Moto GP
MOTO GP
Suzuki rider Chris, leans heavy into one of the sweeping turns at Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian leg of the Moto GP.
Chinese Opera (Series 2) – Masquarade
This Chinese Opera Troupe is from my journeys in Penang, Malaysia and I have had a load of pictures from my works with Insight Guides and traveling in Penang was really interesting and fun. You would meet loads of people who were just in awe of photos being taken. Perhaps it was just the friendly nature of the Penang people or in their local dialect, “Penang – Lang”. This I really do not know, but it was pleasant all the same. What I do know is that the Hawker food is really good! All this, despite horror tales from my friends detailing the very nature of how the food is prepared ……
A very distinctive makeover
What's The Latest Gossip?
Pure Concentration, very illuminating
A shy performer ... strange ....
Wanting to pick a fight....
She smiles at my jibes
Mirrored image of The Sleepy One
Getting Ready! All's a glitter!
The King of the Troupe
It’s terribly sad to know that many people these days do not really appreciate Chinese Opera, and it’s now a dying trade, soon to be forgotten … well, I hope my photos can help immortalize some of this dying culture!
For my earlier series on Journeys In Penang – Chinese Opera Troupe (Series 1) please click here.
Posters, Larger then Life …. a quick take
Shopping Malls. Everyone loves shopping malls these days. Over here, they would prefer to call it shopping centers or departmental stores. In recent years, there has been a boom of hypermarkets and big shopping malls all over Asia, and they call this trend ‘mall-ing’. Sometimes I wonder if it can be related to being mauled by progress. Asia so rich with vibrancy and color, at times its sad to see that with globalization, we are all truly becoming one, as they say, the world is getting smaller.
A couple passing by another couple
Red Temptations - a look at a lighted billboard
A Woman looks on .... To Buy or Not To Buy
Pardon Me? What was that?
Behold! The Prophecy ....
Pretty Red Lights, All in a row....
Jumping High, Reaching for the Stars
I normally bring my trusted camera where ever I go, and these shots were taken on my Nikon D1x and Nikon D2x. A little dated, but I thought this would make some nice imagery for all ……..
Far Far Away
I have been in Asia for such a long time, that I have become accustomed to the cultures, sights and sounds to a certain degree. Well, I’m going back to the states for a well deserved holiday, my actual home, and was rummaging through my files in my Malaysian home when I chanced upon these old pictures. It sure does bring back some fond memories of Americana and I think would be a welcome change for my Asian Friends.
Montana Cowgirl meets Graffiti
Braving the Railroads
At the corner
A casual stroll on Rails
Pleasantly Surprised
Saving Grace
This series was actually one of my final photography projects in America, and Montana is the 4th largest state. I wanted to capture the Western feel of Montana and had some of my fellow mates come along as the models. In actual fact, you can see the color and hue’s are very different from Asian colors, not because of the camera, but namely because of geographic location, which actually effects the natural lighting conditions. If you find that hard to believe, I was using the Nikon D2H …. what camera was that? An old (new that time) Nikon Professional Series of mega pixels unheard of, these days. These photos are about 7 years old but I was pleased to find them “well preserved”. Hope this will give a better insight to my Asian friends!
Journeys In Penang – Chinese Opera (Series 1)
Little do people know that I have worked for Insight Guides and have been traveling in the region to capture places of interest, people and local culture. Well, it just so happened that I was traveling during the “Hungry Ghost Month”. To the local Chinese, a Month where they believe that the demons from Hell are set loose for a month to wreck havoc on this earthly plain. The locals believe that in order to minimize this effect, they have to fete the demons and the King of Hades with food and entertainment. What I find particularly interesting is that in Penang, they actually hold Chinese Operas in their wet markets, on makeshift stages and stilts, with loads of glorious street food (known locally as Hawker Stalls). And there I was, aghast at the vibrant colors, vivid smells of burning incense, food to the rhythm of Chinese cymbals, drums, strings and taking it all in. Here are some of my candid shots;
Food for The King of Hades, Demons and Humans
What you looking at?
The Musicians - A Blend of East & West
Through the looking glass - can you spot Alice?
Alice admiring herself
And the audience waits in anticipation
The most curious thing is that I managed to speak to this troupe, and they had come from Johor, some 800 kilometers down south, just to perform in Penang. They were indeed a very nice bunch, but when I dug further, they told me that this is a dying trade in Malaysia, with the newer generation prefering your TV and prime time Soaps, or even your shopping malls. Furthermore, much of the local opera troupes are vanishing, being replaced with cheaper troupes from China, and which, this troupe proclaimed, are less authentic in term of make up, songs, acting, etc.
