Obstructing Central

(Sony A55)

When a movement fails to be what it is supposed to do and obviously cannot achieve anything for a long period of time since its start, it should come to an end, be remade or restarted. The Occupying Central is one of such movements and has been reduced to, IMHO, nothing but obstructing central.

Pink Is Cool

(Ricoh GX200)

Friday is cooler. Well, next week will be even cooler.

A Nice Chat

(Ricoh GX200)

A recent conversation with a chatty medical laboratory scientist who is an experienced photographer may confirm the author's opinion that Hong Kong, or any city with a comparably easily accessible countryside, is a great place for photography.  An animal in the scene, said the scientist friend moving back from the States, will give a better picture. He will have problem with that in Hong Kong for the chance to see an animal in the countryside, except for some stray cows, is not a lot above zero. But then if he means a subject to make the scene lively, he will surely come across a person of two even in the remotest village of this city.

Hong Kong has some beautiful country parks, which are large pieces of areas excluded from development, while the busiest streets are either full of activities or in the old areas unruly scenes. All present great chances for photographers.

As for the author, Hong Kong is best for doing street scenes, the most readily available genre for any photographer to do on a daily basis. Street shots open to the viewers a window to peek into other people's lives, of which the most revealing are shots of the common folks. Human activities have a charming, always intriguing and down-to-earth quality. On the last element, the author has often noticed what George Eliot has put with lucidity in Adam Bede, her works about common folks:

I have seen many and excellent matron, who could have never in her best days have been handsome, and yet she had a packet of yellow love-letters in a private drawer, and sweet children showered kisses on her sallow cheeks. And I believe there have been plenty of young heroes, of middle stature and feeble beards, who have felt quite sure they could never love anything more insignificant than a Diana, and yet have found themselves in middle life happily settled with a wife who waddles.

American Captain

(Ricoh GX200)

First, it was Panasonic.  Then Sony. Now Olympus is also faced with revenue losses because of, worse still, an investment scandal.  Some people in the know bravely prophesise that Japan and the Japanese companies will probably never return from the road of decline. The reason is that Japan is ruled by some old people who are too entrenched in interests overlapping one another's sphere to bring about any meaning change. The grey-hair management of the Japanese companies, the author was told, is still indulging in the lost glory and the once inventive ideas of the old days. On the other hand, the younger generations are too compliant to follow the Americans’ way of ousting cobblers, especially those at the company's helm.

In comparison, the Americans are more adaptable and will not hesitate to change course as the situation dictates. By Americans, it was pointed out that they refer to not the "white" Americans but those of Indian, Israeli and Chinese origins. They are the cream of the society, excelling in areas from finance, software to bomb technology.

When the American Captain takes off the mask, can the face behind be an oriental one?

Crossing the River

(Ricoh GX200)

Probably because the lunar calendar corresponds more accurately to the weather, it seldom disappoints in its forecast of a weather change. The forecasts are given in the, put in Cantonese,  "yisap say"(24) "hey zit" (solar terms). According to the lunar calendar, today reaches solar term "winter commences", or "dong zi" in Cantonese. While it was as hot as 28 degree centigrade yesterday, the temperature dropped to 23 this morning (the winter temperature in Hong Kong ranges from below 10 to around 20). The non-stop patches of rains throughout the day just make it feel cooler than 23.

The Hong Kong Observatory (former Royal Observatory, heaven knows why everything was prefixed with Royal back then) has a neat English explanation on the yisap say hey zit.

Lovebirds

(Ricoh GX200)

The hottest movie in town is a Taiwanese production titled, "She is the Apple of My Eye".  To bring it relevant to our discussion, it is worth noting that the colours of the film are so very Taiwan. Why? How is that done?

Colour, like aura, is one of the strongest leads to cue attention to certain feelings. Lots can be read about this in photography books. As a scene with radiant red and orange and white can remind one of anything Hispanic, the colours in the Taiwanese movie effectively summon the taste of Taiwan -- no matter how little knowledge of the place you may get from the TV or reading material only.

If one is observant enough, one will notice what can be called the overwhelming Taiwanese teal in the movie. Check out the sound track video and you will see the predominance of teal and muted colours -- which the author thinks what gives out the taste of Taiwan:

 

Give Me a Break

(Ricoh GX200)

Give me a break, don't shoot.

This is Sunday.  Take a break.