China – Page 30 – Stuck in Customs
2
Sep 2014 : Tuesday
filed under  China, Guilin

The Daemon Bird

The Lightroom Tutorial

I’m glad so many people are enjoying the Lightroom Tutorial! This photo below is one of the shots that is processed during the tutorial!

Daily Photo – The Daemon Bird

This fisherman and his bird were incredible. Whichever direction his head went, so did the bird’s! It was really incredible to watch. If you have the Lightroom Tutorial I mention above, be sure to watch that part where I show all the various head positions! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

For this photo, because it was so dark, I opened up my aperture all the way to f/1.4 – that really helped the light to come in and give it this feeling.

The Daemon Bird

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-06-04 00:19:55
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/500
  • Aperture
  • ISO800
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-0.3

Comments
31
Aug 2014 : Sunday
filed under  Beijing, China

Smiling Over the Top

The African Photo Adventure

I’m really getting excited about the African Photo Adventure. It’s happening very soon! We’re thinking about a few other big trips for 2015… be sure to check our newsletter for the latest!

Daily Photo – Smiling Over the Top

While walking down one of the busier streets in China one night, I saw this girl smiling from behind all these cups. I thought it was super funny and cute because she would just watch me as I went by. I could tell she was smiling, but I just saw her head rotating. I was cracking up and decided to turn around and take a photo!

Smiling Over the Top

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-31 00:10:46
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/250
  • Aperture
  • ISO1250
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramShutter speed priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+0.7

Comments
30
Aug 2014 : Saturday
filed under  Beijing, China

Beijing PhotoWalk Recap!

Update from the Sony A7r Winner!

I received a nice note from Jack Soltysik, the winner of the Grand Prize at the Beijing PhotoWalk, a Sony A7r. (Here’s my Sony A7r Review in case you missed it!)

Got the camera! Thanks so much for the lens! I literally had the 35 arriving the same day but was able to switch It w the 55 when I saw you’d sent the 35. Thank you! That was a really nice surprise. I’ve been too busy to go shooting recently because I’m in an intensive Chinese course at Tsinghua for the rest of the summer. I wanted to say that I got a full scholarship to this course thanks to getting this camera.

The shots I take now are mostly sneaky street shots w my iphone and I wrote an essay about how, w an actual camera, I should probably be able to speak to my subjects – the essay got me into this summer semester long program w a full ride. Your photo walk really ended up having a pretty big impact for me. I can’t wait to go out shooting once I can interact w people.

I’m waiting for the release of a wider lens before I go out and try hdr work but already have travel ideas planned out for that. The camera feels great and I love the low profile. Thanks for all the extras. My friend got your HDR course which I watched recently and I especially found valuable the part about adjusting the black point in photomatix.

Anyway I can’t stress enough how much this has inspired and motivated my own work so I wanted to say thanks again for hosting the walk and for all the things that’s led to, not the least of which is friends I’ve made from hanging out w people at 798.

For those of you that are on Weibo, mine is here… my name in Chinese translates to “Special Thunder!” haha.

Trey Beijing Photowalk CN3

Some Other Favorite Photos from Beijing

Here’s a collection of some of my favorite photos from Beijing. If you want to see more from China, check out the SmugMug China Search of my photos! 🙂

Lijiang at Night This is the old town of Lijiang, China, where I spent the week with Tom Anderson (the MySpace guy). I think I mentioned him before. Anyway, we got to be friends over the past several months, and we ended up spending a week together here in the south of China.Tom had first been here many years ago when he was setting up the MySpace office in Beijing. He had great memories, and he thought it would be great for a big return now that he is getting more into photography. So, it was definitely a week full of non-stop photography action.One late night after the sun had set, we weaved through the old streets until we found this place. Looking up, I knew it would be a wonderful place to take a photo, so I set up for this one.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Temple of Heaven One too-early morning brought me to this very important place for the Chinese called The Temple of Heaven. It's the most important Taoist structure in all of China and millions flock to it every year, especially during the National Holiday. It was built in the early 1400's during the reign of the Yongle Emperor. I was lucky to get private access in the morning during the sunrise. After waking up in the dark at the hotel, my driver took me out to the location, where I met one of the directors while members of the military let me inside the giant doors. Since it was a special celebration week, there were throngs of people waiting to get inside. I'm sure they were wondering what in the heck some white dude was doing busting through the doors with a giant tripod! I nodded to them all in a mysterious way before I went through the doors.(btw, a few questions as to whether or not I photoshopped the moon there. The answer is no... I'm not one of those guys that will "photoshop in" something major like a moon.)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Mysterious UFO Device What do you think this structure is? There are almost an infinite number of possibilities.I was being driven around by a very nice driver with Tom and he took me through this technology park. Most of it was rather banal, but this one structure was so unusual, I had to get out and examine it. I walked around and underneath the structure to try to figure it out. I never did, so I just set up to take a photo.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

On Gossamer Wings I had spent most of the day inside the Forbidden City, trying my best to find little bits here and there. Tiny discoveries, you know. I was pretty tired after a day of searching, but I still had barely enough energy to keep exploring into the night. At that point, I decided to go to another, older area of the city.There were hundreds of quaint shops, the smell of fresh food, families walking to and fro... it was all very nice. I came to cross a little raised bridge, and I saw this woman standing there. She was dressed in vintage Chinese grab and holding a delicate umbrella. While talking with her friends, the light caught her umbrella just right, so I snapped a quick photo.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Birds in the Nest This is the famous “Bird’s Nest” building from the Olympics in Beijing. After the Olympics are over, these special buildings all seem a bit lonely. I know they still hold events in them from time to time, but that seems more like the exception than the rule. Also, this location is so far away from the center of the city that it is extremely inconvenient. Once you arrive to have a look, you are interested, but always thinking of getting back to the main part of the city… this gives it even more of a forlorn feeling… but maybe that is just me.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Chinese Mothership Look at this magical place in Beijing... it's on the edge of belief.I could hardly fathom the nature of this place. I expected the lights to appear on the grid with melodic tones a mystical, alien language, like in Close Encounters. But none of that happened... So I just stood there for a long time, thinking about how incredible this place was... and took my time, setting up my system for a fitting photograph.Remember when we were kids, and we never finished our food, even under the threat of starving children in China? Now, I say to my kids, you better eat your food, or else Chinese children will grow up and create an economic powerhouse. Well too late for that!This is the amazing National Centre for the Performing Arts, or as I like to say, the 国家大剧院 -- I find that rolls of the tongue a bit easier.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Birds in the Nest This is the famous “Bird’s Nest” building from the Olympics in Beijing. After the Olympics are over, these special buildings all seem a bit lonely. I know they still hold events in them from time to time, but that seems more like the exception than the rule. Also, this location is so far away from the center of the city that it is extremely inconvenient. Once you arrive to have a look, you are interested, but always thinking of getting back to the main part of the city… this gives it even more of a forlorn feeling… but maybe that is just me.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Comments
26
Aug 2014 : Tuesday
filed under  Beijing, Camera Gear, China, Nikon D800, Travel

Red Prayers

A Red Votive

I think it’s interesting how Asian cultures do the sort of thing you see below and Western cultures use votives. I think it’s also interesting how both are red. It seems to be a fairly convenient way for the masses to contribute and be part of the movement.

Daily Photo – Red Prayers

Many temples throughout China have these hanging just outside the main entrance. People that go visit buy them and write little thoughts or hopes or prayers on them and let them hang in the breeze outside.

Red Prayers

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-30 17:37:47
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/2000
  • Aperture
  • ISO160
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramShutter speed priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
23
Aug 2014 : Saturday
filed under  China, Guilin

Dining on the slow river

Back to Venice?

When I was on this boat, I was thinking of Venice a bit! I went there a long time ago, before I was into photography. Now I want to go back… maybe we should do a big workshop event there next year? That would be fun!

Daily Photo – Dining on the slow river

I took this photo behind our boat driver/captain/guy-with-long-stick. I actually don’t even know what you call these guys? Anyway, while walking around this little town in Guilin, Tom and I and our two guides found this amazing raft by a restaurant. It was a big square raft with a little roof. Everything was made of bamboo. There was a table in the middle, so we found the nearby building and asked if we could eat on the boat while someone pushed us around the river. And then it was done! 15 minutes later, I was having a delicious omelette while taking high bokeh photos of the driver/captain/guy-with-long-stick!

Dining on the slow river

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-06-03 14:45:33
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/2000
  • Aperture
  • ISO125
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramShutter speed priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
17
Aug 2014 : Sunday
filed under  Beijing, China, Sony A7R, Travel

Front Row Seat at The Buddha

Are you caught up on Game of Thrones?

I’m curious if you watch Game of Thrones. I now know a lot of people that aren’t even into fantasy fiction that are totally into that show! I’ve read the books and loved them… but also loving the show!

Daily Photo – Front Row Seat at The Buddha

This turned out to be one of the coolest areas of the Tanzhe Temple in near Beijing. This room is full of hundreds of little statues, each of which were purchased and a simulacrum of the once-living so they could be close to Buddha in the afterlife. Each one was bright and shiny and was clearly well-maintained. I took many angles of this room, and this one turned out to be my favorite. I took another from the ground level, but I felt like all the lines pointed in a better direction here.

Front Row Seat at The Buddha

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-30 17:54:24
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1.3
  • Aperture9
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length13.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
16
Aug 2014 : Saturday
filed under  China, Guilin, Li River

Way Above Guilin

Editing videos?

I find myself editing more and more videos… what is your favorite movie editing tool and why?

Daily Photo – Way Above Guilin

Doesn’t this look like the kind of city that would be full of casinos? When I got to the top of this strange karst mountain in Guilin, China, I saw the sprawling city below and all the crazy lights and it just struck me as a gamblin’ town. But it isn’t. The only place you can gamble in China is Macau, and that is very big on my list. It also looks amazing for photos.

But, anyway, as for this place, it is one of the main hikes in China. I wasn’t totally thrilled about hiking up here because it was super hot and muggy… AND I was in a huge hurry to get up here before the sunet. I barely made it, but I was a wet, hot, soppy mess while taking this photo. It’s honestly one of my least favorite feelings… I know that makes me sound like such a primadonna, but I do have a violent hate for being hot and supa-sweaty unless I am in some kind of a “workout” mode!

Way Above Guilin

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-06-03 00:39:00
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time5
  • Aperture4
  • ISO160
  • Focal Length59.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
15
Aug 2014 : Friday
filed under  Beijing, China, Sony A7R

What’s in Trey’s Bag?

What’s in my camera bag?

I have all the gear listed here: https://stuckincustoms.com/camera-equipment/ — and all my Camera Bag stuff there ! 🙂
– The Sony A7r review
– Leica Lens Buying Guide

What’s in my photo bag now (updated)?

Over the past year I’ve been doing something secret: designing the ultimate camera bag (and everything bag!) with Peak Design, and now you can find out all about it and get one here! Here’s a video where I’m showing stuff…

What are the LATEST bags? Here’s a video! See my Camera Bag page for more.

Daily Photo – Marching in Tiananmen Square

This was a really awesome and strangely clear day in Beijing! It’s the only photo of Tiananmen Square I’ve ever gotten with a clear sky. It’s usually kind of grey and depressing around here.

While I was taking this photo, a big group of Chinese tourists came up. They were from a very remote part of China and I think they were pretty excited to see a white person! They all got their photos taken with me… I was quite the freakshow! 🙂

Marching in Tiananmen Square

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-25 17:00:51
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/500
  • Aperture9
  • ISO125
  • Focal Length15.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.7

Comments
14
Aug 2014 : Thursday
filed under  Beijing, Camera Gear, China, DJI Phantom, Sony A7R

The Glow of Beijing

The Real Beijing From Above

I posted this video last month, but maybe you missed it… as opposed to the city model below, here is what it really looks like!

Daily Photo – The Glow of Beijing

I know… you are probably getting sick of seeing shots from this boringly-named “Beijing Planning Museum”, aren’t you? Haha well, I keep posting them because I’m fascinated by it… I don’t know why… I think I got a fresh spark because my most recent visit included a new idea to try some shallow DOF stuff at f/1.4. I think the way the buildings look in miniature at a wide-open aperture is so interesting. Anyway… don’t worry… there are even MORE coming in the future!

Don’t forget you can click on “China” up there in the category to see even more.

The Glow of Beijing

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-25 14:57:21
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/25
  • Aperture
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
12
Aug 2014 : Tuesday
filed under  Beijing, China, Sony A7R

Beijing at f/1.4

City Planning Museums

Is this simply a Chinese thing? The way they have these huge museums that are tributes to the city planning itself? It feels like a very “Chinese” top-down thing to do… to talk about how wonderful top-down design is and then build a museum around that idea.

Daily Photo – Beijing at f/1.4

I love taking photos in these Chinese city planning museums. It sounds so boring, I know… but they really are beyond wonderful. Maybe mostly guys like them because they are such cool models. I’ve taken photos of this from every angle, but I decided to get down low and take a prime photo at f/1.4 — I really dig the way it turned out!

Beijing at f/1.4

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-25 14:41:50
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/750
  • Aperture
  • ISO400
  • Focal Length
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments