Thomas Varghese

To tell you the truth I bought a camera way back in 2010 to take pictures of the offices I construct. Wanted to keep records and employing a photographer was expensive than buying the equipment. For almost 2 years I could shoot only in Auto Mode. Then slowly started to experiment Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority & Manual Mode after watching countless you tube videos about them.

I'm only a newbie in photography. Like you I also have only old equipment - A 500D, 700D and a classic 5D and uses only the kit lenses.

@Niki Patel did u see @sri ganesh"s clicks. It proves my point. Its not the equipment but the man behind it which matters

I'm ready to drive now. Will I get stuck? Probably. Will I be abandoned? No for sure. Will I learn? 100% I will learn. How come I'm so adamant in being sure? I'm driving with colleagues from CARNITY. Waiting for 8am Friday.

@Niki Patel photography is very interesting. As @Frederic said its just "Capturing the essence of moments". The gadget is not very important but what is important is the man capturing the moment. You may think you have captured the moment at its best possible way but there are as usual critics trying to teach you that your technique or gadget is wrong. Should you care? Of course to some extent but at the end of the day its your picture and why should anybody care?

@Niki Patel its not the equipment which matters. Its the man who operates the equipment who is the master controlling the equipment.

Wow nice pics Did u use any polarizing filters for the reflection in the water? How did u cut out the haze in the atmosphere?

congrats @Alphin Aloor

@Ahab Shamaa value ur advice. The question I asked about 2 credits for the full day drive was only to clarify to every newbie who may have been promoted to fewbie that a full day drive would only be considered as 1 from the marshalls of carnity. I was proud I have been driving for almost 41 years since I turned 12 but learned that desert driving is a different ball game once I started driving with Carnity. As per the policy of Carnity Club I understand everybody is out there to help you improve your driving skills and not make you feel embarrassed when you get stuck as every stuck or refusal is an opportunity to learn self recovery. I never felt embarrassed when I got stuck or got impatient when somebody else got stuck and waited patiently for the convoy to move on. I didn't see any annoyance with anybody who accompanied me for the drive. In fact they were more than helpful to learn and teach. The most important thing I learned from Carnity drive is patience (I always lacked this) and helping each other even when you get drenched in sand. Now I'm more patient when I get stuck in traffic. Believe me I used to swear at the people who makes the traffic go at a snail's pace. Carnity has helped me change my mentality. I don't mind getting stuck myself or others getting stuck. I'm ready to help others and take help from others when I need. No ego or embrassement in seeking help or offering help. I'm here to learn and I will learn and then teach the skills acquired to others who are willing to learn.

see u for the drive.

@Ale Vallecchi count me in too

I agree with u 100% @Ale Vallecchi. Well said and up to the point leaving no points to clarify. I am excited to join your drive as last time you had meticulously explained all about the drive, how to approach and tackle the obstacles and where we went wrong and the correctional methods. This time its 1 level up as a Fewbie drive and would love to learn more from you. See you on Friday. I should be there by 7.30 already deflated and waiting for the drive to start.

@Rahimdad I asked this doubt because I want to finish the mandatory drives for the next promotion as early as possible. For me if the drive is 24 hours also no problem. I always believe I was born to drive but forced to work. I didn't leave my apartment in Ajman till now because I love the morning drive to my office in Business Bay. My kids are not very happy they have to spend 1 hour in the car. They are wondering why dad stays in an apartment in Ajman when he can easily afford one in Dubai. How much ever I explain I like the drive they don't understand. They think Dad is kanjoos. Anyways thanks for the explanation and I look forward to more drives like this.

Thanks @Rahimdad. I'm presently learning throttle control in these drives and I think there is a lot of improvement.

Thanks @N@ved

I have 1 doubt. As this is almost an 8 hour drive from 8 in the morning to 4 in the evening which is double the duration of a normal drive of 4 hours will the drive be credited as done 2 drives in counting the drives for the next promotion? @Rahimdad, @Gaurav, @Ale Vallecchi, @Foxtrot Oscar please clarify this doubt.

As you said if it holds up it should be considered a wonder. By the way I really appreciate the time and research you had spent on this project. Money will come and go. End of the day its satisfaction of oneself which matters. The contraption looks like an alien just jumped out of a space ship with his antennas - don't take it offensive, just a joke.

I also learned some photography by watching you tube videos only and experimenting the same with my camera. 😅😅

I doubt you may have to roam all over the desert to pick up the fallen pieces including your camera if its not crushed and buried under the sand by the car behind you. The forces generated will be greater than what the rig can hold as its long. Moreover I doubt if it will affect your driving also as you will be more concerned about your rig and camera rather than driving.

@imranaasghar81 I wonder how will you manage to drive with all that extra fitting around and the car jumping up and down as if its a teenager throwing a tantrum when it goes over the uneven terrain of the desert. Sorry for my suggestion but I think you should dismantle all this and try drone photography where the drone will follow you like our old Vodaphone ad puppy.

I applied for the promotion from Newbie to Fewbie to make sure I could RSVP for this drive. It should be very exhilarating to be with @Foxtrot Oscar, @Ale Vallecchi & @Kalahari directing the drive whole day. To tell you all the truth I was impatiently waiting for the calendar to open so that I could RSVP immediately. Didn't want to miss this event at any cost. At 7 I was at Troy University signal waiting for the signal to open and RSVP immediately. Thank God I could make it on time. See you all on Friday.

Where appreciation is due it has to be given. I didn't feel it was your 1st drive as a Marshal. It was looking very professional when you had us waiting until you experimented the dunes and the terrain so that we would be safe to scale those dunes. To tell you the truth I appreciated the way you executed the drive 1st one or not. Butterflies in your tummy was for you - for us we felt we are in absolute safe hands.

@Goutam congrats for a well deserved promotion.

Thank you @Chaitanya D. I will be able to join your fewbie drives whenever you initiate one and I promise I will show up every time. Thank you @Goutam. Hope to meet you soon in future drives.

Congrats @Danish Mohammad. Hope to meet you soon in our future drives. Planning to join @Ale Vallecchi's all day fewbie drive. Will you and @Abdul Rahman Abdul Kader join too this coming friday.