Macau

Nikon D300, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

ISO - 1/125s - f/5.6 @ 90mm

Location: Macau

Nikon D300, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

ISO 3200 - 1/25s - f/5.3 @ 157mm
Location:

Nikon D300, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
ISO 400 - 1/50s - f/6.3 @ 170mm
Location: Crown Hotel, Macau
Nikon D300, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
ISO Auto - 1/125s - f/5.6 @ 105mm
Location: Macau
Nikon D300, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
ISO 200 - 1/6s - f/3.8 @ 22mm
Location: Four Season Macau

This time i had the opportunity to try a Nikon D300, with a very flexible lens 18-200mm, and it was a nice experiance. It was my first time using a Nikon, i had to take some time to get use to the firmware and the half press AF.

I am nothing profesional to comment or give any detailed comparision, but i could just said that it has a faster frame rate and heavier than the Canon 400D.

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?

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.

The Acropolis @ Night

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 10sec - f/11, Ev +2, Tripod
Location: View of The Acropolis from the Syntagma Area, Athens, Greece

The shoot was taken at the top our hotel. Athens doesn't have many high rising buildings, so the Acropolis is always easily observed from roof of the hotels in the vicinity of the central area. (If it is open to the public)

Technical: Definitely a tripod plus timer, but I forgot the Mirror Lock.-up to reduce the camera vibration Next time then.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/125sec - f/8,
Location: View of The Acropolis from the Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece

This view looks like back to the past.

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/11,
Location: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, Greece

Temple of Olympian Zeus is the largest in Greece, exceeding even the Parthenon in size. Work began on 6th century BC, in the reign of the tyrant Peisistratos but it was not completed until 650 years later. The Roman Emperor Hadrian dedicated the temple to Zeus Olympios during the Panhelenic festival of AD 132. He Also set up a gold and ivory inlaid statue of the god inside the temple.
Now, only 15 of the original 104 Corinthian columns remain, each 17m high – but enough to give a sense of the enormous size of this temple, which would have been approximately 96m long and 40m wide. [ref.DK]

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/320sec - f/10,
Location: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, Greece

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/320sec - f/11,
Location: View of The Acropolis from Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, Greece

Many people said stay away from the flare... but i just like the feel of the flares!!
But it is so difficult to control!

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/125sec - f/9,
Location: The Hadrian's Arch, Athens, Greece

The Hadrian's Arch, next to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, built in AD 131. It was positioned deliberately to mark the boundary between the ancient city and the new Athens of Hadrian.

As you can see, I've been fascinated by the stories and myth of the Ancient Greeks, adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and other mythological creatures. Stories like the Odyssey focusing on events surrounding the Trojan War and others.

So where is the best place to experience some of this atmosphere other than Athens?!

The Acropolis

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

ISO 100 - 1/80sec - f/11, Tripod

Location: Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece

The Parthenon is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, built in the 5th century BC on the Athenian Acropolis. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered one of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy, and is one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. [Ref. wikipedia.org]

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/125sec - f/9
Location: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries.
The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today - that is, the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike. The temples on the north side of the Acropolis housed primarily the earlier Athenian cults and those of the Olympian gods, while the southern part of the Acropolis was dedicated to the cult of Athena in her many qualities: as Polias (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promachos (goddess of war), Ergane (goddess of manual labour) and Nike (Victory). [ref.odysseus.culture.gr]

Canon 400D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
ISO 100 - 1/500sec - f/5.6, Ev+1
Location: Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Theatre of Herodes Atticus or The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theatre structure located on the south slope of the Acropolis of Athens. It was built in 161 AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. It was originally a steep-sloped amphitheater with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof, and was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. [Ref. wikipedia.org]

The Gate

Canon 400D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/8
Location: Roman Agora, Monastiraki, Athens, Greece

The Gate of Athena Archegetis is in the west side of the Roman Agora. It was built between 19 and 11 BC. The monumental entrance has a row of four Doric columns and a pedestal made of Pentelic marble. It was constructed in BC with the donations of Julius Caesar and Augustus and was dedicated by the people of Athens to their patroness, Athena Archegetics.
It is considered to be the second most prominent remain in the site after the Tower of the Winds. [ ref: wikipedia.org]

Technical: This time, on the pp phase, i tryed the sharpen + sharpen more filter function and fill 10% on the layer. It is a common technique to bring out details of the image and saddly noices too.

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.

Tsingtao Brewery

Canon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/400sec - f/4
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, ChinaCanon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/40sec - f/4
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, China
Canon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/13sec - f/4
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, ChinaCanon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/10sec - f/2.8
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, ChinaCanon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 800 - 1/160sec - f/4
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, China
Canon 400D, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
ISO 100 - 1/60sec - f/2.8
Location: The World of Tsingtao, Qingdao, China

Tsingtao Brewery is China's largest brewery. Founded in 1903 by German settlers, it claims about 12% of domestic market share. The beer's present-day logo displays an image of Zhan Qiao, a famous pier on Qingdao's southern shore.
Tsingtao Beer was introduced to the United States in 1972, and soon became the top-selling Chinese beer in the U.S. market; it has maintained this leadership within the United States ever since, despite increasing competition from other well known Chinese beer brands, Zhujiang Beer and Yanjing. The Tsingtao brand is sold in more than 50 countries worldwide and accounts for more than 50% of China’s beer exports.