B (142)

Merely packing and

storing hDDs well is

not good enough at all!

you are risking the loss

of your data.

gently working the button or lever to see if it

comes unstuck. If the equipment is in operating

condition, you need to exercise the mechanism

every few weeks or so. If you do not know how a

piece of equipment functions, read up on it or ask

someone familiar with old equipment.

What can you do with it your old equipment?

First read up on them. You may find that you

have a treasure trove of collectible cameras or

antiques on your hands that may be worth quite

a lot. When selling it is not an option, and even

if the equipment you have is inexpensive, simply

displaying it well in a showcase may result in

plenty of living room conversations.

The saddest thing to do is to just let it lie

there over the years and fall into complete

disrepair, until it is finally discarded as junk. You

would serve the memory of your grandfather

better by donating the equipment to a camera

museum, or to a collector who loves old gear

and maintains it well.

are Cheap Flashguns Good?

I need a basic flash. Are the flashguns

available from Chinese brands as good?

Zeenia Parakh, Hyderabad, via email

While issues of flashguns spoiling a camera’s

curcuits are very few, it is more likely that cheap

flashguns may develop snags. Opt for brands like

Vivitar (the American made 285HV does not have

TTL, but is a legendary flashgun), or well known

Chinese brands like Yongnuo or Voking.

Preserving hard Drives

I use internal hard drives for storage, which

I connect with a HDD dock. I have been

extremely careful in handling them—storing

them in their original anti-static bags, and

using them as rarely to preserve the motors.

Is there anything else I can do?

Zeenia Parakh, Hyderabad, via email

Firstly, any HDD can fail at any point without

warning, regardless of how safely you store or

handle it. So get yourself a secondary backup!

It is a good idea to use the original anti-static

bags, but never use regular plastics as it can build

up a static charge that can disrupt electronics.

Place them in a wooden cabinet. For further

protection, you can also use an antistatic mat

which need to be earthed using your regular

earthing terminal in your plug point. With mats,

you can also use relatively airtight, anti-static

(PET) containers, with a pouch of silica gel in

them to reduce moisture. Finally, remember that

HDDs can demagentise and lose data if you do

not use them once every couple of months or so.

A close friend of mine and I had taken up photography

two years ago. Our interests have differed from the

begining, but now, it seems as though I just cannot

understand her pictures. I just feel awkward when I am

asked for an opinion because I feel they are average,

or worse. In fact, even some of the legendary masters

that are generally regarded as brilliant, also seem very

ordinary to me! Why am I not able to appreciate them?

Am I so obtuse that I don’t understand the nuances?

Rohan Trivedi, New Delhi, via email

There is absolutely nothing to feel obtuse about. Think of

this... some of the greatest legends in music and painting

did not get a shred of recognition during their own lifetimes.

But we marvel at their efforts today, and even study them

as some of the most important works of art ever made.

Similarly, there are many brilliant photographers whose

works have gotten them ridiculed and even ostracised from

the societies that they lived in, but who are now regarded

as masters. Sometimes, it takes time to understand or get

used to a certain way of seeing.

Yet, you are certainly on your way to this understanding.

The first step in arriving at an answer is to ask the right

questions. Since you mentioned that your friend is close

to you, perhaps you could simply ask for an explanation as

to why she likes some of the images she shot. Get into a

discussion on some of works of the great photographers

that she happens to enjoy. This might help you appreciate

her work more. Likewise, attending talks, photography

exhibitions, reading books and interviews, conversing with

other acomplished photographers will all help.

That said, too much analysis can also destroy the charm

of photography. Study any image deeply enough, and

you will find something to like or dislike about it! Having a

personal sense of perception and opinion is also just as

important as your attempt at appreciation.

I Just Do Not Understand how Bad Photography Can Be Good!

Raj Lalwani

Using Viewfinders

with eyeglasses

One way out is to use

the dioptre correction

dial found near the

viewfinder in advanced

compact cameras and

DSLRs. It usually allows

a correction for -2 to +1

dioptres. Beyond, this,

some cameras allow you

to attach an additional

viewfinder eyepiece

for added correction.

Alternatively, you need to

start using the rear LCD in

Live View mode, with your

prscription spectacles.

BrIeFly

97

March 2015 Better PhOtOgraPhy