Alive & Clicking

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-25853429-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Hi I'm Nidhi, a photo crazy Delhiite. I'm glad you're here, please do leave a comment!

[nidhis]

We're all set for our puppy training workshop. Link in bio. (at New Motibagh Complex, GPRA)

[nidhis]

#CONTESTALERT #WhatsApp us a photo of your #dog at [phone] and the best photo will feature on the cover of the next issue of the #Dawgzine! ⠀ ⠀ BONUS: We will also send you a personalized t-shirt.⠀ ⠀ #doggo #pupper #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppies #dogsofdelhi #delhidogtrainer (at New Motibagh Complex, GPRA)

[nidhis]

at New Motibagh Complex, GPRA

[nidhis]

What according to you makes a #gooddog? #dogs #dogsofinstagram #doggo #dogger #pupper #dogtraining #dogtrainer #puppies #goodboy #puppiesofinstagram #dogsofdelhi #delhidogtrainer (at New Delhi)

[nidhis]

regram @delhibyob #happinessis waking up to half the page covering your week old book club! #DelhiBYOB Thanks Swati! #TheHindu

[nidhis]

UVCT's 64th Career Mela - A preview!

[nidhis]

Shimla, February 2014 by Nidhi Srivastava

[nidhis]

Shimla, February 2014  by Nidhi Srivastava

[nidhis]

They always say that black and white images capture the soul of the subjects; the soul being italicized and bolded. I’ve always been skeptical about this. I find colour closer to reality, and thus, a truer depiction of the “soul” or whatever. So every time I finish a portrait I shrug my shoulders and drag the saturation slider to the far right. That’s how I like my pictures; vibrant, oversaturated and in your face. Occasionally I will veer towards sepia or a split tone, but the black and whites are rare and reluctant.

But you know what I have realized? So far, all my subjects had been SOUL-LESS EMPTY SHELLS. Yes, like dementor-kissed empty shells of humans. Or Voldemort-esque warped souls that are beyond help.

That is till I came across this diamond-child, this spark of innocence and mischief. He is my nephew, ladies and gentlemen. I am related to him. I was editing his photos, a little overwhelmed with the profusion of colour that surrounds this gem of a child (clothes, toys, walls…) when almost by accident I passed over a black and white preset. I was stunned by the effect. THIS ANGELIC TODDLER LOOKS GOOD IN BLACK AND WHITE.

LOOK AT THIS FAIRY CHILD! He is at the acme of pure innocence! His soul is unblemished! He represents everything good and happy and bright! He doesn’t need any colour! COLOURS NEED HIM. 

Coincidentally it is Children's Day today. Recover your souls, people. 

[nidhis]

Rakhi on Flickr.

Raksha Bandhan, 2014. Also on: instagram

[nidhis]

Now available on Instagram!!

#happysaturdays

A photo posted by Nidhi Srivastava (@keeperofthenidhi) on Sep 9, 2014 at 9:04am PDT

[nidhis]

Cake on Flickr/Flickr on Cake.

[nidhis]

[nidhis]

Right of Franchise on Flickr.

On a totally random note, the policemen at the Polling Booth congratulated me when I finally found my name in the lists outside. Who said the Delhi Police sucked? I totally love them! :P

I've been trying to figure out not just WHO to vote for but also HOW. And as anybody who has any experience with government websites in India, this is a bit like waging a war. 

Well, that's what you'd think.

I've been very pleased to find that the government websites are not just working really well, they're a mine of information. Here's a set of links for fellow Delhiites:

1. ECI's Guide for Voters is a good resource to begin with.

2. Look for your name in the Electoral List on Delhi CEO's website (serious breach of privacy here, btw).

3. If you are not sure about your constituency (like me) then you can use this rather rudimentary map to figure out. Or use the Locality Search here. 

4. You can now search for polling booths in your constituency using this map.

5. Next, you might be interested in current MLA's. Have a look here.

6. I urge you to go through the affidavits (wealth, education, political affiliation, contact details) filed by the candidates in your constituency here. I was quite disappointed to find not a single lady in mine. But the wealth of information here is remarkable and quite illuminating. Not many judgments or inferences can/should be drawn from it, but, like I said, illuminating. 

7. Now for the all important question--which symbol do I hit? Match up here. An extremely handy list, there is everything in here from "bungalow" to "hat" and "camera" and even, yes even I got my hopes up, "batsman". 

8. Finally, I can assume the results will be uploaded on this page on 8th December.

I hope this helps somebody, even if it's just one person. I'd be really grateful if people pointed out errors. I'm still looking for a few links, like maybe a "compare manifesto's"  or something. Please do help! 

*For those of you living under a rock, Election Day is on 4th December 2013. Be there. 

Also, why the NOTA option is useless: "Therefore, even if the number of electors opting for NOTA option is more than the number of votes polled by any of the candidates, the candidate who secures the largest number of votes has to be declared elected." (Source: ECI)

[nidhis]

Diwali 2013

[nidhis]

Hope you had a very Harry Diwali! 

[nidhis]

Continuing with the series of the pictures taken on my special day. This is the "Green Tunnel*" on way to Pahalgam. It's unbelievably pretty and my mother did not let me step on the highway to take a better photo so yeah.

So the funny thing is...see, every time I edit a picture on Lightroom (always), I save the edits as a preset so I can apply it not just to the rest of the pictures in the set, but also to any photographs in the future. It's always surprising how the atmosphere of one place can look good on another. For example, "Earl of Mayo**" and "Flowers of Gun Hill" are two my favourite presets and work magic on any otherwise dull and uninspiring photos. Guess which one worked for Green Tunnel? "The Columns of CP".

#DelhiGirl

(Also, normally I like a little grain to add some flavour to photographs, but it's just not working for me here. Isn't it?)

*Here have a fairly appropriate link.

**Earl of Mayo: coming soon.