Set the float free!!!

Always wondered what if a strong gust of wind came and set the float free... I'm sure everyone along Woodward Ave will be cheering!!! Don't you think?

Temple in Cambodia

Cambodia is a land of many temples - this is one of the temple I visited when I was in Phnom Penh. Buddhist believers would bring offerings of lotus flowers into the temple... there is a "florist" at the entrance of this temple and there is only one type of flower the shop sells... lotus flower of every size, colour and form.

Detroit Thanksgiving Parade

This is my first time at the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade. The parade takes place along Woodward Ave... a main street that runs north to south of Detroit downtown... the place was crowded, we were fortunate to find a place along the street to view the parade.

Looking back, I should have brought my camping chair (but decided against it as I was leaving the house... for wanting to travel light for this parade) and set it up nicely ... plus a piping hot coffee (that would be nice). Seriously, if someone had been enterprising enough to sell some hot chocolate and coffee... business would have been seriously profitable ...

Morning at Niagara Falls

Which side should I view the Falls from ... Canada or US? This seem to be a widely contested question. The truth is, when you are at the Falls, it doesn't matter because ... just because it's the world's largest falls... Niagara.

An elderly lady in Cambodia

One of the key challenges of travel in a foreign land is finding a clean restroom... as simple as that sounds, it's something that urbanized folks (like myself) take for granted. I was in a Cambodian village in Phnom Penh, couldn't find somewhere to relief. Then I spotted a "good'o" toilet sign from across the road. I hastily make my way into the toilet, on my way out, I was followed by this elderly lady... she was holding out her hand and pointing at the toilet. This is the universal sign language of ... "you owe me some money for using the toilet!" 

I reached into my pocket to get some Cambodian currency to pay her... honestly, I don't even know how much I paid... probably no more than a quarter. I could tell she was very happy with the payment. I then lifted my camera and pointed at my lens (with a smile), she nodded & this is the shot!

What I love about street photography...

I made a post about the Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA) a few days ago. I also mentioned that while I mainly take landscape, I also enjoy street photography as well. I love the spontaneity and the "unknown" factor - literally, you never know what you're gonna get with street photography. Sure, with landscape photography it's exhilarating when you are at a location that is awesome, breath-taking and "unreal" (that's what I like about landscape photography), but these elements in a photo usually comes at a cost... you'll have to pay to travel to these locations... not to mention accommodations & leaving my dog at home. Street photography is different - I know of friends who would "stalk" their subjects at one location every weekend. Each weekend, they'll get a different picture! The photos invokes a different emotion, a different atmosphere! How cool is that!!

Anyway, back to IPA... nope - I have not gotten a response from them... I am still slightly hopeful that they will select my work to be published. Hopefully, my work will get published before Xmas. In any case, here's another of the shot I submitted to IPA.

The Mackinac Sunrise

The Mackinac Island is one of those "must-see" places in Michigan - you can tell from the faces of the people who lives in Michigan that they are very proud of this place. Faces would light up at the mentioned of the word "Mackinac" (seriously). What makes this place wonderful is that it is surprising easy to get around. No cars are allowed on the island, so you'll have to walk everywhere, ride a bike or hire a horse carriage (in ascending order of costs). We were very fortunate to be in Mackinac Island to witness this beautiful sunrise.

Renaissance Center, Detroit

If you've ever watch the movie "Real Steel" by Hugh Jackman, I am sure you would have caught a scene that is filmed outside of Renaissance Center, Detroit. Never have I imagined that this work be my workplace for the next two years. The sunset here is beautiful, glad I decided to bring my camera to work one day to be able to catch this sunset.

Chasing deers in Troy Nature Center

I soon found out that it's not often that you get a good 66 degree Fahrenheit day in November, so we decided to make the most of this weekend's good weather! We went to Troy Nature Center after receiving a tip off that this nature park is home to a group of White Tailed Deers. 

Initially we were worried that our deer spotting trip may be futile as all we saw were squirrels (hordes of them)... after about a 20mins track, we ran into the deers!

My Photo Essay Submission to IPA

I have been a fan of the IPA (Invisible Ph t grapher Asia) website (http://invisiblephotographer.asia/about-2/) since it started in 2010. Despite its relatively short history, it has quickly become one of the leading platform of street photography in Asia. This site publishes some of the most impressive and cutting edge street photography works of our time. While I take mostly landscape, street photography has a special place in my heart. I love the way in which street photography can invoke thoughts and feelings about the world we live in. 

Anyway, I have recently submitted some shots I took in Phnom Penh's Psah Thom Thmey (Grand Market) to IPA... hoping I will be one of the lucky few to be selected for publication.

Here's one of the shots I submitted to the IPA website... fingers crossed!

Having fun with my newly bought Zeiss 24mm F1.8

So far I've only brought this lens out on two outings... I don't think I have come to fully appreciate what it can do yet. The initial signs tho'... are very promising. It is fast becoming my fav lens on my Nex 7. It is not the sharpest lens I own... but it has a very interesting character. 

I will surely do my shots with this lens in the future... can't wait for my exams and assignments to be over tho'... I am definitely looking forward to spending more time with this new lens.