Saturday, December 20, 2008

Wide (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



Although I may not write too much about doing so these days, I do (like doing) my share of reading. Not too long ago, I read the very affecting My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. Which may be why when I saw the theme for this week's Photo Hunt, I just couldn't get the phrase (and title of one of Conroy's best-selling books) The Water is Wide out of my mind!

Still, rather than plum emotional depths in the way he -- and a traditional folk song with that title -- does with, and behind, that phrase, I've taken it more as face value. Which is why my photos of choice -- both taken with my trusty Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2 (which comes complete with wide-angle lens (recommended by a friend as being ideal for taking landscape shots) as well as a wide zoom range) -- literally show wide expanses of water, with the added bonus of having wide swathes of blue (along with bits of brown and green) within... ;)

(And for the record: Yes, these are photos of Hong Kong! More specifically, of Clear Water Bay and High Island Reservoir respectively. :b)

at

45 comments:

  1. CRIZ LAIDecember 20, 2008 at 11:42:00 AM GMT+8

    Clear Water Bay looked like a great place to fish. I think Jeremy would love to fish there one day.. provided he won't be pulled down the sea.. LOL! :P

    ReplyDelete
  2. Napaboaniya.Elaine LingDecember 20, 2008 at 11:46:00 AM GMT+8

    Hk's scenery is really beautiful!!
    Food, shopping scenery tops!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. david mcmahonDecember 20, 2008 at 12:25:00 PM GMT+8

    I know HK really well. Have visited there many times. Nice work with the images.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LeslieDecember 20, 2008 at 12:47:00 PM GMT+8

    My photos are all taken with a Panasonic Lumix too. :)

    Great pics by the way. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. MojoDecember 20, 2008 at 1:03:00 PM GMT+8

    So that's where the blue from my mountains went! These are both great, but I seriously love that second shot.

    My photos were taken with a number of cameras, but the one you commented on was shot on a Canon EOS A2 35mm film camera.

    ReplyDelete
  6. alejnaDecember 20, 2008 at 1:31:00 PM GMT+8

    Those are beautiful. And very wide-looking, indeed. I love both shots. The boats in the first one really catch my eye, and the colors in the second are quite striking.

    I managed to get my own wide photo up tonight, too. Early, for a change.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Photo CacheDecember 20, 2008 at 2:28:00 PM GMT+8

    Oh that's a good one, the water is wide indeed. Good photos too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Corey~living and lovingDecember 20, 2008 at 2:37:00 PM GMT+8

    Great choices for the theme. beautiful wide water. :)
    Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. PastormacsAnnDecember 20, 2008 at 3:47:00 PM GMT+8

    Wonderful wide shots! The water is SO BLUE! Lovely. Nice picks for The Hunt!

    ReplyDelete
  10. jams o donnellDecember 20, 2008 at 3:56:00 PM GMT+8

    What beautiful sights. So peaceful. Happy weekend

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 3:59:00 PM GMT+8

    Lovely scenery. I will have to visit HK someday.

    ReplyDelete
  12. YTSLDecember 20, 2008 at 4:12:00 PM GMT+8

    Hi Criz Lai --

    It seems to be as I saw a few fishing enthusiasts trying their luck the afternoon I visted Clear Water Bay. Re Jeremy: I don't know... seems like he's too domesticated to go fishing in a place like Clear Water Bay... ;)

    Hi Napaboaniya --

    Well... I have to say that I think that Japan's better for food -- but otherwise agree with your statements! :)

    Hi David McMahon --

    Hope you enjoyed your visits to Hong Kong -- and thanks for visiting this blog. :)

    Hi Leslie --

    Panasonic Lumixes are pretty good, aren't they? I know that my model is old (as I've seen TZ5s about). But have to say I'm still very happy with it. :)

    Hi Mojo --

    Teehee -- maybe! Glad you like my blue-heavy photos. :)

    Hi Alejna --

    You know... I have to say: when comparing your Photo Hunt entry and mine, I was thinking -- "she managed to really capture that WIDE feeling". I wonder whether my photos do too..." So am glad you think so! :)

    Hi Photo Cache --

    Thanks for reading along with looking. :)

    Hi Corey --

    Thanks, and happy weekend to you too. :)

    Hi Pastormac's Ann --

    Thanks, glad you like my choices! :)

    Hi Jams O Donnell --

    Yup re the peaceful... and quiet... I love living in the city but every once in a while, it really is escape into the countryside -- and I'm so glad Hong Kong allows me to do so so easily. :)

    Hi Blur Mommy --

    I really hope you visit Hong Kong some day too -- and that when you do, you'll check out some of its "away from the madding crowd" spots like the ones in the photos. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. ButchayDecember 20, 2008 at 4:30:00 PM GMT+8

    nice entry for the theme!

    mine is here:

    http://butcholle.blogspot.com/2008/12/ph-wide.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. IngridDecember 20, 2008 at 4:42:00 PM GMT+8

    Very nice picture ! the water looks so clear !

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 4:47:00 PM GMT+8

    I was very tempted to go for Wide views or even take a pic of the lens set Wide but there is not much to see - not like a fish-eye.

    ReplyDelete
  16. stanDecember 20, 2008 at 4:48:00 PM GMT+8

    don't you love wide-angle lenses?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hootin AnniDecember 20, 2008 at 6:04:00 PM GMT+8

    The water is wide....great take.

    Happy Christmas to you. Hope you can stop by and take a treat with you from Santa's Wide Boot!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. WHIP'sDecember 20, 2008 at 8:08:00 PM GMT+8

    wow, I would have guessed those were of Greece. I never pictured Hong Kong like that

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 8:39:00 PM GMT+8

    Very nice. The water IS wide. I love Pat Conroy. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 9:51:00 PM GMT+8

    Great take on the theme. I loved the song by that name. When my daughter was little she was in a creative dance class and their recital dance was to the song. It was so sweet. Thanks for reminding me of that good memory, Carver

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 10:01:00 PM GMT+8

    What an expansive scene! Good choice for this week's theme. Thanks for stopping by Spatter...

    ReplyDelete
  22. YTSLDecember 20, 2008 at 10:07:00 PM GMT+8

    Hi Butchay --

    Thanks and yes, I did go and pay a return visit... :)

    Hi Gattina --

    Can attest that the water was clear over at Clear Water Bay. As for High Reservoir: didn't get close enough to really see but one would hope that the water there is clear *and* clean! ;)

    Hi Aileni --

    True re the wide lens. Sometimes, I wonder whether I'm able to get that much more into the picture; but with some photos though, I really do believe so!

    Hi Sho --

    To be honest: I love zoom lens even more! ;b

    Hi Hootin' Anni --

    I did stop by and... waaaah, you got me remembering some nice snack foods I really miss now that I no longer live in the US! ;(

    Hi Elizabeth --

    Greece, huh? Have never been there... cool at the thought that some parts of Hong Kong look like it! :)

    Hi Annie --

    Thanks and happy weekend to you too. :)

    Hi Carver --

    Am happy to be able to help you conjure up a good memory! :)

    Hi June --

    Thanks and you're welcome! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousDecember 20, 2008 at 10:47:00 PM GMT+8

    Beautiful! Have a Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Rebecca MecomberDecember 20, 2008 at 11:16:00 PM GMT+8

    The harbor looks so beautiful!

    I did Photo Hunters today, too! I hope you can visit, and leave your link.

    http://newyorktraveler.net/photo-hunters-wide/

    ReplyDelete
  25. BengbengDecember 20, 2008 at 11:24:00 PM GMT+8

    Clear Water Bay sounds like a great place to be. In fact the more I read yr blog, the more attractive HK seems to be

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousDecember 21, 2008 at 12:30:00 AM GMT+8

    I thought at first the top photo was the harbor at St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin islands, which I visited on the same trip I took this photograph. There is a small island like the one in your picture close to the mouth of the harbor.

    ReplyDelete
  27. RJ FlamingoDecember 21, 2008 at 1:01:00 AM GMT+8

    Nicely done! I love seeing Hong Kong through your eyes...

    Between the holidays and commitments and work, I'm afraid I've gone a little dark and quirky this week...

    http://flamingofotos.blogspot.com

    Happy Holidays! (Not that it has anything to do with my PH post...)

    ReplyDelete
  28. jmbDecember 21, 2008 at 1:06:00 AM GMT+8

    I thought about that too but in the ended posted something different.
    Have a wonderful weekend and holiday season YTSL.

    ReplyDelete
  29. DragonstarDecember 21, 2008 at 3:10:00 AM GMT+8

    I love your views, so much wide open space and fresh air. Beautiful.
    Thanks for visiting today.

    ReplyDelete
  30. bonggamomDecember 21, 2008 at 3:26:00 AM GMT+8

    Great take on the theme. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  31.  gmirageDecember 21, 2008 at 5:08:00 AM GMT+8

    What clear water indeed! happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousDecember 21, 2008 at 6:30:00 AM GMT+8

    WIDE clear open waters, i love it! nice one.

    I love the waters so it's always a first choice for me and i would have done the same except i think i've shown a lot of open water/ocean scenes for the different themes already... LOL :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousDecember 21, 2008 at 7:26:00 AM GMT+8

    I do love that song ... and your photos are perfect for the theme!
    Hugs and blessings,

    ReplyDelete
  34.  gmirageDecember 21, 2008 at 7:37:00 AM GMT+8

    Me again! We watch Totoro everyday! :D and all miyazaki films ;)

    Genki de ne!

    ReplyDelete
  35. YTSLDecember 21, 2008 at 7:57:00 AM GMT+8

    Hi KISSEDALOTATOADS --

    Thanks and am definitely looking forward to the end of the year vacations! :)

    Hi Mrs Mecomber --

    Actually, it's a bay and a reservoir rather than harbor... ;b

    Hi Bengbeng --

    Hong Kong *is* attractive. That's why I think it a pity when people come over here and just see shopping streets and malls!

    Hi Tarheel Rambler --

    Interesting info re the doppelganger! There also are islands similar to that in Hong Kong itself -- in particular a place called Shek O.

    Hi RJ Flamingo --

    Thanks for liking seeing Hong Kong through my eyes. (And if you do, please check out my non-Photo hunt entries for more!) :)

    Hi JMB --

    Variety is the spice of life, so am glad you went with something else. And happy weekend and holiday season to you too. :)

    Hi Dragonstar --

    Yeah, love those wide open spaces. It helps balances my Hong Kong life -- a large part of which is spent in close quarters with people... ;)

    Hi Bonggamom --

    Thanks!

    Hi Mirage2g --

    Yeah, a bay that's well named! :)

    (And am so glad that you've already discovered the joys of "My Neighbor Totoro"!)

    Hi eam --

    For myself, couldn't avoid wide expanses water -- not least because I was born an island and currently live and work on another! ;b

    Hi Storyteller --

    Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mickey's MusingsDecember 21, 2008 at 10:18:00 AM GMT+8

    Beautiful pictures of a WIDE expanse of water!!!!! Very nice ;)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Brine QueenDecember 21, 2008 at 10:48:00 AM GMT+8

    I really love that second photo. Great shot!

    ReplyDelete
  38. YTSLDecember 21, 2008 at 12:15:00 PM GMT+8

    Hi Mickey, Georgia, Tillie --

    Thanks! :)

    Hi Brine Queen --

    Like I was telling a friend (over e-mail), I hesitated about putting up a photo of High Island Reservoir in this entry as I've put up quite a few photos of it in the past. But it's so beautiful, so... :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousDecember 21, 2008 at 5:48:00 PM GMT+8

    Nice shot.. Love it so much!! Happy weekend

    visit mine, Wide Aquarium..
    http://www.victorkiu.com/2008/12/21/photohunter-wide-aquarium/

    ReplyDelete
  40. sarah bailey knightDecember 21, 2008 at 9:10:00 PM GMT+8

    ytsl

    Would love to swim off one of the boats in Clear Water Bay. Nice shots of "wide" too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. YTSLDecember 22, 2008 at 12:09:00 AM GMT+8

    Hi Victor --

    Yup did check out your entry and it really is a wide aquarium. ;)

    Hi sbk --

    Me... I'm happy to stay on land and take photos! :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousDecember 22, 2008 at 1:03:00 AM GMT+8

    Beautiful... and what fun! Anyone who didn't click to enlarge those shots missed out... just lovely. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  43. YTSLDecember 22, 2008 at 11:31:00 PM GMT+8

    Hi JC --

    Am glad you did the "click to enlarge" thang and got much out of doing so! :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. JientjeDecember 23, 2008 at 5:40:00 AM GMT+8

    You referred to the same song as I did in my post!! How's that for a coincidence, especially since I had never heard that song before I posted it on my blog, I was just looking for lyrics or songs with wide in the title!!
    By the way, to answer your question, the picture of the boats was taken in Normandy, that's the North of France!

    ReplyDelete
  45. YTSLDecember 23, 2008 at 7:59:00 AM GMT+8

    Hi Jientje --

    Amazing, isn't it? You're in Belgium, I'm in HK and we had similar reactions to the word "wide"... At the same time, thanks for showing me a part of the world I've never been to but long had known about (through reading about William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy)! :b

    ReplyDelete