Hong Kong!

I recently went on a working trip to Hong Kong to test a new range of Panasonic Lumix cameras, one of which is the latest version of the high-end panorama style compact digital, the LX series. The latest model, the LX3, is a really nice camera that has been vastly improved in many ways from its predecessor. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Keeping it together

One of the things that's been improved is apparently the dynamic range of the LX3 -- in this situation the camera still hasn't blown out the highlights even though there's quite a range of bright and dark here. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Down by the sea

This shot was taken with the B+W mode of the LX3. As usual, a bit of foreground interest to lead you in to the photo is important in a shot like this. Panasonic Lumix LX3

They Live!

It's pretty amazing the amount of live seafood you can find in Hong Kong --- from Abalone, to geoducks, mussels and all kinds of weird things besides, you can find it here. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Hong Kong abstract

This shot was achieved by rotating the camera as the exposure was taken. I tried a number of different methods in an effort to take as many different shots of a common view at Hong Kong's Victoria Peak. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Train and city

I managed to capture this shot mostly on automatic for the LX3. The only adjustment here is to crop off a stray arm on the right that was encroaching into the frame. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Shopping Mall

This shot was taken with the wideangle adapter for the LX3. Strangely enough even though it was past midnight at Victoria's Peak in Hong Kong, the place was still bustling with open shops and people. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Coils

Incense coils at one of the temples I visited in Hong Kong. Panasonic Lumix LX3

Boat lady

This boat lady taking me to the restaurant has a lot of souveniers to peddle! Panasonic Lumix LX3

Casino Lisboa

Not to be confused with the Grand Lisboa below, the Casino Lisboa is yet another one of the many casinos in Macau. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Grand Lisboa entrance

The entrance of the Grand Lisboa casino and hotel in Macau. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Grand Lisboa 1

This is what the Grand Lisboa, one of the largest casinos in Macau, looks like from the front. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Grand Lisboa 2

This is a side view of one of the biggest casinos in Macau, the Grand Lisboa. The light was just perfect at this time of day -- at dusk with just a bit of light left in the sky. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200m f/3.5-5.6 VR

Poser

I just thought this group of people shooting photos of this cute scruffy dog was quite funny. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Checking out the display

No fancy title for this shot. Just a little girl checking out the display cabinet in the musuem near the St Paul's Cathedral facade. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Facade

The ruins of St Paul's Cathedral, the main tourist destination other than the casinos in Macau. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1835 so only the facade is left -- yes there is nothing behind the facade except the floor and a small musuem of religious relics. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Building a fort

My trip to Macau -- a quick stop at a beach and I found this kid playing on the black sand. Nikon D200. AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Orchids

My brother in Hong Kong has recently picked up my dad's hobby of keeping orchids. Anyway both my brother and I are a little competitive when it comes to our cameras so we challenged each other to shoot a good off-camera flash photo of his orchids. This is my entry. Nikon D200, AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8

Ecstasy

Regular followers of this photoblog (yes, all 3 of you!) will probably have seen various versions of this shot. I actually like this kind of shot and I try to shoot one in every country I've been to. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Framing with fronds

Sometimes, having some foreground interest helps to frame a shot with a lot of sky. I think this shot works better than just a straight statue-against-the-sky shot. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Streets of San Francisco 2

Again, shot while hanging off the side of the tram, this was taken with the camera at waist level. To get as close to the ground as possible, I didn't put the camera up to my eye (in any case, it was difficult to put it up to my eye since I was hanging on for dear life). Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Streets of San Francisco

Shot while hanging off the side of the tram, this picture was one of the only views of the bay visible between loads of large buildings. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Singing for his supper

Although it was a very cold day at the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, this street musician was quite chirpy, and sang a selection of great songs, most notably, a number of hilarious lyrics-adjusted Beatles songs, if you know what I mean. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Bird's eye view

While waiting for the tram at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, I spotted this kid who was perched right up in the nook of a tree like a bird and thought it was quite whimsical. I had a number of shots of this kid, with and without the crowd in the foreground, but I think it somehow works better with the crowd, though some people might disagree. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Going round

After they reach the end of the line, the trams are put on this rotating platform where they are turned around and sent back the other way. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Hanging on

Another view of the trams in San Francisco. Surprisingly for a litigation-happy country, passengers are allowed to actually hang on like this. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Inside the tram

What's a trip to San Francisco without taking the iconic trams? Here's a shot from the inside. Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR