Tsim Sha Tsui Night Pano

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

ISO 100 - 6sec - f/8 @ 28mm

Location: Ocean Terminal, TST

click for bigger pic

Having this opportunity with all the equipment set-up and with a great view, i just couldn't resist taking a panorama on the famous Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong Island night view.

By the way, night panorama is alot easier to merge!

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
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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]

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.

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.

Qingdao

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 200 - 1/125sec - f/5.6
Location: ZhongShan Park, Qingdao, China

Location: ZhongShan Park, Qingdao, China

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 200 - 1/200sec - f/5.6
Location: ZhongShan Park, Qingdao, China

Canon 400D, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/640sec - f/4
Location: Granite Mansion, Ba Da Guan, Qingdao, China

Location: Ba Da Guan, Qingdao, China

Location: Qingdao Guest House, Qingdao, China

Location: Qingdao Guest House, Qingdao, China

Location: XiaoYuShan Park (Little Fish Hill)

Location: Zhan Qiao Pier

Qingdao is a very attractive tourists area due to its parks, beaches, sculpture and some unique classic European architecture built when Qingdao was a German colony during 1897-1914. It is a very unique place found in China.

ZhongShan Park is a place for flower lovers. The 500-meter-long Oriental Cherry Corridor is a famous scenic spot featuring 20,000 Japanese cherry trees. Every April and May, a Cherry Festival attracts thousands of admirers to view the delicate pink blossoms.

Ba Da Guan is one of the older areas of town with some surviving German and Japanese architecture. Here must be one of China's great places for wedding photography. We could see docents of couples taking their wedding photography along Ba Da Guan's shoreline and greenspace.

Qingdao Guest House (Governor's Mansion) with the delicate shape, splendid ornaments, graceful lines and bold colors make Qingdao's Guest House one of the best examples of European villas in China. Originally, the Guest House was the official residence of the German governor-general of Jiao'ao. The original name was the Governor's Official Residence, in 1934, it was formally renamed "Guest House," and then became important as a retreat to receive the VIPs of military affairs and politics.

XiaoYuShan Park (Little Fish Hill), It is the first hilltop sight of the Chinese ancient traditional style in Qingdao.

Zhan Qiao Pier with an octagonal pavilion ath end of the pier is called the Billowing Back and Forth Tower. Zhanqiao pier is viewed in the eyes of many as the official symbol of Qingdao as it was made famous by being placed on the front of the Tsingtao Brewery beer can.

At the end, Qingdao is a nice place for sight visit. Although a bit disappointing, because of the timing, we went on the wrong time. The flowers didn't open much because of the cold weather. There was also some rain, not a clear sky and most of the places and building were completely or partially in renovation, remodeling and rebuilding it for the coming Beijing Olympic.

Technical: This was my first time doing the panorama, not a perfect one but it was nice try for a handheld shot.