Why people don’t use auto mode in SLR cameras?

It is outlandish that in times of plethora, we often choose not to exercise our selections. We guzzle without giving a thought to the future. We do stuff that make our lives as pleasurable as possible without a second peek at the byproducts of our lenience. It is simple to reason with ourselves that all of this is innate. It is, of course, in the personality of all beings to consume before we conserve.

Preservation, too, is a purely humans attribute. Animals do not preserve, in the way humans connote it. They basically live within a natural equilibrium, acquiring what is essential and furnishing what needs to be given. As humans, we tend to deem that we are a slash above other creatures in the evolutionary ladder, because we have bigger brains and produced religion and attitude, and because we can decide when to mate. This is innate. Nature, it appears, is not devoid of a sagacity of paradox.

Undeniably, nature boom on all things ironical and parody ambiguous. For example, the hardest metals are born from the liquids inside the hearts of the hottest flames. And, it is in the times of trials and tribulations, that heroes are born. Can elation exist without the familiarity of sorrow? Imagine war between India and Pakistan without harmony… or life without death. Scientists theories that life itself was born in the middle of uncongenial chemical soups, created by lava vents so deep in the sea that the water touching the molten rock cannot twinkle into vapor. However let us leave the phoenixes of the globe to their relevant ashes, and talk about photography.

It takes a life span of tolerance to become a well-known wildlife photographer.  As the great American Wildlife Photographer wrote in his autobiography that “Wildlife Photographers requires endurance and control “Nonetheless, the amount of a renowned photographer’s most illustrious work might not amount to a miniature, if you mull over the entire time the shutter remained open for those shots. Famous photographer Umesh Gogna during a workshop articulated that “In wildlife photography patience is very important. At many occasions photographers spent hours but could not able to get even one picture. I have spent lots of days and hours to get the best pictures of tiger in my kitty” I have seen photographers turn cameras costing lakhs of rupees into point-and-shoot toys. Like my classmate Saurabh Agrawal is planning to spent lots of rupees to buy the best point-and-shoot camera, spending that much he can get a good SLR too. But, what then, is an Auto mode for, if it is not to be used? When I started learning photography from a SLR camera, it was tuff because I thought if one can click pictures via auto mode then why to invest time and brain to think about aperture, shutter speed, mode….etc.  I once read that Dr. Salim Ali, legendary ornithologist and naturalist, got his photographs of birds with a cheap Agfa box camera, by moving very, very slowly… at the rate of an inch a minute. Same was the case with the prominent photographer Raghu Rai.

Still I am planning to buy my first SLR camera and getting rid of point-and-shoot toy. A startling quantity of things in our quest for creativity is coupled with the availability or unavailability of options.

Get the panorama? 

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad

AGNI V - a ‘game changer’ but purely for deterrence…….!

A ‘game changer’ as the Scientific  Adviser to the Defense Minister  V.K. Saraswat says, that can perform different roles, from carrying multiple warheads to providing anti-satellite capability and even launching tiny satellites into orbit. India has successfully carried out the maiden test flight of its longest-range nuclear-capable missile, which can apparently travel more than 5,000 kilometers. The Agni V rocket took off around 8:03 a.m. local on Thursday morning and "met all the mission objectives," said S.P. Das, director of the missile test site. The missile, whose stated range of about 3,100 miles puts major Chinese cities within its striking distance, was fired from the coast of the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Defense minister, A.K. Antony, congratulated the Defense Research and Development Organization for the "immaculate" success of the missile launch.  Our country’s test fires long-range rocket, the missile development is not an aggressive initiative and that its military program is based on building a credible minimum deterrent with a "no-first-use" policy. "Our missiles are purely for deterrence," Ravi Gupta, a spokesman for the Defense Research and Development Organization, had said ahead of the launch. In November, India successfully tested the fourth version of Agni, meaning "fire" in Hindi, with a range of 3,500 km. Built years earlier, Agni I could travel 700 km, according to Indian defense authorities.

Our borders two nuclear-armed states -- arch-rival Pakistan; and China, with which it fought a brief but bitter war in 1962. Both China and Pakistan possess formidable nuclear-armed missiles of their own. The former is in the process of replacing its liquid-fuelled ballistic missiles with more modern solid propellant ones. From bases in Qinghai and Yunnan provinces, these missiles can reach all of India. In addition, in 2004, China launched the first of its second-generation Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered submarines that will carry JL-2 solid-propellant ballistic missiles. Islamabad too has a number of long-range missiles in its armoury. An assessment carried out by an Indian strategic studies group found that Pakistan had a “credible deterrent structure” organized around the solid-propellant Shaheen-1 and -2 missiles. However, responsible possession of nuclear-armed missiles for the purposes of deterrence also requires working assiduously to remove sources of friction that can erupt into open conflict. It is also important that India and China start talking to each other on nuclear matters.

The launch of the Agni V is "another milestone in our quest to add to the credibility of our security and preparedness and to continuously explore the frontiers of science,"  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday. The flight of the missile is a significant move to demonstrate India's technological competence, Uday Bhaskar, a strategic expert, said earlier this week. But the homegrown missile will undergo several tests more before it becomes fully operational, he said. A successful experiment, Bhaskar said, would bring India closer to the group of nations capable of building intercontinental missiles.

Currently, the five permanent member nations of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France -- are thought to have developed such technology, Prime Minister said. As well as homegrown hardware like the Agni, India buys a lot of arms from overseas. It has overtaken China as the world's biggest importer of weapons, according to a recent report by the the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Siemon Wezeman, a senior analyst with SIPRI, said last month that India's defense spending reflects its regional security concerns and Delhi's global aspirations. China's relative decline as an arms importer comes at a time when it is increasing its overall defense budget, investing in major projects such as the development of a stealth fighter jet and an aircraft carrier program. Many of these weapons are produced domestically.

Agni V, India's most powerful long-range ballistic missile, has lived up to the hopes of its creators at the Defence Research & Development Organisation. But a country whose ‘father of nation’ throughout his life has talked about stopping belligerent, has successfully completed a big task. News channels are debating on our funds on development of people and arms. ‘Prime Time’ on NDTV debated this Priyadarshan, news editor of NDTV was talking about overall development but other defense experts were articulating that India should spent more on defense to combat overall terror.

I hope that AGNI V is a ‘game changer’ and purely for deterrence. 

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad

THE WORLD OF TV JOURNALISM: A Workshop of news anchoring and script writing

The world of communication in today’s world has weaved new threads to it. With new media techniques and up to date tools it has enhanced its mode of work and approach towards its viewers. In such a case all those who aspire to build their career in world of communication need to keep their pace with the evolution in the field.

TV journalism is the most fêted means of information in existing world. News anchoring and script writing are the most important elements of it. With this view in mind Centre of Media studies, IPS; University of Allahabad organized a three days workshop of “news anchoring and script writing”. This workshop was for students of B.A in Media Studies Sem IV and students of PG Diploma in Photojournalism and Visual Communication.

Priyadarshan, News Editor NDTV and Amrita Rai, anchor Rajyasabha TV (former anchor in NDTV and ZEE news) conducted the workshop. These experts from leading media organization were there to reshape the talents of the students as per the present need of the profession and transform their personality into presentable one.

The objecting of the workshop was to give the students an opportunity to meet and interact with the dignitaries in the field of media. Expose them to the latest media tactics and make them learn the basics of Script writing and news anchoring.

The workshop started on 13^th April 2012 in the Center of Media Studies. Mr. Priyadarshan from NDTV was the mentor for the and after formal introduction and expression of gratitude by the course coordinator Dhananjai Chopra the workshop took an interactive mode. On the first day his prime focus was on the understanding of words, its power and images. He also talked about various prejudices. He also gave understanding of various news formats viz. anchor visual, anchor visual bites, package etc. He gave various tips to students to make their writing effective and presentable. Thus the first day ended with the dive in the ocean of words and its understanding of the same.

On the second day the students were delighted to have one more eminent TV personality amidst them; Amrita Rai a well known TV news anchor. The session became more interesting with both Amrita and Priyadarshan sharing their views alternately and making it more remarkable for the students by focusing on subjects like work of TV anchor and their responsibilities. The concepts of Breaking News and techniques used by script writers and anchors were also discussed. There were also discussions on the difference that lie between print media writing and TV writing. Mr. Priyadarshan focused on the fact that the language used should be very simple and communicative with short and lucid sentences. The cap of the pen closed with vast understanding of TV journalism.

The third day of the workshop i.e. 15^th April 2012 was a day of implementation of the knowledge and information given to students on the previous two days.

Before the practical session Mrs. Amrita Rai was there to make a clear understanding of news anchoring. Very precisely she discussed all the minute details one need to be aware of if he/she is in a quest to work as a TV anchor. Knowledge and awareness has no alternatives is what she explained. As a news anchor one has to balance many situations with ones own knowledge about the subject. If one is not aware then no matter how fluent you are you end up giving a poor performance.

In the next session the scripts written by students were discussed by the experts and assistance was to improvise. Students also practiced anchoring and in a very friendly and light manner these exercises were conducted. Also very important details about anchoring were discussed. Mrs. Amrita underlined the differences between the ways of presentation of an anchor link, voice over and reports. Students very actively participated and learnt a lot from it.

The end session was the most important of all where the students got an opportunity to get answers for their queries.

With this the three days workshop came to its end. The students had gained a lot and were filled with great confidence and zeal to work hard and adhere to all the knowledge and information they gained. Both the experts encouraged the students to work hard and join them in media industry in coming future. Prof. G.K Rai, Director IPS and the faculty of Center Of Media Studies – Mr. Dhananjai Chopra; Course coordinator, Mr. Sunil Srivastava; Center Manager, Mr. Vidya Sagar Mishra , Mr. Sachin Mehrotra and Mr. Amit Maurya were also Present.

Richa Tiwari

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad

T.V Journalism Workshop by Famous Journalist Priyadarshan and Amrita Rai

 Priyadarshan, Senior Editor of New Delhi Telivision (NDTV) would be conducting a three day workshop on television journalism, news scripting at Centre of Media Studies, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad.

Mr. Priyadarshan is a senior television journalist and a columnist for Tehelka magazine. Amrita Rai, Senior Anchor, RajyaSabha TV, would also provide her guidance on anchoring to the students of B.A in Media Studies and PG Diploma in Photojournalism and visual Communication during this workshop.  

Dhananjai Chopra, Course Coordinator of Centre of Media Studies, articulated that this is a very good opportunity for the students to get the knowledge and guidance from great journalist like Priyadarshan and Amrita Rai. The workshop would begin at 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m from 13^th April to 15^th April 2012.

Prateek Pathak 

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad