Serene Cave

Serene Cave

THAI10D-32

November 23, 2010

On the outskirts of Khao Yai National Park, in Thailand, there is a certain cave under a monastery.  This cave was a refuge for Buddhist priests for centuries, as they would go down into the depths to be removed from the influences of daily life, to sit and meditate in the dark and reflect upon the teachings of the Buddha.  We were able to visit this cave and wander through the caverns for a short while.  The final room was this, where a 8-10' tall statue of the Buddha sat in lotus position, with an opening to the outside world above and to the side.  I like how this image has a luminous quality to it (the only lighting used was that which came from the open sinkhole) and how the Buddha, with his patina'd background, seems to be singularly lit by the light from above.  Enjoy. 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 10 mm

Exposure: 12 sec   f/16 ISO 400

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Stupas of Bangkok

Stupas of Bangkok

THAI040205

June 12, 2004

Continuing with the Thailand theme this week, another image from my first sojourn to that nation.  In fact, this was probably on the first day of adventure, after landing in the capital.  Wandering through the main tourist areas, the Palace and Wat Po, This stupa struck me.  These are small shrines (though sometimes not so small, you can see it towering over the roof tiles of the palace) where the remains of holy men are kept.  They are intricately designed and decorated, and are beautiful to admire.  I remember looking at this slide when it first came back from the lab, and immediately fell in love with it.  The wide angle approach, the off-center view with the storm clouds in the background (storm clouds are never far away in Thailand in the summer).  All of it spoke to me,  I hope you enjoy it as well. 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 28 mm

Exposure: 1/60   f/2.8 ISO50

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Photographs of Phamous Photographers Holding Photographs

I saw this over at Wired Magazine,a great little collection of photographs of photographers holding photographs.  Some of these are iconic images, such as Marilyn Monroe in bed, the towers exploding on 9-11, and Ali standing over Liston.  My three favorites, however, have to be Steve McCurry's portrait of a young girl in Afghanistan in 1984, the funeral procession for a murdered silverback gorilla, and the infamous line of tanks confronting a protester in the 1989 Tienanmen Square uprising in China.  These three are beautiful, haunting pictures that resonate with me especially strongly, and to see these images in the hands of their creators puts a personal perspective on each, seeing the artists who live behind the lens.








McCurry's image of the girl has consistently been thought of as National Geographic's most recognizable and outstanding image, his portraits are wonderful creations that are as beautiful as they are honest.  

The gorilla funeral is so sad, not only as it is a reminder of how few of these animals are left in the world (and highlighting the plight they face against poachers and land encroachment), but it shows how much empathy these animals can inspire in others, and how closely related we are.  

The tanks in Tienanmen Square need no real introduction, it is one of the most famous images of individuals standing up for their rights against oppression and demanding rights, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.

Enjoy the entire gallery at Wired.