Wesak 2011

Seems like I'm here every year. I'm not a particularly religious person, but I'm at the Thai temple every year for Wesak day to take photos and partake of the excellent Thai food. :) This year, I challenged myself not to take exactly the same photos as I did in previous years, which means I'd have to actively think of new angles and new things to shoot at a place I've visited and shot for many years now. This is one of the first shots, taken at a lower angle than I did before. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

For luck

This is perhaps one of the most often shot images at the Thai temple on Wesak day. These donation pots are often shot by numerous photographers and every year, I shoot these as well. This year, instead of taking a shot of the coin going in, I thought this one, of the person hoping to get a blessing by touching the pot instead, was interesting. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

The dragon's back

Again, instead of the obvious shot of the dragon's head, I thought I'd focus on something else. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Praying

It's interesting, but Chinese people tend to hold their joss sticks this way while Thai people tend to keep them close to their chests as they pray. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Solitary candle

Sometimes taking a shot of small details that people would normally miss helps to avoid the many similar shots that popular events like Wesak day produces. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

Let there be light

In keeping with the challenge to shoot the same things in a different way, this time I chose to shoot the oil lamps from a top down angle by just lifting the camera over my head and pointing it straght down. Nikon D7000, AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR