shots worth sharing Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 <p>with 85+ G of photos (4,500+ files). Fortunately, most of them are crap or redundant but finding and processing the keepers will keep me busy for quite a while. How this will play out in terms of the numbers of usable photographs is unclear but, from what little I've seen so far, I'm optimistic.</p> <p>I took a K-5 and a K20D as back-up, the Tamron 18-250mm, DA 15, Sig 24, FA 31, A 50 (macro), A* 135. and the Sigma 100-300mm (along with the A 2x & AF 1.7x TCs) for special occasions Accessories included a light Gitzo monopod, cleaning gear, CP filters, laptop and batteries, chargers and lots of SDHC cards. It <em>was</em> a lot to carry but worth it from my POV. </p> <p>I'd intended the Tamron 18-250mm as my "jump off the bus and shoot" mainstay but Clara commandeered it and the K20D for much of the trip so I ended up shooting mostly with the primes. I was constantly changing lenses and that was challenging at times (and I did miss some shots on that account) but I managed it with zero fumbles. </p> <p>Mysteriously, I was in great demand as a photographic<em> subject </em>(!) I don't think a day went by when I wasn't asked at least once to pose for p&s photos with some Chinese teenagers. I suspect perhaps, on the basis of my long hair and generally disheveled appearance (as expected, we experienced very hot, humid weather), they mistook me for some burnt-out rock star. Clara suggested that I go into the "Have your picture taken with the weird-looking westerner" business. </p> <p>Some early returns:<br> Door God (A* 135mm)<br> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-TSm6GPW/0/XL/i-TSm6GPW-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p> Grandmother & Infant on the train (Tamron 18-250mm)<br> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-h86PLnP/0/L/i-h86PLnP-L.jpg" alt="" /><br> Hong Kong Sunset (DA 15mm ltd)<br> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-wqcPmT2/0/L/i-wqcPmT2-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="457" /></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorus Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 <p>you're gonna make me cry, I know....</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemked Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 <p>Personally I want to see some photos of the "Have your picture taken with the weird-looking westerner"</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snik75 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 <p>"Personally I want to see some photos of the "Have your picture taken with the weird-looking westerner""</p> <p>My thoughts exactly!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mggm59 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 <p>I had the same, and it was because of the beard I wear, Chinese very rarely have a nice full beard and it is a sort of auspice of good luck</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htarragon Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 <p>Is Clara going to help sorting? Might be interesting and maybe faster or maybe not :-). Good stuff, so far.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_elenko Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Dave, The news of your photographic award-winning exploits had preceded you. By the time you made it to China, you were a marked man indeed. But we knew you first! Nice second shot. I look forward to seeing your gallery. I'm also impressed you shlepped all that gear. Well worth it I'm sure. ME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I second all the above motions regarding your moonlighting activities as a model.. Love your second shot..the other two are not to be sniffed at either. THow many sherpas did you have carrying all that glass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markus maurer Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 <p>Welcome back Dave, the forum needs you and some fresh views :-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shots worth sharing Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 <p>Thanks for the welcome backs, guys. I've been stalling in responding so I could post one of Clara's shots of me being photographed but but that's been delayed (connecting to the internet can also be a challenge here in Baltimore occasionally.) Stay tuned.</p> <p>The schlepping really wasn't a problem: I got a proper Lowepro shoulder bag for the trip and it and a change of clothes and a poncho (all useful padding) fit into my eBag carry-on for flights. The big Sigma was buried in my check-through (also eBag--great stuff, btw) and carried with a BlackRapid strap when used (primarily on the boat trip in Guilin.) We did do a<em> lot </em>of walking (but generally at a pretty easy pace.) and it <em>was</em> hot & humid but hey, I'm from Baltimore: I sweat very well and wear supplex. For the record, Clara only carried gear when using it.<br> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-bHtwmns/0/L/i-bHtwmns-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /><br> The thing is, while this was a return (triumphal, I'd say) to her country of origin for Clara, and a chance to visit relatives in Guangzhou for my wife, it was a once-in-a-lifetime photographic expedition with proper gear for me so it just made sense to take my very best. It was fast-paced, though: no time for deliberate set-up, to wait for the right light (or, sometimes, even adjust settings)--a "shoot everything all the time with the best you've got" sort of foray.</p> <p>I might mention that lens-changing was made a bit more interesting by the fact that after losing the lens release button on my other K-5 the week before we left (yes I have two and that really paid off under the circumstances), I took the precaution of rigging a tape-over on the one I took with me. It looked a bit goofy but really didn't get in the way and I would have gone berserk if I'd lost that button mid-trip.<br /> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-r2x5vRv/0/M/i-r2x5vRv-M.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Except for a little cosmetic damage, the gear held up very well--except that the focusing on the FA 77mm did punk out just when I needed it most at the family reunion repast. I'm hopeful Eric can put it right.</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shots worth sharing Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 <p>In response to popular demand: <br> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-SmsNtcN/0/L/i-SmsNtcN-L.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Looking at this, I guess it's understandable why it seemed an irresistible photo op (and, if you suspect I'm trying to figure out how to lose the guy, you might be right--except that it was Clara who took the photo ;~) </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
personalphotos Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 <p>Nice shots Dave and like the others,I look forward to seeing the gallery once posted. Love the second shot and the portrait above. You'll have to add some stories to the photos when time permits.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserere_mei Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 <p>Great portrait of Clara, Dave; maybe the best you've posted so far.</p> <p>Looking forward to more pics. As for your success as a photo accessory, you should learn from the superheroes at the Chinese theater in LA and remind those people that you accept tips. You could've probably got a free flight out of it :-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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