Macbook pro's hidden feature - it can also cook egg!!

I've read in more than one instance that you can cook an egg on a Macbook pro. Of course whoever was saying that was using it as a metaphor to explain how hot a mbp can really get. I have always nodded my head in agreement that mbp's heating problem is something Apple is not taking seriously (Do you hear us Apple? Grrrr!). Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic machine, far superior than the laptops that run Window or what have you. But it does have it's own share of drawbacks.

Today I decided to see for myself if you could really cook an egg on a Macbook pro! So I ended up placing some yolk on my mbp. Yes - literally!! And it didn't take more than 10 minutes to find out if mbp is also a cooking machine! :D Above are the results.. I did not actually taste the yolk, but it was cooked alright!

So there ya go - theory proven! I bet Apple didn't tell you about thisfeature when you bought the Macbook Pro. So next time you are at an Apple store, be nice and thank them for being so generous and adding these hidden features!

Way to go Apple ;-)

A dose of motivation

Not many people know it but I like collecting quotes. In fact I have a collection where I keep adding new once as I find them. Since I'm not writing much here thought of adding something from the collection.. so here's a random one:

"If you live everyday like it's your last, one day you'll most certainly be right!"

Lord of the bells

Located this frame while on a solo photowalk one early morning in Patan. Waking up early to chase these misty shots is almost always worth it.

Although I'm pretty sure you can find bigger bells in Kathmandu, this one has got to be the biggest around Patan durbar square area. The bell is high up on a structure - not accessible to the public.

So how often do they ring this bell...? I wonder.

If only a penny could make you rich

It's not apparent but this elderly person makes a living by begging for money around Swayambhu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

As I was making my way up to the temple, I noticed this old man with few coins on his left hand. With his right hand, he was trying to count how many coins he had in the other hand. It's one of those sights which makes you feel sad.

I walked up to him, gave him some money, and asked him if I could click his photo. Without hesitation he positioned himself for a pose. I went on clicking few shots, and through the lens saw this sadness on his face which has been frozen in time.

I wish he had smiled instead.

100 Strangers Project

I'm usually sheepish about walking up to strangers and asking them permission to click their photo. I've always chosen to use my 70-300mm tele lens instead to shoot strangers of interest :-D

But it's time for change. It's time to learn.

When I was in Kathmandu few months back, I went against my gut feeling and started talking to people - strangers, more precisely! It was a little hard in the beginning but after you get the hang of it, it's kinda fun :-] I started walking up to people and would ask them politely if I could take a of picture of them. 99% would agree with a smile. But there's that 1% who would shy away or would rudely disapprove. But it was all worth the try. At the end I talked to many people, clicked a lot of photos (portraits in particular). And one of the best thing about the experience was that every photo had a story.

So, now I am starting a new project called 100 strangers. I am going to photograph strangers and write stories about the experience. The goal is is pretty simple - make a collection of 100 photographs of strangers, and the stories.

--

About the photo:

I spotted this lady while she was walking around Swayambhu temple in Kathmandu with her friend. She was pretty cute so I thought of going and asking her for permission to take a photo. Frankly, I was a little nervous because I had never done this before - had always used a zoom lens to click shots of pretty girls ;-] So, anyways, following is the conversion with her:

me: "Hi, can I take a photo of you?"
she: (a little unsure) "Uh, hi, uhh"
she: "You can take a photo, but I'm not sure why you would want to"

She then poses with a nice smile and I don't say anything and start clicking. After few shots:

me: "Thanks, what's you name?"
she: "My name's [uh, I forgot her name!!]"

Then she smiled nervously and walked away (rather in a hurry).
And this is the part where I started thinking if she thought I was stalking her :-]

But it didn't matter. My quest was complete. I reviewed the photos and started looking for the next interesting subject - next stranger!

The long wait

Her name is Srijana. I actually can't believe now that this photo was taken on the second day after I met her, back in January 2009.

Have not met her again after that day though... yet.

But someday soon, perhaps.

Butter lamps

Butter lamps are offered by devotees to accumulate merit in order to create positive short - term circumstances such as health, wealth, longevity and more deeply, to reveal one's wisdom to nature. (source)

These are one of my most favorite subject to photographs. I have posted photo of these before, but can never have enough. So here's one more, a little different, perhaps.

Just another day in a monk's life

A monk looks to the east on a chilly morning atop mist covered Kathmandu city. 

I was at Swayambhu one early morning to capture mists shot. Wasn't having much luck that day with compositions. As I was looking around (desperately) for subjects and compositions, spotted this monk looking endlessly at the rising sun. At first glance, it didn't seem like much. Then for some reason I sneaked behind him and clicked few shots. And this particular one turned out pretty well composed.

The HDRish effect was added with Lightroom and colors enhanced with Picnik.

And yeah, unlike me, he's a real monk :-]

Gotcha

Gotcha, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

"I'll sue you if you upload this to Flickr!". I'm pretty sure that's what she said when I clicked her first shot! Of course that was just a jest :-] (Unless, her lawyer calls me now! :-D)

That's Tara, behind the camera, just in case if you're wondering.

Orton-ish effect courtesy of Picnik.

All you get is a :p

All you get is a :p, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

After successfully stealing an orange from a passer by, this fellow has to be in alert mode all the time because there are many other monkeys in the area and trouble is never far away.

Got this shot when it gave a curious look while I was pointing my (rather big) lens at it.

At Swayambhunath stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal.

cling-clang-clong

cling-clang-clong, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

Bells hung and sold as souvenir around Swayambhunath swing with the wind, and make that signature sound - cling-clang-clong.

Been away from Flickr for few days. Good to be back :-]

City of gods

City of gods, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

Local people hang out at Patan durbar square early morning as pigeons scour the area to find food.

I had been to a photo frame shop in Kathmandu, when a photo caught my attention. That photo was neatly framed and was showcased. Not able to look away ,I went closer and talked to my friend about the photo's location and composition. It was a really well composed shot. In my mind I was wondering how I had missed to click a similar shot in that location. And then it hit me - I wanted to emulate the photo. It took a month or so.. but finally I was able to capture this shot which is strikingly similar to the one hanging in that frame shop. That's when I thought to myself - thoughts become things!

I think watching and learning is an integral part of growing... and growing fast. Many may criticize and say that this photo is a copy of the photograph from the shop (I still do not know who clicked the original shot though) and that such practice is unethical. Well may be. But, it does not hurt to try and find out what it takes for you to capture the shot yourself. We all watch and learn don't we? I believe it's true that we watch - imitate - learn, and over time ideas, techniques, imagination et al builds up and one fine day we realize that we have developed a style, which is unique to ourselves - we grow up as photographers!

Emulation, if used ethically, can sure bring out the best in us :-]

More magic

More magic, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

More fun with the magic ball. Again, no photoshop re-touch here. The refraction is completely from the glass.

Just realized that I do not have this toy with me anymore! I'm not able to remember when/where I had it last. Uhh! So long...

Another day begins

Another day begins, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

A morning scene from somewhere around Phewa Lake, Pokhara.

Download the wallpaper size.

Golden sail

Golden sail, originally uploaded by Digital Monk.

A boat is rowed towards the shore (possibly) by a staff from Fish Tail Lodge - one of the most exclusive lodges in Pokhara.

There is no other way to get to the lodge other than by boats. You could swim across if you fancy it! :-D