Thursday, December 07, 2006
Bright star
Somehow I'm pretty happy with the framing of this shot. Most photographers will spout the infamous "Rule of Thirds" and suggest that I put the flower slightly off centre about a third of the way to the left or right (hence the name of the rule) but I think in this case the arrangement of the lily pads and the dark water work very well to frame the flower right in the centre. Nikon D200, AF Nikkor 60mm f/2.8
Zen
Sometimes some subjects lend themselves very well to a black and white conversion. I was quite taken by the idea of this rock being swept by the swirling waves, so I shot it at a slow shutter speed to emphasise the movement of the water. I converted it to black and white later and cropped it slightly on the right. Because somebody asked me, here's the original shot for you to compare. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6VR
Gone Fishing
A shot taken in Port Dickson. I have cropped it slightly on the right, but the framing could still be better (for example, I should have included more of the fishing net) but considering this was a grab shot, I did okay -- at least the fisherman is rendered pretty sharp in the shot. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6VR
Monday, November 13, 2006
Nepal!
Phew! From October 15-30th 2006, two of my friends and I embarked on a holiday to Nepal. The trip was something I'd been dreaming about for a while now, and delayed because of the unrest in the country.
However, when things settled down somewhat we decided to take the opportunity to go. Our holiday involved a long trek (over 120km) from Naya Pul in Pokhara to Muktinath in the north. I have to say that the walk was really tough but worth it -- on the trip we really got a feel for the country. The red line in the map on the right shows the distance we trekked -- click on the photo for a larger view.
In case you're wondering, I booked my own tickets at a travel agency for Royal Nepal Airlines and we engaged Binod Mahat, a Nepali guide online at his website at HikeNepal.com. Binod is a very nice guy and has my personal recommendation. Unfortunately for us, he couldn't be our guide because he had a family emergency, but he kindly arranged for another guide, Shanker K.C. for us who was also a funny and conscientious guide.
Anyway, the pictures that follow are arranged in roughly chronological order, starting with our first days and going on to the later days as you go down. Unlike my previous posts, I've opted to mix in mundane shots with the nice ones just to give the reader a feel for the trip and to give a flow to the pictures.
Click on the link that says Nepal for a full listing of the photos or just click here to go directly there. Enjoy!
However, when things settled down somewhat we decided to take the opportunity to go. Our holiday involved a long trek (over 120km) from Naya Pul in Pokhara to Muktinath in the north. I have to say that the walk was really tough but worth it -- on the trip we really got a feel for the country. The red line in the map on the right shows the distance we trekked -- click on the photo for a larger view.
In case you're wondering, I booked my own tickets at a travel agency for Royal Nepal Airlines and we engaged Binod Mahat, a Nepali guide online at his website at HikeNepal.com. Binod is a very nice guy and has my personal recommendation. Unfortunately for us, he couldn't be our guide because he had a family emergency, but he kindly arranged for another guide, Shanker K.C. for us who was also a funny and conscientious guide.
Anyway, the pictures that follow are arranged in roughly chronological order, starting with our first days and going on to the later days as you go down. Unlike my previous posts, I've opted to mix in mundane shots with the nice ones just to give the reader a feel for the trip and to give a flow to the pictures.
Click on the link that says Nepal for a full listing of the photos or just click here to go directly there. Enjoy!
Clothesline
Broom seller
Broom sellers are a pretty common sight in Kathmandu. This shot was slightly cropped and converted to black and white for more impact. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mmVR
Man on the street
Dhal Bhat
Khukri seller
The streets of Kathmandu are filled with people selling all kinds of wares and knick-knacks, including the famous Khukri knives used by the Ghurka warriors. Ghurkas are said to be the toughest soldiers on the planet, handpicked to serve in the British army. Some also end up in the Malaysian and Singaporean armed forces as well. Somehow, I just wasn't satisfied with the original picture I posted here, so did some tweaking in Photoshop and produced the main shot you see, with a desaturated background to make the sellers stand out a little more. What do you think -- which do you prefer?Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mmVR.
Trumpets
Durbar Square
A quote from a travel guide: "Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu’s old city and is a complex of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. " Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mmVR
Taking a break
Nepali Soldier
Dyes
Mmmm milk!
All eyes
Coconut snacks
Padlock
Mask
Kathmandu Panorama
Swayambunath
Eyes
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