Canon Speedlite 430EX II FlashI bought a Canon Speedlite 430EX II from Flipkart because the built-in flash on my Canon EOS 550D DSLR produces harsh shadows.
I am a beginner as far as flash photography goes. So I chose the 430EX II above the Canon 600 RX-RT which costs twice as much. One thing that the 430 EX II does not do is control slave flash units.
Flipkart delivered the flash the next day after I ordered it. I went through the operator manual. But it gives only basic information. So I had to search the internet for practical guidance.
OrangesThe feature that separates 430EX II from third party flashes is that it can do high-speed sync. With High-Speed Sync, you can shoot at high shutter speeds. This will allow you to dim the ambient light and light the subject selectively with the flash. For more information on High-Speed Sync, please see what Syl Arena has to say.
This Property Belongs To – shot using 430EX IIThe flash is shipped without batteries. I had to separately buy Ni-MH rechargeable AA batteries. Alkaline AA batteries can also be used.
Even though it is not compact, I am happy with my Canon 430EX II.
Canon PowerShot S110I bought a Canon PowerShot S110 camera from Flipkart in February 2014. I find the S110 handy to carry when weight/volume considerations are important. It’s ideal for fun and family trips.
It is the smallest and lightest camera with professional features. It has a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor. The lens has 5x zoom with a focal range of 24-120 mm and fast maximum aperture of f/2.0 The display has a 3.0 inch LCD touch screen. ISO speed can be set from 80 to 12800.
Airport Tower Mumbai – shot with Canon S110The S110 has a full range of manual shooting modes and RAW support. GPS can be used only with a paired smartphone. Also present are a built-in neural density filter and optical image stabiliser. There is a SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. HD video recording is possible.
Large size photos have an image size of 4000×3000 pixels. Slowest shutter speed is 15 seconds and the fastest is 1/2000 sec.
Kariyankode River – shot with Canon S110Wi-fi connectivity is built-in. But I found the set-up procedure tedious and have not used the feature so far.
Battery performance could be better since just 200 photos can be shot with a fully charged battery.
Canon S110 is designed for serious photographers who want a compact camera with creative capabilities.
The photo below has converging lines that take the viewer’s eyes deep into the frame. On the ground, the salt pans make an intricate design. The power pylons tower above the ground and recede into the distance.There are touches of greenery on the sides.
Power and Salt
Location
The photo was shot near the road leading to Koliwada in Naigaon. One side of the road has a long stretch of salt pans. On the other side of the road are dwellings of salt pan workers. The power transmission lines run parallel to the road.
Technical Data
The camera is Canon EOS 550D. Aperture was at f/8 for a good depth of field. The camera mode was set to aperture priority. Focal length was 55.0 mm.
It was a misty morning and the river was covered in a veil. Visibility was restricted. The sun could not penetrate the soft mist. Outline of the shore could be made out.
Wisp
Location
I was on Valapattanam Bridge in North Kerala when I took the shot. I pointed my camera to east of the bridge where the river was flowing on to Arabian Sea. The sea could not be seen in the distance.
Technical Data
The camera was hand held. Shutter speed was 1/320 sec. Flash did not fire. I used Auto mode. ISO speed was 80.
This is one of my photos that turned up on Flickr Explore. Explore is Flickr’s way of showcasing the most interesting photos within a given point in time — usually over a 24 hour period. I took the shot after the sun had gone down. The focal point was a lone tree towards end of the village road. The road leads the eye towards the tree, giving a feeling of depth.
Village Road
Location
The dirt road is located close to Vasai, Maharashtra. There is little traffic on the road as few people live in the vicinity. There is no electricity either. The land had been used for many years to produce salt. May be because of the salt content, few trees grow in the area.
Camera Info
The light was low and I used a wide aperture of f/2.8. Shutter speed was 1/40 second. Focal length was 5.8 mm, with ISO speed at 160.
