GX GARNERINGS

(Ricoh GX200) Recently, I have had a debate with a Taiwanese photographers who has been winning in international photography contents.  One of the prizes he got is for a shot taken from his sobbing ladies series .  The debate is on whether emotional expressions like crying have a dimension of age.  That is to say, for example, whether the crying face of a person having mellowed through the tests of life show more depth than that of an innocent young girl. Finally we made our own conclusion with me saying yes and he no. I still view that when one has tasted life deeper, the emotions flowing out from that person have a richer after-taste, if I can put it that way. When one fakes an emotion which doesn't belong to him or her, it just lacks punch and will easily tell.

(Ricoh GX200) What a scary look of this door guardian! It is a folk culture among the older Chinese to post on the entrance door two posters each of a door guardians. If you have a chance to see an exhibition of the Chinese relics, and there are archaeological finds of ancient tomb guard statues, check them out. Then you will see the resemblance between the door guardians  and those tomb guards in the facial features. Protruded eyeballs, gnawing teeth, angered look. And there is a reason for these – to scare intruders away. That's why they are there for.

(Ricoh GX200) Hong Kong has the tropical cyclone, or known as typhoon in this part of the world, signal 8 hoisted (out of a scale to 10) for half a day today. All schools and offices have been closed. But we have an interesting social phenomenon here that people take it as a windfall holiday and dash to have yumcha and the movies. The word typhoon has its root in a Cantonese term meaning Great Wind. The Answer.com gives a clear account of the word history: "The history of typhoon presents a perfect example of the long journey that many words made in coming to English. It traveled from Greece to Arabia to India, and also arose independently in China, before assuming its current form in our language. The Greek word tuphōn, used both as the name of the father of the winds and a common noun meaning "whirlwind, typhoon," was borrowed into Arabic during the Middle Ages, when Arabic learning both preserved and expanded the classical heritage and passed it on to Europe and...

(Sony A55) Her weathered face says it all.

(Samsung WB600) Every year, from autumn between late September and early December to winter until early March, the weather in Hong Kong goes so increasingly dry that a gust of wind can almost crack any filmsy, plastic 20-year-old made-in-china step-up ring. But it is this period when Hong Kong enjoys the mind-cooling oceanic winds which blow the air pollutants to, supposedly so, where it comes from in Mainland China. The blue heavens open up the welcoming arms, as if chastising those whose time is spent in the office but ougth instead to have been savoured under the open sky. If you are planning a visit to Hong Kong, do it now. A special recommendation is the many great hiking routes in Sai Kung, the backyard garden of the city. Or maybe I should organise a cultural tour or photographic tour or something. There are so many to see here! And, hey, this is the best time in a year.

(Samsung EX1) If you are looking for a camera which offers great value for money, two-wheels M-mode operation, decent IQ up to ISO1600, a high-pixel swiveling display, a fast lens with decent optical performance, a whole bag of fun shooting modes, RAW capability, great menu operation and good built quality, you need to look no further beyond Samsung's EX1. I have played with it for 2 months and it is a great delight to use. Very versatile. In Hong Kong it is selling for around HK$2,500 (US$300 or GBP200) only. Worth considering.

(Sony A55) This is Sunday. Be creative. Have a nice day!