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Meet my friend……..

“Friend don’t walk behind me, and also ahead of me. Always be with me.”

- My friend

I still remember very vividly the first day of my college ….here at LT. About a hundred odd- faces staring at me…...some speckled and some spectacled… each different in their own kind! It was then that I met this guy….

Sitting on one corner on the last bench of the last row….was this grim looking guy! A tall moderately built guy with an absolutely out of place – moustache! Why is he looking so gloomy…I thought? Maybe he does not like this place, or perhaps he must be homesick!! At the end of the lecture as he passed by, I muttered- Hi! A sweet smile was what I got in return…,so, Mr. Grim could smile after all!! I did not realize that this would be the beginning of an everlasting friendship…

The days passed faster than hours, months faster than minutes… we soon found ourselves in the examination hall - the first yr MBBS exams had begun!!………

….and soon the BIG day had arrived! Results would be declared any minute. I was looking for my friend, Mr. Grim. How would he perform…I didn’t have to wait too long for the answer! Only one student from my batch had managed to score 3D’s in the exam……my friend, Mr. Grim.

Would this be the beginning of an illustrious carrier….a carrier studded with D’s…. E’s.…and F’s… and what not! Yes I did have a faint idea!

As the years passed, our friendship grew. I would find myself more often in his room listening to music, dreaming about Amrita Rao, discussing the day’s proceedings...all this with more regularity than the lectures I would attend!!! It was here that I met this extrovert guy, who was perceived to be an introvert in the true sense when at college! Talk about girls and he would give me an angry stare, tease him with someone and he would pull my hair!!! From paying all my bills at the hostel canteen (..I was his guest he would say!), to fixing up all my problems, he would do it all! I realized what a gem of a person this guy was. Always ready to help you …any time you ask him…with the zeal that few people possess, Mr. Grim wasn’t so grim after all!!!!

As the days passed my friend surpassed all our expectations…with multiple D’s every year, we were sure that he would make it big one day. By now we had completed our internship- the termination of our MBBS carriers’!! All India and MH- CET results were also out. I rushed to his room and as I looked up into his eyes…I could sense the disappointment. He had not done as well as he would have expected….things were amiss!

It was then that he decided ….he would leave Mumbai. Obviously I felt sad but I knew that this was for his own good…and I was sure that he would be back one day. As I bade him goodbye, I could see the determination in his eyes. From then on, it was just a matter of time, it had to happen… and happen it did!! One year later and this guy had TWINS…!!! Yes, he had the sole copyright of Rank 4 for the year 2007,in All India as well as MH-CET!!

My happiness knew no bounds…finally the deserving had got his reward!!

“Hard work, patience, and perseverance can get you anything and everything in this world. Nothing is impossible, unless you think it to be! Have a goal, be enthusiastic about it and channelise all your energies in that direction. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm! The first step is always the most difficult step, but once you have done that everything else will fall in place. Always aim high…aim for the sky and you will land on the roof!” These were the words of my friend….an epitome of these facts- ‘SAMBHAJI’!

Well as I end this article, I will always be thankful to God to gift me a friend like HIM. And I will always remember those lines that he had written for me on Friendships’ day!(Yup, I still have that card!).Mr. Grim you have stuck to it, up to the task, as you have always been! You have always been with me, through thick and thin, truly so! I will always cherish those fond memories and I am happy that as the next chapter unfolds in our lives …we would still be together….at a new base! Seth G.S.M.C…here we come!

P.S- This article is not a work of fiction and bears every resemblance to a person living in good stead- Mr. Grim.

… and I am sure that if the great one happens to be reading this, he will appreciate the efforts I have put in to pen this down! My hard work should not go unrecognized…

….so can I ,now, have the Sony Ericsson K11 that Bhatia’s have gifted you….please!!!!!

M.S. GEN SURGERY(std)

Seth G.S.M.C/KEMH.

Posted by Shiva :: Friday, March 16, 2007 :: 1 comments

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006

The Spirit of Mumbai

Author: Dr. Niraj Chavan
Batch: 2001

The Spirit of Mumbai

“The spirit of Mumbai”, “the resilient Mumbaikar”, “Salaam Mumbai”,“the city that never sleeps”…phrases that seem so much a cliché now, so much more than before thanks to the 7/11 blasts that rocked this metro yesterday evening. In the wake of the aftermath that followed, undoubtedly the heroes of the moment were neither the police authorities nor the administrative set-up…but the average middle-class 9-4 “mumbaikar”…yes!..He is just he same man who enjoys vada-pav and chai at the local eatery bunk, thrives on cricket and bollywood and works in a straight-jacketed routine of home-office-home…and then office again the next day.

Rather unlikely as it may seem it’s the unflinching spirit of such an “average” Mumbaikar that has helped Mumbai cope up with this disaster so much so that terms like “resilience” and “spirit” seem superficial. But what needs to be reflected upon is this : are we taking the Mumbaikars resilience for granted?…be it a natural calamity as in the case of 26/7 or the more recent rains lashing through Mumbai or the series of terrorist activities that have been rocking Mumbai ever since 1993-94. Yes,the spirited Mumbaikar does come together in times like these and exhibits an epitome of unshakeable hope, belief and support that probably no other city can boast of!(So much for being called the rudest city,eh?!) But the larger picture is this… Two weeks post 7/11 life is going to continue unmistakably as “normally” as ever before…. even the slightest traces of a major destruction being smartly silenced amidst the banter of bhajans and gossip in the local train compartments. Will Mumbai be the same as it always was? …Most certainly yes!…the answer comes almost reflexly from every die-hard mumbaikar. “Resilence” is what the perennial optimist terms it…but a faint voice from a practical headed junkie yells…”ignorance”...Hahhaha so much for the saying, “Ignorance is bliss”…

There is no undermining the undefying spirit of Mumbaikars but there is only hope that this spirited attitude to see justice happening is not restricted only to post-disaster states. What we need today is consolidated continuous efforts from Mumbaikars like you and me to shake the somnolent government from its deep slumber. We do not need another 26/7 or 7/11 to wake them up, a force of thousands and lakhs of Mumbaikars is indeed a force enough…if only this force was “one force”…a myth as it seems in todays times of hectic daily routine. The only thing that plays on mind is my priorities. Catching the 6:51 churchgate local…boarding a near packed train…reaching my office on time…finishing the daily work schedule well in time for lunch break to occur…enjoying a li’l bit of a post-prandial nap…and then hurrying back in time to catch he 5:45 andheri local…who has the time to think of what the BMC or the government should or should not be doing…the resilient and spirited mumbaikar jus throws off his magical robe...just like a Spiderman or Superman would do...and gels in with the crowd…one with the crowd…herd mentality…

It makes me wonder…wouldn’t it have been so much more better if these concentrated efforts found their way to the corridors of mantralaya and to the offices in the BMC head-office? Aren’t civic authorities taking the mumbaikars for granted just as the terrorists are?….while we have organized “terrorists” to wreck havoc in public life…it will take just one more 26/7 for terrorists to emerge from the throes of civic administration…or rather the lack of it!
Are we equipped to tackle another disaster?…morally and emotionally yes!…of course but in reality in terms of logistics of infrastructure….the answer is an obvious NO…who is to be blamed then?…(’cuz all of us love the blaming game!)…Johnny Joseph and his babus…A.N. Roy and his set of hooligans...better known as Mumbai Police…Vilasrao Deshmukh and his cabinet...or is it you and me, the average mumbaikar?…

-Dr. Niraj Chavan

Posted by Shiva :: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 :: 1 comments

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Monday, July 03, 2006

Digital Photography - (Part 2)

Photographer: Dr. Samip Dattani
Batch: 2001

(Click the photos to Enlarge)

The serene countryside..


Bare fruits...


River valley..


Standing tall...


Close Encounter..


Sepia sky..


Crystal reflections..

Rang De Basanti - The India Gate.


Tunnel Vision..


Night Lights..

Camera Used - Canon Powershot

Related Links:
Digital Photography - (Part 1)

Posted by Shiva :: Monday, July 03, 2006 :: 6 comments

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========================oOo========================= Ganesha Painting

Artist: Dr. Foram Gala
Batch: 2001

Ganesha Painting

(Click to Enlarge)

Posted by Shiva :: Monday, July 03, 2006 :: 7 comments

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Sunday, June 25, 2006

A Poem

Author: Dr. Juee Chemburkar
Batch: 1999

A poem...

It had never struck before this hour,
A love so strong n complete
My face blossomed into a springtime flower
When he swept me off my feet!

My face grew pale, a deadly pale,
N then a crimson blush
I could not but hide the glow
Brought on by that emotional rush!

Now the trees looked greener still,
The roses yet more red
The raindrops brought a blissful chill
And a feeling that goes unsaid!

Now i wander among the hills,
To where ever my feets go
I seek the silence that nature brings
N feel the affection grow!

It had never struck before this hour,
N now my world's a song
I look besides n oh my luck
He's walking step by step along!

-Dr. Juee

Posted by Shiva :: Sunday, June 25, 2006 :: 5 comments

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

F1 British Grand Prix - Silverstone!

Photographer: Dr. Ravikrishna
Budding Neurosurgeon
Batch: 1998

British Grand Prix

Dr. Ravi sends us these enviable photos from Silverstone where he had the chance to see Schumacher in action!

Dr. Ravi standing next to a Ferrari wishing he could drive one of these.


When will we Indians Learn? Dr. Ravi decides to take a dump right in the middle of the tracks.

Silverstone Overview


Go Schumi GO!... Schumi and Felipe Massa..


The Top 3!

-Dr. Ravi

Posted by Shiva :: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 :: 7 comments

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Saturday, June 17, 2006

Jal Jal Ke Dhuan

Singer: Dr. Harshvardhan
Batch: 2003

Jal Jal Ke Dhuan...

Dr. Harshvardhan, our very own talented singer has sent us this little snippet of his singing capabilities. Worth an applause I must say!


Powered by Castpost

(P.S: Persons with slower internet speeds may have to wait till the song loads so that they can hear it in continuity without breaks. Do let me know if any of you have any difficulties hearing the audio.)

Posted by Shiva :: Saturday, June 17, 2006 :: 4 comments

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========================oOo========================= Colour Paintings

Artist: Dr. Neha
Batch: 2001

Colour Paintings

(Click on the images to see an enlarged version)

(Picture quality may appear slightly grainy since the paintings were clicked on a cell phone camera and mailed to us - Shiva)

Posted by Shiva :: Saturday, June 17, 2006 :: 11 comments

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

His eyes....

Author: Juee Chemburkar
Batch: 1999

His Eyes....

I dont know what I liked about his eyes

But the liking was so strong-
that years after he's gone-
They have haunted me all along!

The last we spoke were bitter words
on a dark rainy day
the last I saw was his mesmerising eyes
and then death swept him away!

In the sky the bright sun glittered
on the bank the pale moon shone
and from my life so full of pain
I watched him walk away alone!

His eyes cast a final glance
to perhaps let me know
that the past we shared was alive no more-
and so he too must go!

-Dr. Juee Chemburkar

Posted by Shiva :: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 :: 3 comments

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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Reminiscences

Author: Dr. Neha Godre
Batch: 2001

REMINISCENCES

The sky no longer looks the same…
But the slate tints were daubed of yore
By the rainbows,
With added pastels of divine memories…

The many ‘a minute’s to the odd hours,
The quicksteps at the sea side to the ala carte,
The starry dusk of the ending year
To the wee moments of a sparkling new dawn…
And
The path of friendship to the path of learning…
All with their roller coaster rides!

Sudden jerks can baffle a person,
But the mind learns to surmount obstacles and go on…
For
Some affections have no desire
Some relations need no moniker…
Their place is far up, in the azimuth of sanctity…

The gamble will continue, with the domino
Unlocking every time
The dreary and the fascinating arenas of life…

The rainbows will always suffuse in me
The hope and the thew to move ahead…
And the memories will breathe forever somewhere,
Guarded and safe,
For me to reminisce and smile
Every time I see the first evening star……

-Dr. Neha

Posted by Shiva :: Saturday, June 10, 2006 :: 7 comments

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Sunday, May 21, 2006

Ram Aur Shyam

Author : Dr. Swarup Pal
Batch: 2000

Ram Aur Shyam

Yeah, finally im up to it again. Im back with a new article, the only difference is that this happens to be a real life story. A story bout two friends…..or should I say two foes. Well I leave that for you to decide, while I do what im best at…..narrating the story of course!!!!

Hey hey, just a sec!!! Before I start narrating let me first tell you guys bout a few of the proverbs which I learnt at school.

(1) A friend in need is a friend indeed!!!

(2) If you stand for nothing you will fall for nothing!!!

(3) Handsome is that handsome does!!!

(4) A right thing done at the right time is right, a wrong thing done anytime is wrong, and a right thing done,but, at the wrong time is wrong!!!

No no no… my article is not bout giving you guys a session on English literature, but as you read you will realize that all of these have some relevance….not just in our lives but those of ram and shyam as well.

So lets begin……………

Ram and shyam were bosom friends. They shared many a thing in common…. A common room , a common workplace, a common aspiration, a common studyplace and also a common mobile!!(now that's interesting…a common mobile??? Yes indeed , a common 'mobile'… something that would change their lives forever!??)

And it all happened on one fateful day!! Shyam( read S for studious and sincere,but stupid) had just returned back after an engrossing night at the hospital. He was just about to fall asleep when ram( read R for rascal and rogue,& really smart) requested him for his mobile. Apparently ram always wanted to be a philanthropist and today was the day he had planned to announce his philanthrophism to the world(..but in his own element and by his own wicked means…!!!) He had decided that today he would help the juniors to cheat in the exam.he would sms them the answers and they would simply retrieve the data from their cellphones and pen them on paper. This was a foolproof modus operandi and no one would get caught, ram thought. But it was not to be!?? In his extreme enthusiasm to copy, the junior had forgotten the basic tenet of the art of copying….i.e to hide his resource.His cell was confiscated and he was debarred from the exam. All the smses were traced to their source…shyams mobile!!!

It was evening by now,and shyam had also woken up. Very soon he realized his folly. He had trusted ram and had handed over his cell when he had asked for it , and now he too had become a element of the malpractice( vicarious responsibility,should I say?)

But in his eagerness to protect his skin and his fellow mates he decided that he would keep mum. He would act as a blind spectator to this tribulation and would not open his mouth. ( silence is not always golden…. And shyam would find this out very soon!! )

Three months had passed since this incident had occurred. As usual Ram was in high spirits and why wouldn't he ?? Internship was on the brink of completion….signatures had been forged at MAA hospital and no one had a hint to it . His completion was well in sight.Things were happening exactly as per plans. What a genius I am, Ram thought.

……. It was then that all hell broke loose. Ram received a call from the university asking him about his misconduct. Ram had banged down the phone on a few occasions, and had also tried to switch skins ,saying that this was Amitsin s phone no. (this is where poor Amitsin got dragged into this ordeal…just like shyam would…). Shyam too had his share of misfortunes. He was too questioned by the university, and adversity had his way!! Shyam was proclaimed guilty of being a part of this malpractice. Everything was over! The university had made its decision… The junior was debarred for two and half yrs, Ram(the exam buster..) had to repeat his internship all over again.

Poor shyam was also handed over a one yr repeat , just like Ram. He was victimized. He did not know what to do.He looked around for some support, someone whom he could talk to.But ,suddenly,all his friends had vanished into thin air. All those whom he had protected , had gone into hiding.He felt a sensation of déjà vu all round him. Poor Shyam appealed for mercy but that was not to be,it was all too late. He had to suffer, although for no fault of his.

Well that brings me to the end of this article.

Friends, im sure you all must have experienced a RAM of similar sorts in your everyday life. Such dastardly creatures abound in life.They act like the dog in the manger. Neither do they thrive in life, nor do they let others live in peace.So join hands and strive to put an end to such a menace as and when you come across them , in your life!!!!

NOTE: This article is a work of fiction and the author can not be held responsible for its resemblance to anyone or anything living or dead.

-Dr. Swarup Pal

Posted by Shiva :: Sunday, May 21, 2006 :: 6 comments

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Saturday, May 20, 2006

Visions of the UK - Part 2 (A floral tribute)

Photographer: Dr. Ravikrishna
Budding neurosurgeon




Red Flowers

Yellow Flower 1

Yellow flower 2

Some more yellow flowers...

Camera Used - Panasonic Lumix

- Dr. Ravikrishna

Posted by Shiva :: Saturday, May 20, 2006 :: 3 comments

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Friday, May 19, 2006

A Goal of a Difference!!

Author: Dr. Swarup Pal
Post-Intern

A Goal of a Difference!!

Children are the most wonderful of god's creations!! Im sure that you all agree on this one. They lighten up our lives , make it merrier, and in simple terms , they make our life …complete!! Yet, not all children are born equal, like you and me!!! These are the ones to whom I dedicate this article to….. the childrens' of a Lesser God!!!

I was on the flight to Chennai when I met Kim Kane. Her seat was next to mine. She was a brunnete, a woman in the late thirties. She was on the way to Pondicherry, on a visit to Shri Aurobindo Ashram. She asked me bout my profession. I told her that I was a doctor and that I was preparing for my postgraduation. What subject would you select for your postgraduation and why, was her next question. I told her that I just love kids and would therefore like to do my post graduation in Pediatrics. I could see the glimmer in her eyes as I completed my statement. It was then that she narrated this incident to me, an incident which has left a permanent mark on me!

I will narrate it as it was told to me….

She began……

" Last night was the last game for my eight year old son's soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son's team in the lead. With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball rolled in front of my son's team mate, one Mike O'Donnel. With shouts of " Kick it!" echoing across the field, Mike reared back and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted. O'Donnel had scored!!


Then there was silence. Mikey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was total hush. You see, Mikey has Down's syndrome and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated with a joyous hug from Mikey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.


The silence was finally broken when Mikey, his face filled with joy , grabbed my son, hugged him and yelled, "I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!" for a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched , through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, " Way to go Mikey! Way to go Mikey!" Within moments both teams surrounded Mikey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal."

By the time she finished her narration , the plane had reached Chennai. I was overwhelmed by the gesture shown by her son and his friends. I asked her to congratulate him on my behalf. As I bade her good bye, I promised myself that I would write an article on this incident so that all of us realize that …..

These children , the ones with Down's syn, Rett' s syn , Asperger's syn, etc or simply put…the ones who are mentally challenged, are indeed unfortunate. Labeled as " happy morons", "spikey hair",etc all that we do of their plight, is to make fun of them, make merry at these poor kids' expense! But all of us, the society as a whole, must realize that these children are very much a part of us… our world…the world that god has created. It is only then that these ' ill fated inopportunes' may lead a life, a life of less misery and suffering, …though it will always be…….. a life less ordinary!!! As I end this article, Kudos to Kim's son and his friends for doing just that….!!!

- A narration by KIM KANE, written by Dr Swarup.

Posted by Shiva :: Friday, May 19, 2006 :: 4 comments

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Sunday, April 30, 2006

The Sound Of Silence

Author: Alpes Panchal
III/II

----The Sound of Silence----

"Sometimes her silence speaks so loud...

I can't hear what she says"

- Anonymous

The first rule of speaking is knowing when to shut up. And she knew it better than the deaf man lying on the street waiting for a penny from the next outstretched hand.

Her father had deserted her when she was of the age to play catch with daddy's baseball glove. her mother raised her to what she is today. She never let her know how cruel her father was, how he didn't care about the family & left with the blonde in brown boots. Her mother never let her feel lesser or any smaller than people who could hear. Today, she is a news reader for the deaf & dumb on television.

Her mother, is still, mute.

Silence is what connected this mother-daughter duo together. Silence is what they used to make their statements heard.

John Lennon once said that he can't imagine a world without music. Come to think of it, I can't imagine a world without silence. People tell me it gets really awkward when you get to long pauses in the middle of a conversation.

For me, I enjoy every long pause I have with her.

-Alpez Panchal

Posted by Shiva :: Sunday, April 30, 2006 :: 2 comments

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Monday, April 24, 2006

Visions of the UK - (Part 1)

Photographer: Dr. Ravikrishna
Budding neurosurgeon

Our dear Dr. Ravikrishna, former general secretary of our college, sends in these snaps from the UK (Newcastle) where he is currently working.

Castle Hill



The Sage : A big performing arts theatre in Gateshead



Millenium Bridge - the world's only tilting bridge!



A dull snowy day - almost makes this colour photo seem black and white..


Camera Used : Panasonic Lumix

Posted by Shiva :: Monday, April 24, 2006 :: 5 comments

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Saturday, April 22, 2006

Panacea of all Evils

Author: Pavithra Rajan
Final Year PT

I read Rachana's poetry on "mirror image"....and I guess I would want to share this poem of mine as an answer to hers.

Panacea of All Evils

COMPOSITION:
Each peal contains:
100 ml of anxiolytic
500ml of skeletal muscle relaxant
1000 ml of expectorant of grief and depression
2500 ml of analgesic
Unlimited amounts of CNS stimulant

COLOUR:
Makes life colourful without any shades of grey and black

WARNING:
It is contagious.Do not suppress it.

CAUTION:
Do not wait for the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.

DOSAGE:
As often as possible
Age no bar

DO NOT STORE IT IN A COOL DRY PLACE. DOES NOT NEED PROTECTION FROM HEAT AND LIGHT.
SHAKES BODY WELL DURING USE!

MANUFACTURED BY:
"SELF" PHARMA,
"LIMBIC CORTEX" BUILDING,
"THE BRAIN" ROAD,
"THE HUMAN BODY" CITY.

MANUFACTURED DATE:
Date of birth

EXPIRY DATE:
Life span

M.R.P.:
Priceless

INDICATIONS:
All evils

CONTRAINDICTAIONS:
Can precipitate madness and insanity

BRAND NAME OF THE DRUG:

"LAUGHTER"!

Well, the good and bad times that I have gone through (I am talking as if i have entered the magnificient geriatric age group!), I have realised that when u think about ur problems they grow D-O-U-B-L-E, but when u laugh at them......they become a B-U-B-B-L-E!
Hence laughter is the secret to a doubly bubbly life!

- Pavithra Rajan

(http://www.docpatsy.blogspot.com)

Posted by Shiva :: Saturday, April 22, 2006 :: 0 comments

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Friday, April 21, 2006

Ethnic Paintings..

Artist: Roshani Desai
III/II MBBS

Beautiful Ethnic Indian paintings done by our talented fine arts secretary Roshani Desai.

(Click on the Pictures to Enlarge)

Posted by Shiva :: Friday, April 21, 2006 :: 12 comments

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Digital Photography - (Part 1)

Photographer: Dr. Samip Dattani
Intern

(Click the photos to enlarge)

Stream clicked showing water splitting into droplets:

Stream clicked in Motion:

Mohabbatein was shot here - Forest Reserve of India:

Standing alone:

Bird Step:

Artistic angle:

Beautiful falls:

Blending into the darkness:

The busy bee:Delicate petals:
Camera Used: Canon Powershot

Posted by Shiva :: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 :: 19 comments

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