Lantau Trail

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG

ISO 400 - 1/320sec - f/2.8 @ 70mm

Location: Lantau Trail, Lantau Island

I like this pic mainly because after so many attempt with my limited cheap lens portfolio, I've be able to take one picture with such a great bokeh (its look like a real circle and not elliptical).

I though I will never be able to take one of this pic if I am not upgrading my equipments to the pro level. But of course, if I use L level lens, I think it will look a lot smoother and wouldn't be that hard to take.

A仔, la b. wing galerie

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG

ISO 100 - 1/50sec - f/2.8 @ 28mm

Location: LCX, Causeway bay, HK

" If you don't want to be perfect, you come to the right place"

by b. wing

Alison & Quentin

So finally, I have the opportunity to shoot at a wedding banquet. The wedding of Alison and Quentin, and they are one of the funniest couples that I ever met.

The event was like a true man show, both of them were very happy and they didn't hide anything.

I can feel their sincere gratitude and their speech was just straight out without a second thought, just like always!, that's why is so funny!

They were also brave, they sang in front of so many people, something that they never have an opportunity to do!!! (Although didn't hear much of Quentin singing...haha)

Hope u two the best, and Quentin don't forget what ur mom tried to tell u in the next day, Add OIL!!! Haha! :)

SunFlower

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/2.8 @ 70mm
Location: Fairview Park, YL

Technically: I've always wanted to try on the "Macro", but never had a chance to lay my hand on one of those macro lenses. Though, using a zoom lens, i tryed to take some macro pics. and here is one of them.

Cathy and Tuen Ching @ King's College

I am lucky having this opportunity to be able to participate in a pre-wedding photo of Cathy and Tuen Ching. We took the photos at King's College, a nice place with the classical structure of grey granite columns and the red bricks walls.
I could feel Cathy and Tuen Ching were very enthusiastic, they were all the way in an automatic mode posting without any embarrassment maybe they had some experience at Taipei.
It was a lot of fun and I had learned a lot .Also, the occasion wasn't that great if Eric didn't come with us, providing those professional equipments and guidance. Thanks to Wilson and Eric.

Technically: This time I did a bit more of photo re-touching, adding some vignette and soft-focus effects.

Fira at Night

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 10s, 20s, 30sec - f/22 @ 22mm
Location: Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Oia Sunset

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/20, 1/80, 1/5 sec - f/22 @ 28mm
Location: Oia, Santorini, Athens, Greece

The famous Oia sunset, considered by many as one of the most beautiful in the world, keeps tourists flocking down to the castle. In the evening hordes of people arrive simply to watch its sunset. Every available seat, wall, step or patch of ground is occupied and picnicking while watching the sunset is almost de rigueur. A common method for enjoying the sunset is to take one of the boat charters from the docks at Thira. [ref.wiki]

Technically: This is my first try doing a HDR image, I wanted to bring out the color of the sunset plus the foreground of the landscape.

Santorini, Oia

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

ISO 100 - 1/250-400 sec - f/11 @ 28mm

Location: view from Oia to Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece
click for bigger pic

The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. Along the cliff of Oia, houses have been delved into the porous volcanic rock. Parts of these houses are visible and the scenery that results from it is generally perceived as being typically Greek.

The town is noted for its picturesque architecture, unique for its blend of relatively large (for the town's space) medieval Venetian houses (dubbed "kapetanea" - as they belonged to the captains) with small incave village homes, called "yposkafa" (caved-in) which were the housing form of the rest of the town's population. [ref.wiki]

Santorini

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/125sec - f/10 @ 22mm
Location: Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, southeast from Greece's mainland. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera.

The villages of Santorini are considered as one of the most beautiful villages of Greece. Of course not all the villages are impressive. Some are newly built to welcome the tourists. The famous villages are Oia and Fira. There are perched over huge cliffs and offer extraordinary views over the sea and the submerged volcano. [ref.wiki, greeka]

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/200sec - f/8 @ 48mm
Location: Caldera volcano view at Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

The town of Fira is a typical Cycladic village made of charming white houses with blue windows and doors, separated from each other by small paved streets. Many of its beautiful buildings were constructed back in the times of the Venetian invasion, including some blue domed churches and sun-bathed verandas that offer an incredible view of the volcano and the sunset.
In our days, Fira is a busy town. During summer and in its high season, the central streets are crowded and filled with all kind of shops, jewelleries, restaurants, caffeshops, bars and night clubs. [ref. greeka]

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/250sec - f/13 @ 22mm
Location: view from the Akrotiri ligth house, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/11 @ 60mm
Location: Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/125sec - f/6.3 @ 21mm, Ev +0.67
Location: Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/500sec - f/6.3 @ 16mm
Location: Firostefani, Fira, Santorini, Athens, Greece

Technically: my last pic (above) of this issue was modified with some blending mask technique to make the front (boat) of the picture brigther and leaving the backgound with the sunset feel. A bit fake... isn't it?

HK Olympic Equestrian Venue

Canon Digital IXUS 700
ISO Auto - 1/320 - 640sec - f/7.1 @ 7.7mm
Location: 25 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong
click for bigger pic

Hong Kong is excited to be the co-host city of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and staging the Equestrian Events.

The Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) has a 100m x 80m all-weather sand arena as Main Competition Arena, for a capacity of 18,000 spectators for Olympic Equestrian Events and 8,000 spectators for Paralympics Equestrian Events.

Competition Events: Dressage, Jumping

The Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) is converted from the Hong Kong Sports Institute and Penfold Park. Apart from the main facilities, there are warm-up and training areas for the competitors. An air-conditioned building for the management headquarters for the competition as well as Olympic Family/Paralympic Family reception area and accommodation for the grooms. Also, newly constructed stable with air-conditioned accommodation for over 200 horses.

Technically: This is my first panorama manually in Photoshop. I had to readjust the exposure in every pic, healing tools and blending mask.

The beginning of the Olympic

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/200sec - f/11 @ 28mm
Location: Kallimarmaro Stadium, Athens, Greece
click for bigger pic

The Panathinaiko (Panathenaic) Stadium or the Kallimarmaron, in Athens is the only major stadium in the world built fully of white marble. The stadium was built long before dimensions for athletics venues were standardized and its track and layout follow the ancient hairpin-like model. It can seat about 80,000 spectators on 50 rows of marble steps.

In ancient times it was used to host the athletic portion of the Panathenaic Games in honour of the Goddess Athena. Then, after so many years, the ancient structure were excavated and refurbished for the revival of the Olympic Games held in 1870 and 1875.

In 1896, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was the first Olympic Games held in the Modern era. The modern Olympic Games were founded by Pierre Fredi, Baron de Coubertin, a French pedagogue and historian, he wanted to promote international understanding through sporting competition. Coubertin sought proper physical education and a way to bring nations closer together, to have the youth of the world compete in sports, rather than fight in war.

In the 2004 Olympic Games, the Panathinaiko Stadium hosted the archery competition, and the finish of the Marathon. The stadium was featured on all of the Summer Olympic medals introduced in the 2004 Games, and will be continued to be featured on the medals awarded at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Delos

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/10 @ 109mm
Location: Delos, Mykonos, Athens, Greece

The Doric Temple of Isis was built on a high over-looking hill at the beginning of the Roman period to venerate the familiar trinity of Isis, the Alexandrian Serapis and Anubis. [ref.wiki]

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 400 - 1/2500sec - f/5.6 @ 135mm
Location: Delos, Mykonos, Athens, Greece

This flower was taken at The Terrace of the Lions (behind), it was dedicated to Apollo by the people of Naxos shortly before 600 BC, had originally nine to twelve squatting, snarling marble guardian lions along the Sacred Way; one is inserted over the main gate to the Venetian Arsenal. The lions create a monumental avenue comparable to Egyptian avenues of sphinxes. [ref.wiki]

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/250sec - f/9 @ 85mm
Location: Delos, Mykonos, Athens, Greece

The island of Delos, isolated in the centre of the roughly circular ring of islands called the Cyclades, near Mykonos, is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. Delos had a position as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. [ref.wiki]

Mykonos Sunset

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/45sec - f/10 @ 28mm
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece
click for bigger pic

Mykonos is a grand example of unique cycladic architecture set around a picturesque fishing-village bay. Totally whitewashed organic cube-like buildings fit closely together to form a kind of haphazard maze of narrow alley ways and streets. Many well preserved windmills and hundreds of tiny red-roofed churches adds a flavour of culture and custom to the scene, enhanced even further by many museums and the historical ancient site of nearby Delos. [ref.wiki]

Technical: This time I tried to do a panorama with the photomerge of CS2 and tried to merge it manually, but I couldn't because i've got different exposure in every pic.
So at the end went back to PhotoStitch and the result was great, I didn't have to worried about the exp and the merge was 90% accurate. What I have to do is go through some healing tools and some blending mask.For the next time, taking panoramas, I should be locking the focus and exposure.

Mykonos

Petros the Pelican

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 800sec - f/8,
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

Part of the reason for me to go to Athens is to visits the famous Greek islands.
Mykonos was one of our choices. It is widely recognized as one of the great travel places and one of the Aegean island that most tourist go.It is famous for its cosmopolitan scenery and its diverse and intense nightlife featured by a huge number of bars and nightclubs. Mykonos is also distinguished for its sandy and diversify style of beaches where discos and bars are also allocated.

In this Picture feature the Petros the Pelican. They can be found at the waterfront. Originally the pelican was found after a storm back in the 1950s. After Petros died he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are two pelicans inhabiting the island, who can sometimes be found up in the town as well as at the port.

The church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Parapotiani
Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 200 - 250sec - f/8,
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 200sec - f/5.6,
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 320sec - f/4, Ev +1
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

If you want to know what was the most common food in Greece, well I think Pitta must be it. It is a thick breads made with yeast, usually with many different ingredients in between, like chicken or beef or lamp with tzatziki, tomatoes, french fries, and condiments. I really like it, among the fast food i think i will choose Pitta.

Windmills of Mykonos
Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 800sec - f/8,
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

These windmills are also one of the most recognized landmarks of Mykonos.

Little Venice
Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1600sec - f/4.5,
Location: Mykonos, Athens, Greece

These buildings have been constructed right on the sea's edge with their balconies overhanging the water.