The Big Buddha and Tai O

September 29, 2013

I am not heavily religious but I had reasons coming to Hong Kong before my trip to Japan and that was to get trigger happy and do some street photography.

Lucky for me I have relo's who are willing to take me around to the outskirts of HK, and today they were happy to take me to the Big Buddha and also to the town where they grew up, Tai O.

I've been to both locations before but this time around I would try to take some better photos from the Fuji X-Pro 1 rather than a point shoot camera !

Off to the Tian Tan Buddha or better known as the Big Buddha in Hong Kong.

Going to Lantau Island, the scenic way is via the glass bottom cable car.

The Buddha is 34 meters (112 ft) tall, weighs 250 metric tonnes — The Buddha is 34 meters (112 ft) tall, weighs 250 metric tonnes

Arguably one of the best tofu fah's that can be purchased is from the Tian Tan Buddha site. Thumbs up from me. Refreshing to have after hiking up 268 steps

Wait for a bus (that seemed to take an eternity). The little mini bus was to take us to Tai O. It was about a 30 odd minute ride, through the windy mountains. I had been here a while ago but I do not remember any cows walking around on the street !

Off to Tai O ... !!! They seem excited !!

It is not really a water village, but there is a canal in the middle of Tai O

Local produce is how these people survive, the local butcher

Customer service has not been heard of here

It's a safe town, keeping watch out side the shop

Examples of local produce, it is all dried seafood

A shot that has it all, the best customer service, she is keeping watch of her stock, and she is selling local stock of live seafood.

Pollution is not so much an issue at Tai O, local people get around via bicycle.

The town is full of old cranky and bossy old men

Good 'ol number 145, cranky old dude banged the doors off

No time to talk.. need to shop for the old guy

Kuala Lumpur ... in 24 hours ...

August 18, 2013

A business trip had been in the pipe works for some time, and it eventually came ahead mid August. The trip was arranged in haste as it was dependent upon a customers time lines.

I managed to fly out a day early, this allowed me to acclimatise but also allowed me to roam around KL for a day.

Booked myself on to a day tour and then headed in to the night sites via the local taxis. I psyched myself up expecting a bigger version of Singapore, I was surprised that KL still had many areas that were not fully developed. The city is as expected, very nice buildings and many colorful people.

Tips I was given, I must try the local food which was great, go and shop till you drop, which is not something I am keen on as I'm planning a photography trip later in the year. I was keen to go see the Petronas Towers and the local Chinatown. Friends of mine all warned me to just watch my possessions in the markets etc. I guess the normal thing to do when traveling.

Camera wise, I was using the Fuji X-Pro 1 and armed myself with a new toy. A Fujinon 14mm f/2.8 lens. I've read quite a few reviews and I never really tried a wide except once, that was a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L. I also came with my 35mm f/1.4 and left the zoom behind. I saw this as a challenge as I've come from a zoom learning curve in respect to photography.

So without further or do... here is my picture collection of Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur in 24 hours.

Note. when the tour guide says photo stop, it means get out you have one minute to take a photo.

Audi TT

July 27, 2013

After watching Scott Kelby do his Audi R8 shoot, I had been itching to have a go at it. Needed to find a reasonable looking car that was clean and finally this weekend I had the chance to do it. The location was just in the backyard, so it wasn't the most ideal situation but it works. After all Kelby shot his high detail shots in the garage of the R8 owner.

Looking at Kelby's shoot he used a couple of strip lights. I managed to get a couple of slightly cheaper Westcott Apollo Strip Light softboxes from B&H earlier this year during my NYC visit. I teamed these up with my Yongnuo 560IIIs. I just used the diffusion panels that came with the strip lights. I do have the grids but I found the grids were (a) reducing a lot of the output from the speedlights hence I would need to bump up the power and chew up more battery and (b) in some shots the grid reflection was not so pretty so to speak. Camera of choice was the Fuji X Pro 1 with the 35mm f/1.4 lens. The X Pro 1 had recently been upgraded to 3.00 (haven't got around to doing 3.01) and I have to say the focus, with focus assist in the pitch black did quite well.

So ready to shoot... everything was made more exciting due to the freezing cold and deciding to shoot this in pitch black at night (not smart !!!).

For privacy reasons, I have blacked out the number plate, yes I know I should have just removed it.

Enjoy my cheap man's R8, Kelby replication shoot.