#1. Flight Delta 901 coming in for a landing....
Waited patiently within the plant cluster for around 20 mnts. The butterflies started coming back. Armed with Macro lens and Extension tubes, I was not going miss the action, this world has to offer.

As a photographer, this is a mandatory cooling period that you spend, for nature around you to settle down to your presence. But these 15-30 minutes gives you such a lovely perspective of world around you. The pleasant flowers smile for no apparent reason, the butterflies, birds busy in collection of their food, some just frolicking by, some challenging their own kin. When you observe them with patience, you realise, each creature has a personality, attitude, a world around him. HE must be a master craftsman, this cannot happen by accident.

These were small about and inch height butterflies, landing on a less than an inch dia flowers.
Snapped several hundred shots of butterflies in the air... but after a recent public molestation by seniors and professors about the cropped shots, threw many away, to finally get one that had the right focus on the eyes of the butterfly and also the complete frame.


Nikon D7000 | Shutter: 1/2000s | Focal length: 105.0 mm| Aperture: 5.6 | ISO: 320| Lens: Nikkor 105mm/2.8 + 36mm ET

Flight coming in for landing... by aloksinha2001, on Flickr

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#2. "proboscis" is the tube like structure that butterfly use to such nectar from the flowers. In this macro, you can see the nectar being sucked and part of the it visible through the semi-translucent proboscis tube. You can also see the eyes in fairly sharp focus.

Tip: Check full SIZE, full screen image for the details - HERE for the details

Nikon D7000 | Shutter: 1/1500s | Focal length: 105.0 mm| Aperture: 5.6 | ISO: 320| Lens: Nikkor 105mm/2.8 + 36mm ET


Butterfly 4 by aloksinha2001, on Flickr

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#3. The spidey - not larger than two grains of rice together, had almost hidden this wonder of nature. Was lucky to get some good frontal shots. 
Here is one of them. Will help, if someone can identify this guy.
More can be seenhere.
 
Nikon D7000 | Shutter: 1/750s | Focal length: 105.0 mm| Aperture: 5.6 | ISO: 320| Lens: Nikkor 105mm/2.8 

Tip: Check full SIZE, full screen image for the details - HERE for the details

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Your comments and criticism always a learning experience.

Trip Report: 06May12; Delhi - Chattbir Zoo --> Chail --> Delhi

While we had made plans to go do the Sunday shooting at Purana Qila, Akshay Lamba  came up with an excellent idea of making a short trip outside Delhi.

Very quickly plans to visit Mahendra Chaudhary National Park and then onto Chail was mapped up on the Google Map. The estimated driving time to reach Chattbir zoo was around 5 hrs and it was best we left in the morning.

6th May - 10:00 hrs - Onwards to Chhattbir, via Sonipat, Panipat, Ambala.

The drive towards the outskirts of Delhi (near Azadpur) was very quick and we hit NH1 exit well within the hour and half from home.

6th May - 13:00 hrs - The drive between Delhi NH1 right upto Karnal is now pretty smooth, and we were doing a comfortable and safe 100-110 km/hrs on the highway.  Lunch options started hitting us from Panipat onwards - we had Nirulas on the left, passing by a very large establishment of Pind Baluchi on the right and followed by Haveli. We were pleasantly surprised to see several (atleast 4) outlets of Cafe Coffee Day and Barrista peppered upto Karnal. Ofcourse, Murthal's Parathans are very famous, but none of our team entourage wanted a vegetarian food. Surprisingly, in Murthal ALL the Dhabas are vegetarian or Vaishno. Finally at the intersection of Karn Lake (@ Karnal) we took a U Turn under the flyover to hit the Savoy Food court.

6th May, 16:00 hrs to 18:10 hrs: Mahendra Chadhary Park. Did I tell you that the main attraction of the park Lion Safari, has been shut down for maintenance for more than one month - upto 15th May 2012. Cars are no longer allowed into the complex.  Chattbir Zoo.

6th May, 18:30 - 19:00.  Click here, to see snapshots at Tunnel 16

6th - 7th May - Complete set of images can be found here

Alok Sinha

Trip Report: 06May12; India' s most haunted place returns - Tunnel16/103

Tunnel 16: There is hope, beyond the haunting.
Exposure: 1/8 | Aperture: f/3.5 | ISO:500 | Focal length: 18mm | Lens: Nikkor 18-105 Kit lens.
The image is not of a ghost, but a real person - walking down the tunnel, giving me the perfect opportunity to shoot.

"Listed in the India's most haunted sites, there's one about Shimla-Kalka narrow-gauge railway line that is said to have several ghosts. Most tunnels, have numbers and have stories around it. The Tunnel 16, which is right at the road level, is said to have a 'kind' spirit - which delayed the oncoming vehicle drivers by asking for directions, to warn them about the imaginary oncoming train. 

 The ghost in Tunnel 103 is said to be one that talks back in full context with the humans he comes in contact with. The tunnel itself is wet, damp, dingy and about 140 yards long and is quite a scary place. It is also unique in that the spirit of the Englishman responds to humans, that comes in contact with it."
Sightings have greatly reduced in the recent memories, but the legend lingers on.

Trip Report:06May12; Mahendra Chaudhary National Park aka Chattbir Zoo

Mahendra Chaudhary National Park - Chattbir, a set on Flickr.

Complete set of images can be found here.

Chhattbir zoo, is around 26km from Panchkula on NH22. While driving from Delhi to Simla, you would need to take a left turn, right next to Mc Donald - about 3kms BEFORE Zirakpur.