Notice
We will be in and out of town tis week so my updates might be very infrequent. We have been busy with Chinese New Year so I have not updated here. Check my flickr account for the most recent pictures. I will have a chance to update this Thursday I hope!
Sincerely,
Kyle
February 8th, 365 Project
Chinese New Year is coming quickly! People are preparing by hanging decorations, making plans, and cleaning house. I am preparing by finding all these great lanterns and taking pictures! Taichung had really awesome lanterns but I was always in the cab so I could not stop to photograph them. Thus, I am making plans to due that when we go back in a few weeks.
These lanterns are in Pingtung and are pretty much run of the mill. I saw them on the way to the doctor and new I had to stop on the way home. When I did stop I took a few frames and with growing dissatisfaction I put away the camera and prepared to leave. At that moment the words several authors and photographers formed a mash-up in my mind and this is, more-or-less, what came out, “Creativity takes time, patience reveals a great picture, change you view by changing your position.” It is not very coherent but I know where it all comes from (David Duchimen, Scott Bourne, and Trey Radcliff). I gave it as second try. I got low, moved around and there was my final image. I clicked a few more and saddled up and returned home. A little post-processing later I have a really great image that I am happy with and that is what matters.
Hanging
February 7th, 365 Project
Directly after church Sunday morning I headed to the roof of the building we were with the intention of getting a wonderful pano! My original pano had 12 frames (this is 7), it would have been a third longer and about 210 degrees of view. Unfortunately, Photoshop Elements is not letting me compile that large an image so I made due. I love what I made. I say,made, because I have adjusted levels and the tone curve to accomplish this feel. I hope you enjoy.
Northern Taichung (I Think)
February 6th, 365 Project
I have Saturday, Sunday, and Monday Ready to put up. I need to process the images for Friday and Tuesday. It is a little our of order but I was really excited about Sunday’s picture as you will see, or may have seen, and Saturday’s was easy to get in as I indexed my, 600, images from the the weekend. Monday was simple; I was sick and only took 10 frames or so!
Today’s picture, I should say, the picture for the 6th, was take as my cricket team sat watching the rain come down; the final two matches of the day were cancelled. I have wanted to take stadium pictures for some time; there is another image here and I should be adding some more soon. I have wanted to show the bleakness and ‘emptiness’ of the stadiums. They are rarely used and even more so as Taiwan Baseball, on the professional level, crumbles. The league is down to 4 teams from eight. It is riddled with scandals and corruption. Yet the powers that be continue to build new stadiums leaving these to rot and build layers of dust and grime. They are uncared for stadiums that merely serve as fields for local leagues that draw no crowds or media or fans. My images on this topic are not meant merely as an artistic depiction of of empty stadiums but as artistic depictions of the state of baseball and sports in Taiwan. While they may ‘thrive’, an extremely optimistic characterization, on a local level there but a few core groups on the semi-professional level. Anyone with talent leaves the island for Japan or the United States. When the talent leaves so also do the next generation of coaches, organizers, and the passion for the game. This is true for any sport here on the island. For most only the young, children before middle school, and adults actively pursue sport, aside from basketball but even in between it is merely a hobby.
Enough said here is my picture:
The Heart of the Game
Notice!
We are going away for the weekend. I will post Friday’s, Saturday’s, and Sunday’s pictures on Monday.
Have a Good Weekend!
Kyle
February 3rd, 365 Project
Today image was made somewhere between Pingtung and the mountains that run down the center of the island. Gates like this are very common. Temples often build them at then entrance to the temple driveway. In this case I could not find the temple but I did not look hard. It could be quite a way down the road.
Temple Gate
February 2nd, 365 Project
I posted this in the wrong place yesterday. Oh how funny! I went ahead and put it in the right order.
I found the gentleman doing Taichi in a local park. While Taichi has a mystical/religious aspect, it arose from martial arts. I enjoyed watching him perform the beautiful movements. With each motion I could picture another person in harmony. As he preformed what would be block I could see the imaginary attacks. It is quite peaceful to watch.
February 1st, 365 Project
Wow I cannot believe a whole month has passed already. Today’s photo was made in a little shop on the way home from work. I looked and thought wow Chinese New Year has thrown up. It is a similar reaction to walking into Macy’s three months before Christmas. The only difference is Chinese New Year is only two weeks away!
Lanterns Draganized
January 31st, 365 Project
Today I took pictures at a few places. I returned to the park where I got a couple pictures this week. I tried taking pictures in the middle of the road and at church both trying to capture the sunset. I ended up at Sogo department store on the roof. Once I finished processing the photos I had for to choose from. I choose a middle of the road picture.
Light
January 30th, 365 Project
We went to the park to play today and Amanda, as always, found the water and decided it was time to play. It was a little warm, about 80 degrees, so she was cooling off. When she got either parched or just a good idea she decided to try a sip of water. She quickly found out she was getting more than a mouth full!
A Little Sip
