Life in four photos. Meaningful

Maori Tattoo Is Unique

The Maori are an indigenous Polynesian people found in New Zealand. They have a form of body art, known as moko, more commonly known as Maori tattooing. The art form was brought by the Maori from Polynesia. This art is considered highly sacred, and continues to be highly revered.

Since the Maori consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body, the most popular kind of Maori tattoo was the facial tattoo, which was composed of curved shapes and spiral patterns. It often covered the whole of the face, and was a symbol of rank, social status power, and prestige.

The Maori tattoo is one of a kind, and no two tattoos are alike. It is highly intricate and detailed, which displays the craftsmanship and artistry of the Maori culture.

For the Maori, tattooing was a rite of passage, which meant it was highly ritualized. Maori tattooing would usually begin during adolescence, and would be continually performed to celebrate important events throughout a person’s life.

The Maori ‘tattoo artist’ is called the tohunga-ta-moko, which means moko specialist. These tattooists are highly respected, and considered tapu, inviolable and holy. Tohunga-ta-moko are mostly men, but there are also some women who take up the practice.

Maori Tattoo Is Complex

Maori tattoo did not involve the use of needles. Rather, the Maori used knives and chisels made from shark’s teeth, sharpened bone, or sharp stones. The chisel, also called the uhi, is made from albatross bone, although some chisels are said to be made of iron. Knives and chisels were either plain and smooth, or serrated, and these were used interchangeably depending on the intended pattern.

The inks that were employed to do a Maori tattoo were made from natural products. Burnt wood was used to create black pigments, while lighter pigments were derived from caterpillars infested with a certain type of fungus, or from burnt Kauri gum mixed with animal fat. The pigment was stored in ornate containers called oko, which became family heirlooms. Oko are often buried when not in use.

The black pigment made from burnt wood was reserved for facial tattoos, while those made from the caterpillars or burnt Kauri gum were used for outlines and other less important tattoos. Before beginning, the tohunga-ta-oko would study the person’s facial structure to decide on the most appealing design. No two tattoos are alike.

Maori Tattoo Is A Challenging Pain

Having a Maori tattoo was a very painful one, and was done by first incising deep cuts into the skin. The chisel is dipped into the pigment and tapped into the cuts. Another process involved dipping the chisel into the jar of pigment and inserting it into the skin by striking the end with a mallet. This manner of tattooing leaves the skin with grooves after healing, instead of the usual smooth surface found in needle-point tattoos.

Maori tattoo was a long and labor-intensive process. Because it was very painful, only a few parts of the body were tattooed at a time to allow for healing. There are two designs for the Maori tattoos: The normal design only involved the blackening of the lines. The second called for blackening the background and leaving the lines clear – this was called puhoro. Maori tattooing often done during the winter seasons.

Maori Tattoo Is Sacred

Due to the sacred nature of the Maori tattoo, those who were undergoing the process, and those involved in the process, could not eat with their hands or talk to anyone aside from other people being tattooed. Those who were receiving the tattoos made it a point to not cry out from the pain, because to do so would be a sign of cowardice. Being able to withstand the pain was also an issue of pride among the Maori.

Prohibitions, especially for the facial tattoos, often involved abstinence from sexual intimacy while undergoing the rite, and abstaining from solid food. In order to meet these requirements, the person receiving a facial tattoo was fed from a wooden funnel to prevent foodstuffs from contaminating the swollen skin. A person would be fed in this manner until all the facial wounds healed.

The face would bleed and often swell up after a session so the leaves of the Karaka tree were often used as balms to hasten the healing process. The tattooing was often accompanied by music, singing, and chanting to help soothe the pain.

The main focus of Maori tattoo was mostly the face. Men have full facial tattoos, while women only tattoo their chin, lips, and nostrils. Some Maori also tattoo other parts of their body, such as the back, buttocks, and legs. Women are also known to tattoo their arms, neck, foreheads and thighs.

Maori Tattoo Is A Social Status

Only people or rank and status were allowed to have, and could afford to have, tattoos. A person who did not have any high-ranking social status, such as a slave, could not have a face tattoo. Those who had the means to get a tattoo but did not were seen as people of lower social status.

The Maori face tattoo was not only seen as a sign of rank, but was also used as a kind of identification card. For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry, and marital status, among other things. It is considered highly insulting to be unable to recognize a person’s power and position by his moko.

The male facial moko or tattoo is generally divided into eight sections of the face:

The center of the forehead, called the Ngakaipikirau, designated a person’s general rank. The area around the brows, called Ngunga, designated his position. The area around the eyes and the nose, called the Uirere, designated his hapu, or sub-tribe rank. The area around the temples, called Uma, served to detail his marital status, like the number of marriages.

The area under the nose, known as Raurau displayed his signature. This signature was once memorized by tribal chiefs who used it when buying property, signing deeds, and officiating orders. The cheek area, called Taiohou, designated the nature of the person’s work. The chin area, called Wairua, showed the person’s mana or prestige. Lastly, the jaw area, or Taitoto, designated a person’s birth status.

A person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the father’s side, and the right side was the mother’s. Noble or high descent was a primary requirement before a moko was undertaken.

If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, the corresponding side of the face would not have any design tattooed on it. And if the person undertaking the moko has no rank, or is not heir to any, the center of the forehead would have no design.

Maori Tattoos Is The Art

By the middle of the 19th century, full facial moko for men declined in frequency, but moko for women persisted throughout the 20th century. Since the 1990′s, the Maori tattoo has experienced a comeback, often being done with the use of modern tattoo machines.

Since tribal-pattern tattoos are growing in popularity, more and more non-Maori are copying original designs and incorporating it in their own art. Most of these modern-Maori tattoos use tattoo needles, rather than the traditional tools used for ta moko.

The Maori have revived the old methods of tattooing, in an effort to preserve their cultural heritage. Both men and women have now become more involved in the traditional practice. The art organization known as Te Uhi a Mataora was recently established by traditional Maori practitioners.

Te Uhi a Mataora envisions the retention and further development of Ta Moko as a living art form. Their main concern is the growing practice of ta moko by non-Maori. They strive to propagate the art-form by reviving old traditions and preserving original methods and designs. They also inform others that Maori tattooing is a cultural symbol, and should not be adopted lightly.

If you are a non-Maori who admires their tattoos and wants to have one done, it is advisable to seek out a Maori tattoo artist which sufficient knowledge in ta moko. He will be able to design a Maori patterned tattoo custom-made for you, without traditional patterns or symbolism exclusive only to the Maori.

Speech by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis.

Don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order. There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

"Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die…

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? …

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices...”

"Don't be serious, be sincere."!!!

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM

Designed to deliver ultra-high quality images along with lightning fast operation, the new Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM telephoto zoom lens brings a favorite zoom range to the celebrated Canon L-series of lenses. It features two Ultra Low Dispersion (UD) elements for improved image quality and reduced chromatic aberration, incorporates a floating focusing mechanism for sharpness from close up to infinity, plus an IS system that increases usability by approximately four stops. The Image Stabilization system also features a function that allows it to continue to operate, even when used on a rigid tripod. An optional Canon Tripod Mount C (W II) is available as an accessory, for balanced mounting on a tripod or monopod. Gleaming white on its exterior, the lens is dust- and water-resistant, and now also features a newly-developed Fluorine coating that resists smears and fingerprints, and significantly eases lens cleaning. For any serious and critical EOS user, this new L-series lens represents an excellent and portable solution to versatile telephoto lens shooting.

Specifications,

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture	70-300mm 1:4-5.6
Diagonal Angle of View	34° - 8° 15'
Focus Adjustment	Lens extension via inner focusing and focus cam plus floating mechanism
Closest Focusing Distance	1.2m/ 3.9ft
Filter Size	67 mm dia., P=0.75 mm /1 filter
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight	3.5 x 5.6 in, 2.31 lbs. / 89 x 143mm, 1050g

My Little Boy

Oh how the years go by,
Oh how time can certainly fly.
From once just a thought in far away dreams,
now into my arms and in my eyes gleam
the presence of you.
Your laughter and smiles
which go on for miles,
warms my heart and soul.
You're growing up so fast,
as I wish each moment with you to last forever.
My little boy will someday be a man
and right by your side I will forever stand.
I will pick up the pieces when you fall,
I will hold your hand and help you stand tall.
And when the day comes when you are on your own,
never feel that you are alone.
No matter how near or far apart
I am always right there in your heart.
Always remember whatever you go through
that no matter what, I will always love you !

Difference between a Canon EF lens when compared to a EF-S lens

Pre 2003, all Canon digital SLR cameras were compatible with a standardized EF lens. EF stands for Electro-Focus and refers to its lens mount. You can recognize EF lenses by its red dot, where you line up the dot on the lens mount to a similar looking one on the camera body.

However, if your Canon camera lens has both a red dot and a white square to line up the body to when mounting the lens, then it is an EF-S lens. EF-S is stands for Short Back Focus. EF-S lenses were first developed in 2003, when Canon bought out its EOS 300D/Digital Rebel/Kiss range of digital SLR cameras.

What are the main differences between an EF and EF-S lens?

• The differences between the two lenses are purely cosmetic. The EF-S lens has been made to sit deeper into the camera's body when connected. Hence the reason EF-S stands for short back focus, as there is less space between the lens and the sensor.
• The idea behind developing EF-S lenses in the first place, was to create a more cost effective solution (especially when talking about wide angle zoom lens), aimed at the mid range SLR camera user. Therefore, this is usually considered a good thing as far as beginners are concerned.
• Many experts have noticed no differences in the end result of the actual photograph.

Are there any disadvantages to EF-S lens?

• The main disadvantage to using an EF-S lens is that they are only compatible with Canon EOS cameras that contain both a red dot and a white square on the lens mount. The red dot means the camera supports EF-S lenses. Whereas the white square means it also supports a standard EF lens. Therefore, if in future you want to upgrade your digital SLR camera to a more professional model, you may need to also replace any lens that is an EF-S model

Considering this limitation, should you buy an EF-S lens?

• If cost is the main consideration when purchasing a quality lens, then yes certainly think about purchasing an EF-S lens. When compared to Canon's L (professional) series, it was very low cost as well. Especially for someone first starting out in SLR photography.
• As explained earlier, if you're planning to upgrade your camera to a more professional body any time in the future, then you may want to stick to buying an EF lens, for compatibility reasons. EF lenses are compatible with all Canon EOS camera bodies. Whereas, EF-S is only compatible with mid range camera's (EOS 20D and Digital Rebel bodies) that support them.

How to know if your digital SLR camera is compatible with an EF-S lens?

• Have a look on your digital SLR camera where the lens mounts onto the body. If you see a red circle and a white dot / square, then your camera is compatible with EF-S lenses

 

Canon EOS 60D

The Canon EOS 60D is a digital single-lens reflex camera from Canon. It is part of the Canon EOS line of cameras and succeeds the EOS 50D. It was publicly announced on August 26, 2010 with a suggested retail price of US$1099.00

Canon's X0D series has throughout its life appealed to a wide range of photographers, from enthusiasts and semi-pros through to some pros who appreciated having a lightweight option. Each model offered a high enough specification (usually in terms of build quality and AF sophistication) to ensure it was both aspirational and attainable for users who had out-grown their Rebel/XX0D series. However, the feature set always left a sizeable gap below the company's full-blown 'pro' models.

The arrival of the EOS 7D, with its highly configurable 19-point AF system and 8 frames per second continuous shooting capability changed much of this - here was a 'mini 1D' that drew the attention of many people who previously would have been X0D customers. However, the price tag (a 30% premium over the 50D at launch) pushed it beyond the reach of most people who weren't making at least a bit of money from their photography.

The 50D (and by extension the X0D range) was starting to look somewhat redundant: expensive (and in some ways outdated) compared to the rebel T2i (EOS 550D), underpowered compared to the EOS 7D. It seemed obvious that Canon needed something to balance out the EOS range to fill the big gap between the Rebel and the 7D. And so we have this, the EOS 60D.

With the 60D Canon has unashamedly moved the X0D range out of the 'semi pro' bracket and instead focused on the enthusiast photographer looking to upgrade from their Rebel. As a result, it's not the obvious continuation of the 30D - 40D - 50D pattern that its naming might suggest. Instead it sits pretty well precisely in the same market position as was once-upon-a-time occupied by the 'Elan' series of 35mm film SLRs (which in Europe were not-so-coincidentally given double-digit model numbers).

So gone is the magnesium alloy construction that featured in previous models, replaced by a lighter weight plastic shell. Naturally the 60D gains some key 'step up' features from the Rebel line (top panel LCD, rear control dial, higher burst rate), including a few that have trickled down from the EOS 7D. There's also a video- (and tripod-) friendly 3:2 ratio articulated LCD. In imaging terms it brings the EOS mid-range in line with those above and below by upping the sensor resolution to around 18MP and adding full HD movie capture.

The EOS 60D also gains a couple of brand-new features of its own. There's now a wide range of color variations (or 'Ambiences') which can be applied to the image when using the scene modes, and whose effect can be previewed on screen in Live View. The 60D also finally gains the ability to convert raw files to jpeg in-camera, including the option to correct for lens aberrations including distortion and chromatic aberration. As an added bonus, you can retrospectively apply new 'Creative Filters' to files you've shot, including 'Grainy Black and White' and 'Toy Camera' looks.

And so, from a spec and feature point of view, the EOS 60D sits almost exactly half-way between the EOS 550D and the EOS 7D, with a few new tricks of its own. Which, we think, is exactly where it should be (regardless of the inevitable howls of protest at the apparent 'dumbing down' of the venerable X0D line).

Key features

• 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800)
• 5.3 fps continuous shooting
• 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
• SD / SDHC / SDXC storage
• In-camera raw development
• Subject modes with 'Ambience Selection' (Standard, Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, Cool, Brighter, Darker and Monochrome)
• In-camera Creative Filters (special effects)
• Fully articulated 3.0" screen (3:2)