A very weekend! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Osaka 大阪《漫步大阪富田林市寺内町 回到江户时代》is published in today's LianheZaobao 联合早报缤纷版 dated 17 November 2018! 感谢、感恩! Thrilled to see it being featured nationwide in print! Special thanks to Lianhe Zaobao, you have made my day! :) 

This is my last series of street photography in Hong Kong using a Fisheye lens. Fisheye lenses are often considered a ‘no-no’ among professional landscape and cityscape photographers. People see them as not much more than a gimmick. I often hear complaints about fisheye lenses because of ‘that ugly distortion’. I am a one camera one lens person and have strongly benefited from this approach, as it makes me pay more attention to what's happening on the street rather than worrying about which camera or lens combination would work best for a particular type of scene.  

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about fisheye lenses myself. However, after using the fisheye for a while I slowly began to love it. There are just so much possibilities with fisheye lenses. And most important of all, they are super fun to use. Just think of crazy vertigos from rooftops or images in which distorted lines actually give meaning to an image. My fisheye lens has  become a tool for so many interesting shots, and it’s now one of my favourite lenses.

鱼眼镜头通常被认为是一种 “非专业” 的镜头，无论是专业风景摄影师或者城市摄影师用得都不多，因为鱼眼镜头具有非常夸张的透视畸变效果，所以在很多人眼里鱼眼镜头也就是个噱头罢了，出不了专业的作品。但是凡事从无到有总有个过程。我一开始也不太喜欢鱼眼镜头，总觉得像一个玩具， 但喝了鱼眼这口毒奶之后发现真是欲罢不能。简单来说鱼眼照片之所以让我感到有趣，是因为拍摄出来的画面跟我肉眼所见差别很大：直线可以变弯曲，透视畸变在这里可以夸张无比。如果拍摄的照片是以线条为主，那么甚至可以实现各种平时非肉眼常见的景色。

鱼眼镜头，我说这镜头魅力无穷，关键是很适合香港紧凑到逼戾的街道。香港一直是我心目中魔幻城市第一名​。典型的香港街头场景，信息爆炸，寸土寸金，鱼眼的夸张视角，对这种感受无疑有很大的强化作用。我这次就利用鱼眼相机拍摄香港多个地方的照片，用另一角度欣赏城市之美。

If you ever happen to be in the distinctly working class area of Ma Tau Kok deep in the entrails of eastern Kowloon Hong Kong, you might come across a set of western-style red brick buildings that contrast neatly with the surrounding residential apartments. This is the Cattle Depot Artist Village, a former government slaughterhouse now converted to artist studios and exhibition spaces.

​​For nearly a century the Depot was used as an animal quarantine area and abattoir centre. It was finally closed down in 1999 after concerns from neighbouring residents regarding the hygiene of a slaughterhouse in a densely populated urban area. Today the cattle quarantine has been moved north to Sheung Shui, near the Mainland border, while the old Cattle Depot renovated and designated a historical monument. The complex now houses the studios and offices of about 15 independent artists and artist groups. Creativity flows freely within the spacious structures of the village, a rarity in land-scarce Hong Kong.

当这座城市的高大、繁华、忙碌垄断了我的印象，我也许该去街头巷尾寻访另一个香港，在那里触摸消费主义笼罩下这座城市跳动的脉搏。打开二十世纪初的香港地图，我发现坐落在九龙土瓜湾马头角道63号的是一座牲畜检疫站。一个世纪后，棚屋下不再是牛羊，而是一群土瓜湾的本土艺术工作者。而这个曾经的牲畜检疫站有了新名字: 牛棚艺术村。

红砖矮墙、砖砌高烟囱、宽阔悬挑的屋檐、拱形门窗，处处流露出维多利亚时期农场建筑物的风格。自1999年屠宰场迁往上水后，旧址就分拆出租给艺术工作者使用。曾经一段时间，文化名人在这里开设 “牛棚书院”，定期邀请知名文化人办讲座开课，获邀的人士团体方可入内。

A very happy Thursday! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Taiwan Mt Hehuan (a.k.a. Joy Mountain) 《合欢山感受最壮丽的台湾》is featured in Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 旅游特辑 dated 25 October 2018 special travel edition! Thrilled to see it being featured nationwide in print! Special thanks to Lianhe Zaobao, you have made my day! :) Thank U so much 感谢、感恩 。

Just like you, I have got a love-hate relationship when it comes to themed cafes.

Not all are made equally; some are photogenic at every turn but fail to deliver when it comes to satisfying the belly. Whereas others, leave us effortlessly thrilled, whether it’s the decor or the food.

Having eaten my way through most of them, I can safely vouch that this place in my hometown Singapore is worth the visit.

While real life has plenty of perks, we all deserve a fairytale-like escape from time to time. After all, there’s nothing better than revisiting that familiar sense of childlike imagination and whimsy. When you’re ready to step into a real-time storybook, look no further than this Alice In Wonderland-themed eatery right here in Singapore. This wonderland-themed cafe has a whimsical character, with its black and white tiled floors, garden chairs, and an impressive mural interpretation of Alice in Wonderland. 

Wonderland Savour has delighted visitors of all ages with its whimsical decor with great accompanying music from next door shop, friendly service and fantastic menu. No matter who you are, you’ll be enamored. It’s also a great place for some good Instagram snaps.

A very happy Thursday! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Prague, Czech Republic 捷克布拉格 is featured in Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 旅游特辑 dated 13 September 2018 special travel edition《古美浪漫布拉格》! Thrilled to see it being featured nationwide in print! Special thanks to Lianhe Zaobao, you have made my day! :) Thank U so much 感谢、感恩 。

My photo taken @ Yoyogi Park in Tokyo  东京浪漫之秋在代代木公园 during a worktrip last December is featured in today’s Lianhe Wanbao 联合晚报 捕捉意境之美 ! Thank U so much 感谢、感恩。

The Hong Kong Island line was extended to the East at the end of 2014, with Sai Ying Pun station being the final one to be opened in March 2015. I have travelled there a few times and it is a very interesting MTR station.Not only do you have to take an escalator to reach the middle level, but you actually have to take a lift up to the street level. That’s how far down the station is.
 
There is a wonderful artwork depicting the neighbourhood – it is a painted bas relief created by Ms Louise Soloway Chan. Chan, originally from Britain who has lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years. Her artwork, 3D bass relief panels in Sai Ying Pun Station, bring together the past and present of a neighborhood where a congested, traditional wet market shares a wall with trendy Western-style cafeteria, both overflowing with the intense minutiae of daily life. The artwork shows different sights from Sai Ying Pun, for instance the escalator that has been built up to the High Street...the people shopping at the wet markets and little shops of the area...the day and day activities happening on the street of Sai Ying Pun....

西营盘铁路车站，是港岛线西延段最后一个通车的车站，以紫色做车站的主调颜色。西营盘站最大的卖点是富有当区特色的艺术品，是整个港铁网络中 “艺术气息最浓厚” 的车站。

来自英国的着名浮雕艺术家LouiseSolowayChan的3D浮雕作品，以西营盘社区街景做主题，细心观赏，街上的招牌、地盘布置、街市景象、石墙大树、人物表情都很神似，栩栩如生，实景感觉十分强烈。艺术品以西环生活面貌为主题，港铁希望乘客可于欣赏艺术品时，感受西营盘的历史文化。

Take a stroll in the streets of Hong Kong and we can find history left many its footprints: from historical sites to old buildings in all sorts of styles reflecting the old times, as if each has a story to tell. The legacy of these sites are well kept through “Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme” imposed by Hong Kong Government to enhance the awareness about the importance of historic heritages through conserving and redeveloping historic buildings into good use.

Located on a hillside at Lai Chi Kok, Jao Tsung-I Academy was formerly a hospital compound. The site was used as a seaside customs station at the end of the 19th century. In the many years followed, the site has been served as a quarantine station, a prison, an infectious disease hospital and a psychiatric rehabitation center before it was closed in 2004 and left vacant until Professor Jao Tsung-I, a world-renowned scholar on sinology, selected the site for revitalization. Today the Academy serves as a cultural hub to facilitate cultural exchanges and contribute to the society in need. 

我自问未算是个文青，但每当放假想沾一身文化气息时，我总会向身边的文青朋友打探好去处，结果走了大大小小的展览、市集、咖啡室。。。走马看花过后，悟出一个真正具文化深度的地方需要环境人事兼备，单单在昏黄的灯光底下饮杯咖啡只能谈得上悠闲，称不上有文化。今次我又经朋友介绍香港文化游去处，到位于荔枝角的饶宗颐文化馆攒了大半天；喝杯茶、看本书、睇展览，就在鸟语花香中当半天文人。我经常很羡慕外地有很多古蹟，因为很喜欢那种历史沉淀的感觉。

其实香港也有充满历史感的地方，这里是饶宗颐文化馆。我早闻国学大师饶宗颐的大名，而文化馆以大师命名实有文化承传之意。一代国学大师饶宗颐教授在今2018年二月六日辞世，享年101岁。饶宗颐不但系国学大师、东方学家、艺术家，对书法、书画、诗词、古琴亦造诣极高。著作无数，亦获奖无数。佢嘅研究领域除了历史文化、宗教经典外，更系现今少有精通甲骨文及敦煌学嘅资深学者，对弘扬传统中华文化贡献良多，备受社会尊崇。

​Sometimes a picture really is worth 1000 words.

​I thought there might be a few lessons to be gleaned from these novel posts in Hong Kong and perhaps some reminders to carry into the week ahead.

A sweet addition to my food adventures in Hong Kong is tofu pudding, called “dau fu fa” or bean curd jello. As a part of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, tofu pudding is a simple dessert in contrast with Hong Kong’s fusion dessert trend. Tofu is a delicacy that transcends many cultures and cuisines, a simple dish that can be plated in a myriad of forms, textures and flavours. From silken to puffed, sweet or stinky, from China to Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and beyond – this basic ingredient made from just soy beans, water and a natural coagulant has become a historic staple throughout the Asian continent. The soft tofu has a smooth and silky texture, and it can be served hot or cold, making it a delicacy for any weather.

In Hong Kong, tofu plays another important role – it’s comfort food. I’ve talked about Hong Kong’s craving for nostalgia before, but it was only after a bowl of warm dau fu fa that I saw just how much food plays a part in this culture's yearning for the past.

Hidden in the midst of Sham Shui Po’s street markets, Kung Wo has been around for a long time making soy products from scratch. They have been operating since 1958. I had the hardest time finding this place since I had no idea what it was called and barely knew my way around the area. Serving up silky smooth tofu pudding, sweet delicious soy milk and tasty tofu squares smeared with fish paste, Kung Wo is one of Hong Kong’s hidden gems. If you’re in the area, definitely hunt this hole in the wall down and enjoy a delicious bowl of tofu pudding or two.

Today is the big day! I am celebrating my 8-year blogiversary. When I look back at my older posts I love seeing how much my blog has changed and grown. It’s so great being able to share my thoughts, experiences, ideas and travels with all of you. Life is a carnival that is full of fun and joy, ups and downs, shocks and surprises, meetings and partings.

So is blogging.
​
Eight years is a long time in the blogosphere, and I’m glad to still be around. This is a really special milestone because eight years ago this week, I decided to try something new and enter into this world that I essentially knew nothing about. I didn’t have a lot of expectations when I started blogging. I also didn’t tell a lot of people I had become a blogger. I remember when I decided to create a photography blog, is that blogging was a way to find my own self. It would force me to get out, to explore, to learn and make new discoveries. And maybe, just maybe along the way, I’d eventually inspire other people to do the same thing in their lives.

​I’m grateful to you for visiting this blog, reading my posts, sharing your views, supporting me, which makes all the difference to me. Whether this is the first time you have stopped by or you have been here since the beginning, I want to say thank you.

There are a lot of ways to get creative with street photography. The more you look around for interesting scenes to photograph, the more you realise the power of reflections. They are everywhere. Reflections are another kind of shadow. 

In reflections of the buildings we work and live in, hides a wonderful world, a prodigious one, with different laws of physics. Light reflects with inimitable consequences, perspective lines are deforming, typography and color loose there significance and become beautiful shapes and forms, they play a new role within a composition.

Although summer in Hong Kong is a rainy season, there is always something interesting to shoot with the rains. Rain is one of the best times to photograph in because it can make all types of surfaces reflective. Just train your eye to notice them at first will eventually make it second nature.

倒影与影子虽然都有 “影” 一字，但两者却有截然不同的面貌，影子可说是本体遮蔽光线后的形象，但倒影则是反射后表现出来的形态，在真实世界里，可说是将3D立体实景，转化为2D平面的魔法。此外，受到光线方向、光源质感，以及反射材质影响，相较实体可说是多了不少趣味。虽然香港的夏天正值雨季，但下雨天也会帶來有趣的拍攝題材。当水面平静时，岸上景物实景与水中倒影一实一虚，遥相辉映，极大提高了整个画面的空间纵深感与视觉冲击力，极具美感。摄影是一门光与影的艺术，水中的倒影则将这一点体现得淋漓尽致。

倒影就如同镜子一样，反映着真实世界，但果真的是如此吗？透过一些构图上的刻意安排，或是后制的处理，都能让呈现出的倒影与真实不同，而从这当中其实可以悟出不少做人处事的道理，利用摄影这项兴趣，进而获得其他启发或收获，真是一举两得。