A Brief Respite: Manipal never fails V

Camera: Canon EOS 1000D
Time of Day :  1:20 pm
Lens: 70-300mm
Focal Length: 300 mm
Exposure:  1/125
F Number :  f 5.6
ISO: 400

You lie there. Patiently. Like a dead log. No movement, no noise, ignoring the stench, ignoring the flies, ignoring your aunt searching for you, calling out to you to come join the rest for lunch. Careful of which way the wind blows; does it carry your scent out or does it carry their scent to you?

Pick a spot: always pick a spot, darker, shadier than the surrounding. Pick a spot, pick a position, your camera to your eye and then do the most difficult part , again : wait. Ignore the ant crawling up your knee ( do check it is just an ant , though) don’t  toss and turn or fiddle with the controls; the buttons and ratchets. Stay still, stay as inconspicuous as you can ever be, and wait. They will come.

The smell of the jack-fruit, the smell of the raw mangoes, the smell of the lemons, the smell of the ripe guavas half-eaten by bats will drive them out: the perfect bait.  Slowly, cautiously, sniffing every third step, they will come.

You wait, don’t get excited, don’t pull your trigger before the target is well within your range, in your cross-hair: you wait. The lens is adjusted, manual only ( the automatic makes a LOT of noise) , the settings should already be done: flash off: check, high shutter speed : check,  white balance- shady: check , adjusting exposure for longer lens: check, battery condition: check, underexposing by one quarter for the afternoon sun: check,  all done, finger on the button, you wait.

You get 2 shots, maybe three. Make them count.

A Brief Respite: Manipal never fails.