Chinese New Year 4704 - Year of the Dog Photo

Photographer’s Note

A Happy Chinese New Year to everyone on TrekEarth.

The Chinese year 4704 begins on January 29, 2006 - which was 10 minutes ago here in Hong Kong.

I took this photo tonight in Cityplaza - a shopping center in the Tai Ko district of Hong Kong Island. We went there to watch a Chinese acrobat team performing. They were quite impressive, as were the crowds!

Little golden dogs are everywhere at the moment. The Chinese on the disc translates as - Seven stars highly shining - in the order of top, bottom, right, left).

The newspaper today was also warning people not to buy real dogs as presents, as pet shop say that sales are up 10% - even though prices are up 20%.

Tech: Cropped and resized for TE. Brightness +3. Contrast +9. Increased saturation.

--- Other information on CNY ---

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

The New Year season lasts fifteen days. The first week is the most important and most often celebrated with visits to friends and family as well as greetings of good luck. The celebrations end on the important and colourful Lantern Festival on the evening of the 15th day of the month. However, Chinese believe that on the third day of the Chinese New Year it is not appropriate to visit family and friends, and call the day "chec hao", meaning "easy to get into arguments".

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality.

People born in the 'Year of the Dog' tend to be loyal, kind, and generous. They will work to right wrongs and are able to keep secrets.

Bill Clinton, Shirley MacLain, Benjamin Franklin, and Jane Goodall were all born in the year of the dog.

jmdaoudal, jhm, PixelTerror, weswang, nwoehnl, tcht, kajenn, kclai has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (83742) 2006-01-28 11:54

Hi Andrew,
I'm gladly you see back with a wonderful picture about the Chinese New Year, I like the gold colours and certainly the four dogs, during it year of the Dogs. Excellent sharp and clear.
I have again something learn op TE through your interstting note Andrew.
Have a nice weekend,
John.

weswang (18223) 2006-01-28 12:58

Hi Andrew, Happy New Year.
Nice celebrative mood with this special presentation for the dog year.
Special thanks for the informative notes.

nwoehnl (120) 2006-01-28 17:54

Happy New Year, Andrew - a nice photo of the golden glittering statues to commemorate the year of the dog. I like the framing/cropping, and the use of flash worked out pretty nice on this one, too.

jmdaoudal (82) 2006-01-29 0:54

Few colors (in number of) but great one and very rich.
This is a good "tinkling" ( étincelante) picture giving a nice idea of the importance of the feast.
I like it
jean Michel

PixelTerror (87159) 2006-01-29 7:15

Kung Hei Fat Choi Andrew,
and thanks for this lovely picture, the golden doggies are really cute, I'm gonna show them to my four legged companions.
Enjoy the celebrations,
Jean-Yves

tcht (7298) 2006-01-31 6:15

Hi Andrew,
Great informative picture..the colours & lights r fantastic. Happy New Year & wish you good fortune!
Hv a nice day,
Cheukhin

Jeppe (18623) 2006-02-04 12:23

Hi Andrew

And a very happy new year to you as well - A fine way to celebrate this event and funny to read about the way people lives in Hong Kong.

Thanks for sharing.

kajenn (2325) 2006-02-09 0:35

Happy Chinese New Year to you too, Andrew, I suppose I managed to say that within the season. I've read about celebrating the CNY - well, not as informative as your note - that it creates chaos in transportation as people try to get home to their relatives across the country. This, however, is a very serene image of the new year. The colors of gold and red - and especially the reflections of red in the gold - are very harmonious, as are the shapes. I like your POV and your composition, placing the lower dog flat on the frame and balancing the dogs and the sign. It's a great image. Very well done!

maphoto (8076) 2006-02-13 22:16

Nice close up and nice peace of art Andrew, I like it, the sharpness is excellent and the colors well rended, very nice presentation, well done.

kclai (2267) 2006-02-15 20:27

Hi Andrew
You really done your homework by providing us with such detailed notes.
Well composed shot for the year of the dog.
It's nice to see the reflection of the flash used on the display.
Great technique, pal.
Eric Lai

RGatward (19751) 2006-03-21 12:08

Oh sorry I missed this excellent colourful shot when it was topical, well thought out PoV for it.