Black and White 8

Hello Bangkok Call 17***

Panorama of the Sky Train at one of the stations. The title is taken from the billboard in the image left.

Black and White 7

It's that time of the year again...

 

 

 

And it starts earlier each year it seems. We saw the first Christmas decoration on 1st of November. This is crazy. And since I'm not in Christmas and shopping and celebrating etc., its even more annoying to me.

 

Pointer

 

 

 

So what do you do while going out for a walk in November? Yes, take your camera with you. And once in a while there is a sudden and unexpected motif. This is simply some platform of planks with a lantern on it. But the low sun made a perfect shadow and voila - here's your daily abstract :-)

Black and White part 6

 

Tuk Tuk



 

 

We used the TukTuk not that often while in Bangkok. My girglfriend told me that mostly tourists take a TukTuk. Thai themselves drive with a scooter or motorcycle. In fact it's true, if you pay attention you'll notice that there are many tourists in these vehicles. Thais prefer the more cheaper means of transport.

Taken in Bangkok in November 2013.

 

White Stairs

 

It's funny to title this image "White" stairs. But in the original color version the stairs and walls are of a bright white, indeed. Only the black and white version turned the contrasts upside down and the walls turned dark. Though, this darker variant has its own appeal and looks as good as the white image.

Taken in Greece in 2005.

Black and White part 5

Ye Old Scooter

 

 

This old scooter was in Bangkok's street, just as thousands other bikes, mopeds and motorcycles. It's one of the major transport means in this city. I guess they are used until they break and won't move again.

Taken in November, 2013.

 

 



Brother

 

 

That's my brother, Peter. I took this image at a BBQ we had in his garden in 2007. I often think that black and white doesn't do peoples face a favor, because the skin gets so dark and you can see every wrinkle. But on the other hand it fits him very well, the look is strong and the rich texture gives him an experienced and tough looking face.

Black and White part 4

Continuing the black and white series:

 

The Weird Skyscraper

  

 

 

Only in black and white this reflection looks good. The wobbling patterns makes a great contrast to the straight lines of the glass facade.

Taken in Bangkok, November 2013.

 

Up!

 



 

 

These stairs on a large tank gives a nice impression of "upwards". Reducing it with black and white to simply lines and spaces, it looks almost abstract.

Taken in Linz, October 2014.

 

Pomegranate etc.

Visiting a market in Thailand is a great experience. All kinds of odors, colors galore and food everywhere. Go there hungry and try out various things. You gonna alike it :-)

 

 

 

 

Thai Art

While my trip to Thailand in November 2013 I saw a lot of temples. All have been highly decorated and are quite beautiful. Here are some details of the colorful decorations.

 

 

 

 

 

November

I did a short walk today, just to get some sunlight and to buy some sweets for coffee ;-)

Of course I took my camera with me and I captured some images so typical of November. Simple but effective :-)

 

Tree Remains

 

 

Black and White part 3

Here some more... the first is even a new one I created right now :-)

 

Natural Abstract

 

 

This already looks great in color, but it is even more impressive in black and white. I just love the textures and shades of gray.

 

12

 

 

Passageway at the train station in Linz, Austria. While the original was much brighter, in black and white it looks better when darkened.

Black and White part 2

Here the next of my black and white Images I created for a Facebook challenge.

 

White Stairs

 

 

Actually this is an all white image, but after processing for black and white, some tones turned to dark gray. The contrast between the steps and the wall got even more dramatic. The result is completely different to the original but still looks great.

Image taken on Santorini Island, Greece in 2005.

 

 

At the Butcher's

 

 

An image you seldom see in Europe these days, fresh meat in the open. Reducing the brown and red colors got me lots of texture and contrast which fits the subject very well.

Image taken in Australia in 2007.

 

 

Mortars

This is one of the most essential tools in a Thai kitchen. Used to pound chilli, garlic and other spices for most of  the Thai recipes, you will learn very fast that a mortar is great. And the bigger the better. I once bought a mortar here in Europe which was way too small. Now I know of large, wooden mortars (like in the picture) and the ones made of stone (granite). Really heavy to lift but for pounding very stable. If you are about to cook a Thai or other asian dish, be sure to get your hands on a large, heavy mortar!

 

 

 

Image taken on a market in Thailand.

 

Decoration

This was a lovely detail I've seen on my trip through Thailand. The monks love to decorate their temples and Buddha statues. Often it is a Lotus or other beautiful and colored flower.

This was taken in Ayutthaya where you can find many famous ancient temples.

Green Art

This Image has been taken on my trip through Thailand in Novmeber 2013. I have seen lots of such decorations all across the country. Of course mainly Elephants, just because its such an important animal in Thailand.

 

 

Black and White

Via facebook I've been "challenged" by fellow photographers to upload 5 b/w images. Just to show new stuff and to compare with other's images.

So here you see the first two of some b/w images I've shown them.

Hopeyfully you like them :-)

Mishap

This is one of my earlier shots when I started to take photography more serious. I had the idea when I finished the bottle ;-) So be assured it's only water you see here. I would never spill that precious liquid.

Taken with a Canon EOS 300, Fujifilm Sensia 100, Scan from slide.

Arc

Even earlier (2004) is this picture, as you can guess it's been take in Venice, Italy. I noticed the nice arc given by the bridge and that angel-like figure. It looks good in color but I think b/w is even better.

Taken with a Canon EOS 300, Fujifilm Sensia 100, Scan from slide.

Here we go again...

Well, time to post some new images and such.
I've been away for a long time, life's been busy with non-photographic things.

Thanks for coming here and staying in touch.
Walter

Sun and peak

Time to show another image from last fall. As I've written in my last post, I made a wonderful hike on my first day in Tux. Up to the Frauenwand and then down back via the Weitental valley.

The image shows the Hornspitze, that peak (2650m) rises above the Weitental valley. I walked from the left and then down the valley back to Tux.

It was really a gorgeous day with lots of sun and a deep blue sky. As I walked this way I noticed that the sun would make a great counterpoint to the mounain peak. The panorama is a result of 3 images with almost no post processing. Only the lens flares are sometimes not the way I like it. It seems I got lenses that always produce too many colorful dots and circles when photographing the sun. If anybody has a hint how to avoid these, I really like to hear it :-)

I have some more panos and images from the week we've spent in Tyrol. All with a blue sky, a bright sun and great alpine scenery. I think I'll post more soon, it's fun to show what a great country Austria is.

Fall in the Alps

(Click image to see a larger version)

Recently we've been to the Tux valley, this is a side-valley to the Zillertal in Tyrol. We know this place very well and have been there for some years now. While Sylvia enjoys ski trainings for slalom etc. I prefer to hike and enjoy the scenery.

Currently we have a really sunny and bright fall. For weeks now we see mild temperatures and sun almost every day. So it was in Tux as we stayed there. This image is from the first day, I hiked up to the Frauenwand (2541m).

There wasn't that much snow, but still it was knee-deep in places and there was lots of ice and frozen brooks on the way. I didn't have my snowshoes with me, so walking was sometimes exhausting. Still I used my crampions because of the ice and they've been very useful.

The image has been taken on the highest point of that hike. It's a small "gate" between rocks you see on the right, you can also see my traces in the snow. It's a steep ridge, one step forward and you fall... The view goes straight to the Olperer peak where hundreds of skiers run on the slopes. After taking this panorama I followed the path on the ridge to the left and then descended down to the Tuxer Joch and the Weitental valley. I reached the village of Hintertux after 6 hours.

I made some more gorgeous images and panos during our stay, stay tuned to see more ;-)

Classical concerts on YouTube

Today I want to share some great videos with you. If you like to listen to classical music, then you'll find plenty of great recordings of live concerts on YouTube:

Exceptional:
Bruckner, Symphony 9, Blomstedt
Mahler, Symphony 2, Dudamel
Mahler, Symphony 6, Chicago SO, Haitink
Mahler, Symphony 7, Berliner Ph., Haitink
Mahler, Symphony 9, Lucerne, Abbado
Mozart Requiem, BBC Proms
Shostakovitch, Symphony 10, Dudamel
Shostakovitch, Symphony 13, Gergiev

Great:
Mahler, Symphony 1, LA Philharmonic, Dudamel
Mahler, Symphony 6, Gergiev
Shostakovitch, Symphony 4, Ashkenazy

Interesting:
Mahler, Symphony 4, Tokyo Ph, Myung-Wung Chung
Mahler, Symphony 9, Norrington at BBC Proms
Shostakovitch, Symphony 15

You will find lots more of concerts at this channel.

I hope you like some of these videos :-)

Fall at the lake

Another colorful fall image, taken at Lake Langbathsee. It's always great fun to take pictures in fall, colorful leaves glowing in the sun, calm weather, clear air.

Although the colored leaves look gorgeous, I think it is difficult to take a good fall photograph. I always try to think about a good composition, so the color is not the only feature, Here I managed to get the leaves, the tree and the lake in one shot. Additionally there are the mountains in the background and the shoreline leading to the rocks which give depth to the image.

I hope you like it :-)

Fall Light

Last sunday we enjoyed the sunny weather to drive to Lakes Langbathseen, two small lakes near Ebensee, Austria. It was rather chilly but the bright sun lit the landscape perfectly. The fall colors in the trees and the glowing reed made for a perfect photograph.

Again I was impressed with my new Canon EF 70-200 1:4 L. It is a perfect lens, this image was taken at 200mm handheld and still its sharp and clear.

This day we've not been alone, of course. Dozens of people had the very same idea and sometimes we walked in single file. But it was a pleasure, nonetheless. It was also fun to see a lot of other photographers pointing their cameras at the gorgeous scenery. I really love the fall season, its light and colors are so rewarding.

So if you have any chance, get out and enjoy nature's beauty these days :-)