shutter speed is adjusted to achieve a specific type of photography. Shutter speed is adjusted to capture action, motion and speed in photos and also in low light conditions. Today's photo was taken this evening, soon after sunset. As it was dark, I played with shutter speed for right exposure. In other words, this photo is a long exposure photo as the shutter speed was 4 seconds (shutter of the camera was open for 4 seconds). Since I also wanted a deep depth of field to capture the tress and clouds in the background, I used a higher f-stop, resulting in a small lens opening and less light going into the lens. Hence shutter was open for 4 seconds.

It sounds too technical but once one understands the three settings that influence exposure and exposure triangle, playing with the toy (camera) is lot more fun and at the same time frustration as well!! I tried different subjects with long exposure this evening and this was the only decent photo that could go on the blog.

Camera: Nikon 5100
Picture of the day in 2012: Bronze
Picture of the day in 2011: Spring blossoms

May 21 - Day 141: One of the Masks

This is a sculpture on display at Rockefeller Plaza. It is Thomas Houseago's Masks of Pentagon.
Picture of the day in 2012: Fantasy
Picture of the day in 2011: Shopping in AC
Picture of the day in 2010: Guilty pleasures

July 9 ~ Day 191 / 366 - 10th day of B&W

Today it was free choice. Here is the color photo of this statue. I love the blue & yellow colors.

Picture of the day in 2011: My fortune
Picture of the day in 2010: San Jose municipal garden

Mar 8 ~ Day 68/366 - Art

Dislocated Vertical by Rafael Barrios will be on display till June 30th.
Location: Park Avenue
This day, last year: Random picture

Feb 11 ~ Day 42 - Portrait

The theme for the day is portrait. I did not have a subject for the portrait and I was not comfortable doing a self-portrait. Hence went to the park a took a picture of a squirrel .

Location: Central Park
This day, last year: City in the night

Oct 11 ~ Day 284 - Finally found Mr. Gandhi!

I new there was a statue of Mr.Gandhi on Union Sqaure but only discovered it today.  
Location: South west corner of Union Square  
This day, last year: Animated clock in the park

Sept 25 ~ Day 268 - Tornado

New sculpture at the entrance of Central Park and the picture below as the details about the sculpture.

This day, last year: Streets flooded with rain water

Sept 16 ~ Day 259 - Lunch atop a Skyscraper

This is a sculpture/statue of a famous photograph taken in 1932, at Rockefeller center construction site. Construction works having  lunch atop of a crossbeam. Today it was near Chelsea market and couple of weeks ago I spotted it in Time Square. The statue is on a truck and appears to be moved around during the day.
This day, last year: Shopping

May 6 ~ Day 126 - Chinese Zodiac Signs

This is today's picture of the day. All 12 Chinese zodiac signs are on display on 59th street, at the Pulitzer Fountain in front of The Plaza. I could not capture a good picture of all the 12 zodiac heads.

All 12 signs on display. There were too many people taking pictures and this is the best shot I got.

This day, last year

Feb 18 ~ Day 49 - Hello Mr. Jackie Robinson!

This statue at the entrance of Journal Square Path station commemorates Mr. Robinson's first major league baseball game played in Jersey City, breaking the color barrier in professional baseball.

Feb 9 ~ Day 40 - Spring flowers on display!

Location: Park Avenue
Last 2-3 weeks the city was covered with snow and finally the piles of snow are disappearing. It was in mid 40s on Monday and most of the snow melted away.  The temperatures have dipped back to below freezing but after seeing white all round for almost three weeks, it is nice to see some color around.  These flowers are planted on Park Ave will be on display till May.  Another picture of these flowers is here.

Day 22 - Spring is already here???

These rose sculptures are planted on park ave and will be there till May. This is on 61st street and there are more planted between 57th and 67th street on park ave. Will post more of these in coming weeks.

Nov 10 - A tailor and a needle threading a button

Location: Garment district

Nov 3 - White Ghost

These Yoshitomo Nara sculptures are placed on Park avenue median. The first one is facing south on 70th street and the second one is facing north on 67th street.

Oct 11 - Animated clock in the park

I thought of taking a picture of the Columbus day parade for the blog and I thought the parade was until 4 pm.  I got there  by 3:15 pm.  Unfortunately, the parade had moved on to uptown by the time I got to 59th street.  Since I was already near the park, I took a stroll in the park.  I love central park and each time I go there, I find something new and interesting.  Last week, it was the Strawberry Fields, 2.5 acres of the park dedicated to John Lennon and today, this animated cock.  This is located in the children's zoo and I usually enter the park and walk thru this clock almost every time I am in the park.  All this time I was unaware that this clock is animated.  It animates at the top and bottom of the hour, everyday from 8 am.  The animals under the clock animate.

  Changing colors.

Oct 4 - What is this?

Picture for this day was a stack of documents to be shredded. As I was watermarking the picture, I realized that by zooming the picture, my address could be revealed.. :) So, I am posting a picture I took the next day.

I don't know what this structure is. This was at east 59th street entrance to Central park. There use to be a different structure in that place.

Aug 1 - Elephant

On our way back to Memphis from the Smoky Mountains, we stopped at Nashville Ganesh Temple. I found this elephant carving/sculpture on the walls of the temple very beautiful!

June 29 - John Finley Walk

Took a stroll on the East River Esplanade.  This esplanade is by the FDR drive and from 81st street, it is over the FDR drive.  I have not walked beyond the 86th street mark.  Took this picture at the 81st street entrance.

Light house park on the northern tip of the Roosevelt Island. Since I normally don't walk up that far, I was awestruck by the view from the 81st street, above the FDR drive.

June 18 - Liberty Bell

Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and the building in the back is Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the constitution were debated and adopted.

June 12 - Sightseeing in DC

Statue of Freedom in the Capital building. It is this statue that is on the dome of the capital building.

Rotunda from inside the capital building.

Inside Library of Congress