Photography & Me

Sunny Sunday

2012-01-22T15:26:00.003+08:00

Today was really sunny, and I decided to just capture some shots of the flowers and leaves in my front yard.

I love these tiny bright red flowers!

Young, soft leaves of the morning glory

Sharp thorns of the Rose

A spiderweb in the sunlight

Fun With Water

2012-01-21T21:30:00.002+08:00

It isn't any fun, at all. I spent hours trying to photograph water droplets bouncing up from the water but it was just, really difficult! The focus, the timing etc make it a tough task for beginners like me. But just for the record, here are a few photographs of my first try.

Sometimes, even if you miss that water droplet in the air, you can get really nice photos of the waves formed in the water. They often look like tiny whirlpools.

One to Give You the Creeps

2012-01-21T16:23:00.000+08:00

I haven't posted much about animals or other wild creatures since 2011. Anyway, here's one to give you the creeps: A bright orange cricket I found hiding in my handkerchief.

It was unlike any other cricket I've seen before; with it's long antenna, sharp 'tail' and spiky legs, it looked extremely creepy!

Reminds me of the giant insects you see in many bug movies... Imagine this guy (100 times bigger) sneaking into your bed at midnight!

As you can see, its wings are really tiny, too small to fly, and so this cricket must be a nymph. I took it out and released him.

Risk

2012-01-15T19:41:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, we just have to take the risk, don't we?

Got this idea online; decided to give it a try.

Loneliness

2012-01-14T23:08:00.001+08:00

I have become quite used to being lonely. Ever since I left Singapore in April 2010, loneliness was my company, he followed me wherever I went. I couldn't mix or get in terms, or even communicate properly with anyone here. I couldn't relate to my relatives. I have pretty much become a loner in life. Like a lonely candle, in the midst of all the darkness.

Like a lonely flower, new but almost going to wither.

I missed all my friends in Singapore, the only friends I truly had. However, over time, I sort of lost them too, as it was tough to keep in contact online. Like they say, long-distance relationships never work. But just recently, I chanced upon an old friend, and we had a great conversation. Surprisingly, he still remembered and saw me as who I used to be, not as a stranger or someone new. The problem is, not everyone is like him. I heard from him, all the news of my pals in Singapore, how they've completed their O levels, and how they were graduating. I thought about it and realized, I should have been doing the same. But where am I now? What have I become, other than a loner, a loser, a hopeless person, who although sometimes knows how to dream big, never gets to see what he wants? Like a motionless leaf, I look up and see my friends, whom I used to share a life with, all fresh and joyful, graduating and rising up, away from me, whereas I am stranded down here, unable to progress or move on with or enjoy my life.

Cats, Dogs and Cows

2012-01-14T15:34:00.000+08:00

Took these photographs during the past few weeks. It's not always easy to photograph cats here as they usually scuttle off upon seeing humans.

This is my dog Titu in motion, behind him you see the crib and christmas tree.

And this little fellow was photographed near my friend's house. He's a calf, probably just a few years old.

Yeah, so that was Cats, Dogs and Cows! Forgive me for that silly title! Couldn't think of anything.

Looking Outta the Window

2012-01-10T13:00:00.002+08:00

24th December. I was on my way to see a friend for his house warming. He lives in Singapore, just like I used to, and we were like, really great pals. He just had a new house built in India for his grandparents to stay, and for them when they come for vacations. On the way, we drove along a vast stretch of paddy fields and open sea, and looking out of my car window, it was a wonderful sight.

I stuck my head and camera out to grab this shot. The road was empty!

As we drove along a long bridge, I looked to my left to see the wide river joining the sea. It was just so bright, that you couldn't tell where the horizon was!

Here's a tourist houseboat, many of which you can see along the river.

I had a great time and reunion with my old friends. After 7 months of not having anyone to talk to about old times and school, it was definitely a rejuvenating experience.

A Glass of Love and Stars

2012-01-08T23:33:00.000+08:00

I just watched a video today from DigitalRev on Youtube, on how to make different 'bokeh' (background) shapes using your own materials at home. I was stunned by the beauty of the images, and this compelled me to immediately try it out on my own DSLR. Oh my, it was really difficult at first, but by the end of the day, I had some pretty good shots!

How about a glass of love?

No? Then care for a sparkly one of stars?

That image right above, the one with the glass of stars, is the best shot I've grabbed, in my opinion. Sometimes it can be tricky to adjust the focus on the glass (my camera has a mere 192,000 dot screen). But the basics are simple- cut out a shape from a piece of thick paper, paint it black, and then attach it to the front of your zoom lens, as shown below.

And then zoom in, with the light out of focus as much as possible (or a little less), and SNAP!

A Walk on the Moon

2012-01-08T12:39:00.004+08:00

I recently had a trip to the moon. As soon as I landed, I noticed the ground was filled with strange stumps sticking out a few inches, with a small crater surrounding each stump.

Alright, you know I'm kidding. These are just Tapioca trunks planted in the soil. Tapioca is a common food crop cultivated in Kerala, India. I spotted this plot full of newly planted stems and thought it would make a good photograph.

Week One

2012-01-07T23:03:00.003+08:00

Sorry guys, for not posting anything for the last few days. From now on, I'll only be posting every weekend, as my exams are nearing and I have to focus more on my studies. But I assure you at least one post every Saturday and Sunday!
Anyway, now that 2012 is here, and so is 'Photography & Me', I'd like to tell you stories about my life, experiences, dreams, stuff like that. And I'll be posting more photos of various genres. Here are two shots I recently took of a tiny 'castle' I made with some blocks. I don't know if it has any meaning though. Just for fun. :-)

It was my Mom's and Dad's 20th wedding Anniversary on the 6th of this month, and we celebrated the happy occasion in a hotel. I took this random shot as I rested the camera on the table, and it turned out pretty fine.

To be honest, I don't really know what to do or post or write in this blog. I don't know how to start. The first week of 2012 seemed like any other week. I'll keep you updated, though.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:45:00.001+08:00

So, 2011 has finally come to an end. Although it hasn't been the best year or anything for me, I can say that it was an important chapter in my life. Throughout the year, I learned many new lessons on life, and on how to dream, and set goals for myself. As the year came to an end, I wasn't surrounded by friends or family, enjoying the end of one year and the start of another. I was alone, watching the fireworks take over the sky as they were set off in our neighbourhood church.

I had never photographed fireworks before, and only in the last minute did I think of doing so. I quickly looked up some help on shooting fireworks and left to my church. And I was rather pleased with photographs! Perhaps, it was my 'New Year's Gift' or something!

Anyway, it is now 2012, a brand new year! A year once rumoured to be the last, but come on, we all know that it isn't true. I'm looking forward to this year, hoping to see new places, meet new people, make new friends and learn new things. And of course, find myself in a more lively and cheerful environment, which I had been deprived of for more than a year. More on that later. :-)

I wish all of you guys a wonderful and prosperous New Year ahead!
Cheers, Shawn

Doggie Smiles

2011-12-28T11:00:00.003+08:00

I love my dogs, and they love me the same. Here are some recent shots of them. Tiky is rather shy in front of the camera, and tries best to avoid it.

Titu on the other hand, will pose for you. He's really photogenic as well!

I just love that smile of his!

Happy New Year everyone!

New Blog Title from 2012

2011-12-25T15:45:00.000+08:00

Hey Guys! Wishing all my fellow readers a Merry Christmas and a Splendid New Year! Before the New Year starts, I'd like to announce that I'll be changing my blog's name from 'Creatures in the Wild' to 'Photography & Me'. The contents published on my blog will also have a slight change. All this while, for 4 years, I've been posting mainly about wildlife, nature and animals. However, Photography & Me won't be a blog just about these; I'll be posting and talking about all kinds of photos that I take, instead of sticking to one particular type. In addition to that, I may also be talking about my life- something that still remains a secret to all of you guys.

In short, Photography and Me will be a blog about my photographs and myself. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Lakeside, Singapore (Archived)

2011-12-24T18:52:00.000+08:00

I was looking through my old photos of Singapore when I realized there were some shots of Lakeside that I hadn't uploaded. These photographs were taken from Lakeside in April 2011, during my summer break.

A stretch of condominiums by the lake... It must be a beautiful view for the residents living in there!

Can you spot the MRTs (trains)?

A random shot of the wide canal along which I walked home.

Oh God, I just miss Singapore! :(
Anyway, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!

Heartless Humans

2011-12-13T21:47:00.000+08:00

Sorry for not posting anything for quite a while! There was nothing much to post about either, until a few days earlier, when I found this dead snake on a rock along the road. It was a small snake, only about 20cm in length. The large eyes, and the white patches near its mouth parts tell that it is probably a juvenile rat snake or racer, but definitely not a venomous species. It had evidently been hit to death by humans, as there was a large wound on its neck.

So another snake had been killed, this one too a harmless one. I just don't get the people here! How could they be so heartless to kill such a harmless and innocent creature! Ugh! I buried the snake nearby and left feeling hopeless for these poor snakes, because the attitude of these local, illiterate people won't change.

There's a Peacock in my Backyard!

2011-11-23T21:58:00.000+08:00

Yep, like the title says, there was a peacock in my backyard! I was sitting down on my balcony when I noticed a large bird walking through my backyard. I initially thought it was my neighbor's pet turkey, but no, it was a peacock!

I ran after the big bird with my camera. Pity I wasn't holding on to my zoom lens, so I couldn't manage to snap any decent shots. The peacock started running off upon seeing me, and I got a mug shot of it flying up on to the top of my neighbor's house.

I was extremely surprised to have seen a peacock (this one is probably a female; peahen) in my area. Well yes, the peacock is the national bird of India, but they were never found in these areas. But upon asking my parents, I figured out that this particular individual was probably one that sneaked out from the nearby Hindu temple, where they grow peacocks. So you can't really call it 'wild'!

Just Another Night Walk

2011-11-17T18:43:00.001+08:00

I went for a small walk around my house at night hoping to spot some nocturnal creatures. I hadn't done any hunting for weeks. I came across a cute little tree frog on a really nice green fern.

While the amphibians and other nocturnal animals got up, several diurnal creatures had settled down to sleep, like this Changeable Lizard with a really, really long tail.

Dragonfly Black & White

2011-11-11T11:11:00.001+08:00

Sorry for the delay! I had been busy with school work and stuff. I haven't been shooting much recently, and my camera rarely exits the cupboard nowadays. However, there is just one shot I took of a dragonfly as it rested on a metal wire. I've been inspired by Vera to do black & white photography as well.

I might not post any photos for a while, but I will be back before long! Have a great weekend guys!

Tiny Froglets

2011-10-30T11:23:00.000+08:00

I spotted these tiny frogs one wet morning on the leaves of the plant where I had released the green tree frog. I believe they are young frogs that just lost their tails as they were that tiny!

A few had a slightly different pattern and colour.

I thought that perhaps it was possible for these froglets to be the young of the Malabar Flying Frog I had released here. But there wasn't any water body nearby. Whatever they are, or wherever they came from, I was glad I could spot and photograph such tiny and cute frogs in front of my house.

Scaredy Squirrels

2011-10-23T11:11:00.000+08:00

Don't you just love squirrels? Watching them scurry along, doing their funny businesses is an absolute delight. Several 3-striped squirrels came close to us while we were at the Mysore zoo, and since I never really got to take any good shots of wild mammals, I decided to photograph some of these cheeky creatures.

Unlike the squirrels in my area, these were much more used to human interference and didn't mind if we came too close.

Mysore

2011-10-21T18:58:00.001+08:00

I'll be posting some landscape shots I took while in Mysore. Well, for most of the journey, it was just a plain straight road with green on either sides.

I took this shot while passing a paddy field.

The Mysore palace, a huge palace with thousands of ancient articles and rich history.

A big, old church.

Vrindavan Gardens, a stretch of land planted with various trees and flowering plants, right next to a huge dam.

I didn't really enjoy the trip, but well, it's still better than sitting home the entire weekend.

PS Thank You blog viewers for 50,000 Page views!!!

Wild Spotted Deer

2011-10-19T16:54:00.001+08:00

I was on my way to Mysore, a popular tourist destination in the Karnataka state of India. I was travelling by coach and on the way, we drive through a protected forest. I kept my eyes open, eager to spot and photograph and wild animals. And not too soon later did a group of Spotted Deer appear by the side of the road.

I quickly grabbed as many shots as I could with my 50-200mm zoom lens. This was the first time I was photographing wild deer, although I have seen them before when I was young. Here are a few individuals.

Apparently it seems like these animals were used to seeing cars and people, as they didn't flee the scene. They ignored us and continued grazing by the road.

A few metres ahead, were several more deer, and some had tall and pointed horns, with a frosty covering. I presume those were males. However, I couldn't take any shots as the bus didn't stop.

Malabar Flying Frog

2011-10-12T14:09:00.001+08:00

I happened to spot another green tree frog in my front yard, one that looked exactly like the previous one I spotted in my house. I was walking by some green shrubs when I noticed, across the leaves, a green frog with its eyes closed and dozing off.

I really like this shot!

There is a possibility that it was the same individual I spotted before, as it looked very much the same. I decided to do some research and managed to identify it as the Malabar Flying Frog. They are a common species of tree frog found mainly in the Western Ghats of India. The term flying frog is derived from the ability to break their fall in leaps by stretching the webbing between their toes.

As it became dark, he opened its eyes and became active. He hopped onto the nearby leaves while I snapped a couple of shots.

I actually got to handle this frog as it hopped onto my shoulder while I was shooting it. As I placed him back on the leaf, I realized his right front leg was holding onto my finger, as if he didn't want to let go! I saw this as a great opportunity for a fantastic photograph, and immediately grabbed a shot.

I really enjoyed this fella. He's beautiful, elegant, and not so commonly seen in these areas. Although I've met him twice already, I sure wish to see him again.

A Tribute to Steve Jobs

2011-10-07T17:35:00.002+08:00

I write this blog post in memory of Steve Jobs. As we all know, Steve Jobs passed away on the 5th of October due to cancer. He was such an inspiration for me; his rags to riches story fascinated me. His death is a huge loss for all of us. I had been a big fan of Jobs and his revolutionary Apple products ever since I was 11. Although he is no more, he will live on in our memories, and the apple logo will always remind us of the brave, bold and skilled man he was. In tribute, I have decided to post a picture of my iPod and iPhone.

RIP Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Shield-Tailed Snake

2011-09-26T15:09:00.001+08:00

Yes, it's another snake. But this time, a live one! My dad brought home this weird-looking snake in a bottle from the same plot of land where we spotted the caecilians. As always, everyone thought it was a highly venomous species. But the problem was, I couldn't tell if it was venomous or not, for I was seeing a snake like this for the first time!

You might probably be thinking that the raised end of the snake is its head. That's what I thought as well. But I was wrong! After having touched the snake with a twig, it started slithering 'backwards'. That was when I noticed a tiny white tongue appear from its 'tail'. At that moment I knew this was a form of defense- the blunt tail appeared to be the head and the narrow head appeared as a tail! Here's a video of the snake. We might have frightened the snake, but don't worry, it was not harmed!

After doing some research, I figured it out that this was a species of Shield-Tailed Snake, a nocturnal, burrowing snake rarely encountered as it spends most of its life underground. They are non-venomous, so I went up close and took some shots, as I didn't have to fear about dying if I get bitten. A shot of the snake slithering out of the bottle.

The blunt tail. These tails are strong and built as a 'shield' to absorb attacks from predators, as they usually mistake the tail for the head. That's how they get their name- Shield-Tailed Snakes.

Close-up of the narrow head. It seemed like it was about time for the snake to shed its skin.

I had a hard time photographing this snake as it wouldn't always stay still. The flash always got reflected by the shiny skin as well. Hence I couldn't manage any shots I was completely satisfied with.

I got the snake into my aquarium and let it dig into the moist soil. As evening drew near, I got snake out and released it into ditch a few hundred metres away from my house. I was glad I got to see a snake I hadn't seen before, and not dead!

Why Kill a Harmless Flying Snake?

2011-09-23T15:07:00.000+08:00

I had gone out of town for a while and when I returned, I was greeted with probably the worst thing I wanted to see- A DEAD SNAKE!!!! I looked into the bucket in which a neighbour placed the snake after killing it. Upon seeing it, I got into a fit of fury. I was mad angry at the neighbour, for what he killed was a HARMLESS and BEAUTIFUL FLYING TREE SNAKE!!!

It was such a gorgeous snake, with an incredible ability of gliding from tree to tree, hence called 'flying snake'. I had spotted and photographed a similar species in Singapore. But why the hell did it have to be killed? I questioned my neighbour sternly and he said that he had no idea what snake it was as he had never seen one like that before, and that the red spots that occurred along its body gave him the idea that it was venomous. He admitted trying to catch the snake into a tube, but failed, and therefore killed the snake, not wanting it to escape and possibly hurt anyone. Well, that's what everyone says here: 'I thought it was venomous so I killed it.' A perfect excuse, except that it brings no cure to the dead snakes.

I returned to the snake and took several photographs. It seemed more beautiful and elegant than the previous sub-species I spotted in Singapore. I think I'm right in identifying it as an Ornate Flying Tree Snake, as this species is known to be common in India. However, I never knew the species existed here. The first time it showed up proved to be its last.

Here's a shot of the flattened body, which I gently pressed down to observe and take a photograph. These snakes 'fly' be flattening their body, similar to the shape of a Frisbee, allowing them to glide through the air.

I took the poor snake and buried it in my backyard. I can't even recall how many dead snakes I've already buried in these yards.

Caecilian

2011-09-21T10:53:00.004+08:00

I set off to the same plot of land the very next day in a desperate attempt to spot and photograph a live caecilian. Since the workers managed to find 3 of them the previous day, then there should be more. I convinced the workers that they were non-venomous and harmless to humans. So as they did their work of digging and moving large rocks, I stood beside, looking out for any slithering creatures. And then, a caecilian appeared.

I quickly a snapped a few photographs, and with the help of a stick, caught it into a bottle. It was rather difficult to capture it as it easily slithered into the undergrowth. But once I got it in, I took it to an open area and opened the cap. The caecilian, having found an exit, slowly slithered out of the bottle, while I took some shots of the creature.

Very soon, it was out and trying to slither away from the open space.

As you can see from the photographs, these caecilians have a tiny eye on each side, although these are only able to differentiate between day and night, just as in the case of blind snakes. They also have a backbone, and jaws full of tiny sharp teeth. Unlike other amphibians, these rarely associate themselves with water. They spend almost their entire life underground.

Here's a video I took of the caecilian as it slithered in front of me.

I took this fella to the other side of the plot and released him into a pile of soil and stones. I was glad I finally managed to photograph a live caecilian, an amphibian that is little known of.

Tiny Dead Snakes

2011-09-21T00:08:00.001+08:00

My dad called me over to one of our plots of land, as there was some work going on and the workers had apparently spotted tiny snakes. And more. The word 'snake' got me excited and in a hurry I left to the spot. There were, these three tiny snakes (killed by the nasty workers, obviously), each of about 5mm in width and 10-12cm in length. I could not identify them as they were really small, probably hatchlings!

I noticed they had a tiny orange spot on their necks. What could they indicate? Baby cobras? That is one possibility, as the neighbouring villagers recently informed that mating cobras were sometimes seen in the plot of land. Whatever it was, I was pretty sad I couldn't photograph any live snakes.

But wait. There was more. Apart from these tiny snakes, the workers had also spotted and killed three long, slimy, 'worm-like' creatures, about 15mm in width and 30+cm in length. I didn't know what they were, so I took them home, investigated their body structure and facial organs, and came to a conclusion that they were caecilians - a group of legless amphibians, widely spread around the world but rarely encountered or studied due to their burrowing nature. However, I am not gonna post any pictures of the dead caecilians as the images look rather.... ugly. Yes. Apparently the workers (who have got ZERO contextual knowledge and believe ANYTHING they hear in their childhood) instantly and brutally killed them as they were sure that these caecilians were highly venomous snakes that could kill a person within minutes. Well, I had a good laugh at their story.

P.S. Don't worry, a live caecilian is coming right up!

Freaky Insects You Don't Want at Home

2011-09-11T11:20:00.000+08:00

Over a few days I spotted and photographed a number of insects in my house, none of which looked very friendly. They either had biting teeth, sharp stings or simply looked scary. I may be an animal lover alright, but these insects just made me want to think about whether I should let them stay home or not. Here's a group of wasps on their tiny 'hive'.

A really big Long-Horn Beetle. This beetle's horns (feelers) were almost twice its body length! Its sharp jaws can be seen in the second shot as well.

And here's a giant fly that none of us had ever seen before. It was huge, with a body that measured around 10cm! I had no idea what it was, perhaps some sort of mutated or evolved species of fly? I let it out as soon as I took my shot.

The Flyaway Bluebottle

2011-09-10T14:42:00.000+08:00

I've spotted a couple of Bluebottle butterflies but have never been able to photograph one well because of their restlessness in flight. Here I shot one in mid-air as it was fluttering over the ground close to me. Not a good shot, anyway!

Dog Portraits

2011-09-02T17:39:00.000+08:00

My dogs are undoubtedly my best friends here. Here are some portraits of them I took over a few months. Titu, my white male dog, snoring away...

A black-and-white shot of Tiky, my black female dog, after a bath.

Here's one shot I took of Titu where I asked him to sit on the mat and stay while I took a shot. I was trying something artistic (?), and this was what I got.

Mother Scorpion with Young

2011-08-31T15:39:00.000+08:00

I spotted this group of scorpions below a large pile of rocks that were left untouched for quite a while. I was kind of expecting to find them as they are always present in such piles. There were many tiny young scorpions together with a large mother. Not wanting to disturb them, I covered the crevice with a rock and left.

Green Tree Frog

2011-08-29T16:01:00.000+08:00

There's definitely something with tree frogs and my sister. She's always the one who finds them. This time, it wasn't any tiny tree frog. This tree frog was big, and bright green! She screamed to me from the second story upon seeing the frog hopping around from wall to wall. I was really surprised to know that such frogs still exist in this continuously urbanizing area!

Probably the most green and elegant frog I've ever seen. I'd always wanted to spot and photograph a green tree frog like this, and was overjoyed it finally happened. Like the stick insect, it came looking for as well! Here's a shot of him on my hand.

I took him out into the rain and released him onto a plant for a couple of shots. I had my sister hold up the umbrella so that my camera didn't get wet!

The frog hopped onto a nearby tree, where I took one last shot of him and went back indoors. What a beautiful find. I'm glad these frogs are still able to survive and reproduce here.

Sticky's Back to Say Hi

2011-08-28T09:22:00.000+08:00

It's evident that my friends sure are missing me. I woke up one morning to find another stick insect in front of my door, one exactly the same size and colour as the one before, and at the very same spot!

I just couldn't understand why this happened and how! It looked like the stick insect was back to say Hi or something. And another intriguing part was that I've never seen another stick insect anywhere in this area close to my house. The only one I've seen here is this particular individual who's come looking for me for the second time! Whatever the reason, I was glad he returned, as I could take a few photographs of him with my Nikon.

I let him out and he clung onto a tree trunk and slowly crawled up towards the leaves. I said bye as I lost sight of him, but I'm sure he'll be back before I know it.

Mating Toads

2011-08-27T13:42:00.002+08:00

I went for a short night hunt around my house, together with Tiky my black dog (whom I couldn't see in the dark). What we found were two pairs of mating Asiatic Toads, and one of the pair was lying on the floor, having a great time! Is this some sort of sign of evolution?!?

And there was another couple, this pair on the move. Both the male and female were rather smaller compared to the previous pair. As you can see, the male here is a really bright yellow in colour, probably to attract females (that look really....ahem ahem).

Baby Bugs

2011-08-25T19:27:00.000+08:00

I spotted this tiny cluster of bright yellow eggs attached to wall in my house one night. Curious to know what they were, I took a photograph and zoomed in to find cute little 'smiley faces' on these eggs!

The very next day, the eggs had hatched, and a circle of tiny bugs appeared around the eggs.

Random Shots

2011-08-20T17:00:00.001+08:00

Some random shots of random plants and things I took around my house.

Water pipe

Tipe of a banana leaf, wilted and going to drop off

Russell's Viper

2011-08-19T17:24:00.000+08:00

It was a Friday evening and I was relaxing in front of the TV when all of a sudden, a neighbour burst in, telling me his dad caught a Russell's Viper. My eyes opened wide. Something I'd been wanting to see for quite a while. I got my camera and in a hurry left to his house with him. On the way, I recalled that a few years ago, I had been in a similar situation, when my grandad told me another neighbour had caught one of these snakes. But it had turned out to be a Checkered Keelback. However, this time, it was a real Russell's Viper!

My fingers went over the shutter button a number of times. Finally, I was staring at a wild Russell's Viper, a highly venomous snake (one of the 4 most dangerous snakes in India) that I'd been wanting to spot and photograph for years. It was rather long, about a metre in length. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), this snake was almost dead as my neighbour had whacked it several times with a metal pole. Well, it's not surprising, as the people here kill almost any snake they see, like I said in the Spectacled Cobra post.

Here's a close-up of it's V-shaped head and big nostrils.

This snake is known to kill more people than any other snake in India- hence being one of the most feared. The other 3 most dangerous snakes of India are the Spectacled Cobra, Common Krait and Saw-Scaled Viper. These are commonly known as the Big 4. Russell's Vipers are especially dangerous as they prefer to reside in human habitation and settlements, to forests. Its venom is haemotoxic, which prevents blood clotting and results in internal bleeding. A bite from this snake could prove fatal unless treated properly and in time. It is a really beautiful snake, but at the same time, a very dangerous one.

By the time I was done with my shots, it was completely dead. I carried it by hand to a spot where I dug a big ditch and buried it. Rest in Peace, the only Russell's Viper I've ever seen.

CAUTION: Snakes like these are, like I've already said a couple of times, highly venomous and dangerous. I handled this one only after making sure it was dead. Please NEVER attempt to handle, provoke or go near such snakes. Always keep a a good distance when photographing them. And remember, respect them, and they'll respect you.

Another Trip to the Idukki Hills

2011-08-18T17:13:00.000+08:00

Due to several environmental reasons, I had to return to India for my studies. During one of the holidays, I decided to visit Munnar and the hills of Idukki once again. As usual, a number of beautiful landscapes appeared before me, but no interesting animals. Here's a waterfall. You have seen a B&W photograph of the same waterfall in the previous post.

A shot I took of the tea plantations while in the moving van.

A lovely fern...

And then a type of 'park' where you have many tiny shops selling various forest products. I just focused on getting those landscape shots.

The water here is still as there is a big dam just beside it, and hence you could go boating in the water.

The only animals I managed to spot and photograph were these tiny birds fluttering around and resting on the unattended boats by the banks.

It was an unsatisfactory trip for me. There are (or used to be) many wild animals like elephants and deer in these forests, but now they and many other wildlife are hardly spotted, probably due to the large number of visitors.

My Black and White Photography

2011-08-15T16:11:00.002+08:00

I recently became interested in Black & White photography, after 'accidentally' decreasing the saturation of one of my photos. I understood the real beauty of black and white. But it isn't easy! So far, I've only captured a very few shots that when converted to B&W, looks fairly good. Here's the big Hindu temple I shot at Kanyakumari.

A thick dictionary!

Cars. Singapore is a perfect place to photograph sports and luxury cars. Catching them in action is even more exciting. Here's a BMW sports car as it zoomed past, after turning it into B&W.

And a luxury car, a Bentley soft-top. Hey, I might wanna try making an advertisement with these photos!

Last, a shot I captured of a waterfall in Munnar, India.

Purple and Golden

2011-08-15T11:44:00.000+08:00

Purple and Golden don't seem to go very well, do they?

I captured two shots from the Chinese and Japanese Gardens once again, on a fine evening. After some minor editing, I was fascinated by the two images, one of a purple shade and the other rich golden. Here's the former, which is a silhouette of a bundle of vines, with the lake in the background.

This next shot was taken with my old Casio compact. I realized the sun was, at that very moment, hiding behind the park lamp. I decided to take a shot as it was before my eyes, as if the sun was producing light from inside the lamp.

Singapore Cityscapes

2011-08-12T19:20:00.002+08:00

I left home one Monday afternoon with my camera, with no intention in particular. I boarded the MRT and the first thing that appeared on the map was City Hall. I made up my mind to alight there and capture some shots of the sparkling cityscape of Singapore. Here are some shots. The Singapore Scotts Tower, a tall, circular and straight tower you see just as you exit the MRT station.

The main business buildings in City Hall.

Marina Bay Sands, an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay. It is billed as the world's most standalone casino property at SG$ 8 billion! It holds a casino, 2,561 hotel rooms, an Art Science Museum, and a huge shopping complex with a countless number of luxury shoppes and outlets.

View from below:

One shot I took from inside the mall. There are boat rides along the shops inside the mall!

I left Marina Bay Sands, and headed towards the Singapore Flyer. Just before I did, I took a photograph from where I was standing. I have to admit that this is one of my favourite shots of the Singapore city.

The Singapore Flyer is currently the world's largest Ferris wheel, with a total height of 165 metres. At the bottom of the wheel is a terminal building which houses a number of shops, bars, restaurants and a miniature nature park.. From the top, it offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about 45 km, including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, as well as Johor, Malaysia.

After taking all these photographs, I was left stunned. Despite having lived here for the past 15 years, I never realized how beautiful Singapore and its cityscape was. But wait, there's more! It looks like something new is on its way!

So I returned home satisfied with my trip. The very next day, I left to orchard, the most popular and favourite destination for shopaholics. There are hundreds of shopping malls here, full of luxury shops and expensive eating places. Here's a shot I took from an overhead bridge.

Ngee Ann City, more commonly known as Takashimaya, is a big shopping centre within Orchard. It stands out from other buildings due to its red marble exterior and palace-like look.

So there you have it! You've just seen a fraction of what awaits you here in Singapore. Tourists, photographers, shopaholics and more, don't wait! Book the next flight to Singapore, the ideal destination for an awesome and fun-filled holiday you'll never forget nor regret.

Kent Ridge Park

2011-08-10T17:09:00.000+08:00

I took it out to Kent Ridge Park one day, a nature park well-known in Singapore for it's canopy walk. Unlike the treetop walk in MacRitchie Nature Reserve, the canopy walk covers a much longer distance, and is not positioned as high. It is a much more accessible and age-friendly walk, and gives a splendid feel of walking through the trees.

I spotted a Paradise Tree Snake just a few seconds after taking the above photograph. The snake was slithering beneath the path, trying to escape from my sight.

I spotted it a few minutes later as it climbed up the leaves of a tree, but failed to capture any good shots as I forgot to adjust the ISO and shutter speed. But well, I don't have much to lose; this snake is common throughout Singapore, and I've spotted one before.

I left Kent Ridge after spending three hours trekking through various paths.

Birding at Chinese & Japanese Gardens

2011-08-09T19:32:00.001+08:00

I went for a walk to the Chinese and Japanese gardens one morning, this time with my zoom lens mounted on my camera. I was intending to do some birding, but it turned out to be far from easy as most of the birds were really shy (like always). Here are some smug shots I managed of a number of birds. A pair of Common Mynahs.

A pair of storks or herons, in flight.

A Yellow-Vented Bulbul. Apparently, I was chasing a Shrike but ended up spotting this bulbul in its place.

A Collared Kingfisher as it flies off from a lamp pole.

And the majestic White-Bellied Fish Eagle. This fella was soaring above the gardens for hours, probably trying to catch some fish?

I spotted a lot more birds but sadly didn't get a chance to photograph them.

Golden Landscapes

2011-08-07T19:40:00.000+08:00

It was a lovely evening and I decided to head over to my school to meet a friend. We took a walk along Pandan Reservoir, which is located directly infront of the school. I got onto the broadwalk and a lovely view lay ahead of me.

The sky and the surroundings were golden. I was simply fascinated with the view. You don't see such lovely, warm golden skies everyday in Singapore. Together with the sunset, it was just an incredible sight!

I took this opportunity to try out some artistic photography. Like my shoes on the wooden path and a close-up of the criss-crossing metal railings. As you may have noticed, I'm taking less animal photographs nowadays. My wildlife blog is slowly turning into a photography blog. Well, after receiving my DSLR, I realized there's so much more I can do with photography, other than wild animals alone.

Morning Sunrise

2011-08-06T18:17:00.000+08:00

I headed over to the Chinese and Japanese Gardens one morning for a brisk walk. The sun was about to rise, and a beautiful scene was set up before me. The incoming clouds taking over the bare blue sky.

The beautiful sunrise...

Reflection of clouds in the water. It looked like a painting!

Bukit Timah, After a Long While

2011-08-05T20:46:00.001+08:00

So, after a LONG stay in India, I was finally back in Singapore. I headed out to my usual hunting spot one weekend morning- Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. However, like many first trips, I didn't spot any interesting reptiles or such, just a few invertebrates.

Colours!

2011-08-02T21:52:00.000+08:00

I photographed this dragonfly one evening. The photograph looked rather lifeless at first, with dull colours. But after increasing the contrast a little, I realized how colourful and beautiful the image was. The green background with the various little colours of the dragonfly totally lit up the image.

Cheeky Squirrel

2011-08-02T21:47:00.000+08:00

I was relaxing in the front sitout one morning and this playful squirrel climbed down from the coconut tree and crept to an old coconut shell to feed on the remains. It was really entertaining to watch it hop around hastily, crawl away immediately when it felt disturbed, and slowly return after a while to eat the coconut remains.

Indian Rufous Treepie

2011-08-01T21:34:00.000+08:00

The Indian Rufous is a very common and noisy bird found in sub-urban areas in India. These birds are colourful and attractive. Their body is mainly a brownish-orange, head black, wings and tail black and white. Their tail is long and it's awesome to see them fly with these lovely colours. But what's so annoying about them? Their laughs. These birds' calls sound somewhat like an old man's weird laughter. It's a really irritating noise that you wouldn't wanna listen to for long. Anyway, I managed to grab a few shots of these birds. Although they are common and often come close to humans, I never really managed to photograph any because whenever I got close enough to photograph them, I wouldn't have the camera with me!

The pair were fighting or playing around I guess.

Butterflies & Caterpillars

2011-07-31T14:57:00.000+08:00

I spotted and photographed several Common Mime Butterfly caterpillars one afternoon. One of them hadn't grown as much as the others, its size and colour was one stage behind. They can be easily mistaken for bird poop.

The others had grown a bit more, and had red spots on their body.

Later that evening, I spotted a bright and beautiful butterfly taking shelter as it started to drizzle. I'm not sure of the species, but these sure are common here. I took several shots at full zoom (200mm) and was really satisfied with a few!

Leaves and Mangoes

2011-07-31T09:51:00.000+08:00

Ignore the title - I couldn't find any better title for this post. Here, I just wanted to display some pictures I took of a few mangoes and leaves that grew around my house. I'm not really good at plant or artistic photography or anything, but once in a while, I obtain satisfied results. Here are two shots of the mangoes that grow beside my house.

I love the 'bokeh' (background) in this next one.

And then a couple of young leaves. This one looks like a distorted man with his arms in the air.

And a young plant, growing out from the undergrowth, its green standing out from the brown colour of the dried and dead leaf litter. Minor editing has been done on these photographs.

Huge Beetle Grubs

2011-07-30T10:33:00.001+08:00

My grandfather is a nature lover. Or more like, he did agriculture for a living, and still indulges in planting crops around the house and eating natural fruits grown in our compound. One day, he got a pile of manure to feed the plants and while he was digging through the pile, he spotted several huge beetle grubs. These grubs are the larvae of a species of beetle, and they feed on such manure.

These beasts were huge, about 5 inches in length, and disgusting (to some, even more than that)! Even I couldn't bear to look at their milky white and blackish translucent insides.... Ugh! So I quickly took a couple shots before our chickens found them and started feasting on them.

Pray hard you get a good sleep tonight.

Owlet

2011-07-28T18:03:00.001+08:00

A neighbour of mine happened to receive an unusual visitor one night. A small owl, probably a Spotted Owlet, flew into their house and couldn't get out. Eventually they caught it and tied its leg onto a chair with a string and left it there for the night. The very next morning, I was informed. I walked across and they showed me the owlet. It was small, just a bit bigger than my palm, and closed its eyes all the time. Maybe the morning light was too much for it's eyes?

Here is one rare shot with its eyes open.

I took it home, where I kept it in a dark and warm, well-ventilated container. When evening came, I got him out, and let him sit on my palm. He sat there for a while, and upon realizing it was dark and that he was free, he hopped out and flew away. I felt happy for him as he flew off.

Night Hunt

2011-07-28T10:57:00.000+08:00

I went out for a short night hunt in the frontyard one cool night. I was expecting to find many nocturnal creatures I had yet to see, but it turned out the hunt was a rather boring one. All I managed to find were a couple of common critters. Like this katydid.

And a Two-Tailed Spider with two small legs and 6 long ones.

And nasty mosquitoes that made me wish I never went out at that point of time!

And, well, the big resident frog, who apparently was getting stung by four mosquitoes at once on his face. Zoom in and try to spot the mozzies!

I decided to retreat back indoors because of the mosquitoes.

Unlucky Cobra

2011-07-26T18:49:00.000+08:00

Word spread around the area one morning that a Spectacled Cobra had been sighted and killed by one of the locals in our neighbourhood. Surprisingly, I was one of the last few to know. My driver came up to me and told me about it, and I immediately set off to see the snake. I prayed they hadn't buried it yet, and, thankfully, they hadn't. There, lying in front of me, was the biggest Spectacled Cobra I had ever seen.

Its a pity I couldn't see or photograph it alive. Its the first one I ever got the chance to photograph, and it was a dead one. Apparently the old man of the house came out of the back door at midnight to see the cobra slithering around the working area. He immediately grabbed a stick and beat it to death. Well, that's what everyone here would do; they care more about the safety of their family than that of the constantly perishing species.

Here's a close up shot of the 'spectacle', which is present on the back of the hood.

What everyone who came to see the snake was, "It's long, it's big". Fair enough, this snake measured a good 6 feet! You don't usually see cobras that long here. This is the first time such a long snake was being spotted, and, well, killed. I got a full-body shot, and left. RIP the only cobra I've ever photographed.

Mommy Cat & Kitten

2011-07-25T17:32:00.001+08:00

My sister spotted this cute pair of cats in our backyard one evening, a mother and its little kitten. It was a really cute sight to see the kitten wrap itself around its mommy's legs.

But what I couldn't understand was how the pair ended up here. They couldn't have jumped in for no reason. Or perhaps the owner decided to dump them here? I have no idea, but whatever it is, they looked adorable and there seemed no reason why someone would want to get rid of them.

A close shot of the mommy's cute, sleepy face.

Eventually we led the pair out to the front gate where the mother carried her young with her mouth and ran off. What a cute sight!

Critters From an Evening Stroll

2011-07-22T17:29:00.002+08:00

I was bored at home one Saturday evening so I decided to do a mini hunt I do everyday around my home. Several dragonflies were beginning to find their resting spots to spend the night.

And guess what, the Flower Mantis I spotted the previous day wasn't the only one around. I checked the same shrub and immediately spotted a baby flower mantis, just about half an inch in length.

It hopped onto the ground and I had great difficulty trying to photograph it. It was so freaking small! I managed this photograph, with a slight increase to the contrast.

Here are two random plant/flower shots I took during my search. I'm not really that good in photographing plants and flowers, but once in a while, it seems to work for me.

Beauty and The Beast

2011-07-21T18:55:00.000+08:00

I spotted this Jezebel butterfly resting on a plant, hardly moving at all. It seemed unusual as these butterflies usually flutter around all the time. I took a closer look, and then noticed the hidden reason to why it wasn't flying off. The poor butterfly had been caught by a Flower Mantis!

As you can see, this camouflaged predator had caught the butterfly when it came close enough, and started eating it head first. It was a sad sight to see the poor little butterfly being devoured by a cunning beast. But well, its the way of life! It was also the first time I ever witnessed something like this, and hence took a few shots.

Head done, the rest of the body to go! Look at the way he's staring at the camera.

Insects Galore!

2011-07-14T22:33:00.000+08:00

I went out for a walk in the afternoon to my relatives house. With me, I had brought by camera, on which I mounted my zoom lens. I brought the basic lens along as well. It was good thing I decided to mount the zoom lens, because I managed to spot and shoot a number of insects from a good distance. Here's a small wasp nest with a few wasps around it. The zoom lens helped me shoot the nest from a safe distance. I would never wanna get stung by one of these!

My relative joined me in my hunt and we spotted this beautiful Painted Jezebel Butterfly. I had always wanted to rear the caterpillars of this butterfly when I was young.

We came across another attractive butterfly too. But sadly I couldn't manage a shot of it with its wings open. That was where the bright and beautiful colours of the butterfly were hidden. Anyway I got a few side shots and I still like them.

And then this rather big stick mantis showed up. It sure was a beautiful creature. Although I've seen many like these here, this was definitely the biggest stick mantis I've ever seen.

And then, a number of common garden insects like caterpillars, katydids and dragonflies. But it was surprising to have found so many little critters in such little area!

Critters

2011-07-08T20:27:00.000+08:00

Well, these are just a few critters I spotted one morning around my home. Frog, who already is a permanent resident in our tank.

I bet I've never managed a better photograph of a dragonfly than the one here. The image is really crisp, if you zoom in.

And, some other critters.

Getting Better With Birds!

2011-07-08T20:21:00.000+08:00

Alright, so like the title of this post says, I slowly started improving in bird photography. But before that you've gotta know that for every fair shot of a bird I got, I got about 20 failed shots. Well, failure is the stepping stone to success! So here's a White Throated Kingfisher, that I managed to shoot in my backyard. I find these birds more common in Singapore than here in India.

I spotted this tiny, skinny little bird in my neighbour's yard. I don't know exactly what bird it is, although I suspect its a species of flower pecker.

And the last and best shot I got was of this Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo, a very common species here. I used to be awaken by the calls and cries of this bird, together with its relatives, other species of drongos.

Sunsets and Lanscapes at Kanyakumari

2011-07-08T17:20:00.000+08:00

Since we were in Trivandrum, the southernmost district of Kerala, we decided to go travel and visit the southernmost point of India. This spot is known as Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of India. It lies in the state of Tamil Nadu and is popular tourist site. Out in the sea are two giant rocks on which a temple has been built on one, and a giant rock statue of one of the Hindu gods (I think) on the other.

The temperature there is pretty high, about 38 degree Celsius. Plus with the scorching rays of the sun, you may get dehydrated really quickly. I bet my skin grew one tone darker after my trip there! Anyway, these two islands can be reached by a 5-minute cruise on one of the boats. Here is a shot I took of the temple, after reaching the giant rock.

As you can see in this next photograph, there were thousands of people, despite the heat, queuing up to board the boat to and fro. My family and I waited for a long 2 hours to board the boat!

Well, the afternoons there may be really killing due to the intense heat from the sun, but evenings are rather cool, with the wind. And, its an awesome spot to take photographs of the setting sun. Here are a few photos I took after coming back to mainland.

I love the colours in this photograph, although I increased the contrast a little.

So that was it, we returned back to Trivandrum and then back to my home.

Birding Again!

2011-07-07T17:24:00.000+08:00

I decided to go bird hunting one afternoon with my cousin. Trivandrum has a number of bird and wildlife sanctuaries, and sometimes you can even spot several attractive birds in urban areas. We decided to walk through an old, dried up canal that was covered with dense bushes. Well, we did spot a number of birds, but not all were photographed.

These are a species of Bee-Eaters. I guess they get their name because of their diet- bees and other flying insects. There were many of them resting on the electricity cables along the path, but the moment I lifted my camera to shoot, they would fly off. Hence, I managed just a few shots. Sometimes there would be a group of 4 to 5 individuals sitting together, but I didn't manage to photograph them.

Another bird we spotted was the Shikra.

This bird is a bird of prey, and is a relative of eagles and kites. These are generally feared by chicken-rearing people in India (like my mom) as they can snatch chicks swiftly and quickly. But its definitely a very beautiful bird.

Many other birds like several waterbirds, parrots and sunbirds were spotted but unfortunately couldn't be photographed. But I guess this was a fairly good hunt for a newbie birder like me!

Afternoon At Trivandrum Beach

2011-07-06T17:51:00.000+08:00

I spent a week in Trivandrum, the southernmost district of Kerala. A cousin of mine stayed there. One sunny afternoon, we decided to visit the beach and take a few shots. Well, the beach wasn't empty or anything. Take a look at this shot.

Perhaps you don't see much life. Well, if you zoom into the image you'll notice tens of crabs crawling around on the sand. Yes, the beach was full of crabs! Bright yellow crabs, about 10-15cm in total length.

They were really shy and would scurry into their holes (and yes there were a lot of holes in the sand as well) immediately. Luckily for me, I had my 55-200mm lens, so I managed to capture them from a distance.

This small one's ready to get splashed by the incoming wave.

Apart from the crabs, there were a few Brahminy Kites gliding across the air. I managed a few fair shots, thanks to the fast shutter speed due to the really bright light from the sun.

So I was done with photographing. I put my camera down in the shade and headed into the water to relieve my hot feet.

A (Failed) Try At Birding

2011-07-05T17:13:00.000+08:00

I was super bored one afternoon, so I decided I'll try making use of my 55-200mm lens by shooting some backyard birds. I brought with me a plastic chair and sat below the trees in my backyard, and waited. First bird I spotted was this tall egret. Very common.

Then appeared this Flameback Woodpecker, also a very common and noisy bird.

I couldn't find any more attractive birds so I decided to get the hell out of the yard, instead of sitting there and get bitten by mosquitoes. Right then, I spotted a very slight movement on a branch a few ten metres above my head. Yes, it was a bird, and I tried taking a shot to identify it.

It was an owl, also a very common bird in these areas. But you rarely see them during daytime. This one was probably having a nap high up in the trees. I took a few more shots, as it was really tough to focus on the bird.

So that was it, my birding for the day was over. I was starting to think that the 55-200mm lens wasn't of much use to me. Well, we'll see how it goes.

A Squirrel Love Story

2011-07-03T15:21:00.005+08:00

Here are a series of continuous shots I took as I was watching a few squirrels and their activities. First, two of them meet, get to know each other, and mate...

And then a third party comes out from nowhere and joins the fun.

Its really entertaining to watch these squirrels do their stuff. They're cute, and adorable. Before mating, they actually hug each other, look at each other, and sometimes even kiss! Anyway, sorry for the rather degraded images.

Fly Away!

2011-07-01T21:59:00.002+08:00

A Golden Oriole flying off with food in its beak. Captured this shot by pure luck.

Super Spiky!

2011-07-01T19:24:00.002+08:00

Now here's something you don't see everyday, and you don't want to see them everyday either. I found this super spiky caterpillar crawling on the top of my car. It was rather small, about an inch in length, but had at least a hundred tiny little spikes around it. And not thin hairy spikes, but short, pointed and shark spikes.

Imagine what it'd be like if someone accidentally touches it, or some predator tries to eat it! He'll probably choke to death! Anyway, using a twig, I got it onto a tree away from the car. I wouldn't wanna ever see him crawling inside my car!

Chicks

2011-06-29T21:24:00.000+08:00

We had chickens in our home in India for a long while, but it had been months, or years, since I saw some chicks. My mum decided to keep eight fertilized eggs for hatching. And one day, all eight hatched, and out came these cute little furry creatures. Here's a shot with the old mommy hen with her newly hatched chicks.

Out of the eight, seven were either black or dark brown. But one, my favourite, was a beautiful yellow and cream. However, with time, he too grew darker feathers and became black!

Pigeons and their Antics

2011-06-26T12:05:00.000+08:00

Pigeons, Doves, I don't know what to call them. Some are full snow white, some full grey and others somewhere in the middle. These birds can be found on all corners of my house, resting on windows and cable wires. I have always admired the beauty of the snowy white doves (if they are doves) and since I got hold of the 50-200mm lens, I decided to try taking a few shots.

These birds are rather bold and sometimes come up to your feet if they realize you've got food with you. Here's a pair resting high up on a metal rod.

Apart from the full whites, there were half-grey-half-whites too. Here's one of the pretty looking males. Don't you just love that tiny crest on his head?

One day, I was simply checking out my zoom lens, when I heard the sound of flapping wings. I turned to look out of the window and spotted a pair, just a few metres away, that were about to mate! I immediately grabbed a few shots.

The couple then return to their normal poses and act as if nothing has happened.

Trying Out My New Gear

2011-06-22T17:03:00.000+08:00

I spent many hours trying out my new camera. Gee, there was a lot to learn. There were various modes and functions I didn't know. I decided to just try taking some photographs in the Full Auto mode. Here are a few shots of some insects that I came across. Of course, how can I miss these little critters, they're everywhere. The dragonflies were taken with the 55-200mm lens.

Can you spot the hidden spider in this next photo?

Turns out I'm a Nikon Guy

2011-06-19T16:01:00.001+08:00

So..... On December 5th, 2010, at around 9.15PM, I became a proud owner of a Nikon D3100. After 3 years of pleading, my dad finally decided to get me a DSLR. Well yes, I preferred Canon much more, in fact I wanted to get a 550D, but well, my dad quickly jumped and bought this Nikon. At first I was devastated, but then I thought, Hey, maybe I got it for a reason. Maybe the Nikon chose me (or my dad chose the Nikon for me) for a reason. Maybe I'll be far better of with this D3100 than the Canon EOS 550D. Anyway, here are some shots of my new gear.

Of course, the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

Apart from the basic 18-55mm, I also got a zoom lens, the 55-200mm f/4-5.6. It sure looks great on the camera body!

When fully extended:

Here are some sample shots I took on the first day.

So, I was glad I finally got my DSLR. And what about my old Casio EX-Z1200? It sure has served me really well for all these years, but it won't be going anywhere! Whenever I'm to go out for a shoot, I always keep it in my pocket, just in case. In some situations, believe it or not, its more useful and easy to use.

Tiny Tree Frog 2

2011-06-17T17:23:00.000+08:00

It wasn't soon after spotting the previous tree frog that I came across another one. And yes, again inside my house! This one was really small too, but definitely a different species. Here's a shot of him on my desk (that's where I found him).

So once again, I took the little frog out for some shots.

He's looking up at the skies!

A shot of it crawling on a tiny twig.

Like Adrielle (www.adrielleroyale.blogspot.com) has mentioned in the comments of the previous post, God seems to be showering me with gifts! I conclude that these creatures tend to find their way indoors probably because they're attracted to the light. In sub-urban areas in India, like where I live, you can hardly see your way at night! Houses are the only spots where there's light. They don't even have street lights in these areas. Anyway, I let the tiny tree frog hop onto a leaf, and went back in. What a frog-filled time!

Tiny Tree Frog 1

2011-06-16T17:01:00.004+08:00

My sister found this tiny juvenile frog clinging onto the wall in her room one slightly rainy night. She thought its just one of those common toads you see outside but when I took a look, I realized it was actually a tiny tree frog, probably a juvenile. Here's a shot of me 'shaking hands' with it. You can figure out the size of the treefrog as well.

As I do so everytime I find a creature indoors, I took it out and snapped a few photographs of the frog on various spots. Here are some of the best photos.

What surprises me most about this frog was -well yes, its the first time I'm spotting one like him- the fact that like the stick insect, he decided to come over and look for me! I can't explain why this happens. Maybe these creatures find their way in because of the light, or maybe to stay warm and dry during the rain. Whatever it is, I sure am glad I get to spot and photograph them without having to search for hours outdoors.

I love the way he's looking up at me.

Eventually I let it climb onto a leaf which was occupied by a slug. He got on and sat ontop of the slug.

Scorpion Action

2011-06-09T17:17:00.001+08:00

So where was I? Of course, searching for scorpions. I looked around and under every single rock and pile of rocks, and eventually managed to spot a pair underneath a huge rock. One big one measuring about 12cm and one little one, around 5cm. Here's the fully grown adult. I can't tell if its a He or a She, however.

I had it placed ontop of the rock for some open shots.

Here's the juvenile, which immediately fled the scene upon realizing it had been discovered. Have a look at it's striking position. Pincirs and sting, ready to attack.

They usually stay as a family, about 6-15 young ones, accompanied by the mother. I have in fact seen about 5-6 such families before, but didn't really bother taking photos as they are very common and I've seen them and posted about them before. All you have to do is pile up a few ten rocks and leave it there for a month or two. By then, a family of scorpions would have made it their home.

PS please do not do try this alone. Although I'm just 16, I've had enough experience to handle these venomous creatures. Their venom is extremely dangerous and sometimes even fatal! If you are to spot a scorpion, keep a good distance, take a few shots and leave it there alone. No scorpions have been harmed in the process, only rehabitated.

A Colourful Little Gecko

2011-06-08T16:56:00.001+08:00

I was searching for scorpions in my front yard one afternoon and as I lifted a rather large rock, this little gecko hopped out from below, scurrying through the leaf litter, trying to get away.

I just love the colours of this lizard. Black body, pale purplish head with a creamy stripe from each side that joins and extends till its abdomen, and an orange tail that could easily be mistaken for a part of the jackfruit.

I love this next shot where the gecko's looking at the camera, with only the head in focus.

Left it there and I continued my search for scorpions.

Another Juvenile Banded Racer

2011-06-07T19:34:00.004+08:00

It's a snake this time- another juvenile of the Banded Racer, a common snake of rural and sub-urban areas in India. This one was spotted by me as I heading to the back of my house. I saw that something seemed to be moving across the gravel and when I looked, there it was, a small snake that seemed really familiar. It immediately slithered into a pile of stacked brick-tiles.

I had photographed another juvenile Banded Racer in my visit to India about a year and a half ago. So I wasn't too excited upon seeing this fellow. However, I did, ensure I took a few shots, although most of them turned out quite dull. Here's one after a quick retouch. The snake's slithering along the side of the wall.

I released the snake soon after.

Wow, Stick Insects at Home!

2011-06-06T23:00:00.000+08:00

Woke up one morning and as I was about to open my door, I found the most unusual creature resting on the door handle. A stick insect! A green and large one, in fact. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. A stick insect here, in this rather urbanised area!? Anyway, I got my camera and snapped a few photos straight away. I didn't want to lose this opportunity.

I've seen stick insects in rather forested and uninhabited places in India, but its the first time spotting one in a place like this. It's surprising to note that despite all the noise, pollution and urbanisation they face in this place, these insects are still able to survive and reproduce. I don't think its possible it flew here from a distant area or anything. Anyway, spotting this stick insect surely is a benficial thing; it proves that there still is a lot of wildlife yet to be discovered around in these areas. If I don't find them, maybe they'll come looking for me- maybe even at my doorstep like this little one!

Green Hawk

2011-06-05T19:41:00.000+08:00

Spotted this big and beautiful hawk moth which was attracted to the light inside my home one night. I've never seen a hawk moth this beautiful. And the green! I love the green coloured patches on its wings.

Big Brown Mantis

2011-06-04T18:07:00.001+08:00

All I can say about this creature is that I've never seen such a big mantis before. I mean, it was huge, measuring about 15cm from head to tail! This praying mantis was spotted by my sister while playing badminton, and she immediately called me upon spotting it.

I got it onto a small shrub, and took a few shots.

What was really intriguing about this mantis was, well yes its size, and the fact that it seemed to follow and understand you well. It follows your face and even inspects what you give them. So after playing around with him, I decided to let him go. I spotted a locust on a nearby shrub, and so let the mantis climb on so as to hopefully see some predatory action. But nope, the mantis didn't seem interested. Perhaps it just had lunch?

Trilobite Beetle vs Firefly Larva

2011-06-01T15:03:00.001+08:00

Fireflies are common insects that you can find almost everywhere in India, and so are their larvae. Firefly larvae tend to be slightly bigger than their adult form, from my interpretation. Very often, while walking in the dark, I spot tiny glowing lights beneath the shrubs by the path. One day, I decided to take a closer look, and then realized it was a Firefly larva.

I took it home and took some shots. A few days earlier, I had spotted this 'trilobite' which I had seen before, in my previous trips to India. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it resembles a trilobite beetle. But you'll also notice that it looks very similar to a firefly larva too. Here's a shot of the 'trilobite'.

The firefly larva has a much thinner body, and has a big 'shield' covering the top of its head, whereas the head of the trilobite is more revealed. Here's a shot of the firefly larva, curled up.

A slightly close-up shot of the trilobite's head.

One more key factor to differentiate between these two is its tail. The firefly larva has a pointer tale, and it's second last segment glows and produces light when its dark, just like the adult firefly. On the other hand, the trilobite has a normal tail, jagged edges as usual.

Long Horn Beetles

2011-05-18T18:57:00.000+08:00

Long Horn Beetles are a group of beetles that can be unmistakably identified by their long horns that protrude from their head- hence the name. These beetles are commonly seen in India. I've managed to spot several different species of long horns and these are a few.

This is the most common species, with a distinct pattern on its body.

This is the largest I've ever seen. It was about 1.5 inches long.

Toad Feeding on a Centipede

2011-04-20T19:56:00.001+08:00

Saw some movement among the ground beside my home one night. I switched on the light to check what it was. It was just an Asian Toad, so I decided to leave it there. But then I spotted something yellowish in its mouth. Upon a closer look, I realized that the toad was actually feeding on a centipede, a really large one in fact.

Centipedes are common here and are considered dangerous pests as their bites can be harmful. These toads are actually doing us a favour by getting rid of these centipedes. I hope this toad doesn't get hurt by eating it though.

Dead Leaf Mimics

2011-04-16T13:39:00.000+08:00

I spotted a number of interesting insects one night inside my home. They all shared something in common, which was that all of them looked similar to a dead leaf. Here's a katydid.

A big moth that shared the exact same colour as the katydid above.

And then a moth with different shades of brown. It would still look extremely camouflaged in leaf litter.

Stick Assassin

2011-03-17T17:11:00.000+08:00

I was looking through a couple of old photos when I noticed a tiny strand of hair moving on its own, across my table. Upon a closer look, I realized it was actually a combination of two living creatures, a Stick Insect and an Assassin Bug!

The thin, slender and narrow legs and body makes it somehow a 'stick insect'. But then, take a look at its mouth parts. A long, thin sucker protrudes from its mouth. That made me realize it was indeed an Assassin Bug. So I called it a Stick Assassin.

Froggy

2011-03-13T16:03:00.000+08:00

Waited for the rains to arrive and once it did, the frogs too started to appear. This was the first frog I spotted since the rains. He's a cute, tiny one.

He jumps off onto a small mulberry plant.

Looks like he's gonna take a bite off the mulberry...

A Skink that got Stuck

2011-03-13T16:00:00.001+08:00

Found this pretty red-tailed skink scurrying beneath a door mat, trying to get out. This isn't the more common Dussemier's Litter Skink.

I helped it out soon after.

Random Day's Insects

2011-03-12T18:00:00.000+08:00

Went out hunting on a random day and I came across a couple of insects, most of which I see commonly.

Spotted this beetle inside my room. Looks similar to a Tiger Beetle.

A Terrapin's Visit

2011-03-10T20:42:00.000+08:00

I woke up one morning and walked down to the gate to get the newspaper. But I didn't walk back into my home with the newspaper alone - in my other hand I held this medium-sized terrapin.

Where did it come from, why it came here, and how!?! I had no idea. There was a possibility that it crawled all the way from the river, but why would it do that? And I have no idea why he chose our house to visit. Anyway, I took a few shots of him and kept him for the day. He was a shy guest as he hesitated to show himself when we went over to 'serve' him.

Here's a close-up shot as he retreats into his carapace.

That evening, I left to the river with him along and released him. He jumped in as soon as he sensed water.

Mornin' Old Toad

2011-03-09T18:33:00.000+08:00

Captured a cool image of a common toad, looking gloomy in the early morning, wanting to go back to sleep. Must have been a busy night for him.

Home Creepy Home

2011-03-09T15:30:00.000+08:00

Here are a bunch of weird little critters you don't see everyday. Whats more weird is that all of these insects were found inside my house! Here's a white beetle.

A big brown beetle, with a rhino-horn on his head.

A strange-looking slug.

A loop caterpillar.

An assassin bug.

And a creature that looks similar to a dragonfly or damselfly, but has feelers, and small eyes instead of big compound ones.

Mantises

2011-03-08T15:02:00.000+08:00

Here are two mantises I spotted during the 3 days I had at my cousins'.

Frog Hunt Indoors!

2011-03-08T14:57:00.000+08:00

Well you've just viewed a blog post of the frogs we photographed outside. Well guess what, we were able to find frogs even inside the house! Sure enough, the area was filled with frogs of all kinds, and some preferred to reside indoors during the day. These frogs were found under sofas, in between doors and by window sills. We got them out, however, to give the photographs a 'natural look'.

Frog Hunt Outdoors

2011-03-06T23:41:00.000+08:00

Later that day, when the sun was almost covered by the clouds, and the day seemed more pleasant, my cousin and I went out again for a small hunt. This time, we walked around the lake hoping to spot and shoot some frogs. And sure enough, there were a number of frogs we managed to spot, though we couldn't photograph them all. Here's a tiny little one we found on a large rock.

This one's a toad I think, or maybe a Field Frog. We found it on the middle of an un-tarred road.

And best things last... Here's an interesting species, a frog with a long body, narrow front and smooth skin. There were several of these but I only managed to photograph one of them as they are really good escapists.

Crab

2011-03-02T15:15:00.000+08:00

We wandered around the sides of the little lake and were astonished to find this crab in one of the little pools surrounding the lake. We never thought we'd find a crab in the tiny pool of freshwater.

Look at him as he raised his giant claws in defense. He sure was a tough guy as he wouldn't let go of the stick we were using to try nudge him out to land.

Eventually, we managed to catch him and get him into a steel bowl. Upon taking a close look we realized it was actually holding onto hundreds of baby crabs. Look carefully and you'll see the tiny, translucent figures of the baby crabs.

After taking a couple more shots we left him back into the water, back home. He still showed us his signature pose before he dipped in.

Blue Dragons

2011-02-27T21:25:00.000+08:00

Traveled to India once again for a cousin's wedding in May 2010. Found this attractive blue dragonfly by a lake close to my cousin's home.

There were other little creatures too, like this forest damselfly.

3 Snakes a Day!

2011-02-26T15:10:00.000+08:00

We were pretty much done with hunting at Bukit Timah and were on our way back to the bus stop. I had already packed the camera, but I was forced to unpack it again in a few minutes. There, on the railings by the side of the road, was... a thread. Well that was what I thought it was. After taking a closer look I realized it was actually another snake, a species of Bronzeback.

You can see that it looks very much like any rope or vine that fell from any tree.

This snake was quite hard to shoot as he kept slithering away and even attempted to hop off the railing. But here are some shots I managed to take. I didn't care to keep my distance as I knew that this was a non-venomous species that couldn't be of much harm.

We later identified it as the Painted Bronzeback, a widespread and common species that can be found in a variety of habitats including scrub, secondary forest, back-beach habitats as well as parks and gardens. It is a diurnal species that searches for its prey, mainly frogs and lizards, during the day. What an interesting day! 3 snakes from one location, one highly venomous, one mildly venomous and one non-venomous!

Bright Blue, Bright Red

2011-02-26T14:55:00.000+08:00

So we rushed up the hill, frantically searching, looking around for the snake we were told about. And then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a bright blue stripe. It was a Blue Malayan Coral Snake, a highly venomous front-fanged snake that you definitely wouldn't want to get really close to.

I started photographing the snake right away. It was the first time seeing this snake in the wild, and I didn't want to miss the chance.

This species is supposed to be a nocturnal hunter however. I'm not sure why it was lurking around during the day. But still, this is one snake you don't want to get bitten by, no matter what. I've read that these snakes, despite their highly neurotoxic venom, are unoffensive and gentle creatures that can easily die of fright. I've heard that there is no anti-venom for this species, so if you're bitten, you might just wanna say a final goodbye to all your loved ones. But as long as you don't provoke the snake and keep a good distance, you should be safe.

The snake was trying to get to the other side of the tarred path, so with the help of the reserve officers we helped it move away. Here's a shot of the snake crossing the path. It was definitely at least one and a half metres long.

Here's a shot of the bright, red tail. As you can see, this species has a bright red head and tail, and a bright blue body, which comprises of two different shades. Light blue by the sides and a strip of dark blue in the middle. The underside of the snake is also bright red, like the head and tail.

It slithered down into the undergrowth and vanished soon after.

Little Whippy's Still Home

2011-02-25T14:27:00.000+08:00

After taking photographs of the spider, I turned to the other side of the big book to see if our friend, the Malayan Whip Snake was still there. And he still was! I am not sure why but this particular uncommon snake seems to like this spot very much; its the 4th or 5th time we're spotting him here!

Its tongue fully sticked out, as straight as a stick.

We knew, and so did the little snake, that we were going a bit too close. He got into striking position and even opened his mouth to reveal his hot pink mouth. I didn't get a shot of his opened mouth though. But here's a shot of him in striking position, looking straight at the camera.

We retreated and left him alone soon after. A few other visitors saw us photographing the snake and told us that they spotted another species of snake a few ten metres away. Was it our luck or what! We rushed up the hill to discover our next snake of the day. Coming up right away in the next post.