Sunset At Karekare Beach

Right time, right place. This picture was shot at Karekare beach - West of Auckland. Before capturing a photograph like this, you have to absorb and enjoy your surroundings ! I spent an afternoon trawling the beach - going back and forth. It's a place I've visited many times, yet each experience is completly different. Shades of light constantly change. The sea, wild and unpredictable is an amazing thing ! To get to Karekare beach you have to walk a good 10 minutes from the car park at the bottom of the valley. You can hear waves pounding the shore long before you see the sea. The volcanic magnetic black sand is still an amazing thing to me ! This place is magical and somewhere I always plan to revisit. It's great to have a special place that moves you every time you see it.

Good Wish Garden

A photograph taken in the 'Good Wish Garden' within the grounds of the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple. This quiet oasis in the heart of urban Kowloon is a great place to chill. Turtles can be found playing in the waters. The rockery with its beautifully ornate gardens make for a tranquil setting. It's hard to believe thousands upon thousands of people are probably shopping just 2 minutes down the road!

Open Door

The ornate entrance to the Po Lin Monastery ('Po Lin' meaning Precious Lotus in Chinese). You'll be free to look around at the exterior and interior, which provide a superior example of architecture and art. The monastery is festooned with small statues and inscriptions. The wooden boxes you see are for donations prior to entering the temple. The inside of the temple houses 3 bronze statues of the Buddha representing his past, present and future lives as well as many Buddhist scriptures.

Incense Sticks

A photograph taken in the incense gardens at Po Lin Monastery. Founded in 1924 as a sanctuary for Buddhist monks, the Po Lin Monastery offers superb sights both inside and out. The use of incense apparently dates back to biblical times and may have originated in Egypt, where the gums and resins of aromatic trees were imported from the Arabian and Somali coasts to be used in religious ceremonies. The Incense sticks are planted here as a mark of worship and respect.

Jellyfish

The marine and animal life of Ocean Park In Hong Kong comprise of pandas, rare and exotic birds, sea lions, and penguins, though arguably none is more impressive than the jellyfish! These amazing creatures don't need a respiratory system since their skin is thin enough that the body is oxygenated by diffusion. They have limited control over movement, but can use their hydrostatic skeleton to accomplish movement through pulsations; some species actively swim, while others are passive much of the time. An amazing plethora of jellyfish can be photographed in Ocean Park. This was one of my best shots.

Tin Tan

The Giant Buddha, or the Tin Tan Buddha, was unveiled in 1993 after taking roughly 22 years to complete in China. This statue is one of the reasons why Buddhists from all over the world are attracted to the Lantau Island. This shot was taken close to the incense gardens using a zoom lens.

Tough Building

A close up of the 'International Finance Centre' on Hong Kong Island. This building became a focal point for the recent Hong Kong New Year celebrations and looked to explode 'firecracker style' on TV the other night, however I'm pleased to report the building still stands! In the tradition of true skyscrapers, the design is simple, memorable and strong.

St Paul's

The Ruins of St Paul's in Macau display various statues of the virgin and saints, cryptograms from garden of Eden and the crucifixion, seraph and the devil, a Japanese chrysanthemum, a Chinese dragon, a Portuguese sailing ship and moral warnings extolled in Chinese. This is a close up of the magnificent stone facade that was built in the 1620's.

Macau Tower

Macau's answer to Auckland's Skytower! Where's a tripod when you need one?!?! At least I managed to find a convenient resting place for my camera when this picture was taken. This shot was made without using a flash. It's just a question of controlling the shutter speed. This is the second best way to experience the Macau tower. The first is to have a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top! Yes, it was yummy!

Wisdom

Back to Lantau Island. The 'Wisdom Path' is situated close to the Po Lin Monastery. It's a lovely walk that leads you to a sight you don't expect to see, that being thirty-eight individual timber columns with inscriptions arranged to correspond with the topography of the landscape. The figure-of-eight configuration symbolises infinity and the number 8 is a very lucky number in Hong Kong society. If my memory serves me well, I took this shot while the sun lay behind the most prominent column. This makes things look darker than they actually were.

Expensive View

Without doubt, a trip to 'The Peak' should be one of the first things you do when you visit Hong Kong. The views are simply breathtaking. If you fancy purchasing a house or apartment in this area I guarantee the prices will take your breath away too! Property up here is the most expensive in the world! As my current savings pot won't 'afford' me a more permanent view, I decide to settle for a photograph!

A Sign

Hong Kong was proud to be involved with the Olympics of 2008. The Country co-hosted the equestrian events of the games. This picture was taken at Victoria Harbour. The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red. This was originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The five rings stand for passion, faith, victory, work ethic, and sportsmanship.

Close Up

A close up shot of the Eiffel Tower. The thing that struck me about the structure was just how big it was. In truth I don't think it's possible to convey this on film. Some things you just have to see in person ! Though freezing cold, hundreds must have gathered to view the tower this particular evening. Hard to believe it now, but many people considered the Eiffel Tower an eyesore when it was first built. The searchlights on top of the tower act as a beacon in the night sky.

Paris - Moulin Rouge

This photograph was taken on the move. As you can see the rain is lashing down on the window pane in front of me. I had to be quick to get this shot. I was travelling on a bus when this was taken. The powers the be don't like transportation stopping outside this famous Parisian landmark. For some strange reason I think this photograph works. By the way, if you fancy a meal and a show at the Moulin Rouge (French for Red Mill) it will cost you around £100 pounds.

Paris - Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower taken on a very cold November night. The Tower is such an iconic site it's probably nigh on impossible to capture a 'different' view of it. Still... I had a go. A little known fact - 6,719,200 people visited the tower in 2006 and believe it or not more than 200,000,000 have seen it since its construction. Another factoid - maintenance of the tower includes applying 50 - 60 tons of 3 graded tones of paint every seven years to protect it from rust !

IFC In View

City scape Hong Kong style! Early evening is always great for photography. Somehow this time of day makes pictures appear more alive. As you can probably tell, natural light is fading fast. The International Finance Centre 2 (IFC2) stands out in this shot. It's a magnificent structure and is currently the 7th tallest office building in the world, the 3rd tallest building in the Greater China region and the tallest building in all of Hong Kong! IFC2 overlooks Victoria Harbour on the North Shore of Hong Kong Island and is a shimmering beacon night and day. Feel lost in Hong Kong? Find this in your vision and you're sure to find your bearings.

Hungry Horse

I was driving along a remote road in Cornwall when I came across this nosey fella (the horse). Like all good drivers I slowed up, then drew to a standstill as he approached the car. He was very interested in my vehicle. He walked around it a few times and then proceeded to stop at my window. I think he was looking for food and I must confess I was slightly concerned I might be next on the menu ! I slowly opened the window and said 'hi' as I reached for my camera. After the picture was taken - I got brave and ventured outside. Needless to say he soon got bored of me and headed down the road to greet his next victim (the driver of a ford focus).

Nun In St Peters

I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible and I think it kinda worked ;) This picture was taken in St Peters Basilica in Rome. I like to think these nuns were visiting the place for the first time (just like me) and were amazed at all they saw and experienced. Although the Vatican Basilica is not the Pope's official seat, it's his principal church. Most Papal ceremonies take place at St. Peter's due to its size, proximity to the Papal residence, and location within the Vatican City walls.

A Gift?

The soulless hustle and bustle of all the shopping and business commuters seem a world away on Lantau Island. Looking into the eyes of the 'The Giant Sitting Buddha' is an awe inspiring experience. As you can see, the peaceful, serene Giant Buddha has one hand raised while the other rests on his lap, open. Maybe he has a gift for all who visit here? Something to share? No matter your views on religion or spirituality, this is a wonderful location to unwind. Personally, I believe this place is the beating heart of Hong Kong. Batteries re-charged, I feel it's possible to face the shops of Kowloon once more.

Wetland Wonder

You could be forgiven for thinking this was another photograph from New Zealand, but it's not. This shot was taken in the Northern part of Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong. I feel the 'Hong Kong Wetland Park' doesn't get enough publicity. After spending a good half day here, I found myself wanting tell all who'd listen what a special park this is. It's a wonderful place to learn about conservation and comprises of a 10,000 square meter large visitor centre, wetland interactive world, and a 60-hectare wetland reserve. All this, combined with themed exhibitions and a magnificent resource centre make this a special retreat. This picture is just a simple shot surveying the landscape in front of me while exploring the reserve.