Sunday, April 30, 2006
Thoughts on Photography
I really got to develop my photographic seeing. Some how, I'm just not observant enough to see the elements which make a powerful photo. I treat photography seriously because they hold my memories and memories are priceless. There is an interesting survey result in the movie One Hour Photo starring Robin Williams, the survey asks the question: what is the first thing that you will take when your house is on fire? And a quite surprising percentage (>80%) says that they will take the family album. And in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Peter Pevensie (performed by William Peter Moseley) ran from the bomb shelter under an air-raid back into his room to retrieve his father's portrait (Peter's father was at the war front). A photography is powerful, and important enough to make one risk ones life to rescue it from danger. I don't have to risk my life like in the movies but I hope I will capture the best image of my memories by photography.
I think most of you all like the landscape pictures I took on my Norway trip; I like them too. But on a closer look, what I have done is to copy a great work of nature art with detail. My landscape photographs are not really great work of art but simply copies of nature's portrayal of them. Perhaps, the reason why I like the Painting Easter Eggs series more is that I produce interesting works from plain subjects of children and parents. I think it is very important for photographers to bring "life" into a subject which another person haven't seen or thought of. I am working towards that.
I think most of you all like the landscape pictures I took on my Norway trip; I like them too. But on a closer look, what I have done is to copy a great work of nature art with detail. My landscape photographs are not really great work of art but simply copies of nature's portrayal of them. Perhaps, the reason why I like the Painting Easter Eggs series more is that I produce interesting works from plain subjects of children and parents. I think it is very important for photographers to bring "life" into a subject which another person haven't seen or thought of. I am working towards that.
Spring Party Dismayed by Shower
Today is the day which Lund, or maybe the whole of Sweden, celebrates the arrival of spring. However, the weather is not cooperating with the people's joyous season celebration; it showered and drizzled from late morning to evening today*.
I have high expectation for the Spring Party which was held at the State Park. My course mates and corridor neighbors told me how crowded and happening it will be: thousands jamming the park plus a whole day of partying and drinking at the park. Not that I'm a partying dude but it makes a great event to cover photographically. Too high expectation... high disappointment.
I woke up late at 1100 and thought I had missed the start of the most happening event during my SEP. I was about to leave home when it started to drizzle. Sucky weather dampened my mood to give a photographic coverage of the Party; I just went back to my room to nuah. Well, I thought the rain will stop after a while but the rain drops just kept falling from the sky. I ended up with surfing the Internet for the whole day and backing-up my data on DVDs.
I got a craving for 炸酱面, so decided to cook it. Bad techniques, the ingredients weren't correct and the taste was totally off from the authentic noodle. The consolation is that it still tasted quite good. Weird: it kind of looked like Chinese spaghetti.
Evening's weather was not too bad: cloudy but with a little sun's golden ray showering the land. I took the opportunity to snap the exterior of Delphi.
*According to The Local, this year's winter was the toughest for southern Sweden since 1971. Snow cover was perpetual in March and the cold weather lasted 2-3 weeks longer than historical weather records. The shower that was here in the afternoon was pretty much expected since spring is a season of extreme weather: the spring floods from melted snow (which is wreaking havoc in Czech and Germany); and the meeting of warm air from the lower latitudes with cold air from the polar region. Be prepared for any kind of weather: sunny (15 degrees) to chilly shower (4 degrees) if you happen to visit Sweden during spring.
I have high expectation for the Spring Party which was held at the State Park. My course mates and corridor neighbors told me how crowded and happening it will be: thousands jamming the park plus a whole day of partying and drinking at the park. Not that I'm a partying dude but it makes a great event to cover photographically. Too high expectation... high disappointment.
I woke up late at 1100 and thought I had missed the start of the most happening event during my SEP. I was about to leave home when it started to drizzle. Sucky weather dampened my mood to give a photographic coverage of the Party; I just went back to my room to nuah. Well, I thought the rain will stop after a while but the rain drops just kept falling from the sky. I ended up with surfing the Internet for the whole day and backing-up my data on DVDs.
I got a craving for 炸酱面, so decided to cook it. Bad techniques, the ingredients weren't correct and the taste was totally off from the authentic noodle. The consolation is that it still tasted quite good. Weird: it kind of looked like Chinese spaghetti.
Evening's weather was not too bad: cloudy but with a little sun's golden ray showering the land. I took the opportunity to snap the exterior of Delphi.
Exterior of the Block H where I stay (Somehow Flickr is ruining my pics colors; it looks dull in Flickr when it looked vivid in PS)
*According to The Local, this year's winter was the toughest for southern Sweden since 1971. Snow cover was perpetual in March and the cold weather lasted 2-3 weeks longer than historical weather records. The shower that was here in the afternoon was pretty much expected since spring is a season of extreme weather: the spring floods from melted snow (which is wreaking havoc in Czech and Germany); and the meeting of warm air from the lower latitudes with cold air from the polar region. Be prepared for any kind of weather: sunny (15 degrees) to chilly shower (4 degrees) if you happen to visit Sweden during spring.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Surprise Party
I expected a normal dinner and even brought my laptop thinking we can watch some shows together. Never expected a party for my birthday which is due in a few days. Thank you everyone for making my "SEP Birthday" a special one.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Norway in a Nutshell
Flåm, Norway
Aurlandfjord - Ferry frm Flåm to Gudvangen I
Aurlandfjord - Ferry frm Flåm to Gudvangen II
Bergen Harbor
Bryggen - the old wharf of Bergen
St Mary's Church, Bergen
View frm Mount Floyen, Bergen (Panorama)
Mount Floyen nature trails, Bergen
Cafe in Bergen
Gal in Bergen
Oslo @ Nite
Oslo on Easter Saturday
Easter Egg Exhibition in Norsk Folkemuseum (Norwegian Folk Museum)
Painting Easter Eggs @ Norsk Folkemuseum 1
Painting Easter Eggs @ Norsk Folkemuseum 2
Sentry guard @ Akershus Castle, Oslo
More to follow...
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Day Trip in Malmö
Day Trip in Göteburg
