[ microcosm ] - APAD 2010 - "Let me show you the world through my eyes"


30 Jan 2010

783716076_9r3qZ-L.jpg


...

Every of these street vendors braved the winter cold to be selling their stuff in time for the Chinese New Year
(they call it Spring Festival here in China). The weather is a water freezing -3 degrees, and really not
comfortable to be outdoors. These street vendors are usually taking refuge in small heated boxes
at the back of the stalls until some customers stroll in and buy something, that is when they emerge to
serve the customer. I took this shot and bought something from her later.


 

Last edited:
31 Jan 2010

783716124_o9GAq-L.jpg


"end of the month, keep things sweet"
 

1 Feb 2010

783716170_TCwkg-XL.jpg


"see what?"

The butchers are not enjoying good business as it is especially cold outdoors as the Siberian northern wind
hits the city and people are preferring to stay indoors. This explains why this butcher is looking so down as
customers are few and the competitors are off loading their goods at a discounted price to avoid incurring
bigger losses. Only crazy folks like me will venture out with a camera... just to capture these images.


 

Last edited:
2 Feb 2010

783716212_rmmsi-L.jpg


"smacking the meat"

This butcher is obviously happy that a customer is buying meat as business is bleak today as the cold
front persists in the city. She is smacking the meat to show that the meat is very fresh (whatever that does).

 

Last edited:
3 Feb 2010

784247457_KMCVk-XL.jpg


Toyhouses
 

4 Feb 2010

784247507_mmgAo-XL.jpg


Traffixes
 

For the last two pix.. is that tilt-shift? :)
 

Based off Diorama Art Filters on the E-P2.
But more post processing was done to the original image.
 

5 Feb 2010

784583512_HikeL-L.jpg


"Got Egg?"
Fresh farm eggs. Nothing like what I have eaten back in
Singapore. These are freshly picked and sold at farms.
Very nice. I can almost imagine having a cup of Ah Koon
kopi to go with this... and kaya toast, of course.
 

Last edited:
6 Feb 2010

784583564_HqxkA-L.jpg



 

7 Feb

784583617_dnq6y-L.jpg


Traffixation
Traffic virtually comes to a standstill in most cities in China
during the Chinese New Year period as everyone rushes to
send gifts to friends and business associates in time for the
Spring Festival celebrations. In the city, the traffic flow
increases dramatically, adding lousy drivers on the road, the
traffic literally comes to a standstill and many a time, the
traffic cops have to be activated to direct traffic manually,
even when it is freezing cold out there. This is the life in the
Chinese cities. Happy Spring Festival... (see above for the traffic
at the same road/same time, shot a week before).
 

Last edited:
8 Feb 2010

784583650_srga8-L.jpg


Konk Hee What Chai?
 

9 Feb 2010

788578252_e8uFK-XL.jpg


"Proof of Life"


 

Last edited:
10th Feb 2010

788578232_DFFxb-XL.jpg


I am not a big fan of shooting wildlife, because the tracking of the animals are
pretty much the key to getting the shots and I did not have that kind of patience.
But I saw this magpie flying back and forth in the -10 degree cold and I was curious,
so I followed. What I finally notice was one that made my heart warm... not only I
realise that the momma magpie was building a nest in the middle of winter, to get
ready for the eggs in spring, but if you notice in the picture, she broke her beak in
the process... (picking up twigs from frozen ground, most likely). But that did not stop
her from getting the task done. Think about our own mothers... regardless of her own
health, regardless of how tired she may be, she is always taking care of the family.
Her body may be aching, she might be needing sleep, she might be hungry, but that
never stopped her from filling our needs first. To all mothers in the world... thank you.
This shot if for you. Not the best of nature shots, but one that reminded me, how great
the motherly love is. Thank you mom.

 

Last edited:
11 Feb 2010

788577551_Fkm2Q-L.jpg


What you see here is not the sea, but a salt producing farm.
In this winter cold, the water have all been frozen, thus stopping
any work from getting done. Farmers' income are greatly affected
by the cold weather. The winter here, has been the coldest in 60 years.

 

Last edited:
12 Feb 2010

788577434_BtrYH-XL.jpg


 

13 Feb 2010

788577376_cTTdT-XL.jpg


Reunion Dinner
Regardless of the cold, these sparrows gather together in
their favourite tree, reminding me of families coming together
every year for the traditional reunion dinner. 团圆饭.
 

Last edited: