Coron Bay, 1944

Take a look at the above photo. Imagine, if you will, the following events occurring right before your eyes. The year is 1944. The sea is sitting so calm that even the slightest exhalation of air might disturb the serenity. There's a light, sea breeze blowing through your hair as your boat putters forward as you make your way out to sea in anticipation of an early catch. You glance forward into the horizon. Ships from the Japanese Imperial Fleet are sitting at bay as the glimpse of the sun slowly rises out from sleep. You hear a distant hum. You look around towards the passing islands. Nothing. The sound gets increasily louder...and louder. You shut off your boat, in efforts to listen for the incoming sounds more attentively. Cluelessly, you look far off in the distance.....skywards. You gasp as the unmistakable silhouettes of 120 aircraft peek over the distant hills, as a now-rising sun, comes up ever so slowly. The hum of their engines rapidly turn into roars. One by one, the aircrafts begin diving aggressively towards the Japanese fleet. Fiery explosions, one after another, overcome your body. Your eardrums desperately try to contain themselves as waves after waves of sonic pressure slams towards you. You sprint back towards your cabin, restart the motor, turn around, and accelerate back to shore. Terrified, you glance back. The sight of burning ships capsizing and sinking as men abandon ship etches into your eyes, as you putter ever so slowly back home. The date...is September 24, 1944.

Although the above account is fictitious, the events that transpired on September 24, 1944 are not. Below the sea at an average depth of 30-35m, members of the Japanese Imperial Fleet lie at their final resting place in Coron Bay. A majority of the ships remain in excellent condition despite having been exposed to the power of nature for over 60 years. Most of the ships sunk in Coron Bay were supply vessels. Construction ships and freighters carried building materials such as concrete bags and fencing, much of still lay within the interior of the ships. One warship was sunk in Coron, the Akitsushima. Akitsushima was a seaplane tender/carrier armed with 10 25mm anti-aircraft guns, four 5-in .50cal gun, and one large Kanwanishi flying boat. At the time of the attack, the seaplane was not present.

The following photos show my journey into the depths of Coron Bay and through the wreckage of the sunken fleet. May all the lives that perished that morning on September 24, 1944 rest in peace.

-Michael

...and I'm back

Hello all! It's been a while since I've updated (or rather been ABLE to update) but I have quite a few updates in store for the next couple weeks. Due to technical difficulties (i.e. Firewall of China), I have not been able to make periodic updates until now. But things have changed and I hope to continue posting new topics on a consistent basis.

Since my last post, I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel to the Philippines and South Korea. Keeping in tune with the theme of this blog, I, of course, have plenty of photos to share from those two trips. I recently returned from South Korea so I will update with my trip of the Philippines first. So stay tuned! Cheers!

-Michael

A Simpler Life...

My goal with these photographs is to perhaps shed some light to our community, maybe bring about a sense of heightened realisation. Just maybe.

Too many times in life, we take things for granted. From the convenience of a supermarket to something as simple as a washing machine, we overlook such glorified treasures. We must take the time to remind ourselves just how lucky we really are, to be able to live in this modern era with all these high-tech gizmos and what not that bring such convenience to our lives. It's a blessing.

The following photographs were taken in the countryside of Qingyuan in the Guangdong Province:

Michael

A Valuable Lesson Learned...

Ok, so I must apologise because the story behind this is not nearly as exciting as the above picture may suggest, though the moral of the story, should in no way, be any lessened.

So, the above picture is of my Canon 5D with its mirror (or what's left of it) in pieces. For those of you not familiar with the mechanics of a single-lens reflex camera, the mirror is part of the system that allows the photographer to see through the camera lens. So without the mirror, you (and the camera's brain) cannot see what you are shooting. As a minor side effect (as if it matters since you cannot see..), is the loss of auto focus. So long story short: the camera is pretty much out of commission.

Backstory: Canon, Inc. issued a worldwide recall for the 5D for the following issue:

"We have discovered that, in rare instances, the main mirror of some EOS 5D Digital SLR cameras may detach due to deterioration in the strength of the adhesive. Accordingly, we would like to convey the details and our service policy concerning this phenomenon."   

-Canon, Inc.

Ok, MY story now:

While on my return trip to the United States, I brought my 5D to the Canon Service Centre in Irvine, CA to get this recall service taken care of. It would take 7-10 working days to get everything taken care of. I was leaving in less than 5 days. Granted, I knew it would take some time, just not 2-3 weeks long. So given my time constraint, I had no choice but to leave the issue unattended. "It'll be fine..."

...but it wasn't. 

While on a recent trip through the countryside of Qingyuan in the Guangdong Province of China, I was on a rather dilapidated raft sailing up the Beijiang River. The sound of the dying outboard motor puttering and the sharp cries of various avian species filled the air. The sun was setting behind the mountainous landscape surrounding the river. I bring myself to the bow of the "ship" and start snapping off a few frames. Now, normally when taking a photo, the viewfinder blacks out for a very brief moment when the mirror is folded upwards to expose the light to the digital sensor (or film) to record the image. Except this last frame...

The viewfinder remained black. Unsure of what to expect, I removed the lens from the body when I hear a deafening crack. I simply cannot write in words the feeling you get when you find broken shards of glass piled up in your camera; it's not a good feeling. So, I couldn't do much other than to remove the pieces of glass, one by one, and try to shake out the little pieces out. I put the camera away and inspected it closer when I got back to the hotel. 

As far as I can see, there is no sensor damage from the glass. The mirror detached (as suspected) and must've detached in a crooked manner. When I removed the lens, it must've clipped the mirror and cracked through. This is confirmed when I looked at the lens' rear glass element, as it bear some marks (though luckily not scratches or permanent marks) from the glass. Furthermore, it appears the focussing screen has been scratched a number of times, confirmed by looking through the viewfinder.

So after this long story, what lesson did I learn? Always bring a back-up camera. I do have a second body, but unfortunately, I had left it at home to travel light. Fortunately though, I did have a Canon Powershot G10 with me (a very capable camera at that) and resorted to using that camera for the remainder of my trip. Had it not been for that second camera, I would have missed out on a lot of wonderful opportunities. 

So, if you can, always have a back-up body/camera. You never know what may happen while out in the field. You may encounter mishaps like mine, a broken shutter, or the camera may just fail due to weather conditions. Always plan for the worst. This advice is good to live by, related to photography or not.

Michael

P.S.

The photos from this past trip will be posted soon in a new post.

Beijing 2008

A sense of national pride is still very much present in Beijing, as visitors from all over the world still make their trek to the site of the 29th Olympic Games. The iconic Bird's Nest and Aquatic Center (aka The Water Bubble) stands tall in a nearly flat urban area, for all to enjoy their magnificence. Perfectly paved roads line around the venues, still flying the majestic Beijing 2008 banners. You make your way into the Bird's Nest, slowly walking towards the centre, step by step. You can see more and more with each step, until the full view blows you away. To stand in the centre of the grounds, and to imagine all the fans sitting in the stands must be simply awe-inspiring for an athlete. Regardless of medals, for an athlete to have made it this far is an accomplishment in itself and is no less deserving of a medal.

Michael

The Forbidden City

Words cannot describe the emotion that runs through you as you stand in the centre of the Forbidden City. You see this place in photos, in movies, but like the Great Wall, photos cannot convey the sense of history and culture that embraces this gem from the past that experiencing in person can convey. As you walk up those final flight of stairs and through the magnificent double doors (one of the many), a feeling of awe strikes you as the glorious sight of the main courtyard floods your senses. 

Michael

The Great Wall

The Great Wall of China. It is simply a breathtaking experience to find yourself on top of this well-constructed engineering marvel that has withstood the test of time. Although much of the Great Wall is in rather weather-battered conditions, this particular section (Badaling Pass) is considered the most well-preserved section of the Great Wall. The Badaling section is located approximately 80km from the Chinese capital of Beijing, and is the most visited section of the Great Wall. 

The walls here average 7.8m high and 5m wide, enough for 5 horses to ride side-by-side. Strong military fortification was the primary purpose of this section, when built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Watchtowers averaging every 250 yards allowed guards to keep a sharp eye on any incoming attacks. Stones were strategically removed, leaving holes in the walls to allow archers to shoot, should enemies strike. Signal fire platforms alerted other watchtowers of incoming attack. The well-preserved wall is a time capsule. Close your eyes, and you can almost feel the guardsmen keeping post, maintaining a sharp eye, sparing a minute or two to write to their loved ones. So much history lay here. If only these walls could talk. This is the soul of the Great Wall.

Michael

A Stroll Through The Park

In the hustle and bustle of the city, residents of Zhongshan rarely find time to spend with their loved ones, whether it be family, friends, or lovers. Work is an integral part of their lives, but when push comes to shove, family is always first. Weekends are much cherished by the residents, as it provides a retreat from their hectic lifestyles, and a chance to just relax and enjoy their time off. The following images portray just that, in one of Zhongshan's scenic parks. Enjoy.

Michael

Zhuhai International Circuit

Think of an international race circuit where drivers go to acheive their claim to call themselves THE champion. Names such as Spa Francorchamps, Suzuka, and Monaco come to mind almost immediately. Yet, these three circuits only represent a mere percentage of the world's reserve of world-class race circuits. This is where my story begins.

Here I am in the Guangdong Province of China, sitting in a van, trying to fight off a strong case of jet lag. I'm being told we're going to a race track, where track-purpose built cars are ready for rental to toss around the circuit. Hmm, this could be fun. Now, keep in mind, as these conversations were being had, we passed farm...after farm...after farm. I really didn't know what to expect. 

We come along a standard checkpoint entering Zhuhai, a special economic zone set aside by the Chinese government. Guards stand post, as they keep an eye on incoming vehicles, especially commercial vehicles. Now, this is starting to get a bit interesting. Factories, small boutique shops, and other booths line both sides of the road. Pedestrians walking out onto the road, seeming as if no fear of death or injury exists in them. 

We continue making our way through Zhuhai until we come upon an intersection. The driver makes a right turn, and we tread slowly up the crack-filled road. A few rugged speed bumps here and there, but nothing to write home about. We arrive at a small discrete gate accompanied by another guard. He makes his way around our van, peering into the dark tinted windows, as if we have illegal goods that we're trying to smuggle. He gives the driver and us a good look, and walks back to his post. A few exchange of words later, he kindly lifts the gate for us to pass. Coming into sight, a sign above us reads: "Welcome to Zhuhai International Circuit".

Wait, rewind that. "International Circuit"? As in, INTER-NATIONAL? Now, I really didn't know what to expect. I roll down my window in anticipation, and I hear music to my ears: throttles blipping, engines roaring, tyres fighting to gain traction. In front of me, a large grandstand. To my right, a glass-walled lounge completely furnished in ultra-chic modern stylings. To my left, garage after garage lining the pit lane. I don't know how, but I managed to somehow place myself into the world of Gran Turismo. 

I eagerly run into the pit lane to see just what kind of machines are making such sweet sounds. No, it can't be. Seriously? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? While all these thoughts rush through my already exhausted brain, a Ferrari 360 GT sings its 8,500rpm song on the front straight, and BLAP, the next gear engages in milliseconds with a gentle slap of the column mounted paddles. I am in heaven.

Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) was constructed in 1996 to host China's first international race event. The FIA-approved circuit runs 4.3km and consists of 14 turns, designed specifically to challenge the drivers who find themselves upon it. Because of its design, ZIC is considered to be a high speed course. The circuit is home to a number of local and international events. Spanning from Pan Delta Super Racing Festival to FIM Asian GP to the more well-known, FIA GT (China Round). Just recently, ZIC has won the rights to organize China's first National Superbike Championship. 

When the circuit is not in use for race days, it is home to over 40 race teams wanting to hone in their technique and driving skills. Teams such as Peugoet-sponsored China Dragon Race Team run laps after laps, striving to tune their machines to their run at their absolute potential. Today just so happens to be such a session.

On track, a Ferrari 360 GT, a Porsche GT3 Cup, a Lotus Elise, a number of newly-built Peugeot 307s, a handful of Honda Civic Type-Rs, and a couple Chinese-made track cars (which could definitely hold its own). Drivers from Italy, Canada, England, and Hong Kong are present as they continuously pit in and out, searching for their optimal suspension tuning setup. Spending endless hours on the track and fine tuning every single detail on their vehicle; this is where drivers are made.

As the day ended, I couldn't help but to leave in satisfaction, as I had just witnessed such a world-class facility in an area, generally thought to be, well, not so developed. China has come a long way, and is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world. With the duo of ZIC and the more famliar Shanghai International Circuit, China may very well become a big contender in future endeavours for licensing rights and so much more. The sky is the limit. Hats off to you, ZIC.

More Photos:

Creative Design's Ferrari 360 GT pits in, as the crew checks the logs from the many sensors monitoring the vehicle's dynamics.

Driver John Shen from Canada straps into his Ferrari 360 GT, as he readies himself for the high-speed challenge at ZIC.

A Porsche GT3 Cup, driven by Walter Chang from Hong Kong, comes into ZIC's pit lane after numerous laps around the 4.3km circuit. 

Peugeot-sponsored China Dragon Race Team swaps out the worn tyres from their newly built Peugeot 307 race car. The speed and force endured on the circuit is evidenced by the tremendous wear on the tyres.

Michael

A View From The Top

La Cite Greenville in Zhong Shan, Guangdong, China is a gated community located approximately 10km from downtown Zhong Shan. The community offers its residents a well outfitted recreational center which includes, though not limited to, a gymnasium, billiards room, and ping pong tables. Residents taking morning strolls are not an uncommon sight as artificial lakes and plush trees present a refreshing scenery for all to enjoy.

Michael