Fabien Penso's Tour Through India, With Leica

 

By Fabien Penso

Image Source: http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/fabien-penso-an-indian-carnet-de-passage/

 

On the Leica blog, there's a great story of Fabien Penso, who traveled India with a Leica M9.

 

Fabien shoots up close to people, and focuses pretty much exclusively on photographing people. The shot above exemplifies what I think of when I think candids shot with a Leica.

 

Fabien typically shoots a 35mm lens, sometimes a 50. To him, a 50mm lens feels a little telephoto. Interesting.

 

Fabien also feels that you should not have to make equipment choices when traveling, so usually carries a single lens, maybe two.

 

I like this approach. I need to learn from it.

 

(Click Here) to read Fabien's full story on the Leica blog.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Panasonic Lumix and National Geographic Collaboration Report - Counting Species in India

As I've reported in the past, Panasonic and National Geographic have formed a collaboration, which is super exciting to me. They have just issued a brief report about working with a researcher who studies biodiversity in India's Pakke Tiger Reserve.
 

Image Source: http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/nationalgeographic/earthswitnesses/india/report.html
Hornbills Are One of the Most Important Seed Dispersers in the Indian Rainforest
 

(Click Here) to see the first episode, which includes a link to a four page pdf document.


The Lumix team worked with Dr. Aparajita Datta, who has spent over a decade studying and working to conserve the tropical forests in Northeastern India. Her research focuses on the "phenology" of the forest, which is the flowering and fruit bearing behavior of trees, to understand the baseline patterns of the forest, and detect any changes. The phenology includes study of trees whose seeds are spread by mammals, birds, and wind. Following is a quote from the report:"“Understanding connections and interaction between animals and plants is the part of my work I find most exciting,” Dr. Datta says. The area is home to five different species of hornbills, and Dr. Datta studies their role as seed dispersers. In tropical forests, 80 percent to 90 percent of tree species bear fruits that animals disperse so these birds are critical to the ecosystem. In addition to her scientific work, Dr. Datta has a passion for educating the next generation of engaged citizens. She has co-written two books for children on hornbills and rain forests and produced other educational material to foster a greater awareness and appreciation of Indian wildlife among urban and rural children." In addition to a short video with Dr. Datta, and eleven still photos, the site includes a second gallery of images from India.

I very much look forward to the coming episodes two and three, which promise to include many more exciting images from the collaboration.
 
Working in Science and being an avid photographer (and Lumix fan), I can't imagine a better match-up of my interests.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com