Smile for the camera

by | Mar 11, 2016 | Birds, Hong Kong, Wildlife

Alexandrine parakeet 1

This Alexandrine parakeet was definitely showing his best side to a happy snapper in Hong Kong Park’s excellent aviary.

Canon G3X ISO1000 1/160 at f/7.1 220mm (600mm equiv)

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Kamala Sunset

by | Mar 10, 2016 | Phuket, Places

kamala sunset 2

Looking west onto the Andaman Sea, the sunset view from Kamala beach is often dramatic, especially when there’s some cloud. The constantly changing hues of reds, oranges, creams, blues and yellows are always a delight, and when there’s the added interest of a lone fisherman, it’s even more magical.

Canon G3X ISO400 1/400 at f/5.6 and 220mm (600mm equiv)

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Partial Solar Eclipse

by | Mar 9, 2016 | Phuket

eclipse

This morning’s  solar eclipse (9 March 2016) was only partial here in Phuket and I was on Kamala beach without the camera for most of it, torturing my eyes as I tried to view it through sunglasses held at arm’s length. By the time I got home, it was almost over, but I did manage this shot of the final moments through the trees at the rear of our apartment, an 8x neutral density filter hand-held over the front of the lens.

Canon G3X on manual. ISO 125 1/1000 at f/11 + 8x ND filter.

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Where did I leave my bike?

by | Mar 7, 2016 | Hong Kong, Places

where did I put my bike?

The village of Mui Wo on the south side of Lantau Island is only a short hop from HK’s international airport and a 30-minute ferry ride to the bustle of Central on HK Island. However, it’s such a contrast from the rest of HK that it’s hard to believe you’re in the same place. One of the reasons for this is that vehicular traffic on Lantau South is restricted to residents only, and in the villages behind Mui Wo, vehicular access is even more restricted. The upshot is that everyone uses bicycles, with flocks of them descending on the ferry pier in the morning rush and leaving it on the commuters’ return in the evening. At any given time, there are several thousand bikes chained up at the pier and around the village. As we found, it’s one thing to dash to the ferry, grab a cup of coffee and head for Central; it’s another to remember where you left the bike on your return several hours later.

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Spider

by | Mar 7, 2016 | Insects & Spiders, Phuket, Wildlife

Zen spider-2

Two of these fellows have taken up residence in webs they’ve strung across the bamboo outside the door to our apartment. They are around three inches toe to toe. Check out the mask-like structure at the junction of all the legs.

Canon G3X ISO 1000 1/100 at f/5.6 at 220mm (600mm 35mm equiv)

 

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Black & White/Sepia Reflections

by | Mar 5, 2016 | Hong Kong, Places

B&W and Sepia refections

Many of the thousand of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong are glass clad, giving myriad reflections of other buildings and nearby scenery, the colours varying with the tint of the glass. This building was in Central District.

Canon G3X ISO 400 1/100 at f/7.1

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Dollarbird (Eurostomus orientalis)

by | Mar 4, 2016 | Birds, Phuket, Wildlife

dollarbird4

This dollarbird (Eurostomus orientalis) was perched on a dead tree – a favourite spot for them – near our apartment in Kamala, Phuket. A type of roller, this species is so-called because of the shape of the white wing patches seen in flight.

Canon G3X. Left shot ISO500 1/2000 at f/9; right shot ISO125 1/1250 at f/5.6. Both shots cropped and tweaked in LR

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