Big Bright Tulips These bright pink tulips were one of the highlights of my trip to Washington State. May 6, 2010
Shanghai: Glass vs. Brick (Canon S90) Now that the Shanghai World Expo 2010 started yesterday, April 30th, I feel it is appropriate to share my view of Shanghai. The Chinese government put on a superb fireworks display and opening ceremony that rivaled its own Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. On my recent visit to Shanghai I strolled the waterfront across the Huangpu River from the financial district. I feel that walking the city gave me an excellent understanding of where Shanghai has been and what its future holds. Shanghai is a city filled with juxtapositions. One of the best examples is that modern steel-framed skyscrapers were built with the aid of bamboo scaffolding! Countless construction sites were being topped, graded, or demolished as I walked Shanghai well into the evening. New York City is a 24 hour metropolis, and Shanghai is working feverishly to catch up. I even witnessed shift changes after the sun had set. The sheer number of workers that poured out of and then flowed back into the building sites was astonishing. The image above, exposed with my Canon S90 on its first international trip, shows the remnants of a demolished brick building with a contemporary steel and glass-clad edifice as the background. One can see that the motto "out with the old, and in with the new" holds true in Shanghai. This is not to say all historic areas and old buildings are always replaced, in fact, I found the opposite to be true. I explored many older neighborhoods. Exploring Shanghai both by motor-coach and on foot proved fruitful to fully gather the weight of changes currently taking place in Shanghai, China. For more images from this trip to China with my Canon S90, please click here. May 1, 2010
Urban Oasis Earlier this week I visited a real oasis in Southern California. That experience got me to think about urban oases that I have witnessed. We have all seen them, but so often these are fleeting moments that are quickly forgotten. As a photographer and nature-lover, I incessantly observe my surroundings and record mental images and maps of my environment. Back in March I walked around San Diego and found this interesting "urban oasis" on a lovely street corner. We all know that walking through a city is the best way to learn of your surroundings, but most, including myself, seldom explore our cities. We go through life buzzing to work, eating lunch hurriedly, restarting work, and then retreating home only to repeat the process the following day. During the workday I enjoy taking my sandwich out for a walk and exploring. In March 2010 I stumbled across an excellent "urban oasis" (pictured above). The plants are eclectic, yet perfect. I stopped my journey and enjoyed these plantings for a few minutes. The palm trees and blue sky in the background are not only quintessential San Diego, but also nicely complement the foreground. When I travel to a new city, the first thing I yearn to do is "get lost" by walking back-alleys and wandering aimlessly. It is hard to motivate oneself to do this in your own backyard, but on this occasion my efforts are fruitful. April 30, 2010
