Archive for October 2009
Riding a rickshaw in Old Delhi – good vantage point
Over the years I’ve traveled (and lived for a year) to Delhi, some of the best places to attempt photographs are in the market areas that are teeming with people, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and other contributors to congestion. Sometimes it is difficult to shoot from street level for the very reason you visit there, the mass of humanity. Early on, I decided that one of the best vantage points is the human-powered rickshaw. Not only do you rise above the commotion, you also have an unimpeded view of the street life. This becomes even more important if you find yourself in a narrow alley. If you attempt to walk the alley, you have to worry about being run over by every means of transportation. The rickshaw changes all that.
This series of photos was taken near the Jama Masjid mosque in old Delhi.
Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Tropical paradise on Hong Island (Ko Hong) Thailand
Travel to Hong Island by long tail boat
Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Island (or Ko Hong) for a bit of light kayaking, snorkeling and heavy duty fun. We had signed on with Sea Kayak Krabi for their package that included three islands, a great lunch, and a circumnavigation of Hong Island. All in all it was a lot of fun. The kayaking did not require any technical skill and was void of any strenous paddling. It was a pleasurable trip that I would recommend to anyone, including families with children.
Although the trip took place on a holiday, the island was visited by only 30 people while we were there. Given the size of the beach, you had all the privacy one could desire. And of course as you can see from the photos, the tropical waters were crystal clear.
Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8mm zoom lens.
Ranger station
Long tail boats
Beautiful beach
Kayaking through the slot
More boats
Beautiful Cavanagh Bridge over the Singapore River
With Fullerton Hotel in background.
If you’ve followed my blog, you know that I love walking the bridges along the Singapore River. From the Esplanade to Clarke Quay and beyond, I find myself walking this route every time I visit Singapore. I’m not a fan of making this jaunt during the day. But at night, well, that’s different. Most of the bridges are lit by auxiliary lights that vary in color. Between these lights and the reflection of city lights on the water, an ordinary river by day becomes a magical stream at night.
The subject of this posting, the Cavanagh Bridge, a pedestrian suspension span crossing near the magnificent Fullerton Hotel, was built in the 19th Century and is a tribute to the Scottish company that designed and built it. The setting is spectacular, being accented by the tall modern skyscrapers in the background.
Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Bathed in blue.
Narrow perspective.
And now in red.
Red and narrow.
Along the river.
Bridge over the Singapore River – Nikon D700 and 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom lens
At the mouth of the Singapore River
There are many beautiful and historic bridges over the Singapore River with the oldest dating back to the late 19th Century. All the bridges are well-lit and make for spectacular photographs at night. This particular bridge, though neither old nor historic is at the mouth of the river and joins the Esplanade to the small seaside park where the Merlion, the mythical creature of Singapore, statue resides. Because of this magnificent setting, the area is quite beautiful in an urban sense. The arched supports of the concrete bridge structure with its perfect lighting placement are suggestive of sea waves and evokes a sense of calm and tranquility.
Using an ultra wide-angle lens can be perplexing so my style is to shoot the scene assymetric, bringing some part of the object(s) forming the mid or background into the foreground. Or finding an object in the foreground to draw the eye to the image. The key is to experiment with the UWA.
Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Perspective enhanced by ultra-wide angle lens.
From the other side.
Partial view of the Esplanade.
Man in the dark.
People-watching at the Esplanade on the Singapore River
Sitting at the outdoor theatre on the Esplanade
The Esplanade at the mouth of the Singapore River is popular with both Singaporeans and visitors. From those looking to just chill out and take in the views to lovers holding hands and walking along the wide sidewalks, a photographer can find many subjects to shoot. It doesn’t matter if it’s night or day, there are plenty of visitors. From this vantage point, you also have a great view of the Singapore skyline. On this trip, we walked along the Singapore River from the Esplanade to Clarke Quay, a distance of about 5 kilometers. Besides terrific opportunities to shoot people, there are seven bridges, numerous vintage buildings and skyscrapers. And don’t forget the reflection of these sights on the waters of the river.
Photos were taken with a Nikon D700 and Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro lens.
Studying with the iPod.
Lost in the PSP world.
Two in contact, one not.
And from the other side.
Green, blue and orange. And red.
Too shy to photograph people on the street? – Step 2
Look for people working.
People are sometimes apprehensive to photograph people on the street. To become more comfortable, aspiring photographers should consider different ways to overcome their shyness. Several weeks ago, I recommended shooting food stalls in close proximity to people. In doing so you can build up your confidence while shooting in public.
Another exercise calls for you to photograph people going about their work. That’s what I’ve done in this series of photos. Not only does this make for interesting shots, working people tend to be occupied going about their work and therefore they generally do not pay attention to you. One word of caution. Be careful when photographing police or military in some countries as levels of paranoia post 9/11 has created a bit of suspicion.
All photos taken in Hong Kong with a Nikon D700 and either a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom or Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro lens.
Unloading beer
Too preoccupied to notice
Three phones on the dash
Ignored except by me
Graffiti on Sukhumvit in Bangkok
REA
Graffiti can always be interesting to photograph. Because of its urban grittiness and creative designs, graffitti can be a living, breathing embodiment of inner city expression. Even in Bangkok. The letters “BNE”, in sticker and graffitti forms, are all over Bangkok and after awhile the triteness of this limited message is compounded by a sense of dreariness. Not so in the free form expression found in graffiti. Take a look around your city and try your hand at graffiti.
Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro lens.
60's pop look
Big and bold
Limited space
