Bag Giveaway Daily Inspiration #6

Bag Giveaway Daily Inspiration #6

by Jimmy Yuen

Steve/Brandon,

Sorry to write again because I have sent out a submission with large photo size. Just in case you prefer a small size version here it is. Sorry for my poor English as well.

Here is a set of three photos that I am going to submit for the daily inspiration giveaway bag competition.

I started learning photography some what 30 years ago when I was studying in England. Back then I had no one to ask but only books and magazines. I only practice photography intermittently due to heavy workload in hospital. Most of my works were taken during my family or business trips.

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I loved these shots because these were taken just at the decisive moment (I reckoned). The scenes were totally different a few seconds later. I considered my self lucky.

This first shot was taken during my family trip to Netherlands. We cycled through one of the national parks in Netherlands (De Hoge Veluwe) that day but the weather changed and started to rain. The journey was not easy as everyone, except me, fell behind. When I got to the junction between bike trail and a muddy track, I saw a man walking with his dog along the track. In a fraction of a second, I pulled out my EP-3 with its kit lens attached and took this. The moment I returned my camera back inside my raincoat, the man and his dog disappeared. I considered myself lucky enough to get this shot which became one of my favorites.

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This second shot needs no introduction, the famous Sydney Opera House. It was taken during another family trip a few years back with my EM-1 and m.zuiko 12-40mm Pro. It was a sunny day in August with clear blue sky and virtually no cloud. My family and I walked around looking for a place to dine. I suddenly turned back while walking down the stairs and saw this….clouds and reflection of the sun from the tiles. I immediately raised my EM-1 and took this. I didn’t had time to put on a polarizer to control the amount of reflection. Surprisingly the shot came out with details.

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The last picture was taken from my hotel room which was supposed to have a city view. Instead I got this staircase view or someones’ backyard. I woke up early in the morning due to jet lag and went downstairs. The sun was already high in the sky, giving such a good illumination at an angle. I noticed the small figure siting by the window with his book opened and cigarette burning. I thought I didn’t have time to set up my tripod. I picked up my EM-1 and m.zuiko 40-150mm Pro which I left by the window the night before, sat on my couch with my legs on the window frame acting as supporting points and took this. With the in camera ‘grainy film’ art filter applied, the texture of the brick wall, the shadows of the staircase cast by the rising sun and details captured by the new zoom (bought just a week prior to this trip) stood out nicely. Not to mention the small character at the corner who made the picture less lifeless.

I hope you enjoy my photos and give me some feedback.

20 Comments

  1. Great shots! I like the last one, just like a snapshot in a movie, a story behind the photo. Well done, Jimmy!

  2. I LOVE all these images.
    The first and third pic have a great cinematic feel.
    I’ve seen a lot of cool staircase shots but this one is my favourite. The man in the window is the icing on the cake. Despite the little space he occupies, he brings the whole picture to life.

    Keep em coming. You have a fan here.

    • Vince, thanks for your comments and encouragement. As I said, I got these images mostly by chance (luck). I hope my future submissions would not disappoint you.

  3. These are great shots, all of them! You have a great eye. I love the Opera House, the sky and clouds are rendered perfectly. I would’ve never believed these were micro 4/3rds, shows what I know(and I have the EM1!).

    • Thanks Karmyn. “Always look back and you will be surprised”. This was how I got the shot of Opera House. One of the lessons I learnt from books and magazine.

  4. JIMMY YUEN FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN LIKE YOU SQUEEZING THE SHUTTER BETWEEN FAMILY TRIPS AND JOB TRIPS.YOUR PHOTO ARE A LABOR OF LOVING LIFE AS IT IS. KEEP YOU HEART AND EYES OPEN TO CAPTURE IT’S GLIMMER AND WONDERS.

  5. Just wanted to ask Steve and all of you if the first shot could look better with some cropping so that the man and his dog move closer to the left lower corner? Thanks.

  6. Thanks all for your comments.
    I was only lucky in getting those shots.
    I surely will contribute again in near future, Bill.

  7. Thanks all for your comments. I was just lucky in getting those. I surely will contribute again in near future, Bill.

  8. This is really nice work. All three are great. It’s nice to see black and white done rightly.

    I particularly like the fire escape shot with the man in the window — the man in the window makes the shot.

    Jimmy, please contribute again.

    Bill Danby

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