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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2007 > Desert Dawn : 1st Place
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19-NOV-2007 Vikas

Desert Dawn : 1st Place

Pushkar, INDIA


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Canon DSLR Challenge29-Nov-2007 05:25
I must say it's amazing how much detail you have in the shadows. What a tricky exposure. Did you have lighten them in PP a lot or any at all?

-Techo :)
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Nov-2007 18:58
Sory to hear about your 5D misshappenings. Hope its fixed now.
I didn't know about any such issues with 5D.
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Nov-2007 12:43
What a horrible story to hear about your camera breaking. I sorry to hear about your problems and amazed to hear that glue is something to be carried in a photo bag! Did you consider driving 14 hours for your 20D? Thank you for the explanation of the behind the scenes of this gathering. - Kelly
Vikas Malhotra26-Nov-2007 07:48
Horrific Experience with the 5D…

I had gone to Pushkar, about 7 hours away from New Delhi for shooting and reached there on a Sunday evening, settled into the hotel and got ready for shooting from Monday till Saturday, (6 days of shooting). Monday was great, shot in the morning and in the evening but took it easy as had the whole week in front of me to shoot.

However, on Tuesday morning, just when I started shooting, I suddenly found that the viewfinder had turned dark and I couldn’t see anything, hence couldn’t take any shots. Of course, I didn’t have any back up camera (one never does when its really required) and I panicked. Tried the shutter a few times but nothing so my first thought was that the shutter assembly had gone. But after only 25000/30000 shots? Didn’t seem right. Took the lens off and instantly the mirror fell in my hands. The mirror had just come loose. Heck.

Tried to slide it back, yes it did, yippee and then tried to take a shot but nope it was off again. The nearest service centre was in New Delhi, 7 hours away and they said that it would take them minimum 4 working days so that was a no no. The technician suggested that I try and stick it back so very reluctantly, I did that (of course the mirror was quite scratched at this point but at least I could see through the viewfinder. The only problem was that the autofocus points weren’t working so I had to go manual and in street photography (and never really having used manual focus except for macros), it was a huge challenge. Did manage to take a few more shots in the course of the next two days but finally preponed my trip and reached New Delhi on Thursday night instead of on Sunday.

In the meantime, I met a few photographers in Pushkar who all seemed to have the same problem or someone in their group using the 5D had the same problem of the mirror falling off. One of them even showed me a tube of Quick Glue which he carried at all times for such an eventuality. I am quite amazed at Canon’s QC for this camera as my 20D even after 4 years is working fine…… knock wood. I am now rethinking my decision to go in for a 1 series camera, what if that suffers from similar QC problems?

But the good thing is that Canon India, is doing the repairs free of charge inspite of the camera not being under warranty (its 2 years old) which is great. This happen to anyone here?

Thanks. Cheers, Vikas.
Vikas Malhotra26-Nov-2007 07:35
Thanks a lot everyone, really appreciate all your comments.

Thank You Tom appreciate it. And yes, have developed a fondness for Camels over the last few years, nearly wanted to buy one but don’t think they would survive in the city else would have.

Act I, Scene V. Nico enters, clothed battle fatigue, roars, “Whats with Vikas and Camels? I want them all to begone. Off with their heads!”
Vikas, cowering in the background, taking refuge behind one of these beasts, looks terrified and slowly slinks away, the camel’s tail between his legs. :- )

Traveller, thanks a lot :- ) Regarding places in India, am quite sure that even I wouldn’t know where the village/small town is. There are thousands of towns/villages and impossible to know all of them.

Yuvraj, appreciate it and welcome to the challenges. Pushkar wasn’t cold yet though the evenings/mornings were chilly and required a pullover and jacket but the afternoons were fabulous, t-shirt weather with a brilliant sun.

Cat, thank you and thanks for remembering last years shot.

Lee, thanks a lot. The camel wasn’t posed, it was there and I just composed the shot to include it thus in the frame.

Michael… thanks a ton.

Najinsky, thank you. Unfortunately I didn’t get to shoot much this time around, just a few shots from one morning and evening session as my camera broke. :- (

Techo, thank you.

Thanks a lot Sam, would be honoured to do a workshop in India but guess will need a few years more for that, if at all. :- )

Thanks a lot Kelly. I had gone to Pushkar for the annual Camel Fair, which is the largest in the world, with about 60000 to 80000 camels being traded. This is about 7 hours from New Delhi by road and about 3 hours from Jaipur. I had gone with the intention of photographing it though things didn’t turn out as I planned.

Cheers, Vikas.
Canon DSLR Challenge22-Nov-2007 15:39
Awesome shot my friend. Tell us, what are these people doing? Did you stay with them or in Jaipur? How long did it take for you to get there from home? And did you go for any other reason than to capture these incredible images - for National Geographic? Well done! - Kelly
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2007 13:18
Marvelous Vikas. If you ever start a workshop in India, I will be your first attendant. Sam Attal
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2007 11:43
Well, interestingly, Nico, it's that but more also, all of Vikas`s images as well as yours, has given me an interest in both India and SA...that I didn't have before. So these pictures count on some bigger level also...Traveller
jnconradie21-Nov-2007 07:56
Hi Najinsky... just to confirm what Traveller said: we are just having fun with Vikas... and absolutely adore having him in these Challenges! It is indeed people like Vikas (and others) who help to lift our game and inspire us normal guys and girls to try harder.

This photograph is so excellent: lighting is amazing with just enough from the front to show detail; just enough from the back to create impact and mood; the composition is perfect in my opinion (where do you get camels who pose so nicely!), the hues are breathtaking... it deserves printing in huge format and a place of honour on some wall. "Stunning" is not strong enough a description.

Vikas, I would not have thought this is possible from a single frame / single exposure... did you use any filters to tame the sun; or any hdr type postprocessing to merge different exposures? (If I may ask.)

Regards Nico
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2007 04:00
It's funny, Naj, how life goes and I just like to harass Vikas...with his talent and eye he can take it. I met a woman today from India, married to an Afghan man. She was delightful but when she said she was from India, I said, "It's a big country, you could be from almost anywhere and I wouldn't have a clue, so come on shame me, show me how little I know...where you from?"

"Delhi," she answered.

"That's no good," I replied, "I know Delhi, where were you born?" She named some tiny village in the South of India....and I was that easily stumped...lol

I'm just giving Vikas a hard time, Nico is just playing too. Vikas doesn't scare us off, but other commitments may impinge...Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2007 22:04
A great looking shot. Marvelous work.

-Techo
Guest 20-Nov-2007 20:19
Touché mon frère, Najinsky!
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2007 18:56
Vikas, I am so looking forward to seeing some new Pushkar shots from you. The last set were breath-taking and among the finest 'street/real life' images I've seen. Judging by this, we could be in for more delights.

Nico, Traveller & Michael. The trick is to accept the challenge. Sure it's going to be tough to beat, but you may surprise yourself. And even if you don't win this challenge, so long as you pushed yourself that little bit harder and got a better picture for it, you still won. -Najinsky
Guest 20-Nov-2007 18:06
Another Vikas classic, you seem to practice excellence as matter of routine. The downside is like Nico I look at your art and want to go out and ride my bike instead of using my camera
Guest 20-Nov-2007 17:53
Still the man.

Did you pose the camel or was he just there?
Guest 20-Nov-2007 16:35
Nice Vikas!
as wonderful as last years!!
-Cat
Guest 20-Nov-2007 16:18
Amazing shot Vikas !! The color and composition is just beautiful.

Btw, it must be pretty cold in Pushkar this time around?
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2007 07:38
Yeah, Nico, I know exactly what you mean...when I saw the thumbnail I went...Bastard...!....lol...game set match.

Vikas is frickin` unbelievable.

Best Wishes, Traveller
jnconradie20-Nov-2007 07:09
[Enter Nico, stage left, sees Vikas, shouts] "Oh no, Vikas! You are too terrible for words. I had some ideas for this Challenge that I still wanted to try out. After seeing this... Well, I am going to pack my toys and go off in search of people who play "nice". You are not "nice"... You are too awefully good." [Sound effects: crying... wailing... and general sounds of discontent.] [Nico, exits stage, heard mumbling] "Did I mention that I like it very much?"

Compliments and regards Nico
Guest 20-Nov-2007 07:01
Very interesting shot. I have always had a fondness for camels. The color & composition are wonderful.