A photo a week

'Ducks'
some eating place, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

Just love how the picture ended up like this, since I can never do the same for a real group of ducks.

A photo a week: scenes from the Saigon river

'Whizzing by the river'
by the Saigon River, Saigon, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

I just love to capture the hustle and bustle of a city, and no different with this scene captured on the road along the Saigon river. It was early Saturday morning, but the city was already buzzing with traffic.

A photo a week

'Worn-out path'
Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

Have always been amazed at those photos that aptly describes the quote on how any journey always starts with a single step. Had that moment of epiphany too when I captured this at a low angle using my Point-and-shoot with the articulated screen. I thought having some frame of proportion reference would be nice, hence the figure in the distant.

A photo a week: scenes from the Saigon river

'Serpent of the river'
Saigon River, Saigon, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

Happen to chance upon this riverboat that has been converted into a dining place of sorts. I just love the river serpent motif at its front. Nice touch to a probably good river-dining experience at 'touristy' prices.

PanoraMania...

'Lake (Side)'
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

One of the places that I was brought to during my recent learning trip to Vietnam was at this new and upcoming district that presumably is a more affluent one. And out of the concrete jungles that defines this new district, it was a relieve to see a small lake to break the greyish monotony. Although man-made, nonetheless it does give me the impression that they do consider having a green environment as a necessary pre-requisite for urban development.

A photo a week

'Ants on a Leaf'
Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

An almost macro shot of a group of ants on a leaf, taken during my recent learning trip to the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve. What always amazes me about these social creatures is the kind of chaotic existence that they (seemingly) are living in, but upon closer examination, one would notice the beauty and orderliness in these chaos. Much like how the traffic conditions are in the country that this photo was taken from. Perhaps sometimes a little of disorderliness is crucial and necessary for one to remain sane and human...lest we become like some robots of orderliness!

A photo a week: scenes from the Saigon river

'Bridge over waters'
Saigon River, Saigon, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

One of the small bridges connecting the shores to the jetties and boats moored along the river, it is still a thrive of activity, albeit of higher levels of trades, much like how they have transformed the river-side businesses alongside Clarke and Boat Quays along the Singapore river.

PanoraMania...

'Panorama from the Lavender'
Dining Room, Lavender Hotel,
Saigon, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography

I've always loved to take a panorama view of any scenery using the stitching method. Was just having a good breakfast when blessed with an opportunity to capture one right at the top of the hotel where I was staying. Here's a view around the hotel, with the (in)famous Ben Thanh market on the bottom left.

Scenes from Singapore

'WheelSeats'
Clarke Quay, Singapore
© 2008, ID Photography

During my initial forays into creative photography, one of the things that was taught was the idea of using your creative eye to see the potential even in the simplest of things. Simple things like capturing your shots low or high, or capturing repetitively patterned objects at various depths of field, and even 'overdosing' on certain aspects such as lighting and such...these are presumably some fundamentals that one could work on to capture simple forms and objects, in a more creative manner.

I captured this shot whilst doing my practicals of my first digital photography course way back in 2008. I was using an Olympus E-510 then, and it was indeed a very good beginner's camera. I was somewhat impressed and intrigued by the idea of having a hospital-themed restaurant. The picture above was captured just outside the restaurant. FYI, the wheelchairs were used as seats for the restaurant's version of alfresco dining.

A photo a week: scenes from the Saigon river

One of the things that I always like to see when visiting a new place is to see how she grows. One of the best places to observe this is usually along the river or waterways, since historically, Man has always started out on his geographical conquest from a water source or body. Similarly on a learning trip with my 20 charges to Saigon, Vietnam, one thing that intrigues me is to see and observe how she has progressed and grown over the years. The other thing that I would love to capture are the activities and the character of the river, of whether it is truly a reflection of the city centre, or simply belied her true inner spirits.

'River cleaner'
Saigon River, Saigon, Vietnam
© 2011, ID Photography